"Don't worry, as long as we don't harm Konoha's interests, it's fine." Uzumaki Jun said casually. The rules clearly stated that as long as they didn't cause harm to Konoha, they could do whatever they wanted.
But wasn't this already harming Konoha's interests?
Uzumaki Kai was speechless. Then what exactly counted as harming Konoha's interests?
"This is just a small matter." Uzumaki Jun glanced at the slightly reduced number of Konoha-nin nearby. It seemed they had indeed gone to intercept and kill. He said, "Don't even mention a mere chunin. Even a Kage-level ninja means nothing to Konoha, one of the Five Great Shinobi Villages."
"Besides, we're introducing talent to them."
"Who knows if that idiot… genius has some hidden bloodline?"
"..."
The nearby Konoha-nin, hearing such shameless words, were about to take action but were stopped by Nara Shikazo.
"Don't act rashly. What he said isn't wrong." Nara Shikazo said helplessly. This brat wasn't wrong at all.
A mere chunin wouldn't pose any threat to Konoha. Moreover, the Hokage had said they could only act if Uzushiogakure harmed Konoha's interests. Otherwise, they were free to do as they pleased. And…
The number of refugees in the Land of Fire was indeed too large.
The higher-ups would be happy to see someone help reduce that number.
As for…
Only acting if Konoha's interests were harmed—they'd have to see what this brat wrote in the letter.
"This is so annoying." Nara Shikazo sighed. "It should've been over by now. I should be lying on my bed at home, enjoying the afternoon sun."
"The winter sunlight in Konoha is especially comfortable."
"Why am I suffering here instead?"
"Shikazo-sama…" The ninja who had gone out earlier returned. "We've brought the letter back."
Helpless, he had to set aside his complaints again. And…
In a month, maybe… he could finally take a break?
"Give it here. Let me see." Shikazo lay on a tree branch, yawning. "Let's see how Uzushiogakure plans to 'recommend geniuses' to Konoha!"
Then, he opened the envelope…
"This is an idiot. Do whatever you want with him."
"..."
What the—?!
Nara Shikazo was dumbfounded when he saw only one sentence in the letter. Damn it! Recommending talent? Geniuses? All just excuses. He just wanted to borrow Konoha's blade to deal with his own problems while avoiding appearing too brutal in front of the civilians.
But…
If they acted like this, wouldn't they risk failing to recruit people, with the refugees all heading to Konoha instead?
Sure enough…
Nara Shikazo watched as the once-orderly line began to stir. Slowly, some people left the queue, seemingly heading toward Konoha's direction.
Now, well…
"Let's see how you handle this." Nara Shikazo yawned.
How to handle it?
Uzumaki Jun didn't plan to do anything. If they wanted to go to Konoha, then let them.
Forcing them to stay would only make them resentful. If they ended up living poorly in Uzushiogakure, they might even complain. Better to let them go to Konoha.
As for those who stayed, perhaps they believed in Uzushiogakure's promises, or maybe they were grateful for that bowl of porridge. Some might just not want to travel far. But…
If Uzushiogakure could give them stability and a life where they could eat their fill, they would naturally feel gratitude. Because what they wanted wasn't much, just peace, safety, food, and warmth.
Civilians who had experienced war cherished peace more than most.
The Uzu-nin, seeing that Jun-sama didn't react to the unrest in the line, also took no further action. They simply reassured the refugees to queue properly and continued recruiting as usual.
Suddenly…
Uzumaki Jun sensed the Flying Thunder God Technique's seal being activated.
"What's wrong?" Uzumaki Kai, noticing something was off with Jun-sama, quickly had someone take his place and asked.
"The seal was activated." Uzumaki Jun said seriously.
"What?" Uzumaki Kai was shocked. "The jounin who went with that girl?"
"Yes." Uzumaki Jun nodded gravely. "Don't move. We're going to check now."
Then…
He stood on tiptoe and grabbed Uzumaki Kai's shoulder…
He was still too short. Even with a shinobi's accelerated growth, he was much shorter than Uzumaki Kai.
After all…
He was still just a child.
"Kota, what do we do now?" A Uzu-nin frowned at the masked shinobi surrounding them. "Are these… Konoha's ANBU?"
"Doesn't matter." Uzumaki Kota also stared warily at the Konoha ANBU. "Since it's Jun-sama's order, we must get these kids out safely."
"That's our duty as shinobi."
"I'll hold them off. Righteous, you take the kids and break through." Uzumaki Kota said firmly.
"Kota, I…" Uzumaki Righteous hesitated. "Let me—"
"Shut up. This isn't the time for that." Uzumaki Kota cut him off, glaring at the masked shinobi. "Kids, stay close. If you fall behind, you'll die."
Yakushi Nono knew the situation was dire, but she…
Had never expected these two shinobi to refuse to abandon them, choosing instead to protect them even if…
It might cost them their lives.
"Maybe living in Uzushiogakure wouldn't be so bad." Yakushi Nono thought silently.
"Kid, you hear me?" Before she could dwell on it, Uzumaki Kota interrupted. "Stick close to that shinobi next to me. Don't look back—"
Just run.
"Yes!"
Yakushi Nono snapped back to attention, tightly gripping the hands of two children slightly younger than her, and nodded seriously.
At that moment…
"Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu!" Uzumaki Kota instantly used the jutsu he had mastered during the war. Dozens of shadow clones appeared, encircling the masked shinobi in a counter-siege. Then…
"Wind Release: Wind Cutter!" Uzumaki Kota shouted. "Now—!"
Uzumaki Righteous seemed to understand Kota's intention. He also used Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu, surrounding the children. Taking advantage of the masked shinobi's momentary distraction at the sheer number of clones, he rushed toward a gap in the encirclement.
Seeing the Uzu-nin fleeing with five children, Wahei immediately ordered a group of Root shinobi to pursue. Just two jounin—and with kids in tow—how naive.
If they abandoned the children, at least one might escape. But now…
Neither would make it.
Glancing at the pursuing Root shinobi, Wahei paid them no further mind. His cold eyes fixed on the Uzu-nin covering their retreat…
"What a ridiculous act."
He couldn't help but think.
A few kids were nowhere near as valuable as a jounin. So…
They would all die.
As for shadow clones?
Konoha knew them better than anyone.
"Dammit!" Uzumaki Righteous sensed the feedback from the shadow clones left behind. He knew the Root shinobi were catching up, but…
"I promised Jun-sama and Kai-sama…"
"I'd bring them back."
A shadow clone carried a child as they sprinted toward the relief point. Letting the kids run on their own?
No way. They were just children—they'd never outrun trained shinobi.
"So…"
"I won't abandon them!"
But then…
"Uzu-nin, stop right there."
A cold voice rang out from behind.