Chapter 116: Reactions Across the Ninja World – The Birth of Uruk

The news of Uruk's establishment spread like wildfire across the Ninja world. What was once a quiet land known as the Land of Demons had suddenly become the epicenter of a grand new kingdom, ruled by none other than Gilgamesh, the self-proclaimed King of Heroes. His mighty proclamation echoed far beyond Uruk's borders, sending ripples through every village, every town, and every country.

But how would the world react to the rise of this new empire?

Konoha: Divided Opinions

In Konoha, the Leaf Village, reactions to the sudden emergence of Uruk were mixed. It was no surprise that taverns, restaurants, and street corners were filled with curious chatter as ordinary villagers debated what the establishment of a new kingdom would mean for the future of their world.

In a bustling ramen shop, a group of shinobi were gathered around a table, slurping noodles and passionately discussing the hot topic of the day: Uruk.

"I'm telling you, this Gilgamesh guy is the real deal! Did you see how fast they built that kingdom? It's like magic!" one shinobi exclaimed, his chopsticks waving in the air.

"Pfft," another scoffed, folding his arms. "So what if they built a shiny new kingdom? They're still in the Land of Demons. That place is a backwater. Nothing good ever comes from there."

An elderly villager, sitting in the corner with his bowl of miso soup, shook his head. "You youngsters don't get it. It's not about the land. It's about the man. A king like that, he'll have ambitions that go beyond his little kingdom. Mark my words, we'll be hearing from Uruk again soon."

"King of Heroes, my foot," another shinobi chimed in, his tone skeptical. "What does that even mean? Some fancy title to make him sound more important."

A civilian, who had been quietly listening to the conversation, leaned forward, a serious expression on his face. "You should be careful about underestimating rulers like him. If half the stories are true, Gilgamesh has treasures and power that could rival even the Kages."

The group fell silent for a moment, contemplating the possibilities. Could Uruk pose a threat? Or was it just another fleeting political experiment doomed to fail?

The Kage's Chamber: Conflict of Views

While the villagers of Konoha debated the rise of Uruk in their usual places, a more serious discussion was unfolding in the Hokage's office. Danzo, always the warmonger, was fuming with frustration.

"This is an outrage!" Danzo shouted, slamming his fist onto the wooden table. The veins in his forehead were bulging as he glared at Sarutobi Hiruzen, the Third Hokage. "We must attack Uruk immediately and destroy it before it has the chance to grow into a legitimate threat."

Sarutobi, sitting calmly behind his desk, took a slow puff from his pipe, letting the smoke drift lazily into the air before responding. "Attacking Uruk would be reckless, Danzo. Konoha is still recovering from the aftermath of the war. We don't have the resources to engage in another conflict, especially not with a kingdom we know so little about."

"Recovering?!" Danzo barked. "Hokage, if we let Uruk establish itself now, it will become a larger problem in the future. That Gilgamesh is no ordinary man. He'll stop at nothing to expand his territory."

Hiruzen sighed and tapped his fingers on the table. "I understand your concerns, but launching an attack now would only destabilize Konoha further. Our allies would see it as aggression, and our enemies would take advantage of our weakened state. We need to focus on our own recovery before we can afford to interfere with Uruk."

Danzo's face twisted into a sneer. "Your soft approach will be the ruin of Konoha. You'll see." With that, he turned on his heel and stormed out of the office, his mind already racing with thoughts of how to convince the village elders to take action.

Hiruzen watched him leave, a troubled expression settling on his face. The rise of Uruk was no small matter, but Konoha wasn't ready for another war. Not yet.

The Village Hidden in the Sand: Disarray and Hesitation

In the Wind Country, the situation was even more chaotic. The Sand Village, already strained by internal political conflict, found itself unsure of how to respond to the sudden appearance of Uruk. The ordinary villagers in the streets, however, had no shortage of opinions.

In the marketplace, a group of merchants were deep in conversation as they set up their stalls.

"Have you heard about that new kingdom in the Land of Demons?" one merchant asked, laying out fabrics for sale.

"Yeah, Uruk, right? Some hotshot king named Gilgamesh is running the place now," another merchant replied, shaking his head. "The audacity of it! Establishing a kingdom right under everyone's noses like that."

A third merchant, adjusting his wares, snorted. "Hah! Who cares? It's the Land of Demons. Let them do whatever they want. It's not like they'll come to the desert anytime soon."

"Well, I wouldn't be so sure about that," the first merchant muttered. "Kingdoms like that don't stay put for long. If they start expanding, who knows what could happen?"

Meanwhile, in the Kazekage's office, the leadership was as fractured as ever. The Third Kazekage sat at his desk, his fingers pressed together in deep thought. Chiyo, the village's elder and puppeteer master, stood beside him, her face wrinkled with concern.

"We should stay out of this," Chiyo said, her voice firm. "The last thing the Sand needs is to involve itself in another conflict. We're barely managing as it is."

The Third Kazekage nodded slowly. "I agree. Uruk's rise is concerning, but we don't have the resources to deal with it. We'll monitor the situation closely, but for now, we stay out of it."

Chiyo sighed in relief. "Good. The last thing we need is to be dragged into another mess. Let the other villages deal with it."

But even as the leadership of the Sand decided to stay neutral, there was an undercurrent of unease running through the village. Ordinary citizens whispered among themselves about Uruk's audacity, but for now, the Sand would remain in the shadows, watching and waiting.

The Village Hidden in the Mist: An Opportunist's Reaction

Far to the east, in the Land of Water, the Mist Village was already preparing to exploit the situation. The Fourth Mizukage, a man known for his ruthless pragmatism, saw Uruk's rise as an opportunity.

Sitting in his private chambers, the Mizukage leaned back in his chair, a sly smile creeping onto his face.

"Uruk, huh?" he muttered to himself, steepling his fingers. "A new kingdom with a king who believes himself invincible. This could be interesting."

He glanced over at the scrolls piled on his desk, intelligence reports from his spies. There was little concrete information on Gilgamesh, but the very fact that he had managed to establish a kingdom so quickly was proof of his power.

The Mizukage's smile widened. "Let's see how this plays out. If Uruk proves strong enough, maybe we'll offer them an alliance. And if not… well, there's always profit to be made from a kingdom's fall."

The Village Hidden in the Clouds: Watching with Interest

In the high mountains of the Land of Lightning, the Village Hidden in the Clouds was also taking note of Uruk's rise, though their reaction was more measured.

The Raikage, a towering man with a sharp mind and an even sharper temper, stood with his arms crossed as he stared out over the village from his office window.

"Uruk," he said quietly, his voice a low rumble. "A kingdom in the Land of Demons. Gilgamesh, the King of Heroes, they're calling him."

His assistant, standing nearby, nodded. "Yes, Raikage-sama. The reports indicate that he's already recruited several powerful individuals, including former members of various villages."

The Raikage grunted. "We'll keep an eye on them. No need to act hastily. If they start causing trouble, we'll deal with them. But for now, let's see what this so-called 'King of Heroes' is really made of."

---

As the news of Uruk continued to spread and the villages weighed their options, Yuta and Gilgamesh were enjoying a peaceful moment back in Uruk, strolling through the bustling streets of their newly established kingdom.

"So, Gil," Yuta began, trying to keep a straight face, "have you ever thought about getting a pet? You know, something like a dog or a cat?"

Gilgamesh raised an eyebrow, clearly perplexed. "A pet? Why would I, the King of Heroes, need a pet? I already have the entire world at my feet."

Yuta snorted. "Come on, man. Imagine it—'Gilgamesh, King of Heroes, Master of Puppies.' Doesn't that sound great?"

Gilgamesh shot him a withering look. "Yuta, if I wanted a loyal companion, I would summon one from my treasury. I don't need some… domesticated animal."

Yuta chuckled, shrugging. "Alright, alright. But just wait. One day, you'll be ruling this whole kingdom with a corgi sitting on your lap. I can see it now."

Gilgamesh groaned. "I regret ever allowing you to remain in Uruk."

Yuta only laughed harder, enjoying the rare moment of lightheartedness in the midst of their grand ambitions.