Naruto: I, the villain template, was hailed as a savior.

Chapter 64 Though I am incompetent, I am not cowardly (Seeking monthly votes)

"Tsukimisato-sama!"

Inside the conference room of the Uzushio Village building, Toru Uzumaki grasped Yun Chuan's hand, shaking it frantically and weeping with gratitude, saying, "Thank you so much! Thank you so much!"

Behind him stood a group of somewhat disheveled Uzumaki ninjas, silently and bewilderedly watching the scene in the distance.

They had intact limbs and no obvious injuries on their bodies, but each of them was covered in thick, dark red blood, as if they had been baptized by a blood rain from head to toe.

Perhaps it really did rain blood just now, a localized rain of blood caused by human intervention.

"There's no need for that."

Faced with Toru Uzumaki's unusually exaggerated reaction, Yun Chuan simply shook his head with a calm smile: "Although I'd like to congratulate everyone on temporarily escaping a calamity, but..."

"It seems that the main force of Kirigakure has already landed and is heading this way."

At this point, Yun Chuan paused, looked at the silent clan elders and ninjas, and asked, "So, do you all have any countermeasures?"

Upon hearing this, Tetsuya Uzumaki's smile froze, and he looked at the clan elder beside him with a mournful expression.

Only family members know their own affairs.

Despite being a prestigious clan skilled in sealing techniques, their actual population size is not large, with most members being commoners who do not know ninjutsu.

Basically, all the ninjas are in Uzushio Village.

The size of Uzushio Village is nothing compared to that of Konoha; it's really just a village.

Moreover, it is known as a longevity village because of its high average life expectancy, and the number of middle-aged and elderly people is even greater than that of young people.

Again.

The village couldn't be defended.

The disparity in troop strength was too great.

"Anyway, thank you for your help."

Uzumaki Yangjie, standing to the side, remained calm, unlike Uzumaki Tetsuya who showed great joy or sorrow. He displayed the composure expected of a clan leader and said, "Compared to the ungrateful and opportunistic Konoha, you have all done enough."

Upon hearing this, a complex mix of anger and sorrow flashed in the eyes of the clan elders and ninjas.

Their allies, bound by decades of alliance, stood by indifferently, while complete strangers stepped forward to help them, giving them a glimmer of hope in the face of the Hidden Mist's annihilation.

This is... absolutely ridiculous.

"But I have one last request."

After a moment of silence, Uzumaki Yangjie suddenly spoke, exhaling deeply, his eyes filled with profound meaning: "I wonder if you would agree?"

Seemingly sensing his thoughts, Yun Chuan's expression turned serious as he said, "Please speak."

"if you can……"

A flicker of pain crossed Uzumaki Yoji's eyes, but his mind was once again filled with thoughts of his daughter. His expression hardened, and he said in a low voice, "I would like to ask you to take in the people of the Land of Whirlpools."

"If you agree, we are willing to give you all those books to repay your kindness."

Upon hearing this, the entire conference room fell into a deathly silence. Everyone present seemed to pause, their breathing and heartbeats seemingly halting. Some people instinctively tried to speak up and dissuade him.

"Yang Jie! It hasn't come to that yet!"

"Chieftain, how could we...?"

"Enough!" Before the noisy crowd could finish speaking, Uzumaki Yangjie coldly swept his gaze over them, his calm voice resounding, "Accept reality. We have no choice now!"

His words, laced with a chilling, piercing tone, stung the nerves of everyone present.

They all understood that the existence of the Uzumaki clan was feared by many.

Perhaps it's because of their powerful sealing techniques, or perhaps it's because of the unique nature of their clan and nation...

It wasn't just Kirigakure that wanted them dead; the Land of Fire and even Konoha felt the same way. Trust between the two countries had been broken, and in the eyes of the Fire Daimyo, they would become a "threat."

Even if we manage to defeat Kirigakure this time, there will be Iwagakure and Kumogakure next time. Without protection, the Uzumaki clan will inevitably be crushed into dust by war.

The destruction of the Land of Whirlpools is inevitable, leaving only the option of "escape".

How many people from the Land of Whirlpools still need to be evacuated?

Yun Chuan did not agree to Yang Jie's suggestion immediately. Instead, he asked a very rational question and then said, "If there are too many people, it is very likely that our whereabouts will be exposed."

But hearing Yun Chuan's words, Yang Jie felt much more at ease.

At least this mysterious young man is not a rash person.

In fact, Yun Chuan himself had similar ideas, but was just waiting for them to bring them up themselves.

Distinguishing between active and passive is very important.

The fact that the Land of Whirlpools took the initiative to bring it up meant that they were "requesting" it from him.

But if Yun Chuan brings it up himself, then that would be "taking advantage of someone's misfortune".

"Tetsuya."

Uzumaki Yoku looked at Uzumaki Tetsuya, who was slumped in a chair, hesitated for a moment, and finally sighed as he looked at him, saying, "Including you, how many elderly, weak, women, and children still need to be evacuated?"

"Huh? Ah..."

Upon hearing this, Tetsuya Uzumaki was stunned for a moment, then seemed to come to his senses and slowly sat up straight, his limp and trembling body trembling.

"Hundreds of people have been killed or wounded in the battle just now."

He took out a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped his sweat, then slowly said in a trembling voice, "Now, including me, there are about two thousand people left, but..."

At this point, he suddenly paused, looked up sharply at Yuzuriha, and forced an ugly smile: "Not counting me, there are about 1,999 left."

"...What?"

Yuzuriha stared in astonishment at his most incompetent and timid playmate since childhood, and for a moment he couldn't quite tell whether his words meant the way he understood them.

"Yang Jie, what kind of look is that?"

Uzumaki Tetsuya wiped the sweat from his forehead, his protruding belly rising and falling slightly, maintaining that ugly smile on his face: "I'm an incompetent guy, a coward. I don't even know why I was able to climb to this position. I've always been hiding behind everyone else and agreeing with them. I've never made my own decisions and always accepted the status and tasks given to me by others."

"But at least this time, I want to make my own decision."

He looked up at the crowd in front of him, exhaled, and his expression gradually calmed as he said, "Yes, that's right, I'm incompetent, I'm cowardly, but... I'm not weak."

"If Yang Jie, as the clan leader, can face death, why can't I, as a great name? Therefore, you may leave, except for a few people—no, only me..."

Snapped!

Before the imposing figure could finish speaking, a cane struck him directly on the forehead, leaving a red, stick-shaped mark.

"hiss!"

Uzumaki Tetsuya gasped in pain, turning to look at the old man beside him, clutching his forehead and nearly crying out, "Elder, why did you hit me?!"

"I'm hitting you, you little brat! What nonsense are you spouting?"

The elder looked even angrier than him, brandishing his cane and spitting as he cursed, "You want us old folks to abandon the land our clan has protected for generations and run away?"

"How are we old folks supposed to face our ancestors after this?!"

I'm experiencing writer's block. There's one more chapter, so it'll be a little late QAQ

py: The first rays of dawn shatter the darkness!

(End of this chapter)