Uzumaki Youjia was gravely wounded, while the Cloud squad captain was bound by her seal.
But Purple Cat clung stubbornly to the ANBU mission. The first priority was to prevent sealing techniques from leaking.
Killing Youjia would indeed fulfill the mission.
But if that happened, Yen would die anyway.
Sometimes he truly could not understand the thinking of Konoha shinobi.
Every day in ANBU, outside of training, was just captain after captain hammering the same thing into their heads — shinobi are tools for carrying out missions.
Mission above all. That principle was enforced without compromise.
Just like in the original story, when Kisame escorted intel and, before Konoha could intercept, slaughtered every intel-nin on his side to keep the information safe.
Trailing right behind Purple Cat, Yen used his teammate's back as cover, hiding his hand signs from the others.
Purple Cat's kunai stopped just ten centimeters from Youjia's throat.
His whole body froze, joints locked by binding marks.
Purple Cat was horrified. Youjia had taken two deep cuts, yet still had such strength?
Youjia herself was shocked. That sealing jutsu hadn't come from her.
Then she saw Fox standing behind Purple Cat and realized something.
No wonder Fox had cared for her along the way. He must be of Senju blood!
This kind of Uzumaki secret art was never taught outside the clan, except to disciples or absolute allies.
If Fox also knew Uzumaki sealing techniques, then he was one of their own. What a surprise.
So instead of killing her, he had controlled Purple Cat.
Yen rushed the Cloud captain.
He drove his kunai hard at the man's heart.
The captain, strong as expected of an elite chunin, broke free of Youjia's weakened seal in time.
His blade came up in a savage uppercut, aiming for Yen's wrist.
Facing such power, Yen felt death in the very next breath.
He had already used this month's resurrection. Die here, and it would be permanent.
Feigning weakness, Yen let his knees buckle. His body dropped just enough to slip past the upward slash.
The kunai missed the heart but sank into the man's abdomen.
With the strike landed, Yen dove and scrambled away, rolling over dirt and grass.
The rest was beyond him now. He had done all he could.
His chakra was limited, and Purple Cat's binding was already undone.
With the Cloud captain so close, Purple Cat had no choice but to engage.
The captain leapt back, wary of another seal, and Purple Cat gave chase.
Yen crawled to Youjia's side and began staunching her bleeding, sprinkling medicine on the wounds.
After the quick treatment, her condition stabilized somewhat.
Trembling but resolute, Youjia grabbed Fox's hand and drew it to her thigh.
Yen was startled. At a time like this? Really?
But under her skirt, his fingers found not flesh, but a scroll strapped tight.
"Throw it! Throw it at the Cloud shinobi! This is what they're after — it's our secret weapon!"
Relief surged through Yen. Saving an Uzumaki had been the right move after all. An unexpected reward.
He snatched the scroll and hurled it at the Cloud captain.
Only then did he notice: Purple Cat was dead, cut down moments ago by the captain's blade.
The scroll unfurled in midair, glowing gold.
The metallic crash of chains rang out. Dozens of spiked chains shot forth like a great net.
Yen dropped flat.
Everyone standing nearby was pierced or bound by the chains.
Adamantine Sealing Chains?
The Uzumaki had made their strongest sealing jutsu into a disposable tool, like an exploding tag?
Chains that once only the clan's most gifted could manifest, now even ordinary members could wield as a weapon.
Yen scrambled up, flinging kunai.
The immobilized Cloud captain fell under his blades.
Yen exhaled hard. The danger had passed.
"Fox! Keep going!"
Captain Antelope's bark startled him. Yen turned — the captain too was wrapped in chains, completely bound.
Such a powerful sealing technique.
One kunai after another flew from Yen's hand, each one finding a Cloud throat.
When the slaughter was over, all eight Cloud shinobi were dead. Two male Uzumaki shinobi were dead. Purple Cat was dead too.
Yen stood by Purple Cat's body, feeling regret.
They had just begun to find some teamwork, and now she was gone.
She too had been a civilian ninja, cannon fodder like him.
Captain Antelope came over, sighing with regret. "Purple Cat went first? That wasn't the order I expected."
Yen and Horned Ox both looked up.
What?
Captain, what do you mean?
What order exactly were you expecting? Who was supposed to die first?
The captain didn't answer. He walked to Youjia instead.
"Captain Antelope, please let Fox carry me. Take me to Uzushio Village quickly," she pleaded from the ground.
Yen could tell from the tension in the captain's muscles that he was hesitating.
Wasn't Uzushio Konoha's ally? What mission had he actually been given?
Killing Uzumaki to prevent secrets falling into enemy hands he could still accept. But now the Cloud were dead. Why hesitate?
Only the captain knew the mission. ANBU like Yen only carried out orders.
The Adamantine Chain scroll had been tucked into the captain's back, with no intention of returning it to Youjia.
At last he said, "Fine. We'll head for Uzushio right away."
Yen hoisted Youjia onto his back and set out.
Later, while resting, Yen set her down and carefully checked her wounds.
They were healing well.
But the thigh where the scroll had been strapped was now bare.
Last time he had only admired the smooth muscle and missed that she carried another scroll on her other leg.
Seeing the captain out of earshot, Youjia leaned against Yen and whispered:
"I know you won't admit it, but you must be Senju. You've used our secret art, the Sealed Paralysis Mark. Only Senju are entrusted with it.
So I'll treat you as one of our own.
Please, help me. Help me make it back to the village safely.
Lately there's been troubling rumors. One says that after Lord Tobirama's death, Konoha no longer intends to honor the Senju–Uzumaki alliance.
The Hokage now is not Senju, but Sarutobi Hiruzen.
The people of Konoha treat us colder and colder. Only our Senju in-laws still honor the pact."
Yen nodded faintly, pretending to agree.
But if the captain gave the order to kill her, he wouldn't hesitate.
He couldn't fight Captain Antelope, so he would obey.
Then Uzushio came into view, and Yen froze, stunned at the sight.
Was Uzushio Village… really this strong?
__________________________________________________________
To read more advanced chapters and support me, go to:
patreon.com/ArchSovereign