CH - 10 A New Home
"Third Elder, is this the Land of Grass?"
A young girl with fiery red hair gazed at the flower-filled Land of Grass before her. Her bright, watery eyes shimmered with hope as she turned her dirt-streaked face towards the three elders standing beside her.
"Now that we're in the Land of Grass, does that mean we don't have to run anymore? Can we finally have enough to eat and sleep peacefully?"
As soon as she finished speaking, the figure beside her, an elderly man with hunched shoulders and white hair, couldn't help but tremble as he looked into those innocent eyes... and upon seeing the dirty face adorned with a hopeful smile, he nodded and said, "Yes, Hinako! You no longer need to hide. From now on, you can sleep soundly and won't go hungry anymore!"
However, these words were nothing but comforting lies. His name was Yoshinori Uzumaki, one of the three elders of the Uzumaki clan before the Land of Whirlpools was devastated. The Uzumaki clan had been under attack by ninjas from various nations within the Land of Whirlpools. After a day and night of relentless resistance, the clan leader and the elders came to the realization that the situation was futile. They made the difficult choice to disband and lead their people away from the Land of Whirlpools, ensuring the survival of the Uzumaki bloodline.
Yet, even after their escape, the invaders refused to let the Uzumaki clan go and relentlessly pursued the fleeing members. Initially, there were around a hundred Uzumaki civilians and ninjas, but in the end, only slightly over twenty remained.
Yoshinori was among them, accompanied by less than four surviving ninjas, with three being Jonin and one Chunin. Although the strength of a Jonin team was formidable, it was still insufficient to protect the remnants of the weakened Uzumaki clan.
Long periods of exhaustion and starvation had greatly diminished their power, and now... they were even sealed? The absurdity of it all! The Uzumaki clan, renowned masters of sealing jutsu, had been sealed by someone else, using their own ancestral techniques!
Indeed, he recognized those sealing patterns all too well. If this had happened when the Land of Whirlpools still thrived, it would have been a disgrace to the Uzumaki clan.
Initially, they sought refuge in the neighboring Land of Rain, but soon realized it wasn't a safe haven. Determined to find a place where the Uzumaki clan could settle, they ventured northward.
However, fate had an unfortunate twist in store for them. They unexpectedly encountered slave traders from the Land of Soup, who captured them when they were exhausted and famished. Enslaved by ninja hired by the traders, they were eventually sealed away and brought to the Land of Soup. Just as they anticipated being sold into slavery, the slave traders inexplicably brought them aboard a ship headed towards the Fire Nation.
Suddenly, a group of enigmatic ninjas attacked the Soup Country merchants, saving them from their captors. And now, they found themselves here.
To be honest, after enduring so much hardship, Yoshinori no longer held faith in anyone's ability to help the Land of Whirlpools. Even the Leaf Village, once considered their brethren, had merely promised to ensure the survival of the Uzumaki bloodline without extending any further assistance.
So, who could they truly trust?
Yoshinori let out a weary sigh as he reached out to gently stroke the head of his granddaughter, Hinako. She was the sole surviving member of their family, as Yoshinori's son and daughter-in-law had already sacrificed their lives while fleeing.
Originally, he had intended for Hinako to plunge into the sea and seek a chance to escape, but the ninja had discovered her, bringing her back to this place.
Now... they were left in uncertainty. Although the ninja hired by the merchants had yet to resurface, the fact that they concealed their identities with black cloaks and possessed knowledge of the Whirlpool clan's sealing techniques left Yoshinori with an ominous feeling.
A glimmer of cold determination flickered in Yoshinori's eyes, but it quickly faded into frustration. What could they possibly do now? The answer was nothing.
Familiar with the Land of Grass, a small country renowned for its shamelessness and opportunism in the ninja world, Yoshinori knew that it had been razed to the ground in the past, but now seemed to have been rebuilt.
He observed the Grass Country citizens laboring nearby, then cast a worried glance at his granddaughter and the Grass ninjas surrounding them, his heart heavy with apprehension.
What did these Grass ninjas want from them? The unique physical traits of the Uzumaki clan? Or their unparalleled sealing techniques? But...
'Whoever can ensure the survival of me and my granddaughter, I am willing to agree to any terms, no matter how daunting. Whether it entails sealing a scroll or enduring unimaginable experiments on my own body, I will harbor no regrets,' Yoshinori silently vowed.
As for seeking revenge for the Uzumaki clan, Yoshinori no longer harbored such desires. The enemies were numerous and formidable, rendering the current state of the Uzumaki clan utterly incapable of seeking vengeance.
'How are the other members of the clan faring?' Yoshinori pondered, his thoughts drifting to the neighboring couple from the Land of Rain.
Were they safe in the Land of Rain? Have they been discovered? Yoshinori fervently hoped for their well-being, even if they were ordinary civilians.
Suddenly, a stir among the surrounding Grass ninjas caught their attention. Yoshinori and his companions snapped back to reality, sensing that something was about to happen. They lifted their heads, confusion etched on their faces, and directed their gazes ahead.
Was the person who had brought them here finally going to make an appearance? Who could it be? What was their purpose? These questions reverberated through everyone's mind.
At that moment, jubilant cheers erupted from the group of working civilians. It seemed that this individual held considerable prestige in the Land of Grass.
Just as Yoshinori pondered this, a figure emerged from the crowd, flanked by three individuals with fiery red hair—two women and a child. Were they fellow Uzumaki clan members? No, that person was...
Recognition flickered in Yoshinori's widened eyes, but before he could react, the words rang out.
"Welcome home, fellow villagers!" Akihiko stood before him, arms open wide, a warm smile adorning his face. "From this day forward... the Land of Grass shall be your home! Here, you shall no longer endure persecution! Here, you need not fear for your lives! Here, hunger and cold shall not torment you, This is your home!"
Akihiko gazed deeply into the elderly man's eyes. "You have endured so much, and now, you have returned home, fellow villagers."
However, to Akihiko's surprise, the scene unfolded differently than he had envisioned.
The Uzumaki clan members standing before him did not have tear-filled eyes, nor did they express overwhelming gratitude. Instead, they stared at him and... Uzumaki Fuso.
It should be noted that, in this moment, Akihiko had taken care to dress more formally, style his hair, and even apply a touch of makeup, all to appear more vibrant and energetic.
The outcome was far from what Akihiko had anticipated, dampening his initial enthusiasm. The excitement he had experienced moments ago dwindled as he observed the bedraggled and disheveled Uzumaki clan before him, resembling a group of refugees.
He sighed and turned to Kana and Fuso, who stood beside him with smiles on their faces, he said, "Never mind, the two of you come here! Let's take them for a bath, provide them with clean clothes, feed them, and let them rest!"
Just as Kana and Fuso were about to nod in agreement, Elder Yoshinori suddenly snapped back to reality and stared at Fuso with a mix of excitement and bewilderment. "You... Fuso?" he exclaimed. "Weren't you in the Land of Rain? How did you end up here?"
"A lot has happened," Fuso sighed, a faint blush adorning her cheeks. She glanced at Akihiko, seemingly recalling something, and then smiled with anticipation. "We'll talk about it later, For now... welcome home, Elder Yoshinori!"
"Home... home?" Elder Yoshinori murmured, slightly taken aback. He exchanged glances with the other clan members, disbelief evident in their eyes, as they looked at the man standing beside Fuso.
Yoshinori could sense that this man was the leader, and when he saw the man nod, a smile filled with hope appeared on Elder Yoshinori's face. "Indeed, Home! Let's go home!"
"Are we truly being welcomed?" "Will this place become our new home?" "Will our wandering finally come to an end?" They exclaimed, a mixture of surprise and disbelief evident in their voices.
The Uzumaki clan members erupted in cheers, their voices ringing with disbelief and excitement. Just as they were about to take a step forward, quivering with anticipation...
"Grandpa! Grandpa!" Hinako, Yoshinori's granddaughter, suddenly tugged at his clothes. Elder Yoshinori suppressed his excitement, lowered his head in confusion, and gazed at her.
But Hinako extended her tiny hand, a delightful smile on her face, and pointed to a white speck on her right hand. "Look, Grandpa! It's snowing!" she exclaimed.
Yoshinori looked at his granddaughter's hand and indeed, tiny white snowflakes were falling around them. It was a surreal sight, the flakes landing softly on their worn-out clothes, as if nature itself was embracing them in a welcoming gesture.
Akihiko's eyes widened in surprise, and he glanced up at the sky, noticing the snowfall. A smile crossed his face, realizing the significance of the moment. "Snow... it's a sign of new beginnings," he said, his voice filled with hope. "Let this snow be a symbol of the start of a brighter future for all of us."
The Uzumaki clan members watched in awe as the snowflakes continued to descend, creating a serene atmosphere amidst the chaos of their lives. It was a moment of tranquility and peace, a stark contrast to the hardships they had endured.
Yoshinori lifted his gaze to meet Akihiko's eyes, a newfound determination burning within him. "Thank you. We accept your offer of a new home," he declared, his voice steady and resolute. "The Uzumaki clan will find solace and rebuild our strength here in the Land of Grass."
Akihiko nodded, his own resolve unwavering. "Together, we shall create a place where every Uzumaki can flourish and find happiness," he proclaimed, his voice carrying a sense of unity.
As the snowflakes continued to fall, the Uzumaki clan and the Grass ninjas began to walk forward, united in their shared purpose. The journey ahead would not be easy, but with hope in their hearts and the snow as a symbol of their determination, they stepped into their new home.
Hinako looked up at her grandfather, her eyes shining with innocence and trust. "Grandpa, I'm glad we're finally safe," she whispered, her voice filled with relief.
Yoshinori smiled down at her, his heart brimming with a mix of emotions. "Yes, my dear Hinako, we're finally safe," he replied, his voice filled with a warmth that hadn't been present for a long time. "And we will make this new home a place where you can grow and thrive."
As they walked further into the Land of Grass, the snow continued to fall, covering the ground in a pristine white blanket. It was a fresh start for the Uzumaki clan, a chance to rebuild their lives and reclaim their identity.