Chapter 2: Being a Child Makes Everything So Difficult!

Before Uzumaki Satori even stepped into the meeting room, he could already hear the elders shouting in anger.

"Damn Konoha, how can they do this? How dare they do this?" one elder roared, slamming the table. "How much did we sacrifice for Konoha during the war? What about the promises Lord Hashirama made to us back then?"

"What about the Senju clan's vow to stand together with us ?"

"How could they treat us like this?"

"Clan Head, what did the Hokage say?" another elder asked calmly.

"The Hokage said that after the war, the village's strength has been depleted and they are unable to assist us."

"Heh, can't help us? If that's the case, then how does Kirigakure still have the strength to attack us? Didn't they also go through the war? Weren't they one of the defeated villages?"

And Konoha...

Was one of the victors...

"Konoha is truly disappointing!!"

"What about the Senju clan?" the elder asked again, still calm, but the clenched fist betrayed his inner fury.

"The Senju clan wanted to help us, but they were stopped by the Hokage—especially by Tobirama's disciple, Danzō. He said that although they sympathize with Uzushiogakure's plight, due to the war, Konoha hasn't recovered and cannot offer support."

"Damn it, those bastards, I just want to kill them all!"

The entire hall of Uzumaki clan members erupted in anger.

"We gave everything to help them during the war—how can they treat us like this?"

"Weren't we supposed to be lifelong allies? Don't they realize that Uzushiogakure is already..."

"We've lost so much in the war. We can't stop Kirigakure anymore," one elder said regretfully, hanging his head.

"Is there really no way out for Uzushiogakure?"

"There is a way!"

As sorrow filled the room, a young voice rang out. Everyone turned to see a six or seven-year-old boy walk in through the door.

"It's little Satori!" The clan head saw Uzumaki Satori walk in and said sternly, "This is not a place for children."

Since the country was founded by the Uzumaki clan, nearly everyone in the nation was part of the clan.

"Little Satori, go back now. This isn't a place for you," the Daimyō said, completely ignoring Satori's words about having a plan. No one believed that a child, no matter how bright, could have a solution to save Uzushiogakure.

"Dad, Clan Head Uncle," Satori greeted both the Daimyō and the clan head. Then, frowning seriously, the small child walked up to the front and completely ignored his father's signaling glances.

He dragged a chair over, climbed onto it, and slammed his tiny hand down on the table. Smack—

Still too young. His little hand wasn't loud or crisp enough.

"What do you think you're doing?"

"Satori, you shouldn't be disrespecting the elders!" the clan head scolded, worried that the youngest genius of the Uzumaki clan might lose favor with the elders.

Especially in these war-torn times—if the worst comes to pass—hope rests on the younger generation.

But Satori ignored the clan head. He raised his still-childish voice and said solemnly, "When Konoha asked us for support, I said they couldn't be trusted. But you dismissed me as a child who didn't understand. You said the Uzumaki and Konoha had a friendship spanning generations."

"When Clan Head Uncle went to Konoha for aid, I told you they wouldn't help us and that you should start preparing for war. Still, you didn't believe me. You thought the friendship between our clans would ensure their support."

"But look now! After all our help in the war, what did we get? And how are they treating us now that Kirigakure is invading?"

"Are you still going to be so naive?" Satori shouted.

"Th-this..."

All the elders exchanged looks as silence fell over the meeting room.

That's right—Satori had warned them. But they had ignored him, dismissed his youth, and failed to trust their own clansman, leading to the dire situation they now faced...

They had been more shortsighted than a child.

Tears welled up in the eyes of the elders.

How ridiculous!

"Konoha is no longer the Konoha it used to be," Satori sighed. After Hashirama's death, Konoha changed. Satori lamented that he was too young—no matter how reasonable his words, people would just laugh and dismiss them.

No matter what he said, people took it as a joke.

"Ah..." The Grand Elder lifted his wrinkled face and looked at Satori with choked emotion. "I'm sorry. Because of us old fools, things have come to this. We've let down the Uzumaki clan."

Seeing the remorse on the faces of the Grand Elder and others, Satori was relieved. This was why he loved the Uzumaki clan so much—they weren't the kind to stubbornly cling to their pride. They were straightforward, honest people. That was also why they had trusted Konoha so easily and why their country remained free of corruption. Life in Uzushiogakure was carefree and joyful—unlike the false peace of Konoha.

But because their leaders were too naive, they'd been taken advantage of—and their property stolen—by Konoha.

"We trusted outsiders instead of our own clansman."

"We've truly failed the Uzumaki clan."

With tears falling, the elders reflected in guilt. The Clan Head and the Daimyō were also sorrowful. Their poor decisions had brought Uzushiogakure to the brink of destruction.

"No, Grand Elder, Clan Head Uncle, there's still hope. Uzushiogakure won't fall," Satori said earnestly, bowing. "Please believe in me."

Now you believe me, don't you? I may be young, but I'm not just any Uzumaki!

Unlike the airheaded Uzumaki survivors seen throughout the Naruto timeline...

Uzumaki Mito—while her homeland was being destroyed and her people slaughtered—was only concerned with managing her husband's estate.

Naruto—the prince of the village—was bullied and mocked as a child, fed expired food, all while being brainwashed by "Will of Fire" propaganda into sacrificing himself for Konoha.

Nagato—the leader of the greatest criminal organization—ignored the people around him and died crying over his friend's dream after being talked down by Naruto, despite having even killed his own teacher!

As for Karin... stabbed by her crush, yet still said, "I forgive you, as long as you're happy, I'm happy." What kind of woman...?

Satori thought silently, Why didn't I ever meet a girlfriend like that back in my last life?

The elders exchanged glances. The Grand Elder sighed. "Tell us your plan. The Clan Head and we elders will follow your lead. The entire Uzumaki clan will follow you."

No situation could be worse than now. So why not give this young genius a chance?

If only they had listened earlier...

Satori brightened upon hearing the Grand Elder's words and looked toward his father, the Daimyō.

The Daimyō, seeing his son's expression, sighed, his face a mix of pride and guilt. This crisis was his fault for misjudging Konoha. Now everything rested on his child's shoulders. Smiling, he said, "From now on, all of Uzushiogakure will follow your command."

"Mm." Satori nodded seriously. "Uzushiogakure will not fall. It will become stronger than ever!"

"Please believe in me."

"Uzumaki Satori!!"

Though the country was small, its people had an advantage—they were mostly Uzumaki clan members. Most were shinobi. Even civilians had vast chakra and lifespans beyond the average.

Satori believed that with the united power of the nation, they could withstand Kirigakure—at least until the war ended. If Kirigakure kept attacking post-war, the other villages wouldn't sit idly by.

Because...

You what? Still trying to grab land even after a ceasefire? That's not right!

For the sake of peace, we must act.

Especially Konoha, the self-proclaimed ambassador of peace, wouldn't just watch Uzushiogakure fall. After all, they were supposedly allies.

Konoha still cared about reputation!

"Therefore, I declare Uzushiogakure officially enters wartime preparation. Only this way do we have a sliver of hope," Satori said seriously.

"But the civilians..." The elders were hesitant. Making the whole country a battlefield was too cruel.

"No, the civilians, children, women, and elderly—I have other arrangements," Satori replied. "I've been preparing a place for them since last year."

If only they had trusted him, he could've started digging the shelters sooner.

"You mean that tunnel you were digging?" the clan head asked. They all knew about it but assumed it was just a child's game and didn't interfere.

"Yes." Satori nodded. "It's big enough to hide all the civilians of Uzushiogakure."

After a year of work—and help from ninjas—it was massive. Though finding earth-natured shinobi was tough, as the country mostly had wind and water affinities.

It cost him a fortune!!

"Looks like young Satori was preparing all along." The Grand Elder smiled. Their faith in him grew stronger. Perhaps... there was hope.

"We'll follow your orders now. Give the command, Lord Satori," the elders said seriously this time—not out of desperation, but with sincere belief.

Satori didn't hesitate. "First step: calm the people's hearts."

(T/N: Did I pick novel where MC's brain was all about girl? Hope not... BTW give me your powerstonessss!)