The sudden upheaval at Hozuki Castle sent the Land of Grass into a state of chaos. Under the circumstances, Shiraishi's diplomatic mission had no choice but to depart, heading toward the Land of Iron.
As for the four Uzumaki clansmen Shiraishi took with him, the Grass ninjas wanted to intervene, but they knew that even if the entire Kusagakure village mobilized, they had no certainty of stopping the Fifth Kazekage.
Thus, they were forced to watch in silence as Shiraishi made his move.
"What is your name?"
"Uzumaki Tomoki."
Initially, Shiraishi's trip to Hozuki Castle was primarily to find a host for his phantom child, but seeing Uzumaki Tomoki practicing basic ninjutsu alone on the deck, Shiraishi paused to observe him.
The boy's tool-throwing speed and physical reflexes were excellent. Though he didn't use high-level techniques, his training was disciplined and methodical.
His sister, Uzumaki Tomoe, had stabilized, and the two Uzumaki elders were tending to her with great care.
Arakawa Arashi, however, held reservations about the Kazekage taking in the Uzumaki. Everyone knew the deep historical ties between the Uzumaki and the Hidden Leaf; keeping them close was an inherent risk. Arashi, as the head of intelligence, felt that saving the two elders was an unnecessary burden.
"The destruction of the Land of Whirlpools cannot be separated from certain factions within the Leaf," Shiraishi explained calmly.
"The Uzumaki members the Leaf truly wanted were taken there long ago. Tomoki's lineage, being of the orthodox main branch rather than Uzumaki Mito's line, is actually unwelcome in Konoha."
The Land of Whirlpools and its hidden village were led by the Uzumaki. Tomoki belonged to the direct patriarchal line, unlike Mito's branch. In the eyes of people like Danzo, an Uzumaki not directly tied to Mito was a threat—someone with the potential to seize control of the Nine-Tails.
The Uzumaki and Senju clans are distant relatives, both being descendants of Ashura and inheritors of the Sage of the Six Paths' bloodline.
Decades ago, Uzushiogakure and the Leaf maintained close ties. Mito Uzumaki became the wife of the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju.
During the battle at the Valley of the End, Mito sealed the Nine-Tails within herself to assist Hashirama, becoming the first Jinchuriki and allowing the First Hokage's Wood Style to reach its maximum potential. Since then, the Nine-Tails had become the "property" of the Leaf.
When Mito's life neared its end, Kushina Uzumaki—a descendant of Mito's specific line—was brought to the Leaf to become the second Jinchuriki.
From the moment she became the Hokage's wife, Mito had distanced herself from the main Uzumaki clan. Even when the Land of Whirlpools fell, her concern was for her direct descendants, not the clan as a whole.
The decline of the Uzumaki was inextricably linked to the Leaf's behind-the-scenes manipulations.
While an average Uzumaki orphan might trust the Leaf, Tomoki's line felt a fierce hostility toward them. Arashi understood this logic, but his instinct as an intelligence officer made him voice his concern regardless.
"You," Jogaki Shikasa interjected, mocking Arashi, "spend all day dwelling on such dark thoughts. It's quite annoying."
"If everyone lived as naively as you, there would be no need for thought at all," Arashi retorted, causing Shikasa to roll his eyes in frustration.
Shikasa was an optimist, while Arashi was meticulously cautious. Their contrasting styles often led to friction, which Shiraishi frequently had to mediate.
Before Shiraishi could say more, the two Uzumaki elders emerged from the cabin and walked respectfully toward him.
"How should I address the two of you?"
"I am Uzumaki Naoto," the first elder said. "And this is my brother, Uzumaki Naote."
They were facing the Fifth Kazekage, the man representing the entire might of the Sand. After talking to other envoys on the ship, they realized Shiraishi was the powerhouse who had defeated the Leaf to establish a "New Hidden Sand."
"What are your plans for the future of the Uzumaki?" Shiraishi asked.
It was a loaded question. He had saved them; they could hardly say they wanted to go back to being "living medicine" in the Land of Grass. Before the elders could answer, young Tomoki dropped to one knee.
"Lord Kazekage, the Uzumaki lost their glory long ago. Our only wish is to ensure our bloodline continues. I beg of you, please take us into the Hidden Sand."
Shiraishi looked at the boy, increasingly impressed by his initiative. "In that case, would you be willing to become my disciple?"
Arashi and Shikasa stared in shock. Aside from his promise to one day mentor Gaara, Shiraishi had never taken a personal disciple. To choose this Uzumaki boy was a massive statement.
"I am willing!" Tomoki cried.
Tomoki was a gifted youth; his powerful life force and abundant chakra gave him a starting point far beyond his peers. Shiraishi began his basic instruction immediately as the ship sailed on.
The mission traveled through the Land of Waterfalls and the Land of Frost. In the Land of Frost, an envoy mentioned the movements of the Hidden Stone: "The Tsuchikage left three days ago. He should have arrived in the Land of Iron by now."
As the summit approached, Shiraishi remained the most relaxed of the Kage, enjoying the scenery and guiding Tomoki while collecting a few scattered Skill Cards.
The Land of Iron was a world of swirling snow and biting cold. After settling the envoys and the four Uzumaki at the official guesthouse, Shiraishi took Arashi and Shikasa toward the summit site—the mountain peak of the Land of Iron.
"So cold..." Shikasa shivered, his face stiff from the frost. Shiraishi, however, remained unaffected. The heat from his circulating chakra completely dispersed the snowflakes before they could touch his clothes.
"I didn't expect the Kazekage to arrive so early."
Shiraishi turned to see the Third Tsuchikage, Onoki, accompanied by two bodyguards, ascending the stone steps. He, too, seemed surprised to run into the young Fifth Kazekage at this particular moment.
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