(A/N):
Drop a meme here that you find funny. Or reflects your mood.
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Uzushiogakure...
Outer Gates...
The sea breeze carried the scent of salt and fresh timber as the gates of Uzushiogakure opened.
Watchtowers stood alert.
Sealing arrays pulsed faintly beneath the ground—hidden, layered, constantly shifting.
Not the same configuration as two days ago.
Not even the same as yesterday.
Kazuma's orders had been executed perfectly.
No outsider would ever see the real layout twice.
A convoy approached.
At its center walked an elderly woman in traditional robes, her posture straight despite her age.
Her presence alone seemed to quiet the air.
Uzumaki Mito.
Beside her walked a young woman with golden hair and sharp eyes—Tsunade.
Trailing slightly behind, looking around with open curiosity, was Nawaki.
Behind them—Konoha's escort.
Sakumo Hatake walked calmly, his gaze sharp and observant.
An Uchiha jōnin scanned the surroundings subtly.
A Hyūga jōnin had already activated his Byakugan once—Only to frown.
The chakra flow beneath the ground didn't make sense.
It shifted. Changed. Rearranged.
Like the village itself was breathing.
Further back—A group moved more quietly.
More rigidly. Root.
And at their center—Danzō Shimura.
His visible eye narrowed slightly. He had already noticed.
This place was not just defended.
It was designed to deceive.
At the gate, Uzumaki guards stood relaxed.
Too relaxed. No hostility. No grand welcome.
Just professionalism. One guard stepped forward.
"Welcome to Uzushiogakure. State your purpose."
Mito stepped forward calmly.
"I am Uzumaki Mito. I have come to meet your leader."
The guard nodded respectfully.
-Nod
"You are expected."
He stepped aside.
"You may enter."
No ceremony. No kneeling. No tension.
Just… entry. As the group walked through the village—The contrast was immediate.
Children played in the streets. Civilians moved freely. Shinobi trained openly.
And among them—Strange sights.
A sealing formation pulsed briefly before fading.
A shadow flickered unnaturally for a moment… then vanished.
Tsunade's eyes narrowed looking around oddly.
"This place… feels different."
Nawaki whispered excitedly.
"It's like a completely different world!"
Mito said nothing. But she was observing everything.
Carefully. Very carefully.
Behind them—The Konoha shinobi attempted to do the same.
The Hyūga activated his Byakugan again. His eyes widened slightly.
"…The chakra network keeps shifting."
Sakumo noticed it too.
"…They're hiding something."
Danzō remained silent.
"...."
But inside—His mind was already working.
Sealing techniques. Dynamic formations.
This was dangerous. Very dangerous. Which should only belong to him under Konoha.
Meanwhile—Far above the village—Unseen by most—Aemma hovered lightly in the air, red eyes watching.
Beside her, Sasami floated calmly.
"They've arrived," Sasami said.
Aemma smirked feeling the hostile gazes from Danzo and his lackeys.
"And they brought spies with them."
Her gaze shifted toward Danzō.
"I don't like that one."
Sasami nodded with a frown on her face.
-Nod
"Leo already anticipated this."
Below them—The village continued as normal.
But every movement.
Every street.
Every formation—Had already been adjusted.
If Konoha tried anything—They would not be walking into Uzushiogakure.
They would be walking into a trap they couldn't even see.
At the center of the village—Kazuma stood waiting.
Beside him—Leo. Calm. Unbothered. As the Senju and Konoha delegation approached.
The moment stretched quietly.
Then—
"Big sister…"
Kazuma's voice softened.
Mito stepped forward.
For a brief second, the weight of politics, war, and shifting powers disappeared.
They embraced. Not as leaders. Not as representatives.
But as family.
Mito's usually composed expression softened just a fraction.
"You've grown," she said quietly.
Kazuma let out a small laugh.
-Haha!
"And you haven't changed at all."
Mito smirked faintly looking at him.
-Smirk!
"I still remember you hiding sweets and blaming the servants."
Kazuma sighed as if remembering a worst nightmare.
"You used to search my room like a war criminal investigation."
"You were obvious."
They separated, the warmth fading as reality returned.
Kazuma turned slightly.
"My lord."
He gestured.
"This is my elder sister… Uzumaki Mito."
Then—He introduced the man standing beside him.
"This is Leo Morningstar… King of Eldoria."
The air changed. Not visibly. But perceptibly.
Mito's gaze shifted to Leo. Sharp. Measured. Experienced.
"...."
She had stood beside Hashirama Senju.
She had contained the Nine-Tails. She had seen monsters.
Men. And everything in between.
She looked at Leo—And found nothing.No overwhelming chakra. No pressure.
No killing intent. Just… A man.
That made her eyes narrow slightly.
That was wrong.
Behind her—Tsunade crossed her arms, studying Leo carefully.
"...."
"...."
"...."
The Konoha jōnin subtly observed.
The Uchiha sharpened his gaze.
The Hyūga activated Byakugan briefly.
Danzō stood still. Watching. Calculating. Suspicious.
And then—
"NICE TO MEET YOU!"
Nawaki burst forward like a cannonball.
"I'M SENJU NAWAKI!"
He extended his hand enthusiastically.
The tension shattered instantly.
Leo blinked once. Then chuckled.
-Blink -Chucke
"Leo."
He shook the boy's hand.
"Try not to challenge me to rock-paper-scissors."
Nawaki tilted his head.
"…Why?"
"You won't like the result."
Kazuma coughed slightly, hiding a smile.
-Cough!
Then Leo's gaze shifted. To Tsunade.
She stepped forward. Golden eyes locked onto his.
No greeting. No hesitation. Just intent.
She grabbed his hand.
Firmly. And squeezed. Hard. A test. A direct one.
Her strength surged instantly.
Enough to crack stone. Enough to shatter bone.
She watched his face closely.
Waiting. For reaction. For strain.
For resistance. But—Nothing changed.
Leo simply stood there.
"...."
Looking at her calmly with an rised eyebrow. Almost amused.
To everyone else—It looked strange.
Tsunade wasn't releasing his hand.
Seconds passed...
Then more. The Konoha jōnin exchanged glances.
"...."
"...."
"...."
"…Why isn't she letting go?"
Nawaki whispered in low voice.
"Is this… a greeting?"
Kazuma smiled faintly. He understood.
Tsunade wasn't holding on. She couldn't overpower him.
Tsunade's grip tightened further. Her eyes narrowed.
She pushed more strength into it.
More. More.
Still—Nothing.
It didn't feel like resisting a person.
It felt like trying to crush something that simply didn't acknowledge her strength at all.
Her grip faltered for a fraction of a second.
Leo tilted his head slightly.
"Are you done? You hand feels soft."
Tsunade immediately let go. Stepping back half a step.
"...."
Her expression remained controlled with a slight blush on her face. But her mind was racing.
That wasn't normal.
Behind her—Mito had seen everything.
Every subtle shift. Every second of that exchange. Her eyes sharpened.
So Kazuma was right.
This man—Was not something that could be measured in chakra alone.
Leo looked around casually.
"Welcome to Uzushiogakure."
His tone was relaxed.
As if this wasn't a meeting between major powers.
As if nothing unusual had just happened. But everyone present knew.
This was not a normal man.
After the introduction the group moved through the village under Kazuma's guidance.
No fanfare. No grand escort. Just quiet efficiency.
A few Uzumaki shinobi walked alongside them, their expressions neutral—professional, but distant.
Not cold. Not hostile. But not warm either.
Mito noticed it immediately.
"...."
Every street they passed… Every building… Every corner of the village held memories.
Children once ran freely here, calling her name.
Elders would greet her with pride,
"Princess of Uzumaki."
Festivals. Laughter. Family.
Now—Those same streets remained alive.
But the warmth toward her… Was gone. Not replaced with hatred. Just… absence.
Like a door quietly closed.
Mito's fingers tightened slightly within her sleeve.
"...."
She did not show it on her face. But she understood.
Trust, once broken, does not shout. It simply withdraws.
Behind her, Tsunade walked silently.
"...."
She felt it too. She had visited this place as a child.
Back then—The Uzumaki treated her like one of their own.
She remembered being given sweets. Being chased by other children.
Being called "little princess."
Now—People glanced at her. Recognized her. Then continued their work.
No smiles. No greetings. Just indifference.
Tsunade's jaw tightened slightly.
'…We did this,' she thought.
Not just the elders. Not just the Hokage.
Konoha.
Nawaki, walking beside her, whispered quietly.
Even through nothing is seems wrong he could still perceive his grandma's and elder sister's mood.
"…Why is everyone acting like that?"
Tsunade didn't answer immediately. Because she knew.
They weren't being rude. They were being careful.
Careful not to trust again.
Eventually, Kazuma stopped before a large, well-prepared residence.
"This will be your lodging during your stay."
The building was spacious.
Clean. Guarded. Everything was arranged properly.
No disrespect. But no special treatment either.
Mito nodded understandingly.
"Thank you."
Kazuma bowed slightly.
"If you require anything, inform the guards."
Then he turned. And left. No lingering conversation. No personal warmth.
Just duty.
Further away—Another compound had been prepared.
Separated. Isolated.
That was where the Konoha jōnin and Root were directed.
Sakumo noticed it immediately.
"…We're being contained."
The Hyūga frowned hearing Sakumo's words.
-Frown!
"The village layout… I can't map it properly."
The Uchiha remained silent, observing.
"...."
Danzō stood still. His visible eye narrowed from his bangs.
"They're not just cautious… they're controlling information."
Root operatives remained expressionless.
But they understood. This was not a friendly visit.
This was controlled exposure.
Back at the guest residence—Mito stood at the veranda.
Looking out over Uzushiogakure.
The sea breeze touched her face.
Memories overlapped with reality.
Past and present colliding.
Tsunade stepped beside her.
"…Grandma."
Mito didn't look at her.
"They are hurt."
Simple. Direct. True.
Tsunade clenched her fists slightly.
"…We should have come earlier."
Mito nodded faintly little sad.
-Nod
"Yes."
Nawaki looked between them, confused.
"…Can't we just fix it?"
Mito finally turned to him. Her expression softened slightly.
"Some things… cannot be fixed quickly."
She looked back at the village.
"But they can be rebuilt."
Her eyes sharpened just a little.
"And that is why we are here."
Mito did not sit. She did not rest. She did not indulge in nostalgia.
The moment she arrived, she moved.
"Call your superior,"
She told the nearby guard. Her tone was calm. But carried weight.
"I wish to formally request a meeting with the current leader… regarding the pact between Uzumaki and Senju."
The guard stiffened slightly. Not out of fear. Out of recognition.
This was not a casual request.
This was history knocking again. He bowed.
"It will be relayed."
And left immediately.
Uzukage Residence...
The guard arrived swiftly.
"Kazuma-sama, Lady Mito has formally requested an audience… regarding the Senju-Uzumaki pact."
Kazuma closed his eyes briefly.
As if confirming something already known.
"…So she's chosen that path."
He had expected it.
Her earlier letter had already hinted at it.
But this—This made it official. He stood up.
"Prepare the meeting hall."
The guard nodded and rushed off.
-Nod
Kazuma didn't move immediately.
Instead, he looked toward the direction of Leo's residence.
His expression turned thoughtful. Because this was no longer just a family matter.
This was now—A negotiation involving Eldoria.
And that meant… Leo.
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(Author's POV)
(A/N): Sorry guys tomorrow I wont be uploading a chapter due to a festival I was about to celebrate and I will be very busy with it.
So if I can I will try to upload the that chapter in Sunday.
(A/N)I hope you guys are enjoying the story.
Thanks for reading the chapter!
Please give areview
And power stone!!!
It will Motivate Me.