With nearly 100,000 ninjas and two tailed beasts, they had marched proudly across the sea, only to end up...
Getting beaten like dogs by a small country!
Now, Hozuki Gengetsu didn't even dare to release the tailed beasts anymore, afraid that the seven-year-old kid would take them down again.
If that happened, Kirigakure would truly become the only one of the Five Great Ninja Villages without a tailed beast.
Sighing, he looked at the demoralized ninjas around him and asked, "How's the situation?"
"Not good," the Mizukage's assistant replied with the same weary expression.
"Casualties are heavy, especially since the Three-Tails was captured by the Uzumaki. And because we had to reseal the Six-Tails, we lost a lot of elite ninjas!"
He had predicted the beginning but not the ending...
Uzushiogakure actually had such a powerful fighter, a child strong enough to take on a tailed beast. Now, not only was the Mizukage's position shaky, but even his own position as assistant was in danger.
After all, it was his "Spearhead Plan" that led to such heavy losses, even losing a tailed beast.
Hozuki Gengetsu scanned the high-ranking officials, but everyone avoided his gaze. There was no helping it—that kid was too strong. He even had space-time ninjutsu, making it nearly impossible to trap him.
"Ah..." Seeing this, Hozuki Gengetsu knew the war was over. The morale of the Kirigakure ninjas was shattered. But...
Going back now would only make things worse for him. Losing a tailed beast would delight the Yuki Clan, and who knew how the village's higher-ups would react to the news brought back by Yuki Kiyoi?
But he knew his position as Mizukage wouldn't be secure anymore.
Hozuki Gengetsu's heart was full of bitterness.
He had worked tirelessly for the village for so many years, waking up to see Kirigakure at 4 a.m. every day. Who was all this for? Wasn't it for the village's strength, prosperity, and peace?
Yet now, a single wrong decision had landed him in this predicament.
And who was this decision for? Wasn't it still for the village?
Konoha, after winning this war, would enter a period of rapid development. If they didn't act now to restrain Konoha, Kirigakure might never catch up.
And the tailed beasts...
Back then, the First Mizukage had bought two tailed beasts from Hashirama at a high price, but without any after-sales service, they could only be used like Pokémon. What a waste! Every time they had to recapture a tailed beast, it cost them many ninjas.
So, to create jinchūriki for the village, he had invaded Uzushiogakure. Didn't anyone in the village understand him?
Everything he did was for the village!
Who knew the bitterness in his heart?
The short-sighted fools only cared about the position of Mizukage.
But now...
"What should we do now?" Hozuki Gengetsu asked helplessly. It was too late for regrets. These Kirigakure ninjas had lost their will to fight against Uzushiogakure, all because of that jutsu...
It was truly terrifying.
Plus, the call for peace in the ninja world was growing louder. Many were already yearning for an end to the war.
"Retreat," the Mizukage's assistant said resignedly. This suggestion couldn't come from the Mizukage himself—it had to be the assistant.
He was already carrying enough blame; one more wouldn't matter. Let him do this one last thing for the Mizukage.
"Is this what everyone thinks?" Hozuki Gengetsu looked around the room. Seeing everyone lower their heads in silence, the answer was clear. Sighing, he said, "Retreat. Begin negotiations with Uzushiogakure."
Then, his tone hardened. "No matter what, we must get the Three-Tails back."
As for that seven-year-old Kage-level kid? Hah!
No one in the ninja world wanted another "God of Shinobi" to emerge. Someone else would deal with him.
And the sealing techniques?
If Kirigakure couldn't get them, others would come for them. Uzushiogakure wouldn't find peace so easily.
Hearing the Mizukage's words, the assistant fell silent. The Three-Tails wouldn't be easy to retrieve...
After all, they were the invaders!
"Do you understand your mission?" Uzumaki Kai looked at the young elite fighters of Uzushiogakure, the strongest they had left, his expression grave.
"Yes!" everyone shouted.
"Groups of three, each carrying a scroll," Uzumaki Kai said. "Deliver them to the respective villages assigned to you."
"Stay safe. If the situation becomes hopeless, abandon the scrolls."
"After all, they only contain incomplete sealing techniques. Even if obtained, they're useless."
"Understood!"
Seeing that everyone understood, Uzumaki Kai nodded in satisfaction and smiled. "Go!"
The war was ending, and these ninjas were Uzushiogakure's final step to extricate themselves from this mess. They would board specially made boats and swiftly deliver the sealing scrolls to each village, dealing the final blow to Kirigakure.
Uzumaki Kai watched as the ninjas departed, their figures gradually fading into the distance. Then, he looked up at the sky, so blue. Unconsciously, his vision blurred with tears as he murmured, "It's good that Uzushiogakure wasn't destroyed..."
They had all heard the elder's analysis. If Uzushiogakure had fallen, the Uzumaki Clan's fate would have been tragic. No one wanted them to survive, not even their so-called allies.
So...
As long as the nation existed, there was hope. They wouldn't have to wander as rogue ninjas...
He didn't know whether to resent Mito-sama. After all, the seeds of their suffering were planted when she became a jinchūriki. Nor did he know whether to resent Hashirama-sama, since Konoha had failed to uphold the promises he made to the Uzumaki Clan.
But he knew one thing...
From the moment this war ended, the Uzumaki Clan could only rely on themselves.
"Kai-sama, what's wrong?" A young Uzumaki ninja asked excitedly. "Is the war really ending? Everyone's so excited!"
"Of course," Uzumaki Kai replied with a smile. "Jun-sama said so."
Yes, every clansman was beginning to cheer, to rejoice.
"Ah, if Jun-sama said it, then it must be true!" The boy grinned, his eyes shining with admiration. "Jun-sama is so strong."
Hearing this, and seeing the same unquestioning faith in the eyes of the other ninjas, Uzumaki Kai smiled. "Yes, Jun-sama is incredibly strong."
So...
Uzushiogakure would surely rise again!
"Keep monitoring Kirigakure's movements. Don't let anything go wrong at this stage."
"Yes!"
Uzushiogakure had won.
This news spread rapidly among the ninjas. Fortunately, Uzumaki Jun had warned them not to inform the shelters yet. While victory was certain, it wasn't yet absolute. Premature celebration could lead to complications, so it was better to wait quietly for true peace.
Right now, no one knew what Kirigakure planned to do. The Three-Tails was still in their hands, and Hozuki Gengetsu wouldn't give up easily. So...
Uzumaki Jun was waiting—waiting for Hozuki Gengetsu to send someone to negotiate.
And now?
He planned to talk to the Three-Tails.
To prepare for its eventual induction.