"My mother was from the Uzumaki clan."
"As you all know, on the eve of the Second Great Shinobi War, the Land of Whirlpools was destroyed in an accident. The surviving Uzumaki clan members were displaced and scattered..."
Listening to his account, Tsunade and Jiraiya subconsciously exchanged a glance. What happened back then, in a sense, was also a scandal for Konoha... Konoha and the Uzumaki clan were said to have been allies for generations. Yet, when the Uzumaki faced disaster, Konoha not only failed to provide assistance but, in some respects, even kicked them while they were down. Konoha, both logically and emotionally, should have taken in the surviving Uzumaki clan members. But...
Tsunade sighed inwardly. Another unresolved issue from history...
"...The reason Dragon Heritage took over the Land of Rivers was to provide a sanctuary for those pitiful people who lost their homes due to war."
Regardless of the truth, Naruto Shadow Clone #2 first raised a banner of "righteousness" for himself. Besides, he wasn't entirely spouting nonsense. The Land of Dragon had indeed issued relevant statements and had even been searching throughout the shinobi world for Kekkei Genkai users unaffiliated with any shinobi village.
"I roughly understand Your Excellency's meaning," the special envoy said upon hearing this. "Then, do you think there is a possibility of the Land of Fire forming an alliance with the Land of Dragon?"
Hearing this, everyone present was startled. Listening to his words, it seemed as though the Daimyo, in sending a special envoy to Konoha, perhaps... never had any intention of holding them accountable. Forging an alliance was the true purpose of this trip.
"The Land of Dragon is very willing to sign an alliance treaty with His Excellency the Daimyo."
As the saying goes, "your position determines your perspective." Naruto Shadow Clone #2 understood the Fire Daimyo's thoughts better than anyone else present. The determining factor in relations between nations, from ancient times to the present, had always been one thing—national interest.
Perhaps in the Fire Daimyo's view, while Naruto was the ruler of the Land of Dragon, he also possessed the dual identity of a Konoha shinobi. In a sense, he was a subject of the Fire Daimyo. His own subject ruling another country could be seen as indirectly expanding the Land of Fire's territory. As for whether he had personally authorized it, that wasn't a major concern for the Fire Daimyo. The Land of Fire being the first nation to sign an alliance treaty with the Land of Dragon—everyone in the shinobi world was astute; they would undoubtedly be filled with thoughts and speculations immediately.
"I will relay Your Excellency's reply to the Daimyo as soon as possible," the special envoy said with a smile. "At the Land of Dragon's celebration a month from now, perhaps I will have the chance to meet Your Excellency again."
"You are welcome." Naruto Shadow Clone #2 also understood his meaning; the Fire Daimyo was inclined to support the founding of the Land of Dragon. He returned a smile of goodwill.
With the special envoy's hasty departure, the originally tense and serious interrogation thus ended anticlimactically.
Land of Demons.
One of the few neutral countries in the shinobi world.
Due to the existence of Moryo, and the fact that only the priestesses of the Land of Demons possessed the ability to seal Moryo, all nations, including the Five Great Nations, acknowledged its special status. And the lineage of priestesses, by virtue of their unique abilities, enjoyed a status in the Land of Demons equivalent to that of a Daimyo in other countries. It was worth noting that the Land of Demons was also one of the few countries in the shinobi world without a Daimyo.
Shion, the current priestess of the Land of Demons. According to Dragon Heritage's intelligence, this uniquely distinguished Priestess-sama of the entire shinobi world was said to be about the same age as him.
Gazing at the quaint and tranquil courtyard not far off, relevant information surfaced in Naruto's mind.
About eleven years ago, when Shion was still young, a ninja named Yomi used Moryo's power to create an undead army and demanded that Miroku join forces with him. Miroku refused. In the end, Moryo's soul was sealed by Miroku in the underground palace of the Land of Demons, while its body was sealed in a shrine in the Land of Swamps.
Although Naruto didn't quite understand why Moryo's physical body was sealed in the Land of Swamps instead of one of the Five Great Nations. After all, the turmoil this thing had caused had affected the entire shinobi world. Wouldn't it be safer to place it in one of the Five Great Shinobi Nations, which had stronger security capabilities?
His figure appeared in the courtyard.
As an invited guest, it was better to meet the inviter through proper channels. Even though, if he wished, the guards stationed around the courtyard would never be able to detect his presence.
"Who goes there?!" In just a moment, several guards had him tightly surrounded.
"Why don't you ask your Lady Shion? Perhaps her explanation will be more convincing to you than mine," Naruto said calmly.
The guards looked at each other, momentarily undecided. After all, no matter how they looked at him, he didn't seem like a thief or an assassin. Besides... what kind of assassin would so foolishly expose themselves?
"Please wait a moment!" One of the leaders sheathed his weapon, turned, and disappeared down a corridor.
Naruto wasn't in a hurry and waited quietly.
In less than two minutes, the leader who had just left returned, closely followed by another man.
"Sheathe your weapons!" The man, dressed in a kariginu (a formal hunting robe), his expression changed upon seeing the scene, and he spoke hastily. He passed through the surrounding guards, stopped before Naruto, bowed deeply, and apologized, "Lord Naruto, please forgive their rudeness."
Unlike the surrounding guards, he, who held the position of the priestess's guard captain (Taruho), had a clear understanding of the identity of the man before him. This was a powerful ninja who, by virtue of his own strength, had risen to the pinnacle of the shinobi world, capable of standing on equal footing with the Kage of the Five Great Nations.
"The fact that I am standing here, waiting for your reasoning, already says a lot. Lead the way." Naruto wasn't angered by this. Being at different heights meant seeing things from different perspectives. With his current status and position, getting upset with these dutiful guards would only become a laughingstock if others found out. It wasn't arrogance on his part; it was simply the reality of the situation.
Passing by rock gardens and flowing water, along wooden corridors, under the wary gazes of numerous guards, he was led by Taruho into a magnificently decorated hall.
On the main seat sat a beautiful young woman of elegant temperament, dressed in priestess attire. She was the priestess of the Land of Demons—Shion.
"On behalf of the Land of Demons, I welcome Your Excellency's arrival!" She bowed slightly.
Naruto's peripheral vision caught sight of the young woman's fair wrist. A small, clear, transparent bell was tied to it with a thin red string. Inside the bell was a small red stone, which contained a powerful energy that silently protected her.
The power of the previous priestess... he thought to himself. This power might not be much to him, but if unleashed at full strength, it could already defend against a ninjutsu released by a Jonin.
"State your conditions." Perhaps it was the strength of his own power that allowed him to not conceal his inner thoughts. Naruto now preferred to handle matters with swift efficiency. Simple and direct, no need for so many detours. It was more comfortable for him, and it improved efficiency.
"..." Shion was taken aback. This was the first time she had encountered such a direct conversation.
"I wish to request Your Excellency's help in undoing the seal on my body."