Chapter 144 Uzumaki Ashina's final instructions! Fujiwara Tetsuya's awakening!
"Lord Ashina!"
Compared to yesterday, Lord Ashina's condition had worsened!
It seemed even standing up had become a considerably troublesome task!
Clearly, the absolute combat power Lord Ashina displayed yesterday was built upon the consumption of a large amount of his life force!
"You've arrived..."
"Please, sit!"
As Fujiwara Tetsuya bowed his head, Lord Ashina's aged, weak voice gradually reached his ears.
"The matters of the Uzumaki Clan have burdened you, and your companions too!"
"As a member of the Uzumaki Clan, I represent all its members in expressing our gratitude to you!"
"No, Lord Ashina, you overstate it!"
"These are all things we should do!"
Facing this powerhouse of a bygone era, even on the verge of his life's end, he was not someone Fujiwara Tetsuya or Senju Aoki could provoke.
As they responded, both of them instinctively bowed their bodies.
"Hehe..."
"You two don't need to be so reserved! This old man isn't a man-eating monster!"
"If it were a few days ago, this old man wouldn't say such things! But now..."
"Whirlpool Village is almost destroyed! The destruction of the Uzumaki Clan is a foregone conclusion!"
"The current Land of Whirlpools, Whirlpool Village, and the current Uzumaki Clan can no longer offer appropriate compensation!"
"Therefore, our employment ends here!"
"In two days, I will lead the remaining Ninja of the clan to launch a final assault on the Hidden Mist Village!"
"At that time, you can choose to evacuate from the south!"
"With your strength, if your luck is good enough, you might be able to seize a sea vessel and leave before the Kirigakure from the south complete their encirclement!"
Fujiwara Tetsuya could clearly feel that Lord Ashina had embraced a resolve to die.
The forces surrounding Whirlpool Village would never allow Lord Ashina, or the powerhouses of the Uzumaki Clan, to leave here alive.
Lord Ashina saw this more clearly than anyone.
Cut the grass by the roots, eliminate future troubles forever!
As long as the Uzumaki Clan's legacy was cut off at its source, even if some Uzumaki bloodline remained outside, it wouldn't amount to anything in the future.
Without strength, talk of revenge was just a joke!
"Alright! This matter is settled! As for the more detailed timing..."
"I will have Masaji inform you in advance!"
"Captain Aoki, you may withdraw!"
"I still have a few words I wish to say to Captain Tetsuya!"
Meeting Lord Ashina's profound gaze, Senju Aoki, after glancing at Fujiwara Tetsuya, wisely left the room.
"Tetsuya! May I call you that?"
"Of course, Lord Ashina!"
Seeing Fujiwara Tetsuya shakily and barely stand up, Fujiwara Tetsuya instinctively wanted to stand and help Lord Ashina.
However, after extending his hand halfway, Fujiwara Tetsuya seemed to come to his senses and withdrew it.
This was the Ninja World, not his previous life.
"Tetsuya! I heard from Watari and the others that you have a good relationship with Heiji and Meihua!"
"Yes, Lord Ashina! Heiji, Meihua, and I met during the Chunin Exams!"
"They are both my friends!"
"It's just Heiji..."
Uzumaki Heiji, in Fujiwara Tetsuya's memory, was also a very passionate and enthusiastic fellow!
However, he wasn't as fortunate as Uzumaki Meika.
He had died in yesterday's battle.
"Yes! Heiji... he's already dead!"
Lord Ashina's voice gradually deepened.
In yesterday's battle, Uzumaki Heiji was just one small example.
In yesterday's casualty list, there were many, many more who were younger and weaker than Uzumaki Heiji!
Under normal circumstances, they would have had a better future.
They would slowly grow up, become Chunin, or even Jonin.
They would uphold the future of the Uzumaki Clan.
Marry, have children, and raise a new generation of the Uzumaki Clan.
But now, everything was in the past.
"Lord Ashina! If you have any requests, please tell me directly!"
"Perhaps my strength seems insignificant to you!"
"But I will do my utmost to fulfill your wishes!"
"There is indeed one thing!"
"If possible, I hope you can take Meihua and Kyoji with you when you leave here!"
"Whether it's the Land of Fire or the Land of Bears... I hope they can live well!"
"This would also preserve a bit of the Uzumaki main lineage's bloodline!"
Uzumaki Kyoji was Uzumaki Heiji, his deceased friend's biological younger brother, a very mischievous kid under eight years old!
"Of course! If you are unwilling, then just pretend I didn't mention it!"
Seeing Fujiwara Tetsuya hesitate, Lord Ashina instantly changed his words.
In the current situation, their Uzumaki Clan no longer had the right to ask Fujiwara Tetsuya, or the Konoha Ninja, to do anything more.
This was also why he sought out Fujiwara Tetsuya, and not Senju Aoki.
He had originally thought to use the bond between the three as a breakthrough, but now it seemed... Regardless of Lord Ashina's self-conjecture, Fujiwara Tetsuya had already made a decision the moment Lord Ashina spoke.
His current hesitation was only due to considering the trouble he would face when bringing Uzumaki Meika and Uzumaki Kyoji back to Konoha.
That's right, bringing them back to Konoha!
With the strength of Uzumaki Meika and Uzumaki Kyoji, if they were truly left in some random place in the Land of Fire or the Land of Bears, their chances of survival would be virtually zero.
Even if they had incredibly good luck and managed to survive, their future fate would be no better than Uzumaki Karin's.
As a friend, this was something he absolutely could not stand by and watch.
"No!"
"Lord Ashina! I will take Meihua and Kyoji away from here!"
"And I will bring them back to Konoha and protect them until they grow up!"
"This is my promise to you, and also to Uncle Uzumaki Watari and that scoundrel Heiji!"
After much thought, Fujiwara Tetsuya still couldn't figure out how to deal with the attitudes of the Konoha Higher-Ups, led by Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo Shimura.
He could only shake his head.
As for future matters, he would just have to deal with them as they came.
As long as his strength became powerful enough, he would have the confidence to face anything.
"You... agreed?"
Looking at Fujiwara Tetsuya's solemn expression, Lord Ashina was slightly startled.
He could feel the determination in the young man's tone.
That was a sufficient resolve!
After all, bringing Meihua and Kyoji back to Konoha and preventing them from becoming the next sacrifice was not a simple matter.
"I understand!"
"It seems Heiji and Meihua truly made a very reliable friend!"
"Then, Meihua and Kyoji, I entrust them to you, Tetsuya kid!"
As he left, Fujiwara Tetsuya's expression gradually returned to calm.
However, that was only on the surface.
Deep within Fujiwara Tetsuya's heart, endless turbulent waves had already risen.
Because before he left, Lord Ashina had given him a scroll.
As for its contents, Fujiwara Tetsuya was not clear.
The seal on it required him to reach the strength of an Elite Jonin before he was qualified to undo it.
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