Uzumaki Jun sneered as he looked at the letter from the Kazekage in his hand. Then, a small flame burned it to ashes.
Was this bald gangster out of his mind?
He had thought the Second Kazekage, who created Magnet Release and puppet techniques, would be somewhat reasonable. Yet, he turned out to be...
Another lunatic!
To think he would dare extort money from Uzumaki Jun himself. Did he really think the Land of Whirlpools feared Sunagakure?
Did he not know...
That these airships belonged to the Akatsuki?
"Seems like he really doesn't know..." Uzumaki Jun stroked his chin and muttered. "Only Konoha seems to be aware of it for now."
"Lord Jun, should we declare war on Sunagakure?" Komaki asked.
Seeing the chilling aura emanating from Lord Jun after reading the letter, it was clear Sunagakure was stirring trouble.
Was the Land of Whirlpools about to go to war with Sunagakure this time?
"Stop thinking about fighting all the time," Uzumaki Jun shook his head and said coldly. "Now is not the time!"
If they declared war on Sunagakure now, what if they fought desperately?
Wouldn't the Land of Whirlpools' reputation be ruined?
After all, hadn't Zetsu worked tirelessly to spread the Land of Whirlpools' name, suffering hardships, shedding sweat, and sacrificing countless White Zetsu?
So...
They couldn't afford to break ties with Sunagakure now.
"Continue focusing on recruitment. Leave the rest to me," Uzumaki Jun said indifferently. "I'll handle it."
He sighed.
"Now I understand how this Kazekage died."
He was beaten to death!
To think he wanted free airships—what a joke. And...
He demanded ten at once? Even Konoha only had three, and they paid for them. Yet, he threatened the Land of Whirlpools to hand over ten for free?
Hah!
He must be senile...
...
"So the Mangekyō really belongs to Konoha?" Sandaime Kazekage looked at the intelligence report in his hands.
The Rinnegan pursued a traitor for thousands of miles, only to be regretfully stopped by Konoha!
"Mangekyō, Rinnegan!" Sandaime Kazekage set down the report, frowning and muttering, "Akatsuki..."
He knew about the Rinnegan—wasn't that the arms-dealing "Messenger of Peace"?
But...
He hadn't expected the Mangekyō to belong to Konoha. It wasn't a lie after all!
Konoha even sent ANBU to assist.
Sandaime Kazekage's lips curled into a smirk. "It seems Konoha is really in trouble this time."
That was the Mangekyō!
The infamous Mangekyō, known for massacring clans. Konoha's previous intimidation efforts were likely wasted because...
They hadn't been falsely accused!
The evidence was right here. Unless Konoha could provide proof of their innocence or give the entire shinobi world an explanation, this war would undoubtedly be a free-for-all against Konoha.
As for whether it was true?
No one cared. If even Konoha sent reinforcements, how could it be fake?
So...
All they wanted was profit.
"What a shame. It seems Sunagakure won't be joining the fun this time," Sandaime Kazekage said regretfully. Sunagakure was still cooperating with the Land of Whirlpools. Of course, if the airships weren't...
Hah, the Land of Whirlpools would be finished too.
However...
"No, if Sunagakure wants to join the fun, I'll help you." A cold voice suddenly echoed in the Kazekage's office.
"Who's there?" Sandaime Kazekage immediately grew alert. Why did people keep appearing unannounced in the Kazekage's office lately?
What were the ANBU and guards doing?
"Don't bother calling for help," a figure slowly emerged from the shadows and said flatly. "I've set up a barrier here. No one will notice for a while."
This Second Kazekage, like the Hokage, rarely left the village due to his age.
So assassinating him was quite troublesome.
Hadn't Uzumaki Jun already quietly dealt with the shinobi around the Kazekage's office?
Sandaime Kazekage stared at the figure before him—black robe with red clouds, a spiral-patterned mask, and...
Mangekyō Sharingan.
...
Konoha.
Ninja Academy...
"This ugly freak!" A child sneered at the little girl with her head lowered nearby. "Dressed in rags like a beggar. Why would the Hokage let someone like her attend school?"
"Disgusting!"
"Yeah, yeah!" Another child chimed in. "She must be an outsider beggar. The Hokage is too kind, taking in trash like this. In my opinion, they should all be sent to ANBU."
"Right, send them to ANBU. Better not let them out," another child agreed.
"..."
The blonde girl kept her head down, not raising it. She didn't understand why these people hated her so much. She had never done anything to them. As for looking like a beggar...
Before coming to Konoha, she really had been a beggar.
Though their words were harsh, the girl didn't dare lift her head to fight back. As an outsider, she feared that speaking out or fighting would get her killed or expelled from the village...
That day, she and a few other children were brought to Konoha. Then, she passed out and only woke up a few days ago...
Since then, she had been living here and was told to attend the Ninja Academy. She didn't know what happened to the others brought with her, as she hadn't seen them in the village.
Though many in the academy insulted her, she still liked it here. There was no war, there was food, and there was shelter. The only downside was the single small bread given daily—it wasn't enough to fill her stomach. But it was still better than nothing.
She...
Was content.
So she ignored those who mocked her, afraid of losing what little she had.
"I wonder what's for food today?" The girl lowered her head, tuning out the voices around her. "I heard there's a river nearby with fish. Should I check it out after class?"
Otherwise, the orphanage's bread was too small to satisfy her.
Just as the girl was thinking about how to catch and eat fish after school...
A different voice reached her ears.
"You're blonde too? Just like me!"
Hearing this, the girl raised her head in confusion and froze. Before her stood a blonde boy, smiling at her with a gentleness unlike the others. "Hi, my name is..."
...
Mangekyō Sharingan!
Sandaime Kazekage stared in shock at Uzumaki Jun. Did Sunagakure also possess some Six Paths tool?
Why else would this Mangekyō user come here?
"Magnet Release: Iron Sand..." Without hesitation, Sandaime Kazekage formed hand seals. For now, he had to detain him!
But...
Before his jutsu could activate...
"Genjutsu: Two-Second Stun!" Uzumaki Jun said coldly.
Did he really think he could use Magnet Release?
What a joke. Did he think Uzumaki Jun's super-Kage-level genjutsu and taijutsu were for show?
Two seconds were more than enough.
Uzumaki Jun instantly appeared beside him and then...
"Stab!"
Sandaime Kazekage looked down at his chest, eyes widening. He turned to the masked man and gasped, "You... Who are you?"
Yet...
Uzumaki Jun, still masked, blinked.
"Guess..."