Arrival at the Port

They returned and began celebrating.

A genin hurried over to report.

"Second Uzukage, we'll reach the Land of Whirlpools soon. The First Uzukage requests that you go to the Command Room and take charge."

Uzumaki Shori slapped his forehead and could only look at Tsunade with a gloomy face.

"Why is someone always interrupting whenever we're together? Next time, we'll go somewhere with just the two of us."

Tsunade could not bear to listen any longer. How could he say something so mushy? She could only shove him away.

He strolled leisurely to the Command Room and saw that, unlike when they had come, when everyone had worn troubled expressions, they were now all smiling.

Uzumaki Ashina was staring at the battlefield model in the Command Room, muttering to himself.

"I never thought that our Land of Whirlpools could truly defeat the strong while weak in a battle with such a disparity between both sides."

"Now that we've defeated the Land of Water, those who had been eyeing the Land of Whirlpools will probably restrain themselves for a while."

Elder Keimei, whose body had already recovered, stood and reported.

"Second Uzukage, the battle statistics have been compiled."

"Eight hundred ninja took part in the battle. Eighty-three ninja have left us, and another seventy-seven suffered severe attacks. They may no longer be able to serve as ninja."

Hearing the casualty count, everyone present grew somewhat downcast.

Uzumaki Shori nodded quietly. Those who had fallen on the battlefield had done so for the Land of Whirlpools, for their own families.

Without their sacrifice, they could not have defeated the Land of Water.

"Don't be discouraged. They are our heroes, and we did not let them down. We won the battle."

"Second Uzukage, what should we do next?"

Elder Uzumaki Keimei asked amid the heavy silence.

Uzumaki Shori waved a hand dismissively.

"Now isn't the time to discuss that. Hurry and look out the window."

The jonin nearest the window walked over in confusion. Looking outside, he excitedly waved his arms and pointed ahead.

"Everyone, look! What's that? Land has appeared—we seem to be going home!"

Everyone froze at his words, then rushed out of the Command Room in a scramble.

One after another, they stood on the deck and watched the Land of Whirlpools gradually emerge before them.

"We're home! We're home!"

"Everyone, come look! We've reached our destination!"

Everyone stood on the deck, causing the ship to tilt slightly.

"What are you all standing around there for? Don't you want to get home sooner? Get back to your posts!"

Hearing Uzumaki Shori's words, everyone hurried back to their positions and worked with great vigor. When he saw the ship stop tilting, Uzumaki Shori finally breathed a sigh of relief.

It seemed the ship would not sink. There was no need to swim back to the Land of Whirlpools.

Within the Land of Whirlpools, members of the Uzumaki Clan who had originally remained at home gradually came out and gathered in the plaza, silently praying for one another.

Hoping that the Land of Whirlpools would win the battle, several clansmen spoke anxiously.

"Do you think we can win?"

"Probably."

"You've seen the power of our Rocket Launchers."

"I helped with the Rocket Launchers too. If we win, I deserve some credit as well."

Dozens of warships appeared on the waters of the Land of Whirlpools.

The genin standing atop the watchtower saw the dozens of warships and hurriedly rang the enormous bronze bell.

"Dong! Dong! Dong!"

The people in the plaza of the Land of Whirlpools heard the bell ringing from the shore.

Chaos immediately erupted. Could it be that they had lost and the Land of Water had attacked?

Some Uzumaki Clan members picked up hoes and sickles.

"An alarm has come from the shore. The elderly and children, go home and hide. Everyone else, come with me to the shore."

The genin left behind by the Uzumaki Clan to command them could only secretly encourage himself as everyone rushed toward the coastal port in groups.

The Uzushio Ninja stood on the decks of the warships, gazing into the distance.

An endless stream of people was arriving at the port from the other side.

As the First Uzukage, Uzumaki Ashina happily waved his arms.

The other Uzushio Ninja aboard the ships called out their family members' names.

Hearing someone call to them, the Uzumaki Clan members at the port craned their necks and looked toward the distant warships.

"Everyone, look! Isn't that my son? Those aren't Kirigakure warships—they're from our Land of Whirlpools!"

Upon hearing that their own warships had returned, everyone dropped the weapons, hoes, and sickles in their hands.

They stretched out their arms and waved with all their might. Some called their family members' names, each using their own way to cheer for the fleet's victorious return.

While everyone was still cheering, some clansmen thought of their families in Ushio City.

They hurriedly ran back to notify the family members who were still hiding.

They did not feel tired at all as they ran, their faces filled with joyful smiles as they cheered happily.

"Everyone, come out! You don't need to hide anymore! Our warships have returned—we won!"

"You can all come out! Prepare to welcome our heroes! Bring out the finest wine and food!"

The family members who had been hiding in the cellars faintly heard the cheers outside.

One little child after another tugged on their mother's hand.

"Mother, listen! Listen! They seem to be saying we can go outside."

The young mother stroked her child's head, told her son to stay hidden, and went out to take a look first.

She carefully opened a gap from the cellar and listened to the news outside.

Then she turned and pulled her son into a fierce embrace, weeping with joy.

It was truly wonderful news. They could go outside.

The sounds of triumph spread throughout Ushio City.

Clansmen gradually emerged from their hiding places, touching their chests. What an emotional upheaval—it felt as though the weight on their hearts had finally been lifted.

Let their heroes taste their finest dishes!

Some families worried whether their loved ones would return.

They hurried to the coastal port and stood amid the crowd, waiting for the warships to approach.

Looking toward the shore from the warship, Uzumaki Shori quickly instructed everyone to prepare and not let the Mist Ninja cause trouble among them.

At last, the dozens of warships docked at the coastal port.

Uzumaki Shori was the first to disembark.

The clansmen present erupted into cheers.

As the Second Uzukage, his prestige reached its peak at that moment.

"Everyone, look! It's our Second Uzukage!"

"It was the Second Uzukage who led us to victory!"

Amid everyone's cheers, Uzumaki Shori stopped and waited for the Uzushio Ninja aboard the ships to escort the Mist Ninja down.

As one Mist Ninja after another was escorted off the ships, the Uzumaki Clan members present erupted into even louder cheers.

Mizukage Hozuki Mangetsu was the last Mist Ninja to disembark. Looking at the scene before him, he said,

"Perhaps Kirigakure does not need to be so cruel to its own people."