The events of last night did not cause much of a stir in the ninja world. After the Kiri-nin were handcuffed, they were sent to a labor camp that had been vacant for some time.
It is said that Yōya has been quite happy serving as the labor camp warden, gradually becoming a qualified and excellent propagator of red ideology. Of course...
Once his son appeared, Yōya's future became bound to the Land of Whirlpools.
As for the previous batch of labor camp prisoners, it is unknown how they will fare after returning. There has been no news yet. If the education they received was successful, they might become powerful allies of Zetsu in the near future, bringing a new future to the ninja world.
Of course...
This has nothing to do with the Land of Whirlpools!!
"The news has been suppressed," Muroto Jōmon walked in and said, looking at Uzumaki Jun, who was reviewing documents. "What should we do next?"
Hearing Muroto Jōmon's words, Uzumaki Jun nodded, put down the documents, and said, "Secretly send a message to Kirigakure, telling them to pay a ransom to retrieve their people."
"Also, arrange for the ethics and political teachers from the affiliated academy to start classes for the Kiri-nin."
"Understood, I will make the arrangements," Muroto Jōmon said with a strange expression. He knew what Jun intended to do—those specially crafted textbooks were something he had seen before.
For this era, they were truly something else.
Under this rote-learning education, those Kiri-nin would probably be completely bewildered when they returned.
"The Kubikiribōchō and Samehada have also been confiscated," Muroto Jōmon formed a hand seal and said, "How should we handle them?"
"How to handle them?" Uzumaki Jun rubbed his chin, looking at the two swords on the table, and muttered, "The Land of Whirlpools doesn't have any specialized sword-wielding ninja, does it?"
This was one of the Land of Whirlpools' weaknesses—its taijutsu and kenjutsu were too lacking.
Originally, genjutsu wasn't great either, but after the Chinoike Clan joined, there was some improvement. As for taijutsu...
They still hadn't found a suitable candidate.
"Send the Kubikiribōchō to the slaughterhouse," Uzumaki Jun sighed regretfully.
"With the population growth in recent years, meat consumption has also increased. Hopefully, this sword can make the slaughterhouse workers' jobs easier."
Most of the meat in the Land of Whirlpools was still imported from other countries. There was no helping it—the Land of Whirlpools was small, and there wasn't enough land to expand livestock farming.
Moreover, there were no specialized livestock-raising ninja, so domestic production was still insufficient. Fortunately, the fishing industry was developing well, so meat imports weren't excessive.
"Also, have them cut off a section of the blade periodically," Uzumaki Jun narrowed his eyes at the Kubikiribōchō. "I've heard this sword can repair itself and restore stamina."
The Land of Whirlpools was an iron-poor nation.
"As for Samehada..."
This was a living sword that could absorb chakra.
"Hand it over to the research institute. Perhaps the elders can discover something."
"Understood," Muroto Jōmon nodded. "But if Kirigakure pays the ransom to retrieve their people, what about these two swords..."
"Kirigakure is only paying to retrieve their people," Uzumaki Jun waved his hand. "They are not paying to retrieve the swords. Tell Kirigakure that each sword costs one billion ryo. If they want them, they can pay. If not, forget it."
Trying to take the swords back? They must be dreaming. As for whether the Seven Ninja Swordsmen would be incomplete when sent to Konoha...
What did that have to do with the Land of Whirlpools?
Besides, Kirigakure probably couldn't afford it right now.
...
Konoha Battlefield.
"Damn it!!" Tsunade cursed angrily. "Is the Raikage that musclehead insane? Fighting nonstop—can't they take a break?"
If they couldn't break through the defense line, why keep sending muscleheads charging forward like madmen?
"How is the Senju Clan doing?"
When her father took the entire clan to the battlefield, she had initially disagreed. Although Konoha's forces were spread too thin and the current war situation was unfavorable, sending five- or six-year-old children to the battlefield...
She couldn't do it.
But after her father's persuasion, saying that the Senju Clan was Konoha's clan and should sacrifice for the village, Tsunade silently accepted it. After all, her grandfather and great-uncle had both sacrificed themselves for the village.
Please, don't let anything happen.
"If something goes wrong in the end," Tsunade growled irritably, "I swear I'll smash the old man's crystal ball."
Did he really think she didn't know what that crystal ball was for?
Jiraiya, that pervert, had already spilled everything after she beat him up.
"News came a few days ago," a Konoha-nin said. "There have been no incidents on Orochimaru's side."
"That's good," Tsunade sighed in relief, muttering, "Where has that pervert Jiraiya run off to now?"
Why hadn't she seen him yet?
"Lady Tsunade, the Kumo-nin have launched another attack," suddenly, another Konoha-nin entered and reported. "The Kumo-nin commander demands that Konoha return the Mangekyō and the stolen weapons."
"Return my ass!!" Tsunade flared up again. "Yelling about it every day—aren't they sick of it?"
"Prepare the defenses. Also, tell them Konoha doesn't have the Mangekyō and didn't take any weapons!"
"Yes!!"
...
Orochimaru sighed helplessly as he looked at the map spread out on the table. "The old man expects too much from me."
With such meager forces, he was supposed to hold the line? That was a joke.
Iwagakure was nothing like Kumogakure.
The Land of Earth bordered the Land of Rain, unlike Kumogakure, which had to cross great distances to reach the battlefield.
"What a headache," Orochimaru narrowed his eyes at the map. "What should I do?"
After learning that the Senju Clan leader had awakened Wood Release, Iwagakure had gone berserk, launching relentless attacks on Konoha's defense line. Although he had promptly deployed forces to reinforce the line...
They wouldn't last long.
The forces here were already stretched thin, and now they had to divide them further. What was the old man thinking?
Wouldn't it be better to abandon that front temporarily and retake it later?
Moreover, the Senju Clan leader wasn't even here anymore. There was no way to hold the line. Iwagakure was probably launching such fierce attacks because they knew Konoha was short on troops.
"Lord Orochimaru, the intelligence has been delivered to Lady Tsunade," a Konoha-nin approached and said. "As for the Senju Clan's situation, we followed your instructions and did not inform Lady Tsunade."
"Thank you for your hard work," Orochimaru sighed, looking at the Konoha-nin. "I hope Tsunade won't blame me when she finds out."
"How is the situation in the Land of Whirlpools?"
"Still no fighting," the Konoha-nin frowned. "I don't know what Sunagakure and Amegakure are up to. They've just stationed troops at the border and taken no further action."
"Is that so?" Orochimaru lowered his head to look at the map. Originally, he had planned for Konoha to deal with the other fronts first and then join forces with the Land of Whirlpools to eliminate Sunagakure and Amegakure. But now, that seemed impossible.
"If the enemy is too strong, we must weaken them... or drag the Land of Whirlpools into the war."
Only by embroiling the Land of Whirlpools in the war and turning it into a free-for-all would Konoha have a chance...
To reverse the disadvantage!!