The wind sweeping across the Ruins of the Land of Whirlpools carried the salty dampness of water vapor and the scent of decay, rushing over the desolate wilderness and penetrating the dense, primeval forest.
The intertwined branches of towering ancient trees formed a net-like canopy, blocking the sky's light from above. The ground was carpeted with thick layers of rotting leaves, emitting a soft 'rustle' with each step, like a whisper from this silent land.
A day later, three figures abruptly appeared in a forest clearing. They were Uchiha Xia Yin, Chi, and Yan. Utilizing the afterimages of the Body Flicker Technique, they had avoided all hidden sentries and terrain traps along the way, landing without a sound. The hems of their black garments still bore blades of grass and morning dew from the journey.
No sooner had their figures steadied than two presences emerged from behind the shrubbery on the right.
Uchiha Xiu and Uchiha Chen stepped out slowly. Both wore matching dark gray combat uniforms with subtle uchiha clan crests embroidered on their sleeves. Their Three-Tomoe Sharingan swept over the trio, and after confirming no abnormalities, they immediately knelt on one knee in salute. Their voices were kept low but carried an unmistakable reverence: "Lord Xia Yin!"
Xia Yin gave a slight nod, his gaze sweeping past the forest behind the two men. The Land of Whirlpools had been destroyed several years ago, its once-prosperous towns reduced to ruins. Only this primeval forest, due to its treacherous terrain, had been preserved, becoming an excellent hidden stronghold.
He raised a hand, signaling them to rise. His tone was calm yet carried expectation: "You've worked hard. Let's go, show me our 'new home.' This place will surely become lively in the future."
Over ten days ago, when Xia Yin had summoned the ten Elite Jōnin, he had already ordered Chen, Hien, and Jin to arrive here first.
Utilizing the residual leylines and complex terrain of the Land of Whirlpools, they had used Earth Release secret techniques to excavate the mountain, spending nearly half a month to build this secret base.
Xiu acknowledged the order, turned, and led the way. The group followed him through layers of dense forest, soon hearing the rushing sound of a waterfall.
A waterfall about thirty feet wide appeared before them. Water cascaded down from a cliff face dozens of yards high, splashing into a mist that refracted faint rainbows.
The cliff face behind the waterfall appeared smooth and unremarkable, covered in damp moss. Xiu walked forward, pressed his fingertip against an inconspicuous rock, and injected Chakra—
With a soft 'click,' the rock slowly depressed inward. The entire stone wall began to open like a door, revealing a dark passageway behind it. A dry current of air, mixed with a faint trace of Chakra, washed over them.
"Please, my lord." Xiu stepped aside, gesturing, and entered the passage first.
Xia Yin and the other two followed closely. The interior walls of the passage were reinforced with Earth Release to be exceptionally smooth, with glowing phosphorescent stones embedded on both sides, illuminating the path ahead.
After walking about a hundred steps, the space suddenly opened up. It was a massive cavern built into the mountain. Stalactites hung from the ceiling, and the ground had been leveled into a flat, open area. Surrounding it were orderly stone houses, all carved with Earth Release, exceptionally sturdy.
In the open space at the center of the cavern, over a dozen figures were engaged in intense training. They were the summoned Ninja—Rui, Ren, Ci, and others—who had arrived with Jin a few days prior, along with the two kunoichi, Hien and Crimson.
Waves of Chakra intertwined and clashed within the cavern. Rui and Ren were sparring with swordsmanship, their ninja swords clashing with sharp 'clangs,' sparks flying.
Ci was leading three Genin (Chen, Sha, and Li) in practicing Chakra condensation. The Kunai at their fingertips were enveloped in Chakra, glowing with a faint, cold light.
Crimson stood to the side supervising the training. Her Sharingan precisely captured each person's flaws, and she occasionally offered pointers in a stern yet insightful tone.
Though crude, the entire base exuded a vigorous vitality, forming a stark contrast to the deathly silence outside the cave.
Xia Yin's gaze swept over the training group, and he nodded slightly. In just a few days, the coordination among these summoned Ninja was already taking shape. Crimson's training methods were indeed effective.
At that moment, Xiu stepped forward, his expression carrying a barely concealed gravity. He reported in a low voice, "Lord Xia Yin, Uzumaki Kana and her husband, Uzumaki Kyukaku, are both conscious now. I have tested their combat abilities; both are at the Elite Chunin level."
He paused, his brow furrowing tighter, his voice dropping even lower: "Among them, Uzumaki Kana's Chakra purity is very high. The vitality potential of the Uzumaki Clan is still present. With subsequent training, she still has significant room for improvement. But her husband, Uzumaki Kyukaku..."
At this point, Xiu's Adam's apple bobbed, his expression growing increasingly grim, as if the words were difficult to utter.
Xia Yin stopped walking and turned to look at him, a flicker of doubt in his eyes: "What is it? Is his talent limited?"
He recalled the intelligence report mentioning that Uzumaki Kyukaku had been a core combatant for the Land of Whirlpools. Logically, he shouldn't have been stuck at the Elite Chunin level.
"It's not a talent issue," Xiu shook his head, a hint of bitterness in his voice. "My lord, his vitality... is almost completely depleted."
This statement landed like a heavy blow, silencing the training sounds in the cavern. The surrounding Ninja instinctively stopped their movements, their gazes turning towards them.
Xiu took a deep breath and continued, "Hien excels at Medical Ninjutsu, and Crimson's genjutsu can assist in probing the body's Origin. After a joint examination, they concluded that Lord Kyukaku has, at most, less than ten years left to live.
And that's only thanks to Hien using her Chakra to sustain his life these past few days. Without them, he probably wouldn't last half a year before succumbing to complete vitality exhaustion."
Xia Yin's pupils contracted slightly, the calm on his face finally cracking.
He instantly remembered the intelligence he had received earlier: The bite marks and whip scars on Uzumaki Kana's body were all fresh injuries. In the days she was abducted, who had borne the torment of the Grass Ninja Village in her stead?
The answer was self-evident—it was Uzumaki Kyukaku.
This man, at the cost of his own vitality, had stubbornly protected his wife and the yet-to-awaken Karin, shouldering all the suffering himself.
Beside him, Xiu hung his head, his fingers clenched tightly into fists, nails almost digging into his palms.
He was the most strategically adept among the Elite Jōnin summoned by Xia Yin, comparable to Konoha's Nara Clan—meticulous and far-sighted.
But now, his composure was replaced by deep anxiety. The Uzumaki Clan, once a glorious Kekkei Genkai Clan, after the destruction of their land, the humiliation and torment its members suffered felt like a thorn driven deep into his heart.
He couldn't help but wonder: If one day, the Uchiha also suffered a devastating blow, would their Clan Members end up in a similar state?
Trampled upon by enemies, their vitality slowly drained, unable to even retain their dignity?
As soon as this thought surfaced, a flicker of Crimson rage ignited in Xiu's eyes. His Chakra fluctuated uncontrollably for a moment, startling the two Genin training nearby, who instinctively stepped back.
He almost lost control, wanting to immediately charge back to the Grass Ninja Village and tear those who had tormented the Kyukaku couple limb from limb.
But ultimately, he was rational. He was Xia Yin's subordinate, the captain of this hidden force. He couldn't let a moment of impulse ruin his lord's overall plans...
Advance chapter available on pãtrêon Got1808