After parting ways in the Land of Waves, Yoru and Uzumaki Yuka hadn't seen each other again.
Yoru was busy with Anbu missions, while Yuka was constantly fleeing with the surviving members of the Uzumaki clan.
"It's been a long time," Yoru said. "Yuka, did you do as I asked and warn Young Master Nawaki of the danger?"
The last time, he had only sent the truth of the Uzumaki clan's extermination through a scroll.
This time, he had added a crucial message, someone intended to harm Senju Nawaki.
He hoped Nawaki could survive this life.
"I did," Yuka replied. "I left not only the truth about the clan's destruction but also a warning message."
Then she asked softly, "Fox, could the Konoha Anbu really harm Young Master Nawaki? He's the heir of the Senju clan, Konoha's prodigy!"
Yoru nodded gravely.
"Don't underestimate the determination of Konoha's higher-ups. They're shinobi with unshakable resolve, they'll use any means to achieve their goals.
If the truth were ever exposed, and the Senju clan broke with the leadership, it would be Konoha's greatest disaster.
Given the Senju's deep sense of family, such a split is highly likely. And when that happens during this Shinobi World War, Konoha will be devastated.
They're fighting only Iwagakure now, but once they weaken, Hidden Cloud Village, Hidden Sand Village, and Hidden Mist Village will all attack."
He continued, "Konoha's been keeping tight watch over Lady Mito, Princess Kushina, and the entire Senju clan. My current Anbu assignment is to monitor the Senju compound.
That's why I told you back in the Land of Waves not to approach the Senju for now, we needed to wait until things calmed down before making another move.
Senju Hai learned the truth and tried to report it to the Senju elders, but the Anbu found out early."
Yuka lowered her head sadly.
"I met Cousin Hai by chance in the Land of Grass. He was shocked that I was still alive. When he pressed me for answers, I told him part of what happened. He's very clever, he pieced the rest together himself.
He couldn't believe it either, and he worried deeply about Konoha's future. He said he'd handle it carefully once he returned to the village.
But Konoha's leaders don't cherish Konoha, it's people like Cousin Hai who keep thinking of Konoha first. Do kind-hearted people really deserve to be trampled on?
He was discovered by the Anbu, and once again, he sacrificed himself just to pass on a warning.
We're grateful to you too, Fox, risking your life to act as our informant."
In Konoha's political games, the more one loved the village, the more easily they were exploited.
Ironically, people like Orochimaru, who didn't care about Konoha at all, were untouchable, the higher-ups could only appease him, even when he experimented on Konoha's own children.
That was Konoha's greatest weakness, attachments.
A person with no parents, no children, no ties, a man with nothing to lose, is the one everyone fears. Even the cruelest villain would hesitate to provoke someone truly untethered.
After all, a barefoot man has nothing to fear from those wearing shoes.
Outside, rain began to fall.
The two found a hollow under a tree and crawled inside.
"Yuka, how many Uzumaki are left?"
"Thirty-two," she whispered.
Yoru fell silent.
He hadn't expected the once-glorious Uzumaki clan to have only 32 survivors left.
"Why choose the Land of Rain?"
"The Land of Rain is the battlefield of four powers, Hidden Sand Village, Hidden Stone Village, Konoha, and Hanzo of Hidden Rain Village, not to mention the rebels opposing him," Yuka explained.
"The more chaotic it is, the easier it is for us to hide. We used to be in the Land of Grass, but that's within Hidden Stones Village's sphere of influence, they control their villages tightly.
After we were exposed there, they captured one of our clan, Uzumaki Kaon, a skilled medical-ninjutsu user.
I tried to rescue her, but I couldn't. It was during one of those attempts that I ran into my cousin Hai."
Yoru guessed that Uzumaki Kaon was likely Karin's mother from the original story.
"I'll find a chance to tell Young Master Nawaki," Yoru said.
"He can help rescue Uzumaki Kaon."
He added silently in his heart, If Nawaki manages to survive.
Lately, Yuka was exhausted, on the verge of collapse.
Without Cousin Bai and the Fox's help, she doubted she would've survived at all.
Now, seeing the Fox again filled her with warmth.
Outside, the rain fell softly.
Inside the hollow, Yuka kissed Yoru's neck and quickly shed her clothes, soon, the space was filled with heat and the scent of sweat.
"Fox," she murmured breathlessly, "your body's changed so much… you're stronger than before."
She thought to herself, His Senju bloodline has grown even more powerful.
An hour later, Yoru couldn't help but sigh, the Uzumaki clan truly had incredible physical endurance.
No wonder the Senju had chosen to intermarry with them; they were perfectly matched in strength and vitality.
"Yuka," Yoru said after catching his breath, "the Nine-Tails' sealing transfer is approaching. I came to learn more about it. Tell me, do you know of any jutsu that could affect the Nine-Tails' seal?
I have a bad feeling. I fear the sealing process won't go smoothly. I'm worried for Lady Mito and Princess Kushina."
Yuka dressed slowly and answered,
"A technique that can affect the Nine-Tails' seal? As far as I know, there's only one sealing jutsu capable of that, Contract Release. It's a secret art of the Uzumaki clan, rarely passed outside.
And there's another thing that can influence the seal, though it isn't a sealing jutsu. It's the Sharingan of the Uchiha clan."
Yoru nodded thoughtfully.
"The Uzumaki's Sealing Scroll is in the hands of Clan Leader Senju Rinmu, so the risk of Contract Release leaking is low.
That means we should beware of the Uchiha. The Uchiha and Senju have an ancient grudge, they may take advantage of this and sabotage the seal.
Yuka, stay hidden for now. Lady Mito has grown old, she's rarely conscious for long each day. Once Princess Kushina grows up, everything will be fine."
"I understand," Yuka nodded. "We'll wait for her to grow up."
Yoru stepped out into the rain and vanished with a Body Flicker Technique.
Yuka leaned against the tree wall, still feeling the warmth he'd left behind.
Fox was right, she thought.
Once Princess Kushina grows up, everything will be fine.
She returned to the forest where the remnants of the Uzumaki clan hid. They lived in simple treehouses, barely surviving.
Three children, twenty-six women, three men, that was all that remained of the once-mighty Uzumaki clan.
By shinobi tradition, women usually took their husband's surname after marriage.
But the Uzumaki women had agreed: none of them would do so. Their children would bear the Uzumaki name.
The Uzumaki clan must never vanish. They were the final embers of its flame.
Yuka thought again of the Fox's powerful Senju bloodline. If only I could bear his child.
"Tsk… only twice in an hour," she muttered with a smile.
"If I'd known, I wouldn't have let him leave so soon…"
As she giggled to herself, a woman passing by with a child asked curiously,
"Yuka, what's got you smiling like that?"
"Oh, nothing," Yuka said quickly, tickling the little boy's chin.
"Tell me, Nagato, have you been eating well lately?"