Hatake Sakumo shook his head, "Although that person indeed possesses the characteristics of the Uzumaki Clan, his name is Abarai Renji. I'm not sure if he has any connection to the Uzumaki Clan."
Tsunade's expression changed upon hearing this.
She hoped that person was a survivor of the Uzumaki Clan; as long as one Uzumaki Clan member could live, her guilt would lessen a little.
Hatake Sakumo continued, "Oh, right. When I arrived in the Uzushigakure, I found that the situation there was completely different from when it was destroyed."
"Around the Uzushigakure, a large complex of buildings has been constructed, seemingly all residential houses. As for the inside, I haven't entered yet."
Sarutobi Hiruzen was surprised again: "It hasn't been many days since the Uzushigakure was destroyed, has it? They built houses so quickly? Could it be that they also have Shodai(1st)-sama's Wood Release?"
Tsunade: "..."
Her grandfather's Wood Release wasn't used for building houses!
However, it was undeniable that the situation in the Uzushigakure had brought them too many shocks.
And Sarutobi Hiruzen thought deeper.
If it was just an organization, why would they build houses and develop the Uzushigakure?
Furthermore, why would they put the Uzushigakure first when introducing their identity? This organization's ambitions are probably not small... Having such a strange neighbor living in his backyard, Sarutobi Hiruzen felt like Biwako was staring at him from behind when he was peeking.
This feeling was very bad!
However, Tsunade's previous words also reminded him.
Shinigami related to the Uzumaki Clan, a man suspected to be from the Uzumaki Clan.
All these clues seemed to hint at a connection with the Uzumaki Clan.
But what he couldn't understand was, if the Uzushigakure had such a force, how was it destroyed before?
He couldn't figure it out, nor was he sure if it was truly related to the Uzumaki Clan, as these were all his conjectures.
But he knew that there was someone in Konoha who might be able to give him the answer.
The wife of the First Hokage, the former princess of the Uzumaki Clan, Uzumaki Mito-sama.
Senju Compound.
Sarutobi Hiruzen came here after a long absence.
Although Uzumaki Mito-sama hadn't said anything about the Uzushigakure incident, he knew that Mito-sama must resent him in her heart.
After all, the Uzushigakure was her family home, the place where she was born, where she lived, and her homeland.
"Hokage-sama has graced us with your presence. This old woman apologizes for not welcoming you sooner."
Uzumaki Mito's expression was calm, showing no change.
But her words were like a knife, stabbing at Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Sarutobi Hiruzen gave a wry smile and said, "Please don't be so polite to me. Just call me Little Monkey."
Uzumaki Mito ignored his comment, stating in a measured tone, "If there's something you need, just say it."
She knew he wouldn't visit without a reason; she didn't believe Sarutobi Hiruzen was here just to chat.
Sarutobi Hiruzen smiled wryly again, but quickly dismissed the thought and informed Uzumaki Mito about the situation in the Uzushigakure.
Hearing the news from the Uzushigakure, Uzumaki Mito was also extremely shocked!
Forget Sarutobi Hiruzen, even she, who had lived in the Uzushigakure since childhood and was even a princess of the Uzushigakure, had no idea what kind of force these so-called Gotei 13 were, or where they had sprung up from.
Not to mention those strange ninja swords and Unmarked Ninjutsu.
Furthermore, wasn't their Uzumaki Clan skilled in Sealing Technique?
This force seemed completely unrelated to the Uzumaki Clan!
However, the title "Shinigami" did make her suspicious.
She knew that their Uzumaki Clan had always enshrined a Shinigami Mask since ancient times, so could the upheaval in the Uzushigakure be related to the Shinigami Mask?
Seeing Uzumaki Mito deep in thought, Sarutobi Hiruzen realized she might have a clue, and couldn't help but ask, "Mito-sama, have you remembered something?"
Uzumaki Mito glanced at him and said plainly, "Although I am not entirely sure yet, our Uzumaki Clan has always enshrined a Shinigami Mask since ancient times."
"This force that calls itself Shinigami might be related to this mask."
Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyes suddenly lit up.
It seemed unreasonable, yet it wasn't impossible.
After all, there were many strange things in the Ninja World; even the Land of Hot Springs had the Jashin Cult.
Uzumaki Mito pondered for a moment.
Although she suspected it was related to the Shinigami Mask, she hadn't returned to the Uzushigakure in a long time.
She wasn't very familiar with the current situation of the Uzumaki Clan, so she didn't know if the mask she remembered from her childhood was still there.
Thinking of this, Uzumaki Mito instructed the servant beside her to bring Kushina over.
A short while later, a round-faced girl with bright red hair was brought in.
Uzumaki Kushina said somewhat nervously, "Grandma Mito, Hokage-sama."
Uzumaki Mito said kindly, "Kushina, Grandma wants to ask you something."
Uzumaki Kushina nodded.
Uzumaki Mito asked, "Is the mask that our Uzumaki Clan enshrines still there?"
Uzumaki Kushina froze, her mood suddenly becoming low, and she shook her head, saying, "I don't know."
She doesn't know?
Uzumaki Mito raised an eyebrow.
Uzumaki Kushina continued, "Brother Chihiro went to the ancestral shrine to look for the Shinigami Mask, but..."
As she spoke, Uzumaki Kushina's eyes reddened.
She didn't know how Brother Chihiro was doing now, was he... still alive?
Chihiro?
Chihiro?
Uzumaki Mito remembered that the heir of the Uzumaki Clan in this generation seemed to have that name.
Sarutobi Hiruzen looked thoughtful.
"Achoo!" In the Uzushigakure, Chihiro sneezed.
Tsk, could someone be cursing him?
Chihiro stared at the rapidly skyrocketing prestige value, muttering, "Wait a little longer, wait a little longer."
A few days later.
The incident of the Kirigakure suffering a major defeat in the Uzushigakure could no longer be kept secret.
After all, their departure had been so grand and powerful, with all Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist deployed.
But their return was extremely messy.
Only two of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist returned, and out of three hundred Shinobi, only a dozen or so trickled back.
Spies from various countries immediately caught wind of this.
They all began to inquire about the news.
Soon, intelligence detailing the Kirigakure's crushing defeat was placed on the desks of the Kage of the major Shinobi Villages.
Since Sarutobi Hiruzen had already received the news from Hatake Sakumo, he didn't react much.
Danzo, however, took the Uzushigakure intelligence from Sarutobi Hiruzen and returned to Root with a heavy heart.
He wondered why Yakushi Nono in the Uzushigakure had suddenly gone silent.
It seemed she had already fallen into the hands of this group of Shinigami.
Danzo stared intensely at the intelligence in his hand.
While shocked, he was inevitably attracted by the strange ninja swords and Unmarked Ninjutsu.
"These ninja swords must be controlled by Root!"
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