Uzumaki Survival 008

“Do not stop!” Hanakuma roared in pain, gripping her stone throne with ham-sized fists, her jugular bulged, and her voice was both harsh & demanding. 

Nozomi bowed her head, sweat dripping down her greasy hair as she did everything in her power to excise the wound. 

Half an hour had passed since the operation had begun, and Hanakuma had insisted she stay awake through it all. As for Nozomi, she had been cutting away filthy, necrotic flesh with the Chakra Scalpel technique, then actively working to mend the broken flesh. 

At one point, she had even started to offer her own arm to be bitten, but Oden had been quick to shut her up. As far as outsiders were concerned, being able to bite-or eat-an Uzumaki to miraculously heal was nothing more than a myth or legend, and he intended to keep it that way. 

During this excruciating half hour, they had been served a bountiful harvest of salmon, and were treated as honored guests. Oden had a surprisingly large appetite, and discovered that Uzumaki were sort of like Saiyans, in that they could eat absurd amounts of food! It seemed that having a OP constitution came with a similarly frightful stomach! Sending Suzuki out, she was tasked with collecting fish, and informing the other survivors that everything was okay. 

Watching Doiyo's grim silence, and Nozomi's slowly mounting panic, he noticed that no matter how much she healed, it seemed that a section of infected flesh would always make a comeback. Stroking his chin in thought, he suspected that this wasn't some ordinary illness, or even poison. That this was chakra related. 

When Nozomi took a brief break to recuperate, he approached the throne, and slightly inclined his head to the Fuyukuma matriarch. 

“Lady Hanakuma, did you encounter something unclean that dealt this wound?” Oden asked. 

The big woman barked a laugh like a walrus, and then winced at the pain that followed. 

“Lady, you pretty boy Uzumaki are funny. Such a polite youth, but yes, you are right to ask. A portal had opened up, and something the three of us-myself, Roga, & Kakuyoku-sensed we could not defeat began to emerge. We attacked with everything we had, but in pushing the entity back, I suffered a glancing blow.” Hanakuma explained. 

Oden nodded his head. The Adamantine Chains had the ability to restrain chakra-and even poisons if you knew what you were doing-now that he knew this wasn't a disease, he had the intention to restrain this corruption. 

He was confident he could excise the wound from her. That is, almost a 100% surety, due to how incredible his Adamantine Chains were. However. However, could he trust friendship and good will to protect them in this foreign land? Just a look from Hanakuma had the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end. There were at least two more Elite Jonin in this village, and who knew how many Jonin or Special Jonin. Although their numbers weren't going to be anything close to Konoha's, just one Jonin could no-diff him, and instantly slaughter the entire Uzumaki survivors…

Keeping such worries in mind, Oden decided he would not 100% cure her. In fact, for this entire half hour, he had been thinking about this, and had also been thinking about how to adjust a storage seal, so that he could apply it to Hanakuma, and leak just the right amount of the chakra corruption. Leaving behind this hidden ‘curse’ like a disease, every time it flared up, the matriarch would have to find an Uzumaki to repress the pain. 

Although this was incredibly unethical, he wasn't Naruto, and didn't believe he could talk-no-jutsu a seasoned killer. After some time had passed, and trust was established, then, and only then would he feel comfortable releasing her from this debuff. 

Releasing a big sigh, he nodded at her words, and then responded with a smile. “You saved many lives, preventing that calamity from emerging, Lady Hanakuma. Now that I know that this was caused by chakra corruption, I think I have an idea on how to treat you.” 

As he finished speaking, an Adamantine Chain slowly snaked out of the palm of his hand, and gleamed dangerously within the long hall. 

“The legendary kekkai genkai of the Uzumaki.” Hanakuma furrowed her brows, and then nodded. “You have my permission.” 

Oden held his tongue, allowing misinformation to once more aid him, as the Adamantine Chains were technically a secret technique, like Shikamaru's shadow attack, or Ino's mind transfer. But being a ninja was all about deception, who knew, maybe she was acting too? 

“Yes, the Adamantine Chains are quite extraordinary. I hold no guarantees for a cure, but I have hope.” Oden replied with a tight smile, and got to work. 

Laying the chain on Hanakuma, he began to slowly sap the foreign chakra out of her. Although he was no sensor, he had a good grasp on his chains, and could feel a difference between this energy, and regular chakra. It was cold, malicious, and felt like it was saturated with Yin energy. If he wasn't mistaken, the matriarch had her physical & mental energy-the basis for chakra-thrown out of whack, and was suffering from an imbalance between the two. 

“Fascinating.” Oden couldn't help but mutter. 

“You think mother's pain…is fascinating?” Doiyo dangerously spoke in a low tone. 

“It's not like that, Doiyo! Big brother has a reason, right Oden?” Nozomi was quick go play defense. 

“Hm? Oh, sorry, it's just that, this foreign chakra is tougher to remove than I had anticipated.” Oden sheepishly replied. Keeping up the act, he wiped some sweat from his forehead, and kept a concentrated look on his face. 

At the same time, he was studying this ‘yokai chakra’ with extreme interest. Although he had absorbed it during the fight against the Yukinyudos, at that time, his life was under threat, and he wasn't in an academic mindset. Now, however, he felt that this was an avenue worth researching! 

To enhance his strength, Oden wanted to add elemental transformation to his Adamantine Chains. Much like how Naruto adding wind to the Rasengan significantly amped its strength, he wanted to do something similar. However, he had no clue on how to add his own elemental ninjutsu to the sealing chains. When he absorbed the chakra from the other ninjas during the fall of Uzu, it was basic, ‘regular’ chakra. 

But! Right now, this ‘yokai chakra’ was entering his chains, and could be purified to enter his body…or he could seal the stored power into his chains! At least, this was the theory. Oden searched his knowledge regarding the Adamantine Chains, and this seemed very possible! 

Although he wouldn't have fire, lightning, or heavy stone chains anytime soon…what if he had ‘poisoned’ Yin chains?! What if, he learned how to harness this Yin power, and cast Genjutsu through his chains?!?!

The possibilities had him breathing hard, and he wanted to go to an empty field, release one of his yokai, and experiment right now. 

After half an hour spent studying this foreign chakra passed, a pained hiss from Hanakuma brought him back to reality, and Oden saw that he had almost completely removed the corruption from the matriarch. Well that won't do! 

Feigning displeasure, he ‘reluctantly’ removed the chain. 

“Why stop. Mother almost cured.” Doiyo asked in confusion. 

“Oden?” Nozomi quietly tilted her head. 

“Removing this curse is beyond me at the moment, but I can temporarily seal it. After some research, I think I can remove it.” Oden said, in a faux crestfallen tone. 

Hanakuma seemed to sense a smidgen of the truth, and gave him a calculating look. Her coal eyes stared into his blue ones, and she grinned. 

“The rest of you, leave us. I would speak to the Uzumaki brat alone.” 

“Go, Nozomi.” 

After the dual orders, Oden found himself staring at the polar bear matriarch once more. 

“You are looking for a new home.” Hanakuma declared. 

Oden did not act surprised, he had told Saiu as much over an hour ago. The fact a Fuyukuma had learned about this info, and shared it with the matriarch ahead of time was within his calculus. 

“And there are more than three of you.” She continued, with closed eyes. 

Oden felt the corner of his mouth twitch at that one, but inclined his head, as there was no point in hiding that which would eventually be revealed. 

“Uzushiogakure is no more. The yokai have destroyed our land, we are exiles in search of a new home.” Oden declared, hiding the fact that it was actually attacked by a coalition of foreign ninja. 

“I do not like you, Oden Uzumaki.” Hanakuma flatly stated. “Sneaky like a Roga, arrogant like a Kakuyoku, and savage, like a Fuyukuma. Convenient that your home is destroyed by yokai. Who is to say you ‘Seal Masters’ didn't bring this calamity upon the world?” 

A brief, sharp killing intent cut through the warmth within the hall, and sent a chill down his spine. However, Oden refused to bend, or show any hint of weakness. 

“We need a new home, and you will not be the last to be cursed.” Oden quietly replied, reminding her of her illness. 

“And what is to stop me from breaking your legs, and tossing you in the cold cells beneath my hearth? To serve the Fuyukuma for perpetuity?” The big woman dangerously scoffed, and placed a meaty hand on her cheek as she regarded him. 

Oden smiled, his super model appearance was put on full display, as he performed a single hand seal. In a split second, a ‘curse’ seal-which had been invisible up to this point-spread across the matriarch, holding her in place. During his corruption removal, he had been performing hand seals the entire time. Although his knowledge of seals wasn't master tier, as long as he had time, he could perform more advanced techniques. Using the Adamantine Chains as a medium, he had successfully cursed this powerful Elite Jonin…is what he would like to say! In reality, he had plastered a FUCK TON of Sticky seals on her, making it practically impossible to move! That whole ‘curse seal’ schtick was nothing more than a bluff! Yeah, he probably could develop a curse seal, as his knowledge base was pretty broad, and he already had a few ideas on how to do it, but why do something so complex, when he could succeed on a lie? He was a ninja afterall! 

“I know that this is mostly a test on your part, but if you ever speak about locking me or my people up under your rotten boat again, I'll slaughter your entire clan.” Oden said with a dark smile. 

Hanakuma's coal-like eyes blazed as she stared at him, and then, much to his surprise, she slapped the throne with a big belly laugh. 

“Ruthless! What a ruthless brat you are! Threatened by a Chunin in my own home! Perhaps Yukigakure shall have a Kage yet!” She roared in laughter. 

Although he detected some fury in that laughter, there was also respect, admiration, and the smallest hint of killing intent. 

Oden merely maintained his smile. 

“My family can make this country great. The Uzumaki have over a thousand years of glory, whilst this country has only been unified for decades. I respect your forthrightness, and admire the savagery of the Fuyukuma. If you would enter a contract with me, this curse need not remain.” Oden eloquently spoke. 

Now that the stick had been revealed, it had been time to offer the carrot. 

“A clever little shit. If my clansmen learned of this, they'd tear you to pieces.” Hanakuma grinned, then offered a large hand forward, and slit the palm of her hand open with a jagged fingernail. “A blood oath then, to satisfy my own clan practices.” 

Trace amounts of green-black blood spilled out of the palm of her hand, dripping to the floor with a small sizzle, and sickly smell. 

‘This clever broad is forcing me to heal her!’ 

Oden took a deep look at the matriarch, and somehow, her cheeky grin only grew wider. 

Whoever said that overly big people are idiots…that person is the real idiot! Fuck this cunning polar bear bitch! 

Oden's smile was wooden as he snaked an Adamantine Chain outward, and absorbed the very last of the yokai chakra from Hanakuma. At the same time, he pulled out a blank sheet of paper, and made her wait. Performing dozens of hand seals for half an hour, he genuinely was sweating at this point, as it was a complex formula. Finally, he finished the jutsu, and slapped his hand onto the paper, and a seal spread out. 

Cutting his own hand, he sprinkled some blood on the seal, and it lit up with a blue glow. 

Hanakuma-in good spirits-mimicked him, and then reached forward so fast, he only saw a blur. His hand was gripped in her ham sized palm, and their fluids mixed together. 

“Allies then, but we could be family. My Doiyo and your Nozomi seem quite compatible, no?” Hanakuma pressed, at the same time, she patted his back muscles, and felt him up. 

“Do you want the curse seal removed or not?” He flatly replied, refusing to play along. 

Hanakuma plopped back down onto her throne, and lazily waved him forward. 

The corner of Oden's lip twitched. All that scheming, and now he had a barbarian ‘Queen’ as an ally. He wondered what he'd have to do to bring the other two clans to heel. 

~~~~~~

AN: A typical shounen MC would have healed Hanakuma without thought, and her family would have been blindly loyal. In this story, the human heart is more realistic, and even muscular big boned ninjas are still ninjas. I hope to show that not every conflict will be resolved via direct, brute force. Although the Adamantine Chains are kind of broken, intelligence will play a part in this story, and not just on the MC's part. For example, Hanakuma knows people look at her as if she is a big stupid barbarian maroon, a real ninja would play into that bit.