Using the Flying Thunder God, Roshi appeared at the remote clearing where he had separated from his team earlier. He placed the unconscious mother and daughter gently on the ground.
The Uzumaki clan's vitality was remarkable—before long, Rina stirred, her lashes trembling as she slowly regained consciousness. The first memory that came back to her was that of a stranger—a Kusa shinobi who had appeared without warning, eyes cold, his gaze directed toward her daughter.
"Karin!" Rina gasped, bolting upright. Her hands frantically searched until she found the small, warm figure beside her. Only when she pulled Karin into her arms did her panic ease.
That was when she noticed the surroundings had changed—the air was crisp, the trees unfamiliar, and the oppressive weight of Kusa was gone.
Then she saw him.
The man from before stood a few steps away, silent, watching.
"This… isn't Kusa," she whispered.
When he saw her awake, Roshi didn't respond immediately. Instead, he dispelled his Transformation Jutsu, his appearance reverting to normal.
Rina's eyes widened when she saw the symbol carved into his forehead protector. "You… you're not a Kusa ninja. That's—Konoha."
Her voice shook. "Why did you—"
"Rob you," Roshi interrupted evenly, his tone flat. "I found you in Kusa. You looked useful, so I took you."
The word save would have been too soft, too misleading. To someone who had long lived as a possession, calling it a rescue would only sow confusion and fear. "Robbery" was blunt—simple enough to understand, and believable enough to accept.
Sure enough, Rina fell silent. She clutched her daughter tighter, her body trembling faintly, but she didn't resist.
"This is the Land of Fire's border," Roshi said. "Follow me."
Rina gathered Karin in her arms and followed wordlessly. She didn't dare run. A man who could spirit them away from Kusa without leaving a trace was far beyond anything she could oppose.
Whether she lived or died didn't matter much anymore—but if there was even a sliver of safety for her daughter, she would take it.
They had only gone a short distance when rustling came from the bushes ahead. Rina froze, nearly collapsing from fright.
"Captain!"
A familiar voice broke through the tension. Anko emerged from the trees, brushing a few leaves from her shoulder. "You actually did it, huh? Are these the ones?"
Roshi gave a short nod. "Mm."
Anko's gaze swept over the pair—two red-haired figures, one weary, one unconscious. Her expression shifted when she noticed the woman's arms—lined with deep bite marks.
Her easy grin faltered. "Those bastards…" she muttered under her breath.
At that moment, Karin stirred. She blinked groggily, then turned instinctively toward the warmth of her mother's embrace.
"Mom…" she murmured. Then, as memories rushed back, her eyes flew open.
"You—you hit me!"
Her small voice rang with outrage. Sitting up in her mother's arms, she glared up at Roshi. But under the weight of three gazes, her indignation quickly wilted.
"Pfft." Anko couldn't help but laugh, hands on her hips. "Spunky kid. Mommy looks timid, but the daughter's got fire. You picked a lively one, Captain."
Roshi ignored the teasing, his voice clipped and firm. "Anko, you're in charge of her." His gaze flicked toward Rina. "I'll take the child. We move quickly—return to the Village."
Rina instinctively tightened her grip, eyes flashing with fear and silent pleading. Roshi's expression didn't change.
"The destination is Konoha," he said flatly. "Both of you. Don't waste time."
Under that cold gaze—and the weight of everything she'd endured—Rina's resistance broke. With trembling hands, she handed Karin over.
Anko stepped beside her, slipping an arm under the exhausted woman's shoulder. Her grin returned, though her tone carried an edge.
"Alright, big sis. Be a good girl and follow along," she said, voice deceptively light. "I'm not exactly gentle when I'm tired."
"Otherwise…" She cracked her knuckles, smirking. "Don't blame me if I get rough."
It was half a joke, half a warning—but it served its purpose. Rina nodded weakly, clutching her shawl tighter.
With that, the small group set off. Roshi walked at the front, Karin held carefully but firmly against his side, while Anko supported the trembling woman behind him. The forest passed swiftly beneath their feet as they crossed into Fire Country territory.
Back in Kusa, chaos had erupted.
Multiple search teams had returned empty-handed. There were traces—a few scuffed footprints, a faint scent—but nothing else. It was as if the mother and daughter had simply vanished into thin air.
In the command post, Hayami's expression darkened. Around him, reports piled up like storm clouds. The elders who had gone out with the Village leader had returned badly injured, but elated, convinced that Kusa's long-awaited rise was finally within reach.
Their first request had been to heal their wounds.
But when the medics went to fetch Rina and her daughter, both were gone.
Search orders were issued instantly, yet even with the entire Village mobilized, no one found a single trace.
According to the last person who had delivered food to them, the disappearance couldn't have been long ago.
"Damn it," Hayami muttered, his voice low and tense. "Who would dare…?"
The only outsiders who'd recently entered Kusa were the Konoha envoys. But they had left openly, under escort, with nothing suspicious about them.
Could there be a traitor inside the Village?
The thought tightened in his mind like a noose.
"Continue searching," he ordered finally, voice cold. "Expand the perimeter. Leave no trace unchecked."
Then, with a grim expression, Hayami turned and strode toward the central tower—ready to face the furious report that awaited him.
Bringing unidentified civilians into Konoha was never simple.
At the main gate, Roshi efficiently completed the required documentation, his report concise and deliberately vague:
"Encountered and retrieved suspicious individuals during a mission—pending investigation."
Once cleared, he escorted the Uzumaki mother and daughter to the visitors' dormitory—a modest housing facility used for stranded travelers and low-priority refugees.
"Anko, stay here and keep watch," Roshi instructed, turning to leave. "I'll report to Lady Tsunade."
As he moved toward the door, a small, trembling voice stopped him.
"Um… what will happen to me and Mommy now?" Karin asked, her wide crimson eyes darting nervously between them.
"Konoha has its own medical system," Roshi replied flatly.
His tone was neutral, but his words carried quiet reassurance—though the girl seemed too anxious to notice.
Anko, leaning against the wall with arms crossed, sighed. Her earlier sharpness faded; the act of playing "villain" was no longer necessary.
"Listen, kid," she said, her voice softening just a touch. "I don't know what you've been through, but if the Captain brought you back, you're safe for now. The rest will be handled properly."
Karin hesitated, then asked shyly, "The Captain's name… what's his name?"
Anko grinned. "If he wants you to know, he'll tell you himself."
Roshi had already vanished through the doorway.
—
By the time he reached the Hokage Building, news of his "unexpected guests" had already preceded him. Tsunade was waiting in her office, files spread open, her mood visibly sour.
"That guy again…" she muttered, massaging her temple.
Right on cue, the door swung open.
"Oh, look who it is—Lord Roshi himself," she drawled, leaning back in her chair. "Waltzing in without knocking. I suppose that's how war heroes behave now."
Roshi ignored the sarcasm entirely. "Working overtime beyond mission requirements to handle unplanned situations—and still no greeting from the Hokage's office? Lady Tsunade, your compassion is slipping."
"Because of you, I didn't sleep last night!" she snapped. "Now tell me, what did you bring back this time?!"
He tilted his head. "Irresponsible adult."
Her lips twitched. "Irritating brat."
The verbal sparring ended in mutual resignation. Tsunade gestured for him to sit, and with that, the discussion turned serious.
"So," she began, "what's the situation in Kusa—and who exactly are the two you dragged back?"
"Kusa has no new developments," Roshi replied. "But they're definitely collecting ninja for purposes beyond standard recruitment."
Tsunade frowned. "Then why the delay? You stayed longer than scheduled."
"Because of them," he said simply. "A mother and daughter—survivors of the Uzumaki Clan."
Her brows lifted slightly. "From Kusa?"
"For now," Roshi replied. "But since I brought them out, and if the paperwork clears, they'll soon be registered as Konoha residents."
"...What?"
Tsunade stood abruptly, her palms slamming onto the desk. The papers fluttered from the impact.
"You took them?"
Roshi didn't flinch. "Yes."
She came around the desk, grabbing his collar as if to shake some sense into him—only to realize she couldn't quite lift him anymore without chakra. She clicked her tongue and kicked his shin instead, forcing him upright.
"Hmph. You've gotten taller than me," she muttered, squinting up at him. "And your face doesn't look half-bad anymore either."
Then her tone shifted, halfway between exasperation and disbelief.
"So tell me, Mr. Puberty hit today—since when did you start kidnapping women and children from other villages?"
Roshi's calm gaze didn't waver.
The silent standoff stretched several seconds before Tsunade finally huffed, throwing up her hands. "Alright, out with it. Why?"
"Because the elder woman possesses a unique physiology—her chakra can heal others rapidly. Kusa was using her as a living medical tool."
Tsunade's expression hardened.
"The girl likely inherited the same ability," Roshi continued. "Though it seems she hasn't been subjected to the same… treatment."
A long silence filled the office. Then Tsunade exhaled slowly, her anger dissolving into weary understanding.
"So that's it…" she murmured. "Those poor fools…"
Her gaze turned distant for a moment. "After Uzushiogakure fell, many survivors blamed Konoha for abandoning them. They scattered—hiding, fleeing, being used."
She sighed, straightening her coat. "Alright. Let's go see them. I want to know what kind of hell you thought was worth breaking diplomatic etiquette over."
As she reached the door, she paused, one hand on the frame. "By the way," she added without turning, "you cleaned up after yourself, didn't you? No one saw you?"
"No witnesses."
"Then it wasn't robbery," she said with a faint, amused smirk. "It was theft."
"Kusa has already dispatched search teams," Roshi replied. "That makes it an act of open hostility—which legally defines it as robbery."
Tsunade chuckled. "A shameless thief with excuses."
"A bandit," Roshi corrected dryly.
"Same thing."
"Different intention."
She glanced over her shoulder with a half-smile. "You really are impossible."
Roshi's tone remained even. "That's why you keep me around, Lady Tsunade."
Her smile faded, replaced by the faintest glimmer of respect—the kind reserved for someone who always delivered results, even if his methods never quite fit the rulebook.
"Let's go," she said finally. "Before the paperwork piles up to my neck again."
And with that, the future Hokage and her most unconventional Jonin headed toward the visitor dormitory—unaware that the reappearance of two red-haired Uzumaki would soon send ripples far beyond Konoha's walls.
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