Promoting the Konoha threat theory, and talking about the Hidden Mist Belt!

The thought that many of these people might have been traders in Kirigakure before made it even harder for Yagura Karatachi to suppress his murderous intent towards Ren.

"Stop fighting, stop fighting!"

Just then, the sound of a group of children playing by the roadside caught the attention of Hozuki Shingetsu and his group.

The one shouting was a boy being repeatedly beaten while pinned to the ground, and surprisingly, the one beating him was a girl who looked to be the same age as him.

Their bright red hair indicates that they are both pure members of the Uzumaki clan. Judging from their ages, they should both be students at the Uzumaki Village Ninja Academy.

After Tobirama Senju established the Ninja Academy, this model was quickly implemented in various ninja villages, including Uzumaki Village, an ally of Konoha. However, unlike other ninja villages, the students in Uzumaki Village's Ninja Academy were all members of the Uzumaki clan.

"What did you say before? That women are inherently unable to beat men?" The girl straddled the boy, punching him repeatedly in the face, her red ponytail bouncing with each movement, shouting as she hit him. "Now tell me, who's the school bully?"

"You are! You are the boss!"

The boy who was being beaten could not bear the violence for long and quickly gave up.

The girl, who had received a satisfactory answer, stood up and looked disdainfully at the boy who was slumped on the ground.

"You were so arrogant, I thought you were something special, but this is all you've got? Remember what you said, shut your mouth at school, you hear me!"

"Wow, Kushina, you were so cool just now!" Just then, a group of little girls who were watching also surrounded her, praising her like a hero.

"What's wrong, New Moon?"

The group, who had just noticed that it was just a few children fighting, were about to leave when they saw Hozuki Shingetsu standing there, looking thoughtfully in that direction as if he had discovered something.

"Hey you guys, what are you doing here instead of going home after school?"

Children fighting is common, but perhaps because outsiders like Hozuki Shingetsu saw the village in such a sorry state, they felt embarrassed. To avoid "surprised by friendly nations," Uzumaki Oji, who was leading the way, quickly came to the roadside and helped the boy up.

"Kushina Uzumaki, it's you again? Why are you fighting outside of school every day?" Clearly, from Uzumaki Osamu's words, it was evident that the girl who was fighting was also a celebrity.

However, judging from the way Kushina Uzumaki looked up, she clearly did not agree with what Osamu Uzumaki said.

"It has nothing to do with Kushina, he started it all." The group of girls chattered as they recounted what had happened. Basically, the boy had made some rude remarks at school, saying that girls shouldn't go to ninja academies or become ninjas, that girls were inherently no match for boys, and so on.

Then Kushina Uzumaki, who overheard this, cornered him and beat him up.

"Alright, alright, hurry up and apologize to them, then go home!" However, Uzumaki Osamu clearly didn't care about any of that. He only cared about losing face in front of outsiders and wanted to quickly regain it and show off the brotherly harmony of Uzumaki Village in front of them.

"Why should I? I don't think I'm wrong!" Kushina Uzumaki retorted, refusing to back down.

“I also believe that this young lady did nothing wrong.” A gentle voice rang out, and Kushina Uzumaki looked up to find a white-haired boy watching her from a short distance away.

Hozuki Shingetsu stopped Uzumaki Osamu in his tracks, walked over, and looked down at Uzumaki Kushina.

Hozuki Shingetsu leaned over, whispered a few words in Uzumaki Kushina's ear, left her a kunai, and then, without lingering, led everyone away.

Kushina Uzumaki, her face flushed, was left standing there, stunned.

"New Moon, what did you whisper in her ear?" Yukina asked curiously.

"It's nothing, I just said a few simple words that came to mind."

Hozuki Shingetsu smiled slightly and repeated his words amidst the puzzled looks of the crowd.

"You are the most beautiful girl from the land of whirlpools I have ever seen."

"Your eyes are just like the stars in my hometown."

"May I know your name?"

"This is a gift I'm leaving for you."

Chapter 41 The Thunder and Earth Alliance Arrive

"Lolicon?"

After glancing at Kushina Uzumaki, who was still standing in the distance, the group remained silent for a while before Yagura Karatachi broke the silence.

Yukinagi, standing to the side, lowered her head and compared her own figure, a look of resentment on her face.

On the other side, Uzumaki Osamu was preparing to remind Uzumaki Kushina and the others after sending them back to the embassy district. Although he had scolded them a few times because he was embarrassed, it didn't mean he could accept a lolicon making such ill-intentioned contact with them!

"Ahem... What nonsense are you talking about? Who's a lolicon! I just thought that girl was cute and couldn't help but lend her a hand."

Hozuki Shingetsu choked on his saliva, his face turning red.

“Indeed, if we define it strictly, Nagi’s age is what qualifies as a loli, while that child is just a little girl.” Yagura Karatachi nodded in agreement, correcting his own words.

Doesn't that make it sound even worse?

Hozuki Shingetsu noticed the increasingly strange looks from those around him and, speechless, decided to let the matter cool down for the time being.

"Actually, if you like, Shingetsu, I've recently improved my Transformation Technique, I can..." Yukinagi looked at Hozuki Shingetsu and couldn't help but say it.

"..."

Hozuki Shingetsu was speechless and could only keep walking forward with his head down.

In fact, the reason why Hozuki Shingetsu said those words to Uzumaki Kushina was not only because his current status as a foreigner made him feel emotional on a whim, but also because it was related to his next plan, which was to use Uzumaki Kushina as a medium to gain the support of the Uzumaki clan.

To win over the Uzumaki clan, at the very least, there needs to be a mutually trusted intermediary, and since ancient times, marriage has always been the best method. Of course, the Uzumaki clan wouldn't form a marriage alliance with Hozuki Shingetsu without a reason; how exactly to achieve this goal will depend on Hozuki Shingetsu's next moves.

-

A day's journey from the Land of Whirlpools, in a secluded cave within the territory of the small country of the Land of the Rising Sun, lies the temporary encampment of the Thunder and Earth Alliance.

In order to wipe out Uzushio Village in one fell swoop, both sides dispatched a total of more than 500 people, which was basically the maximum number that could ensure they would not be discovered along the way. Even so, it was impossible for the allied forces to sneak into the Land of Whirlpools without anyone noticing. They were already very lucky to have arrived here undetected.

It's one thing for a small group of troops to cross the border, but if several hundred people can cross the border and Wochao Village still doesn't know, then that's just too disrespectful.

Of these 500 people, a third were Jonin, demonstrating the determination of the two villages to seize the Tailed Beast Sealing Technique.

Despite their formidable strength, the Uzumaki clan only numbered a little over a thousand people, which was already an extremely large population. The Uchiha clan, on the other hand, had only four or five hundred members. And after deducting the elderly, women, and children, there were only four or five hundred capable fighters left, among whom there were probably only a few dozen Jonin.

The disparity in strength is so great that, barring any unforeseen circumstances, Uzushio Village will soon become history.

"People from Konoha and Kirigakure? Why are they here?" Hunter, the leader of the Iwagakure forces, frowned as he stared at the intelligence report in his hand, carefully considering the logic behind it.

"Why so many whys!" Modibi, the leader of the Cloud Village forces and the B of the modern-day "AB combination," interrupted Hunter's thoughts.

"All I know is that, regardless of whether there is any conflict between Konoha and Kirigakure, and regardless of whether the news is true or false, both sides have now brought their troops here. In another day, we will reach the border of the Land of Whirlpools. If we do not want to retreat here, then we only have one action to take next."

Moody slammed his hand on the table, his eyes wide: "Destroy Whirlpool Village!"

"Destroy Uzushio Village!"

Behind them, a group of burly men with bare arms waved their arms and cheered excitedly.

"What a bastard!"

Hunter frowned. If it weren't for Onoki's orders, he really wouldn't want to fight alongside these muscle-bound barbarians from the highlands. But it was for the best; let the elders of the Uzumaki clan deal with these brainless idiots! Presumably, the power of "Dead Demon Seal" would cure their idiocy.

"My lord, we've been discovered! The men have been killed, but the message may have already been sent out."

Just then, a ninja from Iwagakure came to report that their whereabouts had been exposed.

As a major trading town in the eastern part of the continent, Uzushio Village naturally takes on some escort missions for merchant caravans. Just now, a Uzumaki ninja's sensory ninjutsu discovered their presence here—there's no way around it, the chakra fluctuations of these hundreds of people are just too conspicuous. It's already a miracle that they've managed to get here undetected.

Judging from the reaction of the Uzumaki clan ninja, he had clearly realized that this group's target was Uzushio Village. After all, apart from Uzushio Village, which was worth hundreds of people hiding here, there was no need for other small countries to send so many people, and Kirigakure was not something that could be taken down by such a small number of people.

"We've been discovered... Then there's no need to hide anymore, let's head straight for Vortex Village!" Lie Huoran stood up and looked in the direction of Vortex Village.

Being discovered here means that the intention of the surprise attack has been exposed, so all that's left is a quick attack. We need to take down Uzushio Village before Konoha can react.

"Attack!" Mudibi excitedly gave the order.

Following their orders, the ninjas filed out of the cave and rushed towards Uzushio Village.

-

Soon, Wochao Village received the news.

"Clan leader, clansmen have discovered traces of a large number of ninjas in the Land of Jugo, estimated to be four or five hundred. The exact identities of the enemies are unknown, but judging from their chakra levels, about a third of them should be Jonin-level."

"Seal off the village immediately, everyone assemble!" Takumi Uzumaki suddenly stood up, his eyes revealing a fierce glint.

Identity?

With so many Jonin, it's no surprise they came from the Five Great Nations.

Konoha is an ally and can be disregarded. Kirigakure wouldn't attack at this time unless Hozuki Shingetsu were killed. That leaves only the Wind, Earth, and Lightning clans. And whichever one of them, it would be a catastrophe for Uzushio Village.

"Have the Grand Elder send men immediately to the border of the Land of Whirlpools to try and stop the enemy's offensive!" Takumi Uzumaki issued the order methodically.

"Go to Konoha immediately and ask for help. Tell him about the attack on Uzushio Village, emphasizing Uzushio Village's importance to Konoha! And remember to see Mito and tell her about our situation here."

"Immediately gather the talented children in the village and protect them! If anything changes, these will be the hope of my Whirlpool Clan!"

Chapter 42 Hozuki Shingetsu's Backup Plan

"Wait a moment!"

Suddenly remembering something, Takumi Uzumaki solemnly called out to the man who had been ordered to go to Konoha, instructing him, "Speed ​​up! You must reach Konoha before the common people, and then stop him!"

Uzumaki Furuto was the one who was previously sent to Konoha to warn them against making any trouble in the Land of Whirlpools, and then to discuss how to eliminate Hozuki Shingetsu.

Hundreds of elite troops may seem formidable, but with the Uzumaki clan's long-term management, delaying them for three to five days is not difficult. As long as they can wait for Konoha's reinforcements, Uzumaki Village can successfully turn the tide.

Therefore, in this situation, we must not afford to have a falling out with Konoha, let alone turn against Kirigakure. So we must stop Uzumaki Furuto before he arrives in Konoha!

"Yes!"