Naruto: The rise of Uzumaki Kingdom

War was imminent. While Konoha and other villages were engaged in fierce battles, the Uzushiogakure forces sent to support Konoha arrived in the Land of Rain. They split into two groups, with Komaki and Kai each leading their own units to their assigned defensive positions.

No matter what, Lord Jun had said they must play their roles convincingly. From this moment onward, they were the Uzushiogakure Volunteer Army, joining the war for the sake of their generations-long friendship with Konoha.

"Everyone remembers the real mission, right?" Komaki said, looking at the Uzu-nin before him. "Start setting up camp now, and use shadow clones to draw the attention of the other villages."

After all, this was a large force. Having only one or two thousand people would look suspicious.

Uzushiogakure had even mobilized ordinary civilians to join the ranks supporting Konoha. Truly, they were the best allies in the shinobi world.

So if numbers were lacking, shadow clones would make up for it. For now, they could only rely on multiple shadow clones combined with transformation techniques. This tactic…

The Uzu-nin were very skilled at it.

Seeing everyone nod in understanding, Komaki began assigning tasks. This operation had to be carried out secretly, avoiding Konoha's war zones to recruit refugees. If discovered, they would easily face suspicion.

What puzzled him was how Lord Jun had managed to make the entire shinobi world spread tales of Uzushiogakure's virtue.

The main task this time was to guide refugees to Uzushiogakure. Since Uzushiogakure was too far from the Land of Fire, leading them on foot across the Land of Fire to board ships at the coast would be too risky.

As for asking Lord Jun to use space-time ninjutsu…

That would be too troublesome. This wasn't just a dozen or so people, but hundreds. Lord Jun couldn't possibly spend all his time running errands.

"How should we handle the airship issue?" Komaki muttered, frowning.

This time, they had arrived in the Land of Rain via airship, as per Lord Jun's orders. The refugees would also be transported to Uzushiogakure by airship—partly for safety, and partly to…

Promote the airships.

Though he didn't fully understand why Lord Jun wanted to sell such a powerful war asset, even if it was a downgraded version that couldn't use chakra batteries and required shinobi to infuse chakra for each flight, it was still a tool that could influence the outcome of wars.

But as shinobi…

Their job was to carry out orders faithfully, not to question them.

The only concern was whether things would go as Lord Jun envisioned, because…

Human nature was greedy. If the Five Great Shinobi Villages united to demand Uzushiogakure disclose the technology, it would spell trouble.

"Let's hope nothing goes wrong," Komaki thought helplessly. This war had to keep Konoha preoccupied, leaving them no time to plot against Uzushiogakure.

"Remember, whether these people are willing or not," Komaki said, narrowing his eyes, "forcefully bring them with us."

Those were Lord Jun's orders. As for ideological work, specialized personnel would handle that later. Their main task now was to recruit as many refugees as possible during this time. Uzushiogakure needed many hands for land reclamation.

"Understood!"

All the Uzu-nin nodded in acknowledgment.

...

Uzushiogakure…

"In a few days, there's another business deal to discuss," Uzumaki Jun said to Kakuzu. "It's about the airships."

During negotiations with Sunagakure and Amegakure, it was agreed that Uzushiogakure's shinobi would withdraw in five months.

Though they were curious why Uzushiogakure, renowned throughout the shinobi world for its virtue, would now act this way…

They understood. After all, this was about Konoha.

It was already commendable that Uzushiogakure was willing to spend money to seek peace. Did anyone really expect them to sacrifice themselves for Konoha?

What kind of foolish nation would do that?

So while the Kazekage and the "Shinobi no Kami" (God of Shinobi) smiled on the surface, inwardly they looked down on Uzushiogakure. Peace bought with money would never earn true respect, especially for Hanzo of the Salamander…

He knew the feeling all too well.

Both of them feared no Kage, yet their nations' weaknesses had reduced them to this state.

The difference was that Hanzo, as the "Shinobi no Kami," disdained using money to buy peace. Whether facing the Five Great Shinobi Villages or others, Amegakure would never back down.

Thus, Hanzo privately dismissed Uzumaki Jun as…

Still just a kid.

That was his assessment of Uzumaki Jun.

"Remember, profit is secondary," Uzumaki Jun rubbed his temples and said to Kakuzu, who was thrilled after securing two lucrative deals. "As long as we recover the costs, it's fine."

"But…"

"The Five Great Shinobi Villages must purchase roughly the same number of airships."

"Don't worry," Kakuzu patted the chest full of silver coins in front of him and declared righteously. "Do I, Kakuzu, seem like the kind of person who'd sell out for money?"

"..."

Uzumaki Jun stared at Kakuzu speechlessly. You know yourself best. He shook his head helplessly. "If anything goes wrong, Uzushiogakure will be in trouble."

Ignoring Kakuzu, who was still hugging the chest, he told him to get lost. Then, resting his chin on his hands, he leaned back in his chair and pondered.

He had to ensure Konoha barely won this war, depleting its forces and weakening the Five Great Shinobi Villages.

Because he had a feeling the Third Shinobi World War…

Would inevitably be the Five Great Shinobi Villages attacking Uzushiogakure.

Uzushiogakure's recruitment of so many kekkei genkai users couldn't stay hidden forever. Once discovered, the other villages wouldn't hold back.

Especially the Kamizuru Clan and Chinoike Clan recruited by Akatsuki.

They would eventually realize Uzushiogakure's ties to Akatsuki.

But…

They must never discover that he was the masked man behind the scenes.

As for Akatsuki, it wasn't a big issue.

After all, Akatsuki was a peaceful organization.

The murderous masked man was a rogue member of Akatsuki, a Konoha shinobi. Akatsuki had already cut ties with him and issued a bounty.

As for Uzushiogakure's collaboration with Akatsuki…

It was for the sake of peace in the shinobi world.

Uzushiogakure's stance as a peaceful nation must never waver.

So this war had to promote Akatsuki's noble ideals and ensure the entire shinobi world knew Akatsuki was a peaceful organization.

"Sigh, this war must keep the Five Great Shinobi Villages occupied," Uzumaki Jun sighed helplessly.

Only by weakening the Five Great Shinobi Villages during this time and maintaining temporary peace could Uzushiogakure have the breathing room to assimilate the refugees.

After that would come Uzushiogakure's rise as the Sixth Great Nation.

So…

War between Uzushiogakure and the Five Great Shinobi Villages was inevitable.

"Where's Zetsu?" Uzumaki Jun narrowed his eyes, staring at the floor as he muttered in frustration. "Why hasn't he shown up these past few days?"

When it came to stirring up trouble, Zetsu was the expert.

The shinobi world's premier troublemaker.

To weaken the Five Great Shinobi Villages to a balanced state, Zetsu's involvement was indispensable.

...

Kirigakure…

"Airships?" Yuki Kiyoi read the intelligence report from his spies and murmured. "Uzushiogakure's shipbuilding technology has advanced this far?"

He remembered the spherical objects that had appeared above their fleet during the invasion of Uzushiogakure. He hadn't expected their technological progress to be so rapid. Now they even had airships.

"Dispatch the ANBU," Yuki Kiyoi said sternly to his advisor. "Infiltrate Uzushiogakure and secure the airship technology at all costs."

This technology's significance for Kirigakure was immeasurable.

Though Kirigakure was a maritime power, its isolation from the mainland made troop mobilization during wars time-consuming and inefficient. With this technology…

Kirigakure's path to supremacy would open.

"Understood," the advisor nodded gravely. He too recognized the airships' importance. "I'll arrange it immediately."

No matter how dangerous Uzushiogakure was, this operation was non-negotiable.

But…

"We'll need to send our elite for this."