Naruto: The rise of Uzumaki Kingdom

"People from Konoha have arrived."

Just as Uzumaki Jun was about to take action, the leader of the Chinoike Clan spoke up directly, "The Uzumaki Clan leader asked me to find you."

"They're here? So what?" Uzumaki Jun frowned and said, "Didn't we already say last time? If Konoha comes seeking an alliance, ignore them completely!"

He had already addressed the matter of Konoha seeking an alliance. After all, the only ones willing to be used by Konoha so willingly were Uzushiogakure, allies established since the time of the First Hokage. But...

That was all in the past. Uzushiogakure was different now.

Uzushiogakure had changed its social system and political direction. Did they still have the audacity to come seeking joint resistance against enemies? Even though they superficially maintained generational friendship, Uzushiogakure and Konoha were already enemies.

Moreover, they came on the day of Uzushiogakure's festival. Didn't they know this was one of the most important days for Uzushiogakure?

After all, the Uzumaki Clan's longevity and the millennia-old belief that they were blessed by the Shinigami, especially with their ultimate technique, the Dead Demon Consuming Seal, which was related to the Shinigami...

No matter what, the Uzumaki Clan's faith was in the Shinigami!

"Can't the Clan Leader handle it?" Uzumaki Jun said helplessly, "Why call me over?"

To beat someone up?

He wasn't skilled at that!

"No, the situation isn't that simple," the Chinoike Clan leader said helplessly, "They seem to have brought a personal letter from Lady Mito, demanding to hand it to you directly."

Uzumaki Mito??

Uzumaki Jun immediately frowned, feeling a wave of helplessness inside. What did she want now?

Didn't she know that when Uzushiogakure was attacked, Konoha stood by and watched coldly?

Now she was asking her homeland to help. Wasn't that just setting them up for failure?

"Fine, I'll go take a look," Uzumaki Jun said resignedly, "No matter what, she did help Uzushiogakure with the Sealing Techniques back then."

He still had to thank her for the Sealing Techniques matter. Otherwise, would the other villages have been so willing to conduct experiments?

They'd probably have come to Uzushiogakure to kidnap people by now!

"Do we need to evacuate the citizens temporarily?" the Chinoike Clan leader asked with a frown. After all, no matter what, war was a serious matter. If something unexpected happened, the large crowd could become troublesome.

"No need," Uzumaki Jun stretched lazily and said, "They deserve a break. It's time to relax a little."

Since Uzushiogakure had just rebuilt its new government, it was still in a phase of large-scale construction. There were too few entertainment options domestically, and staying in a constant state of tension could easily lead to problems.

To ensure the citizens could enjoy the festival, Uzumaki Jun had racked his brains. Basic games like goldfish scooping, sandbag throwing, candy, and masks were all brought out. As for acrobatics...

In the ninja world, that was pointless—any ninja could do it!

He even had the research institute temporarily develop safe chakra guns for shooting games!

Cancel everything just because Konoha came seeking an alliance?

Hah, Konoha wasn't that important!

"You'll have to work hard tonight," Uzumaki Jun thought for a moment and decided not to beat anyone up. After all, they were still diligently on duty. "Don't let the enemy take advantage of the chaos."

Today was the festival, arguably the day Uzushiogakure was most relaxed. If other villages chose this moment to strike...

The resulting panic would likely be huge.

"This is all for serving the people!" the Chinoike Clan leader said firmly, "I'll make sure those below stay alert."

"Good!" Uzumaki Jun nodded in satisfaction. It seemed they had studied the public security policy's basic principles well. "If you're short on manpower, borrow some from the military."

"I'll keep that in mind," the Chinoike Clan leader nodded, hesitating for a moment before adding, "If there's anything the Chinoike Clan can do..."

They were very satisfied with their current life, except for that finance minister who kept coming to collect debts...

Though they had borrowed quite a bit, they could repay it slowly. During their time in Uzushiogakure, the Chinoike Clan had grown significantly, with many new births revitalizing the clan. They didn't want this peaceful life disrupted.

Uzumaki Jun paused, then patted his shoulder and said, "Don't neglect your son's ideological education!"

"??" The Chinoike Clan leader was stunned. What was wrong with Homura?

"Nothing, I just mean that your clan and the Kamizuru Clan still can't reveal yourselves," Uzumaki Jun said helplessly, "After all, you're both supposed to be extinct."

If other villages found out Uzushiogakure had the Kamizuru and Chinoike Clans, it would likely lead to the Five Great Nations declaring war on Uzushiogakure.

That was why he made the Chinoike Clan wear sunglasses when using their kekkei genkai.

Otherwise, anyone could guess the Akatsuki's connection to Uzushiogakure.

Uzumaki Jun patted the Chinoike Clan leader's shoulder, reminding him to be careful, then teleported directly to the Clan Leader's office using the Flying Thunder God Technique.

He wanted to see what Konoha was really up to.

...

For the group from Konoha seeking an alliance, the Uzumaki Clan Leader simply nodded cheerfully. But the moment they brought up forming an alliance, he shook his head helplessly—Uzushiogakure didn't have the capability!

After the war where Uzushiogakure single-handedly resisted Kirigakure, one of the Five Great Nations, they still hadn't recovered. So Uzushiogakure couldn't help them!

And besides...

Uzushiogakure had no obligation to help Konoha.

Then, seeing the Konoha envoys' furious yet suppressed expressions, the Uzumaki Clan Leader felt a surge of satisfaction.

Hadn't he felt the same way when he went to Konoha for help back then?

If they could abandon Uzushiogakure for the sake of peace, then Uzushiogakure could do the same!

After all, Uzushiogakure also loved peace...

"Clan Leader Uzumaki..." The Konoha envoy, a middle-aged man with a pineapple-like hairstyle, said helplessly, "If the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold. If Konoha falls, Uzushiogakure will be in trouble too."

"Don't worry, we believe Konoha will be fine," the Uzumaki Clan Leader said righteously, "Konoha is one of the Five Great Nations, the village that produced the God of Shinobi. How could anything happen?"

"..."

Damn it...

Nara Shikazo cursed inwardly but could only sigh.

He never wanted this mission in the first place. No matter how he looked at it, sending someone from the Senju Clan would have been better than sending the Hokage's secretary. But due to some actions in the village, the Senju Clan leader now claimed to be bedridden and unable to move...

So in the end, he was the one sent.

"Where is Lord Jun?" Nara Shikazo decided to stop beating around the bush. He hoped Lady Mito's letter would help. This was too humiliating—no matter what he said, the other would nod, but the moment he mentioned an alliance, he'd shake his head and plead poverty.

Back then, Konoha was at fault, but so many years had passed. If Konoha fell, Uzushiogakure would suffer too. And if Uzushiogakure fell... well, cough...

Konoha and Uzushiogakure were still generational allies!

Weren't those the words they always chanted?

"Lord Jun has been very busy lately," the Clan Leader said with narrowed eyes and a smile, "So you'll have to wait a while."

However, he was also somewhat displeased inside. What was Lady Mito thinking, causing trouble at a time like this?

Did she really want Uzushiogakure to wade into this mess? Facing three Great Nations and the Demigod of the Shinobi World—was that something a small country like Uzushiogakure could handle?

Just then...

"What letter does Grandma Mito have for me?"