Treasures Amid Despair

Chapter 19: Treasures Amid Despair

"He was truly formidable, with methods that reached the heavens. If he did not die, we would all have to see him off."

Watching teams of patrolling shinobi outside and the utterly transformed atmosphere of Kirigakure.

Ebizo was very familiar with this grim, murderous atmosphere. Their Sand Shinobi had always lived in such an atmosphere before.

"That benefactor possesses great methods. Unfortunately, his strength is insufficient."

Bunpuku opened his eyes and gazed toward a barrier not far away.

If he remembered correctly, that was where Kirigakure's ancestral shrine stood.

"Bunpuku, if it were you, how long would it take to open that barrier?"

Ebizo suddenly asked Bunpuku.

"One day. At most one day, and that would still require breaking it by force. That benefactor, Masahiko Uzumaki, would need no more than two days at the most. After all, his Sealing Technique attainments are Kage-level."

After thinking for a moment and falling silent, Bunpuku answered truthfully.

"Heh, now I finally understand why that brat Yunqing sent Suke to take over. We have all been calculated against. The Daimyo of the Land of Whirlpools has likely left himself a backup plan."

Ebizo sneered. Upon hearing Bunpuku's words, he understood everything at once.

Masahiko Uzumaki was likely not inside the barrier. Instead, he was suppressing Kirigakure's older generation, preventing them from ruining things.

Yunqing's actions were meant to tell Kirigakure, the Daimyo of the Land of Whirlpools, and Masahiko Uzumaki that they truly valued them.

Please rest assured, they would not go back on their word. Look, to demonstrate their sincerity, they had sent another Kage-level expert—and one from their direct line, at that.

Ebizo could not help but sigh. Sometimes, Yunqing saw much further ahead than he did.

Inside Kirigakure's council hall, the Daimyo of the Land of Whirlpools was presiding over a meeting. En Uzumaki, who had returned from Konoha, was reporting everything he had seen and heard.

"Daimyo, esteemed Elders, Konoha does not intend to help us. Mito wants to help but lacks the power to do so. As for Kushina, I did not see her.

"She was probably being confined."

En Uzumaki spoke in pain, recounting his experiences without leaving out a single detail.

"Heh, just as expected. That Hiruzen Sarutobi..." The Daimyo of the Land of Whirlpools sneered twice before turning to the Uzumaki Clan Elders present. "Esteemed Elders, what do you say now? Do you have anything else to add?"

The Daimyo's icy words and the intelligence En Uzumaki had brought back drove them all into despair. Having endured the Sengoku era, participated in the First Great Ninja War, and fought Kirigakure to the death, they understood the gap between the two sides.

To put it bluntly, it would already be fortunate if they could retreat with only half their strength left.

"Boy, proceed according to your previous proposal.

"We have no way out."

The Uzumaki Clan's Great Elder, seated beside the Daimyo, spoke wearily.

"Very well. Rest assured, Great Elder. Sunagakure is not the best choice, but it is still a decent option."

A trace of delight appeared on the Daimyo of the Land of Whirlpools' face.

He had finally persuaded those old fellows. How could he not be happy?

Meanwhile, the Sand Shinobi led by Suke had also arrived in the Land of Whirlpools. Traveling without regard for exhaustion had made their pace incredibly swift.

At the harbor of the Land of Whirlpools.

One Uzumaki Clan child after another, along with women and young men, were herded onto large ships.

"Waaah! I'm not leaving! I'm not leaving! I want to fight alongside Dad!"

"That's right, we're not leaving! We want to stay!"

"Lord Daimyo, we don't want to leave!"

"Uncle Daimyo, we can fight too!"

Their cries shook the heavens as children and women continuously wailed and shouted.

They knew that this parting would be forever.

The Daimyo of the Land of Whirlpools watched it all coldly. He was glad that he had such emotional clansmen.

At the same time, he grieved for them. They had been born in the wrong place, in the wrong era, and had encountered a group of incompetent leaders.

"Lord Daimyo, I wish you good fortune."

Ebizo looked calmly at the Daimyo of the Land of Whirlpools. At this time, there was nothing more he could say.

Ebizo would not be staying behind to go to war with Kirigakure, so saying anything else would be pointless.

"Thank you, Elder Ebizo. I leave these clansmen of mine to you."

The Daimyo nodded, then looked at Suke, who stood on the ship like a stabilizing pillar in the sea. "The Third Kazekage truly thinks highly of us, sending another expert like this."

"Of course. The Third Kazekage has always believed in winning others over with courtesy. We are the same, treating every friend with sincerity."

Ebizo chuckled.

The Daimyo of the Land of Whirlpools shook his head without replying and walked toward the other side.

"Qiu Ze, En, from now on, the two of you will lead this group of clansmen. Decide between yourselves who will be clan head."

After finishing his conversation with Ebizo, the Daimyo walked over to the two young men standing at the front of the ship and spoke solemnly.

"Lord Daimyo, our strength is not bad. We can stay and take part in the battle."

En Uzumaki and Aizawa Uzumaki spoke anxiously.

They did not want to flee before the battle. They did not want to be cowards. They wanted to march to their deaths together with the Land of Whirlpools and Kirigakure.

The Daimyo of the Land of Whirlpools did not answer them. He merely fixed them with a sharp gaze, his aura surging so powerfully that it even affected the clouds in the sky.

"Not bad. It seems Kirigakure is in for some trouble."

Suke stood aboard the ship, quietly watching the Daimyo of the Land of Whirlpools.

"Dying is easy. Living is what is difficult.

"The burden on your shoulders is heavier. Your mission is to lead the Uzumaki Clan to rise again.

"To establish a new homeland elsewhere."

The Daimyo of the Land of Whirlpools slapped each of them across the face to calm them down, then roared.

"Remember, you are children of the Uzumaki Clan. You have your own pride.

"You are not running away. You simply have not yet reached the time to bear responsibility.

"Your responsibility is to establish a new Uzumaki Clan."

After striking En Uzumaki and Aizawa Uzumaki, the Daimyo of the Land of Whirlpools angrily scolded those sobbing Uzumaki clansmen.

The effect was immediate. The Uzumaki clansmen, who had been weeping and grieving moments ago, quickly settled down. Once their leader had spoken, no one dared to make trouble.

"Suke, learn from this. This is what a leader should possess."

Ebizo cackled like a night owl. "A leader may be weak in combat, may not know how to handle government affairs, and may not know how to command troops in battle.

"But as a leader, you must know how to consider those beneath you. You must understand who it is that keeps you firmly in that position."

"Thank you for your instruction, Elder."

Suke forced a smile onto his stiff face.

"A last stand—victory or death. Send away the shinobi's families so they have no worries holding them back, and let them know that the achievements they win in battle will determine the living conditions of their descendants.

"Tell me, how strong do you think the fighting power of those who remain will be?"

Ebizo suddenly changed the subject.

"Impossible to imagine. With the will to die in their hearts, there is also something precious within their despair. No one can predict what beautiful flower that precious thing, nourished by despair, will bloom into."

After a moment of silence, Suke replied hoarsely.

"Yes. No one knows."

Ebizo fell silent.

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