Now that Uzumaki Ashina had mentally braced himself, Naruto no longer hesitated and told him the truth.
When he heard that Uzushiogakure had been destroyed for decades, its survivors hunted as fugitives and sold for bounty money, Ashina's face turned grave. For a moment, he simply couldn't accept it.
After a long sigh, he asked in a low voice,
"So… are you the only Uzumaki left?"
Naruto shook his head slightly.
"The only confirmed Uzumaki ninja right now are me and Fire Gate. As for how many might still be scattered across the ninja world… probably fewer than the fingers on one hand."
Ashina closed his eyes.
"…Perhaps I should not have refused Hashirama's proposal. I should have led the Uzumaki into Konoha back then."
After a brief silence, he asked again:
"You said you are no longer Konoha's jinchūriki. Why did you leave Konoha with the Nine-Tails? Was Konoha besieged and forced to evacuate?"
As the patriarch of the Uzumaki clan—longtime allies of the Hashirama Senju line—Ashina still cared about Konoha.
Naruto shook his head.
"Konoha is still standing. After three Ninja Wars, it's alive and kicking. I left for personal reasons… and brought a group of displaced Uchiha to settle in Uzushiogakure."
Ashina frowned.
"The Uchiha were driven out? Who is the current Hokage?"
Clearly, he didn't have a great opinion of the Uchiha—but if they'd been pushed out, then the Hokage probably wasn't a pacifist like Hashirama. More likely someone closer to Tobirama's temperament.
Naruto replied,
"Hiruzen Sarutobi. He was a student of the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju. And Uzushiogakure was destroyed during his tenure."
Ashina's beard practically flared upward.
"A Sarutobi boy? What happened to the Senju? Since when is it the Sarutobi clan's turn to sit in the Hokage's chair?"
Naruto continued calmly,
"The Senju clan dissolved after the wars—earlier than Uzushiogakure fell. And with the Uchiha marginalized, only the Sarutobi and Hyūga remained as major clans in Konoha."
Ashina frowned deeply.
"Then what was the point of building a village in the first place?"
In his mind, Konoha was meant to stop endless clan warfare. Yet decades later, the founding clans had nearly vanished.
Wasn't Hashirama's Will of Fire about unity and mutual protection?
Naruto smirked faintly.
"Maybe the ones who truly believed in the Will of Fire all died protecting the village on the battlefield."
He said it casually.
But someone listening very carefully felt it deeply.
Inside the sealed space, Minato Namikaze felt a tightness in his chest.
He knew Naruto was criticizing the higher-ups. And yes, they had their dirty politics. But they had also bled for the village.
Still… after his death, why did it feel like only the filth remained in power? Why couldn't they even give Naruto the same protection they gave Kushina Uzumaki—at least concealing his jinchūriki status?
Ashina looked moved.
Then he narrowed his eyes and smiled slyly.
"Enough about history. Now tell me—why did you drag this old man back from the Pure Land?"
He paused.
"And if I'm not mistaken… you're not actually called 'Mianma.' And you're certainly not old enough to be anyone's senior."
Naruto chuckled.
"The old patriarch's eyes are sharp."
He dropped the disguise.
"My real name is Uzumaki Naruto. My mother was Kushina of the Uzumaki clan. I was raised in Konoha as the Nine-Tails jinchūriki. I've since left."
"As for why… unpleasant memories. Now I just want to gather capable ninja, build a force, and deal with certain enemies who like causing trouble."
Ashina studied him carefully.
"You're avoiding details. Why should I believe you? As the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki, your strength rivals my prime. You could protect a village yourself. Why summon me?"
Naruto didn't hide it.
"The Uzumaki inheritance is broken. I need the clan's secret arts restored. And when I'm away handling external threats, I need someone experienced to manage the village."
Ashina folded his arms.
"And what does this old man gain? I'm already dead. Material rewards are useless."
Naruto frowned slightly.
He couldn't exactly bribe a ghost.
He could forcibly suppress Ashina back to the Pure Land… or even use Kotoamatsukami to control him—but that cooldown was ridiculously long, and transplanting Hashirama cells wasn't exactly a five-minute DIY project.
Before Naruto could respond, Ashina laughed.
"You carry Uzumaki blood. You're qualified to learn our secret arts. I'm not so petty as to withhold them."
Then his expression turned serious.
"But Uzumaki secret techniques are difficult. This Edo Tensei body will not last forever. Can you learn them all in time?"
Naruto nodded calmly.
Learning the clan's techniques was already a win. Later, he could have Ashina document everything in writing as well.
Deal secured.
Ashina released the self-imposed seal. Naruto regained control over the Edo Tensei body.
Naruto reactivated his Mianma disguise and gestured.
Ashina casually removed the sealing technique on Fire Gate.
Fire Gate exhaled, still shaken.
"Senior Mianma… did you actually convince the old patriarch? My grandfather said he doesn't listen to reason. Oil and salt can't get into him."
Naruto nodded.
"Mostly persuasion."
Mostly.
At that moment, Ashina suddenly appeared beside Fire Gate.
"Who are you saying doesn't take oil and salt?"
Fire Gate nearly died on the spot.
"M-my grandfather! He's the one who doesn't take oil and salt! Stubborn old man! Always slandering you behind your back!"
Ashina snorted.
"Hmph."
Then he followed behind Naruto like a dignified—if slightly grumpy—elder.
Fire Gate wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and hurried after them.
Being sealed by the old patriarch was terrifying.
But strangely…
There was also a sense of reassurance.
Maybe that's what family feels like.
Even if that family can hang you up and beat you for ten years straight.
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