The Uzumaki Clan had suffered a great catastrophe. Few ninja remained in the clan, and they were practically on the verge of extinction.
But overall, these few ninja were enough to fill part of the Land of Grass's gaps.
The gap in Sealing Jutsu!
Thus, they now had Sealing Jutsu experts... Perhaps only a few Uzumaki Clan ninja remained, but with the Uzumaki Clan's talent, these few ninja could surely form a fairly capable Sealing Squad.
Although he had carried out the Stealing the Sky and Changing the Sun Plan very carefully, this small country sandwiched between two great nations would not draw much attention.
After all, no one cared about a country that swayed from side to side.
Still, it probably could not be kept hidden for long.
How could they hide so many redheads...?
Should they make the Uzumaki Clan change their surname?
Claim those redheads were not members of the Uzumaki Clan?
Even if the Uzumaki Clan agreed for the sake of a stable life, their Chakra and their specialty in Sealing Jutsu could not be concealed from the Five Great Ninja Villages.
Therefore, setting up sealing barriers early and remaining vigilant would provide the Land of Grass with some security.
As for the Chinoike Clan...
Their minds were easily provoked, and they specialized in Dojutsu!
There was nothing more to say.
It was time to establish the Land of Grass Guard Department!
The Land of Grass was being rebuilt, and there were plenty of domestic problems now. He could not possibly send ninja to deal with everything himself every time, could he?
Therefore, they truly needed an enforcement team to handle civilian security and affairs.
"I'll give you the relevant enforcement regulations and requirements later!" Kusana said with a smile as he looked at the relieved Oyakamon. "Of course, it won't consist solely of the Chinoike Clan. Other ninja will join as well." His tone turned stern. "But... remember this! The Land of Grass Guard Department is not the Chinoike Clan's guard department. It is the guard department of the entire Land of Grass!"
As soon as he finished speaking.
Oyakamon nodded with a serious expression. "The Chinoike Clan understands. As ninja, whatever orders the Leader gives, the Chinoike Clan will carry them out faithfully!"
After coming to the Land of Grass, the Leader had fulfilled all his promises. Now it was time for the Chinoike Clan to fulfill their own obligations.
Just as the Leader had said...
After coming to the Land of Grass, they enjoyed the rights granted to them by the Land of Grass, and they also had to fulfill their corresponding duties.
The Uzumaki Clan now bore the responsibility related to seals, while guarding the Land of Grass was the duty of the Chinoike Clan.
And besides...
He had never expected that, so soon after joining, the Leader would entrust him with such an important task.
He felt acknowledged in his heart!
As expected of a Leader who dared to take in both the Uzumaki Clan and the Chinoike Clan!
He possessed a breadth of mind beyond compare!
"..."
Looking at the solemn Oyakamon, Kusana nodded as well and sighed inwardly.
It seemed Oyakamon still did not know how the Uchiha Clan had been ruined by the responsibilities of Konoha's police force.
If the Uchiha were given another chance to choose whether to become the police force, they would probably shake their heads without the slightest hesitation.
Otherwise.
Their Clan Head would not later choose to cooperate with Minato, then name his youngest son Sasuke.
He had even flattered Hiruzen Sarutobi by saying, "May he become a great ninja like your father, Sarutobi Sasuke!"
If they were talking about greatness... weren't the First and Second Hokage of Konoha good enough?
Yet he had specifically chosen the name of the current Hokage's father!
Of course, Kusana could not understand that tradition either... Naming your son after someone else's father was actually considered a form of admiration in their eyes?!
Just imagine it later...
When you called your son's name while beating and scolding him, constantly saying, "My son, Sasuke," what would you think?
You would probably feel like chopping someone up!
Still.
None of that had anything to do with Kusagakure. Seeing Uzumaki Yangzheng and Oyakamon so happy after accepting their assignments, Kusana finally relaxed inwardly.
This meant the Uzumaki Clan and Oyakamon had officially joined the Land of Grass. As for what came next, that would depend on education.
Konoha had the Will of Fire, and Kusagakure likewise had the Spirit of Grass—an abridged adaptation.
As for entertainment... it still had to be developed. Cultural exports could not only make money; sometimes, they even brought unexpected gains.
Thinking of Konoha's condemnation of Kusagakure, Kusana smiled and shook his head.
The Five Great Ninja Villages... still had not recognized the importance of cultural exports!
And this.
Was Kusagakure's advantage!
After the meeting ended, Kusana deliberately kept Uzumaki Yangzheng behind. After pondering for a moment, he asked, "Elder Yang Zheng, how is the research going?"
As soon as he finished speaking.
Uzumaki Yangzheng immediately lowered his head in shame. "My apologies, Leader. It still has not succeeded!"
"Is that so? Forget it! You're right, I was being too impatient." Kusana nodded understandingly and continued with a smile. "Sorry to trouble you. If you need anything, you can come to me or Kana."
"I will do my utmost! Whether it is the sealing barriers or the Chakra Capacitor!" Uzumaki Yangzheng said solemnly. "To repay the Leader's kindness, the Uzumaki Clan will certainly give everything we have to complete them!"
"Uh, no need to make it sound so dramatic. New Year is almost here! Relax properly first!" Kusana waved his hand. "Besides, your clansmen have only just arrived and need your help. Settle the clan's affairs first!"
"This old man understands! The Uzumaki Clan will never disappoint the Leader's trust!"
After Uzumaki Yangzheng left with Uzumaki Haruhito, Kusana stretched comfortably and stood up.
The Land of Grass Medical Research Institute had been completed some time ago, so Kana had been quite busy lately, preparing for next year's medical ninja program.
It was not even possible for him to replenish his spirits a little. The only one beside him was Mujie, that old Grass ninja.
"Chakra Capacitor?" Mujie looked at Kusana curiously. "Leader, what is that? Heh~" He waggled his eyebrows. "If it's a Land of Grass secret, you don't have to tell me!"
"..."
He could make even something perfectly normal sound so punchable!
Kusana shot him a helpless glance and said irritably, "It's just a type of Scientific Ninja Tool!"
"A Scientific Ninja Tool?!"
"Well, how should I put it?"
There was still no concept of Scientific Ninja Tools in the ninja world.
After thinking for a moment, Kusana said, "It is a ninja tool made through advanced scientific technology. To a great extent, it can replace some of a ninja's abilities."
If the Land of Grass wanted to catch up to the Five Great Nations, it had to overtake them on a bend!
Although when Scientific Ninja Tools appeared in the future, even Naruto initially opposed them along with Konoha's higher-ups, as far as he was concerned...
It did not matter whether the cat was black or white. As long as it caught mice, it was a good cat!
At most, they could ensure ninja maintained their basic standards and strengthen ninja training!
"It can bring great convenience to both ninja and ordinary people!"
"???" Mujie looked utterly confused by those words. "Forget it! Leader, you'd better stop explaining!"
"... It's a special kind of ninja tool!"
"Wouldn't it have been enough to say that from the start!" Mujie sighed. "The Leader always has such a roundabout way of talking!" Then he looked at the leisurely Land of Grass before them on that winter afternoon. "It sounds pretty impressive. Can it make the Land of Grass strong?"
"... It probably can!"
"It can?" A faint smile appeared on Mujie's shrewd face. "Looks like the Land of Grass will have a day when it becomes strong too! Leader, do you know? The moment I first saw you, I knew you were extraordinary. That was why I immediately pledged myself to you back then!"
He paused slightly.
"And it turned out exactly as I expected. I was not wrong about you! You ended the warfare on this land, cleared away the rotten politics, rebuilt the order of the Land of Grass, laid out five years of construction for the Land of Grass, and proposed the astonishing Stealing the Sky and Changing the Sun Plan. That is why the Land of Grass now differs so greatly from before and radiates vitality."
"I believe that under your leadership, the Land of Grass will definitely become a powerful nation in the future!"
"..."
Kusana's eyelids twitched slightly as he looked at Mujie beside him.
Even a shameless fellow like Mujie had a dream of making the nation strong~
That made sense.
As a ninja from the Land of Grass—a small nation trapped between two great nations and forced to sway from side to side—who did not dream of a powerful nation?
Only.
"I remember you being pretty fierce back then! If I hadn't held a kunai to your throat, you would still have been howling, carrying a pile of Explosive Tags and saying you would never surrender, that you were going to fight me to the death!"
"Who! Who said that? I clearly surrendered on the spot and bowed in admiration because I saw that you were wise and mighty, possessed extraordinary bearing, strode like a dragon and tiger, and had the makings to unify the Land of Grass! Leader, you have to trust my judgment!"
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