"Good, very good. Let's have a good drink tonight."
Uzumaki Ashina proposed, dragging his exhausted body along.
Everyone present happily accepted the suggestion.
By evening,
everyone was drinking merrily.
Tsunade saw Uzumaki Shori leave the table and paused in surprise.
She turned and followed him. He was in the garden, gazing up at the stars.
He was her age, yet his strength surpassed hers, and he had become the Second Uzukage of the Land of Whirlpools.
To fight Kirigakure, he had even created a machine capable of changing the battlefield.
This made Tsunade increasingly curious about Uzumaki Shori and eager to understand him better.
"Our genius, everyone's celebrating your invention. Why are you sitting here looking at the stars?"
Beneath the starlight, Uzumaki Shori gazed at Tsunade for a long while. She immediately blushed.
"The Rocket Launcher is useful, but this is a battle that will decide whether the Uzumaki Clan lives or dies. I want to see more of this world. With the time I have left, all I can do is think about the battles ahead."
Tsunade took a step forward. Her grandfather had once said that when someone was full of hope as they set out to do something, they needed at least one person to applaud and cheer them on.
"It's not so difficult. We'll face it together."
Uzumaki Shori looked away from Tsunade and stood up, stretching.
"Thank you for encouraging me. But don't forget, I'm the Second Uzukage of the Land of Whirlpools. When the Land of Whirlpools is in trouble, I'll be the first to stand at the front."
Tsunade picked up her ninja pouch, took out a specially made Military Ration Pill, and handed it to him.
Uzumaki Shori took the medicine, looking puzzled.
"Isn't this a Military Ration Pill? We have plenty in storage. You don't need to give me one separately."
Tsunade rolled her eyes at Uzumaki Shori.
"Would I give you an ordinary Military Ration Pill? This one's specially made. We used it to treat your father. Since you're the Uzukage, you can't afford to fall. I made it just for you."
"Come on, my dear Uzukage. Let's go have a drink together."
Uzumaki Shori put away the pill and said with a smile,
"Sure. Tsunade, your Medical Ninjutsu is impressive. Could you teach me?"
"Of course. Once we come back from the battle, I'll teach you everything I know."
Tsunade said with a smile.
Everyone was still eating and drinking together. Jiraiya and the First Uzukage were bragging, while Orochimaru studied the Sealing Scroll.
The Land of Whirlpools was in high spirits, but things were different in the Land of Water.
Hozuki Gensei returned via reverse Summoning and was struck by the force of space.
"Pfft!"
He spat out a mouthful of blood. Before he had time to rest,
whoosh—a Senbon shot from behind Hozuki Gensei, aimed straight at his heart.
Hozuki Gensei sensed the danger and rolled to the right, quickly turning to see who had attacked him.
Suikazan Fuguki stared intently at him.
As soon as he saw his opponent roll, he charged forward like lightning and kicked him with an upward strike.
With a bang, his body turned into a log in an instant.
Hozuki Gensei had used a ninjutsu before making the Hand Seals.
"Substitution Technique!"
"Suikazan Fuguki, are you attacking me because you intend to betray the Mizukage?"
His opponent stared at Hozuki Gensei without answering, then grinned viciously and formed Hand Seals.
"Needle Jizo!"
His hair shot toward his enemy again and again. Then he planted it in the ground and launched a piercing attack.
Hozuki Gensei was out of chakra and could only stand there, looking terrified.
Suikazan Fuguki watched his opponent fall to the ground. Needle Jizo was about to pierce his body.
Once he killed him, Samehada would no longer be under his control. He could use Samehada without worrying that his opponent would summon it away.
In an instant, Needle Jizo pinned Hozuki Gensei to the ground. Lying there, he cried out in pain and glared at Suikazan Fuguki with hatred.
"You don't need to look at me with such hatred. If you want to blame someone, blame yourself for controlling Samehada."
"I've known where your reverse Summoning Technique takes you for a long time. Whenever you left on a mission, I waited here."
"You came back uninjured every time, so all I could do was wait and wait. Do you know how long I've been waiting for you?"
Suikazan Fuguki bared his sharp teeth, his face twisted in a savage expression. He stood over Hozuki Gensei, looking down at him.
He raised his Ninja Blade and stabbed downward.
Clang! The blade snapped.
His face fell. It was an illusion—this wasn't Hozuki Gengetsu.
He looked around. Hozuki Gensei was kneeling a short distance away, beside the Second Mizukage, Hozuki Gengetsu.
Suikazan Fuguki looked terrified. He hurried over and knelt, cautiously raising his head.
"Lord Mizukage, I was merely sparring with Hozuki Gensei. With the invasion of the Land of Whirlpools imminent, I would never ruin your fun."
The Second Mizukage was usually warm and generous, but in battle, he became merciless.
Hozuki Gengetsu regarded Suikazan Fuguki with an unreadable smile, then stepped forward and kicked him.
Suikazan Fuguki flew like a ball and slammed into the mountainside opposite, sinking deep into the rock. Hozuki Gengetsu glanced at Hozuki Gensei, still kneeling beside him.
"Come on. Tell me what powerful fighters the Land of Whirlpools has. My blood's already boiling."
Hozuki Gensei, still on his knees, glanced at Suikazan Fuguki, who remained sprawled on the ground, then hurried to his feet and followed the Second Mizukage.
Suikazan Fuguki lay on the ground, his face twisted like a demon's. He ground his teeth. Hozuki Clan, don't give me an opening. I'll make you pay.
He slowly got up and followed the Mizukage back to camp.
"Lord Mizukage, we've finished gathering intelligence on the Land of Whirlpools. Konoha and Sunagakure are in conflict, so they won't send ninjas to support them."
"The only ones left who can fight are the six Captains of the Guard, the Uzukage, and his son."
"Lord Hokage, you don't even need to go. I can lead a team and sweep the entire Land of Whirlpools."
Hozuki Gengetsu glanced at his subordinate. Hozuki Gensei shuddered. Even a battle-crazed Mizukage was looking forward to this fight. How could he possibly let me lead the team?
Before long, the Land of Water's assembly camp came into view. The Chunin scattered to summon the Jonin and call a meeting.
The Mizukage, Hozuki Gengetsu, sat on the Mizukage's seat. As everyone filed in, he saw the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, the Yuki Clan, and the many Jonin of the Kaguya Clan.
The Mizukage looked over the assembled crowd. Kirigakure's strongest fighters were all gathered.
"Three and a half days from now, our supplies will arrive, and the ten sailboats will be ready. Then we'll sweep the Land of Whirlpools."
Everyone present roared,
"Wipe out the Land of Whirlpools!"
Uzumaki Shori sat in the Uzukage's seat too, looking over those assembled. My father, the First Uzukage; Elder Uzumaki Keimei; the six Captains of the Guard; Senju Tsunade; Orochimaru; and Jiraiya.
The strongest fighters in the Land of Whirlpools had all gathered.
Uzumaki Shori raised his cup.
"Everyone, in three days, the Rocket Launcher and three hundred medium-sized ships will be ready. Then we'll set out and defeat Kirigakure."
Everyone present roared as well,
"Defeat Kirigakure!"
Before you continue