Naruto : I Got "Return by Death" Kind Of Cheat

Since parting in the Land of Waves, Yako hadn't seen Uzumaki Yuka again.

He'd been occupied with ANBU missions, while Yuka was constantly fleeing with the remnants of her clan.

"It's been a while," Yako said. "Yuka, did you do as I asked? Did you warn Nawaki, the young head of the Senju clan?"

Last time, he'd only passed the truth of the Uzumaki clan's destruction through a scroll. This time, Yako had added a critical line: someone is targeting Nawaki.

He hoped Nawaki would survive.

"I did," Yuka said. "I left not just the truth about the Uzumaki downfall, but also a warning." She hesitated, then asked:

"Fox, would ANBU really harm Lord Nawaki? He's the heir of the Senju, a genius of Konoha."

Yako nodded grimly.

"Don't underestimate the resolve of Konoha's upper echelon.

They're shinobi with abnormal willpower—willing to do anything to achieve their goals.

If the truth gets out, and the Senju break from the Konoha leadership, that would be Konoha's greatest catastrophe.

Given the Senju's nature—so bound to family—a break is almost guaranteed.

Konoha would crumble from civil war in the middle of the current shinobi world war.

Right now we're only fighting Iwagakure—but soon Kumogakure, Sunagakure, and Kirigakure will all rush in to tear Konoha apart.

That's why they've got Mito-sama, Princess Kushina, and the Senju clan under intense surveillance.

My routine ANBU mission is to monitor the Senju compound.

When I warned you back in the Land of Waves not to approach the Senju, I wanted to wait until the storm had passed before deciding the next move.

Senju Haku learned the truth and tried to inform the Senju elders—but ANBU caught wind of him early."

Yuka bowed her head, her voice heavy with sorrow:

"I met Cousin Haku by chance in the Land of Grass. He was shocked I was still alive.

When he pressed me, I told him a bit of the truth. He was sharp—he guessed what had happened.

He couldn't believe it either. He was worried about what it would do to Konoha. He said he'd try to handle it carefully when he returned.

The village elders may not care for Konoha, but Cousin Haku did—he always put the village first.

Is kindness meant to be repaid with betrayal?

In the end, ANBU discovered him. He sacrificed himself to give us one last chance to pass information.

And thank you too—for risking your life to be our inside ally."

In Konoha's web of politics, those who cared deeply for the village were easiest to manipulate.

But shinobi like Orochimaru—who cared nothing for Konoha—the elders couldn't control. They had to placate him, even let him experiment on children without consequence.

The Senju's soft spot… was Konoha itself.

The ones with no family, no children, no ties—those were the ones people truly feared.

Even the cruelest enemy wouldn't provoke someone invincible with nothing to lose.

A hard rain began to fall.

The two of them found a hollow beneath a tree and slipped inside.

"Yuka, how many Uzumaki are left?"

"Thirty-two."

Yako fell silent.

That clan, once legendary… reduced to thirty-two.

"Why choose the Land of Rain?"

"It's a battlefield for four great forces—Sunagakure, Iwagakure, Konoha, and Hanzō of Amegakure, along with rebel factions opposing him. The more chaotic, the better for hiding," Yuka explained.

"We used to be in the Land of Grass, but that's Iwa's sphere. They keep tight control over every village.

When we were exposed there, they captured one of us—Uzumaki Kaon, a skilled medical-nin.

I tried to rescue her, but I never could. It was during those attempts that I met Cousin Haku."

Yako guessed that Uzumaki Kaon must be the mother of the original story's Karin.

He said, "When I get the chance, I'll inform Lord Nawaki—have him lead a mission to rescue her."

If Nawaki survives, he added silently.

Yuka had been worn to the brink lately—on the verge of collapse.

Without Cousin Haku and Yako, she wasn't sure she would've made it this far.

Now, seeing Fox again… she felt warm, comforted.

Outside, the rain drummed steadily.

Inside the tree hollow, Yuka pressed her lips softly to Yako's neck, then quickly stripped off her clothes.

Soon her skin was slick with fragrant sweat.

"Fox… your body's gotten so much better."

She could tell—his Senju bloodline had grown stronger.

As she kissed down from his neck to shoulders, chest, and waist, she left behind strawberries that quickly faded.

It meant his healing factor was active—classic Senju trait.

An hour later, Yako couldn't help but sigh—the Uzumaki body really was built different. So wet, so enduring.

No wonder the Senju chose them for marriage alliances—they were the only ones who could match.

"Yuka," Yako murmured, "the Nine-Tails' seal transfer is approaching. I came to learn about it. Do you know what techniques can affect the Nine-Tails' seal?

I have a bad feeling about this… I'm worried for Mito-sama and Princess Kushina."

As Yuka slowly got dressed, she said:

"Techniques that can interfere with the seal?

As far as I know, there's only one—Contract Seal Release. It's an Uzumaki secret technique, rarely taught.

There's also something else—not a sealing jutsu, but the Sharingan of the Uchiha."

Yako nodded.

"The Uzumaki Sealing Scroll is in Senju Rinmoku's hands. The chance of Contract Seal Release leaking is low.

So we need to be cautious of the Uchiha.

They've always had blood grudge with the Senju. If anyone were to sabotage the Nine-Tails' sealing, it'd be them.

Yuka, go into hiding for now.

Mito-sama is too old—ever since Mount Ushigakure, she spends most days unconscious.

Once Princess Kushina grows up, things will get better."

"Understood. We'll wait for Princess Kushina."

Yako stepped out of the hollow and vanished into the rain with Body Flicker.

Yuka leaned against the wooden wall, still feeling the heat he'd left behind.

He was right. Once Kushina grew, everything would change.

She returned to the rain forest where the Uzumaki survivors hid.

They were building treehouses there—barely managing.

Three children. Twenty-six women. Three men.

That was all that remained of the Uzumaki Clan.

In shinobi tradition, women took their husband's name upon marriage. But the Uzumaki women had made a pact—they would never change their name. Their children would bear the name Uzumaki.

The Uzumaki must not vanish. They were the last flame of their lineage.

Yuka thought of Fox—his Senju bloodline was so pure. If only I could bear his child...

"Honestly," she muttered with a smile, "he only gave me two rounds in an hour. If I knew that, I wouldn't have let him go so easily…"

As she chuckled to herself, a woman passed by, holding a child.

"Yuka, something good happen?" she asked.

"Oh, nothing, nothing." Yuka smiled and tickled the little boy. "Has Nagato been eating properly?"