Chapter 12 : Two A-Rank Ninjutsu

Gazing upon the eager anticipation in the eyes of those looking forward,the clan head Uzumaki Kiyoshi, hesitated for a moment before speaking directly.

"Don't overthink it. The Senju clan has informed us."

With a sigh, Kiyoshi revealed his own hope that such an individual could truly come from higher ups in Konoha.

"It's exactly what Mito-sama relayed to us."

In the midst of the conversation, Kiyoshi's gaze shifted to Kazuhiko.

Initially, to demonstrate their sincerity, the clan had dispatched several elders to accompany the envoy to Konoha.

Their mission was to elucidate the situation to the Hokage and request Konoha's support.

However, as soon as Kazuhiko awoke after his accident, he promptly summoned clan head, Kiyoshi.

He dispatched a letter via a communication eagle to establish contact with the Senju clan.

He personally handed over the letter to Uzumaki Mito-sama.

At the time, Kiyoshi also had the opportunity to peruse the letter's contents, and it clearly articulated the terms.

Should Konoha deny the Uzumaki clan's entreaty, the letter implored Mito-sama to present it before the elders.

It implored her to intercede on behalf of the clan's welfare.

Even if the Senju clan could not extend their support, the request remained for Mito-sama to teach them two essential ninjutsu techniques.

The first being the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique.

The second being the Mutually Multiplying Explosive Tags.

These were the inspirations of Kazuhiko from his past life as a reader.

Having nearly relinquished all hope, he penned this letter with a mindset of trying against the odds.

Concern arose that several elders had already embarked for Konoha by then.

Perhaps, by the time the letter reached the Senju clan, the envoys might have already commenced their return journey.

Or possibly, Konoha had already dismissed their plea.

What transpired next was unexpected.

Not only did a response materialize, but Kazuhiko surmised that Konoha's higher authorities' decision had likely irked the Senju clan.

As a result, they not only communicated with the few elders dispatched by the Uzumaki clan but divulged the entirety of the high-level discussions.

The opposition and the reasons for their resistance were laid bare.

Witnessing the clarity in Kazuhiko's gaze, Kiyoshi signalled the elder with grey hair who had been silent for a while.

"Kazuhiko-sama, this is what Mito-sama instructed me to pass on to you."

With that statement, the elder produced two scrolls from his person and presented them to Kazuhiko.

"Mito-sama asserts that even if the Senju clan's aid is unattainable, the bond between the Senju and Uzumaki will remain steadfast."

"The Senju clan is vigorously endeavouring to sway the higher echelons of Konoha in favour of our cause."

As Kazuhiko listened to the elder's words, he nodded approvingly.

Meanwhile, he eagerly unsealed the scrolls and discovered upon inspection that they indeed contained the techniques he yearned for: the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique and the Mutually Multiplying Explosive Tags.

"Wonderful! These two techniques will significantly enhance the safety of ordinary ninjas and the populace. Moreover, we can allocate more resources for harassment tactics."

Although the delight on Kazuhiko's face was evident, others were puzzled by his jubilation.

After all, were these not merely two A-ranked ninjutsu? What warranted such elation?

Kazuhiko proceeded to elucidate the importance of these techniques to the assembly.

"The Multiple Shadow Clone Technique aligns seamlessly with the Uzumaki clan's strengths," he explained.

"The renown of the Uzumaki clan's chakra is recognized worldwide, and this technique perfectly harnesses that advantage."

"In times of need, we can multiply our forces, deploying dozens of clones to effectively address the issue of limited manpower."

"When combined with the Mutually Multiplying Explosive Tags, even the Shadow Clone itself becomes a potent threat."

"Opposing Jonin may find their lives hanging in the balance!"

Kazuhiko's words ushered in a wave of elation among the gathered clan members.

Finally, a glimmer of hope surfaced.

Having said this, Kiyoshi turned to his fellow kin beside him.

"Bring them forth."

And so, two individuals unveiled the scrolls, conjuring a veil of white smoke upon activation.

Within the haze, five wooden boxes emerged in the hall, each packed with explosive tags.

Observing the astonishment on everyone's faces, Kiyoshi grinned.

"These are all the explosive tags within our clan. Crafting these tags has always been one of our Uzumaki clan's distinctive traits."

"I've safeguarded these tags over the past days, in addition to those we had previously stockpiled. They're the cornerstone of our legacy!"

"There are no fewer than fifty million explosive tags here! When coupled with the Mutually Multiplying Explosive Tags ninjutsu, they'll surely leave our adversaries overwhelmed."

Seeing the boxes brimming with explosive tags, Kazuhiko couldn't contain his joy, a sentiment shared by others.

While it was already known that manufacturing explosive tags was one of the Uzumaki clan's main enterprises, the extent of their reserves only became apparent after speaking to Kiyoshi.

Initially expecting around twenty to thirty million, the unexpected tally of fifty million exceeded his estimations.

Evidently, these reserves constituted the clan's history and wealth.

Although these numbers couldn't rival those of the wealthy Konan of the future, within the small island nation of the Land of Whirlpools, they possessed the potential for mass destruction.

Even if this resulted in incurring substantial damages, the stakes were inconsequential.

Should the clan falter in this battle, their very existence would be imperilled—damage of infrastructures would pale in comparison.

Victory, on the other hand, would pave the way for repayment. The Uzumaki clan's prowess ensured that debts that would accumulate during the battle could be cleared within a month.

It was apparent Kiyoshi harboured a similar perspective, amassing such a vast supply of explosive tags within mere days.

Though the Uzumaki were impetuous, they were far from foolish, particularly the elder echelons.

Their collective demeanour communicated a shared sentiment, almost saying:

"Hey, hey... Who would've thought that you, the seemingly uncomplicated and straightforward fellow, could be this crafty!"

Kiyoshi's embarrassment was palpable in response to the chuckles echoing around him. Hastily, he changed the subject.

"In the days ahead, our focus shall be on mastering these two techniques. All clan members ranked above Chunin should be summoned for instruction."

"For the remaining days, this shall be our paramount endeavour—learning these two techniques!"

However, let's bear in mind that these are A-ranked ninjutsu, and not everyone possesses Naruto's innate aptitude to grasp them in a heartbeat.

Considering the average ninja, it's unlikely they'll master these techniques in a few days. Therefore, only Chunin and above are deemed qualified to learn.

Else, Genin might not solely fail in mastering these techniques, but also squander precious time and even injure themselves.