After leaving the Hokage Building, Uzumaki Jun fell into deep thought. He knew that Sarutobi Hiruzen and Danzo wouldn't easily believe his words, so his next task was to fill Uchiha Shin's evil organization with members…
This way, it would become a real, large-scale organization that could rival the Akatsuki.
Perhaps in the future, he and the Akatsuki might even join forces to lead the shinobi world in attacking Uchiha Shin's organization.
This was practically playing both sides!
Just thinking about it was exciting.
But…
What should he name it?
"It seems I'll have to make the Akatsuki establish a branch company," Uzumaki Jun muttered, rubbing his chin. "This organization will be used to take the blame."
After returning, he would have the Kamizuru Clan and the Chinoike Clan dye their hair. No matter what, they couldn't be discovered for now.
At the very least, they had to wait until Zetsu found a replacement for Madara.
And…
Only then would Konoha shift its focus from the Akatsuki to this new organization. Since it was essentially his own organization anyway, when the time came…
Uzushiogakure could just intensify its crackdown on the "evil" group.
As Uzumaki Jun pondered how to create this new organization, a Konoha-nin appeared before him and said respectfully, "Lord Jun, Lady Mito requests your presence!"
"Hiruzen, do you really believe that brat's words?" Danzo frowned. "No matter how you look at it, this matter is related to them!"
"Sigh, what else can we do now?" Sarutobi Hiruzen took a puff of his pipe and said helplessly, "Uzushiogakure is currently Konoha's ally, while the Akatsuki and Uchiha Shin are enemies. Right now, we don't know anything. Only by investigating who this Uchiha Shin really is can we restore Konoha's reputation."
"But…" Danzo's face darkened. "Right now, the village is spreading tales of Uzushiogakure's righteousness. No matter how you look at it, this is Uzushiogakure's scheme. Are we just going to let it go?"
"This might be someone else's attempt to destroy the relationship between Konoha and Uzushiogakure," Hiruzen sighed. "Until things become clear, Konoha must not act recklessly."
Besides, Konoha still needed Uzushiogakure to fend off Suna-nin and Rain-nin.
"Recall the Uchiha clan members on missions," Hiruzen set down his pipe and stood up, hands behind his back. "Right now, the entire shinobi world is watching the Uchiha clan. It's not safe for them outside the village."
Hearing this, Danzo's pupils shrank in shock. "You mean to…"
"This is all for Konoha," Hiruzen said gloomily. "You know the original plan was to wipe out a few minor villages to intimidate the others, but now…"
"The entire shinobi world is watching Konoha…"
Knock knock!
"Enter!" Hiruzen snapped irritably. Why did someone always knock just as he was getting to the important part? He glared at the Anbu who entered. "What is it?"
"The Uzushio ambassador has been summoned by Lady Mito," the Anbu reported respectfully.
"Lady Mito?" Hiruzen and Danzo both frowned.
"What could she want?"
"Grandma Mito!" Uzumaki Jun looked at the increasingly frail Uzumaki Mito and sighed inwardly, forcing a smile. "What did you call me for?"
"Ah, Jun," Uzumaki Mito sat up with difficulty, leaning against thick cushions, and said nostalgically, "You've grown so much in these past few years."
"Grandma Mito still looks as spirited as ever," Jun smiled. "Not old at all."
"No, no," Mito shook her head with a chuckle. "I don't have many years left." Her eyes grew distant. "Hashirama, I'll be seeing you soon."
Uzumaki Jun silently watched her, waiting for her to refocus. No matter what, Uzushiogakure owed her for those sealing techniques, not to mention the scrolls of Hashirama and Tobirama's jutsu.
Hiruzen wasn't generous enough to hand those over on his own—this must have been Mito's doing.
"I called you here because I need your help with something," Mito said, her eyes narrowing sadly. "I wronged her…"
"What is it?" Jun asked curiously. Had he misheard, or had her voice carried grief and regret just now?
"Please…"
"An airship?" Sandaime Kazekage, looking at the intel in his hands, muttered in amazement. "This is truly a formidable tool!"
Whether for transporting supplies, people, or surprise attacks, these airships had immense strategic value.
After a moment of thought, he called out, "Someone!"
"Lord Kazekage," an Anbu appeared and bowed. "Your orders?"
"Deliver this letter to the Uzushio ambassador," the Kazekage said coldly. "And observe what the Uzu-nin are up to."
Suna wanted airships too!
But they had no money. What could they do?
Even though his Magnet Release could earn money, the village still didn't have enough funds to buy airships.
So…
"I hope that brat agrees," the Kazekage smirked. "Otherwise, don't blame Suna for breaking our agreement."
After leaving the Senju residence, Uzumaki Jun fell into silence, his eyes icy as he glanced at the Hokage Building.
He never expected…
He truly never expected that Hiruzen would go this far for a Jinchūriki. If Hashirama were ever resurrected via Edo Tensei, how would the Sandaime Hokage face the Shodaime?
Giving Hashirama a daughter out of nowhere—Hashirama would beat him to death.
Though in the end, Danzo would probably take the blame again.
"That old monkey is digging his own grave," Jun sneered.
No clan would tolerate this. What surprised him most was that Mito had agreed.
"It seems that in Mito's heart, the village Hashirama built is more important than anything else."
Since he had promised Mito to take care of her, then…
"Consider it respecting the elderly and caring for the young," Jun sighed. "We'll settle this debt with Konoha later."
In the sky…
An airship named Hope No. 1 slowly approached Uzushiogakure.
On the deck…
"Mom, mom!" A blue-haired little girl ran around excitedly before stopping beside a woman. "Will we get to live in a big house and eat delicious candy when we reach Uzushiogakure?"
"Of course," the mother smiled, patting the girl's head. "Xiao Nan won't have to suffer from cold or hunger anymore, and you'll even get to go to school." But…
Her eyes were still filled with worry.
After all, they were heading to a completely unfamiliar place. She couldn't just blindly trust the words of that shinobi.
No matter what…
"Xiao Nan, you must be happy," the mother knelt down, looking into her daughter's eyes seriously. "Promise me you'll be happy."
"Mm!" Xiao Nan nodded with a bright smile. "I'll be happy with Mom!"
Hearing this, the mother smiled faintly.
In the Land of Rain, their fate would have been… So why not embrace this new life with hope? Maybe what they said was true?
But…
The mother's gaze hardened as she smiled at her daughter.
No matter what, she wouldn't let Xiao Nan get hurt!
Characters in this chapter:
[漩涡洵 - Uzumaki Jun]
[猿飞日斩 - Sarutobi Hiruzen]
[团藏 - Danzo]
[宇智波信 - Uchiha Shin]
[漩涡水户 - Uzumaki Mito]
[沙门 - Sandaime Kazekage]
[小南 - Konan]
[绝 - Zetsu]
[神鹤一族 - Kamizuru Clan]
[血之池一族 - Chinoike Clan]
[千手柱间 - Senju Hashirama]
[千手扉间 - Senju Tobirama]
[宇智波一族 - Uchiha Clan]
[晓组织 - Akatsuki]
[砂隐村 - Sunagakure]
[雨隐村 - Amegakure]
[木叶隐村 - Konohagakure]
[涡潮隐村 - Uzushiogakure]
[白绝 - White Zetsu]