Chapter 79: 77: Uzumaki
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It was late April in the Land of Tea, within the confines of a steep and dangerous canyon. This natural terrain formed a formidable barrier on either side.
In this very canyon, two groups of people clashed. Armed with kunai and ninjutsu, it was clear that these combatants were indeed ninja.
The leader of one group was known as Bug Man. He was part of the organization under Shiraishi's command, tasked with gathering intelligence around the ninja world while scouting for potential recruits.
Their roles as bounty hunters fit them well. Not only did it allow them to collect information and seek new talents, but it also provided an additional source of income. Their growing reputation attracted potential employers, offering them various missions and access to hidden secrets.
Their current assignment involved taking down an illegal ninja organization operating within the Land of Tea. This group, hailing from outside the Land of Tea, had no affiliations with the five major nations or any of the smaller ninja villages. They had become ninja by chance, embodying the essence of wandering ninja, without any allegiance to a specific village.
Their primary means of survival was robbing business travelers passing through the area, which had led the merchants in the Land of Tea to offer bounties through underground channels. The goal was to eliminate this rogue ninja organization, thus restoring peace and stability to the Land of Tea's trade routes.
To be honest, this mission wasn't particularly challenging for the five-person team. Their combined strength surpassed that of an average Chunin. Not only were they physically formidable, but they also possessed heightened senses and remarkable self-healing abilities. Under Baishi's guidance, they had developed unique secret techniques.
Their team was strong enough to take on at least three Chunin-level opponents simultaneously and emerge victorious without casualties.
The rogue ninja organization they were facing mainly consisted of low-level ninja, with their leader being of middle-level strength. It was, in essence, a mismatch.
"What...what's happening!?" one of the ninja, sporting green attire and brown hair, exclaimed as he used his arms to grasp the throat of a rogue ninja from behind. His arms ignited, transforming into flames, and the homeless man's throat was charred, causing him to collapse lifelessly.
Moments later, another rogue ninja attempted to stab him in the back with a kunai. However, it was as though he struck thin air, as the impacted area turned into ethereal flames, and the assailant screamed in agony before being consumed by the fire.
The brown-haired ninja showed no emotion as he watched the enemy burn. This battle was child's play to them.
"Fire Man, your ninjutsu is as ruthless as ever," commented a ninja in purple attire with a smile.
"I can't help it; each of us has been gifted with unique ninjutsu," replied Fire Man.
Emerging from the shadows cast by the canyon's rocky outcrops, a man in yellow clothing with black hair seemed pleased with his newfound abilities.
Indeed, Fire Man's ninjutsu was derived from the nature transformation of fire attribute chakra, while Shadow Man harnessed the power of Yin chakra nature. He could seamlessly traverse shadows and was an unstoppable assassin within the team.
The rest of the team efficiently dispatched their assigned enemies.
"With this mission done, our team's reputation in the underground black market will skyrocket given our speed," noted one team member.
"That will make it much easier to recruit new talents," added another.
The successful completion of their mission, which involved eliminating the rogue ninja group on behalf of the merchants in the Land of Tea, meant that their team had another accomplishment to boast about in the underground black market.
With this continued success, their notoriety in the underground market would grow, attracting more resources and talents.
"In any case, stay vigilant no matter who we face," advised Bug Man, the team leader.
He approached the corpses of the defeated rogue ninja, searching their lifeless forms for valuables. Occasionally, these rogue ninja carried interesting items. Though Bug Man had yet to find anything substantial, he continued to scour their possessions, adding to his personal stash.
After all, these rogue ninja were no longer in a position to claim their belongings. This mission had proven to be quite lucrative.
"Oh?"
The Bug Man raised his eyebrows and reached for a scroll on the wandering ninja's lifeless body.
This particular ninja seemed to have been the leader of the wandering ninja organization. The scroll, based on its texture, appeared inexpensive, yet it bore a sealing formula. Could it conceal some hidden secret?
"What's inside?" one of the group inquired.
"I'm not certain. It could be a trap if I don't proceed with caution," replied the Bug Man. Despite the potential risks, he knew he had to open it to reveal its contents.
Taking the necessary precautions, the Bug Man unlocked any protective spells on the scroll, leaping back immediately to evade any potential traps.
However, to their surprise, the scroll contained no traps. Instead, it held scribbled writings that suggested a plan to sell a certain 'secret' for a large sum of money.
The five Men were puzzled, uncertain about the nature of this 'secret' that the wandering ninjas deemed so valuable. According to the writings, they had already found a willing buyer, and today was designated for the transaction.
Unfortunately, due to the ambush by the Men, it seemed unlikely that this transaction would proceed as planned.
"Boss, would you like to inspect this so-called 'secret'?" one of them asked.
"Let's take a look; it's not too far from here. After all, we'll need to recruit many people in the future, and even the smallest gains can be significant," the Bug Man replied, a view agreed upon by the others.
While their organization offered an attractive salary, it was still relatively new and required funding for various purposes. Financial resources were essential for recruiting talents, not only in ninja skills but also across various domains, including artisans, research, education, medicine, and more.
They needed to swiftly accumulate resources, stabilize their organizational framework, and prepare for rapid growth. In their eyes, no opportunity, no matter how minor, could be ignored.
***
Inside the cave, the pathway was rough, damp, and filled with the nauseating stench of poverty and death.
This was the smell of poverty and despair.
The Five Men were well-acquainted with this scent, having encountered it frequently in the Land of Rain. The cave served as the hideout for the wandering ninja group, and it was here that they believed the valuable 'secret' they intended to trade was located.
According to the scroll, this 'secret' was of great significance and could fetch a handsome price.
Naturally, the Men were intrigued by this potential treasure. However, they hoped that the 'secret' wouldn't prove to be a disappointment.
Due to the cave's darkness, the Fire Man ignited a wooden stick to serve as a torch, lighting their path. The cave was strewn with food waste and remnants, a testament to the hardships faced by the wandering ninjas.
"Is it here?" the Bug Man asked as they reached a closed wooden door. The door featured a sealed iron lock, its top rusty.
From behind the door, an indescribable stench and the smell of decay came outside. This was the only place in the hideout suitable for concealing the 'secret.'
Utilizing their perception abilities, the Men detected something behind the door. Although they were uncertain about the nature of the 'secret,' there were indications of numerous living individuals.
A total of eight people were confined within the room. Could these be companions of the wandering ninjas or captives who had fallen victim to their attacks?
The Bug Man was a little distressed but proceeded to break the lock on the door and swung it open. The light from the torch filled the room, revealing its inhabitants.
These individuals appeared emaciated, having endured prolonged abuse. Among them were men, women, and children, giving the impression of a large family.
With charred lips and despairing expressions, they subsisted on meager rations provided by their captors. Each of them wore heavy ankle and wrist restraints, a clear testament to their dire circumstances.
The Bug Man scanned the group of eight people before fixing his gaze on a child of just a few years.
The glimmer of hope and the will to live still shone in their eyes, albeit tinged with tension and anxiety.
"Boss, there's something different about them compared to ordinary people," the Fire Man remarked softly.
"Even after enduring such abuse, with minimal food and water, their vitality surpasses that of others, and they all have red hair," observed the Bug Man, narrowing his eyes as he realized that all eight individuals, both male and female, possessed strikingly bright red hair.
"The remnants of the Uzumaki clan..." he mused. It was indeed a remarkable "treasure" for profit.
The Bug Man took a few steps forward, approaching the group. They emitted a pungent stench, with dirt on their faces, festering wounds, and insects crawling near their scant lunch.
"It's truly heartbreaking. The Uzumaki clan, once unparalleled in the ninja world, has fallen to such depths," he lamented.
Not only had their homeland been destroyed, but clan members now wandered the ninja world, living in destitution.
"Why, when you're still alive, didn't you seek help from Konoha? Instead, you were captured by rogue ninjas and subjected to a life worse than that of underground rodents?" he asked, gently patting the head of the young Uzumaki clan child.
The Uzumaki clan had a long-standing alliance with Konoha, even reflected in the leaf village's Jonin uniforms bearing the Uzumaki clan logo, symbolizing their strong friendship. With their homeland lost, their first instinct should have been seeking refuge in Konoha rather than enduring a beggar-like existence across the ninja world.
"There was a distress call... but they took only one person," a middle-aged red-haired man responded, his voice tinged with sorrow. The Bug Man's question had clearly stirred painful memories.
The destruction of the Land of Whirlpools had occurred less than a decade ago, and for this middle-aged man, it was a traumatic event he had personally lived through.
Labeled a slave of a conquered nation, he had roamed the ninja world, facing rejection and imprisonment. He distinctly remembered that Konoha had provided no aid during or after the catastrophe. Distress signals seemed to have gone unanswered, resulting only in despair.
The thought of seeking help from Konoha had likely faded long ago. The Bug Man silently offered his condolences for the Land Of Whirlpools downfall.
Perhaps in the future, his former motherland, the Land of Rain, would tread a similar path, becoming a victim of larger powers. Then, Rain's people would also be relegated to lives in darkness, much like the Uzumaki clan today.
When outsiders see people from the Land of Rain, they too would likely label them "slaves of a conquered nation." Such treaties were, in the end, mere pieces of paper, seemingly worthless.
"I sympathize with your experiences. Witnessing one's homeland ravaged is a shared pain," the Bug Man conveyed with deep empathy.
"Our organization is recruiting exceptional talents. If you choose to join us, you'll find companions here. We offer clean living conditions, safe food and water, and security. In return, we expect your loyalty. If you decline, we won't burden you; you can pursue your own path."
These people appeared hesitant, their expressions a mix of hope and apprehension. Their nerves had been frayed, and they needed more than just hope after prolonged despair; they required a sense of purpose.
The Bug Man smiled and continued, "Our leader once said he wouldn't save those who merely wish for miracles to fall from the sky. In this world, good things don't just happen by chance. While doing good, we can gain more benefits, which motivates us to continue doing good."
The Uzumaki clan's bloodline and their extensive sealing techniques were undoubtedly valuable assets. Even if they were to perish, their skills would eventually prove indispensable.
"Whether you live as humans or dogs, there's no need to feel shame. What matters is the future. As long as you're alive, there's potential to change your destiny. Your homeland is gone, and now you're fighting for your lives. What more do you have to lose? Who among us hasn't been a homeless stray?" the Bug Man reflected, a hint of regret on his face.
War had shattered his family, leading him to a life of crime and eventually becoming a tragic experimental subject. The memories of those years were haunting, causing him to break into a cold sweat. Fortunately, he'd learned valuable lessons from those experiences and had grown beyond his earlier naivety.
This was the world, and he hoped the remnants of the Uzumaki clan would make choices they wouldn't regret.
The crucial thing was to fool them into joining the organization first. Afterward, wealth, companionship, luxurious estates, and more would await them. This was the Bug Man's philosophy of doing good deeds: the greater the good, the greater the rewards.
...
Shiraishi's daily routine involved rushing to the academy to assist Tsunade with teaching students in the experimental class. This was all before three o'clock, to impart knowledge of medical ninjutsu.
In addition to his academy duties, he was occasionally summoned to the hospital for various tasks. However, most of his time was spent quietly conducting research in the laboratory.
Of course, at school, there was the occasional troublemaker named Uchiha Obito, a thorny kid who would come and pester him. It's quite scary how even kids as young as five or six can be so mischievous these days.
What's important to note is that he hadn't done anything to a girl named Lin; he simply taught her some medical knowledge after school.
In the ninja world, common sense often fails to apply. The more you try to use it, the more bizarre your conclusions become. Take, for example, the white humanoid lying on his lab table.
This mysterious being was the same one that the Bug Man and his team had captured earlier while monitoring 'Akatsuki'. Afterward, they had sent it to him, crushed to death.
After a thorough dissection, Shiraishi discovered something truly baffling: this creature could harness energy capable of rejuvenating a withered branch and causing it to sprout new shoots.
Wood Release? And there was also a chakra signature reminiscent of a tailed beast. What was the origin of this creature? Could it be a fusion of Tailed Beast and Wood Release?
Although it was weak in combat, according to the Bug Man, it could be easily dealt with, even without using ninjutsu.
"It seems Akatsuki has a problem," Shiraishi mused.
Despite its combat weakness, the creature's secrets left Shiraishi bewildered. Wood Release and Tailed Beasts were legendary powers in their own right. The former represented the Ninja God's power to bring stability to turbulent times, while the latter was an age-old chakra entity, immortal and beyond human comprehension.
It was clear that being connected to both of these was a significant revelation. But who was behind this white creature? Why were they monitoring Akatsuki? Could this creature truly be the result of combining Wood Release power with that of a Tailed Beast?
Shiraishi had a significant hunch. Could it be Konoha's higher-ups? Were they conducting secret research to resurrect Wood Release? It wouldn't be difficult for Konoha to extract the dormant cells from the corpse of the First Hokage, considering his unique ability.
By harvesting these cells, containing Wood Release power, they might be experimenting on human subjects to mass-produce Wood Release ninja. And the creature before him might be the outcome of their research.
This raised a question: why were they assigned to monitor Akatsuki, a group of only eight or nine individuals, all of whom were young girls who hadn't reached maturity? If Konoha genuinely felt threatened, they could easily send ANBU to eliminate them; there was no need for such elaborate surveillance.
Shiraishi was troubled. There were numerous inconsistencies in his findings, but based on the information he had gathered, this theory seemed plausible.
What were Konoha's leaders planning? Just as Shiraishi pondered this, the ground beneath his feet shifted, and a clay figurine, fashioned from khaki mud, emerged. Its pitch-black eyes fixed on Shiraishi.
From the mud, a scroll materialized and was laid on the ground, slowly sinking into the earth. It was a perfect communication device.
Shiraishi paid no mind to the "dullard" clay figure's abrupt departure. He had little expectations regarding its intelligence.
Using a jutsu to decipher the scroll, Shiraishi immediately understood its content.
"The Uzumaki clan? I thought they were all extinct," he murmured to himself. After brief contemplation, he retrieved a blank scroll, added a few lines, rolled it up, and sealed it with another jutsu.
"Deliver this scroll to them," he instructed the clay figure underground.
The clay figure reemerged, with an almost human semblance of resentment in its empty eyes. Despite this, it dutifully accepted the task entrusted to it by Shiraishi.
In just six months, this figure, who was merely half a year old, accomplished the incredible feat of traveling across most of the ninja world alone. It was undoubtedly the perfect tool, fully meeting Shiraishi's expectations.
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