"What are the ninjas from Uzushiogakure doing here?" A young Iwa-nin frowned as he looked at the four Uzu-nin loitering at the village entrance.
Wasn't Uzushiogakure currently in the midst of being destroyed? Why would their ninjas suddenly appear here?
Were they here to request reinforcements?
Hah!!!
Don't joke around! If they wanted reinforcements, why not go to Konoha instead of coming to Iwagakure, which had a grudge against Konoha? Who gave the Uzumaki Clan the courage to think Iwa-nin would help them??
Besides, their Iwagakure had just acquired two tailed beasts and were already worried about how to contain them!!
"We are here under the orders of Lord Jun to discuss a deal with the Tsuchikage!!" The leader of the Uzu-nin stepped forward and spoke to the Iwa-nin before him.
According to Lord Jun's analysis, the invasion of Uzushiogakure wasn't just the work of Kirigakure alone—it was a conspiracy involving other hidden villages as well.
So...
Stay calm. Don't show weakness. Don't show weakness. Because Lord Jun was even more formidable!!
In the future, Uzushiogakure would become even stronger!!
"Hah!!" The Iwa-nin sneered. "Uzushiogakure isn't qualified to negotiate with the Tsuchikage. Either state your business directly, or..."
"Get lost!!"
A tiny country with only one clan actually wanted to negotiate with Iwagakure, one of the Five Great Shinobi Villages? What a joke! And besides...
Lord Jun? Who was that? Some prince of Uzushiogakure?
Hah, he wasn't even qualified to make deals with Iwagakure!!
Most likely, Uzushiogakure was just here to beg for reinforcements, but...
Iwagakure had no intention of helping them. Don't waste their time.
Hearing the Iwa-nin's blatant refusal, the Uzu-nin stared at him expressionlessly, but their fists clenched tightly, betraying their inner turmoil. If not for Lord Jun's strict orders, they would have already fought back.
When had the Uzumaki Clan ever suffered such humiliation before?!
"We're still too weak," the leader of the Uzu-nin mocked himself inwardly. If Uzushiogakure had the same prestige as the Five Great Shinobi Villages, they wouldn't be looked down upon like this. Fortunately, everyone remembered their mission—stay calm no matter what. If things became impossible, they would retreat.
"Time! All we need is time!" The Uzu-nin tightened their fists and howled inwardly. "With enough time, Lord Jun will surely lead the Uzumaki Clan to prosperity!"
"Uzushiogakure means no harm," the leader took a deep breath and said calmly. "We're only here to make a deal with Iwagakure."
Yet the Iwa-nin still sneered and turned away, ignoring them.
Seeing this, the leader's right fist was clenched so tightly it nearly drew blood. Damn Konoha! Damn Iwagakure!!
"The deal involves sealing techniques for becoming a jinchūriki," the leader said slowly, staring straight at the Iwa-nin. If they still refused to listen, then the Uzu-nin would prepare to retreat, because...
The Iwa-nin would definitely attack at this moment.
Sure enough...
The Iwa-nin immediately surrounded them, narrowing their eyes with ill intent.
Sealing techniques for jinchūriki...
Wasn't this exactly what Iwagakure lacked right now? Did they bring it with them, hoping to trade it for reinforcements?
But...
"Hand over the sealing techniques," the Iwa-nin leader demanded coldly, as if saying that if they didn't comply, they would take it by force.
The Uzu-nin immediately grew alert, forming a defensive circle with kunai in hand as they glared at the surrounding Iwa-nin.
"Even if you attack, you won't get the complete sealing technique," the leader shouted. "This is a modified version that even allows ordinary people to become jinchūriki. Very few in the Uzumaki Clan know about it."
Ordinary people!!
The Iwa-nin's eyes lit up. Currently, the only successful jinchūriki was Uzumaki Mito of the Uzumaki Clan. Everyone else had died during the process because they couldn't withstand the tailed beast's chakra. If even ordinary people could...
That was unimaginable. Just look at how powerful Uzumaki Mito was—after the God of Shinobi and his brother died, she alone upheld Konoha, deterring others from attacking. If Iwagakure could fully utilize both of their tailed beasts...
This would be the first step toward Iwagakure's domination of the shinobi world!!
"Are you telling the truth? Even ordinary people can do it?" the Iwa-nin asked sharply.
"Of course, this is the improved version," the Uzu-nin replied expressionlessly. "It was modified by the Uzumaki Clan's elders over ten years."
As for whether this was actually true...
That wasn't his problem. He was just repeating Lord Jun's words. And while it was slightly exaggerated, the basics were there, right?
Out of thousands of people, there was bound to be one lucky enough to succeed. Didn't that count as ordinary people being able to withstand tailed beast power?
As for why the final product didn't match the advertisement...
Sorry, no refunds after sale!!
"Hah!!" The Iwa-nin scoffed. "How can we trust you?"
"Believe it or not, Uzushiogakure has already brought this sealing technique to every village that possesses tailed beasts," the Uzu-nin leader said indifferently.
But...
Whether the other villages would buy it or not, they didn't know.
"Hand over the sealing technique, and we'll let you leave," the Iwa-nin threatened, narrowing his eyes. Did they really think they could negotiate?
Dream on!!
A small country like Uzushiogakure wasn't qualified to make demands of Iwagakure.
"Even if you don't let us leave, you won't get the sealing technique," the Uzu-nin leader said flatly. "We don't know the full technique. We only have half of it, and even if you take it, it's useless. If other villages agree to Uzushiogakure's terms, then Iwagakure... Hah!!"
"Where's the other half?"
"With the Uzumaki Clan's elders," the leader replied. "Only if you agree to Uzushiogakure's terms will the other half be handed over."
"..."
Hearing this, the Iwa-nin exchanged glances, seemingly discussing something. Finally...
"Wait here. I'll report to the Tsuchikage," the Iwa-nin leader said, then turned and gave his teammates a meaningful look.
Keep an eye on them!!!
...
Two days later, early morning.
Uzumaki Jun woke up and stretched. Today was the day of negotiations with Kirigakure. The elders, the clan head, and his father—the Daimyō of Uzushiogakure—would all be present.
As for the terms, last night they had all said they wouldn't interfere and left it to him. Even his father had nodded approvingly, saying everything was in his hands, before leaving with his mother—probably to try for another sibling...
But...
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