Anko leaned against the wall resting. Hagi held Karin sitting on the bedside.
Gurgle.
Karin's stomach issued a protest. Her face carried some embarrassment as she pretended it was not her making that sound.
Some time had passed since eating, beginning from when Shuji brought the two away from Kusagakure. Departing Kusagakure had not consumed much time. The time spent traveling from the Land of Fire's border to Konoha Village had been long.
Karin was still young after all, untrained. Hunger struck quickly and intensely.
Uzumaki Hagi fumbled through her clothing for a while but found nothing to satisfy hunger. After confirming her ownership had been forcibly transferred, the previously silent woman finally spoke.
"That... that," her voice was very faint, "I apologize, but could you provide some food, just a little would be fine."
Anko slapped her forehead. "Ah, geez, I completely forgot about this. Sorry, sorry. Wait just a moment!"
She walked to the doorway and spoke a few words to a Konoha shinobi rotating nearby. Not long after, a shinobi delivered several rice balls and fresh water.
"Here, fill your stomachs for now."
"Thank you very much..." Hagi hurriedly received them, expressing quiet thanks. She first placed rice balls in Karin's hands, having her drink some water first. Only after watching her daughter begin eating did she herself take small bites of food.
Though simple, the warm rice balls and fresh water brought a sense of security surpassing a thousand words.
Just then, the lodging door was gently pushed open.
Entering was the returning Shuji, along with a dazzling blonde woman. Her countenance was beautiful, her steps steady and confident. Her mere appearance commanded Hagi and Karin's attention.
They had never seen such a person.
Hagi instinctively set down her rice ball, hurriedly standing and deeply lowering her head. Karin sensed her mother's tension, yet she could not tear her gaze from Tsunade.
The Senju princess's gaze naturally fell upon that mother-daughter pair. She had originally wanted to casually say "don't mind us, keep eating." But seeing Hagi's appearance, she swallowed the words back.
Tsunade softened her tone. "No need to be nervous. First tell me your names."
Uzumaki Hagi's body remained tense, head lowered. "...Uzumaki Hagi. My daughter is named Karin."
"Hagi, and Karin. I understand."
Tsunade spoke, glancing at Shuji to signal him to leave. Then she approached the bedside, her gaze falling on Hagi's arms. "Your arms, may I see them?"
Hagi's body visibly stiffened for an instant. Not from resistance—being bitten had long become commonplace for her—but she inexplicably did not want this person to see that ugly appearance on her body.
However, when Tsunade naturally sat beside her, long-cultivated submissive habits still made her tremble as she slowly rolled up her sleeves.
Tsunade's breathing instantly grew much heavier. She said nothing, only carefully examining the layered, crisscrossing old and new bite marks on Hagi's arms, her eyes gradually deepening. Then she indicated examining other areas.
Karin was temporarily set aside. She watched the marks covering her mother's body everywhere. Her eyes moistened again.
After completing the preliminary examination, Tsunade also briefly checked Karin's condition. After confirming she had not yet suffered identical treatment, she gently stroked her red hair.
"Rest well here for now."
Tsunade's tone was gentle, but when she turned and walked out of the lodging, her pace noticeably quickened.
Shuji quietly waited outside the door. Before he could speak, Tsunade grabbed his collar and dragged him toward the corridor corner.
Shuji glanced at his shoe tips once again suffering unwarranted disaster. At this rate, the replacement frequency for shinobi sandals would need to increase.
Tsunade released her grip, leaning against the wall and exhaling deeply. "Mood's terrible. Though I understand this is reality, it still feels terrible."
Shuji straightened his collar without responding.
"Regarding that mother-daughter pair, what are your plans?" Tsunade straightened, her expression resuming seriousness.
"Your diagnosis results?" Shuji asked in return.
"Uzumaki Hagi has been long-term drained of chakra. Her physical deficit is severe. More troublesome is the mental exhaustion and trauma. She's unsuitable to be a shinobi," Tsunade paused. "As for that little girl, there's nothing seriously wrong."
Shuji nodded. "Karin is young, highly malleable, great potential. Resources can be invested in cultivation."
Regarding this, Tsunade considered briefly. "Acceptable. If her special constitution is properly cultivated, she could become an excellent medical ninja in the future. As an Uzumaki clan descendant, she should also have considerable sealing technique talent."
Shuji continued, "As for Uzumaki Hagi, weak foundation, limited future growth space. Moreover, due to Kusagakure's treatment, excessively friendly gestures would instead make her suspicious."
"Therefore, give her ordinary work allowing self-sufficiency. Her abilities should temporarily remain confidential."
Tsunade contemplated briefly, expressing agreement. Whether from emotional sympathy or rational arrangement, this was appropriate. Karin's potential and value alone sufficed to allow her mother a normal life.
"Acceptable. Let's provisionally settle on your approach."
She looked toward Shuji. "Before that, necessary review procedures must still be followed. I'll arrange for the Medical Corps and Sealing Corps to give them comprehensive examinations."
"Kusagakure excels at sealing techniques. We still cannot confirm whether they left cursed seal formulas or similar things."
"You brought these people. You go explain the situation to them." Tsunade patted Shuji's shoulder. "I'll handle administrative procedures and the old man's end."
Watching Tsunade depart, Shuji pushed open the lodging door again.
"You will remain in Konoha Village going forward, temporarily staying here for a period," Shuji said. "We will arrange for the Medical Corps and Sealing Corps to thoroughly examine your conditions, then you can enter the village proper."
"Uzumaki... Hagi, correct? Come here. Some matters require informing you."
Hagi looked anxiously at her daughter once before following Shuji outside the door.
Shuji addressed Hagi directly. "As mentioned before, Konoha has its own medical system. In the vast majority of circumstances, your abilities will not be needed or utilized."
He spoke very frankly. "However, I cannot guarantee absolutely no exceptions."
Hagi nodded lightly. Precisely because of this, they had been taken to Konoha.
"The village will arrange work for you. Relying on this work, you can obtain compensation, support yourself and Karin. Before receiving the first wages, the village will provide basic living subsidies."
"When your abilities are truly needed subsequently, specific compensation will be calculated separately."
"Work? Compensation?" Hagi's eyes widened, almost blankly repeating these two somewhat unfamiliar terms.
Shuji frowned slightly. "Is there a problem?"
She hurriedly shook her head, voice urgent. "No, only, I... I don't know what I can do..." Having been treated as pure tools too long, she had long forgotten her value beyond "being bitten."
Moreover, Konoha would actually pay money...
"The village will arrange suitable work according to circumstances. Any other questions?"
"No... none..."
She had not been directly imprisoned as medicine. Current treatment far exceeded her most optimistic imagination.
"Then temporarily leave it at this. Return and rest. Someone will come later to take you for examinations."
"Let's go, Anko."
"Yes, Captain."
Seeing Shuji about to leave, Karin quickly ran several steps, chasing to the doorway. "Name, the captain's name is..."
Shuji's steps did not stop. Without turning back, he tossed out two words:
"Shuji."
Konoha Village underwent no new changes from adding two people. After rigorous, comprehensive physical and sealing examinations, Uzumaki Hagi and Karin officially became Konoha Village residents.
Facing complicated procedures and an entirely new environment, Uzumaki Hagi felt completely at a loss with it all. Kusagakure's simple, brutal treatment felt more familiar to her.
However, the life she once most desired yet no longer dared hope for seemed about to become reality.
Under Tsunade's arrangements, Hagi temporarily undertook some simple miscellaneous tasks at the Hokage Tower. The work was not onerous, with relatively flexible time to care for Karin.
As for residence, arrangements placed them in inexpensive village apartments. Initial rent was advanced by the village—yes, Tsunade had reported this matter to the Third Hokage. Absorbing new villagers, especially through such methods, could not bypass Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Regarding accepting Uzumaki clan survivors, the Third raised no objections. This itself aligned with village interests and sentiment. Only the report's summary of "Shuji forcibly bringing them from Kusagakure" once again subtly refreshed his awareness of this young jōnin's operational style.
The Uzumaki mother and daughter's matter temporarily concluded.
Not long after, Tsunade found Shuji, informing him of the handling results regarding Kusagakure's abnormal movements. The Third Hokage had decided to entirely entrust this matter to Shimura Danzo and his Root.
Simultaneously, she also revealed to Shuji that legendary object possibly connected to Kusagakure's actions—the Box of Ultimate Bliss.
This did not exceed Shuji's expectations. The Box of Ultimate Bliss appeared in a movie version. According to original plot descriptions, Kusagakure indeed attempted opening it during this period but failed.
Not until the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki appeared did Kusagakure restart their plan.
It seemed this was that failed attempt.
Shuji silently pondered. In the original timeline, they still did not succeed. Now with Root's covert interference added, Kusagakure's attempt would likely meet an even darker conclusion.
Just as Konoha settled the Uzumaki mother and daughter, delegations from other shinobi villages began successively arriving at Konoha.
First to arrive was the representative delegation from Sunagakure of the Land of Wind.
Leading this delegation was not some ordinary jōnin instructor.
Rather, it was Sunagakure's advisor elder, Chiyo.
Chapters in advance there: patreon.com/Thaniel_a_goodchild