"This..."
The Uzu-nin stared dumbfounded at the unconscious Kiri-nin lying before them, muttering, "What happened?"
How did they all collapse?
They hadn't even made a move yet, and according to the script given to them by higher-ups...
Was this part of the plan?
The Kiri-nin, due to their wicked deeds, faced divine retribution in the just, bright, and peaceful Uzushiogakure, leading to their complete downfall?
But...
What was the point of this??
Was Jun-sama just bored?
"Komaki-taichou..." Keita looked at the Kiri-nin, hesitating before asking, "What should we do now?"
Dig a pit for the Kiri-nin so they wouldn't be left exposed, showcasing Uzushiogakure's benevolence and virtue?
For some reason, Keita suddenly felt a pain in his liver.
Was this Jun-sama's script?
"Don't ask me, I'm just as confused," Komaki said helplessly, spreading his hands. "I haven't even finished reading the script..."
However, before he could finish speaking...
"What a bunch of useless trash!!"
A deep, aged voice came from behind them.
...
"..."
What...
should they do now?
Uzumaki Jun stared speechlessly at the Kiri-nin lying unconscious in the distance. He had thought Madara-sama would do something to them—like killing them all—but in the end...
It was just genjutsu?
Mangekyō genjutsu?
Uzumaki Jun sighed inwardly. Madara, you've changed.
Weren't you the one who hated these peace-disrupting, civilian-threatening shinobi the most?
Why not just kill them all...
Now, what was he supposed to do?
Killing them all would be a waste, but sending them back to the labor camp now...
Wouldn't all his efforts these past days be for nothing?
He had planned to have Hoshigaki Fuguki lead a group of Kiri-nin to willingly surrender to Uzushiogakure, then slowly work on their ideology to integrate them into the nation.
After all...
Jōnin were high-end talents!
Whether it was farming or teaching at the academy, they were all very useful.
But now...
"I need to think of a solution," Uzumaki Jun muttered with a sigh. "Otherwise..."
Have Fuguki recruit people?
Like a pyramid scheme—pay him for every person he convinced to join Uzushiogakure?
How much he earned would depend on Fuguki's persuasion skills.
If he managed to recruit everyone, reward him with a house, letting him achieve the pinnacle of life with a car and property?
Given the Kiri-nin's current instability and anxiety, the success rate would probably be quite high.
So...
"Have the newspaper continue following the script," Uzumaki Jun narrowed his eyes at Madara, murmuring. "And give Madara-sama a commendation flag!"
For being Uzushiogakure's helpful citizen, recognized for bravery and righteousness.
...
"Old man, why are you here?" Komaki frowned at the sudden appearance of an elderly man and a young girl. "This is a restricted area. Please show your identification."
These two appearing here now...
Were they working with the Kiri-nin?
However...
"Sorry," Uchiha Mikoto said apologetically. "We just wandered here by accident."
Then, she took out her ID.
"This man is a professor at Uzushiogakure's affiliated academy. I'm his assistant."
She handed over her ID.
"As for Madara-jii's..."
"Madara-jii?" Mikoto cautiously looked at him. "Where's yours?"
Though she didn't know why the Kiri-nin had collapsed, it was definitely related to the old man in the wheelchair. And just now...
Had she sensed a familiar chakra?
It was strange.
But...
"Hmph!" Uchiha Madara scoffed, turning his head away. "Didn't bring it."
...
Didn't bring it??
Wasn't it Uzushiogakure's rule that every citizen must carry identification at all times?
This was to prevent shinobi from other villages from infiltrating.
But now...
What to do?
Mikoto awkwardly laughed, seeing the Uzu-nin captain's frown. "Sorry, Madara-jii is quite old. His family probably keeps his ID to prevent him from losing it."
...
Madara stiffened at Mikoto's words, veins bulging on his forehead as he narrowed his eyes at her. Were Uchiha girls these days so bold?
Him, Uchiha Madara—the man who once rode Kurama like a dog, the most overpowered shinobi of his era—old?
"You..."
He was about to retort when—
"Hmph!"
Mikoto quickly glared at him, signaling him to stay quiet.
...
Fine, fine.
Madara sighed helplessly. At his age, he shouldn't bother arguing with a little girl. If Hashirama found out, he'd never hear the end of it. With a cold snort, he turned away.
"Sorry, but due to the situation," Komaki checked Mikoto's ID and found no issues, returning it, "you'll need to come with us to the police station for questioning."
"If everything checks out..."
But before he could finish—
"No need." Madara raised his head indifferently. "Someone here can vouch for me."
Who?
Before Komaki could ask—
"That red-haired brat hiding over there." Madara turned toward a nearby tree. "Come out already."
He had sensed two shinobi hiding in the forest the moment he entered.
But...
For some reason, one had slipped away.
The remaining one...
With such massive chakra and a familiar presence—who else could it be but Uzushiogakure's daimyo?
"Heh." Uzumaki Jun's resigned chuckle sounded as he appeared before Komaki in a shunshin. "This elder is indeed a newly appointed professor at Uzushiogakure's affiliated academy."
Then, he nodded politely at Mikoto, who was pushing the wheelchair.
What a headache.
He had planned to slip away, but Madara had noticed him.
"I see." Komaki relaxed upon seeing Jun-sama. So this was the old man from the rumors—"so aged he needs a cane to walk, yet still wants to contribute to education."
The Uzu-nin saluted respectfully. "Our apologies."
Madara, still displeased, gave a curt nod and said nothing more.
"Take the Kiri-nin away," Jun said, glancing at the unconscious enemies with a sigh. "Back to the labor camp, with increased surveillance."
"Don't let them escape again."
"Hai!" The Uzu-nin acknowledged and quickly began clearing the area.
Jun-sama was dismissing them.
...
"What are you trying to do?" Madara narrowed his eyes at Jun, ignoring the Uzu-nin. He only wanted to know—why was this brat lurking in the shadows when he could easily resolve things?
But...
"For the sake of peace," Jun declared righteously. "Everything I do is for the peace of the shinobi world."
No matter what, just attribute it to peace.
Someone would fill in the gaps themselves—no need for explanations.
And...
His ultimate goal was peace!
Truly, Uzumaki Jun was a traditionalist. In this materialistic shinobi world, he had never abandoned his ideals.
Stay true to the original intent, and success will follow.
So...
Ignoring Madara's twitching expression and Mikoto's stifled laughter, Jun quickly pointed at the sky. "Look, fireworks!"
"Pfft!"
Mikoto glanced at Madara's pained expression, then at Jun's pretend fascination with the fireworks, and couldn't help but giggle.
Suddenly...
Noticing Jun wink at her, Mikoto also looked up, murmuring, "So beautiful..."
But her flushed cheeks betrayed her inner turmoil.
As for Madara...
With a cold snort, he too raised his head, gazing blankly at the fireworks.
"What's so good..."
"About this..."
"Boring nonsense!"