"Enough." Keito's voice was sharp, making the room fall silent once again.
"I know what you want to say, but there are more important matters I need to address. Leave."
The silence hung for a moment before, reluctantly, the elders and clan members began to exit the room.
Some of them shot glances at Reiji with expressions of annoyance or disbelief.
They did not know that the young man they underestimated was a genius who had brought many innovations to the Uzumaki Clan.
Reiji himself had intentionally kept that a secret.
Let them think what they want—that's not Reiji's concern.
Once the room was left with just the two of them, the atmosphere felt heavier.
Keito let out a long sigh, then looked at Reiji with an expression that was hard to interpret.
"So, Uncle... what was the outcome?" Reiji asked in a flat voice, but his eyes sharpened, waiting for an answer.
Keito paused for a moment before finally responding in a grim tone. "Konoha will not help."
Keito's jaw clenched tightly.
There was clear anger etched on Keito's face, even though he was trying to control it.
Reiji was not surprised, but he still took a deep breath.
Kushina—Keito's daughter and Karina's younger sister—had been taken to Konoha a few months ago.
That alone was enough to make Keito furious.
And now, when they truly needed help, Konoha refused.
...
...
...
The air in the room felt heavy, filled with the remnants of anger that had just erupted.
The faint scent of burning incense lingered, but it was not enough to ease the tension hanging in the air.
The sturdy wooden walls seemed to absorb the anger of the elders and clan members who had just left with heavy footsteps, leaving traces of their fury still lingering in the room.
Keito stood near a round table cluttered with scrolls and maps that had begun to crumple from being touched too often by hands trembling with emotion.
Keito's face was stern, his jaw clenched so tightly that the muscles were tense, while his eyes burned with intensity.
But who could blame Keito?
When the Uzumaki Clan truly needed help, Konoha chose to let them face the threat alone.
Not just Keito, but the entire clan now felt a betrayal that pierced sharper than a kunai.
Reiji stood across from Keito, his arms crossed over his chest.
Reiji's sharp eyes traced his uncle's face, reading an expression that had never been this heavy before.
"Can you explain it, Uncle?" Reiji finally asked, his voice remaining calm, but there was a hidden tension within it.
Keito let out a long sigh, as if he were trying to suppress the anger boiling in his chest.
"Haaah... When our envoys arrived in Konoha, they immediately reported our situation to the Hokage," Keito said, his voice low but filled with restrained anger.
As Keito clenched his fist, his nails dug into his palm. "The Hokage quickly called a meeting."
"But... not a meeting with us."
"They gathered on their own, discussing behind closed doors, without allowing a single representative from the Uzumaki Clan to enter."
Reiji raised an eyebrow. "So they didn't even let our envoy participate in the discussions?"
Keito nodded, his expression hardening further. "After a long wait, our envoy was finally called. And do you know what the Hokage said?"
Keito let out a small laugh—a cold laugh filled with mockery. "The old man simply said they needed more time to 'consider' before making a decision."
Reiji fell silent.
Keito slammed his fist on the table. The scrolls on the table trembled slightly from the impact.
"That's nonsense! That's just their excuse to refuse without being straightforward!"
"If Konoha really wanted to help, they wouldn't delay this decision!" Keito's voice echoed, filled with anger that was on the verge of exploding.
------------------------------
[Announcement: A New Novel Has Been Added!
The Puppet Maker in the World of Naruto
A man who is a scientist, researcher, and expert mechanic in robotics dies in a massive explosion that occurs in his laboratory while developing an advanced robot project. However, instead of experiencing death as he thought, the man awakens in another world—a strange place with vast stretches of desert.
There, the man is surrounded by people who can jump high, calling themselves ninjas. The confusion he initially felt grows as he realizes that this world is not unfamiliar to him. This is the world of Naruto! However, there is one thing that surprises him.
"Isn't this Sunagakure? Why am I not in Konoha? This poorest village... Oh my God, this is serious!"
Now, in the midst of a new life filled with danger and uncertainty, the scientist must find a way to survive in Sunagakure, a harsh place full of limitations. With his robotic knowledge, can the man change his fate in this ninja world, or will he fall along with the village?]
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