Chapter 3: It's Better to End This Superficial Brotherhood Early!

The first step in a great war is to calm the people's hearts. After all, in a war that involves the entire country and clan, if there's sabotage from within, it could be fatal!!

Facing the dazed citizens suddenly gathered below, the advantage of being a small country with a small population became apparent—it was very easy to summon the entire nation...

Uzumaki Satori suddenly felt a pang of heartache. Though the Land of Whirlpools was a nation, it was still too small. He glanced at the clan leader and daimyo standing beside him, took a deep breath, and stepped forward.

The clan leader and others exchanged glances and followed behind.

The people didn't understand why the ninja had summoned them all—especially seeing Lord Satori standing in front of both the clan leader and the daimyo!

Could it be... war?!

From the elders' solemn expressions, the citizens could tell something was wrong and quickly quieted down.

The clan leader stepped forward from Satori's left and loudly declared, "First, due to our poor decisions, we've brought the Land of Whirlpools to the brink of destruction. We apologize to everyone." Taking a deep breath, he and the elders behind him bowed deeply and said in unison, "We're sorry."

"No, no, it's not the clan leader's fault."

"That's right, it's all the fault of Kirigakure."

"They're to blame!"

"…"

Hearing the people's forgiveness, the clan leader's eyes filled with tears. This situation was caused by their own mistakes—ignoring the warnings of their clansmen and trusting promises from an outside village. And now...

It had come to this. Yet, the people of the Uzumaki clan and the Land of Whirlpools still believed in them. The clan leader clenched his fists tightly, a cold glint flashing in his heart—Konoha...

Seeing the worried and uneasy expressions below, he said, "Thank you all. Thank you for forgiving us. Thank you for still believing in us."

Wiping away his tears, the clan leader raised his head and declared seriously, "Second, from this moment forward, every member of the Uzumaki clan will follow Lord Satori's commands. Those who do not..." His sharp gaze swept over everyone, and he said word by word, "will be expelled from the Land of Whirlpools and removed from the Uzumaki clan register."

Keep in mind that this is just after the Warring States Period, and clan-based survival was still the norm. Being removed from the clan registry was a severe punishment.

"Whoa—."

The crowd erupted in surprise, but seeing the clan leader's stern face, they knew he wasn't joking. Everyone quickly calmed themselves, waiting for his orders.

Seeing the calm restored, the daimyo stepped forward and said, "In the name of the daimyo of the Land of Whirlpools, I now place the entire country under Uzumaki Satori's control. No matter the matter or person, even I will follow his direction."

Though this shocked the people again, they quickly quieted down. After all, the clan leader had just said something similar. Then...

"Yes!" everyone shouted in unison.

Now that the atmosphere was right, Uzumaki Satori stepped forward. His youthful face held an unusual seriousness as he declared, "I believe everyone knows me—first in line to inherit the Land of Whirlpools."

"But that's not what I want to talk about today. From this moment on, I will temporarily take command of the Land of Whirlpools and fight alongside you all against the invasion of Kirigakure."

"When we heard that Kirigakure was invading, I know everyone felt confused and anxious—but not afraid."

He paused.

"Because you all believed, just as the entire Uzumaki clan believed, that Konoha was the Land of Whirlpools' best friend and brother. That they would surely come to help us. But…"

Satori sighed and said, "You guessed wrong. We saw them as brothers, but they did not see us the same way. They used us, made us bleed and cry for them, made us sacrifice so much in war, lose so many family members. Yet when we called for help…"

Satori's eyes sharpened, his voice heavy.

"They refused."

"Whoa—." Everyone was shocked, gasps rising from the crowd.

"How is that possible?! That was a pact with Lord Hashirama!"

"How could they break their word?"

"Those bastards—how could they betray our friendship? Betray Lord Hashirama?!"

"…"

"Silence!" shouted the clan leader, clenching his fists. He was deeply unsettled too. They had trusted Konoha so much, and yet...

Truly, just superficial brothers!

At his words, the crowd fell silent again, but despair still lingered in their eyes. With only the Land of Whirlpools left, how could they possibly survive? Especially after sacrificing so many for Konoha... Was the nation really doomed?

"Yes, when you heard those words, you despaired—you were afraid," Satori said. Seeing the mood, he knew the blow had landed. Any further and they might lose their will to fight. That's how the Uzumaki clan was almost wiped out—poor preparation early on, and once Kirigakure's power became clear, their morale collapsed.

Satori changed his tone and spoke resolutely, "But in the name of the next daimyo of the Land of Whirlpools and acting clan head of the Uzumaki clan, I swear—the Land of Whirlpools will not perish! I will stand with the clan and country to the very end!"

At his words, a spark of hope appeared in their eyes, but quickly faded—who would believe the promise of a seven-year-old child?

Seeing this, the daimyo stepped forward. "In the name of the daimyo of the Land of Whirlpools, I swear that under Satori's leadership, our land will never fall. The Uzumaki clan and the Land of Whirlpools live and die together."

"I swear in the name of the Uzumaki clan leader—under Satori's lead, our country will not fall."

"I swear in the name of the Uzumaki clan elder—under Satori's lead, our country will not fall."

"I swear…"

The other clan elders stepped forward one by one.

Seeing that even the elders, the clan leader, and the daimyo believed in this seven-year-old, the commoners began to hope as well. If they believed, why shouldn't we?

"Now, citizens of the Land of Whirlpools, and members of the Uzumaki clan, hear me," Satori called, seeing their belief secured. "From this moment forward, forget that so-called brother—Konoha. The Land of Whirlpools can only rely on itself if we are to survive and become stronger."

It's best to forget those superficial brothers early on.

Otherwise… who knows when they'll betray you again.

"Yes—!" the people responded loudly.

"Ninjas, escort the elderly, women, and children into the underground shelters. Regardless of clan, all citizens of the Land of Whirlpools must go. Until the war ends, no one is to come out. I've prepared enough food to last six months. In that time, we will drive Kirigakure's ninjas out."

"Yes—!"

"Next, all jōnin and chūnin report for orders!"

Uzumaki Satori shouted loudly, "I now declare that the Land of Whirlpools is officially entering a wartime state. We will never be slaves of a fallen nation!"

"We will never be slaves!"

…

"Kushina?"

(T/N: Satori! Satori! Satori! Ehemm.. This is Holdaping.. give me you powerstones)