Trading Leaves for Whirlpools

By Bashfulglowfly

They began with the oldest members of the Uchiha Clan.

The oldest members of the Uchiha decided that they wanted to visit an onsen in Yugakure.

Fugaku went to the Hokage asking for one jonin and five chuunin for an A-ranked mission to escort the twelve oldest members of the Clan to the onsen. The Hokage agreed but made it a B-ranked mission and assigned a jonin-sensei with genin and three chuunin. Fugaku was heard saying to the Hokage "If the Elders emotionally destroy those genin, I'm not paying any damages."

The only Uchiha Desk Shinobi made sure that the chuunin and the sensei with genin assigned to the trip were all Uchiha. Since the Elders planned to stay at the onsen for a month, the group of nineteen wouldn't be expected back for some time.

Next, leaving ever so quietly, were those with young families. Babies and toddlers were carefully placed under a genjutsu so that they wouldn't cry or fuss at an inopportune moment. The children between the ages of three and five were told that they had to be incredibly quiet and that it was practice for when they would become shinobi. All of the children were securely strapped to their parents' backs or fronts, depending on the age of the child.

It was more difficult with the Academy aged children. It was Mikoto who had the idea to send a message to the Academy Headmaster that one of the children had gotten sick and had generously shared it with the other Uchiha students during a Clan training session. Since the Headmaster knew that two of the civilian Academy students in that particular child's class were out sick, he assumed that the child had gotten the illness from them and didn't question why they weren't coming to school. These children went with their parents, if their parents hadn't already left with young siblings, or with an aunt or uncle and their children.

The kunoichi assigned to guard the Wall nearest the Uchiha District never realized that her Uchiha lover not only used genjutsu on her but had also used his sharingan. She never even remembered that she had taken an Uchiha to her bed.

Then the only ones left in the Uchiha District were the genin that had not been sent on the onsen trip, the members of the Military Police as well as Fugaku, Mikoto and their two sons. Joining them was a young chuunin with a scar across his nose.

"Will your Seals hold until daybreak?" asked Mikoto.

"Yes, Mikoto-sama," said Iruka Umino with a firm nod. "I've placed them every few meters around the District walls. Since they're facing into the District it will keep anyone from noticing the fires until daybreak."

Fugaku nodded. So far, as far as he could ascertain, the Hokage and his advisors had no idea that most of the Uchiha had left Konoha. They had sent each group in various directions in the hopes that anyone sent to track them would follow them and then lose track of the Uchiha in those countries without discovering their final destination.

But the Uchiha with him now were the ones that could not easily get away and he knew that their disappearance would be noticed by 0800 hours. 1000 hours if they were lucky. He and Mikoto carried the scrolls that contained the artifacts of the Shrine of Amaterasu. If Blessed Amaterasu approved, then, with Her Hand protecting them, the Uchiha Clan would arrive at their new home safely and Her Shrine would be rebuilt.

Fugaku looked at his remaining Clan members "Go." The group began sprinting to the Wall. Fugaku waited for a few moments then looked at Iruka. "Now." He said quietly.

Iruka quickly made several gestures then placed his hand on the ground. Iruka could feel the Seals activate. Faint glows could be seen in all of the buildings.

Fugaku gave Iruka a small but pleased nod and the pair began to run after the rest of their group.

888888

Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage of Konoha, was listening to the complaints advice of his former teammates when a chuunin burst through his office door "Hokage-sama! The Uchiha district is burning!"

"What?!" Koharu Utatane rounded on the hapless messenger "What do you mean the Uchiha district burning?!"

The chuunin pointed out the window "Look!"

The three elderly people gathered together and looked out the window. From that viewpoint, they could see that the entire Uchiha district was covered in flames and black smoke.

The Hokage spun around to the chuunin "How many have escaped?" he demanded.

The chuunin shook his head "I don't know, sir. No one can get through the gates!"

Koharu cursed the boy for a fool and charged out of the office with Homura close behind.

Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed deeply and followed. His steps slow. First the death of Danzo then the loss of Konoha's jinchuuriki and now the potential loss of the Uchiha Clan.

He needed to retire but the ones who should take the Hat were doing everything they could to avoid doing so and the ones who did want it would cause bigger problems than he was dealing with now.

By the time The Hokage got to the Uchiha District, the Fire Department had gotten through the gates and with the help of jonin and chuunin who were suiton users, they were able to put out the flames.

Then they began the grim task of looking for bodies as no Uchiha presented themselves as escaping the inferno.

None were found.

"How is it possible that you didn't find a single body?" demanded Homura.

The Chief of the Fire Department bowed respectfully "Mitokado-sama, the fire burned so hot, it actually melted rock and steel." The man held out two examples in his hand.

"Can you tell who set the fire?"

"I can't even tell you how the fire was set. Everything is gone. Ash. All of it."

"Thank you." The Hokage waved the man away.

"What shall we do now? No jinchuuriki, no Uchiha? Other villages will think that Konoha is weak and vulnerable!" said Koharu.

"Then Konoha shall prove them wrong." Replied the Hokage.

It was more than a week before anyone realized that Iruka Umino was missing.

888888

After three weeks of traveling cautiously and carefully. Making sure that they were not being followed, the entire Uchiha Clan, along with Iruka, came back together in Yu no Kuni and made their way to the sea. In an isolated cove, they boarded boats to their final destination.

Fugaku and Mikoto were the first to step foot on the docks that led to their new home and bowed to their new Kage.

Kaho Uzumaki, the Uzukage of Uzushio, smiled.

"Welcome home!"