Uzumaki Jun took Uzumaki Kai and directly left the encirclement of the Kamizuru Clan, heading toward Konoha. Regarding Konoha's act of abandoning their allies, Uzumaki Jun expressed disdain. If you're going to run, then run. Why did you have to shout at him?
Wasn't that just telling everyone that Uzumaki Jun was the key figure of this team?
Even selling out allies wasn't done so blatantly. Besides…
The Land of Whirlpools and Konoha weren't even allies to begin with!
"Lord Jun, are we not recruiting anymore?" Uzumaki Kai asked when he saw Uzumaki Jun leading them away without hesitation. Although Lord Jun had posted a recruitment notice…
Wouldn't it be hard for people to believe without proper communication?
"It's fine. They probably won't have an easy time when they return to their village," Uzumaki Jun replied casually. "They have no choice but to relocate if they want to survive."
This was the peaceful period after the end of the First Great Ninja War. Every nation and village was digesting the gains from the war. Those who gained nothing…
Were striving hard to catch up, hoping to win the next war.
So the Kamizuru Clan's ambush near Konoha was definitely unauthorized. Even if they weren't treated as traitors by the Tsuchikage upon returning, they wouldn't have an easy time. Didn't the Kamizuru Clan later get reduced to just the Bee Trio?
And even then…
They were a trio with questionable intelligence. Well, more accurately, two uncles and a girl.
In the end, they were still wiped out by Konoha!
Hearing Lord Jun's explanation, Uzumaki Kai stopped asking further. Lord Jun had his reasons for acting this way. As a shinobi, he didn't need excessive curiosity. But…
"What about Konoha?" Uzumaki Kai asked, still resentful about the Konoha jōnin selling them out. He never expected a Konoha jōnin to be so shameless. Were the relations between the Land of Whirlpools and Konoha really that good?
Absolutely not… No, wait. Konoha and the Land of Whirlpools were supposed to be longtime allies!
So Konoha's act of selling out their allies was disgraceful and unacceptable. If word got out…
Konoha's mission volume would probably drop.
"No need to bother with them," Uzumaki Jun shook his head. "It's better that they ran. We have no grudge against the Kamizuru Clan anyway. With them gone, it'll be easier for us to recruit."
"After all, Konoha's Aburame Clan and the Kamizuru Clan are mortal enemies!"
"So this time, we'll just say we knew nothing. After the Konoha shinobi sold us out… No, after they retreated, we followed suit and left immediately."
"Yes!" Uzumaki Kai could only comply helplessly. It seemed they would have to settle the score another time.
Just then…
"Swish—swish—"
Several Konoha ANBU figures appeared, each standing on the trees, staring at Uzumaki Jun and Uzumaki Kai.
"Oh? Reinforcements?" Uzumaki Kai sneered.
Konoha probably wished the entire Uzumaki Clan would die out!
"Lord Jun, Lord Kai," the Konoha jōnin who had fled earlier ignored Uzumaki Kai's mockery and stepped forward, speaking calmly. "Where are the enemies? I went to bring backup."
"..."
Faced with such shameless words, Uzumaki Jun simply ignored him. Backup? More like running into ANBU scouts along the way and bringing them here.
"I don't know," Uzumaki Jun shrugged. "When you told me to retreat, I retreated."
"..."
The Konoha jōnin narrowed his eyes. Did he think they were fools? If that were true, why did they arrive so late?
But…
He couldn't press further, knowing the enemies had come for Konoha.
The ANBU member nodded at the Konoha jōnin. "Take them back to the village. I'll lead a team to investigate."
"Yes!"
Konoha…
"Ah…" Sarutobi Hiruzen rubbed his temples and took a puff from his pipe, murmuring, "The representatives from the Land of Whirlpools should be arriving soon."
He didn't know what impact the Land of Whirlpools' representatives would have on Konoha, but…
The Nine-Tails issue did need to be resolved.
"Someone," Sarutobi Hiruzen called. "Bring Shimura Danzō here."
"Yes!" A shadow flickered as a voice responded.
Sarutobi Hiruzen stared at the crystal ball in front of him, scanning the security situation around Konoha. Although the war had just ended, the villagers' mental state hadn't recovered yet. They were still immersed in the sorrow and…
Fear of war.
A heavy atmosphere was the common theme in all major villages now.
"This won't do," Sarutobi Hiruzen sighed. What was supposed to happen after a war?
It was the best time for development, growth, and repopulation!
But there was nothing he could do. The grief in their hearts could only fade with time, waiting…
For time to wash away their sorrow.
"Hiruzen," Danzō walked in, frowning at his old friend. "Why did you call me here?"
What was the reason for summoning him now?
He had already paid the money!
There shouldn't be any issues left.
Unless there was another scapegoat… No, another matter that required his involvement?
As Konoha's darkness, for the sake of the village, this scapegoat… No, this task…
He would bear… No, accomplish!
Sarutobi Hiruzen took a puff from his pipe, then raised his head, his sharp gaze fixed on Danzō. After a long moment, he finally spoke slowly, "Recently, the head of the Senju Clan has been complaining that you keep causing trouble for them."
He was almost driven mad by the Senju Clan head's nagging. After all, the Senju were the clan of the First Hokage and the Second Hokage!
If you keep stirring up trouble, it puts me in a difficult position!
The village needed peace and development now. There couldn't be any more mishaps. And…
They were practically pointing at his nose and calling him ungrateful!
Sarutobi Hiruzen sighed and said, "Koharu also mentioned it. This is our teacher's clan!"
"Shinobi who disobey orders have no value," Danzō retorted coldly, narrowing his eyes with a grim expression.
"But the Senju Clan is…" Sarutobi Hiruzen said helplessly. He didn't want to push things too far. After all, Konoha was founded by Lord Hashirama, and Lord Tobirama was his teacher. His teacher had sacrificed himself for them back then.
"Hiruzen, your control over the village…" Danzō sighed inwardly, disappointed that his old friend didn't understand him. Everything he did…
Was for the sake of the village!
Hearing Danzō's words, Sarutobi Hiruzen rested his chin on his hands, deep in thought. He understood what Danzō meant. Why had he pushed Danzō into the role of the scapegoat… No, the one who walked in darkness? It was because Konoha had too many clans, and they restricted the Hokage's authority.
Although recent actions had forced these clans to rein in their behavior, the level of control…
Still wasn't enough!
If the Senju Clan could be…
Sarutobi Hiruzen took another puff from his pipe, his eyes narrowing slightly. Perhaps this was also an opportunity.
An opportunity to fully consolidate power in the village…
"I never intended to do anything to our teacher's clan," Danzō said flatly. "All they need to do is hand over those who disobeyed orders and went to the Land of Whirlpools without permission."
"..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen fell silent for a moment, then set down his pipe and sighed, as if conceding. "This matter…"
"Handle it as you see fit."
"But remember…"
"The Senju are our teacher's clan!"
He…
Didn't want to push things too far.