You Uzumaki Clan Are the Most Just and Kind

"At this rate, our clan's granaries will be exhausted within a month. When that happens, panic will spread among the people. The Kaguya Clan, Uchiha, Kurama Clan, and other ninja clans that already bear hostility toward us certainly won't let this opportunity pass. They'll wipe out our clan completely."

The daimyō frowned.

Strictly speaking, every ninja clan within the Fire Country was his subject. Yet not only did he feel no pity for them, he even wished they would all perish.

In the daimyō's eyes, the Fire Country's current chaos and warfare had all been caused by those ninja clans. If ninja ever disappeared one day, the Fire Country would finally know true peace.

Shusen understood the daimyō's thoughts well and continued, "Over the decades of turmoil and war, quite a few ninja clans in the Fire Country have perished. If the Uzumaki Clan is wiped out, it can only mean our fate has run its course. But the Fire Country's fate should not end here!"

The daimyō's brows twitched sharply as he asked in surprise, "What do you mean?"

Those words had struck directly at the pain in his heart.

Rather than answer, Shusen asked, "Has Lord Daimyō ever considered what the Fire Country's final outcome will be if the major ninja clans are allowed to keep fighting among themselves?"

The daimyō fell silent without saying a word.

Shusen tore away the veil for him. "The great tides of the world divide after long unity and unite after long division. When war reaches its end, one ninja clan will inevitably defeat all its opponents and become the Fire Country's sole dominant clan. With no rivals left to restrain it, it can do whatever it wishes. Naturally, it will set its sights on the daimyō's position."

By then, the daimyō's body was already trembling slightly.

He knew full well that Shusen was not merely trying to frighten him. The ninja clans were his greatest threat, yet he had no way to deal with them.

The reason no ninja clan dared oppose him during the Fire Country's current free-for-all was entirely because of his status as daimyō. As long as he remained daimyō, no clan would dare openly defy him. Otherwise, it would invite a joint crusade from all the other ninja clans.

But once the war entered its final stages and a victor emerged among the ninja clans, that clan would stand alone at the top. It would have no reservations about turning against him.

"Then according to you, how should I avoid that outcome?"

The daimyō gave a bitter smile and actually sought advice from an Uzumaki envoy.

"It's simple." Shusen said seriously, "Provide the Uzumaki Clan with relief grain and funding."

The daimyō was speechless.

You managed to circle back to that?

Shusen explained, "Years of war have severely drained our clan's strength. My clansmen are weary of war, which is why we issued a declaration to shelter civilians. All we want is to build a peaceful, stable village."

"Our clan isn't the only one tired of war. The members of other ninja clans feel the same way. They fight without end only to seize land and resources. If they could one day live without worrying about food or clothing, who would still be willing to risk their life on the battlefield? War would naturally come to an end."

The daimyō's expression shifted repeatedly. He had to admit that Shusen made a great deal of sense.

This was a method to stop war, one that addressed its root cause.

"That is precisely what our clan is doing now," Shusen continued.

"If our clan truly builds a peaceful, stable village, the other ninja clans will certainly be moved when they see it and will follow suit. Once every side is busy building villages, war will vanish without a trace."

"That makes sense!" The daimyō could not help nodding, his eyes gleaming.

Shusen said, "Therefore, the fate of our Uzumaki Clan and that of the Fire Country are now bound together. If our clan can develop and prosper, the end of the Warring States Era will be within reach! If our clan perishes..."

He shook his head and left it at that, saying no more.

Yet the daimyō understood his meaning. The Uzumaki Clan was now a model among ninja clans, completely different from the rest. If the Uzumaki Clan prospered, the Fire Country would prosper; if the Uzumaki Clan fell, the Fire Country would fall!

He had to support the Uzumaki Clan!

"How much grain does Ryū want me to provide?" the daimyō suddenly asked.

"Two hundred thousand dan of grain and 1.5 billion taels of money," Shusen answered.

"That's too much!"

The daimyō frowned and pondered. "I can only give him fifty thousand dan of grain and one billion taels."

Shusen almost wanted to complain. In later times, one billion taels would only have been enough to buy twenty Asuma heads.

It seemed that even the daimyō's household had no surplus grain.

"Let the Uzumaki Clan make do with this grain and money for now. Once you use it up, I will find another way to support you."

"Among all the ninja clans, your Uzumaki Clan is the most just and kind. I sincerely hope you can establish Uzushio Village and set a proper example for the other ninja clans!" the daimyō said solemnly.

"Thank you, Lord Daimyō, for your generous aid. Every member of the Uzumaki Clan is deeply grateful. We will not fail in our duty!" Shusen thanked him with equal solemnity.

"One more thing. You must not reveal a single word to the other ninja clans about the aid I am giving you. You must transport the grain and supplies back to Uzushio Village in secret, without anyone knowing."

The daimyō feared stirring dissatisfaction among the other ninja clans, so he demanded secrecy.

"No problem. I still have dozens of clansmen outside the palace. We all know Earth Release!"

Shusen thumped his chest confidently.

Half an hour later, upon seeing the dozens of red-haired Uzumaki clansmen before him, the daimyō was finally at ease and arranged for his ministers to secretly mobilize supplies from the treasury.

The Uzumaki Clan grounds—no, it should now be called Uzushio Village.

After a full day of hard work, the Uzumaki clansmen had finally settled the more than three hundred civilians who had come seeking refuge, having them temporarily live alongside the Uzumaki clansmen.

Late that night, Ryū once again gathered his children and the elders to discuss the next steps in building the village.

"More civilians have come seeking refuge than expected. We must sell the iron mine as soon as possible, or the granaries won't withstand the strain," Ryū said.

"Shusen, Grand Elder, the two of you will be responsible for discussing the sale of the iron mine with the daimyō."

"Yes."

Uzumaki Shusen answered obediently.

The Grand Elder seemed about to speak but stopped. He felt that Ashina and he should be handling this matter instead. After all, Ashina had proposed the village-building plan, and this would be good experience for him.

Just then—

In a corner of the council hall, ripples suddenly spread across the ground, and a masked man dressed in black emerged from them.

"Who goes there?!"

The Uzumaki elders were shocked. They all rose to confront him, ready to attack at the slightest disagreement.

"There's no need to be nervous, everyone. I am a guard of the daimyō, not your enemy."

The man in black spoke in a hoarse voice, though his tone carried a strange friendliness.

"You claim to be the daimyō's guard. What proof do you have?" Ryū asked warily, his expression grave.

"Of course I have proof."

The man in black chuckled in his distinctive hoarse voice.

The next moment, ripples surged across the ground around him, and sack after sack of grain was tossed out.