"Uzumaki...? I... I don't really understand, but if you mean red hair, I got it from my mother..."
Not sensing any hostility in Hii Kōri's attitude, Nagato's tone gradually steadied.
"I see. If you don't know, then no need to learn."
Hii Kōri nodded, vaguely glossing over the topic.
Since Nagato was unaware of the Uzumaki Clan, either his mother was an early branch exiled from Uzushiogakure, or like Hii Kōri's original body's parents, she had fled.
In any case, Nagato's mother hadn't revealed her lineage to him, so the Uzumaki Clan's destruction likely didn't concern Nagato much.
As for whether Hii Kōri had mistaken...
That life force circulation pattern, distinct from ordinary people, was the Uzumaki Clan's most easily identifiable characteristic. Even with Nagato's life force somewhat diminished from prolonged malnutrition, with Hii Kōri this close, he couldn't fail to recognize a 'clansman's' characteristic life vortex.
Honestly, in Hii Kōri's view, the so-called Sage of Six Paths bloodline's existence form wasn't much different from the Mountain People.
Essentially an alien, the Sage of Six Paths' direct descendants were hard to find, yet the entire ninja world was filled with bloodlines related to him—just like Mountain People mixed into the Japanese.
Or perhaps 'infiltration' would be more accurate?
After all, the Sage of Six Paths bloodline and Mountain People blood differed significantly in manifestation. Physical traits didn't equal power, but if one inherited corresponding powers, they'd necessarily inherit the clan's physical traits along with it.
Considering that many manga artists had habits of quoting classics in their works, and possessed remarkably rich reserves of knowledge in subtle areas.
The later-stage techniques in that manga were loaded with names referencing mythological systems quite obscure to ordinary readers, plus connecting 'tengu' with Susano'o—it was hard to say whether the original manga had referenced folklore in this regard.
Perhaps there really was some pure Six Paths bloodline hidden somewhere in this world, like the Mountain People Hii Kōri encountered in his previous life?
As for the deeper 'which came first the manga or this world' question, Hii Kōri didn't intend to investigate. After all, philosophical conundrums like chicken-and-egg, if dwelled upon, would never end.
Anyway, Hii Kōri added investigating Six Paths descendants to his long-term schedule.
"What does that mean?"
But Nagato clearly cared deeply about family matters. He instinctively grabbed Hii Kōri's sleeve, his tone carrying a pleading note: "Could you please tell me..."
Even with his eyes hidden by long bangs, that eager desire clearly conveyed itself.
"It means we can roughly be considered homogeneous."
Letting Nagato tug his sleeve, Hii Kōri's tone lifted slightly, though he still didn't intend to explain in detail.
Humans cannot endure—or fear—things without meaning, without logic, cannot be determined.
Yet reality often presents matters far beyond human rational logic, or rather, these things have so many motivations and causes that human logic cannot possibly sort out and summarize them all.
Just like this war raging through the Land of Rain, the Uzumaki Clan's annihilation, and all parties' purposes and strategies.
Explaining all this to these children to the point they could understand would be far too troublesome.
In three or four years of teaching, Hii Kōri's most useful accumulated experience was: many things don't require explaining the process and principles—just students understanding what actions produce what effects is enough.
"Judging by your state, your family is gone?"
"Yes—father, mother, were... by ninjas..."
Mentioning this, Nagato still trembled with resentment.
Hii Kōri gently patted his shoulder soothingly, continuing in a flat voice: "And your families too?"
Hearing this, Konan bit her lip and sadly lowered her head, while Yahiko nodded and answered simply: "Yes."
"Alright. Things like this really are everywhere."
Though Hii Kōri's plan to find another Uzumaki clansman to bring back to Suna had fallen through, he wouldn't feel lost over something so unexpected. "For the sake of shared clan ties, I'll contact the village and arrange to take you out of the Land of Rain after some time."
"Whether you three or me our luck isn't too bad. Hopefully, subsequent operations will go smoother too."
Though saying this to three war orphans might sound far too mocking, this exclamation contained absolutely no irony it was a genuine exclamation.
With the Uzumaki Clan now extinct, the value of scattered Uzumaki descendants was infinitely magnified in the eyes of the four villages that divided Uzushiogakure's heritage.
Though each openly took different portions, no one believed the four villages didn't secretly covet each other's spoils.
But Suna had the sealing corps he'd trained, and had brought back Uzumaki sealing technique records teaching would not be misleading students anyway.
Moreover, these three children seemed to be around Sasori's age. Bringing them back would give him companions.
"Um... Could we not leave the Land of Rain?"
This time, Yahiko spoke again, somewhat hesitant.
He knew that opportunities to leave this increasingly chaotic Land of Rain were
what countless war orphans desperately sought. Refusing Hii Kōri's kindness like this risked provoking him.
But regardless, he didn't want to leave his homeland.
"Hm? Reason?"
Though his rare kindness was rejected, Hii Kōri wasn't particularly angry. He could see this child was forcing himself to say this, with a will that he couldn't let go of.
Some might call this character inflexible and stubborn, but Hii Kōri preferred to call it 'willing to sacrifice everything to carry out one's convictions.'
He'd always had quite a liking for people with this character.
Seeing him not angry, Yahiko licked his lips and quickly replied: "We want to learn ninjutsu from you."
"That's not a reason. Once you reach Sunagakure, someone will teach you ninjutsu there too. And I'm busy as hell searching for someone here no time to teach you."
Hii Kōri propped his cheek on his hand, flipped his wrist to produce a kunai, and flipped it with his fingertip with interest. "But, let me ask anyway why do you want to learn ninjutsu?"
***
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