Village of Whirlpools

Compared to the port in the Land of Fire that they had passed through when setting out, the port of the Land of Whirlpools was far more rudimentary.

The entire harbor was bustling with a constant stream of vessels, yet the vast majority were nothing more than dilapidated little sampans.

The Uzumaki Clan's passenger ship that had brought them here was already the largest vessel in this harbor.

A multitude of small-time merchants sold daily necessities at the docks, their customers largely ragged refugees disembarking from the small sampans.

Some of the refugees lacked any circulating currency, so they bartered with the merchants using supplies they had traded for back at the port in the Land of Fire.

In the distance, a large number of buildings were under construction, the area filled with the busy figures of laborers.

Ayako introduced the place to her disciple: "Originally, this island was inhabited almost exclusively by our Uzumaki Clan. Everyone lived in the village at the center of the island—the Village of Whirlpools, established by Brother Ashina."

"However, with the constant warfare on the mainland over these past few years, people who wanted no part in the fighting heard of the Land of Whirlpools and crossed the ocean to seek refuge here."

"Our village quickly became overcrowded and could no longer accommodate these guests."

"So, my cousin organized the first group of refugees who arrived here to build this port, using it to house these newcomers."

When the people at the port caught sight of the Uzumaki Clan's crest and Uzumaki Ayako walking at the front, they set aside their tasks one after another and bowed with expressions of reverence, as if worshipping Ayako like a goddess.

Ayako nodded to each of them in response. Seeing this, Qiancao asked, "Do these people respect you very much, Master?"

"They are merely showing respect for Brother Ashina's sake," Ayako shook her head, not daring to take the credit. "It is Brother Ashina who gave them a sanctuary. I usually stay in the Sealing Tower in the Village of Whirlpools to reinforce the seals and rarely come out."

Senju Arashi spoke up and asked Ayako, "I wonder where Brother Ashina is now? Since we have arrived in the Land of Whirlpools, we really ought to greet him."

Ayako gave a wry smile. "There have been too many refugees arriving in the Land of Whirlpools lately. Brother Ashina is extremely busy maintaining order and settling them in; I haven't seen him myself for a long time."

"Every matter in the village, large or small, now requires his decision. He has even handed over all the village's sealing duties to me, as he has no time to oversee them personally."

"Let us not disturb him. When he is free, he will naturally go to the Sealing Tower in the village, and we can greet him then."

Perhaps it was just his imagination, but Qiancao felt that Senju Arashi breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing that they did not need to go and greet Uzumaki Ashina.

Shortly after, Ayako called over an old man behind her and instructed, "Uncle Kanbei, I'm sorry to trouble you, but please go and discuss the compensation with the owner of that passenger ship for little Arashi."

Upon hearing Ayako's request, Uzumaki Kanbei looked troubled. After some hesitation, he whispered to Ayako, "Young Miss, I'm afraid we don't have that much money left..."

At this moment, Seiichiro, who was standing to the side, spoke up: "Trouble Brother Kanbei to send me back as well!"

Having said that, he turned to the group and laughed, "You can't find anyone to fight in a place like the Land of Whirlpools. Every time I come here, it bores me to death."

Ayako replied with a smile, "Then I am truly sorry."

Seiichiro continued, "Meeting that guy Hideki on the way here was a pleasant surprise, though it's a pity he ran off before I could have my fill of fighting."

"My hands are itching now, and I'm desperate to find someone to fight, so I won't be staying here." After saying this, he patted Qiancao on the shoulder, gave Wuming an encouraging look, and continued:

"I am at ease knowing you are in Aunt Ayako's care. I wish for you to break the seals soon so we can have a proper fight!"

In Qiancao's heart, although Seiichiro spoke like a battle-crazed maniac, he hadn't actually done anything extreme. Moreover, due to his "Senju filter," his impression of Seiichiro remained quite favorable.

Thus, Qiancao extended his fist, signaling for a fist bump: "Thank you for looking after us along the way, Brother Seiichiro. Let's have a proper fight in the future!"

Seiichiro was taken aback, then let out a few hearty laughs. He extended his fist to bump Qiancao's and said, "It's a deal, then!"

After the fist bump, Seiichiro turned to Senju Arashi and said, "I'll handle the negotiations for the compensation with them! Remember to pay me back once you return."

Senju Arashi nodded in agreement. Seiichiro waved his hand in farewell and boarded the ship with Uzumaki Kanbei to head back to the Land of Fire.

Ayako and the others watched the large ship sail into the distance before turning to Qiancao: "Follow me. I usually live in the Sealing Tower in the village."

"As my disciple, you shall live in the Sealing Tower as well." She glanced at Wuming, "Wuming, you must want to live with Qiancao, right?"

This remark made Wuming blush, but she did not retort as she might have in the past.

Ayako first led the group on a tour of the port, buying some daily necessities for Qiancao and Wuming.

"Although the village has these things, most are made by the clansmen themselves and aren't as cheap or convenient as these items brought from the outside," Ayako explained to Qiancao.

Once the shopping was finished, the group passed through the port and arrived at a wide road.

As they walked, Ayako introduced it to them: "We call this road the Path of Hidden World. It was built by our Uzumaki Clan when we first arrived in the Land of Whirlpools to connect the Village of Whirlpools with the port."

"The original intention was to signify the Uzumaki Clan's resolve to live in seclusion. We just didn't expect the constant warfare on the mainland to drive so many refugees to the Land of Whirlpools."

"Brother Ashina couldn't bear to turn them away, so he kept those among the refugees with ninja talent in the Village of Whirlpools for unified management, while the commoners came here to the port to open up new territory to live and reside."

After only an hour, the group arrived at a new village.

The main structures of the houses here were mostly cylindrical, and around these cylinders were spiraling staircases, which suited the name "Whirlpool" quite fittingly.

More than half of the people in the village had vibrant red hair, with the Uzumaki Clan's crest embroidered on their clothes.

Noticing his disciple Qiancao staring at the hair of the passersby, Ayako introduced: "The most distinctive feature of the Uzumaki Clan is this head of red hair."

"However, in many places on the mainland, this red hair is seen as an omen of misfortune, which is why the Uzumaki Clan has always wandered from place to place without a permanent home."

"It wasn't until my sister married the head of the Senju Clan that we finally settled down a little."

"But Brother Ashina did not want to continue living under someone else's roof, so he traveled all over the continent until he found Whirlpool Island."

"Now, almost all the Uzumaki clansmen have come to the Land of Whirlpools. This is the new home of our Uzumaki Clan."

After finishing, Uzumaki Ayako spread her arms in a welcoming gesture before the group. Her red hair shimmered under the sunlight, and she radiated a confident and warm glow.

"Welcome to the Village of Whirlpools, Qiancao, Wuming. This is your new home!"