399. Island of Redaku Part-3
Hoshi narrates the tale to the Konoha group.
"So, after defeating that sea of the monster; Izuna-sama helped us with the reconstruction of the entire island. He cleared the surrounding monsters and thus after his suggestion, we named this island the Donut Island."
"Hoshi, what's the matter? Did some monster attack the island?"
Soon, a few red-haired figures walk out of the entrance of the hotel.
"Akari-san, Yuri-san… it's…"
Two redheads walk toward the escort group. They stand beside Hoshi.
"AH!"
They are startled to see Kushina since they recognize her.
"Hmm… what's the matter?" Their strange expression perplexes Kushina.
"It's nothing!" Both of them sighs and shake their head.
'So, Izuna-dono succeeded in his venture.'
Hoshi introduces the two groups to each other.
"Uzu clan? Hmm… I think I have some records about them in the Uzumaki clan library. I didn't expect it to be real." Kushina is pleasantly surprised to learn of their identity.
"Then, let me reintroduce myself. I am Kushina Uzumaki, the former princess of the Uzumaki clan."
"Former princess?" Akari and Yuri stare at each other.
A bitter smile appears on Kushina's face.
"Unlike your clan, my clan wasn't lucky. Barely a few members of the Uzumaki clan are alive today." Kushina narrates the incident of Uzushiogakure's slaughter.
"That's unfortunate! To think our close relatives suffered such a fate. We are lucky, we met Izuna-dono, or else we might also…" Akari shakes her head.
"It's alright! I have moved on from that tragedy. Now I am living happily with my family." Kushina introduces Minato and the rest of the group, who politely greet them.
"Hmm… where is Izuna-sama? It has been more than two years since he visited us." Yuri looks around in confusion.
Kushina, Minato, and Tsunade stare into each other's eyes. They notice the love-stricken look in Yuri's eyes.
'Another innocent girl snared by Izuna's love trap!' Tsunade mutters in her mind.
'This girl is also infatuated with Izuna.' Kushina replies to her.
'It's an unrequited love.' Minato shakes his head.
Sigh…
Minato sighs and explains.
"Izuna is caught in some important task and is unable to visit this place."
"Is that so?" Yuri's face fell.
"Don't worry, once he is free, I will ask him to visit with his family." Kushina smiles at her.
"His family?"
"Mm… this girl is Izuna's younger sister, Ayaka."
Ayaka waves at them.
"He also has a wife and two kids. His wife is on her way here." Tsunade adds.
"He has a wife and two kids…" Yuri's face fell. A slight tear appears in her eyes. She turns around and dashes away.
"YY… Yuri!" Akari helplessly raises her hand toward Yuri to stop her.
"I am sorry for this!" she apologizes to the group and chases after Yuri.
"Tsunade Nee-san… is it alright to do this?" Kushina turns to Tsunade.
"I can understand her sentiment. But it won't change the truth. She has to face it and move on." Tsunade shakes her head.
"Izuna has already met his love. Harboring any affectionate feeling for him might hurt her." She continues.
"Please give us an opportunity to host you." Viktor, the silent butler, gently bows his head.
He escorts the group inside the resort.
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A few hours later,
The rest of the escort group also sails their ship to Shirodo island. The ship anchors on the shore and the group walks on the island.
"Amazing!" The group stares at the building in Shirodo town with amazement.
The guards proudly puff their chests and introduce the landmarks of Shirodo town to them.
For these people, shinobis are figures of legend and yet these legendary figures are now amazed by their hard work.
"This way, please!" The guards lead them toward the trinity corporation resort.
"Incredible! To think that Lord Izuna has such a widespread influence on the people of the foreign land." Chojuro and Ao look around.
"Look… look… that's Sensei's jutsu statue."
Hanabi tugs Yakumo's sleeves and points towards a gigantic statue of Izuna's Susanoo at the town square. Another life-sized statue of Izuna with a katana is present beside the giant Susanoo statue.
"Wow! Incredible."
They approach the statue and read the story of Izuna's heroic deeds on the memorial.
"As expected of him!" A faint smile appears on Mei's face.
"Umm… I also want a giant statue like this." Naruto murmurs.
"Don't you have the Naruto bridge in the Land of Waves?" Sasuke speechlessly replies.
"But that's just the name of the bridge. There is no statue." Naruto complains.
"Well… at that time, the people of the Land of waves were short on money. They didn't even have enough money to build the bridge. It was Izuna Sensei who gave the funds to them." Sakura adds.
"Don't worry, Naruto. Once you become the Hokage, you will get your own stone carving on the Hokage mountain." Sasuke consoles him.
"I feel much better after hearing that." Naruto looks around and notices a small ramen shop on the corner.
"Hey… hey… look… look… there is a ramen shop here!" He points towards the ramen shop in excitement.
Ugh…
The rest of the group clutch their forehead.
"Naruto is Naruto. One moment he is depressed, the next moment he becomes cheerful." Izumi remarks with a chuckle.
Sasuke sighs as he is dragged inside the shop by Naruto.
"We should also eat something fresh. We have been eating dried rations and preserved food for the past few days." Mei gives her permission and enters the shop with the rest of the group.
Inside the ramen shop,
"Mmm… this ramen has a completely different taste from Ichiraku ramen."
Slurp… slurp…
Naruto finishes the fifth bowl of ramen and asks for more.
"It's good but if I have to pick between Ichiraku and this, then Ichiraku will be my first choice."
"Mm… they mostly serve ramen with seafood ingredients. It's understandable since this place is present beside the sea." Sakura finishes a bowl of ramen.
After the meal, they exit the ramen shop and look at the various food stalls. All the teens turn their gaze to Mei.
"Since we are in a new place, then we might as well have a taste of their culture." Mei understands their gaze and gives them approval.
"Yay!" Hanabi and Naruto jump in excitement.
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Back at the resort,
The Konoha group meets up with Akari and Yuri. Yuri has calmed her emotions by now.
"I will also like to meet Izuna-san's wife and see what kind of person is she." Akari heaves a sigh of relief at her words.
She can see betterment in her daughter's words, but some things aren't meant to be.
"I would like to take you somewhere!" Yuri turns to Kushina.
"Is it the…"
"Yes, the Sea Lord wants to meet Lady Kushina." Yuri nods at Akari.
"If you don't mind, can we follow her?" Tsunade turns to Akari.
"No… not at all." Akari agrees to her request.
The group walks deeper into the Uzu clan compound. After a few turns here and there, they arrive at the center of the island.
"Woah! So huge." Ayaka exclaims at the sheer size and depth of the inland reservoir.
"Fufu… of course, as expected of my student." Tsunade proudly puffs her chest as she steals Ayaka's lines.
"So, this place was carved out of Izuna's attack." Kushina and Minato turn to each other.
"He has grown much stronger now!" They recall the scene of the powerful jutsu used by Izuna to blow away an entire mountain in his battle against the Otsutsuki clan member.
"This is nothing compared to the chasm of death he carved with his blade." A bitter smile appears on Minato's face.
[This familiar presence…]
An unknown telepathic connection in their mind. The group instinctively raises their guard against any attack.
"Don't worry… it's the Sea Lord." Yuri explains.
"Oh!"
The group turns towards the center of the reservoir, where a giant column of water is slowly rising.
Soon, a gigantic plesiosaur appears in their vision.
"Woah, so huge!" The group is startled by the size of the plesiosaur, which easily dwarfs Kurama.
[It's nice to meet you, I am Ryui, also known as the Sea Lord.] Ryui introduces herself.
EEEEPPP…
Another small plesiosaur leaps out of the water and flaps its flipper toward Ayaka.
The small plesiosaur appears beside Ayaka and nudges its head against Ayaka. Ayaka gently strokes its head, since she doesn't sense any hostility from the creature.
[He is Ryu, my son!]
Ayaka pats Ryu's head. Ryu points one of its flippers toward Ayaka and the other toward its back.
"You want me to ride on your back?" Ayaka asks him.
EEEEPPP…
Ryu nods its head.
"Alright!" Ayaka jumps on top of him. A water bubble surrounds Ryu as the latter jumps into the water reservoir.
[Don't worry, Ryu has a summoning contract with Izuna. Just like he can sense the connection between Izuna and her. Thus, he considers that little girl as a part of his family.] Ryui explains to calm them down.
"I see!" Tsunade heaves a sigh of relief.