Chapter 19: Bonds

The next few days were quite tiring for Tsunade, as she learned more of the Uzumaki sealing language.

She couldn't hope to understand the language in full, but she began learning many of the sentences that the Uzumaki had recorded so that she could gain more insight into it. She didn't expect to learn the entire language anytime soon, but by learning the known combinations of kanji, she could be able to learn the full language in the future.

The time she spent learning also deepened her relationship with her uncle Ashina and her cousin Kuna. She began to gradually see them as family members and she decided she would try her best to prevent the Uzumaki Clan's end. And since she didn't know if she would have enough strength to prevent their destruction, especially with Hiruzen most likely being in charge at the time, she kept throwing hints at the fact that they should move to Konoha. However, it didn't seem to work as anytime Tsunade brought up the topic, Ashina quickly changed the subject.

But the time of their vacation in the Uzumaki Village came to an end after they stayed there for a week.

The group was packing their bags and packing everything in their carriages when they saw Ashina and Kuna walking up to them.

Kuna didn't speak a word as she ran and hugged Tsunade while tears came from her eyes.

"Do you really want to leave Tsuna? Can't you just stay with your big sister forever?" Kuna asked with a sad and depressing face as tears began to appear, which was quite odd since she was asking a 3 year old the question.

"I'll make sure to visit you Kuna, I promise. So don't be sad, ok?" Tsunade said, which made the situation even stranger as a three year old was comforting a twelve year old.

"OK." Kuna said in between her tears.

Ashina on the other hand stood with Hashirama at a distance from the carriage that no one could hear what they talked about.

"What is it you wish to talk about Ashina?" Hashirama asked.

"It's about the future of the Uzumaki Clan." Ashina replied, to which Hashirama seemingly stood straight and the smile that was always seen by Tsunade seemed to fade away.

This was no longer the pitiful gambler who always loses to his family nor the doting grandfather who fell to his granddaughter's every whim.

This was the Shinobi no Kami, otherwise known as the "The God Of Shinobi". He was the man who single handedly suppressed an era and the man who could end wars with his mere presence.

And when dealing with his wife's clan, he would pay attention to every single thing that was stated so that he could discuss it with Tobirama when he got back to Konoha.

"I have thought long and hard about this, but I finally came to a decision last night. It is too dangerous for our clan to simply remain on its own and be isolated. While it may have given us a major advantage during the Warring States Period, it is simply inefficient with the large numbers of enemies of Konoha, and by extension, ours. It will be safer for us to join Konoha as a major clan than to remain on our own. I'm going to begin by secretly sending my clan members to Konoha in small batches. While it won't be noticeable at first, so I can prevent the other villages from realizing it, but we should be able to fully migrate to Konoha in about 5 to 10 years." Ashina spoke.

Hashirama noticed something else and asked "Why did you wait till now, I offered your clan a place in Konoha when we first built the village?"

"Because of your granddaughter." Ashina answered.

"Because of Tsuna?" Hashirama asked confused as he didn't understand she could change his opinion.

"While she tried to do it subtly, by simply throwing out quick hints about moving to Konoha, I understood what she was trying to imply. From what I put together from everything she said, she seems to think that us being alone will put us into a position where Konoha is either unable to help or purposefully leave us to our own fate. She didn't seem to be thinking it could happen tomorrow, but instead in the far future, when perhaps you, me, and Tobirama are gone and our villages are no longer as close as they once were. But no matter the case, I will do my best to preserve my clan, and this plan not only saves my clan from a future disaster, but also strengthens the leaf. Let Tobirama know about my proposition. I think he will agree, but tell him to message me using the birds to know his answer." Ashina explained.

"Very well Ashina, I will do exactly that." Hashirama spoke as he began to return to the carriage.

"One last thing." Ashina said as Hashirama turned back towards him.

"Keep that granddaughter of yours safe, she is a star that hasn't been given the time to fully mature yet." Ashina said with a smile.

Hashirama seemed suprised, before breaking out in laughter as he said "Of course she is, she is my granddaughter after all."

The group then said their goodbyes, with the Senju family beginning to leave through the gates on their carriage.

Tsunade looked back at Kuna and Ashina who stood at the gates watching their departure.

'I won't end up like the original Tsunade, whose fate ended with her being an alcoholic and all her losing her family and lovers one by one. Instead, I will fight against the entire world and ensure I protect everyone and everything I hold dear to me.' Tsuande thought to herself as Hashirama, Mito, Tobirama, Haru, Ayako, Ashina, and Kuna's faces all flashed in her mind as a smile worked onto her face.

However she never noticed the small sprout that grew beside the carriage as they moved.

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