Can You Sing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star? (Two-in-One)

"One ship—there's another ship."

Suddenly, a Mist Ninja shouted, "It's Lord Jouei! Lord Jouei's ship wasn't destroyed!"

Jōyō? Could it be...

Turning around, he indeed saw that one of the ships had not been destroyed. Its surface was covered in a layer of pristine white ice, making it especially conspicuous amid the blazing flames and wreckage. Although it had withstood the flames for now, the ice on its surface was visibly melting at an alarming rate.

The Mist Ninja commander frowned as he looked at the tall, black-haired Jōyō on the ship. Damn it, he actually got to steal the spotlight. The Second Hokage was planning to...

Xun Uzumaki saw him as well. Black hair, tall, handsome, and capable of using Ice Style—there was no need to look any further. He had to be from the Yuki Clan. And those narrow eyes... this image was awfully familiar! Could he be the Third Mizukage?

As for why it would not ignite, that required an explanation of the three elements of ignition.

But what was going on here?

They were attacking a weak little country, yet both the Second and Third had come along.

"You're not afraid of Molotov Cocktails, but are you afraid of Explosive Tags?" Xun Uzumaki narrowed his eyes and stared at Jōyō Minazuki as he muttered. Although Ice Style could keep gasoline from reaching its ignition point, he refused to believe this Yuki Clan member had enough Chakra to keep it up amid such raging flames.

The Uzumaki Clan's Chakra was unrivaled in the world—well, except for the Senju Clan, of course.

"Everyone, use Explosive Tags."

Jōyō Minazuki frowned at the increasingly fierce flames. He had also noticed that these flames were unusual. The smell was simply too overpowering. But if this continued, his Chakra would not hold out! Realizing this, he immediately turned to the person beside him and said, "Start the ship. Get us out of here!"

The Mist Ninja beside Jōyō Minazuki shouted in acknowledgment, "Yes, Lord Jouei!"

But...

"Damn it!!" Jōyō Minazuki looked up at the objects drifting down from the sky. "Explosive Tags!!"

"Hurry up and start the ship. Leave!"

This ship absolutely could not be lost! Otherwise, how would they send word back to Kirigakure? And their losses in this invasion had been severe. Hozuki Gengetsu would probably...

Heh. Even if they won, he would not have it easy.

Fuck, let's see if you Hozuki Clan bastards still dare to stir up trouble. You actually planned to make the Third Mizukage come from the Hozuki Clan too. But now...

There was no need to think about it!!

You should pay back the money first before thinking about anything else! What, you would not pay? It had nothing to do with the Hozuki Clan? This was war, and war meant losses, so there was no need for compensation?

What kind of joke was that? This war of aggression had been launched by the Hozuki Clan's Second Mizukage! If they were not going after the Hozuki Clan, then who would they go after? Besides, the Hozuki Clan had been getting far too arrogant lately. Plenty of people in the village had long since grown sick of them.

They had even placed him, the Yuki Clan genius Jōyō Minazuki, in the logistics unit?

They did not want him building up achievements. Now this had become a huge problem. Whether the Hozuki Clan wanted to compensate them or not, they would have to! Even the logistics commander was Hozuki Gengetsu's confidant and had nothing to do with the Yuki Clan.

Jōyō Minazuki's expression remained calm as he coolly watched the Explosive Tags rain down from above, but inwardly, he was cursing furiously. If he could protect this ship, then no matter what, all these achievements would be his! And if Hozuki Gengetsu failed again, heh!!

Village Chief, you had better hurry up and figure out how to hold onto your lofty position! You still wanted the next Mizukage to come from Hozuki Gengetsu's clan?

Keep dreaming!

With that thought, Jōyō Minazuki put in even more effort. Only this way could he show how exceptional he was. A bunch of trash, all wiped out, while only he succeeded—these achievements would be absolutely glorious!

So...

"As expected of Lord Jouei, such immense Chakra..." A Mist Ninja looked at the Ice Style completely enveloping the ship's exterior and sighed. "As expected of one of Kirigakure's two great Bloodline Families. Lord Jouei is truly powerful."

"The ice on the ship hasn't melted at all. What incredible control."

"They're getting out! They're getting out! Lord Jouei and the others are going to make it!"

"..."

Seeing the surrounding Mist Ninjas cheering for Jōyō Minazuki, the Mist Ninja commander's expression looked as though he had swallowed shit. He had promised the Mizukage that he would not let Jōyō Minazuki build up achievements, that he would keep him obediently in the rear. This was trouble. Even under these circumstances, he had managed to steal the spotlight. Jōyō Minazuki was one of the strongest candidates for Mizukage!

And what kind of flames were these? The fact that Ice Style could extinguish them meant they were not Amaterasu, but where had the Uzumaki Clan obtained such flames?

And that strange, awful smell—what was it?

That brat had gotten himself noticed and even gained a huge batch of admirers. If he went back and spread the word...

Fuck. The Mist Ninja commander felt that he could start preparing his funeral arrangements. The Mizukage would definitely push him out to take the blame, but this mess was far too enormous for him to carry!

Yet he had no idea that Jōyō Minazuki was currently cursing just as fiercely inside. His Chakra was nearly exhausted, the surrounding flames had not gone out, and artillery fire filled the skies. Even the blood in his chest felt like it was about to be shaken loose.

Can't cough it up! Absolutely can't! The moment I do, my handsome and dashing pose will be ruined.

Those bastards in the sky are being far too greedy!! They've already destroyed ninety-nine ships. Can't they leave one for Kirigakure?

Kirigakure had truly suffered catastrophic losses this time! This war of aggression had only just begun, yet their fleet was practically wiped out. Besides, letting someone return to the village to report it and trip up the Second Mizukage would benefit the Land of Whirlpools too!

"Little Xun, what do we do now?" The Second Elder frowned at the person below who was using Ice Style. "This kid is definitely no ordinary person. With such powerful abilities, he's practically Kage-level, yet he was hiding in the rear."

Xun Uzumaki nodded. Of course he was strong. This only made him more certain that this narrow-eyed fellow was the Third Mizukage. After all, this guy had attended the first Five Kage Summit.

And the attendants who had attended the first Five Kage Summit had basically all gone on to become Second Kage.

Only this guy had been forcibly beaten to the position by some eyebrowless bastard. He was probably smiling on the outside while cursing inside!

They had clearly agreed that attendants of the First Hokage who attended the Kirigakure conference could return to the village and inherit the position, yet he had somehow been deceived and became the Third instead.

Xun Uzumaki did not know whether the Third Mizukage resented Hozuki Gengetsu for taking his title of Second Mizukage, but even if he did not, the relationship between the Third and Second Mizukage was probably not very good. Otherwise, why had they left him in the rear? Why had they not made him commander? They clearly did not want him building up achievements. They were afraid he would seize the next Mizukage position.

As for the claim that it was to protect the Yuki Clan's genius...

Xun Uzumaki could only sneer. Did Konoha not prevent the Red Eye family from building up achievements in the name of protecting them? What happened in the end? Both clans were practically wiped out. But the Yuki Clan had it even worse—not a single one was left alive!!

Why was that? Xun Uzumaki guessed it was because the Yuki Clan had produced a Mizukage! Meanwhile, the Red Eye clan wanted to produce a Hokage but could not manage it, leaving only one behind in the end. But the Yuki Clan had actually produced one, so they were all exterminated.

And Uchiha Sasuke was the Child of Destiny! Could the Yuki Clan compare to that?

Sigh, just thinking about it makes them pitiful!

As for why the Kaguya Clan had also been wiped out, Xun Uzumaki figured they had probably competed for the Mizukage position too. You were just a bunch of idiots like the Uzumaki Clan, and your clan could not even produce a Child of Destiny, yet you still wanted to become Mizukage? So they died until only one remained, and then he encountered Orochimaru...

The last brainless one fell in love with Orochimaru and wanted to offer his body to him, but Orochimaru did not think much of him! He only wanted someone from the Red Eye clan, but Uchiha Sasuke was the Child of Destiny, someone destined to save the world. How could he die so easily?

So Kimimaro offered up his body, while Uchiha Sasuke devoured Orochimaru completely!!!

So was it really that simple for Orochimaru, after roaming the ninja world for so many years and luring away so many innocent souls, to get tired and decide to return to the village and have children with some honest person?

"No, let him leave!" Xun Uzumaki thought for a moment before saying, "There is no point dragging this out. Save some Explosive Tags for the main force."

What would happen if he let that guy build up a few achievements? Would he become grateful to the Uzumaki Clan?

But Hozuki Gengetsu's face would probably turn green! He had worked so hard to steal the Second Mizukage title and prevent that guy from building achievements, yet who would have thought...

Only one ship remained in the fleet, and it had been saved by that Yuki brat. Meanwhile, he himself had been beaten so badly that he was crying for his mother. All the preparations made before the war had gone to waste!

"Beep—."

"Obtained 90,000 Reputation Points."

Huh? Why had Reputation Points suddenly appeared? Had Zimu and Jie succeeded? But ninety thousand??

He remembered that only around fifty thousand people from the Land of Whirlpools had participated in the war. Where had so many more come from? Could it be...

"The host's guess is correct. Someone has reached Intermediate Worship or Advanced Worship."

Then he had 91,000 Reputation Points now. What could he exchange them for? Something that would let him win? After all, two Tailed Beasts and a Kage-level opponent were waiting for him ahead.

"Prepare to retreat!" Xun Uzumaki thought for a while before saying, "The Mist Ninjas who went after the Great Elder and the Clan Head have returned too. Head to the rendezvous point."

It seemed those Mist Ninjas had noticed that something was wrong here, which was why they had given up pursuing the Great Elder and the Clan Head and returned. He did not know how the Great Elder and Clan Head were doing. Those older members of the Uzumaki Clan were a crucial part of securing victory! Although they were old now and their abilities had not reached Kage-level, their Sealing Jutsu was superb!!

Had they not seen how Hiruzen Sarutobi, at sixty-nine years old, still sealed away the First Hokage, the Second Hokage, and Orochimaru's two hands?

Perhaps the Great Elder and the others were not that strong, but their Chakra was powerful! They did not need to seal the God of the Ninja World or anything. Even if each person sealed one hand, they could bury the Mizukage beneath sheer numbers. Though the Uzumaki Clan had lost many young powerhouses on Konoha's battlefield because of the war...

There were plenty of powerful elders!

There was no helping it. That was the result of their powerful life force. The Land of Whirlpools would probably need to figure out how to deal with aging and elder care in the future.

"Yes!!"

Underground shelter.

Although Xun Uzumaki had prepared for it long ago, the environment in the underground shelter was still far from pleasant. It was dark and damp, and amid the atmosphere of war, everyone was anxious and terrified, especially after the violent tremors from not long ago.

They worried that something had happened to their children, wives, husbands, fathers, or mothers.

The sorrowful sound of muffled sobbing was the only sound in the gloomy underground shelter.

Seeing this, Kushina immediately understood the task Brother Xun had assigned her. But as a five- or six-year-old child, she had no idea what she should do. And she was worried too—worried about her father, her Great-Grandfather, her Second Grandfather... worried about Uncle Daimyō, and worried about Xun Uzumaki.

She might be mischievous and adorable, but...

She was still only a child!

But when she thought of Brother Xun's task, especially his promise that he would definitely protect the Land of Whirlpools, Kushina absolutely believed him. Brother Xun was so smart. He could tell stories, sing songs, and do all sorts of incredible things.

So Kushina firmly believed that Brother Xun and the others would definitely succeed, but faced with this scene, she did not know what to do.

She anxiously looked around, yet there was no one who could help her...

The surrounding ninjas merely vigilantly swept their gazes across the area, their faces cold and silent. One look was enough to tell that they could not help her.

"I can do it. I can definitely do it." Kushina clenched her little fists and constantly encouraged herself inwardly, because Brother Xun had said she could do it. Thinking of that, she suddenly gained quite a bit of confidence. Kushina took a deep breath, stood before everyone, and shouted in her tender voice, "Everyone, don't worry. The Clan Head and Prince Xun will definitely succeed."

But everyone merely gave Kushina a faint glance.

Seeing that, Kushina suddenly felt a little dejected. Sure enough, just as Brother Xun had said, this task was not simple at all.

Suddenly, Kushina seemed to think of something and loudly said, "How about we sing a song?"

"Can you sing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star?"

I'm feeling unwell with a cold, so I'll update early and rest early!!