Chapter 31: Whirlpool Country

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Early chapters: patreon.com/Reborn_noob

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 Finally, with Jiro's guidance and Yuto's superior chakra control, they managed to pull Nawaki across the treacherous swamp. 

Ganta, who had experienced a moment of clarity (or perhaps just desperation), barely managed to stumble across on his own.

Having cleared the swamp, they were about to exhale in relief when Yuta's voice echoed, "Hurry up! This is just the beginning."

"Ah!" Yuta's words elicited groans of despair from the exhausted youngsters, but they forced themselves to run again.

The occasional flying kunai or sudden, inconveniently placed hills along the path were minor annoyances. The real source of dread for the four children were the traps rigged with detonating tags.

While the tags weren't lethal, the itching powder liberally applied to them sent the unfortunate victims into fits of uncontrollable scratching. 

This was a special concoction of Yuta and Kiko's, ensuring maximum discomfort.

Nawaki and Ganta, particularly, in their haste to save time, disregarded caution and charged forward across any seemingly clear terrain.

Both were "struck" by flying kunai at least ten times and stumbled into detonating tag traps on numerous occasions. 

In the end, had Jiro and Yuto not brought water to help them wash off the itching powder, their survival would have been questionable.

"Oh, I'm so sorry. The fastest time, Jiro, was one hour, twenty-six minutes, and forty-three seconds. Therefore, everyone will be punished with five extra laps for the morning run tomorrow! Of course, that includes Ganta and Yuto as well, so remember to rest well." Yuta's smile was gentle, but for some reason, Nawaki and the others shuddered in unison.

…

The Land of Whirlpools was a small island village bordering the Land of Fire. A compact village surrounded by the sea, it possessed a small population. 

And at this moment, the country was gripped by unease.

In recent months, a significant influx of strangers had entered the country, naturally attracting the attention of Whirlpool Country's higher ups. Investigation revealed these individuals to be spies dispatched by various ninja villages.

Remarkably, these spies originated from nearly every ninja village 'except' Konoha.

The atmosphere within the Uzumaki clan's ancestral hall was heavy with apprehension.

"The number of spies within our borders grows daily. It's clear the ninja villages' patience has run out. We face a stark choice: surrender and relinquish the Uzumaki clan's sealing techniques or resist, risking the complete annihilation of our clan."

The red-haired elder seated at the forefront spoke first. He was Mito's younger brother and the current head of the Uzumaki clan.

"Then we fight them!"

"Yes, I'll tear off a piece of their flesh even if it costs me my life!"

"…"

Observing the chaotic scene below, the clan leader's expression darkened. Their only instinct was to fight, to kill. The grim reality was that they couldn't possibly win. 

How could a small nation like Whirlpool Country hope to withstand the combined might of these major ninja villages?

"Don't we still have Konoha as our ally? Let's request their assistance." An elder suggested calmly.

With a prolonged sigh, the clan leader drew attention back to himself, a bitter smile twisting his lips. "The Third Hokage has already responded. The Land of Fire is currently unable to spare any resources to support us. The Land of Earth and the Land of Lightning to the north eye us greedily. The Land of Wind to the west is also eager to attack. Even the 'demigod' of the Land of Rain is restless…"

As these words hung in the air, the expressions of the surrounding elders shifted dramatically. Could it be that the Third Hokage intended to abandon the Uzumaki clan?

"But the Third Hokage said we could send some 'fire seeds' to Konoha to preserve our clan's bloodline." The clan leader's voice was barely audible. 

These "fire seeds" were not solely for the Uzumaki clan's continuation, but also because the First Hokage's wife, Lady Mito, was aging and urgently needed a successor. 

This crucial detail, however, remained unspoken to the clan members.

"How can this be? Is our Uzumaki clan truly facing annihilation?" Some voices cried out in disbelief and despair.

Seeing the despair on every face, the clan leader knew he had to project strength, lest they crumble before the enemy even made their move.

"In truth, there's no need for excessive worry. Judging by the current situation, it will take another year or two before they act. Those who refuse to passively await their fate can use this time to strengthen themselves or leave quietly."

"Leave? Who dares to leave? This is the Uzumaki clan's hour of survival. To abandon us now… are you even human?"

"Exactly! At worst, we die. I won't flee. When the time comes, we'll face it together. We won't let others mock the Uzumaki clan."

Following the patriarch's words, the more fervent members of the clan voiced their defiance.

However, a few others echoed their sentiments, though their shifting gazes hinted at different intentions.

Observing the growing unrest, the clan leader slammed his hand on the table several times.

"Silence! Our immediate priority is to preserve the Uzumaki clan. This incident proves Konoha's unreliability. We must send as many clan members away as possible, rather than allowing them all to perish here. Therefore, I propose we begin by sending out those without combat abilities, as many as we can. Everyone, go and prepare."

After irritably dismissing the assembly, the clan leader knelt before the ancestral tablets. He scanned each one, a wave of grief and indignation washing over him. "Ancestors, the Uzumaki clan is facing extinction!" His earlier resolve had vanished, replaced by the raw emotion of a child weeping and lamenting to his parents.

Listening to the clan leader's anguished voice from the ancestral hall, the elders departed with heavy hearts, stepping into an uncertain future.

…

The Senju clan compound.

Yuta unexpectedly received a message from Mito, requesting his presence in the Senju territory.

He understood the reason for her summons. Despite his reluctance to become entangled in the unfolding crisis, he made his way to the Senju estate.

"Lord Yuta." The maid at the entrance bowed respectfully upon seeing him.

Yuta offered a curt nod and opened the door to find both Tsunade and Mito awaiting him.

"You're here, Yuta." Mito's expression remained kind, though a hint of weariness lined her face.

Yuta stepped forward, bowing deeply to Mito with genuine respect before moving to the side and taking a seat.

Once Yuta was seated, a flicker of anxiety crossed Mito's features. "Yuta, have you heard about the situation in Whirlpool Country?"

"Yes." Yuta was aware that Whirlpool Country had sent a plea for aid to Konoha, only to be rebuffed by the Third Hokage and others.

Calculating the timeline, he realized the destruction of Whirlpool Country in the original timeline was imminent. 

Unfortunately, the Second Shinobi World War was already underway, and Konoha was preoccupied with its own affairs. Supporting Whirlpool Country was simply not feasible.

Moreover, it wasn't just one or two factions eyeing Whirlpool Country. Essentially, the entire ninja world, with the notable exception of Konoha, was involved. Konoha would be forced to retreat against such a united front.

However, Yuta couldn't voice these harsh realities. He simply offered a brief acknowledgment. 

Challenging the entire ninja world single-handedly was unthinkable.

Seeing Yuta's reserved expression, Mito could only offer a wry smile.

"Oh! It seems I truly cannot escape this time." A wave of sadness washed over her.