Who is this blond kid?
Uzumaki Jun looked down at the child tugging on his sleeve—a malnourished blond boy with a skinny body and big, innocent eyes staring up at him...
What's the meaning of this?
Why isn't he lining up for porridge? Why come here instead?
Could it be that he couldn't squeeze into the line and, seeing that Jun had red hair, decided to try pulling strings?
"Big brother, is what they're saying true?" the child asked curiously, looking up.
What's true?
The free porridge?
Uzumaki Jun smiled and nodded. "Of course it's true. Why aren't you lining up? Aren't you afraid it'll run out?"
However, upon hearing Jun's words, the child pouted unhappily. "Who's asking about that? I mean the job recruitment."
"Oh, you mean that!" Jun's eyes instantly lit up. It seemed the advertising was working well if people were coming to ask about it. "Of course it's true. Food and lodging are provided. The Land of Whirlpools—this company... no, this country—has pretty good benefits. Especially once you become a citizen of the Land of Whirlpools, you'll even get holiday bonuses."
"Then..." The child seemed happy and asked shyly, "Do you hire kids?"
"..."
So that's what he wanted to ask!
Jun immediately understood as he looked at the malnourished child before him and nodded. "Of course we do. The Land of Whirlpools has an orphanage—a place full of love!"
"The director is kind and caring, the conditions inside are great, you can eat your fill every day, and there are even teachers to educate you."
"What do you think of me?" Jun smiled as he looked at the child.
"Hmm..." The child gave Jun a once-over and thought for a moment. "Not great."
"..."
Kids these days are so rude!
Jun maintained his smile. "Don't just look at how handsome and confident I am now. Back then, I..."
"Was just a refugee in the Land of Rain!"
"Really?" The child looked up skeptically, as if saying, Don't lie to me.
Mom, Dad...
Forgive me, but I need to reel people in!
"Of course!" Jun smiled, tilting his head at a 45-degree angle as if reminiscing. "I still remember—it was a cold, hungry, stormy night."
"I wandered alone through the Land of Rain, lost. The cold and hunger gnawed at my body. I walked and walked until finally..."
"I collapsed." Jun's tone turned sorrowful. "As my consciousness faded, I thought—at such a young age, before I could even contribute to the world..."
"I was going to die just like that."
"But then, a shinobi with a spiral forehead protector picked me up. That warm, comforting embrace—I still remember it to this day!" His tone suddenly shifted to one of hope. "Later, I joined the Land of Whirlpools and felt love there..."
"Slowly, I regained my confidence and found my purpose in life."
"..."
The child looked at Jun suspiciously, as if saying, I may not have read many books, but I'm not blind!
You have red hair!
Seeming to notice the child's doubt, Jun continued smiling. "As for the red hair, that's natural. You have to believe me—I really was an orphan."
"The Land of Whirlpools is really great."
"Why wait to sign up?"
With that, Jun quickly took the child's hand and led him to Uzumaki Kai. "Kai-sama, this child is here to register."
Hearing Jun's form of address, Kai felt a headache coming on... He gave Jun a speechless look. Though he was confused by Jun's actions, as a shinobi, acting was a required skill. He immediately put on a serious face. "Mhm. Name?"
"Yakushi Nonō!" the child answered timidly.
"Age!" Kai continued questioning, not noticing Jun's stunned expression as he stared at the child.
"Seven."
"Gender."
Before Yakushi Nonō could answer...
"You're a girl?!" Jun exclaimed in shock, staring at her. The name Yakushi Nonō was all too familiar.
The legendary "Walking Nun," the future second head of Konoha's Medical Department, and the foster mother of Kabuto—the one who instigated the Fourth Shinobi World War!
There were two infamous incidents involving Konoha...
The first was forcing a brother to slaughter his own clan, then not allowing his younger brother to seek revenge. After a round of "love and peace," Sasuke immediately repented, deciding to become Konoha's shadow, silently protecting the village for the sake of his best friend...
The other was...
Kabuto. Forcing him to kill his only family, then not allowing him to take revenge. In the end, after a series of bizarre manipulations, an impromptu Izanami made him realize the error of his ways. Then, a round of "fists of love" made Kabuto regain his true self, return to Konoha, and dedicate his life to the village...
In other words, Konoha was just that stubborn. No matter what, if you did something against the village, you were in the wrong. As for Konoha's higher-ups...
This is all for Konoha, for the village!
How could they possibly be wrong?
The fault lies with you!
And these talented rogue ninja...
All of them still love Konoha deep down!
In the end, they all silently dedicate themselves to the village!
Reading this part, Jun couldn't help but feel a headache. Had they all been put under genjutsu? After reaching such extremes, they were all beaten up and instantly repented, spending the rest of their lives serving their enemies...
Are they masochists or what?
But now...
Jun's eyes gleamed. Maybe the Land of Whirlpools could have two heads for its Medical Department and orphanage directors?
These are all talented people!
Especially Kabuto—early on, he was a science prodigy. Later, after a "skin change," he made the entire shinobi world call him daddy...
So, recruit them, absolutely recruit them!
"How did you know?" Yakushi Nonō looked at Jun in surprise. "How could you tell I'm a girl?"
"..."
That was a profound question.
Should he tell her it was because of her name?
"I guessed. You're so petite, you must be a girl!" Jun laughed it off. "Register first, register first!"
"Mhm!" Nonō nodded and looked at Kai. "There are other kids too. Will you take them?"
"We'll take them, of course!" Jun nodded. "The Land of Whirlpools is short on people. We'll take as many as we can get. Where are they?"
Nonō thought for a moment before deciding to speak up. "They're hiding in a cave."
"..."
Jun naturally understood what "hiding" meant. It seemed Nonō had come out to look for food and told the others to hide so they wouldn't be harmed. He smiled. "No problem. The Land of Whirlpools can arrange an escort. You can request that our shinobi go with you to bring them back."
"Really?" Nonō's eyes instantly brightened. She then turned to Kai with a hopeful look, as if asking, Is what this red-haired kid said true?
Kai, feeling another headache, nodded. Yes, it was true—he had just added that rule. He waved over a shinobi behind him. "Go with this little girl and bring everyone back. Make sure nothing goes wrong."
He wasn't sure if it was just his imagination, but he suddenly felt that Jun-sama was particularly interested in this blond girl...
Could it be...
Sigh—the affairs of those above are best left uninvestigated by a mere jōnin like me!