Heading to the Land of Whirlpools

"Yes." Sarutobi Hiruzen cleared his throat. "Ever since Lord Hashirama assigned the Three-Tails and Six-Tails to them, they've remained sealed in the wild."

Since they were talking about Tailed Beasts, Sarutobi Hiruzen went on to explain the state of the Seven-Tails. "As for the remaining Seven-Tails, it belongs to Takigakure. Their sealing techniques are practically nonexistent, but..."

"Perhaps there's something different about the Seven-Tails. I've never heard of it going on a rampage."

Uchiha Chonhua knew why: of the Nine Tailed Beasts, the Seven-Tails was the gentlest. It was also quite talkative and often chatted with its Jinchuriki.

As they spent more time together, they grew close, and the Seven-Tails had no desire to go on a rampage.

"Lord Hokage, look. Because Cloud Village's sealing techniques are so backward, their Tailed Beast has become a constant menace, rampaging again and again and destroying everything around it. Cloud Village has to expend considerable effort suppressing it and rebuilding the village, consuming vast resources."

"If you were facing this situation, Lord Hokage, you'd surely want to put an end to the Tailed Beast crisis once and for all." Uchiha Chonhua's eyes gleamed. "We can't assume Cloud Village will act according to our common sense. Before today, did you ever imagine that Kushina would be kidnapped?"

"The chances of them attacking the Land of Whirlpools are high!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded, his brows furrowed and his expression growing graver.

Thinking it over, Chonhua might have a wild imagination, but he had to admit there was some sense to his words.

"Grandma, Chonhua might be right." Kushina Uzumaki tugged on Grandma Mito's hand. She trusted that Chonhua wouldn't make such a claim without reason.

At the thought that her home might be in danger, Kushina couldn't sit still.

She pleaded with Grandma Mito.

"Hiruzen, send some ANBU to investigate," Mito Uzumaki said, her expression stern. "I'm starting to believe Chonhua. Cloud Village really can't be judged by ordinary standards. Better to prepare for the worst, Hiruzen. There's no harm in being careful."

"The Land of Whirlpools is our ally. Konoha has a duty to help an ally in need, doesn't it, Hiruzen?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Yes, Lady Mito. I'll have the Anbu keep a close watch."

Uchiha Chonhua let out a breath. All that remained was to wait and see.

He wondered how much the flapping of his butterfly wings would change.

He would just have to watch.

Smack!

Sarutobi Hiruzen slapped the desk and shot to his feet, staring in shock at the Anbu member reporting to him.

Had that kid Chonhua really guessed right!?

Cloud Village really was planning to attack the Land of Whirlpools. And that wasn't all: they'd also discovered quite a few Mist Village Anbu and spies in the Land of Whirlpools.

What were they planning?

Was Mist Village going to attack the Land of Whirlpools too?! If Mist Village joined in, the Land of Whirlpools would be attacked from the north and south, caught between Cloud Village and Mist Village.

They wouldn't be able to hold out!

Sarutobi Hiruzen's expression turned grave at once. "Go notify the advisors and the councilors."

"Yes, sir!"

The Anbu member left to deliver the message.

Before long, the Konoha F4 had gathered. Shimura Danzō, Mitokado Homura, and Utatane Koharu read the intelligence from the Anbu, exchanged glances, and grew solemn.

"They're targeting the Uzumaki Clan and their Sealing Jutsu."

Shimura Danzō delivered his verdict without hesitation. There was no need to investigate further.

Two villages with abysmal sealing techniques, one of which had never even established a Jinchuriki system—if they were targeting the Uzumaki Clan, what else could they want? It was obvious.

Mitokado Homura adjusted his glasses. "Hiruzen, we have to support the Land of Whirlpools. They're our ally, and Konoha has a duty and responsibility to help them."

Utatane Koharu added, "That's not all. We all know how effective the Uzumaki Clan are at suppressing Tailed Beasts. Their Sealing Jutsu is also unrivaled in the Ninja World, and feared by all. We can't let those techniques fall into the hands of Cloud Village and Mist Village!"

"If they acquire them, their Jinchuriki systems will surely develop by leaps and bounds. That would put us at a disadvantage. We can't let them get what they want."

Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded. "Our intelligence came in time. Cloud Village and Mist Village are still preparing, so we have time to notify the Uzumaki Clan. Let's avoid fighting if we can. Tell them to come to Konoha for shelter. They're being targeted now."

"With Lady Mito's message, they're more likely to accept."

Utatane Koharu turned and left to find Mito Uzumaki.

The others discussed the matter, then decided to send an Anbu squad to tell the Uzumaki Clan to seek shelter.

In the Senju Compound, Mito Uzumaki listened to Utatane Koharu and was just as shocked. Anger soon followed.

They actually wanted to attack her homeland. Cloud Village and Mist Village had some nerve!

But once her anger subsided, Mito Uzumaki began to worry.

She knew all too well how stubborn her clan could be.

Tell them to avoid a fight and come to Konoha for shelter?

That would be no different from killing them outright. It would be an insult to the Uzumaki Clan, a humiliating slight!

Hiruzen hadn't thought this through.

Mito Uzumaki's face clouded over. The Land of Whirlpools was a small country, and the only shinobi on the island were from the Uzumaki Clan. What could so few people accomplish?

Could even the strongest Sealing Jutsu withstand an attack from two great shinobi villages?

"Ah, getting them all to come to Konoha for shelter is impossible. Koharu, let the old ones who are willing to fight stay behind. Have the rest move to Konoha if they can."

The Land of Whirlpools was destined to become a battlefield. All that would remain there was rubble. Rebuilding would be too much trouble, so they might as well settle in Konoha.

Besides, the Uzumaki Clan had brought this disaster upon themselves because their bloodline and Sealing Jutsu had become prized possessions in the eyes of others, objects of desire.

They needed the protection of a great shinobi village.

"My Senju Compound is sparsely populated and no longer lively. It'd be a waste to leave so many houses empty. Let my clan settle here."

Chapter 31: Heading to the Land of Whirlpools

There was no way Sarutobi Hiruzen could prevent a conflict.

A clan migration was bound to cause a stir, big or small. The Anbu spies from Cloud Village and Mist Village noticed what was happening, were shocked, and hurried to report it.

The Land of Whirlpools lay across the sea to the northeast of the Land of Fire, closer to the Land of Lightning.

Cloud Village was closer, but it hadn't sent many shinobi.

The village had suffered a rampage by the Eight-Tails, so it needed to keep some shinobi behind to deal with the aftermath.

To attack the Land of Whirlpools, they needed to tie down its ally, the Hidden Leaf Village, and draw its attention away.

They didn't need many shinobi. The goal wasn't to defeat Konoha, only to keep it occupied in a standoff.

Kidnapping Kushina was one part of the plan.

Although the Raikage had merely told the Cloud Village spies planted in Konoha to stir up trouble and attract some attention, they'd made far too much trouble.

The Third Raikage smashed the desk with one punch and roared in fury. "Well, well! They really outdid themselves! They went straight for the next Nine-Tails Jinchuriki's vessel? I told them to stir up trouble, and they went this far!"

"And now Konoha has seen through our intentions and is planning to move the Uzumaki Clan to Konoha!"

The Third Raikage's trusted courtier, Dodai, clicked his tongue in wonder. "They actually managed to kidnap her. I never thought someone this important—a Jinchuriki vessel—wouldn't have any Anbu protecting her."

"Hmph. It only counts as a success once she's brought here." The Third Raikage snorted and rubbed his forehead.

"Our men have done a fine job. Konoha has already caught on to our real goal, and we have no time to prepare. Dodai, contact Mist Village. We attack now!"

Dodai nodded and turned to leave.

The Eight-Tails Jinchuriki, Blue B, looked ashamed. "Uncle, it's all my fault for being unable to control the Eight-Tails."

The Third Raikage patted his nephew on the shoulder. "Don't blame yourself. What we're doing now is to help you control the Eight-Tails."

"I'm determined to get the Uzumaki Clan's Sealing Jutsu!"

Once Cloud Village and Mist Village received word, they abandoned their preparations and hurried to gather their shinobi, rushing toward the Land of Whirlpools.

War was about to break out.

Cloud Village and Mist Village boarded their warships and headed straight for the Land of Whirlpools.

When word reached Konoha, Sarutobi Hiruzen muttered a curse. In the end, they would have to fight.

He immediately sent Hatake Sakumo to lead Konoha's elite shinobi to the Land of Whirlpools and hold off the main forces of both villages.

He also sent several squads by different routes to escort the Uzumaki Clan to Konoha in stages, making sure they arrived safely.

Mito Uzumaki had issued a strict order, and the Konoha F4 had no choice but to obey her.

"Chonhua, be careful."

Kushina Uzumaki watched Uchiha Chonhua with concern.

Team Tsunade had been requisitioned to escort the Uzumaki Clan to Konoha.

Although Team Tsunade had only recently formed and its members were still Genin, their strength was plain to see. Sarutobi Hiruzen had specifically named them for the mission.

Kushina was worried and a little resentful. She wanted to go help her homeland too.

But she wasn't as free as she'd been before. Anbu were now assigned to watch over her wherever she went. She used to be able to take D-rank missions, but now she couldn't even do those.

Grandma Mito had told her that her Forehead Protector would be nothing more than a keepsake from now on. If a shinobi couldn't take missions, could they even still be called a shinobi?

All in all, Kushina had been in a foul mood lately.

Uchiha Chonhua spun his armband and nodded. "I'll be careful. Kushina, just wait for news from us in Konoha."

"I promise I'll bring your clanmates safely to Konoha."

"Don't push yourself too hard. Don't be reckless, and be sure to look after yourself."

After listening to Kushina's repeated instructions, Team Tsunade set out.

First, they had to reach the harbor on the coast east of Konoha, then take a ship to the Land of Whirlpools.

Shinobi could walk across the surface of the water as if it were solid ground, but the vast blue ocean was beyond their capabilities.

Their chakra reserves weren't nearly large enough to conquer the sea.

"This is my first time seeing the ocean."

Seagulls cried overhead as the sea breeze blew past. In the distance, sea and sky merged into one.

Uchiha Mikoto was awestruck. She'd never seen a view like this before. So this was the ocean.

Even the gloomy expression on Hizashi Hyuga's face softened a little. As he looked at the sea, his heart seemed to open up too.

Human beings were so insignificant in the face of nature's power. Hizashi Hyuga stared blankly at the water. What did his fate matter in the face of nature?

"Take the chance to look around and relax."

The Jonin Ono leading them kept his expression blank as he watched the ripples left by the ship.

"Once we reach the Land of Whirlpools, there won't be time to relax."

Time was short, so the great ship steamed at full speed. Two days later, Team Tsunade set foot in the Land of Whirlpools.

Uchiha Chonhua's expression shifted. He looked toward the woods, where he could hear the sounds of fighting.

"Stay close to me."

Ono led the way. They were headed for the capital of the Land of Whirlpools, where the Uzumaki Clan lived.

The closer they got, the more enemies they were likely to encounter. The chances of getting into a fight would rise sharply.

They set off carefully, everyone watching their surroundings.

Uchiha Mikoto and Hizashi Hyuga swallowed nervously. It was their first time on a battlefield, and they were tense.

The slightest rustle made them stiffen, and they nearly threw their Kunai.

Fortunately, Uchiha Chonhua was in front of them. When he saw that they were about to lose control and throw their Kunai, he quickly held them back.

"This is the first time you've been on a battlefield, so it's only natural to be nervous." Ono parted the weeds, his voice low and quiet, barely audible unless they listened closely.

He instructed Uchiha Mikoto and Hizashi Hyuga, "Focus on controlling yourselves. Breathe slowly, but don't make a sound. The battlefield is full of danger. It's kill or be killed, so you have to be prepared for that. Force yourselves to stay calm."

Uchiha Chonhua glanced at Ono. He recognized the hypnotic suggestion woven into his words, a technique drawn from genjutsu.

After hearing Ono's advice, Uchiha Mikoto and Hizashi Hyuga slowed their breathing and steadied their emotions. Little by little, they calmed down.

They continued onward. The Land of Whirlpools wasn't large, and after a while, they were nearing its capital.