Chapter 3 - Heritage

Kushina nee-san this is amazing I feel so full of li-

Keitaros spell of words cut short as he noticed the change in surroundings, fearing he had been placed in a gengutsu his mind was on high alert and ready for anything.

Keitaro observed his surroundings wearily, he noticed the realm had staggeringly similar appearance to the space his soul had been dragged to when faced with the God.

He felt a strange familiarity and sense of comfortability in the air.
Is… is this my mindscape? Keitaro thought quietly to himself.
Suddenly a ray of light crashed down into the ground before him. Keitaro dashed back in retreat, as the ball of light took shape the silhouette of a woman was revealed gradually forming into an actual human appearance.
The woman had pale white skin and hot red hair that cascaded down her petite shoulders all the way down to her waist. She was around 5'8 and wore a tight fit purple kimono with the Uzumaki clan sign on the back.
She smiled meekly yet lovingly at Keitaro

Keitaros eyes widened in shock, although her hair had changed colour he would never forget her face, it was his birth mother stood before him.
The woman blushed and stared

Keitaro darling do you know wh-

He rushed forth tackling her cutting the words short, giving a hug as tight as he could muster for his small frame.
Surprised by his reaction, she was stuck for words and just welcomed the hug with her head down tears streaming from her face.

I knew you would be a bright boy, I could see it in your eyes she muttered softly.
Now we haven't much time so let's get a move on, I can tell you have many questions. I may not be able to answer them all now but In enough time you will have all the answers my child but first I will show you something. As she did a few hand seals and placed her hands on his head.

Year since Konoha founding 53

Land of Rice

The young woman lie quietly in a dark circular space, dimly illuminated by a flame that flickered from time to time. It had been another rough day for Kazuko, ever since she had been separated from her younger sister In the midst of escaping the destruction of Uzushioagkure she hadn't been able to be sleep well, plagued by sleepless nights her eyes bags and thin frame told a story of their own. As her consciousness faded and she nodded off to sleep, she suddenly heard the faint sounds of tapping seemingly getting closer. She felt the she may be imagining things… it wouldn't be the first time.

However as she peered towards the dark entrance of the cave the outlines of a large silhouette getting closer forced her to reevaluate the situation.

She slowly slid the senbons hidden in her sleeves down into her fingers, as the silhouette advanced and reached the perimeter of light generated by the small flame Kazuko was ready to attack! However before she could throw the senbons at the unknown intruder, his body collapsed with a dull and loud thud.

Kazukos eyebrows raised in confusion, all that anticipation! A bit anticlimactic no? Hmmm let me not be impatient this could be a ploy to get me closer. I may have been discovered unknowingly and if that's the case this ninja must be of high calibre to escape my perception.
Kazuko focused and closed her eyes as she did so a yellow glow left her body follow by the manifestation of chains flying out of her chest toward the intruder binding him tightly.

There that should be enough

Kazuko cautiously approached the body that had yet to react to any of her moves, she removed the cloak tentatively only to be quite unnerved by her discovery. It was a man, dark skin large strong build with blonde hair braided into neat cainrows and a sharply shaped goatee. Lastly he wore a kumogakure headband around his neck that flowed seamless into a scarf.

He was alive.

His breathing was heavy and the metallic smell of blood oozed from his body but, he was still alive. Kazuko felt conflicted she knew she could be a likely target of his, as Kumo was known for coveting her villages abilities and fuinjutsu and she would prove as the perfect breeding tool. However she also wished for answers she wanted news on the outside world and this Kumo ninja looked to be powerful and should hold quite a bit of intelligence.
Against her better judgement she decided to save the Kumo ninja for the sake of prying information from him. She whispered in his ear

Bite down on my arm, as she said so, she didn't garner much of a reaction other than a low grunt, seeing him struggling she helped him and pushed his jaw to bite down on her exposed arm.
Doing so successful her body shone with a pale blue light , a faint blush illustrating her face.
After 2 minutes his breathing steadied and his complexion got better. A tired Kazuko pulled the man's body towards the flame, she then laid down to recover her lost chakra and vitality.

After a short while Kazuko awakened.

Ahh finally awake I see, the voice low yet seemed to reverberate throughout the whole cave, Kazuko looked up to see the Kumo nin layed down but facing her, his confident eyes trailed over her body analysing her wanting to burn the imagine of the woman into his mind.

Before you say anything I must thank you for saving my life, I was ambushed by Kirigakure nin while on a mission and found myself here, already on my last legs facing the doors of death… but you brought me back for that I must thank you. My name is Kazui

Taken aback by his politeness Kazuko faltered
O- okay I di- didn't do it out of the kindness of my heart I need information from you. She had struggled to get the words out, her lack of conviction exposing her false bravado

And my name, my name is Kazuko

Kazui laughed at the girl fighting her words, his laugh trailed into a continuous cough that only died down ten seconds later. You wish for information… I see well, to repay the favour of saving my life you can ask away.

First what was your mission Kazuko asked, watching Kazui intently wanting to see any fluctuations in chakra while he gave his answer.

Kazui warm demeanour vanished as the question left her mouth, feeling the temperature of the cave drop Kazuko was immediately on guard however a soft sigh quickly followed and the cold presence vanished.

I was tasked with a few things however the priority and top secret mission was… to search and capture any Uzumaki stragglers that survived the annihilation and bring them back to the village to pry the secrets of Uzushiogakure from them.
Silence permeated the cave as the temperature dropped to a frightening degree, kazukos hairs stood on end and lashed about violently.

This girl I can tell she's not much of a combatant but the her chakra reserves are frightening, truly befitting the the Uzumaki name.
Is it fate or pure dumb luck that after months of fruitless searching, when my life is at the end of its tether im rescued by the very target I wished to capture. Haha truly laughable.

Kazuko who sat there with a cold gleam in her eye had already braced herself for the answer. She knew many of the 5 nations would be after her and her lineage Kumo being especially vehement in their attempts.
She controlled her breathing, the Kumo nin is complying he has realised the passivity of his position, he is adaptable and charismatic. This is definitely a strong ninja he should be quite high up in the pecking order she thought to herself. He is severely injured and won't be able to use his full strength for the coming month,slowly analysing the current situation.
Kazuko then asked a list of questions one being whether he had come to this area on a whim or he had received a lead on her whereabouts. He confirmed that there had been a few whispers of Uzumakis being sighted here ,Kusagakare and in Amegakure, this gave her hope of finding her sister.
As she sorted through the information she had received, her thoughts were interrupted by two foreign chakra signatures fast approaching… it seems we have company.

FROM FOES TO LOVERS???? How did it happen and who is approaching find out next time on Dragon ba-
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