Uzushio Village

"But Shingetsu, why did you deliberately spare this guy's life?"

Looking at the oil-ninja Ryuma that Hozuki Shingetsu was carrying, Yukinagi's face showed a puzzled expression.

"This guy can't die—he's our greeting gift for Uzushio Village!"

Hozuki Shingetsu smiled without giving a direct answer.

Just moments ago, after this oil-ninja Ryuma had sensed the Giant Clam's position and realized he might not complete his mission, he decisively tried to detonate the "Reverse Four-Symbols Sealing" inside his body, attempting a one-for-one trade with Hozuki Shingetsu.

That had indeed caught Hozuki Shingetsu off guard. While that technique couldn't take him out, its sealing power was enough to kill the Giant Clam. And if the Giant Clam died, he could no longer use "Mirage," effectively crippling one of his arms.

So, having originally wanted to toy around a bit longer, he chose to end the fight immediately, using the concealment of his form within the mirage to capture him directly.

"I have to say, Danzo may not be much as a person, but when it comes to training his subordinates, he's undeniably skilled." If it weren't for the fact that neither Konoha nor even Kaguya knew he had contracted the Giant Clam and could use the Mirage technique, this fight would have taken some real effort.

After tidying up their attire a bit, the three didn't bother much with cleaning the battlefield and simply headed for Uzushio Village with the oil-ninja Ryuma in tow.

Not long after they left, two figures quietly appeared.

"These are Konoha's people!" A ninja wearing a Kumogakure headband concluded after examining the Root ninja's corpse.

Although Hozuki Shingetsu had taken all the items that could identify the Root ninja, as shinobi, the ninjutsu practiced by different villages varied, and such differences could still be discerned from the body.

"This is... the trace of Ice Release!"

Another ninja, bearing the mark of Iwagakure, also reached a conclusion from the wounds on another Root ninja's corpse.

"Konoha and Kirigakure fought in the Land of Whirlpools..." Realizing the unusual nature of this, the two exchanged wary glances and immediately chose to report back to their leaders.

--

Uzushio Village, located at the very center of the Land of Whirlpools. It was both the location of the Land of Whirlpools' ninja village and the nation's capital. The Daimyo of the Land of Whirlpools was also the leader of the Whirlpool Ninja Village. It could be said that the Land of Whirlpools was the only country in the current shinobi world where military and political power were unified.

Because the Land of Whirlpools was situated in the eastern part of the shinobi continent and backed by the Land of Fire, during the decade-plus of peace after the First Shinobi World War, it had become a hub for trade and a gathering place for merchants, sharing prosperous maritime trade with the Land of Water.

After the Land of Water closed its borders, the Land of Whirlpools became the largest trade hub in the eastern shinobi continent. Merchants traveling between the Land of Lightning, the Land of Wind, and the Land of Fire transshipped and traded here, fostering a unique prosperity for the Land of Whirlpools. As the heart of the Land of Whirlpools, Uzushio Village was built grand and imposing, with a constant flow of people at the village gate and an endless stream of traveling merchants.

"I never imagined that relying solely on the power of the Uzumaki Clan, they could build such a prosperous village." Karatachi Yagura marveled at the sight. Uzushio Village was naturally not as imposing as Kirigakure, but considering that its current scene was entirely developed by the Uzumaki Clan's efforts alone, it was truly impressive.

"Yeah! But whether this is good or bad for the Uzumaki Clan remains to be seen!" Thinking of Uzushio Village's fate in the original story, Hozuki Shingetsu couldn't help but show an enigmatic expression.

As in-laws of the Senju Clan, the symbol on Konoha's headband proved the close bond between them. If the Uzumaki Clan had chosen to join Konoha back then, given their relationship with the Senju Clan, it was uncertain whether the Third Hokage would have been Sarutobi Hiruzen. At the very least, the later situation of clan members scattering across the shinobi world and being reduced to living power banks wouldn't have occurred.

"Kirigakure's people?"

Noticing the Kirigakure headbands on the few, the gatekeeper of Uzushio Village sent someone to inform the higher-ups and then led them to a rest room to settle in.

"And this is?"

Noticing the unconscious oil-ninja Ryuma, although the Konoha headband on his head made the gatekeeper's eyelids twitch, he still followed protocol and didn't ask further.

"Messengers from Kirigakure? The leader has been expecting you for some time."

Soon, a ninja in a tactical vest arrived and led the group to the political center of Uzushio Village, the Tenshukaku.

"The leader of Uzushio Village seems to prioritize his identity as a daimyo over that of a ninja?" Noting that the political center of the village head was a Tenshukaku rather than an office building, Hozuki Shingetsu speculated inwardly.

"Lord Daimyo, the Kirigakure messengers have arrived."

The ninja's address to the leader precisely confirmed Hozuki Shingetsu's guess. But with the current situation, there was no time to ponder how this information might benefit him. He immediately led Karatachi Yagura and the other into the room and presented Ren's letter to the Daimyo of the Land of Whirlpools.

The current head of the Uzumaki Clan, leader of Uzushio Village, Daimyo of the Land of Whirlpools, Uzumaki Takumi, was about sixty years old. His hair had turned from red to white, with a mustache at his nose and a long beard on his chin. Dressed in a loose robe, he sat in the main seat casually flipping through Ren's letter.

"Exchanging the sealing technique for tailed beast jinchuriki..." Uzumaki Takumi set the letter down gently and turned to look at Hozuki Shingetsu. "Give me a reason for the exchange, how about it?"

"Lord Daimyo, before I answer, may I introduce this man's background?"

Hozuki Shingetsu lifted the still-unconscious oil-ninja Ryuma and spoke unhurriedly.

Those present had long been curious about the oil-ninja Ryuma's identity. Although they could tell from the headband he wore that he was from Konoha, the key point was why a Kirigakure messenger would bring a Konoha man to Uzushio Village.

"His name is Aburame Tatsuma, a jonin of Konoha. Just a few hours ago, on the soil of the Land of Whirlpools, he led three Konoha squads in an attempt to ambush us. But his skills were lacking, and we killed them instead, leaving only this man alive."

At the same time, Yukinagi tossed out a handful of bloodstained Konoha headbands. The iron headbands clattered noisily across the floor.

Hearing this, the gazes of those present glanced at the oil-ninja Ryuma, and upon realizing they didn't recognize him, quickly focused back on Hozuki Shingetsu and his two companions.

Three against thirteen, and they appeared here unscathed—Kirigakure had certainly produced quite a few geniuses lately!

But before they could finish their thoughts, Hozuki Shingetsu suddenly asked a question that left them struggling to answer.

"May I take this as Uzushio Village deliberately tipping off Konoha? May I take this as a sign that Uzushio Village is abandoning its independence and joining Konoha? May I take this as a declaration of war from Uzushio Village against Kirigakure?"