I'M NARUTO UZUMAKI

Whirlpool Ruins

The intense battle lasted for ten minutes—nine of which unfolded on the rugged coastal road leading to the ruins of Uzushiogakure. In the final minute, the enemy, realizing their hopeless situation, surrendered.

As Naruto Uzumaki surveyed the defeated rogue ninja kneeling before him, he couldn't help but feel disappointed. Even with their strongest member barely reaching Chūnin level, they were nothing more than small-time mercenaries. If they had encountered Sasuke Uchiha, they would have been obliterated in an instant.

Yet, their defeat proved useful. From their frightened confessions, Naruto pieced together the situation on the island, uncovering the real reason behind the disruption of trade routes.

The economic backbone of these rogue ninja and local fishermen wasn't legitimate commerce—it was smuggling. They trafficked contraband between the Five Great Nations, using the ruins of the former Land of Whirlpools as a neutral smuggling hub. The true mastermind behind this illicit operation was none other than Gato, the corrupt shipping magnate who had once terrorized the Land of Waves.

After rendering the rogue ninja unconscious, Naruto summoned a messenger hawk and sent it skyward. Then, he patiently waited.

Moments later, a rustling sound came from the dense forest. Emerging from the shadows was Shisui Uchiha. The once-proud warrior appeared visibly drained. He bowed his head and spoke with relief, "Lord Menma, you're finally here. We've been waiting for days."

Shisui, once Konoha's strongest Genjutsu master, had experienced hardships beyond combat. The difficulties he faced weren't just the harsh environment of the ruined Land of Whirlpools but the burden of leadership. As the new head of the Uchiha clan in exile, he had to handle all matters personally—especially securing supplies, which was nearly impossible due to Konoha's surveillance.

Currently, the Uchiha relied on supplies smuggled through the Hidden Nekomata Village, but that wasn't sustainable.

Naruto examined Shisui's tired face and smirked. "Having trouble? A few rogue ninja shouldn't be an issue for the mighty Uchiha."

Shisui gave a helpless smile and sighed. "The rogue ninja aren't the problem. It's the supply chains. If I personally go ashore for trade, I risk exposing our location to Konoha's ANBU. Right now, our situation is precarious."

Naruto shrugged. "Everything has a price. If you want security, you need to take control. These rogue ninja can be useful. Collect and organize them—we need manpower for reconstructing the Uzumaki base."

Pointing at the unconscious foes, Naruto continued, "Quit standing around. Search them for valuables. Keep them alive; we'll need them later."

Shisui, though slightly surprised, obeyed. After looting the fallen enemies, the two ascended a cliffside, gaining a panoramic view of the ruined island.

"Naruto," Shisui began, "have you located Uzushiogakure's ruins?"

He nodded. Shisui pointed towards the coastal remains of the once-great village. "The ruins are there, but a band of well-organized ninja have taken control. Their leader is rumored to have Jōnin-level strength."

Naruto scoffed. "Jōnin-level? That's barely a challenge…"

Still, he knew that in the ninja world, Jōnin were elite warriors, rarely defecting unless faced with dire circumstances.

Naruto didn't bother questioning why Shisui hadn't taken the ruins earlier. Instead, the two silently advanced towards the remains of Uzushiogakure.

Though the village had been annihilated years ago by the combined forces of Kumo, Iwa, and Kiri, it still held strategic value. Uchiha's survival depended on secrecy, and any delay in establishing a base would only increase their exposure.

After sprinting for half an hour, Naruto and Shisui arrived at the ruins. The collapsed buildings stood as grim reminders of the Uzumaki clan's former glory—a legacy brought to the brink of extinction.

Noticing Naruto's expression, Shisui spoke softly, "Lord Menma, under your leadership, the Land of Whirlpools will rise again."

Naruto, however, felt conflicted. He had never seen Uzushiogakure in its prime. To him, it was only a name in history books.

Navigating the ruined structures, they reached an occupied area within the village's remains. Using Genjutsu, they swiftly disabled the patrolling guards and eliminated multiple Chūnin-level opponents without resistance.

Neither Naruto nor Shisui was an ordinary warrior; both had surpassed conventional Jōnin long ago. In terms of sheer power, either one of them could rival an entire nation.

Soon, they located the rogue ninja leader—and encountered their first real obstacle.

With a resounding bang, the enemy leader activated a powerful defensive Ninjutsu, forcing Naruto and Shisui to retreat momentarily. Their eyes widened—not in fear, but in surprise.

It wasn't the leader's strength that caught their attention. It was his technique.

A Konoha-style Fūinjutsu.

Exchanging a glance, Naruto and Shisui quickly ruled out the possibility that this was an elite ANBU operative. That left only one explanation—this man was an Uzumaki survivor who had concealed his red hair to avoid detection.

"Sharingan: Illusion Bind."

Naruto removed his mask, activating a Genjutsu.

However, the Uzumaki ninja resisted, immediately applying a self-inflicted sealing technique to disrupt his chakra flow. Breaking free in an instant, he regained clarity—only to fall into Shisui's Kotoamatsukami. His body froze.

Shisui exhaled, wiping sweat from his brow. Both he and Naruto now fully understood why the Uzumaki clan had been destroyed.

Beyond their remote island location, it was their terrifying Fūinjutsu heritage that sealed their fate.

Unlike typical Kekkei Genkai, the Uzumaki's longevity and unparalleled mastery of sealing arts made them a global threat. Their enemies had risked everything—defying even Konoha—to annihilate them.

Shisui turned to Naruto and said, "Lord Menma, I'll handle the guards outside. Please proceed as you see fit."

Naruto glanced at the obedient Shisui, then refocused on the captured Uzumaki.

This man might be the key to unlocking the lost secrets of the clan's forbidden techniques.

Binding him with chakra-infused chains, Naruto deactivated the illusion—but refrained from probing his mind. Uzumaki shinobi were known to inscribe protective seals directly onto their brains. Any forceful memory extraction could trigger a lethal backlash.

As the Uzumaki ninja awoke, his sharp eyes immediately locked onto Naruto.

His expression wasn't just one of defiance—but also confusion.

There was something familiar about Naruto's chakra signature.

Yet that should have been impossible. He was the last Uzumaki left in Uzushiogakure. The rest of his kin had either perished or gone into hiding.

Naruto didn't waste time with words.

Instead, he released a flicker of Nine-Tails' chakra.

The Uzumaki ninja's eyes widened in shock.

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