Chapter 37: Better One Beast in Hand Than Nine in the Forest.

Adamantine Sealing Chains!!

All members of the Uzumaki Clan immediately understood when they saw Uzumaki Kai use this technique.

The Uzumaki Clan's sealing technique, designed to suppress tailed beasts, instantly galvanized everyone. They exchanged glances and roared, shouting "For Uzushiogakure!" as they charged into the battlefield.

They knew the Kirigakure shinobi would never stand by and watch the tailed beasts get bound by chains—they would surely attack.

"Adamantine Sealing Chains!"

Another person used the Adamantine Sealing Chains on the Six-Tails, Saiken, immobilizing another tailed beast.

However...

As expected, the Kirigakure forces would not stand idly by while the tailed beasts were restrained. Under Hōzuki Gengetsu's orders, they launched a full-scale assault.

Damn it, this time the Uzumaki wouldn't be playing cat and mouse, would they?

Hōzuki Gengetsu glared furiously at the Uzumaki Clan, who had finally revealed themselves in full force. Now was the time for Kirigakure to settle old scores, vengeance would be theirs. He refused to believe the Uzumaki still had that many explosive tags left. Even if they did...

Couldn't they just retreat?

Moreover, seeing the Uzumaki Clan's ability to bind tailed beasts filled him with dread.

No wonder the entire shinobi world turned a blind eye to Kirigakure's invasion of Uzushiogakure, even seeming to welcome it. This ability was terrifying! They could actually suppress tailed beasts!

The only reason the Uzumaki Clan wasn't more feared was their lack of Kage-level shinobi. Otherwise, a single ultra S-rank jutsu would be enough to make even a tailed beast suffer.

So...

Hōzuki Gengetsu's eyes hardened with ruthless determination. "Annihilate the Uzumaki Clan."

If they succeeded, Konoha would never be able to provide the Nine-Tails with a luxurious "prison" again. Then, all villages would be on equal footing.

"Understood!"

The Kirigakure shinobi surged toward the Uzumaki forces. The Uzumaki, however, were not about to wait passively for death. They immediately used the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique to block the enemy.

Honestly, His Highness Jun's tactic was incredibly effective!

"What do we do now?" The clan leader watched the chaotic battlefield with deep concern. "These are tailed beasts!"

"Ah..." The elder sighed. "It's time for us old folks to step up."

All the elders fell silent. They understood the elder's meaning—this was a call for them to stake their lives, to fight for the future of the Uzumaki Clan and Uzushiogakure.

The elders' eyes burned with resolve, as if to say...

Bring it on!

So what if they were tailed beasts? So what if it was Kirigakure? Uzushiogakure had never feared anyone!

"I wonder how little Jun is doing?" The elder gazed at the chaotic battlefield, his heart heavy with worry. He had gone to check the hiding place earlier but found no trace of Uzumaki Jun. Anxiety gnawed at him—he prayed nothing had happened to the boy.

"Jun—it's Jun!" Suddenly, the second elder pointed in a direction and exclaimed, "He's over there!"

The clan leader and the other elders immediately followed his finger, their hearts seizing with fear. "What the hell is that brat doing there?"

...

Uzumaki Jun exchanged for the Flying Thunder God Technique and then purchased several specially crafted shuriken from the system.

Damn, they cost 10,000 each, ridiculously expensive! But this was an emergency. He had no time to waste.

After completing the exchange, he immediately flew toward the battlefield. Frowning at the Kirigakure shinobi charging forward, he then saw the Uzumaki Clan members recklessly rushing in with their real bodies, roaring like madmen.

His heart sank. Hadn't he gone to great lengths to ensure so many Uzumaki survived? And now they were just throwing themselves into battle like idiots? What if too many died?

But then...

He saw them using shadow clones and felt a flicker of relief. At least he had managed to train these stubborn warriors to use shadow clones—even if they were still...

Stubborn warriors!

Seeing the two tailed beasts immobilized, he knew he only had one ultra S-rank jutsu at his disposal. He could only take down one. Moreover, Uzumaki Kai and the others wouldn't be able to hold the tailed beasts much longer with the Adamantine Sealing Chains.

But which one should he target?

Uzumaki Jun stole a glance at the furious Hōzuki Gengetsu, who was practically hopping in rage. The man must be having a hard time too.

He had thought he had forced the Uzumaki's main force out, only to find...

They were still using shadow clones?!

"Should I just kill the Mizukage?" The thought flashed through Jun's mind, but he immediately dismissed it.

If he really killed the Mizukage, it would become an endless blood feud. Sure, the destruction of their nation was already a mortal grudge, but...

Uzushiogakure was still too weak. Behind them stood the scheming Konoha, and lurking in the shadows was Madara, fighting for his dreams. The thought filled him with sorrow. What had the Uzumaki Clan ever done to deserve so many enemies?

Without strength, the only option was to bide their time.

Uzumaki Jun quickly refocused. These worries could wait until Uzushiogakure was at peace. Right now, the priority was taking down one tailed beast. As for the other...

They could try negotiating. If that failed, they'd have to rely on sheer numbers.

He summoned the one-time-use jutsu card from the beginner's gift pack—Sage Art: Wind Release: Super Great Ball Spiraling Shuriken.

His eyes hardened with resolve.

He threw a special shuriken at the Three-Tails and vanished from the spot.

Then...

"Sage Art: Wind Release: Super Great Ball Spiraling Shuriken!" he roared.

...

"What's happening?" Uzumaki Kushina blinked her large eyes. What was that massive tremor just now? Even the underground shelter was shaking, twice! Her heart clenched. Could it be...

Had something gone wrong outside?

"What's the matter?" A gentle red-haired woman, around twenty years old, stroked Kushina's hair and smiled. "Why the frown?"

Though Uzumaki Fusō was also frightened by the tremors, seeing the adorable girl's worried expression eased her heart a little. At least the Uzumaki Clan hadn't abandoned its civilians.

So...

They had to trust their nation.

"Mm." Hearing Fusō's words, Kushina snapped out of her thoughts and shook her head. "It's nothing."

Then, she stared at Fusō's swollen belly and blinked her sparkling eyes. "Is there a little brother in there?"

Big Brother Jun will definitely be fine!!

"Pfft!" Fusō burst into laughter at Kushina's words and gently patted her head. "Or maybe a little sister as cute as you?"

"Hehe!" Kushina giggled shyly at the praise.

"How do you know so many songs? You're amazing!"

"Not really. Big Brother Jun taught me all of them."

"His Highness Jun? He really is an incredible person."

...