Chapter 135 - Protection

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The war had come to a temporary end. Akio sat cross-legged, recovering his chakra.

All the Shadow Clones he had deployed had been dispelled and recalled. He had also summoned Katsuyu to heal his clansmen, leaving him with only a small amount of chakra remaining.

The uninjured members of the Uzumaki clan were cleaning up the battlefield. To Akio's relief, his clansmen had changed somewhat after experiencing the war—their spirit and energy were noticeably different. But there was sorrow as well. In this war, the Uzumaki had lost over seventy members—most of them before Akio made it back.

It had been many years since the Uzumaki clan had suffered such heavy casualties.

There were many injured too, though fortunately none had wounds so severe as to cause permanent disfigurement or loss of limbs.

About an hour later, Izuko came up to Akio.

"Sensei, the battlefield cleanup is complete. Nanako personally sealed the chakra of over a hundred captured enemy ninja. For those who didn't resist… how should we deal with them?"

Akio nodded and stood. Most of his chakra had recovered.

"Detain them for now. We'll bury our fallen first."

Izuko nodded. Once again, the Uzumaki clan held a large-scale funeral—the last time being after the battle with the Kaguya clan.

The funeral took place on the second day after the war. The entire Land of Whirlpools mourned. The ceremony was presided over by Genkai; Akio and his three disciples were not suited to lead such an occasion.

Once the funeral was over, the clan turned its attention to inventorying the spoils of war and post-battle affairs.

Among the loot on the battlefield, aside from standard ninja tools and explosive tags, the most valuable prizes were the three ninja swords confiscated by Jitou.

Akio couldn't clearly remember each one, but after examining their properties, he could roughly recall their names.

They were: the Longsword — Nuibari, the Blunt Sword — Kabutowari, and the Explosive Sword — Shibuki. Akio had no use for them, so he entrusted them to Jitou to distribute as he saw fit. They were counted as Jitou's personal spoils.

Aside from that, the rest of the gains came from the more than one hundred surrendered ninja.

After interrogations, the Uzumaki clan's collection of ninjutsu became significantly more comprehensive. Thanks to Akio, they had already amassed a wide range of ninjutsu—except for Water Release, which he was not skilled in. This time, even that gap was filled.

Akio also made copies of some of the more common jutsu. As for secret Water Release techniques and the like, he didn't bother. He didn't lack for powerful jutsu, and besides, very few among the hundred-plus captured ninja even knew any secret techniques.

Once the interrogations concluded, the issue of how to deal with these ninja became the next priority.

The ninja world didn't really practice slavery. Letting them join the Uzumaki was risky, but executing them all didn't feel right either. After careful consideration, Akio made a decision.

"Let the Mizukage ransom them back. We'll ask for a generous amount of supplies."

Izuko hesitated. "Sensei, what if the Mizukage refuses?"

Akio smiled and shook his head.

"Then tell the captives that the Mizukage doesn't want them back—and release them."

Izuko was stunned. "Release them?" A moment later, she understood and nodded.

"Now then, there's a more important matter—regarding Kumogakure," Akio said slowly. "This time, the Third Raikage, the Two-Tails and Eight-Tails, and most of their elite forces have all been wiped out. Kumogakure may lose its status as one of the Five Great Nations."

"Izuko, have you ever considered relocating the Uzumaki clan there—to become one of the new Five Great Nations?"

Izuko was startled and fell into deep thought.

Beside her, Genkai brightened. "Elder, are we—?"

Nanako gently nudged him. "Genkai, Sensei was asking Izuko."

Akio sighed inwardly. Every clan leader of the Uzumaki seemed to have a strong hunger for power.

Izuko raised her head. "Sensei, I think… we shouldn't. The Uzumaki clan isn't suited to founding a Hidden Village like that. We don't have the right power to support it."

"What do you mean? Don't we have the Elder?" Genkai interjected again.

Akio shook his head.

"External threats aren't a concern. But internally, we might run into trouble."

The awkward reality of the Uzumaki was that they were neither too weak nor too strong. Not strong enough to become an entire village on their own, yet too strong and numerous to fit quietly as just one clan in another village. Just like in Konoha—where they had been shunned for their strength and numbers.

"Besides," Akio said, sighing again, "I'm not invincible…"

His thoughts turned to Madara, hiding underground, and the Sage of Six Paths, lurking in the afterlife. Right now, without using the Eight Gates, he was likely a bit weaker than Madara. With the Gates, slightly stronger—but the outcome was still uncertain. Madara might be old, but now he possessed both Rinnegan.

"Sensei, is there really someone stronger than you?" Jitou asked, puzzled.

Akio smiled. "The shinobi world is vast—no one knows what might be hidden within it."

"Still, even if we can't become one of the Five Great Nations," Akio continued with a chuckle, "we can always control one of them."

"Control?" Genkai's eyes lit up, clearly getting ideas.

"The Daimyō of the Land of Lightning must be very anxious right now," Akio said with a smile. "We can offer him protection... Let's say, seventy percent of his annual revenue."

The group exchanged glances and nodded. It truly was the best option.

In the following days, Akio personally traveled to the Land of Lightning, while Izuko and the others handled matters on the Water Country front.

But something unexpected happened. At the Daimyō's palace, Akio encountered someone who should've been dead—the Eight-Tails' Jinchūriki, Killer B!

"Well now, I didn't expect you to survive. Used a Tailed Beast Tentacle Clone, didn't you?" Akio quickly realized it—Killer B had used this trick in the original story as well.

Killer B looked alert and shouted, "Protect the Daimyō!"

"Akio Uzumaki, are you really planning to wipe us out completely?!"

Akio smiled.

"Relax. I didn't come to start a fight. Even though you survived, I wouldn't chase you all the way to the Land of Lightning just to kill you."

"I'm here to speak with the Daimyō of the Land of Lightning."

"Oh? And what business does the mighty Uzumaki have with me?" the Daimyō asked, not flinching even in the face of Akio, who had nearly annihilated Kumogakure.

"I've come to collect protection fees," Akio said casually. "Surely your country could use some protection from the Uzumaki?"

"Protection?" The Daimyō was taken aback. "What kind of protection can you offer?" The very question showed his lack of confidence.

"Protection from being invaded by the Uzumaki Clan. You'll pay seventy percent of your annual income."

"Are you joking?!" the Daimyō shouted.

Akio nodded. "Yes—and here's another joke: by next month, this palace might just belong to the Land of Whirlpools…"

The Daimyō stiffened and looked toward Killer B. B closed his eyes in resignation. After the recent battle, the Eight-Tails had finally started talking to him. Deep down, he knew that Akio's power was comparable to the legendary God of Shinobi. Not even Kumogakure at its peak could defeat that kind of strength.

In the end, Akio secured a verbal agreement with the Land of Lightning: a "Protection Pact."

He returned, mission accomplished.

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