Chapter 40: Yumi's Decision

The new year had arrived in Konoha, and the entire village was filled with a joyful atmosphere. After all, it had been another year of peace without war.

Karin, having a rare vacation, was running around with her friends, enjoying herself. However, Aoba knew that although Karin said she was out playing, she often ran off to Naruto's place to bring him food.

Perhaps because she had experienced a life of wandering with her mother, Karin was particularly concerned about this fellow Uzumaki in Konoha. She often found various excuses to take food to Naruto. In reality, even if she asked outright, Aoba and Yumi would never have refused. But the young girl seemed to treat it like an interesting ninja game, sneaking food to Naruto right under Aoba's nose. Aoba pretended not to notice, and after learning about it, Yumi often turned a blind eye as well.

"You know, I once knew Kushina," Yumi suddenly mentioned one day. "But she was a princess of the Uzumaki Clan, and I was just a commoner. We didn't interact much. From what I remember, she was a very cheerful and kind-hearted girl."

"Yes, everyone in Konoha says Kushina was a wonderful person. It's a shame, though... good people often don't meet good ends in this world."

"How... did Kushina die?" Yumi suddenly asked, surprising Aoba.

"I'm not a ninja," she continued, "but if there's anything I can do for the Uzumaki clan, I want to try. I've heard that the boy named Naruto doesn't live a good life in the village. But I don't understand—wasn't he the child of Kushina and the previous Hokage? Why would he...?"

"It's a complicated matter," Aoba replied, his tone turning serious. "It reflects the darkest and most disgusting aspects of Konoha. No justification could ever wash away that stain."

"Is that so?" Yumi fell silent for a moment, then suddenly spoke again. "If that experiment you mentioned about fusing the cells of the First Hokage were to succeed, what would happen?"

"It would make me very powerful. Enhanced vitality, vast chakra reserves, and there's even a chance I could awaken the First Hokage's Wood Release kekkei genkai."

"So, if it succeeded, you'd become much stronger?"

"That's right."

"Then... could I do it too?"

He finally understood what Yumi was hinting at.

"Do you want to become a ninja?"

"Yes, even though I'm older now, if possible, I'd like to become a ninja."

"Why?"

Aoba hesitated, as Yumi had never shown this inclination before. She always seemed content with her current life, as if simply watching Karin grow up healthy was enough for her. But now...

"I've seen and thought about a lot during my time in Konoha. This world isn't safe, not even in Konoha. You've grown so strong, but you still train relentlessly and undergo dangerous experiments. Even though you've said nothing, I can sense that you're worried about something. Are we facing some sort of danger in the future?"

Yumi's keen perception left Aoba stunned for a moment. After a brief pause, he didn't hide the truth.

"Yes, in the future, we will face a tremendous danger. With my current strength, it's far from enough to protect myself, let alone protect you all."

"I see. Is that why you're training Karin so harshly?"

"That's right. Karin has incredible potential, and I need her to develop it as quickly as possible. Only then will we have a slight chance in the future."

Truth be told, even though he was a transmigrator, in this world, without a special bloodline or a cheat ability, he still felt anxious about the future. Hidden enemies like Obito, Nagato, Madara, and even Black Zetsu and Kaguya Ōtsutsuki, not to mention the mysterious people on the moon, loomed over him.

Each of these enemies was incredibly overpowered. Obito had the strongest Mangekyō Sharingan in the story. Nagato, while not inherently evil, was an idealist, which in some ways was more dangerous than evil.

And Madara, perhaps the most charismatic villain in the Naruto series, exerted an overwhelming sense of pressure. Right now, he could hold his own against the Raikage, which made him seem impressive. But he was acutely aware that in the later stages of the story, Madara single-handedly defeated the combined forces of the Five Kage. That level of power—unbeatable in ninjutsu, taijutsu, and genjutsu—left anyone facing him in despair.

The worst part? At that point, Madara hadn't even regained his Rinnegan. He didn't even want to imagine what it would be like when he did. As for Kaguya Ōtsutsuki and the rest of her clan, Aoba didn't even consider them for now.

Considering the future of this world, all he could say was: he still had a long, long way to go.

"Let me help you," Yumi said firmly. "Teach me how to become a ninja."

"It's not impossible, but not right now. Your body is still too depleted. Extracting chakra would further strain your body. If you do that, you won't live to see the future."

"Then let me undergo that experiment. Didn't you say the Uzumaki Clan has a higher success rate for it?"

"Yes, according to my research, the Uzumaki and Senju Clans are likely related by blood. There's a high chance that your cells could merge successfully. But as you've seen, the experiment isn't successful yet."

"How about this," Aoba suggested, "start by studying the theory first. Ninjas don't just fight; there's another kind called a medical ninja. To become one, you need a lot of theoretical knowledge. Not all injuries or diseases can be healed by chakra."

"A medical ninja... I understand. Give me the materials, and I'll start right away."

Seeing how serious Yumi was, he couldn't refuse. Still, he decided to say one more thing.

"Yumi, you can learn all this, but I want you to promise me one thing: never use your special ability to save anyone. Not even once. You know how—"

"I understand. People can be terrifying. If I let anyone bite me once, it will spiral out of control. I get what you mean, Aoba, but I refuse."

"You..."

"Listen, I won't let anyone else bite me, but you're an exception. Aoba, Karin and I can be your helpers. Even if I can't become a ninja, I want to support you. Please don't refuse. It's one of the few things I can do for you."

"...Mom, Mom..."

Karin's voice suddenly interrupted their conversation.

"Hey, what are you two up to?"

"..."

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