The Daimyō's Commission!

After leading the group to the Uzumaki Clan Homeland, Hashirama dumped the job of meeting the Uzumaki clan head on Tobirama—Tobirama was better at this sort of thing, so he could handle it! (Tobirama: ...Did he bring me along specifically for this?)

Well, Hashirama still wasn't mature enough yet. Whenever something came up that he didn't want to do, he passed it off to his little brother. (Tobirama: ...)

Even later on... Tobirama would still have to tag along, or his brother might end up counting the money for someone who'd just sold him!

And although Tobirama felt helpless, that was the one problem with his otherwise wonderful big brother... he was too naive. So Tobirama could only keep cleaning up his messes!

Thus, after slipping away, Hashirama went to find Uzumaki Gamu-and met the woman he would love most for the rest of his life: Mito Uzumaki!

From then on, whenever Hashirama had free time, he came running to the Uzumaki Clan Homeland to spar with Uzumaki Gamu.

Uzumaki Gamu said, "Sparring with me is just an excuse. You're really here to see Mito, aren't you?"

With complete sincerity, Hashirama replied, "No, I really came to see you!"

"Then stop sneaking glances at my sister!!" Uzumaki Gamu said, speechless. Meanwhile, he thought, He's exactly like Naruto. Whenever he meets a girl he likes, he wants to show off in front of her... If Mito got hurt, would he suddenly power up too?

"Ahahaha..." Hashirama scratched his head awkwardly.

Sitting nearby and watching her brother spar with his good friend, Mito covered her mouth and laughed too. Although their first meeting had felt a little strange, after spending more time with Hashirama, she had realized that he really was a good person.

Setting aside his monstrous fighting strength, he was just an earnest, down-to-earth, sunny small-town boy... Why did that sound like a description of Superman? (Clark Kent: That's right. That's me!)

It seemed they both liked each other. Still, they were too young, so marriage was off the table for now!

Hashirama's father, on the other hand, was a little worried... Was his dear eldest son going to marry into their clan?

And just like that, several months passed! The New Year was approaching again, and Uzumaki Gamu was about to turn fourteen!

One day, Uzumaki Gamu was roasting sweet potatoes in the Clan Homeland's courtyard. "Phew... It's almost New Year. The other ninja clans should settle down a little now, right?" Fighting was ultimately a way to make a living, so as the New Year approached, the major ninja clans tacitly avoided conflicts. If people died now, how were they supposed to celebrate?

Of course, there were particularly rebellious types who liked picking fights even over the New Year, but they were a minority. Most people chose to avoid those lunatics, leaving them to make trouble among themselves... Surely they wouldn't be bold enough to attack another ninja clan's Clan Homeland?

Standing beside Uzumaki Gamu, Mito remarked, "You really do love eating, don't you? Whenever you have free time, you're always making something to eat."

"...There's nothing else to do for fun!" Uzumaki Gamu looked at Mito helplessly. He wanted to curl up under the covers with his phone, play games to his heart's content, watch videos, and argue with people on online forums too... but none of that existed in this era!

Other than eating, what else could he do for entertainment? Find a wife and make love?

If that was all he thought about every day, wouldn't he be little better than an animal?

Mito asked curiously, "Have you never thought about getting a girlfriend?" (Don't be surprised that Mito knew the word. Uzumaki Gamu had taught it to her.)

Mito's doubts were perfectly understandable. Just look at Hashirama, who was the same age-he was already interested in the opposite sex. Uzumaki Gamu, meanwhile... seemed completely uninterested in women...

Mito voiced her suspicions. "Do you like men instead?"

"Of course not!!" Uzumaki Gamu waved his hands. "I'm planning to get myself a dozen or so wives!" It sounded like bragging, but Uzumaki Gamu really did want several women.

I was single for over twenty years in my last life. I barely even touched a girl's hand, and I devoted myself entirely to studying! And then I died young just like that? No way. In this life, I'm going to make up for everything I missed!!

In short, Uzumaki Gamu craved women! (Uzumaki Gamu: I suffered for an entire lifetime! Can't I enjoy myself in this one? Keep the music playing! Keep dancing!!!)

So why hadn't he found anyone?

With a dark expression, Mito asked, "Then why hasn't my scumbag, pervert brother found anyone?"

"If I'm going to find someone, she has to meet my standards! Ordinary women aren't good enough for me!" At the very least, she has to understand me! Having a girlfriend or wife who doesn't even understand what I'm saying would make life so boring. Uzumaki Gamu didn't want to become an emotionless breeding machine-a stud. He wanted a soulmate, and he obviously wasn't going to stumble upon someone like that at random. He would have to wait patiently!

"...I don't even know how to describe you anymore!" Mito said, speechless. At first, Uzumaki Gamu had sounded like the enemy of all women, but his lofty requirements afterward sounded more like excuses to avoid getting married... How could anyone from their era think like that?!

People in this era could die any day. Their lives were always hanging by a thread. To continue their bloodline and leave proof that they had existed, they rushed to marry as soon as they were old enough, then hurried to have children. Who was like him... insisting on quality?

Still, finding a truly compatible soulmate in this world really did seem difficult!

Mito felt the same way, so she asked, "If you can't find anyone suitable, are you planning to stay single for the rest of your life?"

"Of course not... If nothing else works, I'll just find someone pretty!" Uzumaki Gamu gave her a thumbs-up. Honestly, his high standards in his previous life had kept him from dating even in college. Insisting on those standards for another entire lifetime would just be making things difficult for himself!

If he still hadn't met anyone suitable by twenty, he would simply find a beautiful woman!

Mito said, "..." I was just starting to think he had some decency, but he's still the same as ever! Whatever. It's better than staying single!

Uzumaki Gamu looked at Mito. "So... is there anyone you want to date?"

At those words, Mito's expression froze. She put on a practiced smile and said, "I'm the daughter of the Uzumaki clan head. I have no right to decide what kind of person I should like!"

Although Mito was only eleven, she was very sensible. Even at her age, she understood the duty she bore as the clan head's daughter-a political marriage, or finding a husband to marry into the clan. That was the responsibility of a clan's princess!

There was no helping it. In the Warring States era, neither men nor women had the freedom to make their own choices. Men had to carry their weapons onto the battlefield, while women had to accept all kinds of arrangements. Otherwise, surviving in such a cruel environment was difficult.

Uzumaki Gamu sighed helplessly. "...That's true." He understood his little sister very well. In front of others, she was always an obedient, sensible, well-mannered, gentle young lady from a distinguished family.

Only around him could she act like a little girl. Of course, that was also because Uzumaki Gamu had always doted on her. He really didn't want his sister to be like the other girls of her era, living her entire life without freedom, completely at the mercy of other people's arrangements.

Still... Uzumaki Gamu wouldn't stop Mito from fulfilling her duty. Since she enjoyed the privileges of being the clan head's daughter, she ought to shoulder the responsibility as well.

Of course, the main reason was that Mito's future husband was Hashirama. With him, there was nothing to worry about.

Just then, Uzumaki Gamu noticed that the sweet potatoes were ready, so he told Mito, "All right, stop worrying about all that. Let's eat!"

"Okay!" Mito nodded, and the siblings happily ate their sweet potatoes together!

Just then, Daigu appeared with the Body Flicker Technique yet again.

Uzumaki Gamu looked at his eldest brother, speechless. "Why do you always show up with the Body Flicker Technique right when I've finished making something to eat? You're doing this on purpose, aren't you?"

Daigu said awkwardly, "No, I just came to tell you there's a mission..." He didn't know why Uzumaki Gamu always seemed to be making food whenever he came to notify him of a mission either. Well, that was normal enough, since Uzumaki Gamu cooked whenever he had free time. Still, appearing exactly when the food was ready every single time was quite a coincidence...

Speechless, Uzumaki Gamu could only tell Mito, "Take care of the remaining ones yourself. If you can't finish them, give them to someone else!" There were still a few uncooked sweet potatoes in the fire, so he had to leave them to Mito!

"Okay, I'll take care of them!" Mito nodded.

Then Uzumaki Gamu followed his eldest brother to see their father.

On the way, Uzumaki Gamu asked curiously, "It's almost New Year. Isn't there usually no work around now? Why did a mission suddenly come in?"

Daigu answered, "This commission came from the daimyo. Even if it's New Year, we have to go!"

"A commission from the daimyo? What is it?" Uzumaki Gamu asked curiously.

The term daimyo was used for feudal lords in ancient Japan. In the Hokage World, however, a daimyo was the ruler of a country!

The Land of Fire, where Uzumaki Gamu and his clan currently lived, had been founded during the Warring States era. It hired the ninja clans within its borders, which had split off from Ninshu, to fight other countries. The daimyo of the Land of Fire was essentially its king!

Although the Uzumaki Clan would eventually establish its own independent country and ninja village, its Clan Homeland was currently still within the Land of Fire. The daimyo was also their biggest patron, so they naturally had to show him respect when he offered a commission. That made the unexpected mission less surprising to Uzumaki Gamu.

He still had questions, though, so he asked, "So... what's the mission?"

Daigu revealed, "They didn't specify. They only told us to bring people to the Capital of the Land of Fire. We'll be told after meeting the daimyo... And we weren't the only ones invited. I heard that all the major ninja clans in the Land of Fire received invitations!"

"Uh... that big a deal?" Uzumaki Gamu quipped. If they were gathering all the ninja clans together, could they be planning a Shinobi War against another country?

Well, they would only know the details once they got there.

When they reached their father's room, Ashina said to Uzumaki Gamu, "Gamu, Daigu has told you about the mission, hasn't he?"

"Yes, he has!" Uzumaki Gamu nodded. "Do you want me to come along this time?"

Ashina gave a slight nod. "That's right. You're not that young anymore. It's time you saw more of the world, so your eldest brother will take you along this time!"

"Understood!" Uzumaki Gamu agreed without saying anything more.

Thus, after briefly packing his equipment, Uzumaki Gamu set out the following day for the Capital of the Land of Fire with his eldest brother and three elite Uzumaki ninja serving as guards!

The next day, Uzumaki Gamu and the others arrived at the Capital of the Land of Fire.

After they passed through the Capital City's gates, Daigu explained to Uzumaki Gamu, "This is the biggest city in the Land of Fire. It's your first time here. Pretty impressive, isn't it?" Before Konoha was founded, this was the largest settlement in the entire Land of Fire. As for what it looked like... since it wasn't a recurring setting, the author wouldn't waste brain cells coming up with it.

"...It's all right, I guess?" Uzumaki Gamu said casually.

"..." That's not quite the reaction I expected. Shouldn't he be excited? Daigu reflected.

Uzumaki Gamu thought, What's there for me to be excited about? Isn't this city basically on the level of an urban-rural fringe? This era's technology was only at a feudal society's level. What could possibly amaze a modern person like Uzumaki Gamu?

I really miss life in a big city... Thinking of cities, Uzumaki Gamu couldn't help recalling the past. I really don't understand why anyone would want to travel back to ancient times. Never mind the food, drinks, and entertainment... even what you use to wipe your ass scratches it... Is that really a comfortable life? Some city dwellers can't even stand using a village outhouse. Taking away their toilet paper would practically be asking them to die!

If he hadn't been forced into it, then even if Uzumaki Gamu really did want to transmigrate... he would at least have chosen the original series' era!! There might not have been smartphones when Naruto was a child, but televisions already existed. Even being able to watch a movie would have been nice!!!

Daigu watched his little brother sighing away and didn't know what to say... Most of the time, he couldn't understand what this brother of his was thinking.

Then Uzumaki Gamu looked at Daigu. "Brother? Why are you standing there in a daze? We didn't come here to stand guard, did we?"

How did he end up telling me off? Forget it. Whatever works! "...Right, let's go!" Without saying anything more, Daigu led everyone to the daimyo's castle!

There, they met the daimyo... no, they didn't.

The attendant receiving them said, "His Lordship will receive all of you together once every invited ninja clan has arrived. We have already prepared lodgings for you. Until the other clans arrive, please enjoy our hospitality there."

If those words had been addressed to the Uchiha Clan or the Kaguya Clan, their members might have immediately shouted that the other ninja clans weren't needed-they alone would be enough!

But the Uzumaki were relatively easygoing compared to the Uchiha. They had no objections and obediently went to the lodgings to rest.

Of course, Uzumaki Gamu wasn't obedient at all. He wanted to go for a stroll!

So Uzumaki Gamu told Daigu, "Brother, I'm going out to look around!" With that, he immediately vanished with the Body Flicker Technique! (Run away!)

"Wait..." Daigu reached out to stop him, but caught only air.

Daigu said, "..." Weren't you supposed to be uninterested in this capital? Why did you run off to play on your own? His little brother truly was impossible to figure out!

One of the three elite ninja accompanying them asked, "Daigu... will Gamu be all right out there by himself?"

Daigu answered, "Don't worry, Uncle. Gamu may seem flighty most of the time, but he's actually very dependable!"

"Dependable, yes, but he's also reckless!" their clan uncle said worriedly. Never mind the everyday incidents. Three years ago, he had used the Summoning Technique without a contract to teleport randomly in search of Mount Myōboku-something no one before him had done, though someone later would! (That someone: Jiraiya!) Was that something a normal human being would do?

And he had done it thirty-nine times in a row... If word got out, the entire Shinobi World would probably be awestruck.

Remembering all the bizarre things his little brother had done, Daigu felt rather embarrassed too. Still, what could he say... Uzumaki Gamu had already left. Was he supposed to chase him? His brother's Body Flicker Technique was already faster than his!

In short, all they could do now was pray that Uzumaki Gamu wouldn't cause any major trouble! (Uzumaki Gamu: No trouble, no trouble. I'm just looking for some fun!)

After leaving, Uzumaki Gamu began wandering around the Capital City, carefully observing the other ninja clans that had arrived.

Sitting on a rooftop, Uzumaki Gamu steadied his breathing and focused, using Mind's Eye of the Kagura to sense whether anyone he knew was nearby. After learning Sage Mode, he had gained some understanding of sensory abilities. Over the past month, he had been learning Mind's Eye of the Kagura from Mito back at the compound, and he had mastered a few basic applications. He could sense chakra within a five-kilometer radius and identify whose chakra it was... and that was about it!

For now, his accuracy, range, ability to sense good and evil, and proficiency couldn't compare with Mito's at all. Moreover, because he had to calm himself and concentrate to use it, it was useless in actual combat. Basically, he could only use it to find people!

That didn't matter, though. In battle, he could simply use Sage Mode. Its sensory abilities were far more useful than Mind's Eye of the Kagura!

Sensing his surroundings, Uzumaki Gamu muttered, "Hmm... I can't sense Hashirama's, Tobirama's, or Madara's chakra... Looks like they haven't arrived yet. Then... oh? There are two interesting chakra signatures... They seem to be facing off." Curious about those two signatures-or rather, eager to watch the fun-Uzumaki Gamu immediately ran in their direction.

Soon, Uzumaki Gamu reached the scene... or a nearby rooftop, anyway. He saw two boys around his age facing each other.

One was very easy to identify-his eyes were white!

Clearly, he belonged to the Hyuga Clan.

The Hyuga Clan was another ninja clan with a powerful Kekkei Genkai. Like the Senju, Uchiha, and Uzumaki, they were descendants of the Ōtsutsuki Clan. Unlike those three clans, however, the Hyuga traced their lineage to Hamura Otsutsuki, the brother of Hagoromo Otsutsuki-the common ancestor of the Senju and Uchiha!

The Hyuga Clan's inherited ability was called the Byakugan, and they used Gentle Fist in conjunction with it. The Byakugan was one of the three great ocular techniques. It provided a 360-degree field of vision, could see an opponent's chakra pathways, pressure points, and chakra flow, and possessed penetrating vision that could see through objects, telescopic vision for observing distant places, and highly perceptive insight. Using chakra to amplify its abilities, the user could see everything within a kilometer, and its perceptiveness surpassed the Sharingan.

The other boy had no particularly striking features-black hair, green eyes, and paired red dots above his eyebrows. His clothes were loose, and his top looked very easy to put on and take off... Huh? Maybe there were some clues after all.

Paired red dots and a top that's easy to take off... Could he be from the Kaguya Clan? Uzumaki Gamu thought. He had never seen the Kaguya Clan in person, but he had seen its last surviving member in the anime-Kimimaro!

The Kaguya Clan also descended from Otsutsuki... well, since they had all died out, that couldn't be confirmed with absolute certainty. Still, their inherited Kekkei Genkai, Shikotsumyaku, resembled Kaguya Otsutsuki's ability-both allowed control over bones-so, like the four clans above, they were also of Ōtsutsuki descent. (The author isn't sure either, so don't yell at the author if that's wrong!)

Shikotsumyaku allowed its user to freely manipulate every bone in their body for defense or attack. Anything related to [bones], including osteoblasts, osteoclasts, and calcium concentration, could be manipulated without restriction, allowing bones to grow, break down, or remain hardened. The Kaguya Clan's bones were the hardest substance in the world-the strongest spear when attacking, and the toughest shield when defending.

Moreover, since extracting bones from the body tore through tendons and skin, Shikotsumyaku also granted the ability to rapidly heal external injuries.

This ability was extremely powerful, but it came at a price. Their clan suffered from a hereditary disease that caused many of its young men to die early. As a result, members of the Kaguya Clan tended to be extreme and bloodthirsty. Combined with their close-combat fighting style and powerful self-healing ability, they fought other people like rabid dogs!

They were extremely troublesome enemies.

Back to the matter at hand. Although those descriptions suggested that the boy was a Kaguya, neither clue was conclusive evidence, so Uzumaki Gamu would watch for now!

And so, Uzumaki Gamu continued enjoying the show!

Below him, the two boys started exchanging threats!

The Hyuga boy demanded of the suspected Kaguya boy, "Kaguya Jun, what is the meaning of this?" Tenjin Hyuga had only been wandering around the area when Kaguya Jun blocked his way. He couldn't go around him, and when he tried to retreat, the other boy followed... In short, he couldn't simply ignore him and leave, so he could only demand to know what he wanted.

The boy called Kaguya Jun replied calmly, "Tenjin Hyuga, I came to spar with you!" He put particular emphasis on the word "spar."

It looked like this was about more than a simple sparring match.

The provocation was obvious, and Tenjin Hyuga knew what the other boy wanted-he was here to make him look bad.

Although no one knew what mission the daimyo had in mind, anything that brought this many ninja clans together had to be important. Securing it would give their clan an advantage in the competition among the major ninja clans!

All right, that claim didn't seem particularly well-founded, but the daimyo's missions paid very generously. Whether they needed to maintain their livelihoods or expand their armaments, they needed money, so this was undoubtedly a mission every ninja clan would fight to secure!

And this Kaguya Jun probably wanted to defeat a Hyuga in combat before they met the daimyo. Once the daimyo heard about it, he would likely pass over the Hyuga when choosing ninja for the mission... What a crazy idea!