Chapter 121

With the crisis in the Land of Whirlpools over, the future of the Uzumaki Clan still rested on the shoulders of Uzumaki Suihei, the clan head. 

Recently, he found himself living each day under the weight of a difficult decision, plagued by sleepless nights as Mochizuki Hui's words echoed in his mind.

Slowly, Suihei realized that the Uzumaki Clan now stood at a critical crossroads. 

One misstep, and their fate could be sealed in disaster. The world had changed drastically since the Warring States Era. 

Back then, the clans held the greatest power and ruled as independent forces. A mighty clan was its own authority, protected by its own strength.

But as the era of the Hidden Villages dawned, clans across the shinobi world fell from dominance. 

In the current age, even the most powerful clans found themselves defenseless against the might of the Five Great Hidden Villages. It wasn't just the Uzumaki Clan. No clan, regardless of strength, could thrive independently in the new world order.

Now, the only viable path for any clan was to integrate with a powerful Hidden Village, developing under its protection—just as the Uchiha and Hyuga with Konoha, the Kamizuru with Iwagakure, and the Hozuki with Kirigakure had done. 

Each of these clans still retained significant influence within their villages, and they faced little of the danger that loomed over independent clans.

While forming a large Hidden Village on their own was another option, Suihei knew this path was nearly impossible. Building a Hidden Village required rapid expansion, an influx of people, and resources they simply did not have. 

The clans would need countless children, raised and trained over time, to form a sufficient force for a village. But realistically, it was an impossible task.

Suihei knew what he had to do to safeguard the clan's future; he saw it clearly. The only path forward was to join a powerful village. But the Uzumaki were different from other clans. 

They had already achieved the ultimate goal of a clan: forming their own nation, a symbol of their independence and strength. The Uzumaki Clan had always been proud of this, and it had set them apart from others.

However, this very independence now barred them from gaining the shelter they needed. As a fully-fledged shinobi nation, they were like a sapling growing in the shade of towering trees. 

They were perceived as a competitor by the Great Villages, and Suihei knew that none would tolerate an independent power in their midst.

He had long understood these risks but had avoided facing the decision. The Whirlpools' alliance with Konoha seemed secure enough, and he had thought that at least during his time, the clan might be spared any major threat. 

It was a comforting illusion, but the recent crisis had shattered it. The Uzumaki, far from secure, were merely viewed as a prize by stronger powers. The slightest opportunity would see them torn apart.

This time, they had survived. But what about next time? How could they defend themselves when they were already so weakened? If he didn't make a choice soon, he might become known as the clan head who lost the Uzumaki homeland and condemned the clan to ruin.

Now, two paths lay before him:

One, continue as before, with high odds of losing everything.

Or two, dissolve the Land of Whirlpools and seek refuge under Konoha. Such a choice would be a betrayal of his father's vision, the dream of a proud Uzumaki nation.

Faced with these painful choices, Suihei grew frustrated. He wished he could pass this burden to someone else.

Unless... he could simply step down?

The thought struck him suddenly. He could choose to leave the position. 

That way, he wouldn't be the one dismantling the Land of Whirlpools, and he could avoid the guilt of undoing his father's legacy. Once he stepped aside, the responsibility would fall to someone else.

"Yes, I could step down!" Suihei decided at once. He would resign as both clan head and the Daimyō of the Land of Whirlpools. And as for his successor, the choice was obvious: his daughter, Uzumaki Mina.

Mina was young, but that wasn't an issue. As his daughter and the granddaughter of the previous clan head, she was the natural choice. And while her strength wasn't quite on par for a leader yet, Suihei could guide her from the sidelines until she grew into the role.

"Then it's decided," he murmured with a smile, his heart lighter than it had been in weeks.

Soon after, Suihei called a high-level meeting and presented his proposal, explaining the necessity of joining Konoha. 

Faced with the facts, the Uzumaki elders, all survivors of the recent events, quickly agreed to his proposal. They understood the dangers of isolation all too well now.

As for Suihei's decision to appoint Mina as the new clan head, none objected. The Uzumaki had always observed a strong tradition of direct succession, and as Mina was from the main family line, her position was a natural one.

 Furthermore, her role would present an opportunity for others to join the main family line through marriage, which was an appealing prospect for the various branches of the clan.

And so, at just seventeen, Uzumaki Mina found herself unexpectedly crowned as the clan head of the Uzumaki and the Daimyō of the Land of Whirlpools.

Well… it only lasted for a few days though.

Her first act as Daimyō was to initiate negotiations with Mochizuki Hui regarding the Uzumaki's integration into Konoha.

Hui, naturally, welcomed the move, though he pointed out that the final decision rested with the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju. Tobirama, upon hearing of this unexpected yet advantageous proposal, was more than happy to approve the Uzumaki Clan's request.

Mina, then, issued her first and only command as Daimyō of the Land of Whirlpools: the dissolution of the country.

As the newly appointed clan head, she declared the Uzumaki Clan's relocation to the Land of Fire, officially joining Konoha.

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