Undercurrents

After signing the documents, Sarutobi Hiruzen sent out the news of Ying Yue Squad's promotion.

Before long, Ying Yue, Ayane, and Chinatsu received their notice and were summoned to the Hokage Office.

Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at them with a satisfied smile. "You've performed exceptionally well and lived up to my expectations. Ying Yue, Ayane, Chinatsu, starting today, you are officially Chunin of Konoha."

"Thank you, Lord Hokage." Ying Yue spoke for the squad and bowed respectfully to Sarutobi Hiruzen, his heart filled with gratitude.

Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded slightly, his tone encouraging. "You are Konoha's future. I hope you'll keep striving and contribute even more to the village. Becoming Chunin is only a new beginning. Many more challenges await you."

Ying Yue Squad replied in unison, "Yes, Lord Hokage!"

After leaving the Hokage Office, Ying Yue Squad stood outside the Hokage Building, basking in the sunlight, their hearts filled with anticipation for the future.

"Becoming Chunin is only our first step. We still have a long road ahead of us," Ying Yue said to his teammates, his eyes full of resolve.

Ayane and Chinatsu nodded in agreement. "No matter how difficult the road ahead gets, we'll walk it together."

Uchiha Ying Yue looked at his teammates, filled with confidence and determination. The bonds between him and his teammates had grown stronger through this exam. Together, they would face the challenges ahead, fight side by side, and strive for even greater goals.

In the days following the Chunin Exams, Uchiha Ying Yue remained highly alert and combat-ready.

Uchiha Ying Yue continued to improve his personal strength while keeping a close eye on the Shadow Curtain intelligence network. Under Ying Yue's leadership, the Shadow Curtain Organization was gradually spreading into every corner of the Ninja World, providing him with a wealth of valuable information.

During this time, Shadow Curtain operatives noticed some unusual developments.

Kirigakure, Kumogakure, and Iwagakure were frequently moving their forces and had begun purchasing weapons and supplies in large quantities.

Such large-scale mobilization and procurement were especially unusual in peacetime, particularly with no obvious signs of an impending war.

Based on the intelligence he had gathered through Shadow Curtain, Uchiha Ying Yue quickly realized how serious the situation was. The unusual actions of the great ninja villages suggested that they were preparing for some kind of large-scale operation—and that preparation could very well mean war was coming.

After organizing the intelligence he had collected, Uchiha Ying Yue carefully analyzed the movements of the great ninja villages.

Recalling key events from the original story, Ying Yue began to consider what conspiracy might be concealed behind this unusual mobilization.

"Kirigakure, Kumogakure, Iwagakure... These three villages are all mobilizing their forces on a large scale at almost the same time, without any direct conflict between them. This can't be a coincidence," Ying Yue murmured, gradually piecing together a more complete picture.

Combining the intelligence with the original story's events, Ying Yue realized that this might be the moment when the Land of Whirlpools was about to face destruction.

The Land of Whirlpools was renowned for its powerful Sealing Jutsu and was the homeland of the Uzumaki Clan.

However, the nation's powerful Sealing Jutsu had also attracted the covetous attention of other ninja villages.

"The Land of Whirlpools' Sealing Jutsu is too powerful. The great ninja villages all want to gain control of it. If they join forces to attack the Land of Whirlpools, the blow will be devastating." Ying Yue's expression grew grave. He was almost certain that the other villages' unusual movements were directly connected to the Land of Whirlpools' destruction.

Although Uchiha Ying Yue wasn't sure of the exact timing, he knew that the Land of Whirlpools' destruction might already be in the making.

Uchiha Ying Yue realized the situation was urgent. He had to act as quickly as possible.

Although the Shadow Curtain Organization's strength was limited, he still hoped to offer the Land of Whirlpools some help in this disaster—or at least warn them in advance and reduce their losses.

"The Land of Whirlpools' destruction will have a far-reaching impact on the balance of power in the Ninja World, especially on Konoha," Ying Yue weighed the consequences. "The Uzumaki Clan has deep ties to Konoha. If the Land of Whirlpools is truly destroyed, Konoha will also be thrown into turmoil."

Uchiha Ying Yue decided to immediately report this crucial intelligence to Konoha's leadership.

Ying Yue knew he couldn't face all of this alone. He had to unite the village's forces to confront the coming crisis together.

At the same time, Ying Yue was considering whether he could use the Shadow Curtain Organization's intelligence network to contact survivors from the Land of Whirlpools or provide them with an escape route.

Ying Yue understood that although the Land of Whirlpools' destruction might be impossible to prevent, he could still try to give those innocent people a chance to survive.

"I can't stand by and do nothing," Ying Yue resolved. "Even if I can't stop the war from breaking out, I'll do everything I can to save those lives."

Uchiha Ying Yue immediately summoned the Shadow Curtain Organization's core members to further analyze and organize the intelligence they had gathered.

Uchiha Ying Yue then decided to go in person to the Hokage Building and report this urgent intelligence to the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi.

In the Hokage Office, Ying Yue calmly reported the great ninja villages' troop movements and weapons purchases to Hiruzen Sarutobi, explaining his concern that the Land of Whirlpools might be facing destruction.

After hearing Ying Yue's report, Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression grew exceptionally grave.

He realized that Ying Yue's deduction was very likely correct, which meant that a new period of turmoil was about to engulf the Ninja World.

Hiruzen Sarutobi understood how important the Land of Whirlpools was. Its Sealing Jutsu and its ties to Konoha were no ordinary matter, so he immediately summoned the village's senior leaders to discuss the situation and plan a response.

After leaving the Hokage Office, Uchiha Ying Yue immediately returned to the Shadow Curtain Organization to make arrangements for their next steps.

Uchiha Ying Yue ordered Shadow Curtain's intelligence operatives to step up their surveillance of the great ninja villages and try to save as many members of the Uzumaki Clan as possible.

Frowning, Uchiha Ying Yue wondered to himself, Can Konoha's High Command really be trusted to rescue the Uzumaki Clan? He recalled the original story: the Land of Whirlpools had been destroyed, and the Uzumaki Clan had nearly been wiped out, with only a handful of survivors escaping and scattering to every corner of the Ninja World.

And yet, Konoha seemed not to have offered them a helping hand.

The Land of Whirlpools was Konoha's ally and a distant relative of the Senju Clan. Yet despite those ties, it had received no timely aid. This made Uchiha Ying Yue feel that there was more to the matter than met the eye.

Uchiha Ying Yue decided to tell Lady Uzumaki Mito about the situation and see what she thought.

Uchiha Ying Yue knew that this crisis was approaching. He had to make every possible preparation to face the storm ahead.