Uzushio Village Building, meeting room.
"The Land of Fire hopes to further establish a free trade agreement with our Land of Whirlpools, eliminating trade barriers and promoting the free movement of goods, technology, and personnel."
Pale moonlight fell across the dark brown conference table. A middle-aged man sat at the head of the table and cautiously swept his gaze over the others present. "What do you Clan Elders think?"
One of the elderly men gave him a helpless look and sighed. "Tetsuya, you are now the Lord of the Land of Whirlpools. Before asking us, you should at least let us hear your thoughts first."
"Huh?"
Tetsuya Uzumaki blinked and said with his neck hunched, "I'm still young and inexperienced. I'll listen to the Clan Elders."
Though his words were humble, he could not stop himself from sighing inwardly.
I got this position as Lord by trading away my daughter. I'd rather not have it, but this isn't something I can decide...
Whenever he thought of Kushina having to live in an unfamiliar land as the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, and remembered how she had wept when she left him, Tetsuya Uzumaki could not help but feel heartache and helplessness.
But before these Clan Elders, all of whom were old enough to be his grandfather, he truly had no room to refuse or resist.
He could only hope that Hiruzen Sarutobi would keep his promise and take good care of Kushina, ensuring that no one bullied her.
"Then let us send a reply."
At the same time, the others discussed it in low voices for a while. In the end, they all nodded. "The war is so intense now. While it is unlikely to spread to us, reaching an agreement with the Land of Fire will benefit both sides."
"After all, the