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Miyuki Uzumaki came to Qianyu's home, Naruto in her arms. She asked Qianyu and Kushina Uzumaki for help.
Qianyu and Kushina exchanged a look. Kushina already knew what this was about. Qianyu had analyzed the situation with her before.
"Miyuki," Kushina confirmed, voice gentle. "You want to leave Konoha with Naruto, don't you?"
Miyuki stared at her, surprised she'd already figured it out.
She nodded, anxiety tightening her voice. "Yes. We can't stay here any longer. It's too dangerous. The whole village is talking about the 'disaster child' born from the Nine-Tails attack. If they find out it's Naruto… I'm terrified of what might happen."
She hugged Naruto closer. "I've been looking for a chance to leave, but the surveillance on us is too tight. I… I have no other options left. You're my only hope."
Kushina fell silent. She knew Qianyu would help.
Qianyu paused, then asked, "Where would you go?"
"A country without ninja," Miyuki said quickly. "Somewhere quiet. Safe."
Qianyu met her eyes. "A good idea…"
Miyuki's face lit up with hope. "You'll help us?"
"I will help you." His tone shifted. "But that plan won't work, Miyuki."
"Why not?"
"Because of your value." Qianyu's voice was matter-of-fact, cutting. "For Konoha, having two Jinchūriki is a massive strategic advantage. Two weapons of war. Losing one, they might accept. Losing both? Never."
He leaned forward slightly. "You know this. In war, a Jinchūriki is a tool. In peace, a deterrent. Konoha just suffered catastrophic losses from the Nine-Tails. If they lose both their Jinchūriki at once, it's a blow they cannot afford."
His words were cold, final. "If you run with Naruto, Konoha will send their best after you. Every elite hunter-nin they have. And if other villages find out… they'll join the chase."
"Konoha's ninja won't kill you. You're their weapons. But the others?" Qianyu's gaze hardened. "Their goal would be to kill you both. A dead Jinchūriki means a dead tailed beast. But the beast isn't truly gone. It reforms, years later. They'd want Konoha stripped of its weapons. A 'masterless' Nine-Tails is a prize any village would fight for. It's in their interest to see you dead."
He let the silence hang for a beat. "So if you defect, you and Naruto become targets for the entire shinobi world. No matter where you hide, they will find you. You can't run from this, Miyuki."
Miyuki's face went bone-white. In her arms, Naruto began to cry.
She rocked him softly, her own voice a dry whisper. "Then… is our future already decided? Is there no way out?"
"Kushina and I will help you," Qianyu said, his voice dropping to a low, serious tone. "But you have to make a choice. A sacrifice."
Tears welled in Miyuki's eyes. "Naruto is all I have left. Your 'sacrifice'… is it about him? I can't lose him. He's just a baby. He can't lose me either…"
"If you want to leave Konoha without triggering a full-scale panic, you cannot take both Jinchūriki." Qianyu explained patiently. "Losing one is a crisis. Losing both is an existential threat. They would move heaven and earth to get you back. Konoha is too fragile right now for that kind of shock."
He continued, laying out the logic. "But if only one Jinchūriki leaves… yes, there will be a manhunt. But to protect their remaining asset and to save face—especially given you were the Fourth Hokage's wife—they would likely conceal your identity. Classify it. The public hunt would be quieter."
Miyuki looked down at Naruto's face, her lips pressing into a thin line. "Then… I won't leave."
"Don't decide yet." Qianyu shook his head. "You have options. I have an organization outside Konoha. With that in mind, you face three paths."
He held up a finger. "First. You and Naruto both join my organization. The cost? The relentless pursuit of Konoha and every other major village. A life forever on the run, looking over your shoulder. Constant battles."
A second finger. "Second. You both stay in Konoha. But the village's attitude is a wild card. Once your identities as Jinchūriki are common knowledge—and they will be—your lives may be safe, but you will be pariahs. Hated. Blamed for every death in the Nine-Tails attack. Your status as Minato's family won't protect you from that."
He paused, his voice turning analytical. "Hiruzen Sarutobi's stance is unclear. He's suppressing the rumors, yes, but barely. A token effort. My guess? He'll ensure you don't die, but he won't lift a finger to make your lives bearable."
A third finger. "Third. You leave. Naruto stays. This… is the choice I recommend."
Miyuki flinched.
"It will be agony for you," Qianyu acknowledged, his voice softening a fraction. "A mother separated from her child. But for Naruto, it is the better path. With you gone, Konoha must protect its sole remaining Jinchūriki. Sarutobi will crack down on the 'disaster child' rumors. He'll bury Naruto's origins. The boy will still face prejudice, yes. But it will be muted. His upbringing, his safety, will be guaranteed by the village's own need."
He turned his gaze to Miyuki fully. "And you, joining my organization alone… the pressure on us would be manageable. We could keep you safe. You could live. And if you live… there is always a chance for a future reunion."
In Qianyu's estimation, if Naruto became an orphan again, his path would likely align with the original timeline. Predictable. Controllable.
Miyuki staying with him, or them both fleeing? That was chaos. The child of destiny would survive, but Miyuki… her fate would be a coin toss.
None of the three choices were good. Not truly.
But reality rarely offered good choices. Right now, Miyuki's task was to pick the least terrible one from a list of bad options.
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