The woman nodded obediently.
The moment she stepped through Konoha’s gates, the last traces of vigilance in her heart finally faded.
Her name was Kaorui.
After the fall of the Land of Whirlpools, she had fled alongside other surviving members of the Uzumaki Clan.
Eventually, she and one of her companions concealed their identities and settled in Kusagakure, the Hidden Grass Village.
The two became husband and wife.
Although life was difficult, at least they no longer had to wander from place to place.
Unfortunately…
Peace didn’t last.
The Third Great Ninja War soon spread to the Land of Grass.
Her husband, Ryōto, was forcibly drafted to transport military supplies.
During one mission, he exposed his identity as a ninja while protecting his companions.
From that moment onward, peace disappeared from their lives.
Whenever danger arose, outsiders like them were always the first to be sent on dangerous missions or ordered to defend the village.
Eventually…
One of those missions ended in disaster.
The entire team was wiped out.
Ryōto never lived to see the birth of their daughter.
Because they weren’t native residents of Kusagakure, even the compensation owed to his family was almost entirely withheld.
To survive and raise her newborn child, Kaorui was forced to reveal that she possessed some medical ninjutsu.
As she treated more and more villagers—healing illnesses and minor injuries—she and her daughter gradually earned the acceptance of the local people.
Just as she was beginning to feel that Kusagakure might finally become home…
Everything changed.
About a month earlier, a rogue ninja had infiltrated the village to steal valuables.
Although he was quickly discovered, he severely wounded one of Kaorui’s elderly neighbors during the ensuing battle.
The old man had always looked after Kaorui and her daughter.
She couldn’t simply stand by and watch him die.
Her medical ninjutsu wasn’t powerful enough to heal such life-threatening injuries.
After agonizing over the decision…
She finally revealed the secret of her Uzumaki bloodline.
Using her own flesh and blood, she managed to save his life.
The old man promised to keep her secret.
Instead…
He spread the news throughout the village.
Soon, everyone knew.
At first, only severely injured ninja came seeking her help.
Before long, those with minor injuries arrived as well.
Then came people suffering from headaches…
Fevers…
Exhaustion after training…
Everyone wanted a piece of her flesh.
Kaorui wanted to escape.
But carrying a newborn child, she had no chance of outrunning trained ninja.
Day after day…
She endured countless bites.
Even the extraordinary vitality of the Uzumaki Clan couldn’t sustain that level of abuse forever.
She slowly wasted away.
Eventually…
She stopped hoping.
She simply waited for death.
Once she died…
Her daughter would almost certainly become the next living “blood bag.”
Just as despair consumed her…
A young ninja appeared before her.
She expected another round of agonizing bites.
Instead…
He quietly told her,
“I’m here to take you away.”
Without a moment’s hesitation…
She agreed.
Leaving offered at least a sliver of hope.
Staying guaranteed death.
Because Kaorui had never attempted to flee before, Kusagakure barely bothered guarding her.
More accurately…
The villagers living nearby served as her prison guards.
The rescue turned out to be far easier than Kakashi had expected.
Disguising himself with the Transformation Technique, he casually walked into the village.
Then he simply walked back out with Kaorui and her daughter.
No one questioned him.
In fact, every civilian they encountered respectfully bowed their heads upon seeing someone they assumed was a ninja.
Ordinary villagers in Kusagakure didn’t dare question anyone wearing a ninja’s appearance.
The return journey was equally uneventful.
Kusagakure eventually realized Kaorui had disappeared and dispatched pursuers.
None of them ever managed to catch up.
Kakashi repeatedly delayed them using traps and misdirection.
Aside from the first two days…
The remainder of the journey almost felt like a vacation.
Had Kaorui not been carrying a newborn baby, they could have traveled even faster.
When Hiruzen Sarutobi saw Kakashi return accompanied by a red-haired woman carrying a child…
He was momentarily stunned.
“Kakashi…”
“Who is she?”
“Hokage-sama, I encountered Kaorui while returning.”
“After learning she belonged to the Uzumaki Clan, I brought her back to Konoha.”
“The Uzumaki Clan?”
Hiruzen’s eyes immediately lit up.
His expression frightened Kaorui enough that she instinctively hid behind Kakashi.
She had seen that same look countless times before.
It was the same greedy gaze worn by the ninja who came to bite her in Kusagakure.
Fortunately…
Hiruzen’s thoughts had nothing to do with consuming her flesh.
Whatever his shortcomings as Hokage, he wasn’t comparable to the people of Kusagakure.
Instead…
His mind immediately turned toward Konoha’s future.
Kushina, as Minato’s widow and the current Nine-Tails’ Jinchūriki, wasn’t someone he could arrange a marriage for.
Kaorui, however…
Was different.
She could be matched with a suitable young man from Konoha.
Their descendants would continue the Uzumaki bloodline.
And someday…
When Kushina eventually passed away, Konoha would still possess descendants capable of becoming the next Nine-Tails’ Jinchūriki.
Thinking this through, Hiruzen’s expression softened into a warm smile.
“Kaorui, isn’t it?”
“You should know the long friendship between Konoha and the Uzumaki Clan.”
“From today onward…”
“Konoha is your home.”
“If you encounter any difficulties, you may seek help from Kakashi…”
“Or come directly to me.”
His reassuring words eased much of Kaorui’s nervousness.
Even so…
A bitter memory surfaced in her heart.
When she and Ryōto fled the destruction of the Land of Whirlpools, they had deliberately avoided Konoha.
Why?
Because when Uzushiogakure cried out for help…
Konoha had remained silent.
Many surviving members of the Uzumaki Clan came to believe Konoha was no different from every other hidden village.
The only reason it hadn’t attacked them was because the Land of Whirlpools was too far away.
In truth…
Before the destruction of Uzushiogakure, Konoha had already received intelligence suggesting that several great villages intended to attack.
Hiruzen had simply chosen not to intervene.
Of course…
The situation back then had been extraordinarily complicated.
The Second Great Ninja War had only recently begun.
The Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, had died after being ambushed during negotiations with Kumogakure.
Hiruzen had only just become the Third Hokage.
Konoha itself was facing enormous internal and external pressure.
Protecting Kushina alone amid the chaos had already stretched the village to its limits.
Saving an allied nation across the sea had simply been impossible.
After calming Kaorui, Hiruzen shifted his attention back to Kakashi.
Although he said nothing…
The meaning behind his gaze was obvious.
Did you find it?
Kakashi nodded and produced the scroll Kushina had entrusted to him before his departure.
Hiruzen accepted it and examined the seal.
It was unmistakably an Uzumaki sealing technique.
Although he was known as the Professor for his mastery of countless ninjutsu—and possessed considerable skill in sealing techniques as well…
He couldn’t compare to the Uzumaki Clan.
Especially not after Kushina had deliberately strengthened the seal to prevent even him from opening it.
“Kakashi.”
“Take Kaorui to see Kushina first.”
“Having another member of her clan nearby should help her settle in.”
“And return this scroll to Kushina as well.”
“Yes, Hokage-sama.”
Kakashi accepted the scroll once more before escorting Kaorui out of the Hokage’s office.
After they left…
Hiruzen quietly covered the crystal ball on his desk with a velvet cloth.
Then he activated the Telescope Technique.
The crystal ball immediately displayed Kakashi and Kaorui walking through Konoha.
Gifted with exceptional sensory abilities, Kaorui instantly realized someone was observing her.
However…
Having only just arrived in Konoha, she assumed such surveillance was only natural.
She wisely chose not to mention it to Kakashi.
Only after they reached Kushina’s residence did the image suddenly disappear.
The barrier surrounding the house completely blocked Hiruzen’s surveillance.
Tap.
Tap.
Tap.
Hiruzen gently knocked the ash from his pipe against the edge of the desk.
“Kushina…”
“You should be sending that cracked scroll over soon…”
At almost the exact same moment…
Danzo also received a report.
Kakashi had returned.
He had brought back a red-haired woman who was suspected to be a surviving member of the Uzumaki Clan.
Without wasting another second…
Danzo strode directly toward the Hokage’s office and pushed open the door.