"I..." Kamizuru Seihō saw the silent conference room, opened his mouth as if wanting to say something, but ultimately couldn't utter a word. After all, no matter how you put it, this was...
Betraying the village!!
"Is this really necessary?" One of the elders had tears in his eyes as he muttered, "This... this is our home!!"
"Silence." The elder's gaze sharpened as he scanned the room and said helplessly, "We..."
"Can't go back anymore."
The elder slumped into his chair. "We are already hindering the village's development."
"Unless..."
"In that case... let's go, let's go!"
Hearing the elder's words, everyone sighed and lowered their heads.
They all knew what the elder meant by "unless."
It was...
Allowing the entire Kamizuru clan to decline, reducing the number of Kamizuru clansmen. Only then would the other families in the village settle down!
The Tsuchikage would then be able to consolidate enough authority!
After all, the Second Tsuchikage had just died, and this was the most chaotic period. For Ōnoki to quickly rise to power, he needed to make an example.
And the Kamizuru...
Violating regulations privately to seek revenge against Konoha!!
This excuse was just perfect...
"If that's how it is, then let's leave!"
One elder closed his tear-filled eyes and said, "Let this old man stay behind!!"
"Haha, this old man is also too old to run around anymore." Another elder chuckled. "The future of the Kamizuru clan will be left to the young ones!!"
"Right, right. Since we old folks refuse to leave, let's just bury ourselves here."
"..."
"Elders!!" Kamizuru Seihō, seeing this scene, also shed tears and said, "I..."
He knew full well the fate of those who stayed behind...
That was death!!
Of course, not at the hands of Iwagakure, but at the hands of Uzumaki... Uchiha Shin, because...
For the Kamizuru to be annihilated, how could there be no casualties? No reaction?
That was why the elders chose to stay. They couldn't bring themselves to betray the village. They wanted to use their deaths to alleviate the guilt in their hearts toward Iwagakure...
"If everyone agrees..." The elder opened his eyes. "The Kamizuru clan will begin executing the plan."
"Be discreet. Remember, there are still many in the clan loyal to the village. If word gets out..."
The Kamizuru clan will be left with no place to die!!
"As for these people, let them..."
"Stay in the village!!" The elder sighed. Only an old relic like him could say such things. After all, the clan leader must lead the Kamizuru clan to glory once more, so there absolutely cannot be any stains on his record...
The stain of killing his own clansmen!!
"Yes!!" All the elders' eyes sharpened. They knew these words were directed at them. The elder was asking them to take action, not wanting the clan leader's hands to be tainted with the blood of his own people!!
But...
Since they were already going to die, let this guilt descend into hell with them!!!
After all, all of this...
Was for the sake of the clan!!
...
"Ready?" Uzumaki Jun lay on the cushion in the Kamizuru clan's main hall, eyes closed, yawning as he said, "If you're ready, hurry up. Transporting people is quite troublesome!!"
"How do I know you won't deceive the Kamizuru clan?" An old man leaning on a cane stepped forward and said sternly, "After all, this concerns the lives of the entire Kamizuru clan!!"
"You have no other choice." At this point, what else can you do? Uzumaki Jun said helplessly, "Uzushiogakure guarantees that all citizens of Uzushiogakure are equal. The rest will depend on your own efforts."
Of course, this applies only to citizens of Uzushiogakure!!
"And who are you?"
"This old man is the elder of the Kamizuru clan!" The elder said. "I hope what you say is true." His gaze sharpened as he released his imposing aura, staring at Uzumaki Jun. "Otherwise, this old man will not let you off!!"
"Tsk, tsk!! Just an elite jōnin." Zetsu sneered at the scene. "You should withdraw your aura. It won't work on this kid. Maybe you can try it on me?"
A mere elite jōnin...
"..." The elder looked puzzled at Uzumaki Jun, who remained motionless, eyes still closed.
"He's that seven-year-old Kage!!" Kamizuru Seihō whispered into the elder's ear.
He's a Kage. You can't intimidate him!!
Instantly...
The elder was shocked, staring at Uzumaki Jun. So this was the Kage who had caused such a stir in the shinobi world!!
But...
Why does he have black hair? Wasn't he supposed to have red hair? And his eyes are closed? Is he a squinter?
Uzumaki Jun opened his eyes and said, "I'm already eight years old."
"..."
Zetsu looked speechlessly at Uzumaki Jun. Is that the important part here??
"Mange..."
Mangekyō!!
Seeing the single eye Uzumaki Jun opened, the elder was stunned!
"Oh, this thing?"
"Black hair, and the Sharingan, they're all fake." Uzumaki Jun took off his colored contacts again and said, "Want a set? Dyeing your hair is nice too. Makes you look younger!!"
"..."
The scene fell into silence once more!!
Even Zetsu wondered if coming here was the right decision!
This kid...
Was clearly not on the same wavelength as them!!
Always promoting products in front of others!!
"Hahaha!!" The elder burst into laughter upon seeing Uzumaki Jun admit it. "Now this old man believes you!"
"A true powerhouse would never stoop to such tricks!!"
"If you wanted to annihilate the Kamizuru clan, you could just do it directly. Why go through all this trouble?"
"..."
Hearing the elder's words, Uzumaki Jun narrowed his eyes and cursed inwardly. Old fox!
What "a true powerhouse would never stoop to such tricks"...
You must have some misunderstanding about shinobi!!
Hmph!
You just want me to remember that I'm a top-tier powerhouse in the shinobi world, and the decisions I make can't be casually broken!!
Otherwise, it would tarnish the dignity of a powerhouse!!
But...
Would Uzumaki Jun fear this??
Not to mention he genuinely just wants to recruit people. Even if that weren't the case...
He's just a child!!
If he makes a mistake, he'll be forgiven!!
"In that case, tell me when we start transporting people!" Uzumaki Jun said helplessly. "Let's finish the act quickly and wrap it up!!"
"..."
"Ahem!!" Ignoring Uzumaki Jun's nonsense, the clan leader coughed twice and said solemnly, "Tonight."
"There are still some matters we need to resolve." His gaze turned cold as he looked toward the entrance of the hall...
"Fine." Uzumaki Jun nodded. "First, evacuate the elderly, weak, sick, disabled, women, and children. Civilians take priority."
Hearing Uzumaki Jun's words, the clan leader and elder were taken aback. Then, a faint smile appeared on their lips as they nodded. "Agreed!!"
"Then go prepare!!" Uzumaki Jun lay back down. "Call me when it's time!"
"Thank you for your trouble!!"
Kamizuru Seihō led the elder away. Tonight...
Would be extremely busy!!
Uzumaki Jun didn't bother asking what the Kamizuru clan planned to do. He turned to Zetsu and said, "There's something I might need your help with."
"Sorry, I'm just here to cheer." Zetsu refused outright. He'd read the script!!
When the battle at Iwagakure breaks out, what's a weakling like him supposed to do??
Staying hidden is the right move. After all...
Saving Mother is his mission!
"It doesn't conflict with your cheering duties. You can do both!" Uzumaki Jun smiled and formed hand seals, shouting, "Summoning Jutsu!!"
With a...
"Poof!!"
A set of black equipment appeared in front of Zetsu.
"Professional-grade filming equipment." Uzumaki Jun handed Zetsu a manual. "Here's the instruction manual!"
"Later, I need you to record the footage of Uchiha Madara battling Iwagakure. After all, this is our organization's first official mission. We should keep some mementos."
"In the future, we can show it to the younger generation, let them see how powerful and mighty our organization is!"
"It'll help strengthen the organization's unity and morale!!"
"No, you're Uchiha Shin. Also, this is just your own business. It has nothing to do with Madara-sama." Zetsu looked at the equipment speechlessly. "And..."
"Where did you get all these weird things?"