Disclaimer: Naruto and all of its character belong to Masashi Kishimoto. I own nothing but the original characters I make.
Chapter 171: Roran
—Queen Julia—
Roran was a breathtaking oasis nestled in the heart of a scorching desert, located approximately 70 kilometers from Sunagakure. Despite its harsh surroundings, the land thrived under the rule of a graceful and intelligent monarch—Queen Julia.
What made Roran truly remarkable was its technology, which far surpassed the current advancements in the shinobi world. The city had a sophisticated drainage system, and a shading mechanism that protected the people from the blazing desert sun. The temperature inside Roran was cooler compared to the surrounding desert, making it surprisingly good for farming and really comfortable place to live.
Although the land wasn't very vast, it was well-utilized. From Setsuna perspective, the city could house around 10,000 people, making it a hidden gem in the the desert.
As they approached, Setsuna and his group stood about 20 meters away from the outer gates of Roran. He took a moment to admire the city and then turned to his companions.
"What do you guys think of this place?" he asked, breaking the silence.
Instead of answering directly, Kirito tilted his head and asked in awe, "Sensei, how did they build such massive structures in the middle of the desert?"
"That's what I came here to find out," Setsuna replied with a thoughtful smile. "It's incredible how a single queen managed to turn a small patch of desert into a technological marvel."
Uzukage, who had remained silent until now, interrupted with a serious tone, "There aren't many ninja here, but I can feel a strong chakra presence."
"Yes, I can sense it too," Setsuna responded, his gaze sharp.
For the Uzumaki, sensing chakra came naturally. They were renowned for being some of the best sensory ninja in the world. Kirito and Kagami, however, were not trained in sensory techniques, so they couldn't detect the presence of the sealed chakra that lingered beneath the city.
Curious, Kagami asked, "Sensei, is that powerful chakra coming from the ruler of this place?"
Before Setsuna could respond, Uzukage answered, "No. It's not coming from a person. That chakra is being distributed throughout the entire village."
"Father's right," Setsuna nodded. "It's being channeled through the land itself. This whole place is being powered by it."
"You can feel it too?" asked Uzukage, slightly surprised by Setsuna's clarity.
"Yes. Based on my observation, there are only about ten chakra users here. The rest of the population seems to rely solely on the technology and this chakra source."
"No wonder they agreed so easily to join Sunagakure when it was formed," Uzukage muttered.
"Sensei, so you mean that energy is chakra?" Kagami asked, trying to make sense of what he had heard.
"That's right," Setsuna confirmed. "But we'll talk more about it later. For now, let's go meet the queen."
And with that, they walked forward, toward the heart of Roran—toward the mysterious Queen Julia.
---Visitor---
Queen Julia was, by all accounts, a gentle and kind-hearted ruler. She cared deeply for her people and ruled with compassion and wisdom. Throughout the chaotic Warring States period, Roran never engaged in any battles or conflict with neighboring countries. This was thanks to the legacy of her ancestors, who had governed Roran with a policy of neutrality and peace.
Roran itself was a small but remarkable nation hidden deep within the vast desert. Due to its isolated location, many outsiders had no idea such a place even existed. It was, in many ways, a hidden gem in the sands—shielded from the world and its endless wars.
Even when shinobi passed through the region, they rarely noticed anything unusual. No one ever suspected that Roran harbored something as powerful and mysterious as the Ryumyaku—a dormant, ancient chakra source buried deep beneath the land. Legends like Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha had never set foot in Roran, and the most prominent figure to visit was the Kazekage of Sunagakure.
Even he, despite his strength, had failed to detect the subtle energy pulsing from beneath the city. To him, Roran was valuable not because of chakra but because of its advanced infrastructure. Its immense, city-wide shades protected the populace from the unforgiving sun, and a freshwater oasis offered life in an otherwise barren land.
Upon discovering Roran, the Kazekage demanded Queen Julia's surrender. He threatened to send over 2,000 shinobi to annihilate her small nation if she refused. With only around 300 capable ninja under her command at the time, Julia had no choice but to yield. She submitted to Sunagakure's rule to protect her people from certain doom.
Unlike the powerful Daimyo who ruled vast territories and engaged in political maneuvering, Queen Julia governed only this modest domain. To the outside world, she was not a sovereign but more akin to a village chief or clan matriarch.
Following her surrender, the Kazekage insisted on taking the remaining Roran shinobi and relocating them to Sunagakure, likely for training and political control. Though heartbroken, Julia complied but made one request—she asked to retain a few trusted ninja to safeguard Roran. The Kazekage agreed and allowed her to choose ten of the strongest among them to remain by her side.
Perhaps moved by guilt, he even gifted them a powerful technique—the puppetry arts of Sunagakure. One of those ten shinobi passed the knowledge down to his son, Mukade, ensuring the tradition would continue in Roran for generations.
Years later, when a group of unfamiliar ninja arrived in Roran, it caused a stir among the city's leaders. These were not emissaries of Sunagakure, as expected, but visitors from Uzushiogakure. More shockingly, leading them was a legendary figure—Uzukage and Uchiha Setsuna, rumored to rival the First Hokage in strength.
Queen Julia, though initially tense, found herself less anxious upon seeing them calmly seated around a table, enjoying food prepared from her palace kitchens. Their relaxed demeanor offered her some comfort.
"Uzukage-sama, Setsuna-sama," she said respectfully, rising to her feet. "May I ask the purpose of your visit? If we had known you were coming, we would have prepared a proper reception."
"It's alright," Uzukage said with a small smile. "The food here is excellent."
"Thank you, Uzukage-sama," Queen Julia replied, bowing slightly.
"We've come to discuss a potential collaboration between our two villages," Setsuna added, his tone both respectful and firm.
Julia's eyes widened slightly. A partnership with Uzushiogakure? Her heart swelled with both hope and uncertainty. Perhaps, after years of forced compliance, a new path was finally opening for her people—one forged not through war or surrender, but through mutual respect and alliance.
Author Notes -
Hi everyone! To be honest, this project is free to read, but as the creator who put a lot of effort into writing and managing it. I do need some support to make a living because I cannot monetize this fiction.
If you're enjoying the story and want to read 30 advance chapters, you can check out my Patreon!
There's also a free trial available — just join as an Apprentice Member to test it out first.
-patreon.com/zorojurown