Besides, he had no intention of leaving Kumogakure anyway. Exchanging resources was a win-win situation.
"Yuzuru, you've really given me a pleasant surprise!"
Back then, the Land of Whirlpools was destroyed because every nation feared the Uzumaki clan's sealing jutsu. But now, Kumogakure had the opportunity to obtain that very power. Coupled with the ninjutsu heritage of the Uchiha clan...
The Third Raikage felt like he was dreaming. Tonight's harvest far exceeded his wildest imagination. This was the foundation of the number one clan in the shinobi world. It was simply terrifying.
Just how idiotic were those guys in Konoha to force a clan like the Uchiha out of their village?
The more he looked at Uchiha Yuzuru, the more fond of him he became. The Third Raikage stepped forward, grabbed Yuzuru's hand, and laughed heartily. "Yuzuru, from today on, we are brothers!"
Emotions in Kumogakure were just that unpretentious; even expressions of closeness were done through becoming sworn brothers.
Just then, the door to the Raikage's office was kicked open.
A stormed in, raging at Uchiha Yuzuru, "You bastard! You dare come to our Cloud Village? I'll kill you right now!"
But before he could make a move, the Third Raikage used the Body Flicker to appear behind him and slapped the back of his head.
"You scoundrel, is that how you speak to your Uncle Yuzuru?"
A touched his head in confusion, looking from the Third Raikage to Uchiha Yuzuru, disbelief written all over his face. "Yuzuru... Uncle?"
"Brat, if you're this rude again, I'll slap you to death."
The Third Raikage glared at A, but when he turned to Uchiha Yuzuru, his face was wreathed in smiles again. "Yuzuru, you see, my son isn't exactly young anymore. About a marriage alliance..."
In any case, every Raikage abandoned their surname and given name, assuming the code name "A". So even if his son married into another family, the Third Raikage had no psychological burden whatsoever.
Hearing the conversation between the Third Raikage and Uchiha Yuzuru, A, who had just recovered his wits, froze again.
M-Marriage alliance?
A felt like his brain wasn't working.
Father... he isn't under a genjutsu, is he?!
When Uchiha Yuzuru rushed back to the Uchiha clan compound, Uchiha Mikoto and Uzumaki Kushina were both asleep on the table.
Hearing the door open, they immediately looked up.
The moment they saw Uchiha Yuzuru, Mikoto and Kushina rushed over simultaneously.
"Yuzuru, you're finally back."
Uchiha Mikoto hugged Yuzuru's arm, her eyes slightly red. He had been gone for so many days, and to a dangerous place like Kumogakure alone; she had been worried sick.
Uchiha Yuzuru smiled and patted Mikoto's back, comforting her, "Mikoto, in the current shinobi world, no one can threaten me. Everything is settled. From now on, we will settle down in Kumogakure."
Mikoto nodded, not minding at all. "I'll listen to you. As long as you're here, I can settle anywhere."
While Mikoto wasn't paying attention, Yuzuru secretly winked at Uzumaki Kushina. To his surprise, however, Kushina walked straight up and hugged his other arm.
"Hey! Kushina, you, you..."
"Mikoto, I didn't do anything."
Mikoto rolled her eyes at Yuzuru, reached out to pinch his waist, and scolded playfully, "You got off easy, you big flirt."
Uzumaki Kushina huffed softly. "While you were gone these past few days, I had a talk with Mikoto. I don't want to sneak around. I want to hug you openly too."
Hearing this, Uchiha Yuzuru breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed the crisis was over. All was well.
Thinking of this, Yuzuru held one girl in each arm and pretended to be helpless. "Actually, I'm a very devoted person, but I'm too kind-hearted to cruelly reject such innocent girls. Sigh... I suppose this is the burden of being an outstanding man."
After speaking, he took a deep breath.
So fragrant...
"Pervert."
Kushina muttered, breaking free from Yuzuru's embrace. This guy was impossible to look away from when he was serious, but when he wasn't, he made people want to hit him.
"Yuzuru, I'll go tell the Clan Head you're back. They've been waiting for your news all these days."
Uchiha Mikoto stood up straight and said gently, "Yuzuru, are you hungry? I'll go prepare some food for you right now."
"Go ahead, then."
Watching Kushina and Mikoto pretend to be busy with their respective tasks, Yuzuru sighed helplessly.
System, oh System, you've really screwed me over. If it weren't for the need to increase the Uchiha clan's population, a pure-hearted boy like me wouldn't be in this situation!
Sunagakure.
The Third Kazekage's face was dark as still water as he looked at Chiyo and Ebizo without saying a word. After a long time, he slowly exhaled a breath of stale air. "I miscalculated. I will take responsibility for the loss of five Jonin from the village."
Chiyo snorted coldly. "Saying this now has no meaning. We absolutely cannot let this matter drop easily. The Uchiha are Konoha ninja. Konoha must bear the cost of our losses. Make them pay reparations, or we start a war! And starting today, apply pressure to Konoha's borders."
Ebizo, standing to the side, asked worriedly, "Sister, the Uchiha clan are rogue ninja now. Will Konoha really agree to such a demand?"
Even as her brother, Ebizo felt Chiyo's idea was too whimsical. "Besides, there is still a significant gap between our strength and Konoha's."
Chiyo sneered a few times, confident. "The Uchiha clan has defected en masse. This is exactly when Konoha is at its weakest. We only need to start the fire; others will naturally follow. Don't forget how the first two Shinobi World Wars started. No one has ever given up on that piece of fat meat."
The Third Kazekage and Ebizo both perked up, excitement flashing in their eyes.
Makes sense!
Konoha Village.
Shimura Danzo pushed the door open and walked in, getting straight to the point with Sarutobi Hiruzen. "Hiruzen, my Root was attacked by Cloud ninja at the border. We must demand an explanation for this."
Hearing this, Sarutobi Hiruzen frowned. "Why isn't your Root staying properly in the village? What were they doing at the border?"
"Let's not talk about that for now. Those guys from Kumogakure are too arrogant. I think we should teach them a lesson."
Hiruzen took a few puffs from his pipe, finally sighing. "It's normal for villages to fight. If your subordinates died, you can only blame their lack of skill. If we start a war over such a small matter, it will only bring greater casualties to the village."
"Danzo!" Hiruzen slammed the table. "Watch your tone."
"What? Is the Lord Hokage going to hit me?"
"You..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen glared at Shimura Danzo, finally compromising. "You can draw some ninja from the village to replenish Root's losses."
"Hmph."
Danzo didn't continue to make a scene. Instead, he started seriously considering what kind of secret technique users to absorb this time.
Just then, an ANBU appeared with the Body Flicker. "Lord Hokage, this is a scroll sent from Sunagakure."
"Sunagakure?"
Puzzled, Hiruzen took the scroll. After reading a few lines, he threw it onto the table in anger.
"Isn't this bullying an honest man?!"
Seeing Hiruzen's anger, Danzo curiously picked up the scroll. He was immediately amused by the content. The Uchiha clan had killed Suna Jonin, yet the Third Kazekage was demanding compensation from them...
He had never heard of a village being responsible for the actions of rogue ninja. Those guys living in the desert must be crazy for money.
"Hiruzen, want to teach the Sand ninja a lesson?"
Danzo admitted that when a person was speechless to the extreme, they really would laugh.
"What a 'Hero of Shinobi', truly an eye-opener."
Danzo sneered a few times and strode out of the Hokage's office. If he stayed any longer, he was afraid he'd die of anger.
Sarutobi Hiruzen felt he was very innocent. If the Uchiha clan hadn't defected en masse, would Suna and Kumo dare to loot a burning house?
In the end, it was all the Uchiha's fault!
One month later.
Escorted by Cloud ninja, all the Uchiha clansmen arrived at Kumogakure.
At the village entrance, huge banners hung, and colorful silk ribbons danced in the wind. The Third Raikage personally stood at the entrance to welcome the Uchiha clan who had traveled from afar.
"Yuzuru, no trouble on the road?"
"Thanks to the protection sent by the Raikage. You went to great trouble."
"Hahahaha..."
After a brief chat, the Third Raikage and Uchiha Yuzuru walked into the village. The Uchiha clansmen followed close behind.
Inside Kumogakure, towering peaks were everywhere. Even the clouds only reached halfway up the mountains. The villagers' dwellings were situated around the foot of the mountains. On the peaks were huge office buildings. The Raikage Building sat in the very center, looking incredibly imposing.
Seeing this landscape for the first time, the Uchiha clansmen were filled with curiosity.
-----
Read up to 20 advanced chapters on my P@treon.
[email protected]/fanfictionsimp