Chapter 6: The Whispering Sea
The moon was a thin silver sliver over the churning waters of the Whirlpool coast. To the Hidden Mist scouts, Uzushiogakure looked like a peaceful, sleeping village. They didn't see the tiny copper plates tucked into the reef rocks, vibrating silently as their boats disturbed the water's pressure.
In the village's main watch-hub, there was no "Command Center" coldness. It felt more like a busy family kitchen. Rimon was sitting on a low table, his red hair messy as usual, while Elder Ashina sat across from him, nursing a cup of tea.
"They're coming through the Widow's Cove, Rimon-chan," Ashina said, his voice warm but focused. He held a Resonance Seal between his fingers, feeling the rhythmic hum. "Just like you thought. Those vibration tags you had us place... they work better than our sensory ninjas' tired eyes."
Rimon grinned, looking less like a King and more like a proud nephew. "It's just physics, Old Man. Water doesn't lie. They're moving in three squads."
The Family Hunt
Rimon didn't "order" the Elders. He looked at Elder Enzo and Elder Tokuma, who were checking their gear nearby.
"Uncle Enzo, Uncle Tokuma," Rimon said, hopping off the table. "You guys have hunted in that cove since you were kids. If we use the Vacuum Seals to keep the noise down, can you bag them without waking up the whole island? I'd rather not have to explain the noise to the toddlers tomorrow."
Enzo chuckled, ruffling Rimon's hair as he passed by. "Leave it to us, kid. We might not be Kage-level monsters, but we've been Jonin since before you were a glint in your father's eye. We'll bring them back in one piece for you."
The Elders slipped out into the night. They weren't using "Science-magic"—they were using their years of Shinobi experience, enhanced by the simple tools Rimon had helped them craft.
The Nursery's Reality
Kushina was leaning against the wall, watching the "Radar" seal with a mix of awe and frustration. Next to her were a few of the other Nursery kids, including young Arashi. They looked tired; maintaining the chakra flow to the new Resonance Network was exhausting for children.
"I could help," Kushina muttered, though she looked pale. "I could go out there and—"
"And get caught," Rimon interrupted gently, handing her a high-calorie snack he'd worked on. "Kushina, you've got more chakra than all of us, but you're thirteen. Your control is still shaky. Arashi, your hands are shaking just from holding the signal. You guys did great today—the scouts wouldn't have been spotted without your help on the relay."
"But we're not strong enough to fight yet," Arashi said, looking down at his small hands.
"Nobody is, on day one," Rimon said, sitting down on the floor with them. He wasn't a King on a throne; he was a big brother. "That's why the Uncles are out there. Our job is to build the 'Eyes' of the village so the 'Fists' know where to strike. You're the foundation, not the front line. Not yet."
The Quiet Return
An hour later, the door creaked open. Enzo and Tokuma walked in, looking slightly damp from the sea spray but completely unharmed. Behind them, several Uzumaki guards dragged forty-two bound and gagged Mist scouts.
"All present and accounted for," Enzo said, leaning against the doorframe and wiping his brow. "They didn't even know what hit them. Those Vacuum Seals are a godsend, Rimon. Usually, a Mist ninja starts screaming the moment he sees a red-head, but tonight... silence."
"Good job, Uncle," Rimon said, standing up. He looked at the prisoners—men who had come to kill his family while they slept. A flash of coldness crossed his eyes, but he kept his voice calm for the sake of the kids.
Ashina stood up, placing a hand on Rimon's shoulder. "We'll put them in the holding cells for the night. Tomorrow, we'll see what the Hidden Mist has to say for itself. Get some sleep, Rimon. You've done enough 'calculating' for one day."
Rimon looked at the Elders, then at the sleepy children, and finally at the "Red Line" icon in his mind. He felt the warmth of his clan—a brotherhood that didn't need titles to be strong.
"Yeah," Rimon whispered. "Sleep sounds good. We're going to need our energy for the interrogation tomorrow."