The wind howled across the seaside island, with withered vines wrapping around ruined houses and wild grass growing rampant along the riverbank.
This was the Land of Whirlpools.
After years of war, the once-bustling Land of Whirlpools had long since become deserted.
All that remained now were the tides near the shore, endlessly surging and swirling, along with the scattered traces left underground, recounting that distant war.
No human voices could be heard anywhere. Only the tide and wind echoed, and the entire land was steeped in silent desolation.
With Minato's Flying Thunder God Technique and Kushina's high-speed movement in Kurama Mode, Minato's family quickly arrived at Kushina's former homeland—the Land of Whirlpools, Uzushio Village.
But what was the point of returning?
Her entire family had been laid to rest, leaving her alone in the world.
Kushina looked sorrowfully at everything before her. The once-lively Uzushio Village had been reduced to crumbling walls and ruins.
"The old village is gone. The old village is gone!"
Minato did not know how to comfort Kushina.
He was an orphan, but Kushina was not. Kushina had relatives and friends of her own.
Just imagine it: one day, all your relatives and friends were suddenly killed, leaving only you behind, utterly alone.
What a tragic ending that would be!
Minato still forced himself to comfort Kushina. In a low voice, he said, "Kushina, let's make our farewell with Naruto as happy as possible."
Naruto pricked up his ears when he heard that and said understandingly, "Dad, don't worry about me. If Mom wants to cry, then let her cry!"
"I know that pain—the pain of having no one but yourself!"
"Naruto—"
Kushina hugged Naruto and wept softly against his shoulder.
No matter how much Kushina suffered, she had not suffered more than Naruto. Even