Shoulder-length red hair, regular features, ordinary appearance. Her figure was neither particularly sexy nor poor, simply average. Only her pair of bright, large eyes left a deep impression.
Her name was Uzumaki Yumi, 23 years old. She had a fiancé who died in this incident. She was just an ordinary citizen of Uzushiogakure.
Currently, she was representing the surviving members of the Uzumaki Clan in talks with Ryuji.
"Ryuji-san, thank you and the Sunagakure's Shinobi for saving us. However, if you are hoping to obtain sealing techniques or related information from us survivors, I'm afraid you will be disappointed. We are all just ordinary people; we don't even know how to extract Chakra, let alone study the more difficult sealing techniques." Yumi looked frankly at Ryuji, her expression and tone neither servile nor overbearing, not lowering her stance because the other side was powerful or her own side was weak.
Although an ordinary person, she clearly understood the ways of Shinobi. They wouldn't abandon their mission because the target was pitiful, nor would they cause trouble without reason because the target was an eyesore.
If she wasn't their mission target, then fine.
If she was, then there was no escape anyway. Might as well face it frankly.
"My purpose here was not for the Uzumaki Clan's sealing techniques," Ryuji replied with a smile.
'Who are you trying to fool?'
These words were written all over Yumi's face, expressed in a sarcastic manner.
It seemed that even though the Sunagakure's Shinobi had maintained proper attitudes while rescuing them, they hadn't managed to leave a good impression on these Uzumaki survivors.
After all, their clan had just been destroyed by Shinobi, and Sunagakure had merely forcibly brought the fleeing survivors to their Mechanical City under the name of 'rescue and protection'.
To expect her to have a good attitude was really asking too much.
But Ryuji still didn't mind; in fact, he felt even more satisfied.
The more Yumi behaved this way, the more it showed she possessed strong independent consciousness and judgment. Only then did he have greater confidence in absorbing this group of Uzumaki survivors into Sunagakure.
He continued with a smile, "Everything I say next is the truth. Of course, whether to believe it or not is entirely up to you, Yumi-san."
"Then please proceed, Ryuji-san."
Yumi was somewhat dismissive.
In her eyes, this was just another Shinobi trick.
Although she wasn't a Shinobi, Uzushiogakure was just a small place. They interacted with the village'sShinobi every day. They might not know how to do things, but they knew a fair bit.
Otherwise, they couldn't have survived in such a chaotic situation.
"Our Sunagakure came after hearing of Kirigakure's atrocities in your country..."
Here, Ryuji paused, glancing imperceptibly at Yumi. Seeing a flash of disgust in her eyes, he continued, "Of course, we didn't come to save Uzushiogakure."
Yumi was stunned, her expression turning somewhat astonished.
Ryuji, who had secretly noted her reaction, smiled inwardly. Outwardly, he continued without a trace, "We came specifically for you."
"For... us?"
Yumi pointed at herself, dumbfounded.
"To be precise, for the survivors of the Uzumaki Clan."
Hearing this, Yumi was taken aback, then understood. She couldn't help but laugh, "Ryuji-san, didn't I already say? We don't have what you want."
Yumi thought Ryuji was still trying to obtain sealing techniques or related information from them after all this circling.
"No, I've already said, our purpose for this trip was you yourselves." Ryuji shook his head gently. Seeing Yumi still looked confused, he explained further, "In my eyes, the Uzumaki bloodline itself is a priceless treasure, far more valuable than any sealing techniques."
Hearing this, Yumi's face instantly turned pale.
Her deceased fiancé was a Shinobi, and she knew some people obsessed with research liked to conduct human experiments, especially those with Kekkei Genkai or special abilities… they were their favorite targets.
The Uzumaki Clan naturally possessed special abilities.
Not to mention their extraordinary vitality, some among them also possessed sensing and healing abilities.
For her people to fall into the hands of such individuals would be ten thousand times worse than death.
"Wait, are you thinking something strange?" Seeing Uzumaki Yumi's expression, Ryuji instantly guessed something and quickly explained, "I just want to invite you to join Sunagakure, nothing else."
"Huh?"
Yumi was stunned.
She blinked her large eyes, staring blankly at Ryuji, afraid she had misheard. She confirmed, "What did you just say?"
"I said, I want to invite you to permanently reside in Sunagakure."
"But we're all ordinary people!" Yumi still didn't understand.
Although it was now the era of Shinobi Villages, there were still many Shinobi Clans or Shinobi Families outside who hadn't joined villages.
Neither the Five Great Shinobi Villages nor the medium and small villages prohibited external Shinobi from joining.
For the Five Great Villages, they generally accepted those with clean backgrounds. But some small and medium villages, to strengthen themselves, would even accept Missing-nin from other villages as long as they weren't those wanted by the entire Shinobi World.
Of course, regardless of the village, external Shinobi wanting to join needed to undergo very strict screening and assessment. They wouldn't be trusted or given important responsibilities, only serving as ordinary Shinobi taking missions to support their families.
If Yumi and the others were Shinobi, it would be understandable. But they were just ordinary people... Although every Shinobi Village was composed of many shinobi and external ordinary people.
But in the current era, after so many years, the suitable living population in each Shinobi Village had long been saturated.
Unless Shinobi brought their families or an entire clan to join, they generally didn't accept ordinary people, let alone actively invite ordinary people to join.
"Although you are ordinary people now, you can become Shinobi. With the Uzumaki Clan's excellent bloodline, you all have the potential to become strong."
Hearing this, Yumi finally understood Ryuji's thinking. She couldn't help but smile wryly, "But I don't want to become a Shinobi!"
"That's fine. Even if you don't want to become a Shinobi, what about the others?"
"And even if the others don't want to become Shinobi either, what about their children? Their grandchildren?"
"As long as you join Sunagakure, become residents of Sunagakure, there will always be Uzumaki who want to become Shinobi. You will ultimately contribute to Sunagakure. Of course, Sunagakure will also treat you equally. Whether it's rewards for contributions or punishments for violating Sunagakure's laws, it will be the same as other villagers."
"So, how about it? Would you like to consider becoming a member of Sunagakure?"
"I..."
Faced with this almost pyramid-scheme-like invitation, Yumi felt somewhat overwhelmed for a moment, unsure how to respond.
But she quickly regained composure and made a decision. "I accept your invitation to become a member of Sunagakure. But I cannot answer for the others, so I still need to ask their opinions."
"A wise decision." Ryuji smiled and extended his right hand to her, adding, "I forgot to mention, Sunagakure is a brotherhood Shinobi Village; it doesn't allow large clans to form exclusive groups. If the Uzumaki Clan wants to join Sunagakure, you must voluntarily cancel or change to different surnames."
"Why say that only now?"
Yumi couldn't help but roll her eyes.
She took a deep breath, reconsidered carefully, and replied, "Are there any other conditions?"
"Just this one."
"Then I accept."
Was there any reason not to accept?
Uzushiogakure was destroyed, the Uzumaki Clan nearly wiped out. They were a group of women and children who had lost their home and support, even struggling to feed themselves. They could only seek refuge in various places across the Shinobi World, living under assumed names.
Since they had to change or hide their surnames wherever they went, why not do it in Sunagakure?
At least Sunagakure actively sought them out to join and valued the Uzumaki bloodline.
Would they receive such treatment in other villages?
Perhaps yes, perhaps no.
Perhaps better, perhaps worse.
Yumi didn't know. But she knew in this war-torn era, a group of unarmed women and children would find it difficult to move an inch outside. If they refused Sunagakure, they were more likely to die on the road before finding a new sanctuary.
As for Ryuji deceiving them... They were a group of ordinary people; what was there to deceive?
Moreover, there was a risk of deception wherever they went. Why not choose the one with the best conditions?
"Welcome aboard!"
"Thank you for your help."
Yumi shook Ryuji's hand briefly before letting go.
"I'll go ask the others for their opinions, but they'll probably all stay."
"Then I leave it to you."
"Mhm!"
...
A short while later, Yumi returned with all the surviving Uzumaki Clan's members.
Their answers were the same: willing to join Sunagakure.
…
(A/N: Shinobi Villages absorbing Shinobi from outside the village is not my original setting; it exists in the original work.
Kushina goes without saying; Konoha actively sought her from Uzushiogakure. Also, in the 'Itachi Shinden' novels, Itachi's teammate was someone who had recently joined Konoha, speaking with a distinct regional accent.
There was also an ordinary person impersonating a Shinobi wanting to join Konoha, but was eventually persuaded to leave.
During the Chunin Exams, there was a Konoha examinee who mocked Naruto. He was from a clan skilled in wielding scythes, and Konoha didn't have such a clan.
But it's unclear if the original work didn't mention it, or if this clan wasn't part of Konoha.
Additionally, the Kaguya Clan wasn't originally from Kirigakure, but an indigenous race from small islands off the coast of the Land of Water. Yet, there were still Kaguya Clan's members who became Kirigakure's Shinobi.'