Naruto's civilian cannon fodder starts with the three-body technique

Chapter 339 Minazuki's Old Friend

"What?! Iwagakure has reached the heart of Taki no Kyuubi?!"

"Elder Danzo actually failed to defend against the Iwagakure offensive. Has the situation on the front lines deteriorated to this extent?"

"No wonder the leader of Takigakure came in person; he's here to call for reinforcements!"

"When Captain Umino was in the Land of Mountains, he had Iwagakure completely under his thumb! The situation collapsed as soon as he left?!"

"With Takigakure in such a precarious situation, it seems they're pinning their hopes on Captain Umino!"

An uproar erupted in the room, with concerns and discussions rising everywhere.

The appearance of Takigakure leader Shibuki instantly brought the cruel shadow of war on the front lines into this joyous celebration.

Hiruzen Sarutobi and several other high-ranking Konoha officials also looked extremely serious.

With a serious expression, Umino Sasuke said in a deep voice, "Chief Shibuki, rest assured, Takigakure is an ally of Konoha. If the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold! I will do my utmost to mediate this matter and expedite the arrival of reinforcements!"

He comforted Shibuki with a few words and led him to the table to rest for a while. The congratulatory gift from Takigakure Village seemed particularly heavy at this moment.

Just as this solemn atmosphere permeated the air.

A team that seemed out of place yet attracted even more attention appeared.

"The representatives of the Wave Kingdom Merchant Alliance, Chairman Kado, and all the council members of the Merchant Alliance have come to offer their congratulations!"

A dozen or so luxurious carriages, decorated in a glittering, gold-plated style and even exuding an air of nouveau riche, lined up and drove in.

On the lead carriage, a short, stout, middle-aged man dressed in a purple robe adorned with gold ornaments and leaning on a gold-inlaid jade cane stepped down from the carriage with an air of arrogance, surrounded by a group of well-dressed and shrewd merchants.

He is none other than Mr. Gato, the uncrowned king of the Land of Waves' underworld and a prominent merchant in the open!
Mr. Kado's gaze swept across the crowd, finally settling on Umino Sasuke. He forcibly suppressed the surging awe and submission within him, instantly plastering a smile on his face as he strode forward with small, quick steps.

"Oh my! Chief Umino! Congratulations! Congratulations on the founding of the Umino clan and its eternal prosperity!"

Mr. Gato's voice was loud and clear, with a deliberately exaggerated enthusiasm. He bowed deeply to Umino Sasuke in an exaggerated manner, then straightened up and loudly addressed everyone around him:
"Gentlemen! Please allow me, on behalf of all my colleagues in the Wave Kingdom Merchant Alliance, to extend our highest respect and warmest congratulations to Chief Umino!"

He paused, his small eyes behind his gold-rimmed glasses gleaming, and his voice rose even higher: "Chief Umino! He is my savior! If it weren't for his righteous intervention, defeating the bandits entrenched in the Land of Waves and saving my life, where would I, Kado, be today, and where would the Land of Waves Merchant Alliance's prosperity be?!"

He pounded his chest, spittle flying from his mouth: "So! From this day forward! All commissioned missions throughout the entire territory of my Kingdom of Waves—whether it's escorting caravans, suppressing bandits, or protecting important figures, all! Remember, all missions!"

Then, waving his chubby hand, he emphasized, "All of these will be allocated to you, Chief Umino, with priority! Our Wave Kingdom Merchant Alliance fully supports the development of the Umino clan!"

boom--! ! !
If the previous shock was like a boulder falling into water, then Gato's declaration was like detonating a chakra nuclear bomb!

The entire square instantly erupted into an unprecedented frenzy of noise!
"The Land of Waves?! The Land of Waves that's known as the 'Little Gold Mountain of Free Ports'?!"

"My God! This is the entire mission quota for the whole country!"

"How much money?! How many resources?! How much influence?!"

"The Land of Waves is a commercial nation second only to the Five Great Nations. Its mission share is far greater than that of small countries like the Land of Waterfalls and the Land of Rain, which are constantly embroiled in war!"

"The Umino clan has barely been established, yet they've already obtained the authority to assign tasks to an entire country?! This is simply unbelievable!"

"Has this Kado gone mad? Just because he saved my life?"

"What do you know! Squad Leader Umino saved the life of the underground emperor of the Land of Waves, defeated the bandits, and restored trade routes to the Land of Waves. For a merchant like Kado, he's like a second parent! He's repaying a debt of gratitude!"

"It seems the Umino clan is about to soar to new heights! With the mission quota from the Land of Waves, to what extent will their wealth, prestige, and influence expand?!"

"This is already three small countries, plus the political support of the River Country, the military alliance of the Waterfall Country, and the economic assistance of the Wave Country! The connections and resources of the Umino clan..."

Countless fervent, jealous, and even incredulous gazes were focused on Umino Sasuke and Mr. Gato.

Hyuga Muneyoshi's hand holding the teacup was bulging with veins, and his face was so gloomy it was almost dripping with water.

Uchiha Hikaru's pride shattered completely, his eyes filled with shock and a hint of indescribable frustration.

Even Hiruzen Sarutobi and Koharu Utatane were stunned by this sudden "overwhelming wealth," and their gazes toward Sasuke Umino were extremely complicated.

Fugaku Uchiha stood behind his father, staring intently at Sasuke Umino, who was surrounded by a crowd and enjoying immense glory. His gaze was filled with an intense malice that was almost tangible. In his twisted mind, every smile from Sasuke Umino seemed to mock the Uchiha's desolation.

Fugaku Uchiha's clenched fists were hidden within his wide sleeves, his nails digging deep into his palms, drawing blood, yet he remained oblivious. Only one madly roaring thought filled his mind: Why? Why does this newly emerging Umino clan receive such glory and resources, while the noble Uchiha are trapped in the "cage" of Konoha's rules?!
As Sasuke Umino felt the overwhelming gazes of shock, awe, and envy surging from all directions, along with the sinister malice emanating from Fugaku Uchiha, he wore a calm smile, as if Gato's gift was not an overwhelming fortune that would drive any ninja clan mad, but merely an ordinary congratulatory present.

He nodded slightly to the excited and flushed-faced Kado, and said calmly, "President Kado, you flatter me. Maintaining trade routes and quelling banditry are the duties of the ninja village."

The Umino clan will forever remember the trust placed in them by the Wave Kingdom's merchant alliance.

In the future, our clan will do its utmost to protect the smooth trade routes of the Kingdom of Bo and ensure the peace and tranquility of its people.

The Umino clan accepts this important responsibility!

These words sealed the deal.

The noise in the square had just subsided.

Another voice rang out: "Special envoy from Sunagakure Village, Toyoshiro Sakuran, congratulates the Umino clan on the founding of their clan!"

The crowd parted, and a middle-aged ninja with a stern expression, dressed in a distinctive Sunagakure trench coat, walked steadily towards them, accompanied by several other Sunagakure ninjas dressed similarly.

He had a smile on his face, but a hint of anxiety was hidden deep in his eyes. He was none other than Umino Sasuke's old "friend", a high-ranking member of Sunagakure, and the father of Shokuran Yokura.

He walked up to Umino Sasuke, bowed slightly, his movements precise but devoid of warmth: "Clan Chief Umino, congratulations."

Then, he deliberately lowered his voice: "I've come today to offer my congratulations, and also—to see if my good-for-nothing daughter is alright."

The last sentence was only audible to Umino Sasuke and Hiruzen Sarutobi, who were nearby. This was not a ceremony to observe; it was clearly a father's concern and a test of a deal.

"So it's the Zhuolan Special Envoy." Umino Sasuke's smile remained unchanged, but his eyes were sharp as knives. He also lowered his voice and replied, "Don't worry, Fengcheng-senpai. Miss Yecang is a guest in Konoha and everything is fine. She can talk to the Hokage in detail after the ceremony."

Upon hearing this, Zhuolan Fengcheng's tense expression eased slightly, but his words remained firm: "Hmph, I hope so! Although Sunagakure has been defeated, its spirit remains! Please accept this congratulatory gift!"

With a wave of his hand, a heavy box was brought up from behind by a Sand Ninja.

Kenjiro Umino stepped forward to accept the gift and announced, "Special Envoy of Sunagakure Village, Lord Toyoshiro Sakuran, a gift for you—a case of top-grade gold sand from the Land of Wind!"

A case of gold dust is worth a fortune!

Although Sunagakure was defeated, the weight of this congratulatory gift was enough to demonstrate its profound heritage and the importance it attached to this "visit".

The crowd began to murmur again: "A special envoy from Sunagakure? Is he here to sign a ceasefire agreement?"

"Definitely! Squad Leader Umino captured their Scorching Release: Pakura and the Sand Village Jinchuriki! How could the Sand Village not submit?"

"Tsk tsk, even Sunagakure has yielded. The Umino clan truly reigns supreme in the ninja world!"

"Team Leader Umino is awesome! Konoha is awesome!"

Amidst the proud praise, only a few clan leaders, such as the Hyuga and Uchiha, remained unmoved.

Zhuo Lan Fengcheng was led to the VIP seats. Beneath his cold and hard face, his thoughts were already on the safety of his daughter, Ye Cang. It wasn't just that he deeply loved his daughter; more importantly, Ye Cang was related to the prosperity and future of the Zhuo Lan clan.

Just as the Sand Village envoy was settled, a chilling cold suddenly filled the air.

"Congratulations to Umino on the founding of the Minazuki clan, Minazuki Yuki, clan leader of the Minazuki clan!"

As the voice rang out, a woman dressed in a magnificent light blue robe, with an exquisite face and an aura as cold as an ancient glacier, slowly approached, surrounded by several Mizuki ninjas exuding a chilling presence. She was none other than Mizuki Yuki, the Mizuki clan leader who had a poignant misunderstanding with Umino Sasuke on the battlefield of the Land of Rivers.

When her cool gaze swept over Umino Sasuke, the once calm and still depths of the icy lake seemed to be stirred by a red-hot pebble, instantly creating violent ripples.

An indescribable burning passion almost broke through the suppression of her Ice Release Bloodline Limit and surged out, causing the temperature of the air around her to rise sharply!
She took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing her turbulent emotions and restless bloodline limit. Her beautiful face was once again covered with cold frost. She knew that she represented the Mizuki clan and Kirigakure, and she could not lose her composure!
"Clan Chief Umino!" Mizuki Yuki's voice was icy cold, carrying a deliberate air of aloofness and hostility. "I've heard that your clan also possesses the Ice Release bloodline limit? My Mizuki clan has established itself in the ninja world with Ice Release. I wonder, between your clan and my Mizuki clan, who is stronger? I'd like to learn a thing or two at today's grand ceremony!"

Her words were clearly provocative, aimed directly at the Umino clan, and the atmosphere in the room instantly became tense.

"Hmph! Those women from Kirigakure have quite the nerve!"

"You dare to cause trouble on the day the Umino clan was established?!"

"So what if it's Minazuki? Lord Umino, teach her a lesson!"

Dissatisfied shouts arose from the crowd of onlookers.

Sasuke Umino had already sensed Yuki Minazuki's complex emotions, but he still wore a gentle smile, as if he hadn't felt any provocation.

He stepped forward, gracefully performed a standard aristocratic bow, looked directly into Mizuki Yuki's icy blue eyes, and spoke in a gentle yet clear voice.

"Chief Xue, you flatter me. Ice escape techniques are ever-changing and each has its own strengths. Why should we compete and fight? Today is the founding celebration of my Haiye clan. Our aim is to make friends with all sides and share in this grand occasion."

The Snow Clan has come from afar, so they are honored guests.

If he had the leisure, Sasuke would like to invite Chief Yuki, an old friend from the Land of Rivers, to enjoy some Konoha tea and reminisce about the past. Wouldn't that be far more refined than fighting and killing?

"Old friends from the Land of Rivers? Let's reminisce!" These words seemed to possess a strange magic, instantly piercing through the cold shell that Minazuki Yuki had forcibly constructed.

Memories of the beautiful battlefield in the land of rivers flooded her mind uncontrollably. A hint of panic and struggle flashed in her icy blue eyes. The hostility that had just gathered melted away like spring snow, and even a barely perceptible blush appeared on her fair cheeks.

She abruptly looked away, unable to bear looking into Umino Sasuke's eyes that seemed to see through everything. Her voice trembled slightly, almost imperceptibly: "Hmph! Smooth talker! Today is your clan's celebration, so I, the clan head, will let it slide! If I have the chance in the future, I will definitely challenge you!"

After saying that, she led her clansmen in a rather disheveled manner toward the VIP seats. Her aloof figure seemed to be fleeing in panic.

Sasuke Umino's nonchalant and gentle approach once again demonstrated his skill to everyone.

"High! It's really high!"

"You dismissed the ice beauty of the Hidden Mist with just a few words?"

"Chief Umino's demeanor is truly impeccable!"

Amidst the murmurs, Umino Sasuke remained unmoved. Minazuki Yuki was merely an interlude; the real trouble was yet to come.

"Lord Gabino, leader of the Cloud Village delegation, has come to offer his congratulations!"

A loud announcement rang out, and a group of burly, muscular ninjas dressed in dark cloud-patterned outfits escorted a middle-aged man with a rugged face and sharp, hawk-like eyes as he strode in.

The leader was none other than Gabino, the head of the Cloud Village delegation.

"Hahaha! Chief Umino! Congratulations!"

Gabino's voice boomed like a bell, his face beaming with a hearty smile, displaying extreme enthusiasm. "Kumakuha and Konoha are allies for generations! The Umino clan has established itself, how could Kumogakuha not come to show their support? This small gift is but a token of our respect!"

His attendants immediately presented him with a box engraved with lightning patterns.

Kenjiro Unno announced, "Lord Gabino, leader of the Kumogakure delegation, presents a gift—a pair of thundercloud ox horns!"

Thundercloud Ox Horn is the horn of the Thundercloud Ox, a thunder-attribute spirit beast. It is a unique body-refining medicinal material from the Land of Thunder and is quite valuable.

Gabino acted with generosity and courtesy, behaving like a friendly ally.

However, in Umino Sasuke's spiritual perception that sees through malice, beneath Gabino's seemingly generous and enthusiastic exterior, a deep and dark malice surges.

The malice wasn't directed at Umino Sasuke personally, but rather carried a cold calculation and a predatory desire, like a venomous snake lurking in the shadows, ready to devour someone at any moment.

According to the information brought by Yamashiro Midori, the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki, Brubi, is on the verge of losing control. The unusual activity at the border between the Land of Lightning and the Land of Fire made Umino Sasuke instantly connect his past life memories with the malice he sensed. He couldn't help but sneer in his heart, thinking, "The Cloud Village's trip here is indeed harboring malicious intentions!"

The so-called ceremony and alliance are just a pretext. Their real target is likely Kushina Uzumaki, the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki of Konoha, or even a deeper conspiracy against Konoha!
"Chief Gabino, you're too kind. The Umino clan will always remember the friendship of Kumogakure. Please take a seat!"

Sasuke Umino's smile remained unchanged as he responded with equal enthusiasm, seemingly oblivious to the situation.

The crowd watching the ceremony saw that even the usually arrogant and martial Kumogakure had sent such a high-level delegation and presented such generous gifts, which raised their opinion of the Umino clan to an unimaginable level.

"My God! Even those Cloud Village barbarians have come? And they're being so polite?"

"The Umino clan has way too much influence!"

"I didn't believe they were a hidden ninja clan before, but now it seems they probably are!"

"This foundation, this network of connections, even the Hyuga and Uchiha can't compare, right?!"

Hyuga Muneyoshi and Uchiha Kanoku's expressions were quite grim, their eyes filled with shock and deep apprehension. The attitude of the Hidden Cloud Village was completely beyond their comprehension.

Hiruzen Sarutobi frowned slightly. Although he knew that the Cloud Village delegation had come to form an alliance against the Iwagakure, their "affection" towards Sasuke Umino made him suspicious.

Gabino, with a hearty but insincere smile, was led to the VIP seats.

Just when everyone thought the guests had arrived and the grand ceremony was about to begin.

A voice filled with resentment and madness abruptly shattered the festive atmosphere.

"The descendants of the Kamishiryu clan of Iwagakure congratulate Umino on the founding of his clan! We have come to present a 'grand gift'!"

A group of ninjas with eyes like wolves, led by a middle-aged man with a twisted face and deep-seated hatred, rushed to the gate.

It was the Kamimizu clan that was almost wiped out by Umino Sasuke and the Aburame clan, and now only a few big cats and small cats remain, on the verge of extinction.

"Upstream?!"

"These stray dogs dare to come back?!"

"Are you looking for death? Trying to cause trouble during the Kaizoku Umino clan's time?"

"That scoundrel from Iwagakure is truly courting death!"

The crowd erupted in uproar, most of them expressing disdain, while many others gloated.

Anyone could see that this group was willing to risk their lives to disrupt the founding ceremony of the Umino clan.

Sasuke Umino looked at the group of crazed avengers, but a calm smile appeared on his face, as if he had expected it all along. This was the moment he had been waiting for.

"Hmph! You want to properly start your clan? Don't even think about it!" The leader of the Kamisui clan was filled with hatred in his eyes. "Umino Sasuke, you used despicable means to harm my entire clan. Today, even if I am shattered to pieces, I will make your celebration a laughing stock in the ninja world!"
The remaining members of the Shangshui River behind him, with red eyes, looked determined to cause trouble.

at this time.

"Om~"

A low, humming sound came rapidly from afar.

Everyone instinctively looked up and saw a dozen strange devices, gleaming with a cold metallic light and resembling giant flying birds, swooping down at an astonishing speed in the distant sky.

(End of this chapter)