"Before this Konoha team could begin their operation, the insects used by the Aburame clan to alert them to danger detected movement nearby."
"Someone is approaching!"
Aburame Shishi warned her teammates. The moment she spoke, everyone moved-some formed hand seals, while others unsheathed their weapons in anticipation of the ambush they assumed would follow.
"Is it Uzumaki Kushina? And Uzumaki Yusuke? It looks like they're here to find us?"
Her unexpected assessment made the others freeze on the spot.
As members of Root selected from Anbu, their expertise lay in infiltration, assassination, and torture-disciplines that demanded stealth and secrecy. So the fact their carefully concealed position was found this easily caused concern. Even stranger was that the supposed enemy came directly toward them without hesitation.
"…What do we do?"
Aburame Shishi turned to Yamanaka Ao. He stood silently at first, clearly affected by the turn of events-but he answered quickly enough to keep command.
"Are you certain it's Uzumaki Kushina?"
"Yes," she replied flatly. "I attached one of my bugs to her earlier. The chakra and scent match perfectly."
Yamanaka Ao nodded once, decision made.
"Even if they're acting with hidden intent, we'll wait and listen-but stay alert. Don't lower your guard."
"Yes."
They responded in unison; then Aburame Shishi moved to open the door.
Before she could reach for the handle, though, the boy's calm, clear tone reached them through the wooden barrier.
"Friends of Konoha, please open the door. I want to ask for your help."
Shishi winced slightly at being so easily discovered again and looked at Yamanaka Ao once. He gave her the slightest nod.
Squeak-
She pulled open the old door carefully. There stood Uzumaki Yusuke and Kushina-calm expressions and relaxed posture as if they weren't walking into enemy territory at the edge of war.
"Won't you invite me in?"
Shishi stepped aside without complaint and gestured inward.
"Please."
Uzumaki Yusuke strolled in without hesitation, his hand lightly tugging Kushina along behind him. As soon as they entered, Yamanaka Ao moved-his kunai flashed out and pressed against Yusuke's neck before anyone had time to speak again.
"How did you find us?"
Uzumaki Yusuke stood motionless. No spike in heart rate. No defensive posture. He smiled calmly even with steel against his throat.
"[Kagura Heart's Eye] is not for show," he said evenly. "We knew there were enemies outside-and we followed the chakra inside."
Yamanaka Ao slowly pulled the blade away after hearing that explanation.
"Forgive me. I had to be sure."
"It's fine," Yusuke replied with another small smile. "Actually-I came to ask for help."
"We won't give it."
Yamanaka Ao cut him off instantly. "It's not that we don't want to help-it's that we lack any strength to change this war's outcome. We've already reported back to Konoha for support. We suggest you wait for reinforcements instead. Hold out just a little longer and-"
Instead of arguing back, Yusuke turned calmly to Aburame Shishi and said-
"Would you mind taking Kushina outside to play? I'd like to speak with him privately."
Shishi glanced toward Yamanaka Ao again. After interpreting his nod as permission, she walked over and gently guided Kushina out of the room.
Yusuke watched them leave-his posture shifted slightly once they were out of sight. The smile faded from his face completely as he turned back toward Yamanaka Ao.
"I want you to bring Kushina to Konoha and hand her over to Mito."
Yamanaka Ao froze on the spot.
Their mission required retrieving Kushina safely after her country fell-and making sure she felt guilt over those who died protecting her. Only that guilt would forge obedience and shift her allegiance to Konoha permanently. A smooth handoff now wasn't part of that plan; they hadn't reinforced her emotional vulnerability at this stage.
"I know it's too early," Yusuke said softly while watching his hesitation. "We've bought some time against the Mist forces-but we won't last long. If you get her back to Konoha… you may take whatever you want from the Land of Whirlpools."
Temptation rolled off those words-but it had no effect on Yamanaka Ao himself. Members of the Dark Department were trained for loyalty well beyond bribery-and Root operatives were conditioned into total commitment from childhood.
"…I'm sorry, I-"
"I understand," Yusuke interrupted without anger. "In that case… bury me with her here in this country."
"Wait-"
Yamanaka Ao stepped forward without thinking that time.
Letting the Nine-Tails die alongside its Jinchūriki wasn't acceptable. Without someone strong enough-an Uzumaki-to contain its chakra upon release, that beast could rampage again when revived. And no one wanted its wrath targeted at Konoha next.
Even worse… Mito cared about nothing outside her family circle-and if they denied her even this chance to raise Kushina herself… they might lose her completely.
After everything she'd done to protect Konoha-that risk was unacceptable too.
"Lady Mito has given so much to protect our village-it's time we honored her bloodline. We'll do it-but we'll only be able to keep one safe at most."
He tried not to grit his teeth through the lie.
Yusuke either believed him-or pretended to-because he said nothing else on that subject. Instead, he handed over a scroll from within his sleeve.
"Some properties I own in Konoha-not many-but enough streets for her to live comfortably once she arrives."
Yamanaka Ao accepted it without even blinking-but internally cursed through clenched thoughts.
Rich bastard-no wonder his clan died out.
Even so-smile intact-he pocketed the scroll silently while nodding once in acknowledgment.
Yusuke nodded in return and then pointed in one direction out past the doorframe.
"We cleared that path already," he said plainly. "It won't stay open for long-but right now, it's your best bet for getting out with her alive."
Yamanaka Ao found no cause left for suspicion anymore. Kushina was being offered willingly-her protection guaranteed-and immense wealth transferred without negotiation or hesitation. If it was a trap-it wasn't one he could detect now.
"Alright."
"In that case," he said at last, "we move now."
"Good."
💕💕
READ 45+ ADVANCED CHAPTER AT MY P@TREON!
at [email protected] /Zaneninjacat
💕💕
💀💀 gimme powerstones!💀💀