Are you kidding me??
Uzumaki Jun stared blankly at Zetsu in front of him. What was he saying?
The village founded by the God of Shinobi was going to surrender?
Don't joke around.
If they really surrendered, Sarutobi Hiruzen probably wouldn't even be able to keep his position as Hokage. Was it because he saw Danzo, at such an old age, still working hard for his ideals, and as his close friend, decided to help him achieve his dream?
"Are you sure?" Uzumaki Jun frowned and asked. "Will the Daimyo of the Land of Fire agree?"
"It's still unclear what's going on," Zetsu shook his head and said. "But anti-war sentiment has emerged in Konoha."
Anti-war sentiment??
Uzumaki Jun stroked his chin, deep in thought. The war had only just started, and Konoha was already developing anti-war sentiment?
This won't do!
If they don't fight, how will Uzushiogakure develop?
"In that case, continue monitoring Konoha's situation," Uzumaki Jun said. "If Konoha really intends to surrender, then we'll have to..." He sighed and patted Zetsu's shoulder. "Rely on you!!"
With a smile, he added, "I believe in you!"
"??"
Zetsu looked at Uzumaki Jun in confusion. What did this have to do with him?
He was just here to report the news.
Konoha...
He couldn't take them on.
"Don't worry," Uzumaki Jun patted Zetsu's shoulder with a smile, wearing an expression of confidence. "You can do it!!"
As the famous mastermind of the shinobi world, if you can't do it, who can??
"I... have something to say, but I don't know if I should say it!" Zetsu hesitated. There was something he really needed to get off his chest!
However...
"Then don't say it," Uzumaki Jun smiled. At over a thousand years old, and still saying "I don't know if I should say it"?
This was just asking for trouble!!
"For now, come with me to Konoha first!"
He had just sensed that the specially crafted kunai he left with the Uchiha Clan had been activated.
Uzumaki Jun felt a surge of excitement...
Now, Uzushiogakure finally had three of the four great noble clans, aside from the Byakugan!!
...
Land of Rain.
Konoha Camp.
"What should we do now?" Jiraiya frowned as he looked at Orochimaru in front of him. "We can't hold out like this."
If this continued, even the new kids who just arrived might end up buried in this land with them.
"Sigh!" Orochimaru sighed and said, "Right now, there's nothing I can do. Sakumo needs to keep the smaller villages in check, Tsunade is facing off against Kumo, and only we..."
Facing two major villages and Amegakure.
What could he do?
He was desperate too!!
"About Tsunade..." Jiraiya hesitated for a moment before sighing. "For now, let's not tell her about the Senju Clan's situation."
Maybe in the end, both of us will die here.
Then it won't be our problem anymore, and Tsunade can take it up with the old man herself.
"And Nawaki and the others..."
"Send them back to the village!! And while we're at it, let's give Utatane Koharu that crazy woman a piece of our minds. Seriously, sending kids who haven't even graduated to the battlefield." Jiraiya's face showed frustration. "If I were in the village, I'd make her experience the power of the Toad Sage firsthand!"
The old man was really something, agreeing to that crazy woman's suggestion.
"I..." Orochimaru opened his mouth but eventually nodded. "I'll have someone deliver the message to the old man." He licked his lips and narrowed his eyes. "But you have to admit, some of these kids are quite talented."
"True," Jiraiya nodded in agreement. "Like that one..."
The kid who used hand seals.
It made him drool just thinking about it.
"If I survive, I should go find a disciple."
If he could find the Child of Prophecy...
Jiraiya couldn't help but feel excited!!
He would become the teacher of the one who would change the shinobi world. Surely, many girls would admire him and throw themselves at him!
As for Tsunade...
"Today, you ignore me. Tomorrow, you won't be able to reach me!!" Jiraiya grinned foolishly.
Meanwhile, Orochimaru beside him...
Looked at him with disdain!!
...
"Uchiha Clan Head," Uzumaki Jun smiled as he looked at the expressionless Uchiha leader in front of him. "Have you finally made your decision?"
It seemed Konoha was finally pushing the Uchiha Clan out to appease the other villages, even though that Mangekyō...
Definitely wasn't Konoha's doing!!
The Uchiha Clan Head remained silent for a moment before speaking calmly. "I need to know how the Uchiha Clan will be treated in Uzushiogakure. Or rather..."
"What will the Uchiha Clan have to give up?"
"You don't need to give up anything," Uzumaki Jun said seriously. "As for how the Uchiha Clan will live in Uzushiogakure..."
"That depends on your own efforts."
"Uzushiogakure is a nation governed by law. Everyone is equal before the law."
Uzumaki Jun's gaze was steady as he met the Uchiha Clan Head's eyes. "All I can guarantee is that the Uchiha Clan will be citizens of Uzushiogakure, entitled to all the rights of its people."
"No one will discriminate against the Uchiha Clan!!"
Hearing Uzumaki Jun's words, the Uchiha Clan Head's smile flickered briefly before he replied calmly, "I hope you keep your promise today."
Keep his promise??
In the name of the Daimyo of Uzushiogakure, he swore that whether it was the Uchiha Clan, the Senju Clan, the Hyūga Clan, the Yuki Clan, or the Hōzuki Clan...
As long as they were citizens of Uzushiogakure, they would be protected by its laws.
Uzumaki Jun's lips curled into a mysterious smile. "Don't worry, the Senju Clan is also in Uzushiogakure. You can ask them how they're doing."
He heard Senju Shukuma was doing quite well these days. He had gotten used to manual labor, mastering Earth and Water Release to perfection, and was highly praised by all the captains in the Construction Division. Rumor had it he had even been promoted to captain of the Third Division.
Sigh—
A single man responsible for over a dozen kids had no choice but to work hard.
Especially since he had taken out a loan to buy a house. If he didn't work seriously, he probably wouldn't be able to pay off the mortgage.
"The Senju Clan!!" The Uchiha Clan Head's pupils contracted slightly before he nodded faintly. He sighed inwardly. It seemed that bastard Senju Clan Head had also sacrificed himself for his clan. But...
Would the feud between the Senju and Uchiha Clans continue in Uzushiogakure?
And wasn't this Uzushiogakure being way too bold??
Aren't they afraid of being besieged and destroyed by the Five Great Nations?
After all, coveting another village's bloodline limits was a major taboo!!
"In that case," the Uchiha Clan Head pondered for a moment before saying, "Can I meet the head of the Uzumaki Clan?"
He decided not to overthink things. Right now, all that mattered was ensuring the Uchiha Clan's survival!
Uzumaki Jun frowned at the question. "What do you want?"
This Uchiha Clan Head...
Did he not trust the word of Uzushiogakure's Daimyo, the youngest Kage renowned for his loyalty and righteousness?
What did he want with the Uzumaki Clan Head now?