"Only a little over four hundred refugees this time," Uzumaki Jun sighed as he looked at the list in his hands. Nearly half a month had passed, and only this many people had been gathered.
It seemed the population of the Land of Rain was truly too small.
After his speech, he had left, as the remaining tasks belonged to the various departments.
"And most of them are in a state where one person is enough to feed the whole family."
Of course, there were also a few single-parent families.
This was the norm during war, especially in a war-torn country like the Land of Rain. It was nearly impossible for an entire family to survive unharmed.
Hunger, cold, and ninja—all were terrifying threats that could take their lives.
"Hmm?"
This name?
Uzumaki Jun stared at a name on the list and murmured, "Konan?"
This was the richest woman in the ninja world!
If the explosive tags in the future weren't bought using Kakuzu's funds, then Konan could truly rank among the top ten wealthiest people in the ninja world. After all, she was the woman who could produce six hundred billion explosive tags in one go.
"I wonder if she made them herself or bought them," Uzumaki Jun muttered, rubbing his chin.
If she made them herself, then the Land of Whirlpools wouldn't need to purchase explosive tags from other villages in the future. After all, explosive tags from the Hidden Ember Village were quite expensive, and it was said that this village had been crippled by Konoha. That meant…
The price of explosive tags would rise again.
Therefore, producing explosive tags in the Land of Whirlpools was absolutely necessary. After all, explosive tags were still very useful.
"It seems we arrived in the Land of Rain too early. Konan hasn't become an orphan yet."
She wasn't wandering the Land of Rain with a dog named Little One.
"What if we bring Yahiko to the Land of Whirlpools too…"
Uzumaki Jun's eyes lit up. This was Team Toad!
If they could get along with Nagato and Konan, then Yahiko must also be a genius.
Though part of it might be due to the teachings of Jiraiya, the elite instructor of the ninja world, there was no denying their talent. If all three were recruited to the Land of Whirlpools, the country would gain three Kage-level ninja in the future.
"It seems I'll have to visit the Land of Rain."
Nighttime.
After returning to the accommodations arranged by the Land of Whirlpools, Konan's mother smiled warmly and asked, "Konan, how was it?"
"It was fun," Konan nodded, holding a lollipop in her small hand, a sweet smile on her face. "Auntie with red hair even gave me candy."
Seeing her daughter's smile, Konan's mother sighed in relief. The Land of Whirlpools hadn't lied to them. They truly provided jobs and housing for refugees like them.
The place where they now lived had been provided by the Land of Whirlpools. Though it wasn't large—just a single room with a bathroom—it was far more comfortable and sturdy than the broken-down wooden shack they had lived in before.
After listening to Lord Jun's speech, they had followed the person in charge on a brief tour of the Land of Whirlpools' factories. Only now had they returned to their assigned lodging—the place they now called home.
Of course, the first month was free. After that, they would have to pay rent, but compared to the wages they would earn, the cost of housing was minimal.
"You should call her Auntie Fusō," Konan's mother said, gently rubbing Konan's cute little head. "Mom will work hard so you can live a happy life."
"Mm!" Konan nodded seriously. "Konan will help Mom too."
"Then we'll both work hard, okay?" Konan's mother smiled.
After seeing so many job opportunities today, the one that appealed to her most was the textile factory. Eight hours of work a day, three meals provided, and a monthly wage of 150,000 ryō—this was something she could never have imagined before. Moreover, if she had children, she could bring them to the factory. There was a daycare center nearby with teachers to take care of and teach the children, and the children could even eat with their parents in the factory.
"A citizen of the Land of Whirlpools?" Konan's mother murmured, her eyes filled with determination.
She would work hard and apply for citizenship in the Land of Whirlpools!
According to what Sister Fusō had said, if she became a citizen, Konan would be able to…
And only citizens of the Land of Whirlpools could buy houses here.
When they passed by the residential area earlier, she had seen those sturdy, well-built concrete houses. A deep longing arose in her heart—she had to settle down here.
"We can do it!" Konan's mother smiled at Konan. "One day, we'll obtain citizenship in the Land of Whirlpools."
"Mm," Konan nodded seriously. "Mom can do it."
They could do it…
Konan's mother smiled as she looked out the window at the citizens of the Land of Whirlpools, their faces filled with happiness under the bright lights.
"They're so happy…"
They hadn't been deceived.
The Land of Whirlpools truly was a paradise.
On this day, all the refugees who had arrived from the Land of Rain shared the same thoughts as Konan and her mother. They stared in awe at the brightly lit Land of Whirlpools at night, their eyes filled with hope for the future.
It was all real.
Konoha.
"Councilman Danzo," the Uchiha clan head frowned as he saw Danzo appear at the Uchiha compound once again. "What is it?"
"..."
Danzo remained silent for a moment before sighing. "You've heard about recent events, haven't you?"
The Uchiha clan head nodded. Of course he had. The entire ninja world was abuzz with rumors—Konoha had sent Anbu to support the Mangekyō user…
Though he didn't know the details, the villagers had been looking at the Uchiha strangely lately, as if that deranged, clan-slaughtering Mangekyō user was one of theirs.
But…
Even he, the Uchiha clan head, didn't know of any Uchiha who possessed the Mangekyō!
He had asked the clan elders, but they didn't know either. So recently, he had restrained the clan members, warning them to be cautious.
"That Mangekyō user is not one of the Uchiha," the Uchiha clan head said coldly. "The Uchiha clan has no idea what's going on."
"Sigh, though I believe you," Danzo sighed, feigning regret, "the rest of the village won't."
Hearing Danzo's words, the Uchiha clan head frowned. He didn't know what the village's higher-ups were thinking, but looking at the Senju clan—who were now sending their entire clan out on missions—
The Uchiha clan must also be seen as an eyesore by the higher-ups.
"Don't worry. No matter what, I, Danzo, will never allow the Uchiha clan to suffer unjust accusations," Danzo quickly declared righteously, seeing the Uchiha clan head about to speak. "Believe me, I will help you."
I, Shimura Danzo, the Darkness of the Shinobi, Konoha's councilman, never lie…
"Then I thank Councilman Danzo," the Uchiha clan head nodded indifferently, as if Danzo's words hadn't moved him. "If there's anything the Uchiha can assist with…"
No matter what, Danzo had helped the Uchiha clan quite a bit recently.
So…
The Uchiha clan never owed anyone favors!
"Sigh!" Satisfied with the Uchiha clan's response, Danzo touched his right eye and sighed. "The Hokage has ordered all Uchiha on missions outside the village to return."
"After all, with this situation, it's dangerous for the Uchiha to be outside."
The Uchiha clan head's eyelids twitched, but in the end, he nodded. "Fine. I'll order them back."
It seemed the village still didn't trust the Uchiha.
"Rest assured. With me here, the Uchiha will be safe," Danzo nodded in satisfaction, smiling. "No matter what…"
"The Uchiha have shed blood and contributed to Konoha!"