The border of the Land of Whirlpools.
Naruto was practicing the sealing techniques of the Uzumaki Clan under the guidance of the old patriarch.
Unlike ordinary ninjutsu, Fūinjutsu is designed specifically to seal chakra. Like the Three Basic Techniques, it doesn't require a specific chakra nature—just an enormous amount of chakra and serious cultivation talent.
As a descendant of the Uzumaki and the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki, Naruto naturally had no issues with chakra reserves.
Talent, however… was another story.
Many of the sealing theories sounded like ancient scripture mixed with drunk calligraphy to him. It had taken him nearly two months just to grasp a few techniques, and he still hadn't fully mastered the Adamantine Sealing Chains.
After listening to the old patriarch's lengthy lecture, Naruto shifted his gaze toward the captured White Zetsu.
He immediately asked the old patriarch to undo the seals on them and decided to use the White Zetsu as live training targets for his sealing practice.
As training began, Naruto gathered his chakra. Golden chains burst out from behind him, dancing wildly in the air as they shot toward the White Zetsu, who had just been released from their restraints.
Logically speaking, after being caught over and over again, the White Zetsu should have given up and accepted their fate like flattened salted fish.
But White Zetsu were single-threaded lifeforms—running on what could generously be called a half-brain cell. Acting purely on instinct, they used Wood Release to block the golden chains while attempting to escape underground with the Mayfly Technique, trying to flee the borders of the Land of Whirlpools.
Unfortunately for them, the rocky terrain made the Mayfly Technique about as useful as digging with a spoon through iron.
In less than half a minute, the Adamantine Sealing Chains captured every fleeing White Zetsu. However, due to Naruto's imperfect control, one of them was accidentally crushed to death.
Seeing this, the old patriarch sighed with regret.
"Naruto, where did you even find these strange creatures? They look human, yet they're clearly not. If we'd had companions like this back then, our clan's training speed would have increased tremendously."
Naruto scratched his cheek. "No idea. Maybe they just auto-respawned in the wild."
"Auto-respawned in the wild?"
The old patriarch pondered for a moment, then chuckled after roughly understanding the meaning. He didn't press further—just as he never asked why Naruto had left Konoha.
As long as Naruto carried Uzumaki blood, that was enough.
After successfully changing the topic, Naruto looked at the old patriarch.
"I've basically mastered the Adamantine Sealing Chains, right? When can I learn the next sealing technique?"
The old patriarch's expression stiffened slightly. He shook his head.
"Young people shouldn't be so impatient. Your sealing technique is far from refined. If you walked outside with this level, you would shame Uzushiogakure."
Naruto kept his mouth shut.
Uzushiogakure had been destroyed ages ago, and the new one hadn't even been rebuilt yet… but he wasn't suicidal enough to say that aloud. Otherwise, the old man would launch into another three-hour sermon about how sealing techniques could seal everything—including the moon if necessary.
Though, to be fair, the moon had been created with Six Paths: Chibaku Tensei, which was technically a sealing technique.
Still, just like the First Hokage pacifying the Warring States Era, it wasn't just about Wood Release. It was about being ridiculously overpowered.
After thinking for a moment, Naruto asked, "So how good do I need to get? My sealing skills should already be better than yours when you were my age."
"Hmph. Of course they are," the old patriarch snorted. "But that's not the point."
He narrowed his eyes.
"You must reach the level where you can completely suppress the Nine-Tails within you."
"That's unnecessary," Naruto replied casually. "Kurama and I are friends. I can use his chakra anytime."
The old patriarch glanced at him. "I know the Nine-Tails is your friend. But Konoha and the Land of Whirlpools were once like family, and in the end, they still stood by while our nation was destroyed. Power must ultimately remain in your own hands."
After a pause, he suddenly asked, "By the way… when I'm talking to you like this, can the Nine-Tails hear me?"
Naruto nodded. "He's listening right now."
Hearing this, the old patriarch immediately stepped closer, his tone softening.
"What I said earlier was just casual talk. Don't take it seriously. Since you and Naruto are friends, you must support each other. Never betray one another."
Now even Kurama was speechless.
The awkward silence lingered for a moment before Naruto coughed and changed the subject.
"Old patriarch, since you founded the Land of Whirlpools, do you have any advice about rebuilding Uzushiogakure in the future?"
The old patriarch sighed softly.
"The times have changed. From the chaos of the Warring States Era to this 'one country, one village' system… I still don't fully understand it. It's best not to meddle blindly."
"My idea back then was simple. I just wanted a place for the Uzumaki to live in peace. I even deliberately avoided the prosperous regions of the Land of Fire. Yet as you know… the Land of Whirlpools still couldn't stand alone and was ultimately destroyed."
His eyes dimmed.
In recent days, he had traveled across nearly half the country. The scenery remained the same, but none of the people he once knew were still there.
"As long as the people of the Land of Whirlpools still exist, it is not truly destroyed."
Naruto felt a wave of emotion and nodded.
"Oh, right. Have you compiled the historical records and sealing technique inheritance of the Uzumaki? Those are important."
"Of course," the old patriarch replied proudly. "I don't need sleep. I finished compiling everything long ago. I even placed sealing techniques on them, so no thief can steal them."
Naruto smiled. "Thank you, old patriarch. I don't know how to repay you."
The old patriarch's lips curled into a mischievous grin.
"If you must repay me… why not reestablish the Uzumaki Clan? Our numbers are pitiful now."
Naruto froze.
"Old patriarch, I'm not even ten years old. Isn't that a bit harsh? Let Huomen handle that."
"You think I didn't make the same request to Huomen?"
Naruto silently mourned for Huomen for three full seconds. The poor guy was already in his thirties. Revitalizing the clan alone sounded like a life-shortening mission.
Just then, Naruto received the memories of a shadow clone. His expression turned serious.
"Old patriarch, I can't continue training today. Something urgent has come up. It concerns the secret of Uzushiogakure."
"Are those White Zetsu returning?"
Naruto shook his head and looked across the sea.
"No. It's shinobi from Kirigakure. They've appeared at the border of the Land of Whirlpools. Judging by their direction… they're heading for Uzushiogakure."
With that, Naruto used the Body Flicker Technique and vanished instantly.
The old patriarch watched his departing figure, then turned his gaze toward the direction of Kirigakure.
During his lifetime, Kirigakure had coveted the Land of Whirlpools more than once. Back then, his presence alone had deterred them. But after his death, the balance shattered, and every nation revealed its wolfish ambitions.
Combined with Konoha's cold indifference, the Uzumaki Clan was swallowed in siege and blood.
The situation now was eerily similar to those days.
Fortunately… Naruto was here.
No matter how Naruto viewed Uzushiogakure—heritage, responsibility, or simple stubborn pride—he would never allow other forces to step in and treat it like abandoned land.
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