Play: Rewriting History

by A-Lysdove63

*This is a 2nd installment of a series and CANNOT be read as a Stand Alone. Please read Rewind: Reversing History, First. Thank You! Uzumaki-Namikaze Minashi has spent ten years waiting for the history she grew up in to arrive. Grow up a second time in the Third war; she now faces times of peace even as the shadows grow and plot the Fourth War once more.

5. Chapter 5

Season 2 Chapter 5

Nagisa's eyes looked around the dusty room she'd been led to. Minashi at her side let out an impressed whistle.

"That's a lot of archives." The Blonde muttered.

Uchiha Kazou chuckled and nodded reluctantly. "Yes, It was the duty of the third in line to keep records of our clan. My Father Uchiha Hikaku was the former Record Keeper. Father was very meticulous about recording our history. Before that it was his own father's duty and so on. Sometimes the heir or second in line would take on the duty, but as long as the Record Keeper kept their sworn oath to Amaterasu-okami-sama to write the truth of our eyes, then the duty was an honored position."

Nagisa moved forwards and took out the gloves Mikoto had provided to her and Minashi earlier. "Are you positive you are okay with us looking through the Uchiha archives?"

Kazou hummed as he browsed the shelves as well. Minashi having already put her gloves off and scurried off looking for anything in the Era they were searching for.

"Honestly, i was skeptical, but We are in your debt Nagisa-dono. If you wished to have my son, i'd give him to you if he wasn't already happily married."

Nagisa let out a bark of laughter smirking at the Uchiha elder also smiling at her. "Kagami is a treat, but unfortunately i'm not interested in anyone."

"A shame truly." Kazou chuckled before eyeing Minashi who had moved to one of the tables with a few scrolls and journals. "May I ask what you two are looking for? You said that Kurama-sama told you about one of the past Queens of Uzushio and an Uchiha once saved her…but what are you two really looking for?"

Nagisa frowned contemplatively as she picked up one of the journals and started reading.

"Kurama said there once was an alliance between the Uchiha, Senju and Uzumaki." Minashi answered carefully, watching Kazou for a reaction. A single brow rose from the elder Uchiha.

"I've never heard of such a thing. Lord Madara and Lord Hashirama were the first to ever achieve peace between our clans. Before that we never associated with the Uzumaki due to their relations to the Senju."

Minashi bit her lip as Nagisa hummed still flipping through the journal and setting it down a moment later. Picking up another, she finally spoke.

"We have reason to believe that there was once an alliance between our three clans." Nagisa chose her words meticulously. "We are looking for further proof of such things existing. The issues is that it is possible that this happened seven Uzumaki generations back. Meaning that additional Uchiha or Senju generations may be in that time frame."

Kazou nodded looking at the books, scrolls, and journals the young jounin had stacked up. "Then I do not believe you will find anything. If we were betrayed or did the betraying, I have no doubt that with the temperament and personality of my clan and ancestors, that they would have striked all mention of peace with the Senju from their history. Thus, there would be no proof left behind to encourage such things again."

Nagisa held Kazou's grim look before humming. "That is our guess as well, but someone that supported the Clan Head's decision must have saved some sort of record that put that hope into Madara or else it would never have happened."

Kazou shrugged and waved out to the archives. "You are free to look. You've already signed the paperwork to follow the handling agreements. Let myself or Mikoto know when you are finished so the archives can be locked up."

"Thank you Kazou-dono." Nagisa bowed her head and the elder returned it before dismissing himself from the archives hall.

Once the elder was gone, the Original and Blood Clone shared looks before clones of themselves popped up and started reading at the same time while others went in search for any hidden records. If Aika's life was anything like Hashirama and Madara's era….there must have been times when they connected again. Minashi needed to know just how many times this reincarnation cycle has gone. How the pest acted to keep it going and what did he do differently that failed at continuing the Warring Era yet produced Madara?

What should have been days worth of work, turned into only a single day. Minashi and Nagisa had read enough documents to give herself a migraine.

The two had just finished at the Uchiha compound and left with the journal they were looking for in all those records. The Personal Journal of Clan Head Uchiha Tetsuo. Minashi hadn't read it in detail, but it was the seal when Tetsuo's writing stopped that had caught the Uzumaki's attention. Activating the seal had produced another journal. This one however was formerly owned by Uzumaki Miyako or as she was later known as Uchiha Miyako. Uchiha Miyako who was the Lady of the Uchiha Clan, and daughter-in-law to Uchiha Tetsuo.

Minashi would apologize to the Uchiha at a later date, but she'd taken both journals, swearing to herself to still treat both with reverence and care. But they were too important to her to just leave behind.

Now they had two more days planned for the Nara Compound. From the snippets of Aika's memories, they were even more meticulous with their archives. Such things should have been kept even if the Uchiha would have ordered such things destroyed.

In a repeat of the previous day, the Master and Student showed up to the Nara Clan, having already arranged such a meeting and request. Shikaku and Shikaro obviously got a more detailed explanation.

"You seriously think what you dreamed was of a previous life?" Shikaku asked as he was the one escorting Minashi and her Nagisa blood clone.

"Hai." The Blonde uzumaki hummed as Shikaku led them deeper into the Nara archives. They were a lot larger than the Uchiha. Seriously, just glancing at the titles proved that it wasn't just all Nara information. "Rikudo-jiji said I was her reincarnation, Kurama and I already theorized that I can access the memories willingly, but I haven't had the proper time to go digging in my chakra soul for such things. That's why this memory dream surprised me so much."

Shikaku hummed thoughtfully, even as his eyes continued to scan titles and make sure he wasn't missing the era she was looking for. Thankfully while his clan was seen as 'lazy', they were also obsessive about their paperwork being neat and orderly. A nara did love a good piece of information-The Nara stopped as his eyes caught a distortion in their records. He quickly walked to it, feeling the Teen and Clone follow.

"I've never noticed this before." He whispered looking at the shelf that his mind was telling him was old trading agreements scrolls, but his eyes were seeing that the actual titles were blurred symbols.

"It's a seal." Minashi whispered, stepping forward with her gloved hands. Just as with the Uchiha, these old of records could be damaged with oils of their skin. Reaching forward she sensed out what was blocking their view. A flicker of chakra at the seal in the right place-

"Ah!" Minashi beamed. "It was a concealment mixed with a genjutsu and some Kagemane jutsu added in to further hide them."

Shikaku's hands trembled as it was there, the Nara symbol interlocked with the Uzumaki Spiral on the endcaps of many scrolls. Carefully he pulled the scrolls off the shelf and moved to a desk with his companions. Minashi and Nagisa each took scrolls to carefully unbind and read. Shikaku doing the same with greedy eyes.

"The Nara were allied to the Uzumaki." Shikaku murmured amazed.

"Uzumaki Emi." Minashi answered absently, even as she herself read through the official trading agreements between the two clans.

Shikaku glanced at her as he hadn't found that name yet. Sure enough a few scrolls deep, they found the betrothal contract and Marriage license. Shikaku felt the air leave him.

An impressed whistle filled the air suddenly, and both Nara and blonde looked at Nagisa who was reading another scroll that looked to be blacked out ink splotches.

"What?" Shikaku rushed around and took the scroll thinking that it was damaged. Nagisa gently took it back and spread the scroll out completely. Minashi's eyes went as big as saucers.

"Kami-sama…." She gasped in awe. The more Minashi looked, the more she felt a bit of Aika slipping into her forefront. She didn't notice her eyes bleeding red at the edges of her irises or her roots turning red. "That little shit. I knew he was up to something."

Silence.

Minashi blinked rapidly as the weird sensation of being more than just herself faded away with an odd bubbling feeling of humor leaving her heart rate kicked up.

Nagisa raised a brow at her boss. Shikaku just stared at the blonde Uzumaki looking occasionally at her Redheaded Clone.

"What…was that?" Shikaku inquired very curious now. Every time he though him and his father had learned what they could about this time traveler, she did something completely outrageous.

"Uhhh….. I believe that was Aika Uzumaki speaking out about her baby brother-in-law…or nephew. It's a bit blurry." Minashi squinted as she tried to further figure it out, but like sand, the memories slipped her fingers.

"What is this then?" The Nara waved to the practically blacked out scroll. "To me it just looks like destroyed history."

"Oh, that's easy." Minashi chirped and then fed the ink chakra. Shikaku's eyes bulged when the ink moved, thinned, and became legible again. "There is a reason only Uzumakis ever became Masters and Grand Masters of Sealing. Our chakra is made for Fuuinjutsu. Not to mention Uzumaki sealing Ink was mixed by a secret ratio of blood and our unique chakra. Thus seals like this that look like 'spilled ink accidents' are really just a massive seal if you can't sense out the uzumaki chakra in the ink and what it's designed to hide."

Shikaku just stared at the Original Uzumaki and her clone.

"Minato…"He trailed off in question.

"Is a unique case." Nagisa answered. "He learned from an Uzumaki first hand. As did Jiraiya and the Niidaime. However if you compare their seals, to a seal of another nation, and those two to an uzumaki's seal? The Uzumaki's will win first every time. The students of uzumaki's will rank second, and everything else will never compare."

"There is a reason people feared Uzumakis." Minashi spoke softly and sadly. "They feared us because they couldn't replicate our natural instincts in using fuuin with our chakra and blood. Uzumaki chakra is too unique. Even the Senju could never use it the same. They could better than others, but the seals always end up adapted in a longer way to adjust to the 'non-uzumaki' attempting to work with them."

"The Niidaime was a quarter Uzumaki and in addition had an Uzumaki sister-in-law." Nagisa finished yet waved to the now clear writings. "This is the product of either being betrothed to an Uzumaki young and learning from her since then, or this is one of their children that made sure the Nara had proper documentation when someone else wanted it destroyed."

Shikaku hummed and the trio set to reading. What was very obvious as they started was-

"It's in Code." Shikaku grunted skimming further and letting out a long sigh. "And not one of the Nara standard codes. There's no markings or hinting at what the key would be either. I'm sorry Minashi, this will take time for father and I to decode."

The blonde frowned but nodded understandingly. "I understand. Thank you for allowing us to look in these records anyways. I honestly thought it would take longer."

Shikaku shrugged. "Once you told me how far back, it wasn't that hard to look. Mention the War of Water was a pretty significant detail to work off of. It's practically tradition for the Mainline Naras to spend our free time in here."

"Learn from the past to prevent repeats in the future." Nagisa contemplated aloud.

"Or track patterns in history." Shikaku nodded. "Well, Is there any other era you needed to look in?"

Minashi shook her head. "Not at the can look up most things in Madara and Hashirama's era in the Konoha archives."

"Ma, if there are any details missing out, just come here." The Nara nodded and escorted them out. The scrolls they would be borrowing with Shikaku's explicit permission safely sealed away. Shikaku himself had put the coded scroll in a protective tube to take to his father to have decrypted in secret. Maybe Inoichi or Inojiro could help? Shikaku mused as he waved the two Uzumakis as they left his compound.

'What now boss?'

'Tsunade knows we were coming in two days, she shouldn't be too disturbed if we come today instead. Plus Naoki should be at the Sarutobis with the other Heirs.'

Nagisa rolled her eyes at her original, but grabbed her shoulder and took the quick way back to the compound.

Dropping down in the main living room, it wasn't too surprising to find the house seemingly empty. Well, if it wasn't for Orochimaru's chakra in his personal lab in the basement. Nagisa flicked her chakra at him and a few moments back the sentiment was returned.

The raven Uchiha came out from the seal and locked door a few minutes later, carefully blinking away the light difference before meeting their forms.

"Nagisa, Minashi? What do we owe this visit?"

"You make it sound like i'm not here for dinner ever few days with my team." Minashi pouted.

Orochimaru sniffed even as Anko poked her head out from behind her shishou. "Yo! Mina-chan!" the purplette beamed.

Minashi waved back. "Hiya Anko-chan. How's sensei's treating you?"

"He's awesome!" Anko practically had stars in her eyes. "He's so smart and he's been teaching me all about poisons!"

"Anko has impeccable aim in senbon and amazing flexibility." Orochimaru praised petting the teen's hair with a fond smile. "She will do well one day to take on my summoning contract."

"That's wonderful to hear Orochimaru." Nagisa smiled pleased at the Senju who still kept his hair shaved on both sides. Honestly he really pulled it off especially when he braided it back into a ponytail. "Now, I know I contacted you and your spouses about seeing the Senju Archives in two days. Things with the Nara went quicker than expected. Apparently they are meticulous with their own paperwork."

Orochimaru's eyes narrowed. "Yet they are forever lazy with village paperwork? Figures." he snorted before waving a dismissing hand. "You two are family. You don't need permission. Tsunade should have already made that clear."

"It's still polite. If i find what we are looking for we may need to borrow it." Nagisa raised a brow at him. "I'm talking about records that were around the War of Water Era."

Orochimaru had been dusting off some soot from his lab coat, and froze at her words. Golden eyes whipped to the two Uzumakis.

"That's….That's over two centuries ago." he spluttered. "What in Kami's name are you looking for?"

"Proof of a triad alliance." Minashi answered. "And not the Nara-Yamanaka-Akimichi Triad."

Orochimaru just stared. "Tsuna said this was because of-"

"A story Kurama told me." Minashi nodded, reminding Orochimaru that they also weren't alone. "I don't believe about certain things he said, so I'm looking for proof."

"Plus, if what we have found is legitimate," Nagisa emphasized the last word and Orochimaru's face lit with understanding of Uzushio's history he knew from Tsunade and experience. "Then Collecting the Uzumaki back, and maybe going on a little trip will be very fruitful for the remaining Uzumaki and one day even aid Konoha politically if the Daimyo ever needs to be checked back into place."

"That is a dangerous game you play, Uzumaki." Orochimaru said low, eyes full of worry and intrigue. "How sure are you of the legitimacy?"

"Pretty sure enough that Tsunade-oba's nickname will be permanent." Minashi hummed smirking. "And a few of us others may also be getting a similar nickname."

Orochimaru blinked at them rapidly processing that even as Anko looked between them lost and confused, but intrigued. Just what was her tricky little friend going on about? She smelled gossip, but this wasn't enough of a hint for Anko to get much from.

"Then, you two still have even greater approval. I would like to see how you two will be rewriting Konoha's history with information hidden in the past." The Snake summoner said and then smirked. Nagisa deadpanned him for the ironic inside joke.

"You've been listening to Jiraiya too much." Nagisa snorted. "I'd expect that from him. Not you."

Orochimaru just smiled fondly. "Well, it's an idiot, but he's our lovable idiot. His views are also nice to hear when my own mind decides to stray."

Nagisa's face softened to understanding and pride. She surprised the Senju then by hugging him. Orochimaru was stiff for a split second before relaxing into her hold and returning the hug, having gotten used to human contact with the assistance of his family and those he could really call friends now.

Without a word needed, Nagisa led Minashi to another door that led to a different basement that held all the senju archives. Splitting up into Kage Bushin they went to work in search of anything of help. Unlike the hint they got in the Uchiha, or a possible clue in the Nara, there was nothing in the Senju records. Nothing even hidden. She did borrow Senju Shuji's own personal journal, but she could already see pages were missing. The Marriage betrothal of Shuji and one Hatake Miwa was also snagged for reference. Otherwise, the only alliance treaty they found around that time was the betrothal of Uzumaki Taro to Senju Shizuka, also borrowed.

Nagisa and Minashi sealed up the additional information into the hidden seal on her forearm where she was storing everything for this personal mission of hers. Now, all they needed were the Uzumaki records.

With the ease of her own internal Uzumaki instincts, Minashi turned her head east where she knew in her heart Uzushio rested.

"Soon." She whispered into the air, hoping the wind would carry her promise to her ancestral lands.

Sakumo stared at the eight shinobi and one civilian before him. Only three weren't redheads, and one wasn't even his shinobi.

It had taken almost a full month to prepare for this 'vacation' and undercover mission. Out of the Nine People that would be leaving his village, One was a blood clone, one was a civilian, one was his ANBU commander, and another his Successor. Not to mention two were some of his best Jounin, his own personal advisor, and the advisor to the Amekage. Lastly was his own current girlfriend.

Minashi, Minato, Kushina, and Kudorama were all wearing their ANBU masks acting as guards. Sukitama and Mariko were dressed as civilians. Tsunade was there with Nagisa as 'visible guards' and family. Nagato too was there as extended family. Getting him to Konoha had been easy. A quick summons exchange that he was to join the Uzumakis on a family vacation and he read the code hidden within and came running.

"As you all were briefed before, this 'vacation' is covering up an expedition and recovery mission. I am aware of four of you having young children and I will not force you to stay there longer than you feel comfortable. I am ordering check ins via summons every other day once you arrive. Travel time is predicted to be two days with Nagisa's assistance in planning out a Teleportation jump route with breaks to recover between."

"Due to lack of information, you all are walking into unknown territory. I do not care if you all think the island would never harm you because of your bloodties to the land. Uzushio has been wild for over almost two decades. You will listen to your Captain, you will listen to the warning of the sensors on your team. If you come across other nations, even our current allies, you DO NOT let them know where you are headed and what your goals are. You will not engage in shinobi battle unless threatened. Keep your heads down."

The Nine members of the 'vacation' bowed their heads in acknowledgement and Sakumo let some of his worry and stress for so many people he cared about leaving in one swoop, lift.

"Be careful and come home. You have loved ones here awaiting ALL of your returns." He met each of their gazes and maybe held Mariko's a hair longer than proper for a 'mission' setting. "Dismissed." Sakumo sighed but didn't release the barrier that kept anyone from listening in.

All eight other shinobi and civilian places a hand in someone else's until the circuit was complete. With a final bow from Nagisa, the Nine people were gone.

Nagisa dropped at the first tag she'd placed last week. It was half a day's travel from Konoha by civilian standards. It was a test run to see how her passengers were holding up.

Tsunade quickly passed around nausea seals for Sukitama, Nagato, and Mariko. Kudorama was too disciplined to react. Minato, Kushina, and Minashi were used to teleportation. Even Tsunade was only a little green around the gills.

"Everyone ready to continue?" Nagisa called out. Sukitama groaned but nodded and Nagato held up a finger.

"Another minute." he murmured through his hand before rushing away and still puking despite the seal on his forehead. "That is a nasty ride." The only male redhead choked out and gratefully took the cantine from Tsunade, gurgled and spit.

"You get used to it." Kushina shrugged grabbing his hand and completing the circle once more.

Nagisa hummed and flexed her chakra, in a swirl they were gone once more in a short jump. It would take longer, but she was guiding a lot of people a long distance. Taking shorter jumps was best for her reserves and for the health of her passengers. Thus it still took hours for their group to finally reach the Easter shore of Fire. A trip that would normally take a week even traveling at shinobi speeds, was cut down to a day. They would rest on the beach and then run across the ocean in the morning.

Sukitama was quick to commandeer the fire while everyone else did supply checks. They had all known to pack for at least a two week mission, but in actuality there wasn't a formal set time frame. It all depended on what they found on Uzushio and in what state the island was in, and if they could even get onto the island that was rumored to have impassable waters.

Once camp was set up and the security and privacy barriers were set, the instinctive shinobi tension lessoned from the active shinobis and kunoichi.

"Ne, Kushina-nee, what…what do you think we'll find there?" nagato asked softly. But with conversations already low or none existent, everyone heard his question.

"I don't know." Kushina bit her lip and shrugged. "I was six when i was sent to Konoha. Eight when Uzu was invaded. Despite going with Sandaime-sama to Uzushio, i have memories that we did even get close to the island before the Ocean rejected us. I remember crying so hard because i just wanted to at least bury my parents."

"Bones." Mariko said blankly, eyes lacking luster as she stared at their fire. "Bodies, in Uzushio's climate decompose in nine days in the summer time. Uzu was attacked mid summer. We'll be walking into a city of bones. It…It will be hard to identify people."

"A mass funeral." Sukitama whispered. "And scattering the ashes out to sea per tradition." The eldest of the Uzumakis whispered tears in her eyes. "Ruriko-imouto always said Uzumakis were born and died in the sea." Kudorama reached down and grabbed his mother's hand. Red eyes meeting Indigo.

"It is unspoken that this is part of our mission. To finally let the dead be honored with proper burial. Konoha has not been able to do so beforehand due to the dangerous waters and then the war. We will find a way onto the island and do what is long overdue."

"What did it look like?" Minashi asked and both her, Minato and Nagato watched as the faces of all the adults went wistful. -Nagisa just looked east. She yearned to know too, but couldn't say anything-

"Paradise." Tsunade whispered.

"Home." Sukitama choked out, tears streaming down her face.

"Full of life and beautiful architecture."

"White Sands, Clear Rivers and beautiful canals." Kushina smiled at her own faded memories. "Everything was Colorful."

"Uzushio was the sea and the sunset in living form." Kudorama sighed, mask long removed in the company of family and security of seals. "It was my playground as a child as i visited it with my father to see Grandmother Miho. She adored her people and land. She made sure that I always saw the wonder of my second home."

"Uzushio was always spoken of as a living Island." Sukitama hummed smiling, head leaning on her son's shoulder. "I don't know how to describe it, but Uzumakis were always stronger because we lived on Uzushio. She loved us and cared for us, and we loved and cared for her in return."

The evening fell into soft stories of Sukitama speaking of her younger years on her homeland. Tsunade speaking up of her own youth with her husbands on Uzu. Mariko piping in a few of her own stories.

Minashi's eyes were half lidded as she listened; absorbing this living history of her ancestors. Of what made up half of who she was.

Just as the sun rose over the horizon, the group packed up camp and moved to cross the water. Even Sukitama ran across. While she was no shinobi, she married one and raised one. She was also an Uzumaki. Even civilians learned water walking if they wanted to get anywhere in Uzu.

The hours passed as they crossed, stopping to eat and drink clean water and check chakra levels. Once cleared, they continued on into the midday and afternoon, jumping waves, walking over currents, and feeling the air change as a mist settled over the waters as the sounds of roaring water filled the air.

"We're nearing." Sukitama called out even as all of them felt uzushio. Even Minato, mostly due to his sensitivity as a natural sensor and additionally a sage. This wasn't including the fact that he was practically an honorary Uzumaki with his marital status and Sealing Mastery.

Minashi…Minashi could finally feel what Sukitama had spoken about. She was in Sage mode from one step to another practically without conscious thought. She'd only wanted to feel more, and Kami, did she feel more.

RAGEGRIEFSCORNPAINGRIEF NONESHALLPASS SEASTARSMYSEASTARS DROWNSCORNPAINFURY GRIEFGRIEFGRIEF NONESHALLPASS

The Kitsune sage felt tears falling down her face as their group got closer and closer to the deadly whirlpools. They couldn't risk walking closer or else even with chakra, they would be dragged down.

However Minashi stood dazed at the back of their group, eyes out of focus as she cried silently for Uzu. Closing her eyes she let her own chakra flow out of her through her current Sage connection. Let her Chakra and tears sink into the ocean. Her actions lost in the whirling natural chakra hurricaning around their group as they shouted over the howling winds on how they were supposed to cross without killing themselves. If there was a way to Calm Uzushio.

Minashi felt a flicker in the energy of the air as her chakra brushed against Uzu's mourning and raging natural energies.

'Blood and chakra are the base of all Uzumaki Seals.' Minashi absently thought and with a sharpening of her nails, she pressed them into her clenched palms until her blood ran in rivers down her fingers and into the water. A ripple of energy soared out across the Whirlpool waters and touched the shore of Uzushio.

Violet eyes swirled a tempest as cobalt, ruby, and gold pigments joined Minashi's irises. The blonde did not realize this even as her own hair bled red down from her roots and to her mid back, leaving blonde only at the ends.

Uzushio's winds slowly calmed as the eddies still raged but were no longer howling.

SEASTAR SEASTAR SEASTAR HOMEHOMEHOMEHOME COMEHOMESEASTAR Uzushio's winds and waters rejoiced as they splashed around Minashi's feet.

Dazed and practically drunk on Uzushio's potent chakra, Minashi did as the energy and ocean commanded. She walked forward, partially dissociating in the process as she answered the call to her ancestral home.

Nagisa felt the change in her original and snapped her head to her boss when the blonde turned partial redhead moved towards the still raging eddies. None of their family noticed at first. Well, until they realized they didn't need to shout as the practical typhoon had relented around them.

"Minashi!" Minato called out seeing the movement ahead of them and went to grab his sister, but instead was stopped by Kudorama. The half senju held the younger blonde tightly so he wouldn't escape and get dragged into an eddy.

"Don't!" Kudorama barked sharply.

"But!" Minato started to argue before Nagisa stepped in front of him.

"Minashi will not be harmed." The redhead confirmed feeling the echos of Uzushio's desires. "Come, she is opening a path for us."

Sukitama's eyes were teary, but her and their other damp eyed family were quick to follow their youngest member as she led the way to Uzushio. The Eddies were literally parting the way beyond their misty air.

The group made sure to stick close together and close to Minashi.

When the blonde turned partially redhead, finally stepped foot on Uzushio's white sands, Minashi's mind was returned to her. Her eyes returned to their natural blues and the red left her hair.

Wobbling Minashi was caught by Minato and Kushina who had stuck the closes to their sister.

"Imouto?" Kushina worried, but the youngest Uzumaki was already looking upon her ancestral home. The Home of her past life.

While storm clouds were in the distance surrounding the island, here in the eye of the storm, it was a clear calm day. Gently breezes filled the air and playfully twirling around the group in greeting.

Minashi felt her eyes burn as she saw Uzushio in person for the first time in this life. There were many destroyed buildings where the village rested further inland, but it was still breathtaking. The docks and piers were barely holding together, boats were half sunk, and there was obvious ninjutsu damage and explosion damage all over, but still…

A rattling noise distracted Minashi from the sights to see her clone kicking away a set of bones held together by a Kiri Uniform.

"We need to make camp somewhere away from where we will be cleaning up and working." Nagisa choked out.

Sukitama hummed and this time, the eldest Uzumaki led the way. It wasn't but a few minutes of walking down the beach when they came across a hill that rose up into a sheer cliff. Thankfully, the land above was lacking any skeletons. The Group made their camp and even set up their tents this time since they would be staying there for an extended period of time.

They were just finishing dinner when one of the elephants in the room was spoken about.

"Minashi-chan, what…what was that?" Nagato asked his younger cousin.

Minashi's eyes went out of focus staring at the crackling fire. "Uzushio. I…I went into Sage Mode…because of Kurama, when i mix the two, i become a practical Empath. I…I could feel how Uzushio was still mourning, still raging, and…and i just followed my instincts. I wanted to ease her pain. I wanted to let her know that her Sea stars were not all gone."

"Sea Stars?" Minato inquired.

"A nickname." Mariko whispered smiling sadly. "It's what Uzushio has always called us and some even called younglings by it. Because Uzumakis are naturally strong sensors even those of us without the mind's eye bloodline, when we open our senses to feel another on the island, it was looking at a Sea of chakra dotted with stars of individual chakras moving with the tides. Grandmother preferred to call us her guppies."

"Mama called me her chick." Kushina smiled sadly. "It's because of her contract with the Eagle summons. I adored it, even if i was paired with the kitsune contract instead."

"Ahhh….this is depressing." Tsunade sighed pulling out a scroll and to no surprise there were bottled and bottles of Sake now being handed out. Minashi even snagged one to Minato's disapproval.

"Oi, you get possessed by a Sentient Island and then come to me." Minashi drawled at her brother. Minato scrunched his nose, but relented.

"To the shitty days of putting our family to rest and burning the fuckers that invaded!" Tsunade toasted.

"Here here!" Mariko cheered and tossed a swig back, which only started the party. Minashi sipped at her own drink as her siblings and cousins got drunk off their rockers. Even Sukitama and Kudorama had let their guards down. Minato, the lightweight was first to pass out. Nagisa moved him into his and Kushina's tent.

Thus, with Kurama as her filter, Minashi didn't get drunk and being a clone, Nagisa couldn't get drunk. Leaving the two of them to eventually put everyone to bed long after the moon had risen high in the sky, and many bottles of Sake had been empty. It did take a lot for Uzumakis to get drunk, even half uzumakis. The blonde Uzumaki did observe how the natural energies of Uzushio and the suratiy of the eddies, allowed for all the veteran shinobi and kunoichi to let their guards down completely. Even Kudorama had let loose enough to be pink cheeked and snorting at Nagato's retelling of Yahiko and Konan's antics in Ame.

Come morning, Minashi for the first time, didn't wake like a shinobi. She woke to the call of gulls, the crashing of waves, and a gentle breeze playing with her hair. A breeze that had no care that it had forced her tent zipper up and let in practically blinding morning light. Knowing she wouldn't be getting anymore sleep if Uzushio had her way, the Blonde made quick work of changing into fresh shorts and a sleeveless Yukata training top. She didn't bother with sandals, and instead walked the freshly dewy grass as she moved to the edge of the cliffs. The reefs between Uzushio and the eddies were crystal clear in the surrounding waters, showing off the colorful reefs, schools of fish, and white sands in the depths below.

Turning towards the village, Minashi side eyed where she sensed her family still sleeping. She…she knew she should stay and work out a plan with them, but…but she needed to see what they were walking into.

'Let them know i went ahead to scout.' The blonde sent to her blood clone. Said redhead grumpily stuck her head out of her own tent and flipped her the bird before flopping down to sleep. Minashi was envious, but the urging of Uzushio was getting stronger. Turning she took off towards the scattered palms, brush, and down the hill towards the small farms, and outlying family homes. She slowed as she reached the outskirts of the village. With a trained leap, she was on the white stone of broken walls and sunset orange rooftop clay tiles.

The Uzumaki's face was grim as all she saw was skeleton after skeleton lining the streets and rubble. Part of the way into the village, Minashi paused as she rewound what she'd just seen and what she was seeing around her. The…The skeletons….they were all Invaders. She had not seen one uzumaki uniform Mariko, Sukitama and Tsunade had described. Turning towards the taller structures further in, Minashi wondered if those were the arching walls she'd been told about. Shunshining forward, the blonde landed on top of one of the support pillars and finally saw the Central 'city' of the village of Uzushio.

Cerulean eyes blew wide as…as….

"What the fuck?!" She whispered before shouting it. "What the FUCK!" Turning she sprinted back towards camp even as her mind whirled at what she'd just witnessed. She…She needed Kushina and Minato to confirm what she'd already deciphered with just that glance.

Landing in the camp moments later, she flared her chakra even as she shouted loud enough to wake the dead.

"WAKE UP!"

Scrambling, rustling, and the rest of the party woke up with many forms of disgruntlement, quickly dropping at the panic on Minashi's face. When her siblings were out, she grabbed them and started chain shunshining back towards Central Uzushio. The others shouting as they chased after their ashen youngest.

"Mina!" Kushina scolded as they finally stopped. "What in the world has gotten-" MInato grabbed kushina's jaw, having already seen what their Imouto wanted them to see. "Into…you…" Kushina trailed off seeing the golden seal dome encompassing central Uzushio. The others landed behind them heartbeats later. Jaws dropping as they too could see what had Minashi in a panic.

"What…What is this?" Sukitama whispered. "I've never seen a barrier like this before."

"They…aren't skeletons." Nagato noted at the bodies closes to them on the streets and buildings below.

"Can we enter it?" Tsunade asked looking at the three seal masters.

Kushina bit her lip, minato frowned. Minashi shocked all by leaping off and landing on the solid gold dome.

"Minashi!" a chorus of voices followed, many in shock others in reprimand. Minashi didn't care. She…she could feel something odd about this barrier. She raced along the top of it until she neared where she felt the center of it and looked down. Just like everywhere else, she could see blurry bodies, but nothing was crystal clear.

Kneeling she tried to read the seal some more when instead Uzushio flitted around her, gaining her attention. Blue eyes shot up when the wind and water particles condensed into a figure. The blonde uzumaki stared at the figure of Uzumaki Miho. Her glowing golden colored eyes bore into Minashi before smiling and making motions Minashi knew she should have been making sooner.

Yanking out a kunai, Minashi slit open her palm and slammed it down into the barrier. It wavier and slowly sunk down even with it's passengers. Minashi lept onto a roof and watched it descend the final yards until it sunk down into the ground once more.

"What?" Kushina whispered landed beside her as they took in the practical pristine bodies of the uzumaki clan.

"It…" Minashi swallowed. "It preserved the dead and banished the invaders away."

"We…We can identify people." Mariko said grief clogging her throat looking at all the still fresh bodies.

"Then it's best we get to work." Sukitama nodded as Tsunade joined them with Nagato, Kudorama, Nagisa, and Minato following.

"I'll…I'll go grab body scrolls." Mariko whispered wiping away her tears. "They should still be in the main storage."

"I'll help." Kushina latched onto her Nee-san and the two quickly headed for where Mariko remembered the supply storage.

"I'll check Oba-sama's office and find a registration list. If we can match names to the dead and missing, searching for any other survivors will become much simpler." Kudorama nodded and split up to do his self assigned task. This…this wasn't something one could just take command of. This would be healing for everyone in their own way.

"Minato and I will start collecting Invader scraps and piling them up. With our summons' help it shouldn't take too long." Minato accented with a silent nod and the duo also left. Minato wanted to be with Kushina, but he remembered those days holding her when she sobbed her eyes out after she returned with bad news about Uzu. Her lost parents, her lost unborn sibling. So many lost cousins that were more like siblings.

"Wh…what can I do?" Nagato looked to his elders and younger cousins.

"We'll help Mariko collect bodies once she'd found scrolls." Tsunade said softly.

"I'm, going to find linens for the funeral rituals." Sukitama got out shakily.

Minashi waited for the last of her group to disburse before letting out the shaking breath she was holding.

Dropping to her meditative pose, she felt nature answer her quicker than ever, yet this time there was sentience within the chakra that did even compare to the Juubi or even the Dragon's eye.

Comecomecome seastarchild Uzushio whispered in her chakra. Minashi rose and let the winds guide her. Her eyes once more a mix of violet, blue, red, and gold. Her roots once more red, but not as all encompassing.

Following the pull Uzushio was directing, Minashi entered what seemed to be a blank wall at a deadend hallway in the main administrative building. With everything that was Uzumaki, her blood and chakra allowed her access to many seals that were designed to only open for Uzumaki blood.

The wall glowed with golden seals once more, yet released their hold and revealed a barely visible door. Once pushed open, a spiraling staircase was revealed. The wind blew in from behind her, encouraging her deeper into the unknown. Minashi followed the calling winds of Uzushio.

Deeper and deeper she went, light seals activating as she went until finally the stairs ended in a cool stone hall. She followed the hall until once more a deadend was there. However this time, there was a blood red seal on the entire wall.

Sharp multi-colored eyes took in the seal as understanding from something within her soul read what was before her. Tears filled her eyes as she realized what this meant.

Shakily, Minashi raised her still bloody hand -kurama keeping the wound open for her- and placed it on the center circle of the seal. A deep low thrum, like a bass string plucked, echoed around her and into the air. The wall then slowly dropped down into the ground.

Minashi didn't need to worry about lights in the small cavern before her.

No, shinning with golden light and bodies painted in seals was Uzumaki Miho and Michi. Miho's once Uzumaki red hair was completely white. Michi's hair was white at the temples even if both of their faces hadn't aged a bit since they had cast their jutsu.

Within the room also in positions of guard were seven other kneeling figures circling the two glowing figures feeding the seal that encompassed a large portion of the room. Their faces were either covered by ANBU masks or shadowed by hooded cloaks. She would identify them later, instead she needed to see the seal and what it was doing.

Very very carefully, Minashi walked the seal, reading what she could of it and realizing that this was a last resort. A protective barrier that would…

"Stop time." Minashi finished her thought aloud in pure awe as her eyes moved to the closed eyes of her great aunt Miho. "Miho-oba…how…how do i stop this seal without hurting everyone it's connected too?" Because down here, minashi realized that she may have lowered the protective dome that protected the central part of uzushio, but the aspects of the seal were in the groundwork and the very walls of the buildings.

'If…if I break this seal…those that are dead will be dead…but what if there are those that were only dying or unconscious when this was active?'

Clone, baka. Kurama barked softly, internally impressed as well, and praying Minashi didn't realize what this meant for their own original time.

Stepping out of the chamber, Minashi blasted clone after clone to not crowd the halls, but she'd need to send as many out as possible to help Tsunade and Mariko if…if there were more survivors than they thought…and when should she release the seal.

The expedition group sat around the fire for lunch only an hour after Minashi had returned to them with the news of what seal she found and what releasing it could mean.

Kudorama rubbed his jaw thoughtfully. "So, we have the last few survivors hidden down at the last resort seal underground and many more above ground that we do not know in total what their status is and currently all are stuck in a living statis seal."

"Yep." Minashi sighed deeply. "It seems the seal is running off of Miho-ba's life force and Michi-ji's is starting to take over." The blonde said not looking up from where she was twisting her fingers. She was desperately trying not to think about what this meant for the original timeline. How long had Michi-ji waited—-NO! She couldn't think about that right now. She would be consumed by guilt if she did. She needed to focus on the here and now.

"Mariko and I then need to do individual diagnostics on them." Tsunade said easily. "Instead of gathering them for a mass funeral, their status in the stasis will need to be checked without affecting the seal."

"We've already started moving bodies." Nagato added "Yet the stasis wasn't lifted. Could that mean that until the jutsu is broken we will not be affected and can move those that are?"

"Hai." Sukitama nodded.

"Then we have a readjusted plan." Nagisa stood up. "Let's get to it. Putting everyone in one place will also make it quicker to identify everyone and their health status. We will move on from then."

Nods went all around and they went to work for the rest of the day and following day, respectfully gathering the Uzumakis and lining them up on tarps, sheets, and other blankets Sukitama had been able to find.

On the third day of their stay on Uzushio Mariko and Tsunade took the long task of working with Kudorama, Nagato and Sukitama on diagnostics and identifying the bodies. Many of the older citizens Sukitama knew from her own memory. Mariko too was able to identity those that she knew. Nagato was handling the documentation and tagging the bodies according to the level of healing they would need or if it was too late.

The third and fourth day went by with this same sorting method. Minashi and Nagisa made sure to keep in contact with Sakumo, knowing that this changed things. Additional survivors may want to stay in Uzushio or may need to be returned to Konoha if they required further medical care.

While the medical and documentation was occurring, Nagisa, Minato, Kushina and Minashi were down underground picking the seal appart and trying to see how they could safety deactivate it and what it did entirely. Because for as long as the seal stayed active they couldn't do anything about the people above. This would take days to pick apart if not longer.

"Miho-ba-sama was one of the best." Kushina had chuckled looking at said frozen elder. "Every Kunoichi wanted to be just like her."

As the first week came to an end, Nagisa left her now Blonde Clone to the seal with her siblings. Instead she went in search of the Uzumaki archives. With some directing from Kudorama and Mariko, Nagisa found the village hidden vault and then the restricted archive entrance beneath. With a small cut of her finger and push of chakra, the seals reacted and released. Slipping in, Nagisa took a deep calming breath as she saw the hall of pristine scrolls, journals, books, and much more.

With a large cloud of smoke the hordes of Kage Bushins went to work, the boxes of gloves Minashi had packed coming into great use as the clones made sure to wear them in order not to damage the records. The uzumaki Archives vault was going to take the longest, not just because it was the largest, but because Minashi wanted to know so much more about her ancestors and her homeland. She wanted to see if they had recorded instances of similar interactions between the Uchiha, Senju, and Uzumaki like Aika's life.

If Kamera had reincarnated in the same times that Ashura and Indra did, then where was she during Hashirama and Madara's time? Someone like her would have stood out like hashirama and Madara did, like Aika did.

The group sat around their camp, everyone taking time to just breathe after days of sorting, cataloging, and moving bodies around. There were a great number of the bodies that were already too late to save, but now prepared properly for a mass funeral. In addition to those were the ones that were going to be too late to save if and when they were able to take down the seal. Tsunade and Mariko had to sadly make those decisions so they could focus on the most critical that still had fighting chances to live. Which sadly were very very few when compared to the actual numbers that Uzushio once had.

But it was better than none.

This also wasn't counting the status of the seven guards trapped in the epicenter of the seal with Miho and Michi. Due to the chakra surrounding them, Neither Tsunade or Mariko had been able to get proper readings on their health.

However in all of this there were still many that had ended up marked MIA when the citizenship paperwork had been pulled and people were still missing from the body count.

"Where could they be?" Minashi asked softly.

"All the bones outside of the barrier belong to the invaders." Minato reported grimly "Or at least what we've recovered so far. Our summons are still working on piling them up and sorting headbands."

"We're missing something." Nagato stated.

Kushina didn't speak. She'd been very quiet since the previous day when Mariko had reported the status of her own mother's body that had been diagnosed. Her and her unborn child weren't one of the lucky almost dozen that could be saved with careful teamwork. What was disheartening was that her father's body was still missing.

"It's possible that we're missing the ones that were lost while fighting on the water." Kudorama looked out to the distant eddies that were still raging even as they were in perfect weather upon the island still.

"Civilians." Kushina finally whispered. "Where, where are the civilians? I..I mean Uzu never had normal civilians, but there were those that chose not to fight after academy and instead were merchants that could defend themselves. Or some of the other traveling merchants from other islands that lived on the outskirts to save travel time to sell wares." The young woman rambled before Minato took her hand.

"We won't know until the nine below are recovered." The blonde answered gently. "If they awaken at all. What we have learned is that was a very very powerful last resort the Niidaime was made to use."

"It stopped time." Minashi rubbed her brow. "But that is not all it did. It literally sent out some sort of shockwave beforehand that repelled anyone not of Uzu blood from the central city. That's why skeletons were found scattered around rooftops the most around the central arches. I don't know if they were killed in the process or already dead or died on impact. But they were not allowed within the barrier that was then raised to protect this part of Uzu from time and the wear of weather and sun to the bodies."

"This is going to be a delicate process that will turn into a clusterfuck." Kudorama grunted. "We are limited in the number of people on this mission. We may still yet lose some of the possible survivors when we drop that seal."

"Have we attempted to heal them while in stasis?" Sukitama asked handing out the calming tea that had become normal for their group during their stay.

Tsunade nodded, releasing a heavy sigh. "It's one of the first things i tried to do." She shook her head. "The Stasis seal is blocking all outside interference, it's practically coated all these bodies in a thin layer of chakra. I can diagnose these patients and identify the dead, because they are so far away from the actual seal."

"Unlike the nine in the seal we can't even run diagnostics on."

"I think…the original dome might have had some sentience." Minashi whispered gaining all of their attention. "When…When i was at the center of it, i saw a water and wind form of Miho-ba-sama's torso. She showed me what i needed to do to lower the barrier enough to enter it. I haven't seen her since."

"That doesn't guarantee that she will still have lifeforce left." Minato gently broke for his imouto. "To power such a seal and keep it powered requires great sacrifice."

"I know." Minashi said grimly, her mindseye flashing back to all of the people of her first life. Everyone around that circle that would send her back in time. Tears filled her eyes at that reminder. She'd never told anyone what that seal's ultimate price was, whether it had worked or not. It was their last resort and she knew that everyone that had acted as an anchor point knew what they were getting into, willingly doing as such for a sliver of hope….but still. She quickly wiped away her tears and shoved those memories away. She couldn't think about that now. She'd made it. She'd already changed things for the better. Now…now she had a seal to unravel and pray that those under it's influence could be saved.

"How close are you three to being able to reverse the seal's affected?" Nagato diverted the topic to not necessarily lift the grimness of the tension in the air, but give them something else to focus on.

Kushina snorted rubbing her face in her hands, also hiding her teary eyes. "Miho-oba-sama was a genius."

Kudorama snorted despite himself. "Yes. It was a reason my grandfather liked her so much."

Sukitama let out her own giggles. "They were a well suited pair. It's a shame they both viewed marriage as something neither desired. Yet Understandable with their positions as Leaders in different land."

Tsunade suddenly let out a grunt as she frowned and leaned back to look at the clear stary evening. "I can't see it. Sure GrandUncle loved kids, but his tolerance for adults was low. Especially stupid adults and women that clung to him. He respected Grandmother because they were family, but i can't see him…having a lover. He didn't seem like the type."

Minashi watched as both Kudorama and Sukitama snorted in unison, smiles upon their faces.

"That silly Senju never realized it but he was in love with Miho." Sukitama smiled fondly. "Miho-sama adored him in return and was the only person i've ever seen make that big brain of Tobirama-sama's shut off with just a kiss."

Kudorama chuckled, red eyes mischievous. "I have memories of father communicating with Miho-ba when Tobirama-ji was being stupid and not taking care of himself again or being a right pain in the ass." He grinned. "He was so very stubborn, yet under Miho-ba's thumb he'd soften. It was the happiest i'd ever seen him when he was surrounded by father and grandmother or looked at me. It was a heady thing to be under such a gaze."

"I don't mean to interrupt, but Kushina-nee, that wasn't really an answer." Nagato cleared his throat sheepishly.

The Kunoichi shrugged. "Yes it was. Miho-oba-sama was a Grand Seal Master. It doesn't surprise me she could whip this sort of seal up or hold it for so long. We've only just began dissecting the seal."

"While we don't have a time limit, we all shouldn't be away from Konoha or Ame, for too long." Minato reminded her. "Naruto will miss us."

Kushina felt the pang in her chest. This was the longest she'd been away from her baby. She turned and pout-frowned at her husband. "Must you remind me? I was doing well trying not to worry about him. He's safe in Miko's care."

Minato smiled. "I miss him, but if helping and freeing these people gives him more family, gives you, minashi, Mariko, Karin, and the senju horde more family and cousins to love and cherish, then I'll work till i pass out to free them from this seal. They don't deserve to be stuck here anymore. Not now that we know they are here."

"Alright." Kushina nodded and straightened up. "We'll focus on not just dissecting it but bringing it down completely."

"Good." Tsunade cracked her knuckles. "Mariko and i will get everything ready for our eleven patients above. Without risking our chakra stores, i think we can each spare two to three Kage bushin for healing the most critical of the group."

"I can assist." Sukitama volunteered.

"As can I." Nagato joined.

"That leave us with the seven below. Nagisa will also help…" Kushina stated before pausing and looking around. "Hey…where is she?"

"Archives." Minashi answered. "She took some supplies with her, but she wanted to get into that. She said she'll assist if we need her, but we're working on a secondary personal mission."

"Is this about that War of Water Era you asked me about in the Senju records?"

"Hai," Minashi bowed. "We found Uzumaki sealed but Nara coded records in the Nara archives, a seal hidden notebook in the uchiha Head's own persona journal of the archives that was hidden by an Uzumaki, and while we didn't find anything in the senju records, we still borrowed Senju Shuji's personal journals and his marriage agreement to one Hatake Miwa along with a marriage betrothal agreement between Uzumaki Taro and Senju Shizuka."

"Sakumo said you were looking for something of that era, that you were trying to see if what Kurama-san said was true." Tsunade's sharp honey eyes narrowed on Minashi. "Yet, what exactly are you trying to prove?"

"I'll let you know when Nagisa finds the Uzumaki's records proving it and explaining why it was erased from history." Tsunade relented without even pushing, showing how much they were all too emotionally tired to fight.

"You better brat." She huffed instead and tossed back her cooled tea.

Another week flew by for the group. While there was still much to do in cleaning up, dismantling the stasis seal was taking up most of the time of the four sealing experts' time. Nagisa only aiding every other day as she'd then spend time with clone after clone continuing to go through all the uzumaki archives and even moving into their most recent decades of files in the Administration Tower. While they were busy, the others had taken over collecting the skeletons with the summons, and even fishing them out of the reefs. At the end of the week the nine Uzumakis by blood or marriage stood together as they watched the pit of bones burned and burned until there was nothing but ash. Personal affects had been saved and stored, identified and separated by country with their headbands. However it didn't mean they were going to be returning such things until tensions with the other nations had further settled down. No need to let on that there was a way to get onto Uzu….at least not yet. Not without the Hokage's view on everything.

But it had been Minashi's idea to save the items and headbands and return them to their homes. Yes, they were bastards for invading, but sometimes, shinobi were just following orders and their families are left behind with nothing to remember their family by.

As the third week rolled around and the Seal Experts still couldn't figure out just how to undo everything.

"AHHH! Screw it!" Minashi shouted, getting reprimanding looks from her Aniki and Nee-san.

"Minashi." Kushina frowned. "I know it's frustrating but-"

"No, We could be stuck here for months trying to figure this out. We already know we can't save everyone. I trust Tsunade and Mariko-oba to do their best to save who they can. I can't be down here any longer and watch these people suffer waiting to be released!" Biting her thumb she slammed it on the ground away from the seal. A red standard fox appeared.

"Minashi-sama?"

"Tell Tsunade and Mariko to be prepared. I'm tearing this seal apart by force with mine and kurama's chakra."

The fox's eyes widened before bolting.

"Minashi!" Minato stood, but Minashi was already moved to where she could see Miho just around Michi's shoulders.

"Step back Aniki, nee-san….actually, you two might want to step out of the room. Kurama's chakra is heavy."

The husband and wife shared looks before putting their faith in their imouto and stepping back. Kushina throwing up a protective barrier so the Kyuubi's chakra wouldn't harm them….well, harm Minato. Uzumakis weren't as affected by Bijuu chakra. Thus why they made perfect hosts.

Minashi sat in lotus as she called on not only Nature, but Kurama who was also sitting lotus outside of his cave. What she didn't expect was for that odd feeling to return but it felt older than Aika's presence did…yet….yet it was still herself.

Galaxy eyes of violet, blue, red, and gold snapped open as Minashi's hair quickly went from Gold to red almost down to the tips of her hair. Her body lit up gold with her mixed kyuubi-sage mode. With a snarl she rose to her knees and then slammed her hands down on the outer edge of the sealing circle. She hissed when she felt the countering chakra trying to repel her out, but pushing forward she pushed her chakra into the seal with Kurama's Yin Heavy Chakra. Yin was darkness, but it was also the opposite of Yang. Yang could give and create in abundance. She made her Yin take and destroy the purpose of the time stop seal.

The bright golden light of the seal started to darken to a burn gold where Minashi's hands were connected. Line by line of the seal, hers and Kurama's chakra over took the seal. Burning swirling eyes looked into her Oba-sama's face and prayed to Kami that this would work.

Like gripping a sheet, she forcefully tore the seal apart all at once. Each piece of the seal matrixes, functions, and elements, simultaneously torn apart.

A bright flash exploded in the room and minashi snapped her eyes shut just before the flash, sensing the pending chakra explosion.

Minashi herself was blown back, slamming into the wall. Kyuubi and Sage mode dropped, Minashi groaned as she lifted herself from the ground and looked back to the circle. There nine people still kneeled. However, one by one the glow from their bodies faded and they fell to the sides. Even Michi fell to the side. However Minashi watched as Miho Uzumaki's eyes opened. Instead of the Ruby eyes she was expecting, Golden eyes instead opened smoothly. She kneeled there, like a princess frozen in time. Minashi scrambled up to her own knees and practically crawled to her oba-sama. Golden eyes watched her impassively.

"Miho-sama?" She whispered as the elder's head had followed her progress.

So very slowly and shakily Miho's hand rose and cupped Minashi's face. Those golden eyes gazed deep into Minashi and she felt exposed as water like chakra sunk into her body. Minashi shivered at the scan but didn't move.

"Sea Star. Child of Miku's line." Miho's whispery voice filled the young uzumaki's head. "Protector of the Next generation." Minashi's eyes widened. "You make your ancestors proud with all you have accomplished." Tears fell from Minashi's eyes, a thumb of Miho's wiping one away. "No longer think of what ifs. Michi, Uzu, and I felt you turn back time child. Stay true to your beliefs. Protect our people. This is your destiny. This is your duty as the true Heir of the Uzumaki and Uzushio."

Minashi was stunned, but even more stunned when from out of nowhere a headpiece she'd only seen in her dreams was suddenly being placed on her head. Miho then leaned forward and kissed the teardrop ruby in the center of her forehead.

"May the swirling eddies guide you gently and true. May the winds forever be in your favor and may the sand of Uzushio catch you when you fall."

Rivers of tears fell down Minashi's cheeks as for the first time in her life she heard the full blessing. Miho pulled back and there a soft gentle smile was upon her face, and Minashi saw so much of herself in her great aunt. She saw a burdened leader, yet one that would make the sacrifices needed to save who she could. One that would go against time for a chance.

Miho had not completely lost her golden sheen, thus when her form began to turn to sand, Minashi wasn't surprised. Instead Miho's spirit kneeled there for another heartbeat, turned to watch Kushina and Minato finally recover from the explosion that had knocked them back and destroyed Kushina's barrier.

Kushina stood there, eyes teary. Minato's own were wide and shocked.

Miho smiled at them approvingly, Bowed her head in a grateful nod, and gazed one last time with intangible ruby eyes upon Minashi. Another final peaceful smile and Miho's spirit rose into the sky.

Minashi sat there kneeling for a moment before Kushina and Minato rushed for her, checking her over and wrapping up her wounded head. Minashi didn't care. Instead she once more called upon her sage mode. Holding her hands over miho's golden sand ashes, she very carefully collected them with futon chakra until the golden ashes were condensed into a whirling ball. Practically a rasengan, but without the full power of one.

"I…Need something pretty to put her in." Minashi whispered. Minato disappeared in a flash and moments later returned with a beautiful piece of pottery that thankfully also had a lid. It wasn't an urn like some used in Konoha, but this was Uzu. They didn't store their dead that way.

Calling up a clone, it took the pot and moved away.

"We…we, need to check, check how they are." MInashi swallowed and didn't reject the hug minato and Kushina gave her before agreeing and started taking cloaks and masks off. Minashi personally checked on Michi. Her heart rate picked up and the pain in her chest eased when she felt a steady beat under her fingers.

"Kushina! Minashi!" Minato called urgently after he de-masked the first ANBU. The redhead and once more blonde moved to the Namikaze's side and were shocked when the figure was lifted into minato's arm. There revealed was a young woman that maybe was a few years younger than Minato and Kushina. Yet it was her Silver hair and very very familiar face that made the trio share looks.

"Sensei is going to be shocked." Kushina finally said simply, mind and emotions having already been through blenders for two weeks. Another shock was nothing.

Minashi scrambled to her feet and went to the next ANBU as Minato and Kushina moved to remove the hoods and masks. Another Hatake was under a mask, and two men that looked identical were under the other two.

"Daddy!" Kushina's shout shook Minato and Minashi from their own discoveries or two additional female Uzumakis.

Minato jumped to Kushina's side as she sobbed over her father's unconscious form. Minato was quick to run the only medical jutsu he knew. A diagnostics check.

"He's alive." he looked around as he could feel it too in their steady chakras. "They all are." He turned back to Kushina. "Kushi, Kushina!" he barked when she didn't answer the first time. Watery but relieved Violet eyes met his and he softened. "Kage Bushin. We need to get them to Tsunade and Mariko."

Kushina rapidly nodded her head and the two Made clones as Minashi made a few extra as she needed two to carry the taller adults. Minashi spotting the smirk Minato and Kushina were both sending her as she attempted to carry one of the twins with a clone helping.

"Don't. Say. A. Word." She grit out. Her siblings snickered but followed their clones up and out. Minato wouldn't risk a hirashin with the low levels of the patients.

They arrived to Four Tsunades, and Seven Marikos. Each were working on a patient that had been laid out in the small section for those that could be saved. Laying their own passengers down on the limited clear space, Minashi looked out to see Kudorama and her Nagisa blood clone walked around those that were marked too far gone.

Despite the seal having being destroyed, none of the uzumakis were awake.

"They are unconscious." Nagato reported to the silent inquiry of the trio from the epicenter. "Tsunade suspects that the snapback of the broken seal knocked any who would have been conscious, unconscious. Which in all things is good."

"What are they doing?" Kushina whispered looking at Kudorama and Nagisa.

"Making sure their final moments are painless." Sukitama answered grimly, joining them with a tired look. "Nagisa already said that the backlash has already done that to the ones that were already on death's door. The ones that were further from that line…are getting sedation seals to keep them from waking so they could go painlessly."

The trio nodded understanding. It was something that was already discussed after Tsunade and Mariko's diagnoses. Some… just couldn't be saved due to the severity of their prior wounds. This was a mercy.

A startled noise left Sukitama when she finally looked at the eight survivors from the epicenter.

"Kaiya?" She called and rushed to the side of the younger uzumaki woman. "Kami…she hasn't aged a day…that seal…" trembling hands hovered over her practical niece's body wanting to hold her. Then indigo eyes really looked at who had been saved and widened even further. "Shouta-sama, Namika-sama, Michi-sama…Ren, Riku…" She choked as she kneeled at the heads of the two Hatakes. "Mashai-kun, Mako-chan, oh!" She finally felt more tears fall at the sight of her sister's babies. Granted they weren't babies looking the same twentyish years of age the last time she saw them in konoha. "Oh,...KUDO!" She shouted. The White haired half Uzumaki stood up at his mother's frantic call and shunshined over. His own red eyes widened at the sight of his cousins.

Kudorama fell to a knee, fingers automatically going to their necks, despite Minato's gentle words.

"They're alive."

Kudorama bit his lip to hold back the relieved noises that wanted to leave. He'd been ignoring the pain when he'd found Satoshi-oji's and Ruriko-oba's bodies among those that were already dead. But…to know their children lived, his practical siblings living? It had hurt him just as much as it had once hurt Sakumo-!

"Sakumo!" His head snapped up to Minashi. "Sakumo-" The blonde's face was a complicated smile of sadness, relief, and hope.

"We're taking them to Konoha." She spoke what everyone desired.

Kudorama's face turned determined. "Hai." petting heads of silver he stood up and looked around. "Everything of importance or important sentimentality to those we are taking with us."

Minashi and Kushina shared looks. Moments later after a large part of their tracking summons were called, they were leading Kushina and Minashi clones to the homes of those that were alive but unconscious along with those that were being healed enough for transport.

Nagisa moved to Minashi's side as everyone else had left with groups of foxes to start sealing things away in labeled storage scrolls.

The sun had long since set as the group still worked. Sukitama was making sure Tsunade and Mariko were fed and hydrated as they finished up on the worst of the wounds and bandaged everything else up for transport. They would be taking the long way home instead of teleportation.

It was sunrise when their energy waned and the patients were no long critical and needed constant watch. Their natural healing was kicking in, allowing Tsunade and Mariko to finally sleep. As the healers and others slept the morning away, Minashi and Nagisa's clones went to work on gathering the prepared dead in their ritual clothes, or cloth that was close enough to such, on wooden longboat prys. The blessings were already carved into the wood with their chakra and draped with herbs and flowers from across uzushio according to the rites and rituals.

When the group woke for lunch, the found the work that Nagisa and Minashi's clones had done. Hugs from those born on Uzushio were given to the two Uzumakis as their group too, changed into the formal clothes traditionally worn for such occasions. Down at the docks as the sun just began to set, their group lined up with the two dozens of long boats ready to go out.

Sukitama stepped out first, head bowed as she spoke blessings and final farewells to their people. Untying the fleet of boats, the group waited until they were out of the shallows before beginning the next step.

Minashi stepped forward with Minato, both in Sage mode. Together they each created Rasengans but shaped them for explosion later. A pull back with their arms and they threw the two futon powered balls high into the air and above the fleet. At peak height, Kushina, Mariko, Tsunade and Fudorama raised the bows and arrows they had collected for today. Arrows that had been carved by Nagisa and Nagato with Katon power seals that would react to the rasengan specifically for today.

Arrows launched, they collided with the wind jutsu and exploded into a shower of flaming arrows onto the fleet.

The wood, fabric, and herbs caught first. The ships were sealed to stay sailing until the bodies had burned to ash by enhancing the fire to burn hotter.

As the flaming boats settled down half an hour later with no more fuel from the bodies, bodies turned to ash, Nagisa and Nagato stepped out onto the water.

Together they pulled at their chakra, sent it into the water, and created a gentle current to push the boats out to the eddies.

"May the Eddies guide you gently and truly so your souls may rest with those of our ancestors." Sukitama finished the last line of the farewells just as the fleet hit the stronger currents.

However, instead of being destroyed by the raging eddies, they Calmed and slipped into the swirling water. All the eddies calmed to their former state, gently accepting her deceased Sea Stars into her waters to become the sands.

It wasn't ten minutes later when the calm eddies returned to their deadly states. Every conscious Uzumaki there knew then, that Uzushio did not forgive easily and she would be keeping her grudge strong. None but her Sea Stars were welcome to pass through her waters.

Returning to their camp where they had also moved all their patients, the Expedition group/family, finally slept once final time on Uzushio's land.

Everything that they wanted or needed to take had already been packed and sealed away.

Uzushio's Sealing Hall and their entire collection of fuuin theory books, jutsus, research, ect.; had all been sealed into tightly locked massive scrolls. Same for all the documents of the administration building and the archives. Lastly, any Clan treasures were packed away with traditional clothing, weapons, and other Uzu specialties. They would not risk someone getting on Uzu to pillage it. Plus, it would delay a return trip until the survivors were healthy and healed enough physically and mentally to return.

Thus at sunrise the following day, Nagisa summoned her own personal messenger fox miu. She was tiny and bright white, but she was albino and Haku's own kit. She'd raised Miu with Naruto and couldn't be prouder of the little vixen. She'd been working so hard for them the last two and a half weeks.

"Pass along to Sakumo that we are on our way home. We've done what we came out here to do. While there is much we could still do, there was something I've left out of the reports requiring our return. Please let him know we will not be returning via teleportations, but the long way, so expect us in a week, ten days maximum."

Miu barked and shook her body out prepared for the hiraishin trip Nagisa would be sending her on as far out as she could risk sending the summons. In a pop of smoke the summons was gone.

Nagisa felt her Blood Clone slip up to her side, even if they felt everyone else finally waking and preparing a light breakfast before departure.

"Ren and Riku." Minashi whispered.

Nagisa hummed. "If they ask, we will have to tell them. Hopefully they will allow us to become a 'baby sister' and 'niece' to them. I will not lie to them after what they sacrificed. They are also supposed to be our immediate family."

"If Minato ever finds out…he'll be so angry with us." Minashi whispered and Nagisa ruffled her hair.

"Only for a little bit. Then he'll realize that these people we've called family, are what they are to us. It doesn't matter the distance of our blood. He is our brother, Kushina is our sister, Mariko is our aunt. Sakumo is our adoptive father." Nagisa smiled. "We are all connected to our bonds."

Minashi snorted wryly up at her clone. "You went old and Sagely there boss."

Nagisa punched the head of her clone, getting a satisfying 'Itai!' from the teen. Nagisa was just glad that with everything going on, she'd been able to seamlessly switch with her blood clone when needed, preventing backlashes or fainting spells.

"Oiii!" The two Uzumakis turned at the call and found Minato waving at them. "Time to go!"

The duo jogged back to the prior campsite and with a flex of chakra the area was filled with clones. Kushina, Minashi, and Nagisa's being the most. Minato, Tsunade and Mariko each made one. Kudorama and Nagato were forward and rear guard while Sukitama was 'techincally' a civilian and didn't have the formal training to create Kagebushin thus she took a spot at one of the many stretchers that had been made in preparation for hauling their Nineteen extras.

Taking off across the shallows, they reached the eddies at jounin speeds and just as when they entered the raging eddies parted one more, this time without the blood needed. Uzushio knew their chakra and let them pass. Once through the misty air, they were out in the open ocean once more.

Like their trip out, the group stopped at the beach, this time Tsunade and Mariko were busy checking over their paitents, changing out damp bandages from the ocean spray for fresh supplies. Nagisa checked the vitals over the eight Epicenter Uzumakis and found that while their levels had slowly risen from the empty pools they were before hand, they were still very low.

A night of rest and they continued once more. Day after day, they repeated the same thing. Traveling at a steady constant jounin lope, and stopping at night to monitor the survivors. The week passed as they also discussed how they were going to keep this secret for as long as possible. Because once it got out that more Uzumakis had been found, it wouldn't take long for the spies to move and spread word.

Kudorama had already agreed with Minato and Nagisa that this would have to be choked at the gates.

"We can always place a seal on the wall barriers." Nagisa shrugged. "It wouldn't be the first time i messed with them. I'm still trying to update what Mito-sama did initially."

"That would be difficult." Minato frowned. "Especially if we don't want to completely accidentlly erase anyone's mind about Uzumakis."

"Well, I don't like it but it could alway be similar to what Danzo did to his root." Nagisa grimaced. "Physically keep anyone from speaking out Uzumakis outside of Konoha walls. As soon as you leave Konoha's walls the barrier activates on anyone passing through it. They litterally wouldn't be able to talk about it. If we tweak the seal enough it could be more towards a genjutsu instead of a Willcontroller."

"Like a trigger." Kudorama hummed.

"Crude, but it could work." Minato frowned. "We'd have to bring some Uchiha in to help develop such a mixed seal so that the trigger could be specific. The Sharingan is good with such details."

"Kushina and I would have to slip it in then when we update the Village Barriers then." Nagisa nodded. "We'll get working on that once we get everyone settled back in village."

"We'll have to sneak them into the village."

Nagisa waved her cousin off. "Easy. What isn't easy is them being slipped into the hospital-"

Kudorama snorted. "Restricted section used for ANBU only. Normal personel aren't allowed back. ANBU medical staff is sworn to secrecy and any betrayal or leaks are dealt with harshly."

"Then we have a start of a plan." Minato looked to his wife to see her once again at her father's side, brushing out his hair and braiding it out of the way. Kushina and Mariko had been doing such for all the long haired Uzumakis in the survivors.

"I'll let Sakumo know once we are closer." Nagisa stood to take first guard shift. For one of their last days traveling. They were still two days out, having to take an extra day break when Minashi, Kushina, and Nagisa needed to recover from all the clones. It gave Tsunade and Mariko time to try to hydrate their patients with minimal medical supplies they had left. They were running short on Saline bags and had already run out of good blood bags.

Thus the final days were pushed harder with no sign of the paitents waking, even if their chakra levels were recovering more and more with each day.

Finally the walls of Konoha came into view and their group had to stop. Kushina had taken double duty with Sukitama to hold up a moving privacy seal that hid their movements.

Nodding at the clones and her family, Nagisa was the one that then disappeared just as the sun was setting on the horizon, and appeared where she felt Sakumo still in office.

Sakumo actually startled, even his ANBU jumped out, before halting at the worn down sight of the personal advisor to the Hokage. The redhead was in clothes that weren't Konoha or Fire Nation origin.

Nagisa had fallen in love with Uzushio's style and might have nicked many outfits from one of the boutiques. She knew she wasn't the only one as Minashi, Mariko, Kushina, Sukitama, and even Tsunade had nabbed some. Nagato declined, not wanting the suspicions to be upon him in Ame and not having good answers. Kudorama had snagged a few for himself and even his own wife and son. Kushina had then shoved some in Minato's arms for himself and many for Naruto. Okay, they all practically wiped out a store in one of their more depressive days. Thinking about how adorable their children would look in them had eased the hardship of being surrounded by death.

Sakumo was on his feet at the broken look in Nagisa's eyes. She looked so hurt, just what-

"Hokage-sama-" She tried to speak before he could finish opening his own mouth to ask why they had to take the long way home. He saw her struggling to speak further and knew it must have been worse than reported.

It had become pretty obvious to the public that the Uzumakis had left on an extended family vacation and the gossip had been all about where they had gone. Many had guessed Uzushio, but that was shot down by veterans who'd been there to see that Whirlpool waters were impassable. Some still guessed the beach, but many would wonder now, where they really went, if the others looked anything like Nagisa's currently did.

"What do you need?" He asked moving to pull her in a hug, fuck procedures.

Nagisa shook as the feeling of konoha, their scents, Sakumo's scent filled her nose, her senses, and her body relaxed in a different way then when she'd first stepped on Uzushio. Konoha was her home. Uzushio may have been her home in a past life, Uzu may be in her blood and soul, but in her heart Konoha was home.

Nagisa couldn't stop as she let out an uncontrolled sob, clutching at Sakumo's shirt as she curled into the man that had been there for her since the begining. He was practically her father and she knew what she had to report would wound him yet bring him such joy.

"We…we need an escort. ANBU Captains only. Some need to go to the hospital and empty out a floor of the restricted section." Nagisa slowly regained her composure and wiped away her tears. Sakumo a sheet a marble the longer she spoke. Wide coal eyes were on her as she continued. "No one can know Sakumo. Outside ANBU that will be on guard, your advisors, and the Clan Heads. We'll need their cooperation to keep this quiet."

Sakumo nodded and flashed signs to his personal guard would be part of the escort while their captain did as ordered to get other Captains and the hospital prepared.

"Sakumo." Nagisa pulled his attention back to her cerulean gaze filled with sympathy and a spark. A spark that he didn't understand. "You…You need to come help personally. You won't believe me otherwise."

The Hokage swallowed the lump in his throat. He…He put the puzzle together now.

Survivors. Kami somehow there were survivors!

Sakumo nodded and moved to his doors, yanking them open and starting Asuka. The Yamanaka stared at the serious looking hokage wide-eyed.

"Call an Emergancy Council meeting in two hours, Heads and my adviors only. They will report to the hospital descretely to the Restricted section and wait for me there."

"Hai!" She squeaked and watched as the Hokage then leapt out the window with Nagisa-sama leading and most of the Hokage's guard following. Jerking, the Yamanaka jumped up and went to send word of the emergancy meeting.