Uzushiogakure.
Not long ago, news arrived from below that the airship had reached the waters of Uzushiogakure and was about to arrive.
So...
Today, most of the high-ranking officials of Uzushiogakure gathered at the dock where the airship would land. This dock was specially built, as after the war ended and the shinobi world stabilized, the airship would transition from military to civilian use. Therefore, there was no need to waste land within Uzushiogakure.
Currently, no shinobi village or nation would allow airships from other villages to freely enter their territory, which was somewhat regrettable...
Thus, for now, the airship could only enter other nations during special circumstances. The rest of the time, it was used like an ordinary ship for Gato's cargo transport.
"Jun, what brings you here today?" The village chief, seeing Uzumaki Jun arrive, immediately showed a happy expression.
Over the past few years, he had witnessed the changes in Uzushiogakure. Although the status of the Uzumaki Clan had diminished somewhat...
Uzushiogakure was truly growing stronger and wealthier, step by step.
The promises Jun had made back then were slowly being fulfilled, one by one, in the eyes of the older generation.
"I was too busy last time and couldn't come. Since I'm in the country now, I decided to stop by," Uzumaki Jun said with a smile. He hadn't told anyone about what happened in Konoha. If the clan head and elders found out, they would undoubtedly feel uncomfortable. After all, bloodline was extremely important to any clan, especially in the shinobi world, where strength relied on bloodline limits.
"After all, no matter what, they may become citizens of Uzushiogakure in the future."
Having the leader of a nation personally welcome them, combined with Uzushiogakure's "sugar-coated bullets," he was confident these disaster-stricken civilians would feel grateful.
"That's true!" The clan head nodded and laughed. "They will all be citizens of Uzushiogakure in the future!"
When he first became the head of the Uzumaki Clan, he had never imagined Uzushiogakure becoming the sixth great nation. He only wanted to rely on Konoha, one of the Five Great Shinobi Villages, to survive the turbulent times. In the end, he never expected that even the agreement left by Lord Hashirama would be betrayed...
How laughable.
But now...
He believed Uzushiogakure would succeed. It would surely become a powerful nation in the shinobi world.
His only concern was the growth of the younger generation. After all, Uzushiogakure still had too few shinobi. Even with Jun, a Kage-level figure, supporting them, he was still just one person.
"Sigh!" The clan head sighed with emotion. "We still have to hold on for a few more years!"
Uzumaki Jun paid no attention to the clan head's lament. The strength of a nation did not rely solely on the power of one individual. Of course, in a technologically advanced world, this might be possible, as the emergence of a single technological advancement could benefit countless people. But...
In this well-established shinobi world, technological development couldn't catch up overnight.
For now, the priority was to make Uzushiogakure a populous nation.
As the saying goes, "Many hands make light work." Perhaps among these people, one or two might emerge as talents who could shape Uzushiogakure's future.
"They're here," Uzumaki Jun murmured with a smile as he looked up at the sky.
...
"Uzushiogakure has been reached. Please disembark in an orderly manner," a Uzu-nin shouted to the refugees still standing quietly on the deck. "Now, please disembark one by one."
Seeing the refugees' dazed expressions, the Uzu-nin were already familiar with this scene. When the first batch of refugees arrived in Uzushiogakure, hadn't they been the same?
And now...
Those refugees had already become citizens of Uzushiogakure. If someone said, "Hey, aren't you a citizen of X-nation?" they would angrily roll up their sleeves and fight. Even their children were taught, "Child, you are a citizen of Uzushiogakure. Don't embarrass our nation. Study hard!"
This was all thanks to Lord Jun's efforts. Everyone was gradually integrating into Uzushiogakure...
Thus, the Uzu-nin believed it wouldn't be long before these refugees, too, became citizens of Uzushiogakure.
"Take your time. Everyone, slow down," the Uzu-nin said with a smile. "Hold onto your children. There's no rush."
Hearing this, the previously flustered refugees began to slow their steps, disembarking in an orderly manner under the Uzu-nin's guidance. Over the past few days on the airship, they had been filled with anxiety and confusion, fearing what Uzushiogakure might...
After all, how had they come here?
They had been forced onto the airship!
So, some of them didn't believe the Uzu-nin's promises of a happy life. Some even feared their kindness, worried they were being taken away for horrific experiments...
But now...
They had finally arrived in Uzushiogakure!
...
"Clan head, we can't go on like this," Senju Shukuma said to the Senju clan head, his face filled with worry. "Over the past few days, defending against the Kumo-nin has cost too many lives among our clansmen."
He didn't understand why the clan head had brought the entire Senju Clan to the battlefield. Even if it was to atone for the clan's sins, this wasn't the way!
Aside from Princess Tsunade and Nawaki, this was the entirety of the Senju Clan!
"It's not enough!" The Senju clan head coldly stared at the battlefield, his voice calm. "It's still not enough!"
But his tightly clenched fists betrayed his inner turmoil...
"The Senju Clan is one of the two founding clans of Konoha. We are Konoha's Senju. Now..."
"It's still not enough!"
He couldn't let the Senju Clan be disgraced. Even if it meant...
"Our Senju Clan is Konoha's clan!" The Senju clan head sighed and murmured to Senju Shukuma, "Let it end with my generation."
...
Uzumaki Jun watched as the refugees disembarked in an orderly manner under the Uzu-nin's arrangements and nodded in satisfaction. At least there were no stampedes. With a smile, he led the clan head toward the Uzu-nin.
At that moment, the Uzu-nin in charge of the handover approached and respectfully said, "Lord Jun, Clan Head."
He then handed the compiled list of refugees to Uzumaki Jun with both hands.
"You've worked hard," Uzumaki Jun said with a nod and a smile. "Rest for two days before returning."
There was no hurry. By the time they returned, they could bring back the next batch of refugees.
"It was no trouble," the Uzu-nin saluted, his expression serious. "It was all in service of the people."
"..."
It seemed Komaki and Kai had trained them well.
Their political awareness was quite high.
Hearing this, Uzumaki Jun returned the salute, equally serious. "In service of the people."
He then dismissed the Uzu-nin to rest. After all, the battlefield wouldn't miss a few shadow clones.
Now then...
Seeing the handover completed, Uzumaki Jun nodded and led the elders forward.
Next, it was time for him to... well, comfort the refugees and bring them hope!
Gazing at the refugees below, their faces filled with confusion, fear, and numbness, Uzumaki Jun sighed inwardly. War...
Was unavoidable for now. Even Uzushiogakure would eventually be dragged into it. So, his only hope now was to protect Uzushiogakure, to watch it grow stronger bit by bit, ensuring it wouldn't be destroyed by the chaotic times. To see...
This political system bring true peace to the turbulent shinobi world!