Anyway, I'm Pinning It on You—What Are You Going to Do About It?

"Che, what do you think will happen tomorrow?" A ninja wearing a Kirigakure forehead protector looked around boredly as he spoke.

"Who knows!" Che stretched lazily and gazed up at the sky. "Maybe the war will be over tomorrow?"

The night in the Land of Whirlpools was nothing special either. No one knew how long this war would last.

"Maybe!!" Qidou yawned. "I thought we'd take the Land of Whirlpools in a day. Looks like it isn't so simple after all!"

Sure enough, any clan that had endured for a thousand years without perishing could not be wiped out so easily. Especially not the Land of Whirlpools, a nation founded by a clan. But...

Kirigakure was stronger. The Land of Whirlpools was merely lingering on for a few more days. No matter how powerful the Uzumaki Clan was, it was still only a clan.

"War..." Rather than answer Qidou, Che muttered, "When will it finally end?"

He was already beginning to grow sick of war.

"Soon." Leaning against a tree, Qidou said, "Once the battle for the Land of Whirlpools is over, the war will be over too."

"The major ninja villages are all calling for peace now, and anti-war sentiment is growing stronger by the day. It won't last much longer."

"I hope so..."

Before Che could finish speaking—

BOOM!!!

A deafening explosion suddenly rang out, and a blinding flash burst through the night.

"Damn Uzumaki ninja, it's Explosive Tags." At the sight of the flames, Qidou immediately shouted, "Enemy attack!"

Che was no longer listless. He quickly got to his feet and rushed toward the source of the explosion.

"Retreat!"

Seeing that the Explosive Tags had already gone off, Zimu Uzumaki hurriedly shouted. He had sensed ninja rushing this way. They had not come to fight Kirigakure; they had merely come to set an alarm clock for them and tell them it was time to wake up and take a midnight piss.

Since everyone was awake now, they should hurry and leave! What if the people of Kirigakure got cranky after being woken up?

They'd get blown to bits!!

Can't afford to provoke them, can't afford to provoke them!!

"Again?!" The Mist Ninja were about to lose their minds. Who fought a war the way the Land of Whirlpools did?!

They threw down a few Explosive Tags to wake people up, then ran off. Were Explosive Tags free or something?

If they didn't take out a few ninja, wouldn't they be losing money?

Or was the Land of Whirlpools really that rich?

And even if they were rich, they couldn't do something so tasteless!

If all wars were fought like this, what was the point of ninja?

They might as well just throw Explosive Tags at each other all damn day.

Especially like this—Explosive Tags, Explosive Tags, and more Explosive Tags—yet not a single Uzumaki ninja in sight.

Didn't they see that the Mizukage's face was practically green?

And after finally getting a chance to rest for the night and sleep well, he had barely fallen asleep before someone woke him up. Who wouldn't be angry?

Hozuki Gengetsu was so furious he wanted to start cutting people down!

He suddenly began to wonder whether starting this war had been the right decision. Why had his luck been so terrible ever since he set foot on the Land of Whirlpools?

Not only had they nearly exhausted all their cannon fodder, but only one ship remained of the fleet. Jōyō Minazuki had probably already arrived at Kirigakure by now and was preparing to criticize him tomorrow.

And besides...

If it weren't for Sealing Jutsu and researching Jinchuriki, who the hell would come here?!

The other ninja villages were watching Kirigakure closely. They had only allowed this because they did not want to see the Uzumaki Clan survive. Otherwise, Kirigakure could never have invaded the Land of Whirlpools—especially Konoha, heh heh!!

Konoha's ninja were probably already waiting nearby, just waiting for them to deal with the Land of Whirlpools before swooping in under the banner of justice to seize the benefits. What they did not know was...

Kirigakure needed this land in the first place—the Land of Whirlpools, right next to Konoha!!

This was the perfect chance to take advantage of the invasion and grab a share.

"How is it?" Hozuki Gengetsu asked with a grim expression, turning to the ninja on guard. "Did you catch any Uzumaki ninja?"

"No." The Mist Ninja shook his head. "Just like last time, they ran as soon as they set off the Explosive Tags."

What exactly was the Uzumaki Clan trying to do?

Hozuki Gengetsu was filled with confusion. They only threw Explosive Tags and did not launch a sneak attack. He could not figure it out at all...

He had never encountered anyone who fought a war this way. Was the Land of Whirlpools really so wealthy?

Did they have so many Explosive Tags that they could throw them around whenever they pleased?

Were they planning to set off a few more firecrackers while they were still alive and celebrate?

"Maintain the alert. Send more ninja to patrol the surrounding area." Hozuki Gengetsu thought for a while but still could not come up with anything. He could only continue the arrangements from earlier. There was simply no other way!!

"Yes!"

Of course, Xun Uzumaki would not tell Kirigakure that they really were just trying to harass the Mist Ninja and had no other intentions. Holding a pair of binoculars, he watched as activity in the Mist Ninja camp gradually died down again. It seemed they were preparing to rest once more.

That wouldn't do!

If they did not stay up all night, how could they possibly be exhausted?

He instructed Uzumaki Kai beside him, "After a while, have someone set off more Explosive Tags. Same as before—run as soon as they go off."

"Yes!" Uzumaki Kai replied.

Glancing at the Clan Head, who was explaining the situation to the Senju Clan, Xun Uzumaki turned his gaze back to the Mist Ninja camp. Without lights in the middle of the night, visibility was terrible. Trying to observe closely was truly a struggle.

Once the war was over, he would have to see whether they could install streetlights throughout the Land of Whirlpools.

"This is simply unbelievable."

After hearing the Uzumaki Clan Head's report on the battle, Shusen Senju wore an expression of utter disbelief. It seemed they did not need his reinforcements at all...

Ah—!!

Rather, his group of thirty-odd Jonin probably would not make any difference on the battlefield. At that thought, Shusen Senju's face immediately filled with shame.

The Clan Head seemed to have guessed what Shusen Senju was thinking and laughed heartily. "The Uzumaki Clan is already deeply grateful that the Senju Clan came to help. Besides, all of this is Xun's achievement."

"That kid?" A young man behind Shusen Senju asked in confusion.

But Shusen Senju shot him a fierce glare. Watch how you speak!

He was now the one calling the shots for the Uzumaki Clan! Show some respect!!

Didn't he see that the Uzumaki Clan members were already looking at them unfriendly?

"My apologies." Shusen Senju apologized. "Ping did not mean any offense."

"It's fine, it's fine." Hearing Shusen Senju's apology, the Clan Head accepted it and smiled. "Although Xun is young, no one looks down on him. He is also now the leader of both the Uzumaki Clan and the Land of Whirlpools."

Upon hearing the Clan Head's words, Hei Senju hurriedly said, "My deepest apologies. I did not mean any offense."

The Senju Clan members all wore expressions of disbelief. They absolutely could not underestimate that child!

At such a young age, he had led the Land of Whirlpools to victory while at a disadvantage. This boy was certainly no ordinary person.

"No matter." The Clan Head waved his hand. "As for your arrangements, wait until Xun arrives." Then his eyes narrowed. "Here, everything is under Xun's command. I hope you understand."

"It's fine." Shusen Senju shook his head. "From this moment onward, the entire Senju Clan will obey Prince Xun's command."

On the battlefield, what people feared most was hearing two different voices. Thus, the Senju Clan did not blame the Uzumaki Clan Head for his bluntness. Some things were better made clear. Otherwise, any accident would become troublesome—especially in a war of national and clan extinction like this. There was no room for carelessness.