Chapter 129: "You Beast! Even Little Kids Aren’t Safe Around You!"

"Seven or eight Uzumaki, seriously?!"

Takuya was taken aback. If they really worked at it, the Uzumaki Clan might have a shot at rebuilding. Mixed bloodlines were inevitable, but that was better than letting the Uzumaki bloodline disappear altogether.

"Kushina, do you think there's a chance for the Uzumaki Clan to recover?"

"Lord Third said that Danzo-sama rescued these clan members from Kusagakure," Kushina explained. Despite her dislike for Danzo, she sincerely addressed him as "Danzo-sama" out of respect for saving so many of her clan members. However, there was no way Kushina's opinion of him would change.

"So that's why I've been seeing more Uzumaki around Konoha lately," Takuya said, suddenly understanding the situation. "Looks like Danzo was pressured by Iwagakure into sending them to Konoha."

"Iwagakure?" Kushina's large, bright eyes widened at the revelation. She had assumed Danzo acted out of goodwill, but apparently, that wasn't the case.

Takuya chuckled and ruffled Kushina's soft red hair. "During a mission in Kusagakure, we ran into Nami and her late parents. There were other Uzumaki being held by Kusagakure too," Takuya explained. "Iwagakure caught wind of this and sent people to investigate. Danzo didn't want the Uzumaki bloodline falling into their hands, so he brought them to Konoha."

Kushina blinked, slowly processing the information. "So, it wasn't out of the kindness of his heart…"

"Not at all," Takuya replied, smiling as he spread his hands. "Danzo just didn't want any other village solving their Jinchuriki issues. It's all about keeping Konoha's position secure."

Kushina frowned, realizing how naive she had been. "I guess I was wrong to be grateful to him, huh?"

Takuya shrugged. "It's not about kindness or morality. Danzo was only thinking about Konoha's stability. Besides, this way, he keeps you loyal to Konoha and stops Iwagakure from getting their hands on any Uzumaki. It's a win-win for him."

Kushina sighed, but a smile soon returned to her face. "Well, even if it wasn't for the right reasons, at least the result is good. The Uzumaki Clan has a chance to grow again, even if our bloodlines have to be mixed."

There weren't many Uzumaki left, and rebuilding would mean intermarriage with other clans. In the world of shinobi, clans often had to make sacrifices to ensure their survival. Even the Hyuga Clan, with its strict purity rules, wasn't immune to such realities.

"This is the best we can do," Kushina said with another sigh. "As long as the Uzumaki bloodline continues, we'll have to accept that some things will change."

As she spoke, Kushina noticed that Takuya's attention had drifted. She followed his gaze and spotted a little red-haired girl running circles around Minato. The young shinobi was clearly flustered, while Nami stood nearby, wearing a wry smile.

"Looks like that kid really likes Minato," Takuya said, chuckling.

Kushina's eyes lit up. "If Meiko grows up and marries Minato, that wouldn't be too bad! Minato's got that warm, sunny look. Their kids would be adorable!"

Takuya nearly choked, staring at Kushina in disbelief. "Are you serious?"

"What? What did I say?" Kushina looked genuinely confused. Meiko seemed to adore Minato from the moment they met, and who wouldn't be drawn to someone as bright as him? She could already hear the little girl sweetly calling him "Big Brother Minato," much to Nawaki's annoyance. Why should Minato get all the attention while he was ignored?

"Nothing, nothing," Takuya said, patting his chest and giving Kushina a thumbs up. "Great idea!"

Kushina wasn't entirely sure if Takuya was being sincere or mocking her, but she let it go.

"You beast!" Nawaki accused Minato as they left the Uzumaki Clan's temporary quarters.

"What did I do?" Minato asked, exasperated.

"You don't even spare little kids!"

Minato rolled his eyes. "You're the only one who would think that, Nawaki."

"Seriously," Minato muttered, giving Nawaki a middle finger. The idea of grooming a girl from childhood to be a future bride was absurd to him. His focus now was solely on mastering the Flying Thunder God Technique. Any fleeting romantic thoughts he might have had were long gone.

Though the Uzumaki Clan's numbers were dwindling, the Third Hokage had still officially recognized them and set aside land for them within the village. Even though the area was a bit remote, it was more than enough for them. After being brought to Konoha and realizing they couldn't leave, the survivors were content to settle down. After all they had been through, they were tired of running. All they wanted now was a peaceful life.

"I've got a surprise for you guys," Nawaki said with a sly grin after they left the Uzumaki's new home. He led Takuya and Minato to the Senju Clan's ancestral home. There, he dug out a bottle of sake from an old house and grinned. "This is some of my great-uncle's finest sake. I hid it here so Tsunade wouldn't drink it all."

"Today, it's on me."

"Uh… Nawaki, we're not even old enough to drink," Minato pointed out, clearly uncomfortable.

"Please," Nawaki scoffed. "My sister and my sensei were sneaking sips when they were our age. You're being way too uptight."

"I'll give it a try," Takuya said, more out of curiosity than anything else. He wasn't much of a drinker—he didn't enjoy the splitting headaches that followed. But it was hard to resist when presented with something special.

Nawaki rummaged through some old cupboards and found a few cups. Minato, though reluctant, was eventually dragged into the impromptu drinking session.

"Why doesn't anyone like me?!" Nawaki suddenly wailed after a single cup. "Am I really that ugly? Even my sister can't stand me!"

Takuya watched in exasperation as Nawaki started to spiral. Just one drink and he was already a mess.

***********

Note: If you're interested, you can read up to chapter 225+ at patreon.com/ Emik01. Don't forget to give a power stone for many bonus chapters