Chapter 72: What Was the Real Reason for the Destruction of the Land of Whirlpools?
Reaching the Land of Water was never going to be simple.
Its geography was practically a natural fortress, surrounded by sea and separated from other countries by water instead of land borders. If they wanted to get there, they needed a boat.
But when Kenichi and his group arrived at the port, they received unexpected news.
"Has Jūzō already left the Land of Water for the Land of Whirlpools?" Kenichi touched the ring on his finger.
A message from Nagato.
According to reliable intelligence, Jūzō Biwa had already departed the Land of Water and was most likely headed for the Land of Whirlpools. What he was doing there was still unknown. Nagato's order was straightforward.
Go verify it.
"The Land of Whirlpools is close," Sasori said. After days traveling together, his tone had become noticeably more casual.
"It is," Kenichi replied, frowning. "But the Land of Whirlpools has been destroyed. What would Jūzō be doing there?"
In theory, the Land of Whirlpools had been an ally of Konoha. Even Konoha's headbands carried the Uzumaki symbol as a mark of that connection.
And yet the Land of Whirlpools still vanished, crushed by those who feared their sealing techniques.
Kenichi did not know what Konoha had done in the middle of it all. He had never asked his teacher. But the result was undeniable.
The Land of Whirlpools was gone.
The Uzumaki clan was now rare to the point of being almost mythical.
That was simply the ninja world. Beyond the five great nations and monsters like Akatsuki, smaller countries could disappear without leaving anything behind but ruins and rumors.
Sometimes they only survived as a casual line spoken by someone important.
"They might be hunting for fortune," Sasori said, absentmindedly adjusting parts on his metal puppet. "Uzumaki sealing techniques were strong. It is possible something valuable was left behind."
During their recent discussions, Sasori had gained more ideas than he expected. He was already thinking about how to modify Unit 01 to give it stronger capabilities.
Chakra conduction was the key.
But chakra conduction required materials.
"I seem to remember the swords of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen have the ability to conduct electricity," Sasori added, thoughtful.
Kenichi neither agreed nor disagreed. The order came from Nagato, so they would go.
The intelligence likely came from Black Zetsu. That was the one in Akatsuki who handled information like breathing.
Since they were already heading there, Kenichi planned to search for something else as well.
The Shinigami mask the Uzumaki worshipped.
He remembered the Reaper Death Seal. Use that technique, and your soul is dragged into the Shinigami's belly forever.
To break that seal, you needed the mask.
And the method was as brutal as it was effective.
You literally performed a "cesarean section" on death.
The price was equally brutal.
Whoever broke the seal would die.
If anyone in the current ninja world was suited for something like that, it would be his teacher.
The future would be affected, of course, but only if the plan was actually carried out and only if the Third Hokage could endure what came afterward.
Kenichi sat on the boat, staring at the small landmass ahead and scratching his head.
If his teacher truly fell for that trap, it would also become an opportunity for research. Kenichi was extremely interested in the mechanics of the Reanimation Jutsu.
Not because he wanted immortality.
He wanted to see the operating rules. He wanted to know what happened to the soul once the body was taken over.
Then, one day, he could look at his teacher and say, seriously, "Teacher, you do not want to lose the use of your hands for the rest of your life, do you?"
He paused.
That sentence still sounded strange no matter how he arranged it.
Soon, Kenichi and Sasori stepped onto the land of the Land of Whirlpools.
It looked like an ordinary abandoned island now, quiet and still.
The trip from the Land of Fire to the Land of Whirlpools was fast, and there were ships that came this way often enough.
According to the boatman, treasure hunters visited the ruins regularly. Some people even came for sightseeing, though those tourists usually hired ninja escorts.
Kenichi had seen missions like that posted back in Konoha, so it was not surprising.
With friction between Konoha and Kumogakure escalating, Kenichi suspected the mission hall was now prioritizing only high paying requests. That meant fewer people would be wandering around here.
"This place is actually suitable for a laboratory," Kenichi said, looking across the deserted ruins and scratching his head.
He had once considered setting up a lab inside Kamui.
But since Obito was still alive, that idea was dead on arrival.
Now the Land of Whirlpools looked like a strong candidate. Few people came here, and it was isolated enough to keep most eyes away.
The downside was distance.
And there was another problem.
A lab in the Land of Rain came with safety, but it also came with the risk that Black Zetsu or Nagato might appear and snoop whenever they pleased. That would make certain secret experiments impossible.
"Even architecture cannot last forever," Sasori muttered, suddenly solemn. "Only puppets are truly eternal art."
Kenichi gave him a strange look, then glanced at the crumbling structures ahead.
If the Land of Whirlpools had not been destroyed by an enemy, many of these buildings might still be standing.
"Come on," Kenichi said. "Our target is Jūzō Biwa. He should be on this island."
He focused.
In the next instant, jagged lightning patterns appeared at the corners of his eyes.
Sasori looked at him curiously, noticing the sudden markings, but did not ask.
A ninja's techniques were secrets. You did not expose them casually.
Battles were fights of intelligence as much as force.
Even setting everything else aside, if Jiraiya had truly understood his disciple's abilities back then, the outcome might have been different.
"Hm." Sasori followed silently.
The two moved quickly, sweeping through the island's corners and broken pathways.
Before long, they stopped.
A man sat near the water, resting with casual ease.
Jūzō Biwa.
By now, Kenichi and Sasori had removed their disguises and returned to their original appearances. They had also changed into Akatsuki cloaks.
"This guy looks confident," Kenichi said, stroking his chin as he studied Jūzō's calm posture.
"Let me test him first," Sasori said, pulling out Unit 01.
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