Kakashi and the others set sail again, but this time their destination was different. They had already waited for Naruto an entire week.
"So we're finally going to rescue that idiot, huh?" Tayuya muttered.
Kakashi sighed,
"Tayuya, finding him may be harder than you think. He came ashore several days ago—his trail might already be cold."
## Uzushio Village – Underground Tombs ##
At night, Naruto and Sai did their best to comfort Tamako until she fell asleep crying. The two then leaned against the stone wall to rest.
The next morning, Naruto gently shook Tamako awake, noticing Sai staring blankly at both of them.
"Good morning, Sai."
"I think it's time for us to leave this place, Naruto-senpai."
Naruto nodded, slowly loosening his hold on Tamako before standing up and stretching.
"I agree. But after we leave here, what happens to Tamako?"
Tamako jolted awake,
"I'm not sure, Lord Uzumaki. There's nowhere else for me to go."
Naruto felt slightly awkward at being called "Lord."
The massive statue, which now seemed more like her pet, walked over and knelt beside her.
Tamako smiled and patted it:
"It'll be alright, Kobun-kun. We're going to be okay." Then she performed a few hand seals and pressed her palm against the statue. [Release.]
The statue shrank until it was no bigger than a doll. Tamako tied a string around it and hung it from her neck.
Naruto and Sai stared in shock.
Naruto pointed at her:
"You can control that statue—and even shrink it? How?"
Tamako shook her head:
"You don't know any sealing techniques? Your family is known worldwide for sealing techniques!"
Naruto scratched his neck awkwardly:
"I guess this generation skipped right past it."
"How old are you, Lord Uzumaki? And what level are your sealing techniques at?"
Naruto and Sai exchanged glances.
"Uh, fourteen? I wouldn't say I understand every seal on Kobun, but I can shut it down temporarily."
Tamako's jaw dropped:
"You're fourteen and not even at Level Five yet?"
Naruto flinched at her shout:
"Well, I guess so. Is that really bad, Tamako?"
Tamako grabbed Naruto by the collar:
"Everyone in your family hits at least Level Seven before turning fifteen!"
Naruto broke into a sweat:
"Hey! I can do things too! Like making sealing scrolls, customizing explosive talismans—look at this!" He pulled out the seal he used to control the statue. "That's my custom control seal!"
"That's just beginner-level stuff," Tamako said, inspecting the seal paper. Her frown deepened as she examined it. "This sealwork is way too crude." She crumpled it up and tossed it aside.
Naruto was shocked:
"You don't get how hard this was for me!"
Tamako pointed at the tiny statue hanging from her neck:
"Compared to the seals I use for Kobun, yours looks like child's scribbles. There are so many flaws in this seal—I'm shocked it didn't backfire on you."
Naruto deflated:
"Okay… you didn't have to be so harsh."
"I'm mostly self-taught..."
Tamako let out a sigh and stepped before him.
"Fine, I can't let an Uzumaki ninja's sealing techniques stay this unrefined. So until you master sealing techniques, I shall be your teacher, Lord Uzumaki!"
Naruto stared at her.
"You're going to train me?"
Tamako pressed her palms together.
"I owe the Uzumaki family a debt I can never repay, so I shall repay it through you!"
"Awesome! But I've got one question—why were you locked inside that vault anyway?"
Tamako looked thoughtful.
"I don't know. My master said he was entrusting me with our village's future. I thought he'd take me into battle with him, but later I lost consciousness. When I woke up, I saw both of you."
Naruto shifted the new sword on his back and strode down the hallway.
"We'll figure everything else out later. Right now we need to find a way out. Tamako, can you lead us outside?"
Tamako smiled and nodded.
"Yes, I remember the way. Let's go!"
---
When the platform from the first tower ascended to Ground Level again, Naruto and Sai felt an eerie sense of déjà vu—it was where they'd fought the Kobun.
Naruto looked around, noticing the door was still sealed.
"How do we get out, Tamako?"
Tamako walked up to the door, inscribing [sealing characters] onto it before biting her thumb and pressing it against the surface:
[Sealing Release—Open!]
The wall flickered briefly, and the barrier at the entrance collapsed.
Naruto and Sai followed Tamako outside. She paused, scanning the battlefield-like village littered with signs of conflict.
She sighed deeply. Naruto rested a hand gently on her shoulder.
"Would you like some time alone, Tamako?"
She shook her head.
"No... There's nothing left for me here. Uzushio was once my home, but now it's only ruins. Even if I stayed, what could I possibly do? Hide among these ruins forever? I'll come with you, Lord Uzumaki. I have served your family my entire life—this is all I know, and all I ever want to do."
Naruto looked bewildered, staring at her.
Sai walked ahead of them.
"Then let's go, Naruto-senpai."
Naruto nodded.
"I need to regroup with my team. Kakashi is gonna tear me a new one."
Sai simply shrugged.
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