However...
These open-air tents, caves, and being surrounded by people made it impossible to even think about exercising. He couldn't even get a good night's sleep!
The mosquitoes at night were terrible. In the end, he had to ask the Great Elder to set up a sealing barrier for him before he could finally fall asleep.
At the time, the Great Elder's face had turned green with frustration. When had the Uzumaki Clan's sealing techniques ever been used for something like this?
It was downright disgraceful! They were a millennia-old noble clan!
A barrage of arguments about family honor and the Uzumaki Clan's glory was hurled at Uzumaki Jun's face.
In the end, he had to explain that only by embracing change could the Uzumaki Clan grow stronger.
The Great Elder reluctantly agreed, though his face remained sour, as if saying, "Don't try to fool this old man. I may not be educated, but I'm not stupid." He then grumpily set up the sealing barrier.
But...
Uzumaki Jun felt he wasn't wrong!
Once they modified this mosquito-repelling barrier into something compact and portable, something that could be reused just by inputting chakra, they could sell it to others for profit. With money, wouldn't the Uzumaki Clan prosper?
Truly, using chakra purely for combat was the most primitive application. Only by applying it to daily life could chakra truly benefit the shinobi world.
"Awake?"
Early in the morning, Uzumaki Jun saw his father and the clan elders gathered together, seemingly discussing something. The Clan Head nodded with satisfaction, as if agreeing to some request from the Daimyo, but the Great Elder shook his head in disagreement.
What were these people up to?
Puzzled, Uzumaki Jun walked over, but the Uzumaki Clan's higher-ups immediately fell silent.
"Good morning, Clan Head, Elders!" Though curious, Uzumaki Jun greeted them politely. For now, the negotiations were the priority. Everything else could wait.
"Are we setting off now?" the Great Elder asked. "The Kiri-nin seem to have already arrived at the negotiation site."
"It's still early." Uzumaki Jun stretched lazily. "We can go after breakfast."
Let them wait, these invaders of Uzushiogakure!
Hmph, missing one meal wouldn't kill them. They were shinobi from one of the Five Great Villages, after all. They could survive on soldier pills.
Besides...
The scouts he had sent out hadn't returned yet. He wasn't sure about the situation.
Regarding Iwagakure, Uzumaki Jun had made it clear—they needed to bring the Light-Weight Rock Technique. That jutsu was quite useful.
He had also asked them for another favor: to mobilize their forces near Kirigakure's borders to pressure them. That way, Uzushiogakure could secure greater benefits in these negotiations.
After all, tailed beasts weren't something you could just hand over to others.
But he wasn't sure if they could accomplish the mission. If not, at the very least, they needed Iwagakure to agree to deploy troops. As for the Light-Weight Rock Technique, he'd have to exchange for it with the system later.
"This..."
The Clan Head and elders exchanged uneasy glances. Was this really okay?
Wouldn't Kirigakure fly into a rage?
Though they weren't afraid of the Mizukage or tailed beasts anymore...
If they could avoid war, they'd prefer it.
"Sigh..." The Great Elder sighed. "Let's just listen to Jun."
Thinking wasn't the Uzumaki Clan's strong suit. They were better at brute force.
As for Uzumaki Jun...
He was different. A seven-year-old who could fight a tailed beast head-on wasn't normal!
Since the country's leadership had changed, the Daimyo had temporarily taken on the role of an elder.
Meanwhile, on the Kiri-nin side...
"Why is Uzushiogakure taking so long?" Hōzuki Gengetsu frowned as he stared at the sky. It was almost noon, and still no one had come for negotiations. Did they not understand the concept of time?
The Mizukage's advisor furrowed his brows, watching the surrounding Uzumaki shinobi slowly closing in. What were they planning?
He waved at a nearby Kiri-nin jonin. "Go ask them when their negotiators will arrive."
Seriously, did the Uzumaki Clan have no sense of punctuality?
The Kiri-nin nodded. "Understood!" He then hurried over to a Uzumaki jonin.
Soon...
The Kiri-nin returned with a strange expression.
Seeing this, the Mizukage and his advisor knew something was off. Hōzuki Gengetsu frowned. "What did they say?"
"They said their Lord Jun is still having breakfast." The Kiri-nin hesitated before continuing, "And..."
"And what?"
Hōzuki Gengetsu's face darkened. Breakfast? Hadn't they already eaten? It was practically lunchtime now!
"They said since we didn't set a specific time, it's fine if they're late."
"..."
The Kiri-nin fell silent at these words.
Damn it, weren't negotiations supposed to be conducted as quickly as possible? They had already arrived at the site, yet Uzushiogakure still hadn't shown up. And now...
It was their fault?!
"That insolent brat is going too far!" Hōzuki Gengetsu roared.
All the Kiri-nin grew restless, muttering among themselves. They were one of the Five Great Villages! When had they ever been treated like this?
The Uzumaki were utterly disrespectful!
"Calm down!" The Mizukage's advisor barked. What were they thinking? Did they want to restart the war with Uzushiogakure? Damn it, first they didn't want to fight, and now they did? Make up your minds!
Kirigakure still had its pride!
Besides...
The Uzumaki shinobi had already retreated to who-knows-where. And with that seven-year-old Kage-level space-time ninjutsu user, how were they supposed to fight? That kid could solo all of them if he took his time.
At the advisor's words, the Kiri-nin reluctantly settled down, though their displeasure remained evident.
"What now?" Hōzuki Gengetsu asked his advisor. "Did you prepare everything I asked for?"
Kirigakure couldn't afford to let Uzushiogakure extort them!
Even if he, Hōzuki Gengetsu, had to fight alone, even if he had to take on all of them with just a kunai, he wouldn't let Kirigakure go bankrupt!
"Yes." The advisor nodded. The terms were drafted, but whether Uzushiogakure would accept them was another matter. After all, they were the invaders...
And the losers.
"What about Konoha?" Hōzuki Gengetsu narrowed his eyes dangerously.
"We've already sent someone to inquire." The advisor replied. So you thought you could scheme behind our backs, Konoha? This time, if you don't compensate us, Kirigakure wouldn't deserve to be called one of the Five Great Villages.
You always preach about inheriting Hashirama's ideals, but the God of Shinobi was so... naive, so generous!
Unlike you backstabbers.
Pay up. You will pay.
"In that case..." Hōzuki Gengetsu closed his eyes, tapping the table lightly. "Send someone to tell the Uzumaki that if they want peace, they'd better hurry up. If not..."
"Heh."
"Konoha will deal with them personally!"
"Understood!"