A Heart-Piercing Argument

A Heart-Piercing Argument

"Long time no see, brat Ebizo. You look quite well."

In the Land of Whirlpools, outside the Land of Whirlpools Ninja Village, Masahiko Uzumaki, the village's current leader, greeted him.

"What an enviable old man. It would have been one thing if you were merely strong, but you're still so full of vigor."

Looking at Masahiko Uzumaki, whose hair remained red despite actually being from Hashirama Senju's era, Ebizo spoke with envy in his eyes.

"I can guess part of why you came. Don't you think you've made this trip for nothing?"

Masahiko Uzumaki released his aura, bearing down fiercely on Ebizo and the others.

In an instant, the Whirlpool Shinobi beside him surrounded Ebizo and his group.

The Sand Shinobi quickly formed up, protecting Ebizo and Bunpuku in the center.

"Benefactor, you have gone too far."

Bunpuku pressed his palms together and sighed softly, dispelling the killing intent of Masahiko Uzumaki and the Whirlpool Shinobi.

"The One-Tail's Jinchuriki? This is the Land of Whirlpools, and we are the Uzumaki Clan. Sealing Technique is our family specialty. Aren't you being a little too arrogant?"

Masahiko Uzumaki's face darkened as he growled.

He was an old man of the Uzumaki Clan from Hashirama Senju's era, the one who had escorted Mito Uzumaki when she married.

Masahiko Uzumaki had his own pride.

"The times have changed, Lord Masahiko. Are you planning to entertain us out here?

No matter what, we represent the Land of Wind, Sunagakure, and the Third Kazekage."

Ebizo's smile faded. He stepped forward expressionlessly and stared coldly at Masahiko Uzumaki.

He hated old relics. These people failed to see themselves clearly, yet looked down on others, forever living in a world ruled by a single family and surname.

Taking a deep breath, Masahiko Uzumaki suppressed the anger in his heart. No matter how furious Ebizo's attitude made him, he still had to remain reasonable and justified.

That was the etiquette of the Uzumaki Clan.

He wanted to tell Ebizo that the Uzumaki Clan was a powerful, great clan descended from the Sage of Six Paths. They had their own etiquette and were unlike trash like Sunagakure, who ate sand.

"Tsk, tsk."

Looking at the grand and imposing Uzumaki Clan council hall, Ebizo became even more disdainful of them.

If these arrogant people had not possessed some real skill, he would have turned around and left long ago.

Seeing the envy, jealousy, and resentment on the Sand Shinobi's faces, Masahiko Uzumaki's pride swelled further.

"Lord Masahiko, to be honest, our purpose in coming is very simple.

We Sand Shinobi do not believe that the Uzumaki Clan can withstand Kirigakure's attack.

Therefore, we came to make a deal. Our Sand Shinobi army is currently stationed at the border.

You should know something of our conflict with Kirigakure."

After taking their seats, Ebizo spoke before Masahiko Uzumaki could open his mouth.

His words made the hot-tempered Uzumaki Clan members want to beat him to death on the spot.

"Oh ho ho ho, boy Ebizo, then what must we offer to obtain Sunagakure's support?

Our Sealing Technique, the land beneath our feet, or the thousand-year inheritance of the Uzumaki Clan?"

Masahiko Uzumaki suppressed his urge to beat Ebizo to death and growled mockingly.

"Hahaha, Lord Masahiko, are you joking? Sealing Technique? The One-Tails Shukaku's sealing techniques were inherited from the Sage of Six Paths. Would Sunagakure really covet yours?

Land? It is not worth fighting Kirigakure to the death over this small patch of land.

As for the Uzumaki Clan's thousand-year inheritance, there is even less to say. We Sand Shinobi do not need such useless etiquette."

Ebizo laughed disdainfully. His grating voice filled every Uzumaki Clan Member present with fury.

Other than Bunpuku, every Sand Shinobi who had come along watched Ebizo with pounding hearts. They truly wanted to tell him:

Elder, please watch your words. Honest advice may be unpleasant, but if those hot-tempered people across from us truly lose their tempers, we'll be in real trouble.

"No matter what you want, we will not give it to you. We have Konoha as our ally.

Princess Mito will also protect us. I do not believe Konoha and Lady Mito would abandon us."

Masahiko Uzumaki said nothing. Instead, an Elder of the Land of Whirlpools Ninja Village spoke first, directly confronting Ebizo.

"Foolish."

Ebizo had only one word for the Land of Whirlpools Ninja Village Elder's statement: foolish.

To hell with Konoha. Konoha, Kumogakure, and Iwagakure were fighting so fiercely that their brains were about to be beaten out, and Hanzo's Land of Rain was watching them like a tiger from nearby. Would they dare divide their forces to save you?

Don't joke around. If the entire Land of Whirlpools and the Uzumaki Clan pledged themselves to Konoha, publicly declared it across the ninja world, had Mito Uzumaki guarantee it, handed over their ninjutsu, and finally sent gold, silver, pearls, and jade to the Daimyo of the Land of Fire—

Only then might Konoha and the Land of Fire come to save you.

After all, during wartime, if they could swallow such a perfect tonic, it would not be impossible for them to make the effort.

"Oh? In that case, Lord Masahiko, I think you still have some sense. You can contact Konoha and see what their attitude is.

I happen to know that you recently sent another little princess to Konoha."

Ebizo looked meaningfully at Masahiko Uzumaki.

Though the old fossil was conservative, the fact that he had not erupted after being mocked by Ebizo for so long showed that he had his own measure in his heart.

Taking a deep breath, Masahiko Uzumaki suppressed the terrifying speculation in his heart. His expression shifted for a moment before he said:

"Qiu Ze, take our guests to rest. Give them the finest rooms. Do not neglect them."

"Yes, Leader."

A spirited red-haired young man answered.

"Guests, please follow me. I will take you to rest."

"Lord Masahiko, please consider it carefully. Be sure to think it through."

Before leaving, Ebizo reminded him with a solemn expression.

As though Ebizo were some great loyal minister of the Uzumaki Clan.

As though he were willing to climb mountains of blades and seas of fire for the Uzumaki Clan.

After Qiu Ze took Ebizo and the others away, the Uzumaki Elders beside Masahiko Uzumaki all looked as though they wanted to speak but hesitated.

The worry on their faces had reached the point where it could affect the moods of others.

"Leader, what should we do?

Kirigakure's attack has already been confirmed, but there has still been no word from the two princesses in Konoha."

An Elder spoke bitterly.

Having experienced the vicissitudes of life, they might have been conservative, but they were not fools.

They had seen more schemes and intrigues than young people even knew existed.

"Wait. Wait for news. Kirigakure's fleet will not arrive for another seven days or so. The sea is not gentle and tender.

If there is still no news from Konoha, then we will have to rely on ourselves.

Also, gather all the children in the clan together and have the young people protect them.

This is our clan's land, after all. We grew up here."

By now, Masahiko Uzumaki no longer felt any anger toward Ebizo.

To correct an imbalance, one had to go too far in the opposite direction. A serious illness required strong medicine.

Ebizo's heart-piercing words had awakened Masahiko Uzumaki.

After decades without war, their Land of Whirlpools Ninja Village had already declined.

Their combat strength had been greatly reduced.