With the crisis in the Land of Whirlpools drawing to a close, only the final wrap-up remained.
"Hui, what do you plan to do with these captives?" asked Sarutobi Hiruzen, as he and Hui surveyed the aftermath.
Their victory was significant—most of the elite forces from the allied villages had been wiped out, and they had successfully captured three future Kage candidates, along with several elite jōnin from Iwagakure, Kumogakure, and Sunagakure.
"Well, we'll be ransoming them back to their villages. If they want their people returned safely, they'll need to pay a substantial price," Hui replied without hesitation.
In warfare, victory was only valuable if it could be leveraged for gains, and the lives of the captured Kage candidates were no exception.
"Still, let's report back to Grandpa Tobirama first and see what he thinks before we make any final decisions," Hui added. Despite having a plan in mind, he knew that Tobirama, as Hokage, should make the ultimate call on such matters.
"You're right," Hiruzen nodded in agreement. "With such high-ranking captives, we can't handle this lightly."
"Lord Hui," Uzumaki Suihei approached Hui, gratitude shining in his eyes. "If it weren't for you, Uzushiogakure would surely have fallen today, and the Land of Whirlpools itself might have been destroyed."
Hui turned to him and spoke with equal sincerity, "Uzushiogakure and the Uzumaki Clan have always been Konoha's closest and most trusted allies. As a shinobi of Konoha, I can't stand by while others threaten you. And besides," he continued with a warm smile, "this is Granny Mito's homeland. You're her family. If anything happened to you, she'd be heartbroken."
Suihei was deeply moved. Hui, at just fifteen years old, already exhibited wisdom, loyalty, and maturity beyond his years.
"Still… while Uzushiogakure survived, half of the Uzumaki Clan outside the village…" Hui trailed off with a sigh. "I just hope that the other villages will stop targeting the Uzumaki."
Suihei's expression tightened at Hui's words, and a shiver of dread ran through him.
The attack had been swift and unexpected, and if it hadn't been for Hui's intervention, the Land of Whirlpools would have been devastated, and the Uzumaki Clan might have been wiped out entirely.
Even though the clan had survived, the cost was steep. Half of the clan members outside Uzushiogakure had perished, and the village had lost nearly a fifth of its resources to the Mist ninjas who escaped earlier.
A loss of twenty percent might be manageable for now, but if other villages continued to view the Land of Whirlpools as a target, their future was bleak.
A homeland was impossible to defend continuously. Today's victory had only been possible thanks to Hui's intervention and strategy. But what about the next time?
If Konoha was too far to respond quickly, the clan's fate would be inevitable. The thought alone made Suihei's breathing shallow. How could he face his ancestors if, under his leadership, the clan was eradicated?
"These other villages suffered heavy losses here today," Hui continued, breaking into Suihei's thoughts, "so they'll likely bear a grudge against the Land of Whirlpools. Konoha will do its best to protect you…"
Hui's tone was deliberately cautious, his voice quiet with a hint of uncertainty. His goal was clear: he wanted the entire Uzumaki Clan to relocate to the Land of Fire. But he wasn't about to say it outright. Instead, he needed Suihei to recognize the threat on his own and ultimately ask Konoha for help.
That way, the power would remain in Konoha's hands.
And as expected, Suihei's anxiety deepened at Hui's words. He opened his mouth to respond but couldn't find the words.
"Don't worry," Hui reassured him. "For now, the Land of Whirlpools should be safe." The implication was clear: in the short term, there was little to fear, but beyond that…
"Let's go and reinforce the seals on these three," Hui suggested, tactfully steering the conversation away.
Rushing Suihei wasn't necessary; the longer he mulled over the situation, the more obvious the choice would become. Without a safe haven, the Uzumaki Clan would eventually face extinction.
"Yes, three Kage-level shinobi… not a risk we can take," Hiruzen agreed, glancing at Ōnoki, Ay, and the Third Kazekage.
The sight made him pause, a hint of melancholy crossing his face. They were all shinobi of his generation—once rivals in the previous ninja war, each leading their respective villages. Yet here they were, subdued and defeated by a single shinobi who was little more than a boy.
The sheer absurdity of it made him feel like he was dreaming.
Once word of this victory spread, he knew the ninja world would be in shock. But it was the kind of story that would be impossible to keep quiet about.
Hui's strength had reached a level that no longer needed concealment. The impact he would have now wouldn't inspire caution but rather pure awe.
This… this was true power.
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