Chapter 13: Epidemic, pt. 2

After the meeting, life continued. The village was still on lock-down, though it had been slightly loosened for military activities, and all efforts were being made to find a cure.

Day Ten: No progress. My blood was taken to be tested for immunity.

Day Eleven: When Tsunade was reported to be boarding a patrol-craft, Kazuo-sama was contacted by seal-communicator. He summoned me. Hikaru jii-san would have come, but I asked him to stay and keep working on a potential solution. Jii-san nodded grimly at me, and gave me a hug.

When I arrived at the fortress, I was immediately ushered into a private audience with Kazuo-sama. He motioned that I should sit, and served me some tea. We sipped in silence for a moment before he spoke.

“It was a brave thing that you did. Thank you.”

“No thanks are necessary, Kazuo-sama. It was my selfish wish not to allow Kushina to enter such a den of scum and villainy.”

He chuckled. “You have always been surprisingly mature.”

“I must have an old soul,” I smiled.

“Yes, that must be it.”

We sipped more tea.

He sighed lightly. “As for the matter at hand. Tsunade is hours away. Unless we find a last minute solution, it doesn't look good.”

“What can one do?” I meant it as a semi-musing philosophical thought. Kazuo-kaka however grinned and answered.

“Well, as Daimyo of Whirlpool, I can refuse to let you leave my service. Konoha's agreement is with Kazuo-dono; he overstepped himself. As an inactive Militia reservist, you are officially sworn to Whirlpool's service, not Uzushio's.”

“Kazuo-kaka, your agreement though? Would this be possible?”

“Possible, legally, yes. Not so in reality. Though I can at least force a compromise. You will not be leaving my service entirely. Instead, you will be given an official diplomatic position within Whirlpool's government active immediately on the basis of your services and sealing achievements. When you go, you will be sent formally as a diplomatic emissary from Whirlpool's Embassy to the Daimyo's court, then appointed by the ambassador as a representative in Konohagakure.

“This is allowed as part of our treaty with the Fire Daimyo, and will give you diplomatic protection, both formally under Whirlpool's aegis, as well as formally from the aegis of the Fire Daimyo's court. If Konoha oversteps itself, it will face censure both from us and their own Daimyo; you may even end up coming home. They will doubtless be very careful.

“In your position as an Advanced Instructor of Whirlpool fist, and thus a recruit-sergeant of the Militia, you will be activated at the youngest possible age, 8 years old, and indefinitely seconded to Konohagakure's military as part of a largely imaginary exchange program. Thus, you will serve within Konohagakure, and host Mito's mistake, but will be as protected as I can make you. I apologize for not being able to do more.”

When he finished the explanation he bowed to me, and did not raise his head until I replied.

“Ah, Kazuo-sama, please, there is no reason to apologize, you have merely done your duty as clan-head, as village-chief, and as Lord of Whirlpool. You have done more than is necessary for this poor vassal.” I bowed as well. Let it never be said that my parents didn't manage to teach me formal manners. Kazuo-sama laughed at this.

“Please, do not bow. Already you show your talent as a diplomat, eh Daichi-san?” I grinned, both at the comment, and at the address; by calling me Daichi-san he was effectively saying that my actions meant he respected me as an adult.

“Now, come.” he ordered. “You're position, second assistant to the Whirlpool Ambassador to the Fire Nation, Chief of the Permanent Konohagakure Mission, is Titled. There is formal clothing in the attached room, and your parents are waiting for the ceremony where I will grant you your sword.” I was shocked speechless. Kazuo-sama was seriously grateful that I had saved Kushina, clearly, and was honoring me with the lowest of noble positions. It would make me even more inviolate in Konohagakure, and was a huge honor.

I thanked Kazuo-sama profusely, but he just motioned me towards the connecting room. There was an attendant to help me into the formal clothing, apply some face-paint, and explain the ceremony that I was about to participate in. Then, newly dressed in my diplomat's regalia, I was ushered into another room where my parents, grandparents, a few other family members, Haruto-sensei and his wife, and Kushina were all waiting. Tou-san's parents, part of the noble rather than sealing or ninja Uzumaki branches, were looking particularly pleased. Hikaru jii-san looked proud and amused; I knew he'd give me a bit of ribbing about being a doll later on, given my clothing and make up. I was a bit overcome by the situation, and went through the ceremony in a daze.

When Kazuo-sama handed me my new swords, a pair of katana and wakizashi, I couldn't contain my smile. It was either smile or cry, honestly; this honor was dearly purchased, and seeing all those whom I'd be missing while in Konoha really drove the point in.

I was told that the swords were a pair that had been made as a collaboration between a sealing expert and a swordsmith from the Land of Iron about a century ago for an Uzumaki who had gained great renown at sea. They were called the Red Night's Sky (the Katana) and Morning's Storm (the Wakizashi). Apart from being chakra conductive, they had seals to enchance Wind-element and Water-element respectively, and other seals to bond with the owner until death or dismissal, and could be further bound as a summon to using body-seals. Apart from the honor, the swords were highly functional, and a beautiful work of art.

After the ceremony was over, I received congratulations and hugs from my family. Kushina came up last, and looked at me for a moment before she burst into tears, saying it was all her fault, and then hugging me and crying into my chest. I hugged her back, told her that it wasn't her fault but Konohagakure's, and that it wasn't like I was leaving right away, and we'd be able to keep in contact with video seals too. She sniffed, and pulled back, allowing me to see the water-stains on my new silk outfit. When she saw where I was looking, she blushed, apologized, and then huffed before declaring we'd be blaming the Leaf for that too. I just laughed at the little Tsundere.

Some of those stains never actually came out, though the servant who had dressed me did manage to fix most of the damage. I decided to let it remind me of the conditions of my rise in station and upcoming voyage to Konohagakure.

Some hours later, Tsunade arrived

Day Twelve: A sample of blood immune to the disease was finally found. Furthermore, it proved capable of curing the disease when injected in relatively small quantities. It was quickly placed in one of the greatest sealing creations of the Sealing Department; a duplication array made by a Grandmaster, capable of taking a sample and then performing the Creation of All Things to make a perfect duplicate down to the chakra and metaphysical identity of the object being copied.

Soon enough, enough blood was produced to heal all the diseased. Spare samples of the blood were stored against future need.

Want to know what was really ironic? The blood was mine. And Tsunade, despite her presence, didn't have time to lift a finger.

I didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

But I knew I was going to Konohagakure in four months time either way.