Sea Chat

"I'm entrusting the root to you, Orochimaru."

"Yes, teacher."

"Consider this a test. You have three months. Let me see how the roots have changed by then..."

"Teacher, you won't be disappointed."

Orochimaru's face revealed a perfect smile, just like a mask, neither too much nor too little, neither exaggerated nor humble, a standardized smile.

The Land of Water, a port on the western side of Aomori Island.

Fifteen large ships were anchored at the dock; eight were spoils of war captured from the Mist Ninja, and the remaining seven were ships transferred from the Land of Fire.

Even the Five Great Ninja Villages don't have ships this big. Not to mention Stone Ninja and Sunagakure, Konoha, Cloud Ninja, and Mist Ninja have never built warships either. These things are basically built by the Daimyo's Mansion, because only the Daimyo's Mansion has the financial resources to afford the construction and maintenance costs of ships, which are absolutely astronomical. Even though a large ninja village like Konoha has some spare money, it is by no means enough to afford such an expensive undertaking as shipbuilding.

As for the Cloud Ninja and Mist Ninja, which are even poorer than Konoha, it goes without saying that the ninjas rarely need to use boats. When they do need them, they can communicate with the Daimyo's Mansion, which is much more cost-effective and easier than building their own boats.

Of course, it would be very unpleasant if too many warships were destroyed or even captured by the enemy.

"Chief, everyone is on board, we can depart at any time."

"Third Uncle, I told you to just call me by my name, there's no need to be so serious, is there?"

Katsuki looked at Souma Uzumaki with a pained expression; the title of clan leader was really hard to get used to.

"Although not many members of the Uzumaki Clan are still alive, the necessary rules cannot be abandoned. Cultivating clan cohesion requires a multi-pronged approach. A strong clan leader can create a sense of unity within the clan," Souma Uzumaki said matter-of-factly. "You may not be used to it at first, but Katsuki, you should get used to it as soon as possible. It's not just about getting used to the title, but also about getting used to the clan leader's way of thinking."

"Well······"

With a resigned sigh, Katsuki could do nothing about it.

From the moment he received the accurate message from Konoha, Souma Uzumaki began to restrict his clansmen from calling Katsuki Head, and it seems unlikely that he will change it back.

"Give the order: Let's set off!"

Fifteen large ships, carrying more than two thousand people from three families, weighed anchor, set sail, and began their journey inland.

As Aomori Island gradually disappeared from view, the thick fog quickly obscured the ever-shrinking island, leaving a blurry outline deeply etched in the hearts of the Kaguya Clan. Cries echoed from several ships. Although the Kaguya family was full of brutes with brains full of muscles, there were always some who were more sentimental.

The Yuki family members remained calm, as Aomori Island was not their territory and they had already said goodbye to their homeland long ago. However, most of them gathered at the stern of the ship, looking at the dark figures that were difficult to see in the thick fog, feeling somewhat melancholy. They were leaving the Land of Water!

"... You're gone!"

"If I don't leave, can I stay?"

Yuki Hatsuzuki and the old man from Kaguya's family placed two chairs on the deck, sat there to enjoy the view, and discussed the future of their two clans.

"Old man, tell me what we'll do when we get to Konoha. We don't know anyone here, and I'm really worried sick."

"Haha, asking me won't help! Although I've been to the Land of Water, the Five Great Nations hadn't been established yet..." The old man stared blankly, as if recalling his youth.

"Hey, old man, stop spacing out! We're talking business!" Yuki Hatsuzuki snapped her fingers, and a bunch of small ice blocks crashed down, but before they could even touch Kaguya Clan Head, they were instantly evaporated by a sudden bolt of lightning.

"Yuki, please don't be so harsh on the elderly. An elder in the family is a treasure; we must learn to respect the elderly and care for the young."

Katsuki walked over unhurriedly, and the members of the Yuki Clan, being very perceptive, brought over another chair.

"Sigh! Why is my Kaguya family full of brainless idiots?!"

The old patriarch of the Kaguya family watched his clansmen having a boxing match on the other side of the deck, then looked at the little guy from the Yuki family running up and down, serving tea and water to the three patriarchs. His cleverness was truly enviable.

"Hehe."

The Yuki Hatsuzuki, grinned.

"Uzumaki Clan Head, could you tell me more about Konoha?" The old man from the Kaguya clan looked over.

"What a coincidence, I also happen to have something to discuss with you."

······

"The Uchiha Clan is inviting us to join the Police Force?" Kaguya Clan Head frowned. "If I remember correctly, Uzumaki Clan Head said last time that the Police Force is the Uchiha Clan's private domain, and even the Hokage has a hard time interfering. Why would they look down on small fry like us?"

"Every family has its own troubles!" Katsuki, holding a cup of tea, sprawled out on the recliner as if her bones had been removed. "I remember saying last time that because of that unresolved feud between the Senju and Uchiha, the Uchiha Clan, although controlling the Police Force ... is excluded from the upper echelons, yet we can't truly ignore them..."

"In short, it's a messy situation that gets more complicated the longer it drags on. It's hard to explain in just a few words. The Uchiha Clan's position is very delicate, and they're just small fry... Kaguya Clan Head, don't be ridiculous. Your two clans can both organize a battle-hardened ninja army. Even in Konoha, there aren't many clans that can field an army of over Jonin, okay?"

Yuki and Kaguya haven't yet fallen to the miserable state they later became. As a ninja clan, they are still a top-tier clan. After all, among the Five Great Ninja Villages, there aren't many clans that can field a ninja army of around a thousand people. There were quite a few similar clans during the Warring States period.

However, after the establishment of ninja villages, the way ninja families continued to exist was replaced by ninja villages, and the number of powerful ninja clans decreased.

Even in Konoha today, the only clans that could suppress Yuki and Kaguya with their combined strength are probably the Senju, Uchiha, and Hyuga clans. As for other clans, those like the Ino-Shika-Cho, combined with the strength of the three clans, might be stronger than any one of the Yuki or Kaguya clans. And as for the other clans, there's no need to say more; their individual strength is no match for the two clans.

"Right now, your two clans are the targets of many people's efforts to win you over. The Uchiha was the quickest to act, after all, I have a good relationship with the Uchiha Clan. They contact my clones directly, so I can tell you now." Katsuki sipped the tea in his cup and handed the empty cup to the young boy from the Yuki clan beside him.