Ashina let out a small, nostalgic chuckle, his gaze drifting into the distance as if he were reliving that fateful battle.
"Even after the Raikage's ambush and Hell Stab tore a hole through my chest, I fought on," he said with a hint of pride, his voice steady. "They knew how much trouble I'd be for one of them, that was why those four came at me at once."
He paused, his expression turning reflective. "I managed to incapacitate both the Raikage and the Mizukage, but the Kazekage caught me with his Iron Sand. Before I could break free…" Ashina lifted his hand, mimicking a strike, "the Tsuchikage came at me with his Kekkei Tota."
Ashina showed them a small, weathered scroll in his hand, different from the larger one containing the library itself.
"With my body beyond healing, this scroll became my only hope. I poured my remaining chakra and soul into it, transferring myself here at the very edge of death. This small scroll serves as an entrance key to the library, while the larger scroll," he gestured around them, "contains the library itself."
He glanced at Kana and Yukari, a deep pride mingling with sadness in his eyes. "For the past thirty years, I have lingered here, waiting. Hoping. Praying that someone from our family had survived and protected this last legacy of the Uzumaki. And now look at you two, all grown up."
Ashina's gaze shifted to Kenshin and Akane, a faint smile playing on his lips. "I suppose you are my great-grandchildren? Would you like to introduce them to your grandfather, Kana?"
Kana's bounced back to her children, wrapping her arms tightly around their shoulders as she introduced them, her face alight with a wide grin that bore the same infectious warmth Ashina remembered from decades past.
"This is Ken-chan," she said, gesturing to Kenshin with pride, "and Akane-chan."
"Or, in full, Kenshin Uzumaki, 15 years old and Akane Uchiha, 17 years old," she added proudly, her grin widening.
Ashina's gaze softened, his heart swelling as he took in his great-grandchildren, but it was Kana's grin that struck him deeply. The same childlike smile he had seen so long ago—how could it remain unchanged after all the heartache she must have endured?
With a quiet chuckle, he stepped forward and reached out, his hand ruffling her hair just as he used to when she was a child.
Then, without a word, Ashina wrapped his arms around Kana and her children, pulling them into a warm embrace.
As Ashina's arms wrapped around them, Kana felt the weight of the decades lift, a warmth she thought she'd lost forever settling over her.
Her grandfather's touch, impossibly real in this space, unlocked the pain and sorrow she had held back for so long. Her eyes welled up, the tears spilling over before she could stop them.
Kenshin, sensing her emotions, placed a gentle hand on her back. "Mom, it's okay," he whispered. "Don't hold it back."
Kana let her tears flow freely, clutching her grandfather tighter. Yukari, standing a short distance away, felt her own heart ache, a bittersweet pang surfacing as she thought of her daughter, Karin, whom she had believed lost forever.
She whispered a silent thank you to whatever fate had allowed her to witness her friend's reunion with her family. She had never in her wildest dreams, imagined that she'd witness this, or even live till now.
After Kana's tears subsided, she pulled back slightly, wiping her face with a small smile as Ashina took a step back as well. His expression became curious, his gaze settling thoughtfully on Akane, his eyes settling on her black hair and eyes, symbolic of the Uchiha.
"So… this one is an Uchiha, is she?" he said, though the answer was clear from her name. "I assume their father must have been an Uchiha, then?"
Kana's expression shifted, the joy fading into a somber shadow. "Yes, Grandfather," she replied quietly, her voice carrying the weight of old sorrow. "His name was Ichiro Uchiha. He… he passed away almost a decade ago, when most of the Uchiha clan fell at the hands of one of their own."
Ashina's expression shifted, his wise eyes reflecting a deep understanding of Kana's pain and the weight of her loss. Before he could respond, however, Kenshin cleared his throat gently. "Great-grandfather," he said, a spark of curiosity glinting in his eyes, "could you… show us around the library? I'd love to see the seals you've preserved here."
Ashina nodded, a knowing look passing over his face. "Of course," he replied, casting a fond glance over each of them. "This library holds the secrets of our clan's techniques, our life's work. Each of you may have different interests, so I'll split up." With a flicker, Ashina created three additional clones of himself, each one approaching a different member of the group. "Let's explore, then."
Kenshin immediately felt a pull of interest toward the restrictive seals section, and his Ashina clone led him down a winding path between towering stone shelves. "Here we have some of the more… formidable seals," Ashina said, gesturing toward the countless scrolls and papers detailing techniques for control, suppression, and even complete subjugation.
As they continued, Ashina stopped at a scroll holding a carefully crafted, complex formula and unrolled it for Kenshin to examine.
"This one," Ashina explained, "is a seal that places the target under absolute control. Once activated, the user's chakra imprints it onto the target's body, making them completely obedient. The seal can only be removed with the consent of the person who placed it."
His voice held a tone of caution as he continued, "This was a last-resort seal, only meant to control those too dangerous to be left unchecked. I personally don't like the use of this, but some people are simply too dangerous to leave unchecked, yet too useful to kill off."
Kenshin's eyes narrowed thoughtfully—this was a fortunate find, precisely the kind of tool he needed. If he could apply this to Danzo, the man would be powerless to act on his own accord and would effectively become a puppet Kenshin could wield from the shadows.
Kenshin's mind raced with the implications. With Danzo under his control, he could steer the events of the world back toward the timeline he remembered from the anime, keeping things more predictable and minimizing any unexpected losses.
Turning to Ashina, he asked, "How exactly does this seal work?"
Ashina demonstrated, holding a slip of paper with the formula on it. "You only need to place this paper on the target and flow your chakra into it. When you peel it off, the seal will imprint onto their body and take effect."
Kenshin's gaze lingered on the slave seal, and he looked up at Ashina, his voice calm but determined. "Great-grandfather, would it be all right if I… took a couple of these?"
Ashina paused, his sharp eyes searching Kenshin's face. "Of course, my boy… but tell me, why do you need them?"
After a moment's hesitation, Kenshin replied, choosing his words carefully. "There's a criminal in the village, someone the Hokage still needs for a particular task involving other dangerous individuals. But… this person can't be trusted. This seal would be a way to ensure he stays loyal and doesn't cause harm."
Ashina nodded, though a sigh escaped him. "The way you're phrasing this vaguely makes me suspect it's not something you've discussed with your family. Is that right?"
Kenshin's gaze lowered briefly. "Yes," he admitted, "but it's necessary. Please understand."
Ashina studied his great-grandson for a moment longer, then nodded, handing him a few copies of the seal. "Take these, then," he said, his voice gentle but serious. "Use them wisely, Kenshin. Once placed, this seal cannot be removed easily, so consider its consequences carefully."
Kenshin pocketed the seals with a small nod of gratitude.
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Once again, thank you everyone for your continued support and power stones. And as always, please give me your power stones and comment your opinions. They make a big difference and motivate me to write more.