Konoha…
A prosperous, peaceful village. Representing the military strength of the Land of Fire, the most powerful of the Five Great Nations, hailed as the strongest hidden village…
A small rural village??
Now, this once-tranquil village is also immersed in the sorrow of the war that just ended.
Uzumaki Jun looked at the wooden gate before him, adorned with the familiar Konoha village emblem, and a look of reminiscence crossed his face…
Finally, he was seeing the real thing. In his past life, he had only ever seen it on TV. He still remembered the two gatekeepers of Konoha, who seemed to survive all the way into the Boruto era…
Their vitality was truly tenacious!!
Uzumaki Jun sneered as he glanced at the Uzumaki symbol above. Hailed as the village of the strongest Hokage and the most prosperous era…
Hah!
This was nothing more than a fabrication to consolidate political power.
After all, when the short-lived, Danzō, the unrecognized Sixth Hokage, died just before the Fourth Great Shinobi War began, what did the two shameless high-ranking elders of Konoha say?
One was the light of Konoha, and the other was the darkness of Konoha. Together, they built Konoha's golden age…
These words were truly…
Disgusting!
Even if they wanted to make their political achievements look better, they couldn't just boast like that!
They outright called it the strongest and most prosperous era!!
It was just like how Six Paths Madara hyped up Might Guy's Eight Gates—all to flaunt his own status as the strongest in the shinobi world!!
What "I acknowledge you as the strongest in taijutsu" was nothing but empty praise.
Didn't you see? Guy went all out with a flurry of moves, but in the end…
He was nearly dead, and the damage he dealt didn't even outpace Madara's regeneration!
Those two old fossils were probably the same. By hyping up Konoha's light and darkness, they were hyping themselves up. And later, the title of "Strongest Hokage" that appeared was likely just their own propaganda…
After all, they were from the same class, grew up together, and were both high-ranking officials in Konoha. If even the Hokage was that amazing, how could they be weak?
Hearing that they were classmates of the "Strongest Hokage" from the "Strongest Hidden Village," people would probably be too scared to move!
And…
Those two old fossils were still stirring up trouble even in the Boruto era, restricting Naruto's authority…
Uzumaki Jun couldn't help but sigh inwardly. They really lived long enough!!
"Lord Jun, please wait a moment," the Konoha jonin said casually. "We need to inform the Hokage."
Uzumaki Kai and Uzumaki Jun narrowed their eyes upon hearing this.
Especially Uzumaki Kai, who was about to roll up his sleeves and throw hands. What did he mean by "inform the Hokage"? The reason the Uzumaki Clan had come to Konoha was at the Hokage's request in the first place. There was no way the gatekeepers didn't know. His words…
Were a slap to the face of Uzushiogakure!
But Uzumaki Jun stopped Uzumaki Kai. Right now, Uzushiogakure couldn't afford to appear too aggressive. Playing weak was the best strategy. It was better not to cause trouble.
Besides…
Konoha's reputation was still quite useful. There was no need to sour relations now!
"Alright," Uzumaki Jun replied with a faint smile. "Then should we return to Uzushiogakure first and let you 'inform' the Hokage properly?"
"..."
The Konoha jonin didn't seem bothered by Uzumaki Jun's words. A Kage had the dignity of a Kage, and it wasn't something a mere jonin could threaten. So…
"The Hokage has already notified us," the Konoha gatekeeper said with a smile, stepping forward. "Jonin Waraku was unaware because he was on a mission."
"Our deepest apologies!!"
Hearing the gatekeeper's words, Uzumaki Jun didn't press further. He simply nodded lightly and said, "Then may we enter now?"
"Of course!!" the gatekeeper said. "We hope you enjoy your stay in Konoha!!" Then, he turned to Waraku. "Sorry for the trouble, Lord Waraku."
Waraku shrugged and nodded at the gatekeeper. "You've worked hard."
He had only been testing the temperament of Uzushiogakure's Kage. This was also the Hokage's order. After all, the kid was only seven years old. They wanted to gauge Uzumaki Jun's mindset…
A seven-year-old Kage!!
It was terrifying. Who knew if he might surpass Lord Hashirama in the future?
So they had to be cautious about everything regarding him!!
"Let's go," Uzumaki Jun said, ignoring the silent exchange between the Konoha shinobi. He led Uzumaki Kai inside.
As Uzumaki Jun and the others left…
"So that's the seven-year-old Kage?" one gatekeeper murmured, watching the small figure disappear into the distance. "It's simply unbelievable."
"Indeed," the other gatekeeper agreed. "The realm of geniuses defies all logic."
"But this is just too demoralizing," the first gatekeeper grumbled. "Want to grab some ramen after our shift to recover?"
"Sure!"
"Hokage-sama!" A Konoha ANBU knelt on one knee before Hiruzen Sarutobi. "The people from Uzushiogakure have arrived."
So they've finally come…
Hiruzen took a slow drag from his pipe. "Dispatch ANBU to monitor them. Report every movement immediately."
"Yes!"
Watching the ANBU leave…
Hiruzen sighed heavily. He didn't know whether his decision was right or wrong, but…
Everything he did was for Konoha's prosperity!
He…
Had no regrets!!
"If it's for the village, any sacrifice is worth it!!" Hiruzen declared firmly.
"Lady Mito, the people from Uzushiogakure have arrived," a maidservant said respectfully as she entered.
"They're here?" Mito Uzumaki murmured, her gaze distant. "What was meant to come has finally arrived." She looked up at the maidservant. "What are they doing now? And…"
"Has the Uzumaki Clan's Kage come?"
"They are touring Konoha," the maidservant replied with a smile. "That seven-year-old child? He's so young! Who would've thought he'd be so strong?"
"It's simply unimaginable!"
Mito sighed wistfully. "The Uzumaki, the Senju, and the Uchiha are all clans with millennia of history. Each has its own ninjutsu, its own strongest. Like Hashirama, Tobirama, Madara… And in this generation…"
"For the Uzumaki, that person is me."
"But back then, I left the Uzumaki Clan, leading to the situation they face today."
"Now, the Uzumaki Clan finally has a Kage again." A faint smile appeared on Mito's face. "At least now, they won't have to worry about others coveting them."
"Lady Mito seems happy to see a junior from her clan," the maidservant remarked warmly.
"Is that so?" Mito murmured, her expression conflicted. She didn't know whether she should agree to Hiruzen's request, but…
The matter of the Nine-Tails had to be resolved!!
A peaceful world without war…
That was Hashirama's dream. And her own longing!!
But the Uzumaki Clan… Mito didn't know what to do.
No matter what, the Uzumaki were her birth family…
She…
"Send someone to inform that boy," Mito said, her eyes firm. "I want to meet him. No matter what…"
The Uzumaki Clan was no longer something she could decide for. She would leave it to the current Uzumaki Kage.
Let him decide what to do!!
"Yes!" the maidservant replied.