Listening to the reports from the jounin below about the situation with Kiri, especially Hozuki Gengetsu's threats...
Uzumaki Jun curled his lips in disdain. An old man like him still wanted to tattle? Did he really think Konoha was his boss?
Even if Konoha responded, at most they would send someone to persuade Uzushiogakure, using the name of peace in the shinobi world, to return the Three-Tails to Kiri without compensation.
As for anything else?
What? Attack Uzushiogakure?
Don't joke around. Not only was Uzumaki Mito still alive, but even if she weren't, Konoha still had some shame.
Forget the generational friendship established with Hashirama. Even during the war, the Uzumaki Clan had fought wholeheartedly for Konoha, losing so many lives. Konoha wouldn't dare act recklessly.
At most, they'd resort to some underhanded tactics.
Otherwise, how could they maintain their position as the leading Great Shinobi Village?
During the next Five Kage Summit, the other villages could just say, "Look at Konoha! They stab their allies in the back after they've fought for them. Being their ally is dangerous!"
Wouldn't that ruin Konoha's reputation?
Konoha had always claimed to be the messenger of peace, upholding Hashirama's ideals as the righteous faction. How could they do something so damaging to their image? If this were exposed, even Danzo, the Darkness of Konoha, wouldn't be able to bear the consequences.
So...
Underhanded tactics were all they could do.
And he, someone who knew the Flying Thunder God Technique, would be afraid?
Who knew who would kill whom?
So, if Kiri went to tattle, Sarutobi Hiruzen would only issue a strong condemnation, demanding Uzushiogakure return the tailed beast. Beyond that, he wouldn't take any further action. But as for those condemnations...
Would Uzushiogakure care?
Damn it, they won the war themselves. If Konoha wanted to take advantage, they'd have to ask whether the 300,000 citizens and shinobi of Uzushiogakure would agree first.
So even if Sarutobi Hiruzen cursed the Uzumaki Clan's annihilation in his heart, he would still smile on the surface, shake hands, and praise the Uzumaki Clan for producing a young hero.
As for Konoha shinobi appearing on the battlefield? They could just say they sent reinforcements.
Uzumaki Jun would wipe away a fake tear and say, "So moved. Konoha and Uzushiogakure share a generational friendship!"
Anything else?
Hah, who cared?
So Uzumaki Jun slurped his special ramen and waved at the Uzu-nin. "Don't worry about it. Tell them we'll go after we finish eating."
Honestly, it had been so long since he'd eaten this kind of ramen. He was genuinely moved. The only issue was the beef wasn't fresh enough. To improve the physical fitness of Uzushiogakure's citizens, meat was essential.
He'd have to see if animal husbandry could be developed. If not, they'd have to rely on fishing. Being a small island nation by the sea, how could they not eat fish?
"System," Uzumaki Jun slurped and asked, "Do you have all the cooking recipes from my past life?"
[Yes]
"What about Devil Fruits?"
[Can't exchange those.]
"What's the point of you then?" Uzumaki Jun said disdainfully.
Uzumaki Jun frowned while slurping his noodles. How did this ramen compare to Ichiraku's? And if he had access to the food from his past life...
Maybe Uzushiogakure could even become some kind of gourmet capital.
That would be incredibly profitable.
Burp! Uzumaki Jun let out a satisfied belch and put down his bowl. Seeing the elders, his father, and his mother all enjoying the meal, it seemed this ramen was quite suitable for the shinobi world.
Gourmet food...
There was definitely potential here.
Since there wasn't much beef, most of it had been eaten by the Uzumaki elders. The others didn't get any, except for Uzumaki Komaki and Uzumaki Kai, who managed to get a bowl each.
Seeing their regretful expressions, Uzumaki Jun coughed and said, "Let's go. It's time to negotiate with Kiri."
Immediately—
"Yes!"
The Uzumaki shinobi responded loudly.
Hozuki Gengetsu felt that his patience, cultivated over the years, was about to be shattered by that seven-year-old brat. He sighed inwardly. How unfair was the heavens?
Such a powerful shinobi appearing in a little kid... Why couldn't he have been born in the Hozuki Clan—no, in Kiri instead?
This was war! War! Did that brat not understand?
And yet he said he'd come after finishing his meal?
Did Kiri, one of the Five Great Shinobi Villages, not deserve any respect? Were they just going to let Uzushiogakure trample their dignity?
Did Uzushiogakure think they'd won the war and could now act arrogantly? That Kiri couldn't wield a blade anymore?
Hah. It seemed they didn't understand their place.
Being the God of Shinobi wasn't so easy.
Hozuki Gengetsu narrowed his eyes, a dangerous glint in them as he contemplated something.
"Should we send another Uzu-nin to remind them?" the Mizukage's advisor asked, frowning. As expected of a small nation. One victory and they've forgotten their position, daring to treat Kiri with such disrespect?
"No need," Hozuki Gengetsu shook his head, his expression cold. "Since they want one of the Five Great Shinobi Villages to wait, then we'll wait."
"Let's see what that brat is capable of."
"Making Kiri wait here won't be so easy!"
"Jun," the elder frowned. "Are you sure we don't need to make any other preparations?"
"No need," Uzumaki Jun rolled his eyes. It seemed the Uzumaki Clan, unused to winning wars, had forgotten how to negotiate. Blame it on being Konoha's lackeys for so many years. And damn it...
Konoha never even paid them. What a black-hearted business!
Uzushiogakure did the killing, Konoha took the money, Uzushiogakure bore the blame, and Konoha reaped the goodwill.
That had been Konoha's policy in recent years.
No matter what, they pushed Uzushiogakure out to take the fall. Damn it, if it weren't for the Uzumaki Clan's unwavering belief in their generational friendship, Uzumaki Jun would've spat in the Hokage's face long ago.
But...
There was no rush now.
Uzumaki Jun glanced at the nearby Senju Clan members.
This blame, as the leader of the Uzumaki Clan, he would pin it on them. If they truly had a generational friendship, then Konoha could take the fall for the Uzumaki Clan, right?
Generational friendship, huh?
Uzumaki Jun chuckled and shook his head.
"Lord Shukuma," a Senju clansman asked worriedly. "Is it really alright for us to be here?"
No matter what, they were still Konoha shinobi. Appearing in someone else's negotiation site...
It was self-explanatory. Even if they claimed the Senju had acted against the Hokage's orders, Kiri wouldn't believe them.
Senju Shukuma sighed. Of course he understood, but this was the pledge Uzushiogakure demanded. Moreover, they had already been seen on the battlefield. There was no way to explain it away now. He could only say helplessly, "I will personally apologize to the Hokage later."
"For now, we follow the Uzumaki Clan's orders."
"For the sake of..."
The Senju Clan's future.
"The representatives of Uzushiogakure have arrived!"