"Red hair… that girl just now—she must be from the Uzumaki clan, right?"
Tsunade, ever the carefree older sister, didn't feel a flicker of jealousy even when Uchiha Ran lingered his gaze on another woman.
What surprised her was that they had actually encountered an Uzumaki clan member here in the Land of Grass—a completely unexpected development. She had assumed that Kukina was the only surviving member. What puzzled her even more was how weak this Uzumaki's chakra seemed; it was barely perceptible, nearly indistinguishable from that of an ordinary civilian.
"Ran! She's likely a surviving member of the Uzumaki clan. We should take her back to Konoha. I have a bad feeling about how she's living here in Kusagakure," Tsunade said, concern knitting her brow.
Though the woman bore no visible injuries, Tsunade could sense her frailty. This was deeply abnormal. The Uzumaki were renowned for their vitality; under ordinary circumstances, their bodies were robust and resilient.
Ran nodded. "You're right, Tsunade-sensei. I only glanced at her because of her distinctive red hair. She is indeed an Uzumaki. But perhaps we should observe her situation first, discreetly. She may not want to leave with us at all."
Tsunade considered this. Given Konoha's history with the Uzumaki, any surviving clan member would naturally seek refuge in the Leaf Village. It was unlikely that she would have wandered all the way to the Land of Grass on her own.
"Has Konoha really fallen so far that it cannot protect these poor Uzumaki orphans?" Tsunade muttered angrily. She couldn't comprehend why under Hiruzen Sarutobi's leadership, the village had deteriorated so quickly.
The decline of the Senju clan, the destruction of Uzushiogakure, and the recent targeting of the Uchiha—could all of this be because of inaction under Sarutobi's rule? Her mind churned with doubt.
Then Tsunade's temper flared. "It's Danzō Shimura, Mito Monen, and Koharu Tsubaki—the rotten core around Sarutobi! And Hyoroumaru, why are essential supplies never delivered on time? These people sit in their offices, giving orders without ever stepping onto the battlefield, feeding the village from afar instead of defending it directly!"
Seeing Tsunade's face flush with anger, Ran reached out with his right hand and gently touched her cheek. "Tsunade-sensei… don't let them get to you. Some people aren't worth your frustration. Right now, let's focus on checking on this Uzumaki orphan."
"Brother Murata… you're here?"
"Brother Murata, I was just… curious, that's all!"
"Brother Murata, I… I don't like that Konoha ninja!"
"Brother Murata… wait, what are you doing?!"
Meanwhile, deep in a distant, isolated woodshed, Uzumaki Asuhina fought desperately.
The man she had trusted—Murata, the steward who had always been kind under his wife's strict rules—had somehow transformed into a different person. Here, in this empty, remote shed, he tore at her clothes, ignoring her cries for help. Pain and humiliation threatened to overwhelm her as her left sleeve was shredded entirely.
"B-Brother Murata… what's happening to you?"
Despite the violence, Asuhina's heart clung to trust. She believed he must have a reason for his aggression. Her eyes shone with hope as she sought an explanation.
Seeing her clear, innocent gaze, Murata's expression twisted into a rare, sinister smile.
"In the moment you bit yourself and healed, I knew… you possess a unique kekkei genkai. I am the younger brother of our village leader. While I lack the talents of a shinobi, I intend to claim you—to create offspring with Kusagakure bloodlines who inherit your abilities. I consulted my brother before this decision," he said coldly.
As Asuhina's eyes darkened with despair, Murata leaned closer, continuing: "That Konoha Chunin… too handsome. I had considered a slower approach, but now I realize… the faster I claim you, the better it serves Kusagakure!"
As he spoke, he moved to tear at her clothing again.
"No… stop! Ah—!" Asuhina struggled desperately, clutching the remnants of her torn garments, her tears streaming. She had evaded masters' hands countless times before, and she refused to surrender now.
I won't let him succeed! she resolved.
But against a physically capable adult male, her resistance was almost futile. Though both were ordinary humans, Murata's adult strength far exceeded hers.
"Accept your fate, Asuhina. I am your Brother Murata. You possess both a bloodline and beauty. Follow me, and you will be safe. Forget those Konoha shinobi—they will die by my hands soon enough. Konoha itself will be carved up by Iwagakure," he threatened, reaching for her again.
Outside, a laborer for the shed froze in horror. He wanted to intervene but dared not confront Murata, the steward of the inn.
Then, just as Asuhina teetered on the brink of despair, a whirlpool of chakra began to coalesce behind Murata.
In that instant—
A blade pierced Murata's chest completely.
"Do you like a knife that reaches straight to the heart?!"
Ran's voice rang out, ethereal and commanding, as though carried on the wind.
Simultaneously, Tsunade struck the eavesdropping laborer unconscious with a single punch.
Murata couldn't comprehend what had happened. Turning with difficulty, he only saw a familiar, yet remarkably youthful face. The forehead protector identified him unmistakably as a ninja from Konoha.
Confusion, fear, and disbelief washed over him as he succumbed to his wounds. At the moment of his triumph, he had been robbed of victory.
"You're okay… can you get up?" Ran asked gently, his right hand gripping his Zanpakutō, the left extended toward the half-clad young woman.
Bathed in moonlight, Ran looked impossibly calm, handsome, and reassuring. The glint of his glasses reflected the silver light as he smiled warmly. One hand held his blade, the other reached out—a gesture of rescue, protection, and hope.
For Asuhina, this was an indelible image: a man who extended his hand in her darkest hour, appearing just as her heart was breaking and despair threatened to consume her. Though young, he radiated strength and certainty, a beacon against the shadows.
In that moment, under the moonlight, Ran became the only sunlight in Asuhina's life.