Finally, the Master of the Land of Whirlpools

Given the Uzukage's desperate struggle, it was only logical that Hozuki Gensei would choose to flee when faced with such intense combat.

After all, he had only infiltrated to gather intelligence; he was not about to throw his life away here.

Medical ninja had been waiting for some time, and as the roar of ninjutsu faded, genin outside began evacuating the civilians.

Chunin gathered around the Uzukage's palace to cast the Four Violet Flames Formation, ensuring the battle's aftermath would not spread to the surrounding area.

As the sounds of combat came to an abrupt halt, the chunin watching from the perimeter waited with bated breath, anxious for the outcome.

Seeing Uzumaki Sasuke run out to call for the medical team, they realized the battle had finally ended, and their hearts, which had been hanging by a thread, finally settled.

However, upon entering and seeing the Uzukage unconscious, their hearts rose back into their throats, fluttering with uncertainty.

Uzumaki Shori possessed no medical ninjutsu skills, so he could only stand by anxiously, watching the medical ninja tend to his father's wounds.

After an examination, the medical ninja concluded that the Uzukage had overexerted his chakra, depleting his life force to the point of falling into a coma.

"Lord Uzumaki Shori, after my examination, it appears the Uzukage's mind was under extreme tension. Now that he has suddenly relaxed, he has fallen into a deep coma. As long as he is properly replenished with energy, he will wake up on his own."

The heart that had been suspended in mid-air finally dropped at the medical ninja's words.

Uzumaki Shori surveyed the scene; it was a complete wreck, shattered by the shockwaves of the battle. Hozuki Gensei's Samehada could absorb chakra, and the Uzumaki clan were warriors who primarily fought by coating their fists in chakra.

Once Samehada absorbed the chakra coating their bodies, the explosive tags of Shibuki could easily shatter the defenses of the Uzumaki clan.

Elder Uzumaki Keimei felt a wave of despair. Facing just one man from Kirigakure had been enough to bring tears to his eyes as he gazed at the unconscious Uzukage.

"Our Uzumaki clan is finished, completely finished. We must scatter the clansmen and have them flee; we must protect the last hope of the Uzumaki clan."

Uzumaki Kyokei didn't care if the man was an elder; he lunged forward, grabbed Uzumaki Keimei by the collar, and yanked him hard. Perhaps out of anger, or perhaps out of sheer frustration, his face turned beet red.

"Shut your mouth, you old fool! I know we haven't lost, and we won't lose. If we take one of them down, we break even; if we take two, we profit. This one won't act like a cowardly deserter."

Uzumaki Shori adjusted his armor and walked into the center of the crowd, erupting with a massive surge of chakra. His crimson hair danced in the wake of his power, drawing every eye toward him.

"Everyone present, listen to me. My father, the Uzukage, Uzumaki Ashina, appointed me as the new generation of Uzukage before he fell into this coma. Any problems that arise from here on out will be solved by me."

Uzumaki Kyokei looked at Uzumaki Shori, who was radiating such immense chakra, and released his grip on Elder Keimei.

Elder Keimei, having been choked to the point of gasping for air, took a deep breath the moment he was released and shouted:

"Kirigakure is one of the Five Great Shinobi Villages! They only sent one clan head from a Kekkei Genkai family, along with the Kaguya Clan, who are famous for their slaughter."

"Furthermore, there is the most mysterious Third Mizukage, whose face no one has ever seen, and Hozuki Gensei of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist is the leader of those seven."

"The Three-Tails is also the most destructive force; our barrier could have defended against their assault, if not for the Three-Tails' Tailed Beast Bomb."

Uzumaki Kyokei impatiently shoved Elder Keimei aside, unwilling to listen to his defeatist talk, causing the elder to fall heavily to the ground. Elder Keimei pointed a finger at Uzumaki Kyokei and rebuked him angrily.

"I haven't even settled the score with you yet, and you're still going on and on!"

Uzumaki Kyokei ignored the accusation, knelt on one knee, and looked at Uzumaki Shori, placing his hand over his chest.

"Captain of the First Guard of the Land of Whirlpools, Uzumaki Kyokei, swears allegiance to the Second Uzukage, Lord Uzumaki Shori."

At this moment, everyone present was stunned by Uzumaki Kyokei's actions. As they debated whether Elder Keimei's logic held weight or if they should pledge loyalty to the Second Uzukage, a second person stepped forward.

Uzumaki Shiro knelt on one knee, gazing at Uzumaki Shori with his hand over his chest.

"Captain of the Second Guard of the Land of Whirlpools, Uzumaki Shiro, swears allegiance to the Second Uzukage, Lord Uzumaki Shori."

Everyone present made up their minds, kneeling on one knee, gazing at Uzumaki Shori with their hands over their chests.

"Captains of the Third, Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Guards, Uzumaki Ryusho, Jiro, Muto, and Sasuke, swear allegiance to the Second Uzukage, Lord Uzumaki Shori."

Elder Uzumaki Keimei watched as everyone chose to pledge loyalty to the Second Uzukage. Thinking of the future of the Uzumaki clan, he covered his face and wept aloud.

All the jonin present looked at one another, unable to suppress the sorrow in their hearts.

Uzumaki Shori retracted his chakra and came before Elder Keimei, gently patting his back as he whispered:

"The Uzumaki clan still has a chance; we will surely find a way to solve this. Originally, this was a burden for my father, the First Uzukage, to lead everyone out of this predicament, but now it is I, the Second Uzukage of the Land of Whirlpools, who will lead the Uzumaki clan."

For a moment, Elder Keimei wiped the tears from his eyes, thinking to himself that the Uzumaki clan only had a chance if they pulled themselves together. I am already old; let me use my life to protect the next generation.

Uzumaki Keimei knelt on one knee, gazing at Uzumaki Shori, his hand over his chest.

"Elder of the Land of Whirlpools, Uzumaki Keimei, swears allegiance to the Second Uzukage, Lord Uzumaki Shori."

The blood in the veins of everyone present began to flow rapidly, their hot-blooded resolve boiling over as they revealed their fierce intent and declared their stance on the spot.

"Please, Lord Uzukage, preside over the meeting. Let us strike down those Kirigakure scoundrels!"

Facing the resolve of the crowd, Uzumaki Shori believed they could carve out a path to survival, and he formed hand seals.

"Earth Style: Earth Flow Wall!"

Following the change in chakra nature, a round table and chairs emerged from the ruins of the battle in the Uzukage's hall. He walked forward and pulled out the main seat.

"Everyone has worked hard through this battle. Clean yourselves up and let's sit down to discuss."

As everyone took their seats, Uzumaki Shori was the last to sit, muttering to himself that he had just arrived only to face a battle, and now he would have to face a war.

Ding, congratulations to the host for commanding a victory against Kirigakure and resisting a crisis for the Uzumaki clan. Reward: Sealing Jutsu +1.

The system's voice echoed in his mind, and in an instant, a wealth of information regarding sealing techniques flooded Uzumaki Shori's consciousness.

His previously shaky foundation in sealing arts was now reinforced, the gaps filled, and his overall mastery elevated by a full level beyond his original height.

The information felt as if he had practiced it a thousand times over; every hand seal and every rune was now perfectly clear to him.

Taking a deep breath to steady himself, Uzumaki Shori began to consider how to utilize these sealing techniques against Kirigakure.

"Then, Elder Keimei, please introduce the comparison between our two forces."