Naruto: The rise of Uzumaki Kingdom

Keita glanced at the woman who had already collapsed onto the bed, his expression pained. He hadn't even finished spreading the virtues of Uzushiogakure—how could she have fainted already?

After all, regularly promoting Uzushiogakure was a direct order from Lord Jun!

Helpless, and worried that something might happen to the woman, he could only ask Yuketsu to fetch a medical ninja from the camp to examine her and determine the issue. Meanwhile, they moved the woman onto the tattered bed.

This place truly didn't have a single intact item!

Looking around the dilapidated wooden house, Keita felt a surge of emotion. The people of Uzushiogakure had once lived in houses like this too.

But now, such shabby wooden huts no longer existed in Uzushiogakure. After Lord Jun invented cement, earth-style ninja, along with ordinary civilians, could construct cement houses in a very short time. As a result, nearly everyone in the country now lived in modern houses—warm in winter, cool in summer, sturdy enough to withstand wind and rain, and even aesthetically pleasing.

Some might not have enough money to buy a house immediately.

For them, the benevolent Lord Jun had also introduced housing loans in Uzushiogakure. Any citizen could borrow money from the state to purchase a home and then repay it in installments over time, without affecting their daily lives.

Thus, nearly everyone could afford to live in these solid cement houses.

But even during Uzushiogakure's poorest days, life had never been this miserable. This broken wooden hut didn't contain a single intact item—everything was in ruins. Even the kitchen knife from earlier...

Probably couldn't even kill someone!

"Gurgle—!"

Just as Keita was surveying the surroundings, a strange sound interrupted him.

He turned and saw the little girl gripping her mother's hand tightly, her head lowered.

"Hungry?" Keita sighed helplessly and stepped forward with a smile.

However...

Konan turned her head away, ignoring him. But...

"Gurgle—!"

Her stomach kept growling incessantly.

Keita chuckled at the sight. "You really are hungry. Children shouldn't go hungry."

He remembered how Shijo's stomach would roar like this after training sessions—though his appetite was...

"A bit too big." Keita sighed again, then pointed at the remaining can. "This one's fruit-flavored, a little sweet. You'll probably like it."

Konan glanced at the fruit can, carefully set aside the fish can—she had never eaten anything so delicious before—and then picked up the other can, plucking out a slice of pre-cut fruit and placing it in her mouth.

It was indeed peach-flavored. So sweet!

"Peach... It tastes like peach," Konan murmured softly.

"Yeah, delicious, right?" Keita said proudly. "This was invented by Lord Jun."

"Delicious." Konan hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Delicious."

"Then eat more." Satisfied with her response, Keita smiled warmly. "Go ahead. Children who go hungry won't grow up properly."

"No..." Konan shook her head. "I'll save it for Mom."

"..."

Hearing her words, Keita sighed inwardly. He pulled out two more cans from his ninja pouch and handed them to Konan, smiling gently. "Don't worry, there's more here. Tell me if it's not enough."

What a good kid. Why was Shijo so mischievous in comparison?

Konan accepted the cans with her small hands, then raised her head, her bright eyes fixed on Keita. After a moment of hesitation, she finally spoke. "You... Why are you here?"

Why were these ninja different from the ones in the Land of Rain? They gave them food and even treated their illnesses.

What did they really want?

Were they truly not here to harm them?

Keita paused at the little girl's question, then smiled. "Us?"

"We are ninja from Uzushiogakure, here to..."

...

"Toto." Yusei called out to Toto beside him with a smile. "Remember to get a health checkup later."

Five years had passed. Though Toto's constitution was still weak, thanks to proper nutrition and regular medical checkups, he had grown up safely so far.

Yusei looked up at the sky. The weather was so nice today.

Perhaps he really would live to see Toto get married and start his own family. Then...

They could have a few children.

Right now, only the two of them remained in their clan.

"Brother, sister-in-law." Yusei murmured to the sky. "Toto and I are doing well."

He gazed at the vegetable garden and the adjacent orchard. Though this land belonged to the state, the kind and compassionate leader of Uzushiogakure—Lord Jun—had leased it to them when he saw their impoverished living conditions.

All they had to do was pay taxes periodically.

It was because of Uzushiogakure that he and Toto could live such a happy life now.

"I'll have to work a little harder these days." Yusei smiled. "The demand for vegetables and fruits will definitely increase."

He believed that anyone who came to this country would grow to love it.

Uzushiogakure was a nation filled with happiness and hope.

Before the law, everyone was equal. Whether you were a ninja or a civilian, breaking the law would result in punishment.

So...

He wanted to contribute his own share of strength to this wonderful country.