Land of Whirlpools Ruins

Soon after, the group departed, moving swiftly.

They traveled in small teams of four.

Utatane Koharu even had a squad of Anbu accompanying her, confirming Sarutobi Ryo's earlier suspicions about her importance.

Leaving Konoha, the teams moved quickly. The sun climbed high, then slowly sank, and the stars wheeled overhead.

Two days later, they reached the waters surrounding the Land of Whirlpools.

Whoosh …

The waves crashed and roared.

Each member of the group focused Chakra to their feet, allowing them to stand on the water's surface.

They needed no boats; walking on the sea was the way of the ninja.

Looking at the coastline appearing in the distance, Utatane Koharu nodded firmly. "We have arrived… the Land of Whirlpools Ruins."

As relatives of the Senju Clan and close allies of Konoha, the fall of the Land of Whirlpools was a deep wound for Konoha.

Stepping onto the beach, Utatane Koharu's gaze sharpened like a blade. She raised her right arm, giving the order: "The exam… begins! Eliminate all enemies… leave no one alive!"

Whoosh!

Instantly, each team sped off in different directions, beginning a thorough search of the ruined island nation of the Land of Whirlpools.

----

The sound of the waves gradually faded as the team crossed the beach and entered the dense jungle.

The Land of Whirlpools Ruins, now abandoned, were overgrown with lush, green vegetation.

"Although the Land of Whirlpools is small, its terrain is complex. Running at full speed, it takes about three hours to cross the entire area. Still, it's much larger than places like the Land of Waves..."

As they moved, Sarutobi Ryo described the current state of the Land of Whirlpools Ruins.

Hakumo Hayama, who had newly joined their team, was a quiet and reserved contemporary of Sarutobi Ryo.

He was also Sarutobi Ryo's former classmate.

He carried a long sword at his waist, specializing in quick Wind Release swordsmanship and Ninjutsu.

Crack.

Hakumo Hayama stepped on something. Looking down, he saw a skeleton!

As the group advanced, more and more skeletons appeared, scattered in various poses.

"These skeletons…" Hakumo Hayama's eyes narrowed, his expression turning serious.

"They are the remains of the Land of Whirlpools people," Yamanaka Hui said softly, her usual cheerfulness gone.

Hyuga Ruri, walking at the rear, looked at the skeletons, lost in thought. A dark aura seemed to emanate from her, growing stronger.

"The Land of Whirlpools was our ally. Even though it's now a ruin, it's still the land of the Land of Whirlpools people..."

Sarutobi Ryo glanced at Kushina's team, not far away.

Kushina's face was etched with sadness. Namikaze Minato was speaking to her gently, as if trying to comfort her.

Seeing Kushina's distress, she looked like she was about to cry at any moment.

After all, seeing her homeland devastated and returning to ruins would bring pain to anyone.

"...Therefore, this land must never be defiled by other countries!"

Sarutobi Ryo, who deeply hated aggression, spoke in a low voice.

Unfortunately, during the Second Shinobi World War, Konoha had also invaded other countries, like… the Land of Rain.

Because of this, Sarutobi Ryo had refused all missions related to the Land of Rain during the war.

Sarutobi Ryo: "Invading other countries… one day, others will retaliate."

"An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind..." Namikaze Minato jumped onto a small hill ahead, squatted down, and shook his head sadly.

Sarutobi Ryo also stood on the hill and began to survey the ruined town before them.

In the destroyed town, countless skeletons were scattered. Kushina immediately covered her mouth, unable to hold back her tears any longer.

"The principle is good, but that's only if we haven't invaded others."

Konoha recklessly tramples on other countries, and one day it will pay the price.

In the original story, Konoha produces the most rogue ninja, and Nagato releasing the Super Shinra Tensei on Konoha is karmic retribution.

Sarutobi Ryo stared at the countless skeletons, noticing many children's bones among them, even the remains of mothers holding babies.

Everyone's faces grew even more grim. Fortunately, everyone present was close to Jonin level, managing to suppress their feelings of grief and anger.

"Hyuga Ruri, could you use your Byakugan to observe the surroundings?"

Namikaze Minato seemed to be deliberately changing the subject.

He looked at Hyuga Ruri, hoping she could use her Byakugan to help.

The Hyuga Clan's Byakugan could see up to 10 kilometers.

However, seeing at that distance required intense concentration and no distractions.

"Minato, don't you have sensory abilities?"

Sarutobi Ryo interrupted, preventing the request to Hyuga Ruri.

Do not do to others what you do not want done to yourself.

Hyuga Ruri, from a Branch Family, showed an increasingly low desire to live due to her circumstances.

Sarutobi Ryo guessed that Hyuga Ruri in the original story most likely died depressed.

Because it was very obvious that Neji did not have a mother when he was a child.

In modern medicine terms, Hyuga Ruri is a severely depressed patient, the kind who could commit suicide at any time.

The culprit for all of this is naturally the Hyuga Clan's Head Family and Branch Family rules.

For a severely depressed patient, any negative event could push her into the abyss if she didn't feel understood.

Namikaze Minato smiled awkwardly, turned his head, and said nothing more.

"Young Master, this way."

Although Hyuga Ruri couldn't use her Byakugan effectively right now, Yamanaka Hui had excellent sensory abilities.

As a Ninja from the Yamanaka Clan who had practiced Yin Release since childhood, Yamanaka Hui's sixth sense was very strong.

She leaped forward, and Sarutobi Ryo quickly followed without hesitation.

Hakumo Hayama blinked and followed closely.

Sarutobi Ryo's four-person team separated from Namikaze Minato's team.

"Young Master Ryo seems very angry today."

Namikaze Minato's teammate, a black-haired girl named Taji, commented.

She was Sarutobi Biwako's disciple, and the Female Ninja who would later join the Anbu and deliver Kushina's baby.

Hearing Taji's words, Namikaze Minato's smile became strained.

He glanced at Kushina, who was wiping away her tears, and continued to comfort her.

----

"This way, this way!"

Yamanaka Hui led the way, and the group entered a secret passage from the surface.

The Land of Whirlpools was small, leading to a practical style of underground construction.

Mazes and hidden secret rooms were everywhere.

"I sense a Chakra reaction. It's faint, but…"

Yamanaka Hui moved swiftly.

They quickly traveled hundreds of meters through the passage.

After a series of winding turns, Yamanaka Hui led them into a room.

Some talismans were attached to the end of the passage.

Sarutobi Ryo recognized them as a modified version of the Fox Mind Technique.

The Fox Mind Technique was an Illusionary Technique used to distort vision and create illusory scenes.

The talismans in front of him worked together, enhancing the Illusionary Technique, making it impossible to detect the passage.

It was clearly hiding something.

However, over time, the Chakra energy of the talismans had weakened, causing them to lose their effect and reveal themselves.

Casually tearing off the talismans, the last trace of the Illusionary Technique faded away.

The scene shifted, the walls seemed to twist, and a stone door appeared before their eyes.

What should they do?

Hakumo Hayama looked at Sarutobi Ryo, gripping his sword hilt tighter.

Should he use Wind Release to cut the door open?

Sarutobi Ryo studied the stone door, then began searching for a mechanism.

Rumble!

A grinding sound echoed, and the door slowly opened.

Surprise flashed in Hakumo Hayama's eyes.

"Young Master is very knowledgeable."

Yamanaka Hui explained to him, and Hakumo Hayama understood.

He thought to himself , as expected of the Honorable Hokage's son.

"Let's go."

Sarutobi Ryo stepped inside, finding a series of interconnected secret rooms.

Multiple rooms were linked together.

At the end of the secret chamber, a stone coffin stood out.

"Lover... Kato Dan's Grave."

As Yamanaka Hui read the words engraved on the stone coffin, the identity of the deceased was revealed.

"It's… Princess Tsunade's lover…"