"..."
Uzumaki Jun looked blankly at Sarutobi Hiruzen, wondering what matter the old monkey had come to find him about.
So it was to want the Akatsuki organization to remain neutral!
But...
He had never intended for the Akatsuki organization to appear in the first place!
You must know, the Akatsuki organization currently only has two members, one is the God of Shinobi who ties with anyone, and the other is Pain of the Deva Path. So...
What does it matter whether they remain neutral or not?
Kakuzu is the Minister of Finance of the Land of Whirlpools, and he is the Daimyo of the Land of Whirlpools.
This is interesting. If you hadn't mentioned it, I would have almost forgotten that the Land of Whirlpools still has 'allies'.
Uzumaki Jun narrowed his eyes, looked at Sarutobi Hiruzen, and said lightly, "That is impossible. Although our Akatsuki organization is unwilling to participate in the wars between hidden villages, the Akatsuki organization has always been committed to finding a path that can lead the entire shinobi world to peace."
"And the Land of Whirlpools..."
"Is the only hope we have seen in all these years."
Uzumaki Jun shook his head...
"We will not give up."
"We know that. We learned a bit during the recent siege by the Goddess Alliance." Sarutobi Hiruzen took a puff of his cigarette and said with a smile, "That truly is a great path!"
It's just that no hidden village wishes to see it succeed, as it not only threatens the authority of the Daimyo's court but also threatens each Kage's control over their shinobi!
"But..."
One cannot put it that way.
Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at Pain of the Deva Path, his expression serious, and said, "The success of this path is far too difficult."
Or rather...
This path means opposing the entire shinobi world!
"A single misstep could lead to a fatal fall."
"This is the meaning of the Akatsuki organization's existence." Pain of the Deva Path looked deeply at Sarutobi Hiruzen, his eyes filled with determination, and said, "As long as we can bring a sliver of peace to this chaotic shinobi world, what does death matter!!"
Anyway, no one knows. If he doesn't boast a little, how will others feel reverence?
So...
Their Akatsuki organization is just that great!
"..."
I almost believed it.
Really!!
If you weren't everywhere selling arms, I would have almost believed it.
Maintaining peace in the shinobi world?
Hah!!
Sarutobi Hiruzen wore a smile on his face, but his heart was full of curses. Looking at this immovable Akatsuki organization that seemed willing to live or die with the Land of Whirlpools, he sighed inwardly. If it weren't for the fact that this Rinnegan before him was too powerful, who would care?
According to the descriptions from the shinobi who fought for Frostmourne last time, this Pain of the Deva Path...
Possesses strength on par with the God of Shinobi!!
"But what if the Land of Whirlpools cannot succeed?" Sarutobi Hiruzen took a puff of his cigarette, narrowed his eyes, and looked at the Akatsuki organization, saying, "The alliance of the Five Great Shinobi Villages is not something a mere small country can withstand."
A mere small country...
What could they possibly use to stop the shinobi armies of the Five Great Shinobi Villages?
Hearing Sarutobi Hiruzen's words, Uzumaki Jun said nothing but turned his Rinnegan eyes to gaze quietly at him...
Cannot withstand it?
Truly worthy of being the strongest Hokage!
So ignorant!!
In the anime, Boss Madara, facing eighty thousand shinobi, had already used his peerless dance skills to illustrate one truth...
These pieces of trash...
He could fight eighty thousand of them!!
So...
He, Uzumaki Jun...
A man with a system, a mere eighty thousand? He wants to fight a hundred thousand!
"..."
So there's no room for negotiation?
Sarutobi Hiruzen frowned, thought for a moment, and said, "What if all five great nations introduce your Akatsuki organization's Red Thought?"
"If the Akatsuki organization is willing to remain neutral, I will report to the Daimyo and have him designate an area as your experimental zone."
"And I will also promote agreement from other hidden villages and countries."
He took a puff of his cigarette, a smile on his face...
"After all, that is a great policy not inferior to the God of Shinobi's One Nation, One Village system. I believe the Daimyo of the Land of Fire would be very willing to give it a try!"
"Konoha also wishes to contribute its own share of strength to the peace of the shinobi world!"
Before understanding the true situation of the Akatsuki organization, they would not act rashly. Moreover, once the Land of Whirlpools is destroyed...
Without that Land of Whirlpools as a backing, how could a single peerless powerhouse hope to defeat the Five Great Shinobi Villages?
So...
For now, they can only wait!!
They would have a chance to understand the true situation of the Akatsuki organization only after it moved its base to their territory. After all, the Akatsuki organization is different from the Goddess Alliance; they have been staying in the Land of Whirlpools all along.
"Of course." Sarutobi Hiruzen put down his smoking pipe and said, "If the Akatsuki organization agrees this time, Konoha will also purchase a large batch of military equipment from you, and even..."
"I will, in my capacity as Hokage, propose to the other hidden villages that they also purchase from the Akatsuki organization."
"..."
Buy arms??
Hearing Sarutobi Hiruzen's words, a glint flashed in Uzumaki Jun's eyes...
Buying military equipment from the enemy...
Tsk, tsk!!
How can the Five Great Shinobi Villages possibly win like this?
As for the experimental zone...
He ignored it, because...
He often makes empty promises himself, and probably these Five Great Shinobi Villages are secretly planning how to destroy the Akatsuki organization anyway!
So...
"How much do you need?"
No matter what...
The Akatsuki organization will not participate. Might as well make a profit early on～
...
May, 43rd Year of Konoha.
The Five Great Shinobi Villages simultaneously issued a declaration to the shinobi world...
Because the Land of Whirlpools refused to return the defected shinobi of each village, violating the Shinobi Village Treaty and the Shinobi Code, in order to protect the peace of the shinobi world and safeguard the interests of the major shinobi villages, they formally declared war on the Land of Whirlpools.
Land of Whirlpools.
When the war was officially announced, the atmosphere within the country was still somewhat heavy.
After all, these are the Five Great Shinobi Villages!
They did not know in their hearts if the Land of Whirlpools could succeed. Everyone worked numbly and confusedly. Some even began packing their belongings, planning to leave.
Although in the Land of Whirlpools they could eat their fill, stay warm, and earn money through their own labor, but...
They were still afraid of death.
Moreover, over the past few years, they had saved up some money. Couldn't they go to any other country and live well?
For safety...
They could just go to a major city in one of the five great nations then.
Due to the impact of the war, most people had no mind to work or attend classes...
So, when the war came, the Land of Whirlpools went on vacation!
The end date is unknown～
"Work has stopped everywhere, right?" Uzumaki Jun stretched and said, "How many people have left the Land of Whirlpools?"
"Approximately ten thousand people." Uzumaki Hibiki adjusted his glasses and said, "Basically, they are all migrant workers. Although life was a bit hard in their original villages, they could still get by. And this time, they earned money in the Land of Whirlpools. Even if they return, their lives will probably improve, so they felt it unnecessary to stay here and wait for death."
A cold smile appeared at the corner of his mouth...
"What a bunch of shameless people!"
When they were in difficulty, it was the Land of Whirlpools that sheltered them, gave them work, let them eat their fill and stay warm. Now they actually want to take the money earned in the Land of Whirlpools to live a good life in another country? If it weren't for Lord Jun telling them to pay no mind, he would have wanted to arrest all those people and make them move bricks.
Without pay!!
"Not bad." Hearing Uzumaki Hibiki's words, Uzumaki Jun nodded and said with a smile, "Not many."
He did not feel regret over the departure of these fence-sitters...
They enjoyed the conveniences brought by the country but thought about leaving when the country was in danger. It's better for these people to leave early.
Staying would only be a calamity!
And he believed that after this, the cohesion of the Land of Whirlpools' citizens would surely reach a new level.
After all...
Could the mere Five Great Shinobi Villages destroy the Land of Whirlpools?
Don't joke around.
This victory will make the citizens of the Land of Whirlpools hold their heads high, because...
The Land of Whirlpools is not weaker than the five great nations!!
"What about the military equipment?" Uzumaki Jun pondered for a moment and said, "The military equipment needed by the Five Great Shinobi Villages should have all been delivered, right?"
"It has all been delivered." Uzumaki Hibiki nodded and said, "All other factories have stopped work, but the military equipment factories have not."
"The workers there hope to make more weapons during this time to help the Land of Whirlpools."
Uzumaki Hibiki showed a helpless smile at this point and said, "There are also some other factories. They hope to be able to help the Land of Whirlpools."
"They even formed a workers' team themselves, saying they hope the country can assign them some tasks."
"Some even donated money, purchased supplies, and sent them to the military department, wanting to contribute their own strength in this war!"
This was what comforted Uzumaki Hibiki; most people still loved the Land of Whirlpools!
"Is that so?" Uzumaki Jun shook his head helplessly, showing a slight smile, and said, "Supplies can be accepted, but forget about the money. That's a matter of principle."
"And..."
Uzumaki Jun looked at Uzumaki Hibiki with confidence...
"The Land of Whirlpools will definitely be victorious."
He just wondered what the workers in the military equipment factories would think if they knew the tools they made were sold to the Five Great Shinobi Villages...
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