Chapter 3: Better to Sever This Superficial Brotherhood Sooner Rather than Later!
The first step in a great war is to soothe the people's hearts—after all, when you're drawing upon every last resource of the nation and the clan, any traitor in your midst could cost you your life!!
Before them stood a dazed crowd of citizens, abruptly summoned from every corner. In a small country like ours, gathering everyone was astonishingly simple…
Uzumaki Jun felt a sudden pang in his chest. Though the Whirlpool Country was indeed its own realm, it was far too small. He cast a glance at the clan chief and the daimyo flanking him, swallowed hard, and stepped forward.
The clan chief and daimyo exchanged a look and fell into step behind Jun.
None of the assembled knew why the shinobi had called them—least of all that His Highness Jun would stand before the clan chief and the daimyo!
Could it be… war?!
From the solemn expressions of the elder clansmen, the people sensed something amiss, and an uneasy silence fell.
The clan chief advanced to Jun's left and spoke in a booming voice, "First, on account of our ill-judged decisions that have driven the Whirlpool Country to the brink of annihilation, we offer our deepest apologies." He drew a steady breath, bowed alongside the clan elders, and intoned together, "We are sorry."
"No, no—it isn't the chief's fault."
"Exactly. It's all Kirigakure Village's doing."
"Those rogues are to blame!"
"…"
At their words of forgiveness, tears welled in the clan chief's eyes. He knew it was their own stubbornness—ignoring the counsel of their people in favor of empty promises from outsiders—that had brought them here. And yet, despite everything, his clansmen still trusted him. Clenching his fists, a cold light flashed in his eyes.
Before the crowd's anxious gazes, he said, "Thank you all—for your forgiveness, and for continuing to believe in us."
Wiping his tears away, he lifted his head, expression stern. "Second: from this moment on, every member of the Uzumaki clan will obey Uzumaki Jun's orders. Those who refuse…" His glare swept the crowd. "…will be expelled from the Whirlpool Country and stricken from the clan registry."
In a clan-centered society just emerged from the Warring States era, being struck from the registry was among the harshest punishments imaginable.
A murmur ran through the crowd—but at the clan chief's unwavering gaze, they hushed themselves and waited for his next command.
Sensing calm descending, the daimyo stepped forward. "By my authority as daimyo of the Whirlpool Country, I now hand over governance of our land to Uzumaki Jun. In all matters, in all things—even I will follow his lead."
Though startled once more, the people fell silent again. After all, the clan chief had already made a similar declaration…
"Yes." came the unanimous reply.
Seeing the moment was right, Jun squared his shoulders. Despite his youth, a solemnity settled over his features as he raised his voice: "I'm sure you all know me—I am Uzumaki Jun, first in line to inherit this land. But what I announce now is this: from this instant, I will act as commander in place of the clan chief, and together we will stand against Kirigakure's invasion."
A brief pause.
"When we first heard of Kirigakure's advance, you felt confused and anxious—but not afraid."
He let that sink in.
"Because you believed—and the entire Uzumaki clan believed—that Konoha is our truest friend, our brother, and that they would surely come to our aid. Yet…"
Jun sighed, a weight in his tone. "You were mistaken. We treated them as brothers, but they saw us as tools—tools to shed our blood and tears in their wars, to sacrifice our kin for their gains. And when we called on our supposed brothers for help…"
His eyes hardened, voice grave: "They refused."
A shocked gasp rose from the crowd.
"Impossible—they made an oath with Lord Hashirama!"
"How could they break their word?"
"Those bastards… do they not honor our friendship? Do they not honor Lord Hashirama?"
"Quiet!" The clan chief's voice cracked the air. He clenched his fist so tightly his knuckles whitening—how could the Uzumaki clan have placed such blind faith in Konoha, only to be betrayed…
What a façade of brotherhood!
Obediently, the crowd fell silent again, though despair flickered in every eye. Against a power like Kirigakure's, the Whirlpool Country stood no chance—especially after losing so many kin to serve Konoha. Could they even survive?
"Yes," Jun acknowledged, "you are right to feel despair and fear." He surveyed the sea of downcast faces. "If we dwell on our losses, morale will shatter completely, and our clan will be ground to dust—left with nothing but a handful of strays. No—that was our error before. But from this moment forth, I, as heir apparent, and as acting clan chief, swear that the Whirlpool Country will never fall. I pledge, on behalf of every Uzumaki, that we will live and die together with our homeland."
At his words, a spark of hope glimmered—only to wane again. Who would trust the vow of a seven-year-old child?
Seeing their doubt, the daimyo rose once more: "I swear, by my name as daimyo, that under Uzumaki Jun's leadership, the Whirlpool Country shall not perish; the Uzumaki clan and our nation stand or fall as one."
"I swear, by my office as clan chief…"
"I swear, by my rank as elder…"
One by one, the clan elders echoed the vow.
If even the chief and daimyo believe a child, why shouldn't we?
"Now, all citizens—Uzushio's people—prepare yourselves." Jun's tone was urgent. "From this moment, forget our so-called brothers in Konoha. Only by standing on our own can we ensure our survival—and grow stronger in the process."
Better to abandon that superficial brotherhood now!
Or else… we may find ourselves with a little patch of green atop our heads…
"Yes—!" the people cried in unison.
"Shinobi, see to it that the elderly, women, and children—regardless of clan—enter the underground shelters. Do not emerge until the war concludes. I have stocked enough provisions for six months. In that time, we shall drive the Kirigakure ninjas from our borders."
"Yes—!"
"And all Jonin and Chunin, report in for orders."
Jun's voice rang out: "I hereby declare the Whirlpool Country to be on full war footing. We will not become slaves of a conquered land."
"We will not become conquered slaves."
…
"Kushina?"