"It's me, Fox."
Hearing the familiar voice from behind, Yoru felt relieved.
He didn't turn around and murmured to himself:
"Yuka, Princess Kushina has already been taken by Clan Leader Senju Ringoku. You don't need to worry about her safety.
The Uzumaki clan's Book of Seals is also now in Ringoku's hands.
The Anbu has received intelligence that the Mist ninja are planning to seize the Uzumaki elder's sealing scroll.
The Land of Waves is too close to the Land of Fire and the Land of Water. It's dangerous. You should leave here as soon as possible.
Heading north to other countries might also be unsafe, but none are as dangerous as the Land of Waves."
There was a long silence behind him.
Yuka slowly asked, "Fox, with the Uzumaki clan wiped out, what role did Konoha's Anbu play?"
Yoru fell into deep silence as well.
He didn't know how to answer. The extinction of this poor ninja clan was extremely complicated.
The Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama, had died, weakening Konoha. The Uzumaki clan sought to protect themselves by sealing the Three-Tails, which conflicted with Konoha's candidate for the Nine-Tails. This ultimately led all three major villages to harbor murderous intent.
Compassion aside, he didn't want to complicate matters here.
"It's not clear yet. I'm still investigating."
Yuka tossed him a scroll:
"Fox, this is my summoning scroll. It contains both a contract seal and a summoning technique.
I want to share the Long Spear Egret summoning with you so we can relay information easily."
Yoru carefully took the scroll and hid it.
Later, the scroll would allow the Long Spear Egret to return to Uzumaki Yuka.
The Long Spear Egret couldn't be used publicly. Learning two techniques—a contract seal and a summoning—was a valuable gain.
By a fortunate twist, the investment in Uzumaki Yuka had paid off well.
"Yuka, for now, don't approach Princess Kushina. There will be surveillance everywhere around her. Anyone coming into contact with her will be discovered by Konoha's Anbu," Yoru said.
"Let's go. Soon, many enemies will appear in the Land of Waves."
"Take care, Fox."
"You too, Yuka."
A faint rustling of leaves came from behind.
Among the Land of Waves' daimyo's guardian ninja were Uzumaki ninja. If they wished to escape, they should have their own channels. Besides, the Giant Drill-Beaked Bird could carry away many people.
Not long after, a group approached in the distance—it was Captain Hippo's squad.
The squad split in several directions, entering the forest.
Black Chimp, having lost an arm and weakened, walked at the rear with Yoru.
A brief but intense skirmish broke out in the forest.
Both sides avoided large-scale ninjutsu, relying solely on taijutsu.
Captain Hippo's squad killed several Mist ninja and captured one squad leader.
Weak groans could be heard in the forest as Captain Hippo personally interrogated the captured Mist ninja leader.
Half an hour later, wiping blood from his hands on a leaf, Captain Hippo gathered the team leaders:
"The interrogation was effective. The Mist ninja led us to a key figure—the guardian ninja captain under the Land of Waves' daimyo.
After the Uzumaki survivors arrived in the Land of Waves, they relied mainly on this guardian ninja captain for protection.
That captain is a high-ranking Uzumaki ninja. Kyoto originally had many Uzumaki clan members, all of whom are in hiding.
The guardian ninja captain must die. Only then can we force them to hand over the sealing scroll."
Many missions in the Land of Waves had been assigned to Uzumaki Village, which greatly displeased Konoha.
Some Uzumaki ninja had permanently settled in the Land of Waves, especially couples who were both Uzumaki, and they had remained there.
Captain Hippo said:
"Eight female Uzumaki ninja escaped from Uzumaki Village. According to intelligence obtained by the Anbu from the village, 48 Uzumaki were permanently stationed in the Land of Waves or were present during the clan's extermination.
Out of 56 Uzumaki ninja, Mist ninja killed 3, leaving at most 53.
Our mission is to find the guardian ninja captain before the Mist ninja do."
Uzumaki Village was truly unfortunate; all their intelligence had been shared with Konoha. Konoha knew the Uzumaki ninja in the Land of Waves down to the exact number.
The clan didn't even realize they had been betrayed.
Captain Black Chimp said:
"Hippo, I think the key now is to cut off the Land of Waves' support for the Uzumaki ninja.
Go directly to the daimyo, promise to take responsibility for his defense, and persuade him to abandon the Uzumaki ninja."
Hippo's eyes lit up but he asked doubtfully:
"For negotiations at this national level, shouldn't Lord Mitokado handle it? If we approach the daimyo ourselves, will he listen?"
Black Chimp said:
"The daimyo doesn't need to fully agree. We only need to inform him that the Uzumaki clan has been wiped out, so he will no longer fully support the guardian ninja captain.
The daimyo has 12 guardian ninja—8 Uzumaki and 4 Konoha.
The 4 Konoha guardian ninja, along with us, are enough to make the Land of Waves side with Konoha.
The Uzumaki clan is extinct; the Land of Waves' mission allocation must not go to the Mist Village."
Hippo nodded repeatedly.
The two captains decided that Black Chimp would enter the daimyo's castle to persuade him.
Black Chimp, accompanied only by Yoru, met Konoha's guardian ninja outside the castle.
"Jonin Yamanaka Kōri, I am Anbu Captain Black Chimp. I'm here to inquire about the Uzumaki guardian ninja."
Kōri Yamanaka, with pale golden hair, replied:
"It's truly lamentable. The Uzumaki clan, such a powerful ninja clan, was wiped out under the combined assault of Mist and Cloud ninja.
Konoha received the news too late. By the time we reached the Land of Waves' border, the Uzumaki clan had already been destroyed.
The eight surviving Uzumaki guardian ninja were negligent in their duties and often disappeared.
At first, they requested leave from the daimyo. Later, they vanished entirely. The daimyo was very displeased and spoke to me twice. I have informed the village to negotiate with the daimyo and send new guardian ninja to replace the Uzumaki.
Let them return to Konoha. Intelligence reports the Uzumaki princess is in Konoha—over time, perhaps the Uzumaki could become a small Konoha clan."
Yoru thought: Konoha's ordinary ninja had no idea what the Anbu had done.
The Uzumaki clan could never become a small Konoha clan. Konoha only wanted Uzumaki Kushina to fully devote herself as the Jinchūriki.
Uzumaki Mito was one thing—she was the First Hokage's wife.
If the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki still cared for another clan, how could Konoha's leadership trust her?
Black Chimp didn't comment on Kōri's suggestion. Instead, he said:
"After the Uzumaki clan's destruction, the Anbu received intelligence that the Uzumaki are plotting revenge.
Even as Konoha allies, their vengeance could sway the Land of Waves' daimyo toward the Mist Village.
Sympathy for the Uzumaki is one thing; the Land of Waves' mission allocation is another.
Jonin Yamanashi, the Anbu's plan is to remove the Uzumaki guardian ninja from the daimyo's side, preventing them from influencing him."
Kōri Yamanaka frowned, sensing an underlying meaning. The Anbu's attitude toward the Uzumaki clan was not entirely supportive.
Could it be that the village did not support the Uzumaki's revenge?
Kōri suddenly said: "Wait… you are… I've heard your voice before in the clan."
"Yes, Brother Kōri, it's me."
Kōri glanced at Yoru's fox mask, not revealing Black Chimp's identity.
"Your left arm?"
"It's not important anymore."
After thinking for a moment, Kōri said: "I understand. I understand the Anbu's intentions. You tell me what needs to be done, and I will plan accordingly."