Uchiha Mu's dark side

After hearing what the Yuki Clan member said, Hozuki Gengetsu could no longer argue. It was a tragic story. To complete his mission, Kakuzu had naturally posted bounties in the underworld.

Those bounty hunters would not bother checking whether their targets were orphans. As long as they were four or younger, they would take any they could get their hands on. Uchiha Mu's actions were truly vile, setting a sinister example for Konoha's future master scapegoat.

"Then what do you suggest?" As Mizukage, he knew very well what life was actually like in the Hundred-Clan Shinobi Nation, but he absolutely could not reveal that dreamlike existence. Otherwise, he would face mass desertion.

They could try to imitate it, but that required enormous funding. Kirigakure had no money and no idea how to make any. Their ninjutsu was meant for killing, and they lacked the Hundred-Clan Shinobi Nation's approach to research and development.

"I..." The Yuki Clan member did not know what to say. Still, if the Mizukage could not even protect his clansmen, what use was he? But confronting Uchiha Mu? He did not dare. The man's reputation spoke for itself.

"I've heard Uchiha Mu treats orphans very well," someone else interjected.

"She isn't an orphan!" the Yuki Clan member snapped.

"Enough. First, condemn their actions and contact Konoha. The Hundred-Clan Shinobi Nation's behavior is causing panic. We need Konoha to mediate." Mizukage Byakuren had no other options. Who would not want to settle things through strength? Unfortunately, his own strength did not allow it.

"Yes."

Meanwhile, all was peaceful in Sunagakure. They no longer lacked money, and shinobi and villagers alike had begun digging up sand. They needed plenty of it for construction.

Most importantly, Uchiha Mu had brought them plenty of good things, offering low-interest loans to support their development. His only condition was that they allow his merchants to do business inside the village. They had no idea why Uchiha Mu would do this-Sunagakure was poor, after all-but they would be fools to pass up such a deal.

That, however, created a problem. Sunagakure had already become dependent on the Hundred-Clan Shinobi Nation. If Uchiha Mu severed ties, those benefiting from the arrangement would never agree to it. Uchiha Mu was not foolish enough to keep all the profits for himself. Instead, he shared the profits from business in the village with them, taking only a portion and leaving the rest for them to earn.

The Hundred-Clan Shinobi Nation.

"We're here, children. This is your home now." One of the shinobi had a friendly appearance and a gentle smile, helping the three- and four-year-olds lower their guard.

"Uncle, can I go home?"

"No, you can't. Your family sold you to us. If you go back, your mommy and daddy will hit you."

The little girl was frightened, and tears began spilling down her cheeks. A moment later, though, a sweet scent drifted into her nose, and the tears involuntarily began flowing from the corners of her mouth instead.

"Have some cotton candy." The shinobi approached and handed her a stick of cotton candy.

She ate it in tiny bites. It was the most delicious thing she had ever tasted. Her parents had already planned to teach her ninjutsu and how to kill, but she did not understand why she had to do those things. Perhaps they had sold her because she had failed to meet their expectations. If she could eat delicious sweets here, maybe it would not be so bad.

The Hundred-Clan Shinobi Nation had a clearly defined procedure for handling children whose personalities had yet to fully form. Once they grew older, they would no longer want to return. Even if they did go back, after experiencing life there, they would eventually come back here.

Soon, the children were brought into the village. They had never seen such a developed place, especially an entire street full of food. Still hungry, they went completely wild when the shinobi told them to choose whatever they liked and eat as much as they wanted.

Naturally, Uchiha Mu paid for everything. These children could barely spend anything, making it the perfect way to win them over. Rei, the Yuki Clan girl who had wanted to go home just moments earlier, had already forgotten all about it.

Once they had eaten and drunk their fill, friendly children came to keep them company. They even had companions when they slept, ensuring they would not feel lonely or dwell on things.

Rei was very happy. She had made her first friend, who had even brought a wooden puzzle. She loved the game. That night, her friend slept beside her, and she heard they would play together again the next day. She had no time to be sad.

There were many children like her, and most could accept their new lives. Only a very small number wanted to leave. Kakuzu would take those children to work at the merchant association. This, too, was part of Uchiha Mu's dark side.

Of course, that did not apply to the children who stayed here. In an environment like Kirigakure, they could never have had a happy childhood. As for Konoha, Uchiha Mu had left its children alone. He could not give Hashirama an excuse.

The Land of Whirlpools.

Uchiha Mu and Uzumaki Ashina had become friends despite their age gap. Besides moving some of his industries to the Uzumaki Clan's territory, he had also encouraged them to fish and do similar work. He bought everything they caught, no matter how much, and left them a generous profit.

With business interests linking them, the two sides grew closer. That evening, Uchiha Mu drank quite a bit, and by the following day, he and Keiko Uzumaki had gotten intimately acquainted.

When he woke the next day, Uchiha Mu looked at the young woman in his arms, quietly slipped out from beneath the covers, and stretched. Hashirama, your cells are just too useful.

He left his lodgings. The village established by the Uzumaki Clan in the Land of Whirlpools was even less developed than Konoha. Its economy circulated entirely within itself. Although Konoha was similar, it had numerous shinobi clans, each with businesses of their own.

"The situation in the shinobi world is growing harder and harder to fathom." Seeing Uchiha Mu emerge, Uzumaki Ashina sighed.

"Isn't this peace?" Uchiha Mu asked with a smile.

"An eerie peace." Uzumaki Ashina rolled his eyes. He knew all of this was thanks to Hashirama Senju.

"Relax. The Uzumaki Clan is under my protection. At least while I'm alive, nothing will happen to you." As Uchiha Mu spoke to the elderly man, he sensed an aura about him that frightened even him. He was probably researching some forbidden jutsu.

"Haha, with you and Konoha around, I can rest easy." Uzumaki Ashina did not believe Konoha would betray their alliance, but the business relationship with Uchiha Mu could undoubtedly take them even further.

Uchiha Mu shook his head and headed to the training ground, where the children were practicing. When they saw him arrive, they called out, "Teacher Mu, train with us again!"

"Sure. Get stronger through combat." Uchiha Mu could not be bothered to use clones, so he simply motioned for everyone to attack together. He did not even activate his Sharingan.

Multiple Shadow Clone Technique, Rasengan, taijutsu, Smoke Sealing, Combined Ninjutsu-the twenty children threw everything they had at him. Even so, Uchiha Mu thrashed them. Each kick took out a shadow clone, and every taijutsu strike hit a weak point.

The commotion soon drew Uzumaki Clan members over to watch. Although the fight was entirely one-sided, even one of the elders broke into a nervous sweat watching those twenty children. Forget twenty-he felt five would be enough to deal with him.

The others thought the same. Sealing jutsu might merely be an added bonus for these children. The techniques Uchiha Mu taught suited them better, especially the Mystical Palm Technique, which could both heal and improve their chakra control.

Uchiha Mu was very pleased. Perhaps Strength of a Hundred might even originate with the Uzumaki Clan.

(To be honest, I don't remember the timeline here all that clearly. But since we've already gotten this far, there's no need to worry about it. The butterfly effect changed it long ago anyway. Like I said, reading is meant to be fun. If you're hung up on accuracy, you can specifically look for rigorously researched fanfiction. This story is mainly about lighthearted fun and an invincible protagonist.)