Naruto: The Sage Body of Konoha

In the courtyard behind the meeting hall of Uzugakure.

Inside the courtyard, a red-haired little girl squatted by a well, resting her hands on its edge with her eyelids constantly drooping, seemingly about to fall asleep any moment.

Since Heiyan and the others had left, Kushina Uzumaki had been guarding this place for three whole days. So far, there had still been no sign of activity from within the well, yet Kushina stubbornly refused to rest, continuing to wait right here.

"Huh? Did something come out?"

Dazed, Kushina thought she saw a green creature rising up from beneath the water's surface. Muttering to herself, she pulled herself together and peered carefully into the well.

"Guagua!"

With a crisp croak, Guagua hopped onto the rim of the well, looking utterly harmless and innocent as it approached Kushina.

The two locked eyes, staring at each other intently.

"Ahhhhhh!"

Kushina gave a huge startle, her entire body hair standing upright as she plopped down onto the ground, crying out in shock, "There's a toad!"

Upon hearing that, Guagua shot Kushina a look of disdain—it was definitely not just a frog but a proper toad!

Moreover, was it really that scary? It was quite cute, actually.

Guagua, being generous-spirited, chose not to quarrel with this ignorant young girl. Instead, it opened its mouth wide and spit forcefully outward.

Tui! Tui!

Right before the astonished eyes of Kushina, two slimy figures drenched in Guagua's saliva flew from its mouth and landed in front of her.

They were a pair of red-haired mother and daughter, clearly dazed and dizzy from the dimensional travel.

"Uzumaki Haruna Auntie, Kiyomi Sister!"

For a moment, Kushina was stunned; then she burst into tears of joy, rushing forward to embrace the two.

"Kushina!" Recognizing Kushina too, the pair also wept happily.

Before long, the villagers of the Uzumaki clan began arriving one after another. Mother and daughter tearfully recounted their tragic experiences during this time to Clan Head Ashina Uzumaki.

Upon hearing how they had been sold to the Golden Exchange (an underground black market) and forced into becoming human chakra batteries (living energy sources for experiments), everyone present became furious beyond words. Their hatred toward Gato Corporation deepened even further.

"What about Heiyan and the others?"

At this point, Sakumo Hatake asked—the real matter he was most concerned about.

Upon hearing this, Uzumaki Haruna gave a detailed account of the situation when she first encountered Heiyan. At the time, both mother and daughter were terrified, thinking Heiyan planned to use them as test subjects for cruel experiments, never expecting this young man to be their very savior.

"You're saying Heiyan alone entered the Golden Exchange, only to get surrounded by members of the Gato Corporation?"

Frowning deeply, Sakumo felt immense unease growing in his heart.

"Sakumo Captain, what do we do now?" Ashina Uzumaki asked, equally worried.

"Let's wait a bit longer for now. I trust the abilities of Heiyan and the others. If they haven't returned by this same time tomorrow, then we will personally head for the Land of Water."

After pondering for a moment, Sakumo replied solemnly.

"I guess that's all we can do," sighed Ashina Uzumaki, wearing a troubled expression.

The next day.

Today, the people of Uzugakure still hadn't seen the return of Heiyan and his team. Instead, they received another shocking news:

Kiri had declared them wanted across the entire shinobi world. The combined bounty on their heads had reached two hundred and fifty million ryō!

"In a way, this is good news," Sakumo Hatake exhaled in relief. "At least it proves they weren't killed or captured by the enemy."

After analyzing the situation, he immediately gave orders to his subordinates to prepare for full speed travel toward the Land of Water, intending to intercept and support Heiyan's team.

"We'll help too!" Several elite ninja from the Uzumaki clan, personally selected by Ashina Uzumaki, joined the rescue party.

Meanwhile,

Kushina Uzumaki witnessed this scene in silence before running off alone to outside the village.

She ran to the riverbank, crouched down with her lips trembling and tears welling up in her eyes, quietly sobbing.

If only she hadn't been so selfish, Heiyan and his companions wouldn't have had to take such risks, leading to their current wanted status and uncertain fate between life and death.

At this moment, Kushina felt both anxious and filled with self-reproach.

"It's not good for a young lady to cry all day long."

Suddenly, a voice spoke up beside her.

Upon hearing this, Kushina lifted her head joyfully and saw Heiyan and his companions standing there with smiles on their faces.

"Let's go. Back to the village."

Heiyan walked up to her, took her small hand into his own, and began walking back into the village.

Soon, the entire Uzugakure was in an uproar.

"Our heroes are back!"

All the members of the Uzumaki clan rushed out to surround Heiyan's team, praising and cheering for them nonstop.

Under everyone's watchful gaze, Heiyan retrieved a Storage Scroll and released Gato's corpse onto the ground.

"Pah!"

The Uzumaki villagers surged forward in fury, spitting on Gato's corpse to express their deep hatred. Finally, they burned his body to ashes and scattered the remains right there, leaving him no place to be buried.

Heiyan approached Kushina, reached out, and ruffled her crimson hair as he said:

"I've kept both my promises. Will you come with me now?"

"Yes!" Kushina nodded enthusiastically.

"If that's settled, go pack your belongings and say goodbye to the villagers. I also have something I need to discuss privately with Clan Head Ashina Uzumaki."

Heiyan gently tousled her hair again as he spoke to Kushina.

Kushina's red hair was incredibly soft—it felt just like stroking a cat's fur.

After watching her run away happily, Heiyan found Ashina Uzumaki and entered the hidden room of the Uzumaki clan alongside him.

Bang!

Heiyan tossed the bundle off his back onto the floor—an individual completely wrapped in bandages, none other than Tashigi. Before Ashina Uzumaki, the figure revealed his true identity.

"Who is this?" Ashina Uzumaki asked suspiciously, clearly puzzled about Heiyan's intentions.

"He's the Six-Tails Jinchuriki from Kiri—Tashigi."

One word from Heiyan left Ashina Uzumaki completely stunned. Before Ashina could regain his composure, Heiyan pressed on, "The Six-Tails Saiken will be entrusted to Clan Head Ashina Uzumaki. With the Uzumaki clan's sealing techniques, I believe you'll be able to maximize this tailed beast's power."

"Is... is this decision made by Konoha?"

Ashina Uzumaki asked incredulously. After all, this was the Six-Tails—ranked fourth among the Nine Tails.

"This is my own decision."

A faint smile played on Heiyan's lips as he replied.

Upon hearing this, Ashina Uzumaki's expression froze, becoming blank.

Time stretched before him in stunned silence.

"Heiyan, why are you doing all this? Why... are you being so good to the Uzumaki clan?"

Finally, Ashina Uzumaki couldn't help but ask—he was simply too confused.

Hearing this, Heiyan didn't immediately reply. Instead, he silently smiled.

Then he raised one finger and placed it on his head, where short white hair grew. Water surged from between his fingers, rinsing his hair until its disguise faded away, revealing its true color—

Red.

"You..." Ashina Uzumaki was suddenly shocked.

"Uzumaki Heiyan, reporting to the clan head."

Heiyan bowed deeply to Ashina Uzumaki. As his words fell, there came a series of 'whooshing' sounds. [Eight chains of Adamantine Sealing Chains] shot out from behind him, making golden light shine throughout the hidden room.

"Good… oh so good…"

Seeing this scene, Ashina Uzumaki felt indescribable excitement and comfort. The elderly man with white beard and eyebrows couldn't help shedding tears at this moment.

That day, Ashina Uzumaki and Heiyan stayed deep into the night discussing within the hidden chamber, only ending their conversation when morning came.

[Locking Tail Seal], [Contract Seal], [Four Symbols Seal], [Dead Demon Consuming Seal]... Ashina Uzumaki imparted all his sealing techniques—everything he had ever learned—without reservation to Heiyan.

Meanwhile within Uzugakure, a grand bonfire party was held that lasted through the entire night. Even Fugaku and Hiashi, who were still minors, were infected by the Uzumaki clan members' enthusiasm. They became thoroughly drunk and passed out.

The next day.

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