"What exactly is happening outside?" The daimyo paced anxiously back and forth. The loud noises caused the entire island of Uzushiogakure to shake, making him extremely worried.
"That brat better not get into trouble!"
A woman with vibrant red hair and delicate features suddenly grabbed the daimyo's ear and shouted, "If you were so worried, why did you let him do this? He's still just a child!"
"Stop, stop, dear, so many people are watching!" The daimyo quickly tried to calm his furious wife. "I didn't want to either. It was that brat's own plan."
"He's grown up and thinks he can make decisions without consulting his old man now." The daimyo gritted his teeth. "When I see him, I'll teach him a lesson for you."
"You dare!!" The woman flared up in anger, her crimson hair seeming to bristle as she rolled up her sleeves, ready to hit him.
"Fine, fine, I'll listen to you." The daimyo immediately surrendered. "I'll listen to you."
"It's all your fault. If not for your wrong decisions, Uzushiogakure wouldn't be in this mess." The woman sighed, her voice choking with sobs. "Jun wouldn't have to take such risks either."
"Ah..." The daimyo fell silent. This time, they really were at fault. If they had listened to Jun from the start and played dumb with Konoha, refusing to send reinforcements, maybe Uzushiogakure wouldn't be in such danger now.
"Are you really not going to the underground shelter?" the daimyo asked. "Even though this place is relatively safe, it's still the military headquarters."
The woman shook her head firmly. "I was a chunin before. I can help."
"Lord Daimyo, a shinobi has arrived outside," a Uzumaki shinobi suddenly reported.
"Enemy or ally?" the daimyo exclaimed. Had their location been discovered? If so, things were bad. It would mean the frontline was collapsing. They'd have to relocate immediately.
"Ally. Chunin Uzumaki Naoki."
An Uzumaki? Even if he didn't know who Uzumaki Naoki was, as long as he was from the Uzumaki clan, it was fine.
"Let's go." The daimyo waved his hand. He needed to ask about that brat's condition.
"Yes!"
...
"Shinobi-sama." Uzumaki Kyoko watched as the Uzumaki shinobi carelessly tossed an unconscious comrade onto the ground. Worried, she asked, "What's wrong with him?"
Were all shinobi like this? Treating their injured comrades so roughly? Wouldn't throwing him on the ground make things worse?
"This idiot is a disgrace to the Uzumaki clan." Uzumaki Naoki said angrily. "He knocked himself out." As an Uzumaki, with their vast chakra and vitality, he actually fainted from just two waves of explosive tags. How humiliating. Didn't he see the mocking looks from the other squads?
So embarrassing!
Did their squad have no dignity left?
"Huh?" Kyoko looked at Naoki in confusion. What did he mean by knocking himself out? Was this a rookie who fainted at the sight of blood? She glanced hesitantly at the unconscious shinobi before dragging him onto a medical bed.
"Don't bother with him." Naoki waved his hand dismissively. "Just leave him on the floor." So what if he passed out? If not for the fact that they still had missions later and leaving him alone might be dangerous, he wouldn't have bothered. Besides, it was Prince Jun's order—during the early safe phase, if anyone got injured, they were to be sent to the medical room immediately. But if this were the intense phase of battle, to avoid exposing the command center and medical unit, they'd just...
Abandon him.
"But... but..." Kyoko hesitated, unable to bear it. "This isn't right."
"Don't worry about—" Just as Naoki was about to brush her off impatiently—
"How are things? Is that brat alright?" The daimyo's urgent voice interrupted.
"Lord Daimyo!" Naoki immediately bowed respectfully.
"Enough, enough. Just tell me, what's the situation outside?" The daimyo waved off the formalities. "Hurry up!"
Naoki quickly summarized the current events. "Thanks to Prince Jun's strategy..."
The daimyo listened and burst into laughter. "Hahaha, as expected of my son." He turned to his wife proudly. "This kid takes after me. He's been clever since he was little."
"Hmm?" Uzumaki Meirin glared.
The daimyo immediately chuckled awkwardly and corrected himself. "Takes after you, takes after you. Just as beautiful and smart as you."
"How is Uzumaki Jun?" Meirin asked Naoki urgently. "Is he hurt? Was he bullied?"
"Prince Jun is fine." Naoki's eyes shone with admiration at the mention of Jun. "I heard he and the clan head wiped out Kirigakure's entire fleet."
"That's good, that's good." The daimyo finally relaxed, his worries easing. "As expected of my—"
"Hmm?" Meirin glared again.
"Your son, your son. He's your son."
He couldn't win this.
"Ahem." The daimyo coughed and pointed at the unconscious Uzumaki shinobi. "And this is?" Injured? If he was injured, why was he just dumped on the floor?
Naoki explained awkwardly, muttering, "Such a disgrace to the Uzumaki clan."
"Hmph!" The daimyo snorted. "No matter what, he fought for Uzushiogakure. As his teammate, you shouldn't treat him like this."
"Take him inside immediately."
"Yes!" Naoki quickly complied, lifting the unconscious shinobi and carrying him inside.
Hearing the frontline report, the daimyo and Meirin finally relaxed.
"It's good that he's safe. It's good."
...
"Report, Hokage-sama. The Senju clan at the frontline acted without orders and went to aid Uzushiogakure."
Hearing the messenger's words, Sarutobi Hiruzen waved his hand to dismiss him. Then, he turned to the current Senju clan head—Senju Hiroki.
Hiroki roared angrily, "That bastard actually dared to disobey the Hokage's orders. He deserves death." He bowed deeply to Hiruzen. "My apologies. I will immediately remove him from the clan registry and send Senju shinobi to capture him."
"Forget it." Hiruzen waved his hand wearily. "Let it go this time. Just make sure your clan follows orders from now on." Let them send people to capture him? What if they ended up in Uzushiogakure too?
Besides, the number of people who went to Uzushiogakure wasn't large enough to affect the overall battle. At most, they'd cause Kirigakure some minor trouble. And...
Who could say Konoha didn't send reinforcements? Konoha was a village that loved peace and upheld its alliances. Didn't they see that Konoha had even sent its most prominent clan, the Senju?
"Dismissed." Hiruzen waved his hand.
"Yes, Hokage-sama." Hiroki bowed and left.
Watching Hiroki's retreating figure, Hiruzen shook his head and sighed. "The Senju clan... Ah..."
Outside the Hokage Building.
"Clan Head, what happened? Are we sending reinforcements to Uzushiogakure?" A Senju clansman asked loudly.
"Shut up." Hiroki snapped. "We'll talk back at the clan."
"Yes!"
Hiroki gazed at the Hokage Building, his heart heavy. "Lord Hashirama, Lord Tobirama... Were your decisions right?"
"Konoha has..."