Land of Whirlpools

Wuming rested her head against Qiancao's back. Lately, she had grown increasingly fond of physical contact with him; only by feeling his body heat could she find a modicum of peace.

Seeing that she remained silent, Qiancao simply held Wuming in a quiet embrace.

Since leaving the Uchiha Clan's dungeon, Wuming's hygiene had improved significantly. Her once-tangled long hair had gradually become soft and smooth, making her feel especially comfortable to hold.

After a long silence, Wuming whispered, "I don't know why, but even though I love my life now, I find myself missing that dark little cell."

"Those days when it was just the two of us."

Qiancao thought to himself that she was truly a girl of the Uchiha Clan, possessing a certain tendency toward attachment. Such love made him feel a mix of joy and a strange sense of heaviness.

Not giving Qiancao a chance to speak, Wuming continued, "Sometimes, my heart still recalls the cruel treatment I suffered at the hands of the clan elders these past few years."

"I should be filled with hatred just like before, wanting to destroy this world."

"But your face always appears in my mind at the critical moment, and suddenly, I can't bring myself to hate anymore..."

Wuming's voice grew faint. After a long while, she turned around to look directly at Qiancao, her eyes brimming with tears as she said, "Without you, I don't know what I would do..."

"Promise me, you'll never abandon me, okay?"

Qiancao reached out to gently wipe away her tears, smiling as he gave her his word once more: "I will be with you forever. I have sworn it upon my own Sharingan."

The two remained in each other's arms, gazing at the scattered stars beneath the pitch-black night sky, as they stepped together into the next chapter of their lives.

The next morning, Ayako woke up from a hangover.

She hadn't left the island of the Land of Whirlpools for half a year, let alone drank with friends, so in her excitement, she had overindulged.

However, when Ayako woke up today, she felt no discomfort—none of the headaches or dizziness she usually experienced.

It turned out that after Ayako had passed out at the table yesterday, someone had brought a pillow and a blanket, so she hadn't slept directly on the deck as she had in the past.

She straightened her wrinkled dress, while Senju Arashi beside her was still fast asleep.

A pair of unfamiliar footsteps sounded outside the door. Ayako quickly adjusted her posture, regaining her usual dignified bearing.

Qiancao pushed the door open, carrying hot water and a towel. The moment he entered, he saw his master, Ayako, sitting upright in her seat.

If not for the unmade bed behind her, Qiancao would have thought the person who looked like a drunkard yesterday wasn't his master at all.

"Master, you're awake!" Qiancao greeted with a smile. "Let's wash your face with some hot water first!"

Qiancao placed the basin in front of Ayako. She tested the temperature; it was just slightly hot, which felt incredibly soothing.

After a quick wash, Qiancao prepared to take the basin outside to empty it.

As he was about to leave, Ayako couldn't help but ask, "The blanket on me—was that you?"

Qiancao nodded with a smile and whispered, "It was very late when you fell asleep, Master. I didn't want to disturb you and Lady Arashi, so I brought a blanket for you both."

Ayako, receiving such care from her apprentice for the first time, felt quite pleased. Seeing that she had no further instructions, Qiancao stepped out.

While feeling happy, Ayako also felt a bit troubled. She hadn't even taught her apprentice any ninjutsu yet, and she had already revealed her unreliable side; she wondered if it had affected the image he held of her.

Just then, Senju Arashi's voice came from the side: "Good morning! How is the apprentice I found for you? The feeling of being served is pretty good, isn't it?"

Ayako was startled and asked, "When did you wake up?"

Senju Arashi yawned under the covers and said lazily, "I woke up while you were washing your face. Watching you put on that act was truly hilarious."

Hearing this, Ayako felt a bit vexed. Although she wanted to be casual with her apprentice as she was when alone, she didn't know if she should be stricter with him, given this was her first time taking on an apprentice.

As if knowing her inner conflict, Senju Arashi offered some advice: "Just treat Qiancao the same way you treat me."

"Don't let his youth fool you; he is very mature and knows what should and shouldn't be done. There's no need to be overly strict with him."

Ayako nodded, half-convinced, just as Qiancao returned, followed by his young girlfriend, Wuming.

Qiancao carried a tray with two portions of side dishes and rice porridge, while Wuming held a basin and towel, which she placed in front of Senju Arashi.

Dividing the food and placing it on the table before Ayako and Senju Arashi, Qiancao said to them:

"This is the breakfast prepared by the kitchen. Please, have some."

Ayako looked down; the food was perfectly suited to her taste. She wasn't sure if it was the kitchen or her apprentice who had prepared it, but it was certainly thoughtful.

After Senju Arashi washed her face with the items Wuming had brought, she offered a word of thanks, picked up her bowl and chopsticks, and began to eat ravenously.

After breakfast, the group went to the bow of the ship. The faint outline of land could already be seen in the distance. Seiichiro stood at the bow, gazing ahead, and gave a hearty smile when he saw them approach:

"How did everyone sleep after the drinking last night?"

Senju Arashi put on a look of regret and said, "Sigh! It's a pity that someone was truly useless, otherwise I could have had a few more drinks."

Seiichiro wasn't offended by her mockery. Drinking always affected his cultivation, so he avoided it whenever he could.

He pointed to the land in the distance and turned to Qiancao: "Little brother, come look. That over there is the legendary Land of Whirlpools."

Qiancao gazed into the distance; the Land of Whirlpools was situated on a massive island.

Seiichiro continued his introduction:

"The founder of the Land of Whirlpools was a young ninja named Uzumaki Ashina, who is also Aunt Ayako's cousin."

"He perfected the various ancestral sealing techniques of the Uzumaki Clan and developed many large-scale seals. He is the ninja most skilled in the art of sealing in this entire world."

"Uzumaki Ashina grew weary of the strife on the mainland, so five years ago, he led his clansmen to the sea to establish the Land of Whirlpools."

"Because the Land of Whirlpools is far removed from the continent, it has remained untouched by the flames of war, drawing many people tired of conflict to leave their homelands and seek refuge there."

Seiichiro then leaned in toward Qiancao with a mysterious air and whispered, "I heard that a powerful monster is sealed within the Land of Whirlpools! With that beast there, no one dares to provoke the country."

"The reason the Uzumaki Clan researches sealing techniques is precisely to suppress the monster inside the Land of Whirlpools."

At this, Uzumaki Ayako, who had been listening from the side, spoke up: "If we could, our Uzumaki Clan would much rather call it the guardian deity that protects the Land of Whirlpools, rather than a monster."