Naruto: The rise of Uzumaki Kingdom

"Two of them!" Uzumaki Jun narrowed his eyes as he looked at the conditions sent over from Konoha. He hadn't expected Konoha to fully agree to their demands, but this was already quite good, so he had the clan leader sign the contract.

Originally, he had planned to go to the Land of Rain after the war ended, but now, the early admission ticket was already secured.

"Little Jun!"

However, the Uzumaki clan leader and elders all looked worried. After all, these were two hidden villages! Could Uzushiogakure hold out?

Shouldn't Uzushiogakure be lying low right now? Why suddenly agree to Konoha's request?

"Say, if we give Sunagakure and Amegakure 200 million each, would they agree to just stand by and cheer?" Uzumaki Jun sighed. "Then after a few months when Konoha finishes fighting Iwagakure and Kumogakure, we can take action?"

"..."

The people in the meeting room looked at each other in surprise. There was actually such an approach!

They immediately felt deep respect. As expected of someone who became Kage-level at seven years old!

"They will agree." Kakuzu said disdainfully. "Sunagakure and Amegakure are both poor!"

Why were they fighting this war? Wasn't it for profit?

Now someone was paying them to just watch the battle...

They could earn money while weakening Konoha, Iwagakure, and Kumogakure. Why wouldn't they agree?

They were probably secretly delighted.

And Sunagakure and Amegakure - these two villages were notoriously poor. Suddenly getting a windfall, without even having to take action, just waiting until Konoha and Iwagakure, Kumogakure exhausted each other before making their move...

The only thing was that the money would leave their hands before they could even warm it, which was a bit painful!

Kakuzu wondered if he should ambush the money carriers halfway.

200 million was how many S-rank missions worth!

But...

"Ah~, this is 200 million we're talking about!" Uzumaki Jun rubbed his chin. "Seems like Kakuzu and I will have to make another trip."

If they could sell weapons to Sunagakure, the money might just flow back, maybe even with profit.

"Would Konoha be unhappy about this?" The clan leader asked worriedly.

After all, shinobi valued trustworthiness. Those who didn't were hunted down as rogue ninjas.

If Uzushiogakure's reputation...

That would be too costly.

"No problem, aren't we stopping Sunagakure and Amegakure?"

As for reputation, Uzushiogakure didn't rely on mission income anyway, so it didn't matter. Moreover, when it came to prestige, he still had a secret weapon...

"White Zetsu is such a good comrade!" Uzumaki Jun sighed.

"Now Uzushiogakure will enter war preparations." Uzumaki Jun said seriously to everyone present. "Pass down the orders. There's only one rule - we don't need to sacrifice ourselves for Konoha. If the situation looks bad, retreat immediately!"

"At the same time, have the Uzu-nin recruit refugees in the Land of Rain."

Since they'd already received half the payment upfront, even if something went wrong later, Uzushiogakure wouldn't lose out.

And this was the only safe way to enter the battlefield. Otherwise, before the war ended, Uzu-nin wandering around the Land of Rain would easily run into trouble.

This time, entering the battlefield under the pretense of helping, while other villages were fighting, Uzushiogakure would be...

Saving the shinobi world, saving thousands of suffering people!

Wasn't this worth promoting?

"Yes!"

...

Early in year 32 of Konoha's calendar.

Just after New Year's, the Second Shinobi World War officially began with three great villages and the Land of Rain declaring war on Konoha.

With fighting on two fronts, Konoha was short on manpower.

Since Kumogakure was too far away, they fought at the northern border of the Land of Fire, trying to divide Konoha's military strength.

As Konoha's ally, partner of justice, Uzushiogakure couldn't bear to see the peace ambassador of the shinobi world - Konoha - suffer such disaster. Even though this time it was Konoha's mistake...

Uzushiogakure still resolutely joined the war under the name of volunteer army to support Konoha. They called themselves ninjas who loved peace and longed for peace.

Even though Konoha had treated them this way and that before, Uzushiogakure held no regrets. Their friendship with Konoha could be traced back to the time of the God of Shinobi - Hashirama Senju, with a long history, so they absolutely wouldn't stand by and watch Konoha get bullied by four villages.

Before the war even started, Uzushiogakure's righteousness had already spread throughout the shinobi world. As the higher-ups knew...

Konoha had treated Uzushiogakure as a little brother, yet Uzushiogakure could still set aside past grievances to help Konoha. They were truly foolish!

But this was exactly the kind of ally everyone hoped for in this era of war!

Hadn't you seen? Even Konoha felt ashamed.

Now even Konoha's civilians were praising Uzushiogakure's righteousness...

...

In Konoha, because of the war, the originally peaceful village had become tense.

All the civilians sighed that Konoha truly had a good ally!

Even in this crisis, they hadn't abandoned Konoha, making them both touched and ashamed. Such a small country could uphold righteousness - truly not easy!

And Konoha?

It was said that during the First War, they had abandoned Uzushiogakure. They felt ashamed of Konoha's leaders for this!

If Konoha won this war, they would owe Uzushiogakure a huge debt!

"So who spread these rumors?" The Hokage massaged his temples as he read the reports from his subordinates. Not only did he have to manage the war, but also maintain harmony in the village. Such a headache!

"Still no leads." The ANBU captain shook his head. "They seemed to have appeared out of nowhere in the village."

Hearing the ANBU's report, Hiruzen Sarutobi helplessly rubbed his forehead. How shameless of Uzushiogakure!!

Hmph~

Were they helping for free? They were getting paid, getting paid!

These rumors made Uzushiogakure sound so noble and loyal, really...

Hiruzen had words he desperately wanted to say!

"Pass down orders to stop the rumors from spreading further." Finally, Hiruzen could only sigh. "At the same time, investigate the source."

This was wartime - not even a hint of accident could be allowed.

"Yes!" The ANBU nodded in acknowledgment.

Watching the ANBU leave, Hiruzen took a puff of his pipe, frowning as he muttered, "The troops should have reached Amegakure by now."

How were things going?

"What is Advisor Danzo doing now?"

Then an ANBU shinobi suddenly appeared...

"At the Uchiha compound."

"??" Hiruzen was stunned by the ANBU's words. "What is he doing at the Uchihas again?"

...

"Don't worry." Danzo said righteously to the Uchiha clan head before him. "Konoha won't wrong the innocent, nor let the guilty go."

"I believe the Uchiha clan is innocent, so set your minds at ease."

"Don't make any rash moves recently. I've persuaded the Hokage to temporarily lift the restrictions on the Uchiha clan." Danzo sighed. "The order should reach you soon. Though this time, not many Uchiha will be allowed out."

"But you must believe that I, Danzo, will definitely help you, so that in the future you can walk freely in Konoha like other clans."

Danzo looked solemn and earnest at the Uchiha head, as if saying "Trust me, we're on the same side, I'm a good person."

"Lord Danzo." The Uchiha head was completely baffled by Danzo's words. Just what were these people planning?

Especially this Danzo, visiting the Uchiha every few days, not to cause trouble but just to preach about his own righteousness, fighting to return the Uchiha to the center of power.

Or saying Konoha was doing this for their own good, for the village's good, so they shouldn't hold grudges.

Just a bunch of nonsense!

The Uchiha head was completely confused. Though their clan was expressionless, they weren't stupid!

And with things like this, even idiots could tell there was a scheme, especially when a Mangekyo Sharingan had appeared in the shinobi world, and that Mangekyo was from Konoha...

All clues pointed to the Uchiha, yet Konoha wasn't taking action?

This wasn't normal!

So what exactly were they planning?

Though the Uchiha clan longed to return to the center of power...

This made me very nervous!

"Thank you for understanding the Uchiha so much, Lord Danzo." The Uchiha head said expressionlessly. "The Uchiha have absolutely no intention of deceiving Konoha."

"I believe you." Danzo nodded satisfactorily. "Konoha believes you too."

"So this time..."

"The Uchiha must work hard!"