Naruto: The rise of Uzumaki Kingdom

After hearing Zetsu's words, Uzumaki Jun was completely stunned. He had worked so hard, running around every day, saving the ninja world from fire and water—what had it all been for?

Wasn't it for the peace of the ninja world? For the strength of Uzushiogakure?

Yet in the end…

The Uchiha had actually gone to cooperate with Danzo?

Uzumaki Jun had never expected this!

Danzo had stayed in Uzushiogakure for such a short time, yet his entire mindset had changed. Originally, hadn't he distrusted the Uchiha Clan and always wanted to suppress them?

What was going on?

Instead of opposing the Hokage after returning to the village, he had gone to seek cooperation with the Uchiha?

Damn it!!

Uzumaki Jun didn't know what to say. If he had known earlier, he wouldn't have let Danzo stay in Uzushiogakure, wouldn't have let him read so many books. Then Danzo wouldn't have come up with so many ideas, right?

Truly, the best way to change a person is to make them read more books!

Now things were a mess…

What should be done about the Uchiha?

They were wholeheartedly trying to return to the center of power in Konoha. Now that Danzo had given them such an opportunity, how could they not seize it?

But…

"Has Danzo really changed?" Uzumaki Jun frowned and muttered. After all, Danzo, that old schemer, didn't need allies—he only needed tools. Just look at how ROOT was trained. They were basically stripped of individual thought, existing only as swords in Danzo's hands!

Would the Uchiha Clan agree?

Uzumaki Jun felt a headache coming on. Why couldn't Danzo just fight with Hiruzen Sarutobi for the position of Hokage? Why did he have to go and recruit the Uchiha? Wasn't he supposed to exterminate the Uchiha? Wasn't he supposed to collect their Sharingan? Didn't he want the Mangekyō?

Now, Uzumaki Jun didn't know if the Uchiha and Danzo's collusion would end up exposing him. After all…

He had given specially made kunai to both the Senju and Uchiha Clans!

"Have the Uchiha agreed yet?" Uzumaki Jun frowned and asked the gleeful Zetsu in front of him. This Zetsu really…

They were supposed to be on the same side, part of the same organization. What was with this schadenfreude?

Were they not afraid the boss would fail and the company would go bankrupt?

"They haven't agreed yet, but…" Zetsu nodded. "The Uchiha seem to be leaning toward acceptance."

"..."

Of course…

Uzumaki Jun was speechless. It seemed he needed to come up with a plan. Otherwise, the bloodline limit he had earmarked for Uzushiogakure would be snatched away. But what should he do now?

Beg the Uchiha to join?

Even if the Uchiha agreed, Uzushiogakure couldn't afford to lose face like that!

"Ah, it's time for our organization to shake the ninja world once again." Uzumaki Jun sighed, stroking his chin as he looked at Zetsu.

This kid was planning something again?

"..." Immediately, Zetsu looked at Uzumaki Jun warily. "What do you want to do?"

"Complete the mission assigned to us by the organization!"

Uzushiogakure…

"Lord Uzu-nin," Yutai looked at the Uzu-nin leading the way, his heart filled with panic. Hadn't they just come to Uzushiogakure to earn some extra money?

Why had a ninja suddenly appeared before them, kindly offering to show them around Uzushiogakure…?

What was going on?

Were the ninja of Uzushiogakure really this hospitable?

Otherwise, why would they bother with two poor nobodies like them? Didn't they have missions to complete or barbecues to grill?

If not…

Yutai felt they might have gotten into big trouble. They needed to find a good burial spot fast. They still didn't even know what they had done wrong.

He had only heard someone say that Uzushiogakure was very wealthy and its people were kind, so he had come to try his luck and earn money to treat Toto's illness. How had things turned out like this?

Toto seemed to sense his uncle's unease and nervously grabbed his right hand, holding on tightly.

"Hmm?" The Uzu-nin suddenly looked up and muttered, "Why is it raining?"

Just now, the weather had been clear and sunny. How had it suddenly started raining for no reason… No, wait—it seemed to be raining only in this small area.

The Uzu-nin seemed to remember something and turned to Yutai and Toto with a smile. "Don't be afraid. I won't do anything to you."

"Uzumaki Keita, currently Deputy Director of Uzushiogakure's Security Department." Uzumaki Keita looked at Yutai. "Because of your abilities, the higher-ups were concerned, so they assigned me to watch over you."

"Of course, you can do whatever you want, as long as it doesn't violate Uzushiogakure's laws or cause trouble for the villagers. Generally, there won't be any issues."

"I can also act as your guide in Uzushiogakure."

Uzumaki Keita smiled, but inwardly, he was cursing. After training for so many days, he had planned to rest today and spend time with Yuzu. Yet the higher-ups had suddenly dropped an order on him, even assigning him as a temporary Deputy Director of the Security Department…

There was no director, and no subordinates—just a temporary position.

Looking at the two ragged men in front of him, he sighed inwardly. Why was it so hard to get a day off?

But since the order had come down, he could only carry it out seriously.

"Then… then…" Yutai didn't know what to say. He looked at Uzumaki Keita suspiciously, his heart full of disbelief. Were the ninja of Uzushiogakure really this friendly?

They were just two ordinary people selling weather, after all.

"What are Uzushiogakure's laws?" Yutai now only wanted to see the laws of Uzushiogakure, hoping that selling weather wasn't illegal.

"Ah, right, right." Uzumaki Keita patted his head. "Here." He took out a small booklet. "Basically, just don't violate the explicitly prohibited things listed inside."

Yutai carefully took the booklet. "If we commit a crime, will we…?" His eyes were full of worry as he looked at the ninja.

Would they be executed?

"Oh, if it's a minor offense, you'll just be fined or made to sweep the streets," Uzumaki Keita said with a smile, knowing what they were worried about. "For serious crimes, you'll just undergo labor reform."

"Don't worry. Uzushiogakure doesn't kill civilians indiscriminately. Everyone here is protected by Uzushiogakure's laws."

"If that's the case…" Hearing the ninja's words, Yutai relaxed a little. If all of this was true, then Uzushiogakure might really be a good place. But…

Right now, they still didn't know if any of this was real or not.

Yutai and Toto looked at the small booklet in their hands titled The Constitution of Uzushiogakure.

Perhaps…

It was real?

"Lord Keita, would you like some water?" Suddenly, an old man called out to Uzumaki Keita, holding up a water bottle. "It's quite hot. Have some water to quench your thirst."

"No, thank you, uncle," Uzumaki Keita shook his head. "I'm on official business. I can't trouble you."

"Haha." The old man chuckled. "It's just a sip of water. It won't be a problem. I just saw that brat Shijō." His tone turned nostalgic. "I told him, if you can't become a ninja, then so be it. Why be so stubborn?"

"Is being an ordinary person so bad? He had to go and get himself hurt."

"That idiot!" Uzumaki Keita cursed inwardly when the old man mentioned Shijō. "I tried to persuade him too! But I really can't drink water right now. I'm on duty."

"Then how about an apple?" The old man took out an apple. "This is a new fruit that just appeared in the commercial district. They say it's from another country. It's good for your health. Here, take it."

"No, no." Keita quickly refused. "This is a matter of principle. Do you want me to be taken in for interrogation?"

"Don't scare this old man." The uncle wasn't bothered and laughed. "It's just an apple. If they question you, come find me. I'll vouch for you. Take it!"

"Forget it, forget it. You can't make me commit a disciplinary violation." Keita smiled wryly. "I'll just have some water. No apples."

"Principles can't be broken."

This was explicitly written in the rules!