It didn't take long for us to disembark from the ship and reunite with Jizen on the mainland. He stood at the head of a seemingly endless line of caravans, each packed to the brim with supplies, materials, and provisions. His gruff face softened at the sight of us, but his tone was as blunt as ever.
"Finally. Took you long enough," he muttered before gesturing at the caravan behind him. "This lot isn't going to move itself."
Unlike the desperate, hurried journey that had brought us to the Land of Whirlpools years ago, this time our travels would be slow and methodical. The focus would be on training the kids.
The kids were a mix of emotions.
I could see the excitement in their faces as they took in the new sights of the mainland—vast green fields, bustling marketplaces, and winding roads that stretched into the horizon. For many of them, this was the first time they had truly looked beyond the boundaries of the Land of Whirlpools.
But that excitement was tempered by a heavy sadness. Something that Karui could tell.
Even though we had left the Uzumaki behind, the memories remained. Despite being treated as outsiders in Uzushiogakure, the kids had still been treated as human beings. They had learned to thrive in that environment, building a sense of purpose and even fragments of happiness within those red-bricked walls. Here, in the harsh and unpredictable mainland, things were different.
The mainland didn't offer the same sense of security. Here, strength mattered above all else. Compassion was a rare luxury. I could see the unease on their faces when they empty villages filled with skeletons and decaying houses.
"Cheer up," I called out to them, my voice firm but steady. "The world may be harsher than Uzushiogakure, but that doesn't mean it's hopeless. Remember, we're not just wandering aimlessly, we are going to build our new home. I am sure you know how difficult it would be to carve a place out in this cruel world. The time in Uzumaki told us that no matter how kind the host would be, we were still guests and outsiders. Only the place we built ourselves would be the home where we can rest our bodies."
Momosuke, walking at the head of the group, nodded solemnly. Though he kept his usual stoic expression, I could sense the way he was processing my words. He understood the stakes better than most. Better than the others.
I was sure, He might be puzzled at the reason I didn't yet reveal to the rest of the ambitions I hold. There was still time left before they could be informed and actively progressed for it.
Informing them now, would mean that they would deny the possibility of Hidden village due to the sheer difficulty involved in the matter. Even Jizen and Momosuke didn't think it was possible. It was their reactions that me withhold telling my plans just yet.
Karui, usually the calming presence, looked a bit lost. She had grown into someone reliable, someone I could depend on to help guide the others. But, I didn't expect that she would be the one hit hard on moving out of land of whirlpools.
Jizen, walking alongside me, snorted as he noticed my gaze on Karui. "She's tougher than she looks," he said, his voice gruff. "And smarter than half the brats I've seen."
"She had to be," I replied simply.
He nodded, his expression darkening slightly. "Still. You think they're ready for what's ahead? Your plans have no place for half-baked ideals."
"They don't have a choice," I said, my tone harder than I intended. He understood what I meant.
Only a home built by one's hand was where we could rest our bodies. I meant it.
Jizen didn't argue. Instead, he grunted in acknowledgment and shifted his attention back to the road ahead.
"Here! Enjoy playing with the money. I am going now."
Jizen bid us farewell as I took over the documents that officially recognized us as a trade group in the Land of Hot Water. Well, more like being employed as the protection of the merchant business in which we were investors.
A stupid disguise that won't take much scrutiny but no matter how time we gain, it would be useful.
The kids clustered around me as we walked away from the docks, their curious gazes filled with questions they didn't know how to ask. Eventually, Momosuke broke the silence.
"Where's Jizen going?" His voice was steady, but I could sense the edge of worry behind it.
"He's going to be a cook and retire," I replied casually, folding the documents and tucking them into my robes.
Momosuke snorted, his usual sarcasm creeping into his tone. "That old man? Retire? He'd sooner go down in battle than spend his days chained to a single room like some civilian."
I nodded, a small smile tugging at my lips. "Exactly," I said quietly. "And that's the problem."
Momosuke paused for a moment, then shook his head, muttering under his breath. The kids exchanged glances, their confusion growing, but they didn't press further. They knew better than to ask questions that wouldn't be answered yet.
With a shake of my head, I turned to face them fully. It was time to shift their focus to the next step in our journey. "Alright," I began, pulling out the new set of documents. "Listen up. These detail our investment into Kon's merchantry group. We now hold a 63% stake in it."
Their eyes widened, and Hiro's hand shot up almost instinctively, his face alight with excitement. "Wait, so the merchant group was finally starting."
He did hold reason to be excited. Afterall, He was the one who ran around in Uzhiogakure in my place, to make the contact with the rest of the investors.
I grinned. "We need wealth to establish a home. Our stay in Uzhiogakure ran our money reserves dry. So, this will be our major venture over the next year. While the rest of the investments come from nobles, merchant groups, and others I met in the Land of Whirlpools, we hold the majority. I've been quietly consolidating this venture over the years. Kon's group will act as our front. It will hold until we gather enough wealth."
For a short term venture, it was good enough.
Karui, clearly back to her original self, frowned. "Why are we using a merchant group as a front? Isn't that one of the reasons our Kyudo clan was attacked?"
"Good question," I said, gesturing for them to gather around. "The Land of Hot Water is... unique. Last time we passed through here, I was curious about the peace this land seemed to enjoy. Now, I understand why."
I took a stick from the ground and began sketching a rough map in the dirt. "The shinobi clans here have found a way to stabilize their conflicts. Instead of constant war, they've cleared the main travel routes of bandits and avoided outright battles. Disputes between clans are settled through representative matches—one-on-one duels or small skirmishes to determine rights and territory."
"Wait," Momosuke interrupted, his brow furrowing. "They're... not fighting? At all?"
I nodded. "Not in the traditional sense. They've realized something important: stability is profitable. The clans here are involved in trade. They've partnered with merchants, not as full owners but as partial investors. They provide protection and take a cut of the profits. The merchants run the business, the shinobi protect it, and everyone gets a share."
"That's..." Hiro's voice trailed off as he pieced it together. "That's actually smart."
"Exactly," I said, tapping the map for emphasis. "The Kyudo clan made a fatal mistake. We tried to own the merchant business outright, taking full control and cutting out other players. That provoked the Daimyo and the other shinobi clans. We became a target. If we did so again, we would provoke new enemies once more."
Especially since we already held the old enemies. Without the famed protection from the land of whirlpools, something they would know soon, we must be ready. A risk which I felt acceptable when considering the pay off when we could manage to establish a hidden village.
Karui crossed her arms, her expression darkening. "So what's the plan now? Do we follow their example?"
"Yes and no," I replied. "We're adapting. Kon's merchant group will handle the merchant operations. We'll act as silent investors, but we'll also provide protection as shinobi when needed. In a way, we are both the one's who give the mission and accept the mission. That way, we avoid drawing too much attention while still building influence and wealth."
I could see the wheels turning in their heads as they processed the plan. Even Momosuke, who often had a skeptical streak, seemed to begrudgingly approve. But, I saw them dissecting the plan I gave. Good, because it was not the complete plan. At least it was not the complete part of my overall plan which I planned to disclose.
Afterall, there was much deeper reason for running this venture. I agree with Kakashi Hatake's 'underneath the underneath' concept. Hopefully, I could cultivate such concept in my shinobi. My shinobi.
Such a beautiful feeling.
And so, we began our journey.
WHOOSH WHOOSH
All the numerous drills had been successful and were now showing results. With the carriages at the centre, my shinobi formed a defensive formation around the carriages. Karui was the closest to the centre and drew the fuin symbols for a barrier on the carriages. Meanwhile, the kids prepared ideal distance between themselves to fill the gap in formation and also be ready to back up the others.
It reminded me of the short missions that Kyudo clan had done before it's destruction.
WHOOSH
Momosuke returned to the carriage after setting the formation. I looked over the teenager who was following the exact path I laid down since he was a kid. He was competent with the Chakra precision Taijutsu, water style ninjutsu. Due to the medic knowledge he had, he was also training in the Chakra disruption technique. An ultimate way to break through majority of Genjutsu.
The thoughts of Genjutsu made me see the zero achievements I had in the field. It was an difficult art like Medic nin and Fuinjutsu. Without proper basics, I couldn't even dare to experiment with that. Hence, my training in disruption of chakra pathways.
Momosuke interrupted my thoughts with his words, "So, what is your true objective? I am sure you wouldn't waste your time with a temporary venture."
I nodded to him and said, "No, It would be temporary venture that would focus on gathering profits."
Momosuke raised his hand again. "What's the next step, then? We can't just sit around waiting for profits."
His deadpan expression left no doubt about the sarcasm he meant, but I seriously answered his question.
I smiled, reaching into my robes and pulling out another scroll. "The next step," I said, unrolling it, "is to find the right group of people. We need buyers. The kind that would put our foothold in the continent."
He only rose an eyebrow in question.
He was questioning everything. That was good. Now, I should ensure he starts forming the answers.
"You told me many times that my idea of the hidden village was impossible. At least not by us. Remember the reasons and you will have your answers. You will have your answers to the reason behind me turning to this venture. Think hard. Humour me."
Momosuke silently palmed his kunai, a habit of his when he was thinking deeply. A good habit because it would allow him to react instantly in case of an ambush.
"The biggest difficulty in establishing the hidden village is us-our Kyudo clan. No matter how much strength you, our leader possess. Our clan is nothing but a dozen shinobi. Not to forget the fact that we don't have any unique defining speciality of our clan. Fuck that, we don't even have numbers to form proper alliances with other clans."
It was at this time he stopped playing with the kunai. He already got the answer. Because this answer was told to him hundreds of times.
"So, how do you think we can change it?"
"The same way my grandfather established our clan. He got together numerous orphans and sorted them for children with talent in chakra. Orphans who were too young and too blank, ones who could be made loyal to the clan. Like you were."
His gaze became complicated at the mention of my original status in Kyudo clan. But, he continued with his words, "He then married a Kunoichi, my grandmother and had dozens of kids to form the core of the clan."
"Not marriages. But you are right in your assumption. We are going to recruit as many children as we can. This world has no lack of them. If that child showed potential had parents or families, we will recruit all of them. The civilians will be employed into the merchant group."
"It would mean that we would attract far too much attention. The very reason you said that the venture would be temporary was because of the fact shinobi directly controlling the trade was dangerous to the lords. Don't forget the Daimyo of grass, despite the distance, he is a still a Daimyo."
I simply told him, "It wouldn't be easy, but we can achieve it. Because the Land of hot water was uniquely situated with the right circumstances and right time to support it. Do you know that there is a lord in this land who has taken up shinobi arts. Not simply taking them up, He right now has chameleon boss summon. Tell me, what do you think he will do?"
After all, nobody could put such strenuous efforts if it wasn't for the good rewards. What was the biggest reward for a lord.
"Daimyo. He wants the throne of Daimyo."
I nodded and said, "He would be the biggest buyer for us. On our carriages were food, iron, and medical supplies. All of them were both everyday things but also needed for war. Due to the fierce conflicts between Senju and Uchiha in the land of fire, the entire trade of these materials was interrupted."
Momosuke completed my words, "Except for you who had been storing them for years during the time in land of whirlpools. No wonder, why you wanted to run the merchant group. Rather than wealth, you want to involve yourself in this affair. In essence, establishing a Daimyo who can support the establishment of a Hidden Village. What better ally then a Daimyo who practiced shinobi arts for a Hidden village."
And just like that the conversation stopped. I had barred him from telling the others reasons behind my plan.
It was simple, I was training them. Not traditionally, but their mentality. I rather they discover the truth by themselves. If not at least doubt my actions and question me about them.
Just like that the days continued as I kept consolidating the gains from the Uzhiogakure and kept my nose in the scrolls.
Momosuke naturally started spying on the scrolls titles. Clearly traumatized by the past. Unfortunately for my hurt feelings, his suspicion held true.
"WHAT THE FUCK!"
"SHh! You idiot. Do you want to shout to everyone about what I did?"
"YES, Damn it." Looking at the pointed looks given by everyone. Momosuke lowered his voice but it contained his anger, " All that act about the Uzumaki betraying our trust and the rushed evacuation. You- you, you"
I seriously replied at that, "It was a test." The sheer emotion in my words got Momosuke to remain silent.
"A test to see if the Uzumaki were trustable and a test to also see if I could leave my fate in other hands. But, the test proved that I can't. If test succeded, I would have been happy in the Uzumaki clan and spend my life in peace but it didn't. Hence, I will use these illegally."
Momosuke sighed at that. Clearly knowing how much of my behaviour was influenced by his grandfather and my circumstance, "When did you manage to get them?"
"Over, six months ago."
"Fuck! Then why bother with the test after six months?"
I instead answed back, "What do you mean by six months? I kept the fake master scroll for six years."
"Fuck you, you paranoid bastard. Knowing you, I was sure you wanted to keep testing them for the rest of your life.."
I shrugged and got back to reading the master scroll of the Uzumaki old man. Containing various titles, like "Four Symbol Seal", "Four Violet Flames Formation" and many more.
It was a pity that I couldn't get the advanced fuinjutsu of other seal masters. Fuck that, If I had the chance I would break into the Forbidden scroll containing the reaper death seal and others. But these will do.
Especially the Four symbol seal, it's modified form- a two layered 4 symbol seal has manged to seal Kyuubi. While my body might not be strong enough to bear the seal, I could remake the seal with it as base.
So, I fucking profited from my stay in Uzhiogakure. YAHOO!