Chapter 48 - Meeting Nagato and his little friends

Hiruzen was slowly walking to the Senju clan mansion. Senju clan is one of the founding clans along with the Uchiha clan to build Konohagakure. The current Senju clan is managed by Mito Uzumaki, who is also a Konoha Jinchuriki.

But unlike its rival clan Uchiha, the Senju clan's members kept decreasing since Second Hokage's death and the end of the first great ninja war. Now they only have Nawaki and Tsunade Senju as descendants.

This also shows just how valuable those two were, especially more than any people in the same age.

But Hiruzen sent Nawaki to a very very dangerous mission without realizing it. Nawaki fell off to the abyss and might not even retrieve his corpse, and even Tsunade's boyfriend Dan is dead.

Two Jounin guards of the Senju clan mansion greeted the Hokage and opened the gate.

"Don't let anyone in while I am here. No matter what who!!" Hiruzen gave a strict order to them and entered the mansion.

He walked around the mansion for a minute to prepare himself. He reached in front of Mito's room and knocked the room, asking permission to enter.

After getting permission, Mito's servants opened the door for Hiruzen.

Mito had long, bright red hair and large, pupilless eyes. She wore an elaborate, high-collared kimono with the Uzushiogakure symbol on the back of the obi which was tied around her waist. Her hair was arranged in buns with hairpins in them and three clips in the front.

"Well, Hiruzen. You sure are coming here often even if we are in the war? You have already visited our mansion twice this week." Mito smiled and kindly said.

"Madam, could I have a private chat with you?" Hiruzen requested Mito respectively.

Mito granted Hiruzen's request and ordered everyone to leave her room. Immediately maid and servants left the room. Also, two Anbu who was in the closet and under the bed came out and left the room too.

"Well, where is Tsunade? I also need her here to discuss." Hiruzen asked.

"My, my. Hiruzen you sure are getting old. Have you forgotten you sent her to the Land of Rain battlefield 4 days ago?"

"Ohh, now I remember. Sorry, Madam. It seems I am getting old."

Hiruzen was shocked so much at the report that he forgot he sent Tsunade to her team at Land of Rain battlefield.

"Don't worry about it. That happens to everyone. So why have you come here?"

Mito waited for Hiruzen to say the topic, but she saw Hiruzen was hesitating to speak.

"I heard that Nawaki got captured by Iwa shinobi. But I am not worried too much as Dan is there already. But I can't believe you sent a group of inexperienced kids to such a dangerous mission."

As Hiruzen didn't say anything, Mito tried to continue the conversation casually. But Hiruzen started to sweat like hell after hearing Mito's word.

"Madam. Regarding that, I have brought sad news." Hiruzen swallowed a mouthful of saliva and started telling the report he received.

Mito's face changed into several expressions until it settled with death star at Hiruzen. Hiruzen finished explaining and didn't even raise his head to see her. He didn't have to see her face to know what she is going to do.

"Hey, monkey! Just because I am old and you are Hokage for a few decades, doesn't mean that you should joke on me? Is everything true?" Mito while angry asked Hiruzen.

Hiruzen instantly knew he won't get out here alive when he heard the word 'monkey' from Mito.

"You STUPID MONKEY! You sent Nawaki and other Genins to the mission where even Dan couldn't handle and die?!!!

Have you damn eyes rotten to shit after sitting on the desk and reading papers for so long that you can't differentiate S and B-rank mission!!!!

I shouldn't have stopped Tsunade from punching you to death!!"

Hiruzen just lowered his head and kept apologizing. Mito's eyes were shit red and were ready to kill Hiruzen alive.

"Hey Monkey! You wanna hear a joke?

A long time ago, there was an idiot and blind monkey. And guess what smart old lady said to him?"

"What did it say?" Hiruzen didn't know where Mito was getting to.

"She said 'OMAE WA MOU SHINDEIRU!!'" Mito rose up, showed her powerful adamantine sealing chains from her back.

"Nani?? OH shit, I am screwed!!" Hiruzen knew Mito was lost her rationality since she is very old now.

"DIE!!!! I will make you dɨċkless, shrimp monkey!!"

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My squad and I kept running while carrying captured Hizashi, having breaks as little as possible.

3 days later, we have passed the former border of Konoha-Ame land. Well, security was not hard to pass as it now belongs to Konoha and most of the shinobi are out to the battlefield.

So far, there are no signs of Konoha pursuers coming at us. I guess Tonja is doing his bait job very well. I kinda felt bad for pushing the baiting job to him.

Kimiko's sensor jutsu helped us greatly to avoid some random shinobi in the land of Rain.

While in the Land of Rain, we saw a lot of evidence pointing the harsh reality of war.

Destroyed small villages, orphans begging food, stealing money, etc...

"Hey, can we have a rest? I am super tired." Kimiko begged for a break. Kitsuchi without a question agreed to her since she is his girl.

Gin and Kan are also tired of carrying unconscious Hizashi. I saw the huge cave roughly 300m in front of us. I ordered everyone to rest there. Kimiko was happiest when she heard me.

But when we got close to the cave, Kimiko suddenly stopped us and told us that she sensed three chakra signatures. Kimiko didn't use her sensing jutsu, but she could sense others if they are close.

All of us were readied for battle and waited for enemies to show up. But instead of Konoha or Ame shinobi, three little kids around 10 years showed up.

My squad relaxed after seeing it was just kids, but my mind just went poofffffff after seeing those three kids, mostly at the red-haired kid.

'Aren't they Nagato, Konan, and the yellow dude who became the main puppet of Nagato?? What the fuċk are they doing here?'

Nagato recognized me and Gari as we participated in his village destruction, but also left his parents and him alive.

"Hey, isn't that the kid Genji left alive at Uzushiogakure? Man, the world sure is small. What are you doing here, kid?" Gari asked.

Konan and Yahiko looked at Nagato as to ask if he knew us. Nagato didn't answer Gari but instead asked for food.

After eating, Nagato finally couraged to speak to us. Since I saved his life and we gave him food, I guess he trusted us.

Well, everything he said was all according to cannon. His family settled at Land of Rain(Ame) after the destruction of Uzushiogakure, but later his parents got killed by Konoha shinobi.

'Umm, I guess in the near future, they will meet Jiraiya and stay with him until the end of the war. But why do I have a feeling that I am missing something very important??"

Then, I realized a huge problem with Nagato. He didn't have RENNIGAN!!!!

'What the fuċk? Why Nagato doesn't have Rennigan?? I even freaking spent extra effort to let him go, so he can meet Madara. But he didn't??

System, explain why in the god's name Nagato doesn't have Rennigan?'

System: "Host, isn't it obvious that it is because of the buŧŧerfly effect caused by the host?"

'Damn, the buŧŧerfly effect sure is scary! He just escaped only an hour late and didn't get the strongest eyes. Wait, if Nagato didn't receive Rennigan, then who got it??'

System: "System has also no idea."

'Come to think of it, is this related to Uzumaki kids disappearance in Iwagakure? Oh shit, the more I think, the more it makes sense.

Madara hasn't found Nagato yet, so he is kidnapping every Uzumaki kids who are compatible with Rennigan.'

While I was thinking, everyone already got to know each other with three kids quickly since it was just 4 or 5 age difference.

After resting for 30 minutes, I ordered everyone to get ready to depart. Right after my order, Kimiko requested to bring Nagato and his two friends with us.

Kan and Gin immediately refused. It is already a pain in the ȧss for them to drag Hizashi, but if we also bring the little kids who can't even mold chakra properly, would just slow us down, is their reason.

While Kimiko and Kitsuchi disagreed with Kan and Gin, couldn't just let them leave there to die.

'Bring Nagato with us? Umm...I am sure Madara already found a replacement for Nagato. So basically he is now Free real estate!!!

Well, I don't know about Yahiko's strength, but the blue girl next to him, Konan will become powerful S-rank shinobi.

I am sure Nagato will be well received in Iwagakure as we lost all of Uzumaki except one.

Yahiko was the leader of the Original Akatsuki and even had a gut to fight with Hanzo.

Since they don't have an Amegakure revolution mindset now, it is easy to make them Iwa shinobi instead. Like I said, Free Rela Estates!!!'

There was no way I am gonna let them these geniuses die here by Hanzo as Ame shinobi. It will be a huge waste. I will make them Iwa shinobi and make Iwagakure greater again!!!

They might slow us down, but I am sure Konoha pursuers won't find out our trail at least the next 3 days.

"Alright everyone, stop fighting! I have decided to bring these kids with us.

Kimiko, Kitsuchi, and I will carry them each. Also, don't question me, it is an order!!!" I quickly shut off Gin and Kan before they complain.

I will tell these kids about wonderful things about Iwagakure and Will of Stone while showing dark sides about other villages during the journey, so they will become completely loyal to Iwagakure, hehehe.

Kimiko's impression on me seems to have risen high. She must have thought that I took pity on them and decided to bring them.

But in reality, if they were just hopeless bums, then I could easily abandon them.

I approached Gari and told him to make sure kids don't see Hisashi. Hizashi's whole body was covered by earth and wrapped by bandages, looking like a mummy.

I was afraid they will see the Hizashi and think we are the baddies and run away. It will be a pain in the ȧss to bring them back or make them Iwa shinobi later.

"Don't worry, I knocked him out real hard. He won't wake up another 2 days or so." Gari ȧssured me.

And like this, my 6 squad members (including me), Nagato, Yahiko, and Konan headed to the Iwa land.

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(Konoha)

"It is with great sadness that 23 stand in front here today delivering this eulogy for our dear Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen. Preparing this speech has been difficult, but also very rewarding. It allowed me to reflect on all of the time our Hokage and we spent together and how wonderful a person he was.

We couldn't have asked for a better mother. He taught us a lot about peace, love, and friendship. We all are impressed by his passion for the will of fire and how much she cared about Konoha's people. Even though he spent a lot of time doing his job as Hokage, he always made his family his top priority.

It is the greatest loss for Konoha to lose him. We all hope he will have a blessing in life in the afterlife.

Final salutes to our kindest Hokage!!!"

Danzo and all of Konoha citizens and shinobi in Konohagakure bowed their heads to Hiruzen who lies in the glass coffin. After bowing, they started to hand out flowers.

While everyone gathered in Hokage's funeral, there were two people inside Anbu's headquarter, quietly discussing.

"So, what do you think of my plan? Faking my death!! This way Tsunade won't come and kill... *cough* *cough*

I mean this way, Onoki might not believe first, but as time goes, I am sure he will fall into my trap." Hiruzen who got his ȧss whooped by Mito said to another guy, Nara clan head.

"I think it's bit too cruel to even hide from your children. But well, let us watch and see how will Onoki move." Nara clan head spoke.