"Oh oh, Lord Madara, you are awake!"
An old man with white hair and a pale face struggled to raise his right hand to his mouth, "Cough cough!" Then, slowly opened his muddy eyes, staring at the entirely white figure in front of him with a spiral patterned body...
Tobi!!
Madara looked at his increasingly aged body, now even movement was becoming difficult. After a moment of silence, his hoarse voice spoke, "How long have I been asleep."
"Oh oh, Lord Madara, let me see, let me see!" Tobi jumped onto a wall upon hearing Uchiha Madara's words, cheerfully saying, "One scratch mark equals one year, let me count how many there are?"
"Oh oh, Lord Madara, there are one hundred marks."
"..." Madara fell silent again after hearing Tobi's words, finally sighing and saying, "Has it been a hundred years already?"
"How is Uzushiogakure now?"
"Uzushiogakure?" Tobi paused, then said, "Nothing much! They have a seven-year-old Kage-level who made Kirigakure call him daddy!"
"Lord Madara, should we recruit... oh, Lord Madara, I made a mistake earlier, this is the record of how long you've slept." Tobi suddenly spoke carefully, "That was just the number of times I took a poop!!"
"Here, Lord Madara has only slept for three years!!"
"..."
Uchiha Madara rubbed his forehead with a headache, saying, "Where is my will embodiment?"
This idiot...
He didn't want to see him right now! Otherwise, his aged body might just give out.
"Oh oh, Mr. Zetsu?" Tobi ignored Madara's distress and directly said, "He seems to be monitoring Uzushiogakure."
"Uzushiogakure hasn't been destroyed?" Madara said wistfully upon hearing Tobi's words, "A seven-year-old Kage-level..."
"Back then, even Hashirama and I..."
"Were not this strong!"
"Lord Madara, should we..." Tobi made a throat-slitting gesture, saying, "Kill him!"
"Can you defeat him?" Madara glanced sideways and said flatly.
"..."
Tobi fell silent for a moment, then awkwardly laughed, "Mr. Zetsu might have a way!!"
"..."
Madara decided to ignore him and said helplessly, "Tell Zetsu to quickly find someone capable of bearing my eyes. As for the rest..."
"Don't bother for now."
"That seven-year-old child..."
"If he doesn't comply, find a chance to kill him!"
"The ninja world absolutely cannot have any unexpected variables!"
"Yes, Lord Madara!"
After the idiot left, Uchiha Madara opened his weary eyes and murmured, "I wonder how much longer I can hold on."
Back then, the alliance between Hashirama and the Uzumaki Clan, now even Konoha has forgotten. Time truly erodes everything!
Whether it's people or...
Bonds!!
"Hashirama..."
"I will prove to you that my method is the right one."
"The ninja world is already rotten. Only by starting anew can true peace be achieved."
...
"Achoo, achoo!" Uzumaki Jun wrapped himself in several layers of blankets, lying on the deck while sneezing. He rubbed his nose and muttered, "Is mom thinking about me?"
"Brr—!! This weather is really cold!"
"Lord Jun, we're almost there," Uzumaki Kai stood beside Jun and said respectfully.
"Almost there?" Uzumaki Jun stood up and stretched, saying, "Tell everyone to tidy up their appearance. They must look spirited."
It was faster than expected!
No wonder the poor Land of Waves wanted to build a bridge to Konoha back then. Probably because the route was short, cheap, and saved money!
"Yes!" Uzumaki Kai nodded.
"And the recruitment sign I made, remember to carry it out too," Uzumaki Jun said. "We're here to recruit, not to kidnap children. Tell them to smile more."
"..."
Hearing Lord Jun's words, Kai fell silent for a moment but still nodded. The recruitment sign Lord Jun made was so embarrassing, it was too cringey, and...
Did Lord Jun think the refugees could read?
But since it was Lord Jun's order, they would still carry it out earnestly.
"Good!" Uzumaki Jun nodded and said, "After disembarking, find a spot to start cooking porridge and set up a relief station to wait for refugees. At the same time, send out ninjas to patrol the surroundings and direct refugees to the relief station."
"And the medical ninjas, tell them to work harder!"
"Yes!" Uzumaki Kai nodded, then hesitated and said, "What if Konoha's ninjas..."
"..." Uzumaki Jun thought for a moment and said, "Explain it to them clearly."
"We and Konoha share generations of friendship. We're here to share the burden of refugees within Konoha's borders."
"..."
Generations of friendship!!
Uzumaki Kai was long used to Lord Jun saying this and nodded, "Understood!"
Whenever they wanted to exploit Konoha, Lord Jun would bring up this phrase!
Though by now, Konoha probably wanted to kill the Uzumaki Clan, especially after the Kirigakure incident...
"I'll make sure everyone stays cautious and avoids conflict with Konoha's ninjas!"
After all, Konoha had taken so much advantage over the years. Wasn't it time to get some payback?
And Konoha couldn't possibly handle all the refugees, so...
Uzushiogakure was doing a good deed!!
"Also, remember, troublemakers and those with criminal records are not to be taken. But give them some food and send them to Konoha!" Uzumaki Jun thought for a moment and said, "Tell them Konoha is a place full of love and harmony. They will be welcomed there."
"..."
Uzumaki Kai was speechless upon hearing Lord Jun's words and cautiously said, "Is... is this really okay?"
"It's fine. We're helping Konoha recruit talent. After all, troublemakers are usually capable people."
"What if they're not capable?"
"...Konoha will deal with them."
"Yes!" In the end, Uzumaki Kai still nodded. They would just direct people to Konoha. Whether Konoha accepted them or not...
What did it have to do with Uzushiogakure?
Just then...
"Lord Jun, Konoha's ninjas have been spotted."
A jonin ran over and reported respectfully.
...
"A seven-year-old Kage-level!!" Uzumaki Mito held the intelligence report in her hand and smiled faintly, murmuring, "It seems Uzushiogakure will not perish."
As a member of the Uzumaki Clan, she had always wanted to help Uzushiogakure, but...
She was already old!!
Now that Uzushiogakure had a Kage-level, and a seven-year-old one at that, she believed Uzushiogakure would grow strong.
"It's been so many years!" Uzumaki Mito shook her head, her face filled with nostalgia. "I wonder how Hashirama is doing down there? That fool..."
"He must be doing well."
"He must have made many new friends again."
"Because that's the kind of person he is..."
"Someone who naturally draws others to him, who makes people believe in him!!"
And...
"It's been so long since I last saw Hashirama. I wonder if he misses me?" Uzumaki Mito smiled, her eyes filled with longing, murmuring, "Konoha... I've been watching over it for you, but..."
"I might be coming to see you soon, Hashirama."
Just then, Mito's attendant interrupted her reminiscence, saying respectfully, "Lady Mito, the Hokage requests an audience."
"..."
Uzumaki Mito fell silent for a moment, then sighed and said helplessly, "Let Saru in!!"