Kirigakure Village.
Yuki Kiyoi rested her chin on her hands, looking at the Hokage Assistant before her, and asked, "Have you found out anything?"
"Did those missing Kiri-nin and their families ultimately betray the village and join Uzushiogakure?"
Last time, Hoshigaki Fuguki returned halfway, claiming to have obeyed the village's summons, endured countless hardships, and crossed the sea to return to the village.
But...
He was supposed to prove his innocence and become Kirigakure's new hero, a model figure. Yet, in the end...
Hoshigaki Fuguki disappeared with those family members in secret.
That night, ANBU had been stationed all around to prevent anyone from escaping. However...
It wasn't until the next morning that they realized everyone was gone.
"The spies infiltrating Uzushiogakure have sent back their report," the Hokage Assistant nodded, handing over the intelligence in his hands, frowning as he spoke. "The situation is somewhat different from what we expected."
"Uzushiogakure..."
"The changes there are far too great."
The Hokage Assistant sighed worriedly and said, "According to the spies, those Kiri-nin did indeed betray the village and join Uzushiogakure."
"But compared to when we invaded Uzushiogakure years ago..."
"In just these few short years..."
"Uzushiogakure has taken a unique path."
A path of prosperity, democracy, civility, and harmony.
Unexpectedly, Uzushiogakure abolished the traditional shinobi village system and changed the way shinobi lived, yet showed no signs of decline. Instead, it grew even stronger.
Especially with the intelligence the spies brought back...
More and more rogue shinobi were heading to Uzushiogakure.
"Uzushiogakure..." The Mizukage set down the intelligence report, narrowing his eyes. "While everyone's attention was focused on Amegakure..."
"An island nation rose instead."
How laughable!
If this continued, with so many rogue shinobi joining Uzushiogakure...
They would surely be hunted down.
Back then, he had sensed that red-haired kid was unusual, and indeed, he was.
This new system, different from the one-village-one-nation model, actually displayed such vibrant vitality.
However...
The Mizukage's lips curled into a mocking smile as he murmured, "Recruiting rogue shinobi..."
This was a major taboo in the shinobi world.
If only Kirigakure's rogue shinobi had joined Uzushiogakure, perhaps the other villages wouldn't say much. But...
If rogue shinobi from all villages defected to Uzushiogakure.
The Mizukage narrowed his eyes, a cold smile on his face.
Now, Kirigakure only needed to wait...
Until the other villages received the news. Then, Uzushiogakure would bring about its own destruction.
Besides, the war had just ended not long ago, and it wasn't the right time for another conflict.
"Keep an eye on Uzushiogakure's situation, as well as news from the other villages," the Mizukage said calmly. "If anything unusual is detected, report it immediately."
Uzushiogakure...
The moment it accepted rogue shinobi from other villages...
Its fate was sealed.
No shinobi village would tolerate another village recruiting their rogue shinobi!
Uzushiogakure.
"The Four-Tails?" Uzumaki Jun murmured as he read the report in his hands. "I never expected a jinchūriki to come to Uzushiogakure now."
Back when he established the "Pet Management Regulations" and taught about tailed beasts in the academy, his goal had been to attract these jinchūriki.
After all, apart from Uzumaki Naruto—that fool who, despite being the son of a high-ranking official, had his family's assets confiscated and was scorned and beaten by the villagers yet still clung to the Will of Fire—few others were like him.
Most other jinchūriki either received preferential treatment from their villages or defected.
So, this group of jinchūriki could be won over.
Uzumaki Jun didn't need them to do anything special. As long as they worked honestly in Uzushiogakure and occasionally sold chakra, that would suffice.
Obito's incomplete Ten-Tails had taught him one thing...
Creating the Ten-Tails didn't require complete tailed beasts.
Uzumaki Jun narrowed his eyes, a faint smile playing on his lips. "I wonder if it's possible to create the Ten-Tails without the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path."
If it succeeded...
Perhaps Uzushiogakure could produce several Ten-Tails Mode experts. Then, the shinobi world...
Would become Uzushiogakure's backyard.
After all, Uzushiogakure's ambition was the stars and the sea!
But this matter couldn't be too obvious.
Uzumaki Jun stroked his chin, deep in thought. "It seems we need to promote Uzushiogakure's Chakra Center again."
This was a path to wealth. Surely, those rogue shinobi would face difficulties.
As long as a hint of this idea was planted in their minds, when they needed money, they would think of it first.
After all...
A method that was simple, interest-free, and quick to yield money was hard to come by.
He had heard that Jiraiya had recently been living comfortably by selling chakra.
And...
Now that there was a jinchūriki here.
Land reclamation was only one step away. All that was left was for Chiro to develop the necessary equipment.
Uzumaki Jun stretched and stood up...
It had been a long time since he last visited the academy. It was time to check on Boss Madara.
He had heard that Yahiko and Nagato had ultimately become Jiraiya's students. He wondered if they would learn Sage Mode this time.
Uchiha Mikoto looked at the elderly Madara, who was resting with his eyes closed, and sighed softly. Over the years,
Madara had grown even more frail.
Although the academy had reduced his teaching hours to accommodate him,
For Madara, it was still too exhausting.
"Someone's here," Madara suddenly opened his eyes and said calmly. "Open the door."
This was the dormitory the academy had assigned to him. Tobi wasn't here.
So...
Mostly, it was his descendant who took care of him.
"Creak."
"Good afternoon, Mikoto," Uzumaki Jun smiled as Uchiha Mikoto opened the door for him. "Is Boss Madara in?"
"Grandfather Madara is inside," Uchiha Mikoto was slightly surprised to see Uzumaki Jun but still opened the door warmly. "Please come in."
She bent down to fetch a pair of slippers for Uzumaki Jun to change into.
Uzumaki Jun didn't mind, casually slipping on the shoes and walking in. "Thank you."
If he hadn't interfered, perhaps Itachi would have been born in a few years. But now...
The future...
Was no longer the future he once knew.
"Red-haired brat," Madara said coolly as Uzumaki Jun entered the living room. "What brings you here?"
"Boss Madara," Uzumaki Jun didn't mind Madara's tone, casually taking a seat on the chair opposite him. He accepted the water Uchiha Mikoto handed him with a smile. "Thank you."
He took a sip and looked at Madara.
"Boss Madara, you really..."
Uzumaki Jun sighed.
"Have gotten so much older."
If he hadn't interfered, Madara, driven by his longing for peace, would have been manipulated by Zetsu, becoming the enemy of the shinobi world and dying regretfully in his friend's arms.
But now...
He didn't know what Madara was thinking.
Would he choose to die peacefully like this, or return to the cave and rely on the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path to prolong his life?
However...
Tobi had already been born in Uzushiogakure, registered as a citizen. In a few years, he would likely attend the academy.
If he never met Rin Nohara...
He probably wouldn't become Madara's replacement.
Of course...
As a master of shinobi world cosplay, with over a decade of professional disguise experience, he could reluctantly play the role of Madara.
But he doubted Madara or Zetsu would agree...
"I know why you're looking for me at this time," Madara half-opened his eyes, staring intently at Uzumaki Jun. "Coincidentally..."
"There's something else I want to ask you."
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