Warlock Invasion of Naruto.

The reason why the Daimyo of the Land of Wind dared to cut the funding of Sunagakure was because he had already delegated many tasks to Konoha.

As for whether doing so would make Sunagakure weaker and Konoha stronger, that's not something the Daimyo of the Land of Wind should be concerned with.

Konoha boasts the most elite ninjas in the world, the highest mission success rate, and the best service, all at reasonable prices.

No matter how much money they give, Sunagakure will still be defeated, so they might as well just give up.

The Ninja World War was essentially caused by the disparity in the distribution of resources among the nations. For example, the Land of Fire already possessed the best land in the Ninja World, which was not something that could be won in a short time, but missions could.

By seizing the mission market and accepting missions from other countries, the funding for other ninja villages is reduced, naturally creating a vicious cycle: the number of ninjas decreases, ninjas don't receive enough mission training, their quality declines, thus reducing the mission success rate, and then the number of missions decreases even further.

When the number of ninjas is reduced to the point that it threatens the very foundation of the ninja village, it is better to start a ninja world war and trade lives for lives than to have these ninjas change professions.

No matter how much the daimyo of various countries cut back on funding, they will basically be forced to support the ninja villages' wars during wartime.

The most obvious examples are Sunagakure and Kirigakure. Apart from missions involving national secrets, the Daimyo would delegate some missions to villages in other countries when assigning tasks.

Moreover, merchants from different countries don't care about the fate of their countries or ninja villages. They entrust missions to whichever village has the highest success rate, best reputation, strongest capabilities, and most favorable prices. They have money anyway, and even if their own country is destroyed, they can simply transfer their assets and join another country.

In the early stages of the Vortex Clan's reconstruction, it mainly relied on the commercial and trade funds of the Serpent Spirit Group for operation, while also accepting a small number of missions.

Now that the Hidden Mist Village has been defeated and the Uchiha clan has relocated, the Land of Whirlpools will definitely try to take over the mission market. Missions in the Land of Water are mainly assigned to Konoha and Kumogakure, with a small number being commissioned to the Uzumaki clan.

With the reconstruction of the Land of Whirlpools and the increase in its strength and prestige, it will inevitably seize the missions that originally belonged to Konoha and Kumogakure.

In his letter inviting Hakuba to the Five Kage Summit, the Third Hokage, A, also vaguely mentioned this matter.

The Cloud Village's brutes dared to challenge the Third Hokage and bully Konoha, but they didn't dare to put on airs with Bai Yu.

Because he couldn't beat either Kushina or Shiraha.

More importantly, the Uzumaki clan's territory is so small, even if you manage to conquer it, what will you gain?

If pushed too far, Kushina could unleash the Nine-Tails on Kumogakure's territory, and the consequences would be unimaginable.

The Eight-Tails has repeatedly emphasized that it is no match for the fully evolved Nine-Tails, so the Cloud Village, which loves to use violence and threats, prefers to reason with Shiraha and Kushina.

After getting dressed, Bai Yu left the underground laboratory and headed straight for the office building in the center of the clan's territory.

Kushina, dressed in an orange suit, was intently working on her documents at her desk.

Noticing the commotion, Kushina glanced up and saw it was Shiraha before lowering her head to continue working on the documents.

Once Bai Yu reached Kushina from behind, she finally spoke, "Have you finished your work, busy lady?"

Bai Yu reached out and massaged Kushina's shoulders, smiling as he said, "Aren't you usually slacking off? Why are you here so early today to work on documents?"

Basically, when he's at home, aside from training and necessary experiments, he handles most of the paperwork. Kushina is the type to slack off; she would never be this diligent.

"Don't try to shift the blame first. Who left a ton of unfinished business and then barged into the lab?"

Kushina gave a soft hum.

Bai Yu increased the pressure of her kneading: "Is this force okay?"

"Hmm~!" Kushina's reaction said it all.

Snapped!

Kushina quickly stopped processing the documents, slapped Shiraha's hand, and said, "It's broad daylight, be serious, and there are people next door!"

Bai Yu smiled and said, "This isn't something you would normally say."

"What nonsense are you talking about? Don't disturb me while I'm working on my documents," Kushina retorted.

Bai Yu: "Okay, I'm planning to discuss the Five Kage Summit with you."

Kushina: "Anyway, negotiation is something you're good at, so of course you should go. You can bring a few guards at most. If you want to bring Chiho, you don't need to tell me specifically."

"But what if I want to go with you?"

Bai Yu drawled out the sound.

"With me?" Kushina was taken aback.

"Just the two of us, we're not bringing anyone else."

Bai Yu added that Guangzi is alright, but Taiyi has truly reached the age where he is hated by everyone, even by the Nine-Tailed Fox.

He couldn't understand how Taiyi could meditate first every day, then do physical exercise, and still have endless energy, as if he never got tired.

Clearly, his overall talent is not as good as Photon's, but his physical talent is not to be underestimated.

In order to lay a good foundation for Taiyi, Baiyu is currently only letting him focus on the training of a sorcerer, and has not yet taught him things like the Knight's Breathing Technique and Secret Weapons.

After all, Taiyi's training environment and conditions far surpassed his own back then, so there was no need for him to engage in training like the Knight Breathing Technique, which squeezes out potential and lifespan.

Compared to Taichi, whose personality is very similar to Kushina's, Mitsuko's personality is more like Shiraha's. She has a high degree of self-discipline and basically doesn't need him to supervise her training.

Kushina's face lit up with joy upon hearing this, but she then shook her head and said, "I'm afraid that won't work. We need to leave someone to guard the clan for safety."

Bai Yu said, "You forgot, the situation is different now. Many Jonin from the Uchiha clan have joined us, and with Chiho and Shisui staying behind, they are more than capable of handling most situations. If you're still worried, just have the Nine-Tails clone leave some chakra to guard the area, and that will ensure everything goes smoothly."

"So I'll attend the Five Shadows Conference with you?"

"Yes."

"Just the two of us, not bringing anyone else?"

“Of course, my king.”

"Great!"

Kushina jumped up from her seat and, like an octopus, used both her arms and legs to hug Shiraha.

Since she and Bai Yu left Konoha to rebuild the Uzumaki clan, the farthest place she has ever been in all these years is a small island not far from the East Blue. When Bai Yu is away, she has to fulfill her responsibilities as the head of the Uzumaki clan, making sure that all clan members see her every day and giving them a sense of security.

Kushina could only show her childlike side with Shiraha, and she hadn't had the chance to travel with Shiraha like that for many years.

Bai Yu patted Kushina on the back, saying that she had worked hard all these years.

He will likely spend most of his time in the clan from now on, since the time required to advance from level two to level three is probably longer than the time it takes for him to advance from apprentice to level two. Of course, this time is considered long for someone with Bai Yu's high cultivation speed, but in the wizarding world, it is ridiculously fast.

If there are any special opportunities during the process, or if Rank finds the Grell Stone vein in advance, which can greatly improve the purity of his bloodline, it may shorten the advancement process.

In any case, Bai Yu and Kushina's strength has already surpassed the Kage level. He doesn't know how strong Hashirama and Madara were at their peak, but he knows that in the current ninja world, probably no one can withstand a combination of punches from the couple.

However, steady development is Bai Yu's habit, and there is no need for him to become arrogant.

......

The words are divided into two parts.

After being covered by the powerful Dragon Vein Chakra, Uchiha Issei felt as if his body was caught in a vortex, with an invisible force pulling at his body from all directions. However, thanks to the protection of his own chakra, his body was not injured.

Soon, amidst a feeling of weightlessness, "Uchiha Issei's" body appeared from the spatial vortex.

"Ok?"

By the time Uchiha Issei came to his senses, his body was already in mid-air, then plummeted straight down.

Below me was a dense forest, and ahead of me were large buildings.

Seeing this, Uchiha Issei immediately covered his feet with chakra, and as he descended to the treetop, he used his feet to gain leverage and stood steadily on the treetop.

However, his expression suddenly became strange.

"This is... Konoha Village's training ground?" Uchiha Issei was stunned for a moment, realizing that he had come directly from the depths of the desert in the Land of Wind to Konoha Village under the power of the Dragon Vein.

After all, it was the village where he had lived for more than ten years. Although everything seemed unfamiliar, he remembered the location of the Hokage Rock very clearly.

"Uchiha Issei" awakens the Mangekyou Sharingan, and with his powerful dynamic vision, even the Hokage Rock in the distance becomes clear.

"One, two, three... seven?!"

Uchiha Issei was stunned. Wasn't it supposed to be about traveling back in time? How come there's already a seventh Hokage in Konoha?

"Have I traveled to the future? Or...?"

Uchiha Issei was somewhat surprised and uncertain. The key was that in his world, his connection with his original body was faint, but he did not sense the presence of his original body.

"Could it be that at this point in the future, the original body has already undergone interdimensional travel?"

Based on the appearance of the relief sculpture on the Hokage Rock, it can be deduced that the Fifth Hokage is Tsunade, the Sixth Hokage is Kakashi, and "Uchiha Issei" is not sure who the Seventh Hokage is, after all, the carving level of the Hokage Rock is too bad. He can only guess based on hairstyle and appearance. Tsunade and Kakashi's appearance features are more obvious, so he can recognize them.

Even if each Hokage serves for several decades, only a little over a hundred years have passed by the time of the Seventh Hokage. In that time, the original body may have advanced to the third level, but the probability of advancing to the fourth level is not high. Moreover, even if the original body were to advance to the fourth level, given the stability of the original body and the strength of a Star-level expert, it would likely take a long time to strengthen itself and would not easily engage in interdimensional travel.

Uchiha Issei thought to himself, but decided to go into Konoha first to find out what was going on.

With that in mind, "Uchiha Issei" used the Transformation Jutsu and walked towards the main street of Konoha.

However, what he didn't know was that when he first appeared inside Konoha, although the barrier team ninjas didn't notice him, two special ninjas in Konoha simultaneously sensed his chakra.

At this moment, in the Hokage's office.

Naruto, who has become the Seventh Hokage, and Sasuke, the Hokage's advisor, are discussing matters concerning the Kara organization.

---Aside---

P.S.: Due to unforeseen circumstances, I failed to make up for the missed update. I'll explain in detail after I've dealt with this matter in the next few days. Ugh... so annoying.

10399774

[Chapter 223. Shocking News (217)]

"Sasuke, regarding the Kara organization, investigate..."

Sitting behind the Hokage's desk, Naruto Uzumaki asked in a deep voice. Compared to his impulsive and reckless youth, he had become more and more calm and composed in his thirties.

The kid who used to always clamor for everyone's approval has now truly become the Seventh Hokage of Konoha.

However, the job of Hokage is not easy. The complex and tedious work often leaves him with no time to go home, and he often works overtime all night.

He cares more about Konoha and the ninja world than about his own family.

Standing before him was Sasuke, clad in a black robe. Since being stopped by Naruto, Sasuke had also given up his revenge and resolved to become the man behind Naruto, helping him protect Konoha and the ninja world. Over the years, Sasuke had been investigating the whereabouts of the Otsutsuki clan in various places.

Perhaps a Naruto advisor like him is the true embodiment of the 'unsung hero behind the scenes'.

"Based on the intelligence we have so far, the members of the Kara organization include Kashin Koji, Boro, Victor, Delta, and Kaud, among others. The leader is a man named Jigen. We can't send Jigen to contact the Otsutsuki clan, but there isn't much information about Jigen at the moment. We need to find a way to get information from Kawaki. If necessary, we should... um?"

Sasuke was reporting the information he had gathered to Naruto when suddenly his expression changed slightly. His left eye, which had been hidden by his bangs, was revealed. The powerful perception of his six-tomoe Rinnegan allowed him to sense the special eye power within the village.

"You sensed it too, Sasuke?" Naruto stood up and said, "The village's barrier is connected to my senses. Someone just passed through the barrier; their chakra was very strong."

"Indeed, they're not weak. Kabuto has already taken in all the clones that Shin Uchiha cultivated and put them in orphanages. Could someone have escaped?"