But someone was even faster than Shuzen.
Click...
Yahiko bit his thumb, making a crisp sound. He smeared the blood onto his palm and began forming hand seals.
As long as it proves I'm one of them, that's enough, right?
Poof...
"Yo! It's Yahi—no wait, it's Minato! What do you want with me?"
Before the toad's figure was even visible, a gruff and cocky voice rang out in everyone's ears.
Hiruko, recognizing that familiar voice, turned and ran. A jinchuriki and Gamabunta, they were clearly out to kill him.
He bolted like lightning, his panicked retreat leaving Kusao totally dumbfounded.
At that moment, the smoke cleared. A massive, intimidating red toad appeared in front of them, a smoking pipe in his mouth. His large eyes scanned the area, instantly understanding the situation.
He took a deep drag from his pipe.
Before Yahiko could say a word, Gamabunta leaped high into the air, raising his thick, powerful hand.
With a fierce gust of wind, he smacked the fleeing Hiruko hard.
Knowing this was Jiraiya's friend, he held back just a little.
When he lifted his hand, Hiruko was unconscious on the ground, lying flat like a pancake.
Gamabunta didn't say much, just exhaled a ring of smoke.
He casually gave Minato a thumbs-up with his giant hand.
Poof...
Another puff of smoke, and he vanished from sight. He probably rushed home for dinner.
--- First POV: Kusao---
My name is Kusao.
Right now, I feel helpless and afraid.
Today, a group from Konoha came. The blond one summoned a terrifying giant toad.
Although I had heard stories of the fierce toads of Mount Myōboku on the battlefield of Ame... I still underestimated their personalities—and their strength.
They're so ruthless, they even knocked out their own allies.
I know how strong Hiruko is. I'm no match for him, and yet he was knocked out with a single slap?
Of course, there might've been other reasons, maybe he didn't resist on purpose due to certain... associations.
But still, that old Uzumaki guy was even scarier, just a few hand signs and I thought I saw the Shinigami coming for me!
Luckily, it was just my imagination.
---Third POV---
"Here is 500,000 ryō. Please offer my apologies to the Uzumaki clan and to Danzō-sama."
While Yahiko led Shuzen and a few other fūinjutsu users to "add some insurance" to Hiruko...
Kusao was terrified that his own subordinates might also get slapped by a giant toad. After careful thought, he made a decision that went against everything he had ever been taught.
Today, he sold out his village.
He took money from the treasury, and bowed, offering the 500,000 ryō to Yahiko with both hands.
Yahiko scratched his head. He had come out today to rescue the Uzumaki clan members, but ended up with an unexpected windfall?
For a moment, he forgot to respond.
To Kusao, this blond young man was way too smug.
With a sigh...
"Make it a million."
Still, Yahiko didn't respond.
Because at that moment, the Uzumaki clansmen, away from prying ears, were quietly told by Shuzen that the one who came to save them was from Yoake, not Konoha.
Even though Kusao had smiled throughout and had now completely lost... That was the wisdom of leader, Yahiko. If anyone else had shown weakness, they would've been exposed immediately.
Take that big toad, for instance, if someone else from the Uzumaki clan had summoned it, it wouldn't have had the same effect.
But Yahiko, the moment he appeared, the enemy nearly wet themselves. He was clearly risking his life.
The kindhearted Uzumaki clan members were deeply moved.
Kushina's face was full of happiness, she must be well cared for under Yahiko's protection, right?
Now the Uzumaki clansmen were practically shipping Yahiko and Nagato like matchmakers.
[The Uzumaki clan has joined the village, enhancing the host's physique.]
A system notification flashed briefly.
Yahiko estimated that the returning Uzumaki clan members had given him a chakra boost of at least ten times his original capacity.
Could he now throw dozens of lightning jutsu in a single day?
Wow!
He didn't even know Lightning Release techniques yet, but he had already "invented" the Rasengan before Minato did.
Let's start by just forming one in his hand for fun.
Kusao stared at the swirling blue sphere in Yahiko's hand, cold wind rippling from it, he gulped instinctively.
"I'll add another fifty thousand."
Seeing Yahiko still playing with his Rasengan, Kusao gritted his teeth.
"Five hundred thousand! That's really all I have!"
---
On the way back, Yahiko was still happily walking along while spinning Rasengans in his hand. Feeling the overwhelming chakra flowing within him, he looked as giddy as a kid in a candy store.
In the group, Nagato had already returned to his normal state. He shook his head helplessly as he watched Yahiko.
He could feel Yahiko's chakra surging.
Was it... almost two-thirds of his own now?
"Now I'll be able to protect you, and Konan, even better," Yahiko said with a smile.
Nagato nodded seriously, and then Yahiko turned toward Konan, who looked a bit conflicted.
"What's wrong?" Yahiko asked, puzzled.
"You and Naga—" Konan hesitated, then shook her head. "It's nothing."
Yahiko and Nagato had been like this since they were kids.
Sure, Nagato was the one sleeping beside Yahiko now, but they were still young and didn't understand... those kinds of things.
Give it a few years. Once they grew up, it'd all be fine.
Konan smiled to herself. Why was she even overthinking this stuff?
---
Back at the village, Genno, the canteen manager and the village's ceremonial officer, had already heard the news and hung a bright red banner above the village gate:
"Welcome Uzumaki clan to the Yoake Family!"
Yahiko had long said these kinds of flashy moves were unnecessary, mere formalism.
Even though he'd been the first to do it back when they were welcoming refugees... Still, seeing the Uzumaki clansmen tear up like they'd finally found a home, well, maybe Genno did deserve a raise.
Crowds of villagers had gathered at the gate to watch.
The adults smiled kindly at the confused new arrivals.
The children were curious about these strangers with red hair.
Back when Kushina enrolled in the Academy, her red hair almost made her withdraw from society entirely, just due to how people viewed her. But here, all the village kids were from all over, and didn't even know what "discrimination" meant.
"Your hair looks just like Nagato-oji's!"
That was Genno's daughter, pointing at a little boy from the Uzumaki clan.
Nagato almost activated his Rinnegan in rage. He was only twelve! Twelve! Why were they calling him that?!
Konan covered her mouth and giggled.
"Don't get mad over a child. Put your kunai away," Yahiko said, patting Nagato's shoulder.
The Uzumaki boy was shy and didn't respond for a while.
"Why aren't you saying anything?"
"Hey! Yuki is talking to you!" That came from a boy who clearly had a crush on Genno's daughter.
"Takeshi!"
"Sorry, he's my friend. He's actually really nice."
"Do you want some candy? This is milk candy, Yahiko-nii made it for Konan before. Only our village has it!"
"Take it! Yuki, I want some too!"
"Th-thank you..."
Yahiko couldn't bear to watch. That damn sense of déjà vu was too strong.
He wondered how things were going in other villages... and whether certain people had been targeted yet.
---
Meanwhile, in another village...
"Stupid Kakashi! Rin is talking to you!"
"Rin! Don't waste time on that cold guy hiding behind a mask, let's go!"
"Idiot."
"What did you say? Say it again!"
A certain goggle-wearing brat and a certain white-haired brat were at it again.
---
At the cafeteria, word had spread that the Uzumaki clansmen were starving.
Lunch had been moved up by half an hour.
The Uzumaki members lined up nervously at the windows, following directions.
"Does Yahiko-sama usually eat the same food as us?"
They looked into Yahiko's bowl, just cabbage stewed with noodles. Nothing fancy.
So this was what Nagato meant when he said everyone in Yoake was treated equally?
"It's all grown by people in the village. Eat, just eat up," Yahiko said, standing to greet them.
Even though it was the most ordinary meal, to them, it tasted like a feast of rare delicacies.
"Fu~ fu~ fu~" As they ate, tears involuntarily dropped into their bowls.
Yahiko's kindness was endless.