Uzumaki Jun led Uzumaki Kai toward the border of the Land of Fire, heading in the direction of the Land of Whirlpools.
As for why he didn't just use the Flying Thunder God Technique to return, it was because Uzumaki Jun had a doubt in his heart. He was waiting for someone, waiting for someone to come recruit him into an organization!!
Meanwhile, Uzumaki Kai found it completely reasonable. The shinobi world had a strange mentality where it seemed ninjutsu had to be reserved for critical moments. For everything else—traveling, casual conversations, camping—they generally avoided using ninjutsu recklessly.
Perhaps it was because they feared running out of chakra and being unable to react if an unexpected situation arose!
This was probably why ninjutsu was rarely applied to daily life.
But...
"Why hasn't this Zetsu shown up yet?" Uzumaki Jun was filled with doubt. Was it because he hadn't been making enough of a stir lately??
Or did Zetsu look down on him, Uzumaki Jun??
Did Zetsu think his strength wasn't enough?
Why hadn't he come to recruit him yet?
At this rate, he was about to return to the Land of Whirlpools.
Was Zetsu secretly planning something??
Waiting until a few of his relatives died to push him into darkness before appearing??
Just like what happened with Nagato and Obito??
The more Uzumaki Jun thought about it, the more it gave him a headache. You call yourselves a peace alliance, but why do you only recruit people who have either fallen into darkness or are... artists with mental issues??
This was a gathering of people with criminal records!
Was it because only those who had committed crimes understood how hard-won peace was???
This wasn't an organization seeking peace in the shinobi world. It was clearly just a den of shady individuals!
But...
How was he supposed to join their organization now?
He, Uzumaki Jun, also wanted to contribute to the peace of the shinobi world!
To become the first leader of a self-proclaimed peace organization, redefine the group's ideals, and guide these lost souls toward peace!!
Yet...
No one came to recruit him!
He was almost at the Land of Whirlpools. Did he really have to achieve the milestone of his country's destruction and the death of most of his relatives before they would recruit him??
The membership conditions were way too complicated!!
"This is such a headache!!" Uzumaki Jun rubbed his temples. Unlike Obito, Nagato, or Itachi, he had no intention of walking that path!!
Besides, the future depicted in over 700 episodes had already proven that method wouldn't work!
Forget it. If Zetsu didn't show up soon, he would just return to the Land of Whirlpools and forge his own path...
Moreover, he never intended to directly copy Madara and Zetsu's method. Forcefully seizing the tailed beasts was far too dangerous.
As long as he worked hard to develop the shinobi world, advanced technology, and promoted peace, rendering shinobi and tailed beasts obsolete, wouldn't he just be able to buy them from the villages with money later?
Why bother scheming in the shadows?
Uzumaki Jun just couldn't understand...
When no one even knew what was going on, why did they immediately cast themselves as the villains?
When they could have just blocked Nagato's ears and captured the tailed beasts one village at a time, why did they have to operate so slowly in the shadows?
When Obito could have secretly infiltrated villages to kidnap their jinchūriki, why did they have to reveal the organization's strength by sending two members at a time??
So...
Zetsu simply had no brains!
If the Akatsuki wanted to grow, it needed a new leader.
"Lord Jun, is something wrong?" Uzumaki Kai seemed to notice Uzumaki Jun's distress and asked in confusion. Though he didn't understand why Lord Jun had acted so unusually toward that blond kid in Konoha, as a shinobi, he didn't ask. But this time, Lord Jun seemed deeply troubled.
"Sigh, I want to join the shinobi world's peacekeeping force, but I can't find a recruiter." Uzumaki Jun sighed.
"Huh??" Uzumaki Kai was even more confused upon hearing Lord Jun's words. He... didn't understand.
"Ah, it's nothing." Uzumaki Jun snapped out of it and smiled. "We'll reach the border soon..."
However...
Uzumaki Jun's expression suddenly sharpened. He turned to Uzumaki Kai and said, "Wait for me up ahead. I'll catch up soon."
"Lord Jun!" Uzumaki Kai wanted to refuse. After all, he had promised the clan head that no matter what happened, he would not leave Lord Jun's side. Just from Lord Jun's expression, he could tell something was wrong.
"It's fine. I just ran into an acquaintance." Uzumaki Jun smiled. "Don't worry, I have space-time ninjutsu. Nothing will happen."
"But..." Uzumaki Kai had intended to refuse, but seeing Lord Jun's resolute expression, he could only nod reluctantly. "Understood!"
Then, he turned and ran toward the border.
Watching Uzumaki Kai leave, Uzumaki Jun scanned his surroundings and said coldly, "Come out!!"
Finally, the recruiter had arrived!
...
Land of Whirlpools...
"Everyone, hurry up." The daimyo, wearing a hat and holding a paper baton, watched the workers laying bricks below and said, "Tomorrow's a day off, but no slacking today!"
"Lord Daimyo, does what you said about drinking tonight still count?" a worker asked cheerfully. "It's been a while since any of us had a drink."
"Yeah! Yeah!" An old man laying bricks nearby chuckled. "Lord Daimyo, don't go back on your word!"
"Of course! I am the former daimyo of the Land of Whirlpools, the father of the current daimyo." Uzumaki Kyō declared proudly.
"I've already submitted a request for the alcohol." He pulled out a slip from his pocket.
"See this? This is the approved slip. Once the work is done, we'll go get it. Drink as much as you want!"
"And..."
"Call me Supervisor!!" Uzumaki Kyō shouted.
"YEAH!!" The entire site erupted in cheers.
"Alright, alright, get back to work!" Uzumaki Kyō said sternly. "If today's workload isn't finished, no alcohol for anyone!!"
Though he spoke proudly, he was sweating inside. This batch of alcohol... had come from his private savings!!
Seriously!
That new finance minister—didn't he know he was Uzumaki Jun's father?
He had actually rejected his request for alcohol, saying something about not drinking during work hours...
If they wanted to drink, they had to pay for it themselves.
"Sigh, good thing I hid this money where Meirin wouldn't find it. Otherwise, I'd be in trouble!!" Uzumaki Kyō lamented inwardly before shouting at the workers, "Hurry up!"
"This batch of houses is extremely important. Earth-nature shinobi, make sure the foundations are solid!"
"Tazuna, keep a close eye on things. No mistakes allowed! You're the one who boasted about being a master architect! If something goes wrong, you're responsible!"
"Haha, got it, Supervisor Kyō!" A young man laughed. "I guarantee there won't be any problems!"
"By the way, Supervisor Kyō, what are these houses for?" Tazuna asked curiously. Originally, they were just simple wooden structures. Why were they suddenly building these... concrete two-story houses?