26.

 "We don't have many options at the moment either, we don't hesitate and go directly to my brother to try and organise the clan meeting and after that..."

"But..."

"...but we have no proof other than my words and we do not know what they have officially prepared against."

"So this option cannot be used right now, hmm, we just need more time and information" - At my words father tightened his grip on the table he was sitting on after the operation.

"Unfortunately yes."

"Where will we wait?" - Mother's obvious question.

"Well, we can't stay in the village like in wartime and even under normal circumstances there is too much control here, it will only be a matter of time when we will be found." - I gave an obvious answer - "and I do not know anyone who could give us shelter outside the village, even for a short time".

"We could flee to another country, preferably without active military fighting, or to the southern regions, I've heard it's relatively peaceful there." - Mother: "You know, it would be difficult to change the country now. Even my father and I can't change our phonetic pattern to easily adjust to foreign languages, not even talking about small traditions is easy and fast enough to avoid being noticed by the local authorities, and in times of war we won't be ignored as long as we don't cause any problems. As for another region, the same problem exists on a smaller scale, but we need someone from the local population who will be able to protect us in small matters and at the same time we should be able to trust him".

We all paused to think about ways out of our current situation.

'Why had I never heard of such problems in the last world with some other "lucky" travellers? No, they travelled without documents, without language barriers, could deceive anyone and if not kill them, in some cases even seduce them in an instant. They have infinite everyday items, for example chakra paper or ink. Send me to their worlds, life will be so easier. ***sigh*** 'Okay, I can't complain, I have a nice family, good education, maybe still have friends, well also sealed fanatics... oh right, I shouldn't forget about her, but I still have time and i should also buy chakra papers somewhere'

"I may have an option" - Father "Hmm, do we have a relative? Or do you mean our clan's exclave?"

"No, that place is in danger too." - He shook his head - "Did I ever tell you why you have the family name of Ichimaru as your first name?"

"You never did, but to be honest, I've come across even stranger names, so it didn't really bother me." - I shrugged.

"Heh, sometimes you should show interest in small details. There was a samurai of an Ichimaru clan." "Ichimaru from the Tsumekawa region?"

"Yes. They control some large coal mines and as a genin, I was sent there to help and clean the mines from the chakra beasts that were occupying them. Our group leaders were 2 Chunins as our captain was on another mission and things did not go as planned and the pack of beasts were stronger and bigger than we thought. Luckily for us, the nephew of the clan chief was there, a fine chakra-using samurai with inspection. After 2 out of 5 of us were killed by the beasts in the caves, he came to our aid. Thanks to him, I've only got a few scars, and at least 2 of us survived that day. Of course, I was very grateful and promised to do everything to repay him, and he told me to name my first son after him. "

"Then why did you give me his surname?"

"Well, you know, we cannot use the name Kage in the village, so my only option was to use his last name."

"Well, there is a logic, even if it is a bit twisted. But back to the tracks, why did you mention him?"

"I had some contact with him, especially after you were born. Mainly consultations and Fuins from us."

"Then it is obvious that we will be searched there."

"I did not tell you that I did it officially. Not because it was something illegal, but that way, none of us had to pay taxes to Konoha and the Daimyo."

"It could work" - Mother "Okay, that sounds good, but I want to visit some places, so I won't stay with you all the time, you can even not mention me. If someone checks you later, it will be less suspicious that way" "What do you mean you want to go somewhere? More importantly, in this situation?"

"I wanted to pay a visit to the monks of the Fire Temple."

"Don't tell me you want to become one?"

"No, no, it is just curiosity about their way of using chakra" "But what will you do if they find you?"

"Well, I can still teleport. Even if they try to block it by creating chakra disturbances, I can prepare a scroll with a stabiliser. And I will visit you from time to time to check on you" "Eh, you have already seen the war so you know what you are doing, just contact us and visit us regularly" "WHAT, you let him go so easily, no I am not letting him go".

Father stood up and walked over to mother, at the same time pointing his head at the door.

"Well, if you need some time..."

---

A few days later we arrived at the Ichimaru clan's inn, the region they control being quite large in the eastern part of the country. As well as coal, the region is rich in tea, sweet potatoes, or its predecessor, as it does not really look like sweet potatoes but tastes more or less the same, and citrus fruits, which I cannot really identify, as they do not look or taste like any of the countries of the modern world I have lived in, although they may have looked like this in the past.

With a small number of refugees, who usually prefer to move south, they have not had the slightest problem, thanks to the resource base. The only problem was that they might have been a water nation, so they have some fortifications along the coast, but the capital is in the south-western part of the region.

On the way no one mentioned the situation with the bodies, maybe because of the shock, it faded or with my little help, but it is good that it stayed that way.

Another thing I had to deal with was Nia, my captive friend and stalker. I didn't wake her after the seal was broken, just used the Lotus Sleeping Draught I had stolen from the village and field hospitals, albeit in much smaller quantities, to put the patients to sleep. Perhaps someone sent us inferior pills. That's why it didn't work so well. Merchants are merchants, so even in wartime they try to make money.

The organs I took out stay intact in jars and are sealed, or some of them are just sealed, as long as they do not contain much chakra, they can be sealed for a longer time.

At the inn we had a little problem because we could not just ask where my father's partner was and call him, so we waited outside to make contact with him. As agreed, only my parents met him. From my father's looks and signals, everything went smoothly, so now I can relax about them and concentrate on my personal plans. Meanwhile, my father will try to gather more information and support from clan and friends. Maybe we at least will be able to return into the village.