From Kushina Uzumaki's perspective, she naturally felt misunderstood.
Wasn't she grieving over Shikou Uzumaki's passing? But birth, aging, sickness, and death were ultimately natural—everyone eventually faced their own mortality. Should those close to them completely sink into despair because of that?
Someone had to remain strong; the living still had other matters to handle… In Kushina's eyes, she was simply doing what she needed to do.
And naturally, she would receive what was rightfully hers.
She absolutely held the "this is mine" mindset. Kushina wasn't some teenage girl anymore, but one of Konoha's current leaders.
How could someone like Haseo, who had inexplicably abandoned Konoha, have any standing or authority to issue such orders now?
Jiraiya hadn't brought him back for a reason like this.
Objectively speaking, Kushina's actions weren't wrong. But Haseo just disliked this kind of mixed, impure attitude.
She indeed felt sorrow over Shikou's passing—after all, people were emotional beings. But could there be entirely opposite emotions stirring within her too…? Unknown. Still, her actions remained decisively proactive.
What did that prove?
Ultimately, Haseo was still a self-willed person who let emotion override interests and rational standards… If he truly acted based on objective "righteousness," why had he left Konoha in the first place?
He always followed his own compass.
As for the Uzumaki clan, Haseo's words still carried extraordinary weight—even though he no longer held any official position.
With a single word from Haseo, the Uzumaki clan sprang into motion… Shikou's funeral arrangements were already being handled under Yayoi's direction. Although Yayoi wasn't well-versed in such matters, but she had help from others.
From Haseo's return to Konoha until after Shikou's burial, the Fifth Hokage still hadn't come to visit him.
Although Haseo himself had shown certain attitudes and preferred not interacting with those people anyway… Such a situation couldn't last forever without explanation.
After most of the matters had been settled, one evening found Haseo walking home along a path, with Shinjin following closely behind him.
"Out of your original twelve, how many remain?"
"Three have passed away, but their deaths were due to natural causes."
Just like with Lady Shikou… Shinjin didn't say the sentence aloud.
"Counting myself, four of us remain at our original posts, while the rest have retired… The names Lord Haseo gave us are still preserved, though they've been passed down to younger ninjas.
For example, the current Sannai is the daughter of the previous Sannai. She herself has retired and gone back home to enjoy grandchildren… Lord Haseo, should I call everyone together?"
The only name that likely wouldn't be reused was "Shikou"—that had originally been her given name, and some things were simply…
Irreplaceable.
"There's no need. It's enough that they can live their lives in peace… How should I put it? Everyone's ending seems pretty good."
That's putting it too lightly. It's not just "pretty good"—by ninja standards, their lives ended near-perfectly.
Including Shikou, her ending couldn't be called bad either. If you think she lived a life full of misery…
First of all, she herself isn't one to be considered that fragile, and secondly, if someone's entire life could be described as extremely miserable, then maybe the world should've been wiped out from the get-go.
She has everything—except a romantic storyline.
At this moment, the two entered an Alley. Just as Haseo Yu was about to say something, he slightly glanced over his shoulder, then shook his head involuntarily.
Ka-jin became anxious but couldn't act recklessly since Haseo was ahead of him.
Then things started getting interesting, because Haseo encountered an assassination attempt.
Yes, an assassination.
A young ninja dropped down from above, slashing at Haseo's neck with a kunai. How do I even describe this? It's even crazier than trying to stab [Susanoo].
"Uzumaki clan matters mustn't be interfered with by outsiders."
That's what he said before being restrained—Haseo didn't even have to lift a finger himself. Finally unable to hold back, Ka-jin immediately subdued him.
Better if they'd stopped him before he even opened his mouth.
The assassin had red hair.
There was already surely widespread news within the Uzumaki clan: Kushina Uzumaki, who everyone expected to become clan leader, had missed out on the position while Yayoi Uzumaki, whose presence had always been faint, was instead elevated to a place she never should've reached.
Some resentment was natural—but Ka-jin hadn't anticipated such fierce resistance.
So foolish.
"Trying to move toward the center of power? That's a natural reaction. But… well, I admit I'm an outsider. So does that mean I've got no right to meddle in Uzumaki matters anymore?"
"General Haseo—"
Haseo waved Ka-jin off. "Ka-jin, tell me honestly—have I, Haseo Yu, ever wronged your Uzumaki clan?"
Haseo had finally run into a thankless brat today. He found it quite amusing… He'd never claimed to have done great favors for the Uzumaki clan, but at the very least, for a long period of time, wasn't it a mutual support relationship between both sides?
Clearly, after integrating into Konoha and holding a prominent position for twenty years, some younger ninja of this clan had grown restless.
They'd gotten full of themselves—which was understandable, honestly. Perhaps not long from now they might even try claiming the title of First Ninja Sect for themselves.
"However, assassinating me certainly isn't wise. You picked the wrong person. If you're trying to make me submit… Let me suggest a more feasible method: how about kidnapping my daughter?"
These words made Ka-jin's brain freeze.
Since Haseo wouldn't let him explain, he immediately knelt down on one knee.
Back then, Lord Haseo was closer to these twelve Uzumaki shinobi as friends rather than subordinates, but things are different now.
Ka-jin never expected such a sudden incident—Uzumaki shinobi attempting to assassinate Lord Haseo.
"Ka-jin, do you think this action was orchestrated by someone?"
"Impossible, Lord Haseo. If it were a planned assassination, they would've gathered much stronger shinobi to begin with... As for Lord Haseo, there are no truly powerful ninja left in Konoha.
It's just young people acting on impulse again."
Ka-jin could only explain it from a rational perspective.
Even in the worst-case scenario, if the Fifth intended to target the Fourth, he wouldn't be foolish enough to act like this… Only arrogant kids who overestimate themselves would be reckless enough to do something like this.
"Is that so… Well, it doesn't matter anyway.
Ka-jin, can you handle the Uzumaki affairs properly? If not, I'll just take Yayoi with me.
We can change her name… How about Haseo Yayoi? It doesn't sound very good though—it'll have to do."
"There's no need for that, Lord Haseo. Yayoi will become the Uzumaki clan leader.
Like you said, if she takes the Haseo name… it sounds awkward and would be hard to explain to Lady Tsunade."
Lord Haseo always judges a group based on how he feels about certain key members. Since Shikou Uzumaki's death, the Uzumaki clan has gradually become something "indifferent" to him.
When Haseo sees something as unimportant, he'll easily get rid of it—not out of hatred or intent, but simply because it's convenient.
The Uzumaki clan cannot afford this kind of "possibility."
Anyone could see that Lord Haseo had been in a terrible mood recently, and acting up in front of him at times like this… Words like "asking for trouble" don't even cover it anymore.
"Lord Haseo, it truly doesn't matter that some in the Uzumaki clan dislike you, but if because of this dislike you grow resentful toward the entire clan, that would be an unpardonable crime."
"You're overreacting. After all, I'm just a retired old man.
Well then… Handle this as you see fit. Correct these youths' thinking properly. Don't keep trying to take lives over nothing."
With that, Lord Haseo left the alley.
He didn't even glance at the assassin once the entire time.
About ten minutes after Haseo's departure, Ka-jin slowly stood up.
He rubbed his waist before walking toward the Uzumaki shinobi…
Clearly, they knew each other.
"Tesho, youth does carry the right to make mistakes, since experience and insight come with survival time.
Luckily, Lord Haseo is willing to give another chance… Probably the last one.
After Lady Shikou, Yayoi Uzumaki is nearly the only remaining connection between Lord Haseo and the Uzumaki clan, so the next clan leader must be her—and only her.
Alright, you might not understand this logic… Are you eighteen or seventeen? Either way, you were born after Lord Haseo had already left Konoha. It's understandable that you don't know him well."
Rising closer to the seat of power, tightly circling around the Hokage—was it at this point that such ambitions began to spread within the Uzumaki clan? Perhaps Kushina's marriage was a mistake from the beginning.
Where are the Senju clan now? Where is the Uchiha clan? And where is Sarutobi, the Third? There were good examples too, such as the Hyuga who had held their position firmly for sixty years. So why not follow those better examples?
But…
There are mistakes you can make; there are others you must never make. There are things that can be forgiven; there are others that never will be.
In the end, the Uzumaki accepted Lord Haseo's forgiveness, but… you will never receive forgiveness from the Uzumaki.
What a waste—you were still so young, too young to know better.
Perhaps growing old made Ka-jin talkative and rambling.
The young Uzumaki ninja's gaze finally turned to sheer terror.
Normally kind and always looking out for the younger generation, Elder Ka-jin suddenly bent down and picked up a qingzhuan (a type of traditional grayish-blue brick) from the alley.
Then, without hesitation, he slammed it straight into the head of the person before him.
Again and again, he simply kept applying the same force, mechanically repeating the motion. Sure, Ka-jin had gotten older, but he hadn't lost his touch… his hands remained rock-steady.
It wasn't until whatever had been resting on the other man's shoulder had been smashed flat—like a pancake—that Ka-jin finally released his grip on the brick and lifted the Binding Curse Technique.
Was he angry?
No. He was merely filled with immense dread.
Lord Haseo said, "Suggesting the abduction of my daughter"—what did that mean? What did it mean?
By now, many of Kagenami's secrets had already leaked out, just like the truth about the Nine-Tails. Yet some matters were still known only among the Twelve Ninja… such as how Haseo had defeated Madara Uchiha.
Even if Haseo came into full conflict with Konoha's current leadership, the Uzumaki would still back him—as long as even one of the elders remained alive.
Ka-jin knew exactly what mattered most.
So what if it's about appointing a new Uzumaki clan leader? How important could something like that really be?
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