"Adamantine Sealing Chains?!"
Momohime was a genuine Uzumaki Clan Member who had lived in the Village Hidden in the Tides. As soon as those golden chains appeared, her long-buried memories were stirred.
If her memory served her right, even in the Village Hidden in the Tides of her time, there were no more than ten people who could use this. This wasn't some simple Ninjutsu that could be used just because one bore the Uzumaki name.
This child before her, the same age as her eight-year-old daughter, could actually use it? Could it be the Transformation Jutsu?
It was very likely!
Ignoring Momohime's earth-shattering psychological shifts, Amane, after piercing the Grass Ninja who had come to seize them, continued to manipulate the golden chains. In an instant, she dealt with all the remaining Grass Ninja standing outside.
It wasn't that they hadn't thought of resisting, but the Adamantine Sealing Chains were faster. Moreover, once they touched a Ninja's body, the Sealing effect on the chains would render their Chakra completely unusable, causing them to lose all ability to resist instantly.
From the moment Amane suddenly struck to the defeat of all the Grass Ninja, it took no more than a single breath's time.
This made Momohime even more convinced that Amane must be a senior from the Village Hidden in the Tides who had infiltrated using the Transformation Jutsu.
[So weak, even weaker than the experimental subjects Uncle Snake keeps locked up. I originally thought about packing these people up and giving them to Uncle Snake, but now it seems he might not even want them.]
Amane then used Kagura Mind's Eye to sense the surroundings. The sudden, massive change here seemed to have gone completely unnoticed by the people of the Hidden Grass Village. It seemed the village's sensory system was also a pile of garbage.
But this was for the best. Amane happened to have time to work on Karin and her mother. She had thought this sudden action would leave her with no time.
In Amane's original plan, she intended to strike after nightfall. She hadn't expected the Grass Ninja to demand someone at this time, but this small variable was insignificant. Amane immediately decided it would be the same to switch back with a Shadow Clone midway.
But she hadn't expected Momohime to suddenly have a burst of "Saint Mother" aura. If Amane had remained indifferent to this move, Momohime's life or death would have been truly unpredictable after she left.
Then the point of Amane telling Orochimaru about Karin and her mother in advance would be lost.
It would be better to wait until she broke free from Orochimaru in the future and personally brought Karin to Konoha.
So, Amane had no choice but to act early. Fortunately, the current outcome was acceptable. As long as she didn't have to force a breakout right now, Amane's plan could still proceed as usual.
First, Amane casually told Momohime and Karin to wait a moment before she began cleaning up the "crime scene" she had just created.
"Summoning Jutsu!"
With a poof, a large, dark snake with red vertical pupils appeared. Then, amidst the troubled expressions on Momohime and Karin's faces, it performed a live demonstration of what it meant to swallow someone whole.
The corpses of these Grass Ninja would be eaten by the snake and then summoned back to be fed to other snakes. This was a way of raising artificial Summoned Beasts. Moreover, they were very efficient, not even leaving behind a drop of blood on the ground. Aside from the marks where the bodies hit the ground needing manual cleanup, the scene would be left perfectly clean.
Before long, through the combined efforts of Amane and the snake, there was no trace left that anyone had died there.
After finishing these tasks, Amane used the Shadow Clone Jutsu, leaving three clones outside to stand guard. She then turned to Karin and her mother and said:
"Alright, Momohime, Karin, let's go inside. I have some serious business to discuss with you regarding your future destination."
Back inside the house, the atmosphere among the three had undergone a world-shaking change compared to a few minutes ago.
Momohime instantly lost the confidence she previously had as an elder and a mother.
In contrast, Karin's red eyes were now full of curiosity and excitement. She was likely thinking that those fierce Grass Ninja had vanished without a trace in such a short time, and this clansman of the same age was so powerful. They must be saved!
"I'll get straight to the point. My purpose for coming here was that I received intelligence that there were two Uzumaki Clan Members in the Hidden Grass Village—namely, you two."
Momohime swallowed hard, her heart racing. Things were developing far too quickly. Who could have imagined that just moments ago she was prepared to die for the two children, and now the situation had turned into this?
This should be a good thing, right? How should I respond?
Seeing Momohime looking like she wanted to speak but hesitated, Amane knew that this woman, who was essentially a commoner, was in a state of confusion after being hit with an overload of information in a short time.
It was basically impossible to expect her to maintain basic logic and hold a conversation right now.
[As expected, dealing with emergencies isn't as good as following a step-by-step plan. If it really doesn't work out, I'll just have to have them come with me to Uncle Snake's place.]
Fortunately, there was still time. Amane silently poured a cup of water for Momohime.
"Thank you,"
Momohime said weakly, making it hard for Amane to suppress a smile.
"There's no need to laugh..."
It would have been better if she hadn't said that; even Karin's lips couldn't help but curl up slightly. At that moment, Karin, who had been silent, suddenly asked, "Amane, you're clearly about the same age as me, so why are you so strong?"
"Because I have cheats," Amane replied, recalling that fateful day. Halfway through, she truly thought she was going to die, but she had surprisingly pulled through.
Hashirama cells, zero negative reviews. Zero negative reviews for failed transplants, no one says anything bad about semi-successful transplants, and those who succeed in the transplant take off immediately.
Who could dispute the value of one of the strongest "cheats" in the Naruto world?
"Cheats? Where can I get those? I want to become strong too. That way, we won't have to live such a miserable life."
Karin's eyes were filled with hope.
Unlike in the original work, Karin's mother hadn't died yet, so she still had something worth protecting. It wasn't like during the Chunin Exams period and beyond, where meeting Sasuke truly ruined her life.
"The mortality rate is as high as ninety-nine percent. Do you want to take that gamble, Karin?"
But after another decade or so of Orochimaru's research, there might be safe Hashirama cells to use. She just didn't know if the potency would still be the same.
"No!" Momohime suddenly jumped up, but then, under the gaze of the two children, she obediently sat back down.
"Then never mind. If I die, Mom will probably..." A ninety-nine percent mortality rate was indeed terrifying. Karin wiped away some cold sweat as she spoke.
Amane smiled, feeling somewhat healed inside as she watched this warm scene.
"I'm sorry, I lost my composure just now. So, may I call you Miss Amane? May I ask, what business do you have with us, mother and daughter?"
Momohime seemed to have regained her composure after being startled by the ninety-nine percent mortality rate. Finally, they could begin a proper conversation.
"Miss?" Amane was momentarily confused, unable to follow Momohime's train of thought. But that wasn't important; she'd finish the business first. Amane held up two fingers and continued:
"Two choices. One: follow me and leave for a hidden base. During this time, you will be well-fed and clothed, and a Ninjutsu master will personally teach you some clan secret techniques to make you stronger. However, you will have your blood drawn every now and then, and occasionally you will be used as experimental guinea pigs."
After presenting this option, Amane carefully observed the reactions of Karin and her mother.
Surprisingly, Momohime didn't react much to the blood drawing or experiments. After listening calmly throughout, she asked, "And the other one?"
"I will use the Cursed Seal Technique to select a reasonably strong Grass Ninja, and have him and my Shadow Clone escort you to Konoha. However, a Shadow Clone cannot travel an exaggerated distance; it will definitely disappear halfway. But the Grass Ninja under the Cursed Seal Technique will still be under my control.
In other words, for the second option, you'll have to take a gamble."
There was no comparison between the Hidden Mist and this place; the Land of Fire's status as the largest in the world was no exaggeration. Amane, at least for now, couldn't manage to have a Shadow Clone run that far.
Now that the pros and cons of the two options had been explained, Amane silently awaited Momohime's answer.
Full collection Avilable at low subscription patreon (Obito_uchiha)