Uzushio Country, as the homeland of the Uzumaki Clan, was renowned throughout the world for its powerful Sealing Jutsu. The Uzumaki Clan's Sealing Jutsu was especially adept at controlling Tailed Beasts.
Uchiha Ying Yue couldn't help wondering why a nation with such powerful Sealing Jutsu had suddenly been attacked by the major shinobi villages working together, ultimately leading to its destruction.
"The Uzumaki Clan's Sealing Jutsu is so powerful that it can even seal Tailed Beasts. That kind of power should earn them the respect and protection of every nation. So why did they become targets of the major shinobi villages instead?" Ying Yue pondered. There had to be more to the destruction of their nation.
Uchiha Ying Yue recalled several key events in history, especially Senju Hashirama's decision at the Five Kage Summit.
To bring peace to the Ninja World, Senju Hashirama had distributed the Tailed Beasts among the major shinobi villages. He hoped this would balance the nations' power and prevent war.
But things hadn't gone as planned.
"Senju Hashirama's intentions were good, but the outcome wasn't."
Uchiha Ying Yue analyzed the situation. "Senju Hashirama's peace policy was built on his own overwhelming strength. As long as he was alive, the nations naturally wouldn't dare act rashly. But once he died, they lost that powerful deterrent, and his peace policy died with him."
The First Shinobi World War broke out after Senju Hashirama's death, as the nations' powers shifted once more.
Uchiha Ying Yue realized that Senju Hashirama's policy had one fatal flaw: he distributed the Tailed Beasts, but didn't provide the major shinobi villages with enough Sealing Jutsu to control them.
"When Senju Hashirama distributed the Tailed Beasts, perhaps he trusted the Uzumaki Clan and believed they were the only ones capable of mastering such powerful Sealing Jutsu."
Uchiha Ying Yue continued to speculate. "But that meant that, apart from Mito Uzumaki in Konoha, who could fully control the Nine-Tails, the Tailed Beasts in the other villages became unstable bombs."
Tailed Beasts were tremendous sources of power, but if they couldn't be fully controlled, they could become disasters.
Uchiha Ying Yue gradually realized that the major shinobi villages feared the Land of Whirlpools not only because the Uzumaki Clan possessed powerful Sealing Jutsu, but also because that jutsu could decide life or death on the battlefield.
"The Uzumaki Clan in the Land of Whirlpools are masters of Sealing Jutsu. They may even know how to break a Tailed Beast's seal. For the other villages, that would be an enormous threat." Ying Yue's reasoning grew clearer. "If Uzumaki shinobi broke an enemy's Tailed Beast seal on the battlefield, it would cause a devastating rout—and might even change the course of the war entirely."
Uchiha Ying Yue's thoughts grew more involved as he began connecting the clues, forming a more complete theory.
In Ying Yue's view, the Land of Whirlpools wasn't destroyed merely because the major shinobi villages coveted the Uzumaki Clan's Sealing Jutsu. They also wanted to put an end to their fears about controlling their own Tailed Beasts.
"The major shinobi villages don't just want to seize the Uzumaki Clan's Sealing Jutsu. They also want to wipe out the source of a power that could threaten their control over the Tailed Beasts." Uchiha Ying Yue's expression grew grave. "From the villages' perspective, whether they want to seize the Sealing Jutsu or weaken Konoha, the Land of Whirlpools has to be destroyed."
Uchiha Ying Yue realized that the Land of Whirlpools hadn't fallen simply because it lacked strength. It had become a threat the major shinobi villages couldn't tolerate.
The Uzumaki Clan's Sealing Jutsu was so powerful that it could threaten the villages' control over the Tailed Beasts. Their unease ultimately drove them to join forces and erase the Land of Whirlpools from the map.
That was the logic behind "a man is not guilty for his crimes, but for possessing a jade." People in the Ninja World clearly didn't understand that.
Uchiha Ying Yue's theory sent a chill through him. Ying Yue understood that the fate of the Land of Whirlpools was all but sealed.
But as a Konoha shinobi, Ying Yue couldn't turn a blind eye. He decided to act and try to give the Land of Whirlpools a chance to survive.
Uchiha Ying Yue decided to tell Lady Mito about the intelligence he had gathered through the Shadow Curtain Organization, as well as his theory about the impending destruction of the Land of Whirlpools.
Mito Uzumaki was Senju Hashirama's wife, Konoha's only Perfect Jinchuriki to have successfully controlled the Nine-Tails, and a direct member of the Uzumaki Clan of the Land of Whirlpools.
Uchiha Ying Yue believed that warning Mito Uzumaki about the crisis was one of the most important things he could do right now.
With the Land of Whirlpools on the brink of life and death, Mito Uzumaki might be the only person who could take swift action and influence the situation.
Uchiha Ying Yue knew how respected Mito Uzumaki was in Konoha and how much influence she wielded. She could call upon Konoha's strength and contact the Feudal Lord of the Land of Whirlpools directly, securing more aid and time to prepare.
"Lady Mito has to learn of this as soon as possible. Her actions might change the future of the Land of Whirlpools," Ying Yue said firmly to himself.
Uchiha Ying Yue immediately set off for Mito Uzumaki's residence.
Mito Uzumaki was over sixty, but she still carried an awe-inspiring dignity and authority. As one of Konoha's spiritual pillars, no one in the village could match her standing.
When Ying Yue arrived at Mito Uzumaki's residence, Mito was resting in the courtyard.
Seeing Ying Yue arrive, Mito smiled kindly. "Ying Yue, what brings you to see me so suddenly?"
Ying Yue bowed at once, his expression serious. "Lady Mito, I have something extremely urgent to report to you. It concerns the safety of the Land of Whirlpools."
Hearing how serious Ying Yue sounded, Mito felt her heart tighten. She gestured for him to sit. "Ying Yue, don't rush. Take your time."
Once seated, Ying Yue immediately told Mito everything he had learned from the Shadow Curtain Organization and shared his theories, including the unusual movements of Kirigakure, Kumogakure, and Iwagakure, as well as his analysis of the danger that the Land of Whirlpools might be destroyed.
As Ying Yue spoke, Mito Uzumaki's expression grew increasingly grave.
As a direct member of the Uzumaki Clan of the Land of Whirlpools, she understood all too well what Ying Yue was describing. If the major shinobi villages really joined forces to attack the Land of Whirlpools, it would be an irreversible disaster.
After hearing Ying Yue's report, Mito Uzumaki fell silent for a moment, her eyes revealing a mix of emotions.
Her feelings were complicated. She was worried about the danger facing her homeland, but also grateful that Ying Yue had come to warn her in time.
"Ying Yue, you've warned me in time," Mito said, her voice heavy. "The Land of Whirlpools is my home and the foundation of the Uzumaki Clan. If it really faces such a grave crisis, I can't just stand by and do nothing."
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