The best way to make the Kiri-nin integrate into Uzushiogakure was to have them establish families in the Land of Whirlpools. Either by recognizing parents, or...
Getting married and having children.
This was also thanks to the fact that shinobi villages had no real concept of a nation. After all, before the villages were established, most shinobi were wanderers. And family...
Was what they desired most in their hearts.
Hashirama probably never imagined that the village system he created to end clan-based conflicts would eventually turn into wars between nations.
But...
All the benefits ended up going to the villages.
As for the nations...
They could only cheer from the sidelines.
It might seem like the daimyo had the authority to decide the Kage, but...
As long as the village proposed a candidate, the daimyo would almost always agree. After all, those who didn't might suddenly find themselves surrounded by unknown shinobi.
Just look at how Asuma secretly became one of the Twelve Guardian Ninja in the anime.
Wasn't it because, back then, Kazuma believed that Kage were unnecessary and that shinobi authority should be controlled by the Fire Daimyo?
So, unsurprisingly, all the shinobi who opposed the villages ended up dead, and the daimyo became too scared to resist. Even when reestablishing the Twelve Guardian Ninja, they had to ask Konoha for permission first.
"The shinobi world had a chance to unify, but Hashirama gave up on it," Uzumaki Jun shook his head regretfully. "What a shame."
After all, shinobi, from the beginning to the end, never truly embraced the concept of a nation. In this era, making these shinobi merge into one big family wasn't too difficult. Just look at those who sacrificed themselves for Konoha...
The Senju and Uchiha clans were truly great families!
Less than a hundred years after the villages were founded, there were already kind-hearted shinobi who, for the sake of village harmony, slaughtered their entire clans!
"After more than two years, the Kiri-nin should have mostly adapted to life in Uzushiogakure," Uzumaki Jun narrowed his eyes and murmured. "It's time for Hoshigaki Fuguki, the revolutionary warrior, to wrap things up."
...
"I'm sorry," Pakkun Jūzō said, looking at the furious Hoshigaki Fuguki before him. After a moment of silence, he continued, "In the end, I..."
Still betrayed the village...
Today, after work, Pakkun Jūzō had been carrying two fish home to cook when Hoshigaki Fuguki unexpectedly came to see him. So, he had no choice but to follow him to the rooftop of their former residence.
The rooftop of the reform camp dormitory.
By now, most of the Kiri-nin had begun joining Uzushiogakure. Of course, some were still hesitant because of their families back in Kirigakure.
After all, if they became missing-nin, their families would surely...
So, they still didn't dare to defect.
Not long ago, the Uzu-nin began relaxing restrictions on Kiri-nin who had shown good behavior and joined Uzushiogakure. However, they still had to report to their work sites every morning for labor reform.
But Pakkun Jūzō knew...
This wouldn't last much longer. After all these years, he understood Uzushiogakure's true intentions...
Uzushiogakure...
Wanted to make these dozen or so Kiri-nin their own.
So, as expected, under humane management and a harmonious living environment free of discrimination, over the years, these Kiri-nin had gradually integrated into Uzushiogakure.
But a few were still holding out.
Among them was the hero of Kirigakure standing before him...
Hoshigaki Fuguki!!
He still hadn't given up on his desire to return to the village.
For those shinobi who refused to submit due to family or other reasons, Uzushiogakure had not released them. They still lived in the reform camp.
"You traitor," Hoshigaki Fuguki glared at Pakkun Jūzō with tears of anger in his eyes. "Why? Why?"
"Tell me, why did you give up?"
I thought you'd be the last one to surrender, but...
You gave in even earlier than I expected, and even took in a mother?
Thinking of this...
Hoshigaki Fuguki felt a pang in his liver. The Kiri-nin who had joined Uzushiogakure were starting to earn wages, and some had even started families.
It was...
So enviable!
He was the first to arrive, so why did things turn out like this?
So...
"What did Kirigakure ever do to wrong you?" Hoshigaki Fuguki asked tearfully, with a pleading tone. "We promised to return to the village together."
Why were you living a happy life now?
He heard you'd even saved up some money and were planning to renovate your adoptive mother's rundown house.
He...
Hoshigaki Fuguki wanted that kind of life too!
But...
The organization wouldn't allow it, and he was helpless.
After all, there were still a few shinobi hesitating because of their families in the village.
His...
Hoshigaki Fuguki's mission wasn't over yet!
"I..." Pakkun Jūzō opened his mouth but ultimately fell silent. After a moment, he said, "I'm sorry."
In the end, he was the one who gave up first. As a man, Pakkun Jūzō disdained making excuses.
He had failed Hoshigaki Fuguki.
"..."
Hoshigaki Fuguki fell silent for a moment before finally letting out a deep sigh, as if expending all his strength.
"Go," he said in a low voice. "But..."
"I won't give up."
He walked up to Pakkun Jūzō and patted him on the shoulder, giving him a faint smile.
"Lastly..."
"I wish you..."
"Happiness."
So...
When you learn the truth later, don't come after me. Hoshigaki Fuguki...
Had another mission to carry out.
Then...
With the demeanor of a man abandoned by all, he shook his head and left dejectedly.
"Hoshigaki Fuguki..." Pakkun Jūzō watched his lonely retreating figure, tears welling in his eyes as he whispered hoarsely, "Thank... you."
You...
Were truly a good person, always thinking of your fellow Kiri-nin.
Pakkun Jūzō understood why Hoshigaki Fuguki had come to see him.
He...
On one hand, refused to betray the village out of personal loyalty. On the other, he didn't want the Kiri-nin who had surrendered to suffer from guilt. So...
This time, Hoshigaki Fuguki had come to tell him to pass on a message to the other Kiri-nin: If he escaped, he wouldn't report them to the Mizukage. They could live in Uzushiogakure without worry.
He...
Hoshigaki Fuguki was a good man!!
Pakkun Jūzō wiped away his tears and looked at the setting sun, murmuring, "It's getting dark. Mother must be worried by now."
It was time to go home and cook.
"If only..." He glanced at the fish in his hand with longing and murmured uncertainly, "Kirigakure could be like Uzushiogakure."
Where civilians and shinobi could coexist peacefully without barriers.
Here...
He truly felt that shinobi weren't just tools, but...
People, living, breathing human beings.
...
Summer of Year 36 in the Konoha calendar.
Kiri-nin Hoshigaki Fuguki attacked Uzushiogakure shinobi and escaped from the Land of Whirlpools.
Although the Uzu-nin immediately dispatched troops to pursue him...
For some reason, Hoshigaki Fuguki managed to break the chakra seal Uzushiogakure had placed on him and fled underwater. As a result, the Uzu-nin still hadn't captured him.
"Lord Jun," Pakkun Jūzō knelt on the ground, pressing his forehead to the floor. "I..."
"What is it?" Uzumaki Jun sat in his office chair and sighed. "Speak."
"I..." Pakkun Jūzō raised his head earnestly. "I beg you to spare the remaining Kiri-nin. They..."
"Impossible," Uzumaki Jun shook his head sharply. "I've lost hope in these stubborn Kiri-nin."
"If we let this continue, there might be a second Hoshigaki Fuguki."
Uzumaki Jun narrowed his eyes and stared at Pakkun Jūzō, speaking coldly, "You know Uzushiogakure's 400,000 citizens can't withstand an invasion by all five great villages."
"I..." Pakkun Jūzō opened his mouth but ultimately sighed. "I'll try to persuade them again."
He never expected...
That after Hoshigaki Fuguki visited him yesterday, he would escape that very night. Indeed, Uzushiogakure held too many secrets that couldn't be exposed to other villages. Otherwise...
They would be doomed.
And...
Hoshigaki Fuguki had truly never given up!
What about him?
He had cowardly chosen to submit to Uzushiogakure.
"They have their reasons," Pakkun Jūzō said. "Please give me one more chance."
"If it still doesn't work..."
"I'll personally end their lives."
Let him...
Fulfill Hoshigaki Fuguki's ideals one last time.
"..."
Uzumaki Jun looked at Pakkun Jūzō speechlessly. What a man!
He actually wanted to sacrifice the remaining Kiri-nin to protect those who had already surrendered to Uzushiogakure, while also honoring Hoshigaki Fuguki's loyalty!
But...
He wanted to keep them all!
"Fine," Uzumaki Jun nodded faintly. "I'll give you three days."
"If after three days..."
His eyes sharpened...
"Uzushiogakure will take action."
Three days should be enough for that fatso to do his job.
So...
Uzushiogakure would give them hope again in their darkest hour.
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