"So, you came to Uzu Shio Village just to borrow a few ninjas who are proficient in sealing techniques?"
Uzumaki Ashina slowly raised his arm, signaling the clansmen behind him not to become agitated. The red-haired ninjas had already begun murmuring angrily among themselves, but Ashina's calm gesture immediately restored order.
Uchiha Su looked at the old patriarch with a curious expression.
"Of course," he replied casually. "Otherwise, why would we come to Uzu Shio Village? Is there anything here worth coveting?"
His tone was light, almost indifferent, as though he were merely discussing a trivial matter.
The Uzumaki ninjas standing nearby felt their anger rise instantly. Although the boy looked young, his words were extremely arrogant. Even if Uzu Shio Village was not the strongest ninja settlement in the world, it was still famous for its sealing techniques. To dismiss it so casually was clearly an insult.
However, before anyone could respond, Uchiha Su continued speaking.
"By the way," he added thoughtfully, "we also need to visit the Hidden Mist Village. We'll require your assistance in sealing the Tailed Beasts into suitable ninja hosts. After all, the Hidden Mist doesn't really have many people who specialize in sealing techniques."
His voice remained calm, as if the matter was completely ordinary.
In reality, his words were carefully chosen.
Lies rarely caused damage.
The truth, however, could cut like the sharpest blade.
Uzumaki Ashina had expected a different scenario entirely. When he first heard that members of the Uchiha and Kaguya clans had arrived together, he assumed they had come with hostile intentions.
Yet now, after approaching aggressively, they were simply requesting the help of several sealing experts.
For a brief moment, the old patriarch was stunned.
He had prepared himself for threats, political pressure, or even battle—but this straightforward request caught him completely off guard.
"What if I refuse?"
Ashina's expression gradually turned serious as he asked the question.
"You should remember that Uzu Shio Village and Konoha are allies. If you become angry and attempt to attack our village, Konoha will certainly not stand by and watch."
The statement was both a warning and a declaration of confidence.
Ashina took a slow breath while speaking. Agreeing too easily to the request would damage the dignity of the Uzumaki Clan.
How could Uzu Shio Village bow its head simply because a handful of outsiders arrived and demanded help?
If they gave in today without resistance, what would stop other ninja forces from doing the same thing tomorrow?
Would the Uzumaki Clan have to accept every unreasonable request from visitors in the future?
Uchiha Su listened quietly.
"Konoha?" he repeated softly.
Then he smiled faintly.
"Perhaps right now, Konoha neither has the inclination nor the ability to concern itself with the affairs of Uzu Shio Village."
Ashina's eyes narrowed immediately.
"What do you mean by that?" he asked.
Far away, in another location entirely, a terrifying scene was unfolding.
The massive form of the Nine-Tailed Fox towered above the ground like a natural disaster given life.
Its enormous body radiated overwhelming chakra.
Standing calmly on top of the beast's head was a single man.
Uchiha Madara.
Within the Nine-Tails' vertical pupils, the distinctive pattern of the Mangekyō Sharingan was reflected clearly.
Madara gazed toward the distant silhouette of a peaceful village.
"Kyuubi," he said quietly.
"Prepare a Tailed Beast Ball."
The Nine-Tails began gathering chakra within its mouth. Dark energy condensed into a swirling sphere of destruction.
Madara's voice remained calm.
"Let us give Konoha… a greeting."
Back at the gate of Uzu Shio Village, Uchiha Su simply shrugged.
"I don't need to explain it," he said casually. "Perhaps before long, you'll understand exactly what's happening."
His patience seemed to be running out.
"Anyway," he continued, "the decision is yours."
He spread his hands in a relaxed manner.
"We can either fight and make everyone lose face… or we can cooperate peacefully and you provide the manpower we need."
The Uzumaki ninjas could no longer remain silent.
"Patriarch! Let's fight them!"
"Our Uzumaki Clan has never bowed to anyone!"
"That's right! We survived the chaos of the Warring States Period. Why should we fear the Uchiha now?"
"Do they think there's no one left in the Uzumaki Clan?"
The crowd grew increasingly restless as the voices overlapped.
However, none of this affected Uzumaki Ashina's judgment.
As the patriarch of the Uzumaki Clan, he had to think beyond pride or emotion.
He understood the reality of their situation far too well.
Uzu Shio Village contained only a little over two hundred people.
Half of them were ordinary civilians who were not ninja at all.
Among the remaining half, the majority were only Genin or Chunin.
There were very few elite ninja.
If a battle broke out, even the loss of a few Jonin would severely damage the village's future.
In such circumstances, war was simply not an option.
Ashina slowly closed his eyes.
After several seconds, he spoke again.
"I will go with you."
The words caused immediate shock among his clansmen.
"Patriarch!"
"Lord Ashina, you can't!"
But the old man raised his hand once more, silencing everyone.
His voice remained steady.
"I am already an old man. I do not have many years left in this world."
He looked calmly toward Uchiha Su.
"If sacrificing myself can ensure the safety of Uzu Shio Village, then it will not be in vain."
There was another reason behind his decision.
The Hidden Mist Village was extremely close to the Land of Whirlpools.
If the Hidden Mist truly wished to attack, they could destroy the entire nation before Konoha even had time to respond.
Under such circumstances, forming a friendly relationship with the rising Uchiha faction within the Hidden Mist might actually protect the Uzumaki Clan.
Even if no immediate benefits appeared, there would at least be no harm.
For the sake of the village's future, Ashina was willing to take this risk.
Uchiha Su looked genuinely surprised.
The two leaders he had encountered recently—Hōzuki Gengetsu of the Hidden Mist and Uzumaki Ashina of the Uzumaki Clan—both possessed the same quality.
Responsibility.
They were leaders who placed the survival of their people above their own pride.
"Very good," Su said with a satisfied smile.
"After all, it's unwise to put all your eggs in one basket."
He paused briefly before continuing.
"I personally don't think Konoha can be relied upon forever. Besides, the true legacy of Konoha now exists within the Hidden Mist."
"I hope we can maintain a good relationship."
Ashina looked at the boy with a strange expression.
Despite his childish appearance, Su spoke like an experienced statesman.
His words carried the calm confidence of someone far older.
"Indeed," Ashina replied.
"Uzu Shio Village and the Hidden Mist Village are separated only by a narrow stretch of sea. Maintaining a good relationship with such a close neighbor is naturally important."
Although the Land of Whirlpools technically bordered the Land of Fire, the Land of Water was geographically closer.
From a strategic standpoint, diplomacy with the Hidden Mist was extremely valuable.
Of course, Ashina did not truly believe Konoha would abandon them.
He trusted Hashirama Senju deeply. The two had once been close friends.
As for Tobirama Senju…
Ashina trusted him as well, though for different reasons.
Tobirama was a cold and calculating politician.
Maintaining an alliance with Uzu Shio Village benefited Konoha strategically.
Therefore, Tobirama would never allow the Uzumaki Clan to be destroyed easily.
What might happen after Tobirama's era was another matter entirely.
Those concerns belonged to future generations.
Before departing, Uchiha Su asked one more question.
"Are you certain you are the most skilled sealing expert in Uzu Shio Village?"
Ashina's expression immediately darkened.
"If we speak purely about sealing techniques," he said firmly, "then this old man cannot think of anyone in the ninja world who surpasses me."
Su nodded casually.
"Fine, fine. I believe you."
Privately, he thought the old man was somewhat tsundere.
Soon afterward, the group began traveling toward the border between the Land of Whirlpools and the Land of Fire.
The journey was not long, though the travelers were somewhat weary by the time they arrived.
Ashina looked around the area thoughtfully.
"You know why I brought you here, don't you?" Su asked.
The old patriarch nodded slowly.
"When I was young, I enjoyed reading our clan's historical records," Ashina said quietly.
"They allowed me to trace the glorious past of the Uzumaki Clan."
He glanced at the surrounding landscape.
"According to those records, an ancestor of the Uchiha Clan was sealed somewhere in this region many centuries ago."
Su snorted lightly.
"Glorious? I wouldn't describe it that way."
He folded his arms.
"This sort of thing seems to happen constantly."
Then he looked at Ashina.
"Well, now it's time for your clan to make up for your ancestors' mistake."
Uchiha En and the others exchanged confused glances.
They had absolutely no idea what Su and Ashina were talking about.
In fact, Su had never even explained the true purpose of this journey.
Ashina frowned.
"It is not a matter of atoning for my ancestors' sins," he said firmly.
"At that time, my ancestor was invited by both the Sarutobi Clan and the Senju Clan to personally seal that Uchiha ancestor here."
"It was not something he decided on his own."
He then walked forward several steps.
"I must first locate the exact sealing site."
Ashina closed his eyes briefly.
Suddenly, a powerful wave of chakra spread outward from his body.
The energy expanded in all directions like an invisible tide.
Uchiha Su immediately felt the immense chakra sweeping across the area.
"So this is a sensory technique…" Su thought quietly.
Perhaps it was even one of the secret abilities unique to the Uzumaki Clan.
Could it be the legendary Mind's Eye of the Kagura?
Standing nearby, Su watched the old patriarch carefully, curiosity shining in his eyes.
Whatever was sealed beneath this land was about to be revealed.
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)