Uzumaki Survival 006

“Thank you, Lord Uzumaki.” A lady in frayed clothes bowed to Oden. “Say thank you.” She then forced her two children to also bow. 

“Thank you…” The kids awkwardly bowed, and then shyly hid behind their mother. 

Oden warmly smiled, and shooed her off with his hand. “I am part of this village now, in times like these, we all need to stand together.” 

The lady bowed one more time, and then turned to leave. 

Oden let go of his professional customer service smile, and rubbed his forehead, collapsing tiredly into a chair. “Is that the last of them?” 

“For now.” Suzuki said from behind, and began to massage his shoulders. “What you've done for the people is very kind.” 

“Mnn, lower, lower, there.” Oden closed his eyes, and shifted his body until Suzuki’s thumbs were at the right spot. “Hey, I couldn't be left behind by Nozomi, that kid was stealing all the spotlight!” 

Blindly gesturing towards the broken streets of Yukigakure, the tiny girl was surrounded by crowds of people asking to have their aches & pains taken care of. Daiyo Fuyukuma, the large bear guy who was adept in the Transformation jutsu, stood protectively nearby, looming over her, dissuading anyone from snatching the lithe girl. 

“Still, to place hundreds of Heat seals on their clothes-for free no less-that is a noble thing to do.” Suzuki said with pride, and admiration. “I only know a handful of seals myself, the fact that you know something so innocuous is praiseworthy.” 

“Heh. It only takes a few handsigns, and knowledge of the Uzumaki script. You could learn it in a day if you tried.” Oden downplayed his actions. 

“Such an ink-brain, just take the compliment!” 

“Ah, ah, not so hard!” Oden shifted to the side, and leaned back, cushioning his head with her heavenly pillows. 

“Sorry.” The girl muttered in apology. 

Oden leaned his head back, and stared into her red eyes, and embarrassed face. It was hard to believe this was the same girl who had so viciously clobbered Saiu, and grinned. 

“Cute.” 

Rolling her eyes, Suzuki didn't look away, and gently embraced him. They silently held one another, and supported each other. Admiring her beauty, Oden also felt her warmth, and strength. Her capability for violence would probably scare any other guy away, but in a F'd up deathworld like this, she was a steady wall of support. 

“So. When do you plan on bringing the rest of the clan into the village?” Suzuki changed the topic, and looked out towards the broken buildings. 

Several large men & women with polar bear limbs altered via the Transformation jutsu-people from the Fuyukuma clan-were lifting heavy blocks of ice into place, rebuilding the giant igloos that were so common in the city. Some civilian children had already recovered from the fear from earlier, and were running around playing tag. The sight filled Oden with mixed feelings. If he had transmigrated three years earlier, he could've saved Uzushio, and it probably wouldn't look much worse than Yukigakure. 

He then performed a few handseals, and a few Listening seals that were placed around them flared. Oden happily grinned at the marvelous jutsu. It allowed one to listen to faraway conversations, or mute sound in a localized area, allowing for some privacy. Odds were those Roga clan wolf people had sharp hearing, one could never be too careful around ninjas. 

“I'm thinking we'll keep using the cavern as our base of operations for the foreseeable future, it's quite well hidden, and there are several barrier fuinjutsu set up inside. Trust between groups is something that will gradually form, but until we reach an agreement with Yukigakure's leaders, I won’t allow more than a handful of our people inside the city at any one time.” Oden cautiously intoned. 

“Isn't that the truth.” Suzuki stopped her massage to glare at Saiu in the distance. 

The pink haired teen glared back, then turned away in submission once Suzuki flared her monstrous chakra. Oden smirked, wanting to say something about their ‘rivalry’ but seeing the dangerous glint in Suzuki’s eye, decided it wasn't worth it, and held his tongue. 

“Ahem, from the looks of it, the clan leaders who run this city won't be back for days, possibly weeks. From what I learned, the yokai are really doing a number on the nation. The time it took for our teleportation through the whirlpool space-time fuinjutsu wasn't instant, and a day has passed since Uzu's destruction. From my understanding, most of Yukigakure's ninjas are out on missions, quelling the unrest, giving us a small grace period to make an impact on the city, and clans. 

In the meantime, we should make ourselves useful to the villagers, and help reinforce the idea of a fourth ‘Great Clan’ emerging in their time of need.” Oden idly remarked, playing with a kunai in his hands. 

“So you're serious then, you truly want us to become the fourth ‘Great Clan’ of this wasteland?” Suzuki resumed her magic fingers, and asked.

Oden sighed in pleasure as a knot was worked out of his back, and slowly nodded. Privately, he wanted to eventually become the Yukikage, or at least feel out the situation, and find another place to flee to. But for now, establishing themselves as a decision maker in this minor village from a loser country like Snow wasn't such a terrible setup. 

“It's our best bet for now. The Uzumaki are accustomed to determining our own destiny. Running to Konoha would place us back at the bottom, where we'd have to compete with even minor clans like the Sarutobi or Shimura. If there were more Senju than a handful, I would feel secure running there, but the fact that so many Hidden Villages attacked us together, and we didn't receive so much as a warning from the Leaf is suspect.” 

“...if they really are traitors, I'll beat them into a pulp.” Suzuki growled. 

“I hope not, but it pays to be cautious. Within the next five years, I anticipate that I'll have mastered my Adamantine Chains. When that occurs, we'll be able to do as we please.” Oden smirked, imagining a scenario where he applied elemental jutsu to the chains, like how Naruto did to the Rasengan. “But until we reach such strength, no, until we surpass the ancestors, we'll need to keep a low profile.” 

Oden spoke softly, and had already begun to make several plots for the future. Researching Sage Mode or at least something similar to Orochimaru's Cursed Seal of Heaven would go a long way in multiplying his power level. If he could get his hands on the Shadow Clone jutsu, his research rate would skyrocket. 

He also planned on learning the Rasengan, and teaching it to every Uzumaki. Although he thought it was overused in Naruto Shippuden, he would be an idiot not to learn it, when Jiraiya showcased such an easy training guide. The Adamantine Chains were superb at restraint, but somewhat lacking in raw offensive attributes. Meanwhile, the Rasengan could tear enemies apart like it was a chainsaw, and would help make up for his extremely average taijutsu skills. 

“I like that look on your face. You're cute when you're scheming, ink-stain. I'm no good at this kind of stuff, just point me at whatever you want crushed.” Suzuki wiped his forehead clean of any sweat or grime from behind with a warm, wet towel, and ‘joke’ threatened his enemies. 

“Oh, trust me, we'll be getting some more action soon.” Oden nodded, staring at the ice wall that was almost completely fixed. “The more yokai we can collect before the clan leaders return, the more bargaining power we'll hold.” 

“It reminds me of the Noh Masks we used to make as children for festivals. Didn't the ancestors trap monsters within them?” Suzuki quizzically asked. 

Oden's eyes snapped wide open, and he stared at her in shock. “Suzuki, you're a beautiful genius!” 

“Go on, keep sweet talking me.” Suzuki leaned over at the praise, and stole a shy kiss. 

Oden shook his head, and laughed. The Uzumaki had sealed a Shinigami-or at least its summoning seals-inside a Noh Mask! Outside of Konoha, there was a shrine full of masks with spirits that the Uzumaki had sealed. Orochimaru used one of these masks, and with its power, resurrected the Leaf Hokage of the past! This was a real plot point in the story during the War Arc against Madara! 

From his memories, Oden recalled that Uzumaki children would craft Noh Masks for festivals, to celebrate their past. Before the Tailed Beasts were sealed into people, they, and other spirits of old were placed within objects. It just so happened that the Uzumaki Noh Masks were the next best vessel compared to a person. When worn, these masks allowed a person to draw upon the chakra, special abilities, and strength of the sealed creature. 

In other words, Oden theorized he could transfer the sealed Yukinyudo from their scrolls, and into one of these Noh Masks. Of course, once inside the mask, the giant yokai wouldn't be able to fight on the battlefield. However, a portion of their strength would go to the wielder, and they would-like Kurama inside Naruto-act as free chakra batteries! Furthermore, the boss monster's Genjutsu, that eye technique, could be cast from the mask without handsigns. 

This was an incredibly busted revelation. Fighting alongside contracted beasts was iffy, especially when they were basically slaves, and not fighting because they were loyal or friends, like the toads were for Jiraiya. But anyone could wear a Noh Mask, and instantly receive a buff. 

Currently, the Uzumaki brats he had saved were mostly academy students, or Genin. Slap a mask on them, and now they're Chunin tier. Or, if he wanted to cultivate a force of loyal local shinobi, he could give them a taste of power. 

The reminder, and revelation of the Uzumaki masks was such a pivotal discovery, that it fundamentally changed his calculus moving forward. This was almost as good as Nature Chakra, or possibly better. 

Anyone could use the powers of the mask, and it was already a mature technology researched by the Uzumaki. Oden was willing to bet his last kunai that the book detailing advanced sealing techniques that he took with him before fleeing Uzushio would contain the specific technique too. 

Feeling the magic hands massaging his back stop, Oden looked up, and saw a wrathful redhead crossing her arms underneath her enormous bust. 

“???” Oden spaced out for a second, then realized he had gone a little hardcore into his internal monologue. “Eh heh, sorry, I was, uh, thinking. You're still number one though! What you said is actually crazy important to our future. Seriously, thank you.” 

Suzuki huffed, but a smile reached the corner of her mouth. “Such a research-sexual.” She muttered, and then roughly pushed him on the shoulder, forcing him out of his comfortable seat and onto the snow. 

Oden wryly smiled as his face met the cold. Now he was no masochist, but the Suzuki’s toned physique, strength, and assertiveness were really turning him on. 

“Gosh, my girlfriend sure is violent~” He said, rolling over onto his back. 

Suzuki didn't say a word, and kneeled down next to him. Staring into his eyes, her hand ever so slightly brushed against his waistband, soft as a feather. 

The touch sent electricity up his spine, and he felt himself harden. She licked her lips, and blew a strand of her hair out of the way, revealing her pure features. His heart hitched, and he was about to unleash his Adamantine Chains, and bondage this bad girl up, when a squeak interrupted his thought process. 

“Y-you guys, Doiyo h-has invited us to his clan's residence. Th-the Fuyukuma are hosting a smoked salmon party for us.” Nozomi spoke from a few feet away. 

Oden coughed into his hand in embarrassment, and with his waist hidden by the chair, he felt Suzuki ever so slightly stroke the outer layer of his pants. 

“Tell him we'll be over in five minutes, and would be honored to join the Fuyukuma clan for a meal!” Oden jolted, and unexpectedly shouted his entire sentence in a hurry. 

“Uhh…”

“Go on, Nozomi, I pinched a nerve, Oden is just highstrung.” Suzuki ran defense. 

“O-oh! Uhm…can I take a look? I can relieve his tension too!” Nozomi clenched her fists, and puffed out her cheeks. 

Oden's member twitched, as he fantasized about a future threesome once Nozomi developed. Suzuki noticed this, and tightly clenched down, painfully holding him in place. 

“I can handle him. Go.” Suzuki spoke in a low, authoritative voice that brokered no disagreement. 

Nozomi slightly paled, then took a step back. However, she was quick to regain a sunny smile. “Well, I'll always be here if you need a helping hand! Ee-hee.” She chuckled, showing off her green medical chakra, and then sprinted away. 

“You’re naughtier than I thought.” Oden exhaled. 

“Most girls in the clan marry by 16, with some as early as 14.” She flatly replied, staring at him with a deadpan. 

Oden weakly laughed. Medieval deathworld ‘Japanese’ culture was kind of serious. 

“Ahem. Well, my cute, noble girlfriend won't have to wait much longer.” He said, and felt his ‘little Uzumaki’ twitch in agreement, as it was still locked in her hand. 

Suzuki stared at him a beat longer, then leaned in close for a quick kiss. She then shoved some snow down his pants, forcing him to wilt like a soaked flower. 

“Oi!” Oden stood up in a hurry, and scraped himself off. 

Suzuki looked him up and down like a butcher appraising a fine cut. “Want to do something about it? Get stronger.” 

She then straightened out his clothes, and hair, making him look presentable. 

“Now let's show these Fuyukuma how an Uzumaki parties.” Suzuki replied with a wild grin. 

Oden's eyelid twitched. ‘Well…Kushina did describe her people as being ‘savage.’ 

With a resigned sigh, he then held his head high, adopted a dignified persona, and held out his hand, which she was quick to grasp. 

“Let's.”