Red Riot - Chapter 60 - Red whirlpools (Patreon)

Matsu Uzumaki:- Elite Jonin. Chief Medical Officer of the Kiri. Commander of the northwestern Front for Kiri

Juzo Biwa:- One of the Seven Swordsmen and wielder of Kubikiribocho blade.

Kori Yuki:- Clan leader of the Yuki clan and the shinobi angling to step up as Mizukage when Gengetsu dies! Was gifted a Byakugan by Gengetsu to embolden him. Due to failing his attempt to have Gengetsu killed fighting Mu he was traumatised when Gengetsu ordered Matsu to extract the eye only to stop partway through the process.

Sasori:- Jonin of Suna, ANBU, and member of the Puppetry Brigade.

Sayuki:- Second in command of the Civilian Nin, Chunin.

Jonin Akiko - Matsu’s former sensei and exasperated mentor of other children, Matsu returned her beauty to her with the first plastic surgery no jutsu! Has taken on other students but still considers Matsu her best student.

Sharkbait:- real name Kenta Nogawa. Also now a Tk Jonin of Kiri

_______________________

There could be such a thing as too successful.

In the past two weeks since returning from the raid upon Konoha and the Land of Hot Water shinobi, no strike forces had materialised. 

No long-range strikes and fade-aways had tested our patrol screens.

No large shifts in Konoha or Kumo patrols had caused us to reshuffle. 

No one was testing us or giving me the excuse I needed to demonstrate Octocity’s defenses.

It rather annoyed me that my opponents were both aggressive while also being too cautious.

We’d been given more time than I’d originally bargained for to bunker down and build up Octocity. 

Walls were in place, and patrols within the city were established. Checkpoints, chakra sweeps, and even a rudimentary tunnel system were now in place with more to come.

I found myself of two minds. I was more than happy to sit on my hands for the rest of the war, but at the same time I knew that the good times couldn’t continue like this. The other shoe had to drop soon enough; the question merely became where it would come from, and if it was an entire wardrobe of shoes or…

Someone would have to test our defenses at some point.

Someone would surely look to test me.

Until then, all I had to grapple with was the administration of a city.

Something that I’d known intellectually I was going to have to do, but planning for and actually doing were two very different things.

“How is the civilian reintegration program going?” I asked as a memory came to me about reading reports that detailed the question I was already asking about. 

Clones helped to solidify intel, but going over it with someone kept it locked in. It also increased the sheer drudge of the task before me.

Sayuki adjusted a stack of rolled-up scrolls in her grasp, her gaze flicking to Akiko, who served as the second member of my ‘inner council’. 

Akiko hummed before answering, “Lots of people are still shaken up, while some are embracing it and making the most of all the luxuries. So far we’re seeing consistent percentages with each group that fall into reintegration. There is usually a period of torpor or anger. Some people try to buy their way off the island before they realise how good they have it here. It’s being handled though, so you don’t need to do anything. I have people looking over the situation Matsu.”

“Hmmm, sounds like the stages of grief,” I murmured, drumming my fingers on the table. “I suppose that’s to be expected. They just lost their world and have woken up somewhere new.” 

Slowing my drumming fingers, I pursed my lips. “How many men do we have tied up with it now?”

“Forty shinobi for a thousand civilians,” Sayuki stated clinically without even having to consult the scrolls.

Akiko nodded. “That monk you brought in has actually been smoothing things over. I think he’s rather taken with the idea of the democratic government you pitched to him.”

“Good, I need a way to scare some nobles and drag the world forward,” I said with a small grin.

Sayuki hummed, which seemed to be a signal she and Akiko had shared as they passed a look between them. I knew right away that they didn’t see the value in a democratic government as a tool, but they would.

Sayuki didn’t raise an argument however, and instead placed a scroll down on the table. “I read the intel reports that we got from the Land of Tea. It would seem some nobles aren’t taking the war lying down.”

“So it would seem,” I offered blandly, not even looking at the scroll. I’d already had a clone look it over. “The commander in that area will need to be creative to account for that.”

Sayuki didn’t say anything; instead, she observed me pointedly, the question hanging between us.

I raised an eyebrow, and she relented. “What would you do in their situation?”

Pursing my lips, I considered it. “I’d raise a rebel group within the nation and cause them more issues. Spread tales of how the Daimyo is feeding his people into a thresher, which is true to an extent. Maybe even fund a noble civil war if I could, causing a lot of chaos.”

“Seems to be a preferred method for you,” Sayuki pointed out. “Then again, chaos is easy. Plans are harder,” she sniped.

“Heh, Matsu is quite the Agent of Chaos,” Akiko teased, her hands drifting towards a BINGO book where I had several new monikers along with a greater threat assessment.

The Beguiler, the Siren, the Red Nightmare, Kiri’s Whirlpool, and the Agent of Chaos

“Hey, don’t knock it! It’s worked pretty well for me in the past,” I replied easily. “That being said, I have also built a lot of things in the last few years.”

“Hmmm, you say that like it doesn’t cause chaos in other ways,” Akiko teased. “Still, Octocity is well on its way to being established now.” 

Sayuki selected a scroll from within her sleeves with ornate markings on it.

“Is that what I think it is?” I asked, noting the clan crest on the front. A circle with a small dash in the middle of it, much like the eye the clan wielded.

“The Chinoike’s official response,” confirmed Sayuki, causing Akiko to straighten.

I opened it and was immediately pleased with what I read. “They’ve accepted and will come to Octocity in the next few weeks to formally join Kirigakure,” I announced.

Akiko exhaled in relief while Sayuki just shook her head. “Like that was ever in doubt.” 

Sayuki waved a hand about the room. “The scouts they sent were overawed by the fighting you got into, and then you come back here? Too easy.”

“Hmph, yes, they were the low-hanging fruit of the groups I want to bring into the fold.”

Sayuki looked to the ceiling and waited for a moment while Akiko let out a soft groan. 

The two women shared another look, and this time Akiko nodded towards Sayuki, who huffed before asking, “Who else are you looking to recruit?”

“I’m looking into the remnants of the Hidden Village in the Sky,” I offered. “I just need an excuse to head over there,” I admitted as I gave a nearby map of the elemental nations a thoughtful look. It was just… a bit too far to casually wander over to, unlike the Chinoike.

Akiko frowned. “Why… What makes you think they’re still alive? Their Village was destroyed in the early portion of the Second Shinobi War by Kumo and Konoha.”

Sayuki nodded along. “This is well recorded,” she stated.

“And we, Iwa, and Kumo did the same to the Uzumaki Clan, but here I am, and I know there are others out there.” 

I ignored the pointed looks from Sayuki while Akiko feigned nonchalance. She likely had the best idea where the Uzumaki were I was vaguely referencing right now. 

Continuing before either could ask, I gestured to the Land of Sky on the map. “The sky nin, however, will have remained within their nation, no doubt. I want their expertise with aerial combat along with their technical capabilities. Octocity and therefore Kiri would be much better off with their inclusion.”

“Hmmmm, if you say so,” Akiko conceded.

Sayuki cleared her throat, “There will surely be some attempt at infiltration soon. We can’t have so many civilians and the influx of the Chinoike clan and not have people filtering in.”

Akiko hummed. “Another cluster of shinobi does increase the risk. After all, you’re not the only person that can see the benefits of inflaming tensions,” she said, repeating my words back to me.

“I’m mostly relying on people being frozen in shock with the rapid assembly of Octocity,” I admitted. “We’re going to have to have dedicated sensors sweeping the populace regularly but new inclusions will be the perfect time to slip someone or groups of people in especially if the infiltrators time their entrance while I’m away.”

“Matsu, there are ANBU out there that have enough chakra control to go completely unnoticeable to chakra sensors. They’re rarer than rare, but they do exist,” Akiko lectured.

“I know, I encountered a few of them a few years ago,” I muttered.

“Hmm, well, that was just Kumo and Konoha, don’t think Suna or Iwa won’t get involved, and as much as Yuni nin are pathetic, there are outliers in the smaller shinobi villages. Don’t underestimate or write them off.”

I raised my hands in surrender, acknowledging that she was right.

Sayuki glanced at Akiko with a glimmer of appreciation before looking back to me. “Regretting creating Octocity?”

“No,” I denied instantly. “It served and continues to serve multiple purposes. The trick is staying on top of its needs while building the foundations for the Chinoike and anyone else that we can get to take up residence here.”

My gaze turned to the maps of Octocity itself. After a month of work, Octopus Island looked completely different. It was in many ways still changing, but the largest buildings had already been constructed, with housing, the port, and the hospital all constructed along other areas built up around the island, along with parks and green spaces taking shape. There were also set areas for clan compounds but that would depend on who joined with Kiri.

My position was better, but stable? That would be a tall ask at the moment.

Not unless I made some very drastic moves to solidify my hold.

Like taking control of the people once more with the Pied Piper jutsu. 

Doing so would no doubt result in a complete collapse of the idea of Octocity and any standing I had with the people that were buying into its formation. I’d go from a potential nightmare to a certified tyrant.

The biggest issue of having such a jutsu within my arsenal was the temptation to use it again.

It would make life so much simpler. 

The infiltrators who once threatened my city? Plucked out and made harmless at a flex of my will. But in doing so I’d be burning down a forest to draw out a wolf.

The Pied Piper jutsu was a terrible threat that now that I’d used it once, I hoped to never wield again.

The temptation to do so was there, however, as it was easier when almost the entire population had been under my sway.

But no, it could not be used again in Octocity. 

Other ways to firm up my control on the current situation would be to waltz into Kori Yuki’s provided apartment and simply kill him.

I’d get a period of safety, but then there would be more issues down the line.

For all that he was a thorn in my side that could turn into a full-blown kunai in the back, I couldn’t simply slay him. I needed to neuter him fully before I did so.

For that, I needed to take away a lot of his support within the Yuki clan. Which wasn’t going to be easy.

Thawing the Yuki to me would be a tough ask. Possible, but tough.

The biggest issue was that I couldn’t leave Octocity, or rather my frontline, without assaulting someone nearby. If I simply departed, I would be ditching my duty. There would be good reason for it, but… well, when your enemies were looking for any excuse…

My eyes drifted towards the Land of Rain, where I knew that with a bit of time I could tilt the narrative in a better direction. Or I could do something else completely selfish and simply kill Nagato while he was young.

What was a Byakugan to a Rinnegan after all?

That almost made me snort. There would be no simple slaying of Nagato. He’d already unlocked the rinnegan, and I had no doubt that with more battles under his belt he’d be a more than credible threat for anyone. He also would have the eyes of Madara and Zetsu. 

No, I needed to leave Nagato and his fellows alone.

Which meant I was going to have to let Danzo scheme and Akatsuki grow into the threat that it could be.

My gaze shifted to the overlays we’d set up on the tactical map highlighting various strong shinobi and their last known positions.

“Land of Hot Water really is earning its name now,” I murmured as I tapped a finger next to several small pins that stood for Orochimaru, Tsunade, Ei, the current Nibi Host, and several other Elite Jonin that had been called into the fight. Rather than dying down, it appeared things were merely escalating as Konoha continued to fall back rather than face Kumo’s forces, something that had Kumo pursuing them for all they were worth.

Sakumo was hanging close by but not committing. He had shifted slightly north from his original position, or at least that was what our intel division had concluded.

Instead of there being a gap in the southern regions, another S-rank shinobi had been called up.

Jiraiya had the southern tip of the Land of Fire.

 “Bit too hot on the western front, or rather, Konoha’s eastern front,” I muttered as my gaze shifted around. “What’s Gengetsu going to strike at though? We’ve got all the big names on their front lines and accounted for.”

“The third Hokage hasn’t left Konoha,” Akiko pointed out.

That got a snort. “If he moves from Konoha then he has to be utterly confident that the Village is in safe hands or that it can’t be threatened.” Which was as good as saying he wouldn’t come out of the Village.

“Hmmm, I suppose. So we won’t be seeing him, I take it?”

“I hope not, but at the same time, wishes are fishes,” I replied.

Sayuki considered the map and glanced at her stack of scrolls. “We’re going to have to take a risk somewhere.” She straightened and shifted so she was facing me fully. “I suggest sending me to the Land of Sky.”

For a long moment, I pursed my lips.

“Whilst you remain within the city, Akiko can support you. Juzo is also… being helpful,” Sayuki said carefully, like she was afraid just voicing the fact of Juzo’s acts would see them reversed.

“I’ll be sending him away soon, actually,” I admitted. “He’s somewhat proven he can be trusted with certain actions, and indeed relishes in performing them.”

Sayuki tilted her head while Akiko made a small noise of understanding. “Ah, the pirates that have been attacking some of our supplies?”

“The pirates,” I confirmed. “So yes, it would be best to send you off now, along with Juzo. That will leave me and Akiko here to mind the city along with Kori.”

“Huh, you know I thought I was going to have to make more arguments than that,” Sayuki admitted.

Shrugging, I made an expansive gesture at the map. “I might be keeping a lot of tasks handled at the moment thanks to my shadow clones, but I can’t be everywhere. I need to start delegating and getting used to it, so yeah, you’re going in my stead. You understand what I want, and you have the best chance of success for anyone that isn’t me.”

An idle thought occurred to me. “Make sure to use the Rasengan if you get a chance. People always react well to that being shown off. At this point I think I’ll rename it the diplomacy fist or some such,” I joked.

She shot me an amused grin, and I smiled back at her. “What? You know it’s true. I’ve got the Chinoike in the door and have talked down lots of people in the past with it!”

Huffing Sayuki nodded. “True enough. For this mission, do I get my pick of the shinobi?”

“... yes,” I said, “But with the caveat that you need to take one of Kori’s yuki nin.”

Akiko hissed. “He’s not going to like that.”

“He can deal with it. They are in my base and therefore under my command. In fact, let’s start breaking up more of his shinobi.”

“That will create more risk of them lashing out,” pointed out Akiko but nodded. “Still it’s a risk we need to take if we want to thaw the Yuki. Kori is going to stick his heels in no matter what you do. Best you prepare for him acting out.”

“I know,” I grumbled.

Sayuki shot me a look. “You sound less than pleased with this course of action.”

“As you’ve both stated, it’s a risk, but the same could be said for sending you away like I am,” I admitted as I ran a hand through my hair, letting it sweep off to the side before I tossed it over my shoulder with an annoyed flick of my head.

“It was always going to happen. And Kiri nin won’t buy too much into it, Matsu. I can still act in my other role if need be,” she said carefully.

Akiko narrowed her eyes, aware that there was some subtext going on right now but one that she wasn’t privy to.

“We shouldn’t underestimate our enemies, Sayuki,” I said, quoting Akiko from earlier.

“Hmph, funny how we’re hoping for the same for me. Very well, I shall collect my team and head out,” Sayuki murmured. She offered me a quick salute.

Rather than say anything, I looked her up and down. Then I smiled. “I think if I had six shinobi like you, I could take on the world, Sayuki.”

Sayuki twitched. “Don’t use that smile on me!” she growled, her eyes darting to the side to avoid my gaze. Akiko chuckled from the other side of the table.

Rather than look away, I continued to smile at her. “I have no idea what you could mean.”

She threw a jab in my direction, but there was enough of a gap for it to merely hit the air. “Stupid handsome face! Don’t use your seduction techniques on me! Save that for when your fiancée gets here!”

The reminder of Himeko made my smile dim a little; there had been an attack upon Sumire. While I didn’t have any new orders, I did have reports and even a letter from Himeko.

For all that she’d been gushing about getting to hunt down Konoha infiltrators and ANBU in Kiri it still bothered me that they’d been able to get so close so quickly.

Either they had found holes… or they’d been let in… which, knowing Gengetsu, seemed more likely.

“I really do need a dozen of you,” I murmured before conceding the point. “Alright, I will remain here while you secure new allies for us.”

Sayuki huffed but offered me another serious salute. “I won’t fail you.”

“As long as you survive, I don’t mind if you fail,” I stated firmly as I offered her an honest salute back. 

“I won’t fail,” she repeated.

I locked eyes with her, repeating my own statement with a look.

She bowed her head slightly. “Don’t cause too much chaos,” she said before turning and marching out of the room.

I watched her go for a moment before turning my attention to the map. Instead of moving away, Akiko and I remained at the map layout. 

Akiko glanced at Sayuki’s retreating form in a manner that told me she was reassessing the smaller woman before turning back to me. 

“You have a rather intense look going on there, Matsu. Is everything alright?” 

“Perfectly so… which is what bothers me,” I admitted.

“It bothers you?” repeated Akiko incredulously. “I’d have killed to be in this position during the last war!”

“Gengetsu isn’t pushing with orders for me to strike into some megafortress or to get behind their lines or… well, anything… he’s just silent. I was expecting something by now from Kiri.” I waved a hand to the reports and intel. “Instead we get intel and updates, but no new orders.”

“Hmmmmm, I think this is where your singular rotation to a war front is biting you in the behind,” Akiko said.

I raised a questioning eyebrow. “Meaning?”

“You entered the war, and it ended within what? A few months?” she asked, to which I nodded. 

She nodded back at me. “That makes it seem like the war was much quicker than it actually was. You’re thinking everything needs to happen quickly, and with the start of the war happening, that is the case, but only for a short period of time.” 

She spread her arms wide in an expansive gesture. “Everyone’s testing the waters and seeing what their responses will be, where the weak points are. How strong the rank and file are. This will take months of time, then tactics will shift and shift again as adjustments are made.”

She gestured to the Land of Hot Water. “Fights like that might seem impressive, but most of those powerful nin are probably marshalling their strength and performing small skirmishes. They’re all skilled enough to evade death while dishing it out to others. It’s why people get the flee-on-sight recommendation or ‘don’t engage unless with a Jonin team’ designations in BINGO book entries.”

“Our intel reports that dozens of men have died so far in the fighting on both sides,” I pointed out.

“Eh,” Akiko shrugged dismissively, causing me to blink at her unimpressed reaction.

At first I thought of pointing out how horrible such a reaction was, only to reconsider it. “That’s just a statistic to you, isn’t it?”

“It is,” she confirmed. “And it will be for you, Matsu. As you’ve come to realise, you can’t be everywhere. You will have to delegate missions soon enough while holding yourself in reserve.” 

She locked eyes with me. “Your shinobi are going to die,” she said.

“I’m trying to find a way that they won’t,” I bit back instantly, knowing that it was already futile and childish. I’d lost people in the last strike.

“That’s naive Matsu; this is war. You will need to make calls soon.” She brought her hands up like she was using them as scales. “A few? Or lots? A single shinobi with critical intel or an entire platoon? Some people might even fall behind with intel you can’t afford to—”

“I understand what you're trying to teach,” I snapped, “but I will not be slaying any man that falls behind. I will not let it come to that.”

“...” Akiko stared back at me, unflinching with her gaze. “You do recall I had to make such calls in the past. Do you think me lesser for it?”

“... a little,” I admitted, knowing that she’d see through me if I offered empty platitudes. “But you also didn’t have as many options as I did. When all you have is a hammer…” I said, trailing off.

Akiko tilted her head, making it obvious that she wasn't familiar with that idiom. My mind searched for the right phrase. “A ninja’s feet seek rooftops even when the road is clear,” I said.

“Ah,” she replied with a soft nod. 

Silence lingered for a while as both of us considered what had been said. Akiko didn’t seem hurt by my admission, but I still worried. 

“Matsu…” Akiko said carefully.

“Yes?” I replied, showing I was listening despite still staring at the map for answers on what I should do next. 

Her face scrunched up for a moment before she let loose a long, tired sigh. “Matsu, as loath as I am to suggest this, it might be what works best for you… and by extension Kiri.” 

She swallowed and nodded once before continuing. “Perhaps you should do what you do best and find a way to twist this silence from Gengetsu to your advantage?”

“...” That drew a smirk from me. “You know, that does sound good.”

Akiko’s hand flashed around in an attempt to cuff me, but I swayed out of the way.

Instead of lingering on the maps, I stepped back, shut my eyes, and allowed myself a moment to take in my situation. I assessed what I had access to and what I didn’t, then applied the same to my foes. 

What was supposed to happen. What could happen. What pieces I had and could have if I played my cards right… or what information I could leverage.

My eyes fell back to the map and upon a single pin that I’d worried about. Then back to the Land of Rain.

I didn’t need to be the one to interrupt events; I could delegate.

Instead of jumping straight into my new idea, I considered the effects of what I was planning and what it could result in. There were a lot of ripples I would be causing with this, but it should work out for me in multiple ways.

With an opening in Konoha’s lines, I could bleed them a little more, but was that the right play?

Should I escalate in this situation?

My mind went back to what Akiko had said about the war.

I snapped my fingers and nodded. “We’ll assign new orders,” I began.

Akiko straightened before taking up an ink brush and a scroll.

“Juzo is to go to the Funato Pirate clan and make some examples of why they shouldn’t test us during a war. They are to keep the flow of supplies to the front lines uninterrupted. He is not to kill them all, merely maim them and put the fear of Kiri into them.”

It was a blunt, harsh measure to be sure, but I had little patience for pirates that had decided to attack my supply lines. In another situation I might have gone myself or sent Sayuki to give them a softer touch, but right now I only had Juzo to use for this.

“Hmmmm that should keep him happy,” Akiko replied as she dutifully made a note on a scroll. “It also works to not kill them off as we’ll get missions to protect various ships with their presence.”

Ignoring the latter part of her comment, I continued with my train of thought. “Kori… and a contingent of Yuki are to head to the Land of Wave and set up a forward base. I want it known that I will be looking to assault Konoha through that position.”

“Which they will think is a lie; Kori will find a way to inform them as much, even if he does it in such a way as to appear faultless. He knows that you don’t trust him…” she narrowed her eyes and chuckled. “You’re truly going to use that against him?”

“I don’t see a reason not to.” My finger fell upon the Land of Wave and, more importantly, the Fu river that led towards it. Waterways like this were where our shinobi operated best. It also allowed me to have more options with summoning my Orca in battle or support.

“What’s the target?” Akiko asked, leaning forward.

“It will depend on what occurs. I think, for now, that you are correct, I need to be patient and allow things to play out. I don’t wish to continue throwing my men into battle, but that doesn’t mean we can’t make some moves to ‘test the waters’.”

Akiko looked up from her scroll, a pleased grin on her features. “Hmmm, thank you for taking my words to heart.”

My finger shifted only to fall upon Jiraiya.

He was a sleeping dragon in his ability to become an imperfect sage. I did not want to fight him in the slightest, as he was easily one of the foes that could destroy me with my current abilities.

“That being said, if Jiraiya presents himself, we will share a little intel I have come across that might see him depart our coastline.”

Akiko raised an eyebrow, but I just waved her off.

I’d been too locked into a fighting mindset; I didn’t need to fight him, just reposition him.

“We’re going to get Jiraiya off our coastline and leave Konoha exposed, and then… well, we share the news around, let others take some action for once.”

“Preparation always helps for later conflict,” Akiko advised.

“That it does, but I also think I might have been too focused on the Land of Sky to see another opportunity sitting upon my doorstep.”

Akiko frowned, her gaze sweeping about the map only for her eyes to shift with my finger as I brought it down upon a large island that had only recently been a site of great importance.

Time to see if the ruins of Uzushio offered anything for a wayward son.

_______________________

Before I could depart with a team of shinobi to investigate the ruins of Uzushio, I still had to assign the missions I’d created to the relevant parties.

“Heh, the Funato pirates? That’s going to be a swim in the shallows for me, but you’re right that it will be fun. I’ll take my apprentice with me and no one else. Let him blood himself,” Juzo remarked with a smirk as the apprentice in question straightened.

“Only the two of you?” I confirmed, rolling the idea around. “I suppose that will send a message.”

Juzo grunted. “Eh, I don’t plan to unsheathe my blade," he said while turning to his apprentice. “If I have to, you’re gone, got that?.”

Nodding, the apprentice firmly didn’t cower or back down but met Juzo’s demand head-on, earning him a smirk from the man and a clap on the shoulder.

Turning to the other mission leader, I gestured to the Land of Wave, or rather, the island of Wave, that would one day feature the first major mission for Naruto and Team Seven.

“Kori, I want you to take a team of shinobi and scout out the island. Establish a supply depot and secure a base that we can launch an assault from. I plan to launch an offensive soon, but I need more intel on the area. I’ll be liaising with the central commander to create a strike force. Get me everything you can.”

With the order given, I waited, knowing that Kori would react.

Kori frowned. “That isn’t our front line,” he stated.

“It overlaps with what is ours,” I stated. “The central force is mostly tied up with the Land of Noodles, so offering them an opening to the north and distracting Konoha and Noodle forces will work in our favour.”

Kori gave me a flat, unimpressed look. Then he offered a twitch of the head in place of a bow of acknowledgement. “As you order, Commander Uzumaki, what will you be doing during this period?”

“I just told you, I will be linking up with the central Commander to discuss our assault up the Fu River into the Land of Fire.”

Kori’s gaze didn't falter. His single visible eye bore into me while he kept his byakugan deactivated for the moment. He was searching for the lie that his instincts knew had to be there, which he wasn’t wrong to check for. 

It helped that I would be talking with the central command, but it wouldn’t be in person. I was instead going to send messengers.

I met his gaze. If he were a smart man, he would know that I was truly hoping to catch him selling intel to Konoha or other intermediaries. If he did that, I could kill him, but that would only make the Yuki clan close ranks.

If he did what I hoped, I’d catch him in the act and use it as leverage.

Clicking his tongue, he nodded again and stalked out only for me to snap my fingers. “Aoba Yuki is to stay; I have need of him on another mission,” I stated.

“He is my clan member!” snapped Kori only for my chakra to surge out and silence him immediately.

“He is under my command. I will not repeat our earlier conversation, but you would do well to not let it slip your memory,” I growled, reminding Kori of how throwing a tantrum with me had gone for him last time.

Inwardly, I couldn’t be happier; the more I got to antagonise Kori, the more likely he was to lash out and give me the excuse I wanted.

Twitching again, Kori stalked out of the room, earning a chuff from Juzo. “Always nice to see him taken down a peg or two,” he remarked. “Anything else for me Commander?” he asked seriously.

Juzo nodded again but let his gaze drift about the room, lingering on Akiko before coming back to me, then dipping to a small gap at my right side that no one had stepped into.

Ah, he’d noticed Sayuki’s absence, had he? If he had, then I suppose Kori had as well.

I gave nothing away but a bland look, which I held as we departed fully.

Rather than set out straight away, I allowed myself to sit and wait for another two days. _______________________

For the next few days I continued to build up the city while making a point of walking through it to let people see me.

Gyatso the monk would more often than not make a point of meeting me when I did so.

“The treaty you showed me, you have it written such that only the chinoike and other shinobi will have military power and the ability to make decisions on such actions. That will rather elevate them, no?”

“Yes, Octocity is to remain a protectorate of Kirigakure. Nothing formal will ever be signed to that regard, but for all intents and purposes that will be the case. Otherwise the Daimyo of Water will attempt to seize control by demanding it from Kirigakure.”

“He will still demand it, no?” Gyatso asked.

“To which I will reply that we cannot,” I offered easily.

Gyatso studied me for a moment. “You hope to be Mizukage soon?”

“I will be Mizukage,” I stated like I was telling the world how it would be.

Gyatso nodded, and for a few minutes we walked across the bridges that led over various small canals and small gardens that were being planted anywhere the sun touched.

“Octocity will be allowed a navy and a police force,” I continued. “Those will, however, need to have senior positions dedicated to shinobi to make sure nothing untoward is happening or that mistakes are slipping past people. It will be an awkward arrangement at first, but it offers something new.”

“When can we hold a vote to start assembling a council?” Gyatso asked.

My lips turned upwards. “So eager to be named Prime Minister?” I teased.

“Voting hasn’t even started, let alone counting them,” he replied.

In response, I let a small huff of amusement escape me. 

Since I’d given Gyatso the book, he’d been making the rounds, talking with key groups, forming small communities, and building support systems. All of it was benign, but at the same time it was his face and name at the front of people’s minds. 

I had no doubts that should a vote be called within the next month to six months, Gyatso would win by a landslide. Gyatso talking with me now was as much about making sure he stayed on my good side, as it was learning the timetable of events to come.

He knew that if I wanted, I could cause a shift, or well and truly block him from taking power.

“I still need to discuss the methods of voting and allocate the regions,” I said as we paused at a small cafe that had taken up position at the top of one of the skyscrapers I’d assembled.

The open courtyard now had a few trees that had been stolen and replanted, offering shelter while the views were second to none.

“How are you going to get the result you desire?” he asked knowingly.

I smiled over a cup of tea. “Debating halls, community billboards, letter drops, and town criers will be open to all,” I offered. 

He nodded slowly, aware that with shinobi there was a great deal of subterfuge at play.

I’d have people skilled in manipulation spread throughout the population with henges to support or cripple various arguments. Interspersed throughout the crowds would be clones to make sure that the best option I could offer would be taken up.

I didn’t want another system of feudalism to emerge or a corrupt republic like that of some of the worst Roman Senates. Instead, I would aim for a blend of various systems with strong checks and balances on power.

It wouldn’t be perfect, but no system could be when humans ran it.

“What do you know of the Sage of the Six Paths?” I asked, deciding to get to my part of our little talks.

“The man who spread chakra to the Elemental nations?” asked Gyatso. “He’s a rather central figure that has caused much debate. There are some that think his spread of chakra has caused more harm than good, as he has empowered not just humanity’s best but also their worst.” His gaze shifted towards my headband, but I didn’t take offence.

“It has served as a tool that is often wielded for destruction, yes,” I countered by turning my gaze out over the view of a city I’d had assembled in a record-breaking amount of time.

Gyatso bowed his head in concession. “Hmmmm, yes, quite the achievement that will also garner much debate going forward. I think I shall have to write my own experiences down as it will be widely read regardless of what happens in the future.”

My lips twitched again. He wasn’t wrong.

“What were you hoping to learn about the sage?” asked Gyatso as he took a long sip of his tea.

I toyed with the idea of stating something crass, like how many women he slept with to get a reaction from Gyatso, but I suspected he’d meet such a statement with a raised eyebrow and little more.

So instead I went big. 

“The feats he is attributed with paint him as a powerful practitioner. How do you think he achieved such power? None have come close since.”

“For that I am thankful; a man like him caused a changing of the era. Such upheavals are rarely kind to the old orders.” He eyed me carefully.

I took a slow sip of my own tea before setting it down. “If I happen to encounter the Sage’s tools that I know Kumo have.. would you like to study them?”

That caused him to stiffen. “They claim to have some of the Sage’s tools?”

“Had,” I clarified. “Nowadays they only have the Kohaku no Johei, better known as the—”

“Amber purifying pot,” Gyatso stated, his gaze distant. “I will need to report this to my temple and let knowledge filter out to the others. There will be some tensions arising with the various wronged parties knowing that Kumo has the tools.”

“Had,” I repeated. “And what do you mean by wronged parties?” I asked. From his tone alone I had suspicions, but it would probably be for the best to verify.

“The tools of the Sage are widely revered and were items held by various temples that gave them great prestige. Decades ago, they slowly began to vanish, however. While many suspected shinobi due to your…” He gestured up and down at me, and I chuckled and nodded, accepting the implication that shinobi could be terrible thieves. 

He wasn't wrong; I had just stolen everything within a city I’d deemed worth taking, nailed down or not.

“This was also before the formation of the great shinobi villages, “Gyatso continued. “So there was less to go on. To learn that the tools were held by Kumo is of great interest for us. Do you know what happened to them?”

“Last reports I read on them were that the Gold and Silver brothers of Kumogakure used the items to exhaust the Second Hokage and Raikage at the same time. Since then, the sword, fan, and rope haven’t been seen.”

“Hmmm so nothing on his staff? How vexing,” murmured Gyatso.

“The staff had powers?” I asked.

“Almost everything the Sage touched had some power; merely being in his presence was said to cause people to grow stronger and healthier. It is one of the reasons cited for his great journey across the land, to share his prosperity with all.”

“Huh, interesting,” I said thoughtfully. While the tools themselves were cheesy as anything, perhaps it wasn’t their use so much as the energy that allowed them to function that would be the true prize.

Could I learn something from it?

I wasn’t going to discount it.

“I’ll be sure to keep an eye out for any updates on those tools then,” I offered.

“I’m sure,” Gyatso replied, only to rise with a soft sigh. “I have another engagement to see to. Thank you for the talk; it was illuminating.”

I watched him go, giving the surrounding area a long look before I finished my tea and walked to the edge, where I dropped over the edge instead of taking the much more circuitous route to reach the bottom of the tower.

I passed Gyatso on the stairs two storeys down and winked at him as I passed him by. Then I swept out my hand and began to feed chakra into it, slowing my descent right before I hit the ground.

From there I moved until I reached the basement of the tower where the Suna team had set up their base. Walking in, I received identical stares from them.

Ignoring them, I moved to the only member of their team not watching me openly. Instead, he had puppet heads facing around him; the eyes tracked me as I approached.

“How is the new project going for you?” I asked, eyeing the much larger puppet limb he was working on. Was this an arm or a leg?

“Well,” Sasori replied from within the hatch of the large limb.

Knowing he wouldn’t say anything else, I nodded. “I shall be setting off on a mission soon to investigate the ruins of Uzushio. Would you like to join me?”

“...” Sasori didn’t pause in his work, but I got the sense that he was considering the question. “No. I believe there will be nothing of value left there. It would be a waste of my time. I am better off remaining here and completing my projects,” he stated.

“Hmmm, it’s true that lots of people will have picked over the ruins, but this time it will be with an Uzumaki. They’ve got to have had some things hidden away only accessible by other Uzumaki, right?”

Sasori didn’t pause. “That sounds illogical, and once more such seals would most likely have been destroyed to deny their usage to others rather than remain. But do tell me if you find anything.”

He continued to work on his puppet, small clicks and clack resonating form within the limb he was working on. Just how many weapons was he working on in that one limb? Or was he making something else?

I considered leaning in closer for a better look as it must be mechanical what he was doing, as I barely felt his chakra moving around him. Ah, he was going for a rather solid build but that wouldn’t allow for it to expand. “Have you considered the folding mechanisms I showed you that allow—”

“Was there anything else?” Sasori cut across me wit ha tinge of heat to his words. “If not, I would prefer not to have to slay you for stealing Puppetry techniques of Suna.”

Raising my hands, I backed away, taking the warning literally.

I thought I caught another of the ANBU shaking their heads and sighing in exasperation, but when I looked, they merely stared back at me.

Knowing when I wasn’t wanted, I left Sasori and his team to their basement. 

With nothing else to stop me, I assembled a team and set off for the island of Uzushio.

_______________________

Sharkbait and I stared across the sea towards the large island. 

“Well… as advertised… it has whirlpools,” Sharkbait said, waving his hands toward the whirlpools that surrounded the island, along with natural reefs and jagged rock formations that made it nearly impossible for ships to get through to land.

Atop the protrusions stood rubble heaps that must have been towers at one point.

My gaze swept across the sea, taking it in. Was it just men in towers and whirlpools, with mythos carrying the day, or had there been more? There had to be surely; shinobi would have gotten close too easily otherwise.

Had there been barriers and sealing arrays to make it so that ships couldn’t get close? What about underneath the water? Mines? Or had there been a summons or some form of… trained fish?

If I truly wanted answers, I had to conclude that I’d arrived far too late for most.

“We’ll move to inspect the towers for any fuinjutsu script along with anything of worth within the towers that might remain,” I ordered.

Sharkbait nodded along. “Sounds like a plan." 

The ship’s captain coughed. “Commander… I feel I must point out that bringing our ships in close isn’t possible. The pull of the tides, along with the whirlpools, will see us shredded and marooned, or worse, dashed against the rocks.”

“Hmmmm, if I were to calm the waters for….” I considered the speed of the whirlpool and their size. "In a few minutes, could you get us on the beach safely?” 

“...yes,” the man gritted out.

“Alright then,” I replied, stepping onto the railing. Before I did anything, I swept my chakra senses out as far as I could, feeling for anything or anyone that might be watching us.

Interestingly enough, I did pick up on someone on the beach.

“Got a telescope?” I asked the captain, which he handed over.

Through the telescope, I saw a haggard-looking form that looked to be wearing rags. They also had to be extremely short, or made so by the passage of time.

I considered them, sweeping my chakra senses across them tightly.

Interestingly, they shifted slightly, like they could feel my attention upon them.

I considered them for a long moment only to have Sharkbait sidle up to me. “Matsu? You alright man?”

“There’s someone on the beach over there. I think they’ve spotted us,” I admitted, lowering the telescope. The person on the beach didn’t try to run, instead they stayed right where they were, waiting.

They could be a scout… or they could be a trap.

My eyes drifted to the ruins that dotted the small reefs before moving back to the person on the beach.

Or they could be something else.

“Get the ship moving straight at the whirlpool ahead of us; we’re going in fast!” I ordered as two clones appeared next to me, moulding our chakra and feeding water chakra into the condensed maelstrom that was the Rasengan.

My Rasen-torpedo swirled to life with a soft trill as an almost musical bubble tone filled the air.

Sharkbait grinned. “Ah, hell yeah!” he murmured as I drew back my arm only to hurl the jutsu straight at the whirlpools that blocked our way.

My jutsu sank into the water with a quiet hiss.

Nothing happened for a heartbeat.

Then the waterway erupted, spraying water about and disrupting the flow of the whirlpool as my jutsu went to work ripping the current to shreds.

For a full five seconds, a large orb of water expanded outwards only to then collapse in on itself, causing a loud whump to sound out.

The captain of the ship gaped as passage to the island of whirlpools suddenly became clear.

Then he came to life. “Get the sails locked down! What are you all waiting for? The current ain’t going to stay quiet forever! Get moving!” he roared, sending the ship into action through sheer volume if not through his crew.

I considered the area I’d thrown my jutsu into. I wasn’t a specialist on water flows, but I suspected that it might take a lot longer than a few minutes for any whirlpools to form, considering I might have just destroyed the natural formations that caused said whirlpools.

We sailed into a lagoon that would have served as a wonderful natural harbour while also offering fertile fishing grounds I could only imagine.

It was only as we got within twenty metres of the shore that the captain set down an anchor. “Can’t get any closer Commander sir!” he barked. “Unless you want me to run aground and then you push us back out?”

“No, that won’t be necessary. Allow us to sweep the area before any of you men make for shore to gather supplies,” I ordered. 

With a nod of my head, seven shinobi, including Sharkbait, followed me over the railing and over the water.

I snapped my hand to the various points of interest, such as the various ruins and groves that might allow people to get close. “Perform a sweep of the area and—” I had only just set foot on the beach when I felt some chakra spike ahead of me.

“Down!” I ordered, throwing myself into a shunshin as a bolt of metal shot towards us.

It was followed by more flashes of chakra as more and more bolts were shot out of hidden positions. I growled as at each point along the beach that I touched down upon, more chakra spikes occurred followed by bolts to fly out.

I held my position for a moment and batted one group away with my staff only for the attacks to intensify, something that was occurring with the others as well I noticed.

For a moment I worried that I’d led my men into an ambush only for my chakra senses to narrow down on the positions and find nothing there.

Nothing but small pulses of chakra.

“Back onto the water!” I ordered.

My men fell back, deflecting a few of the bolts that might have threatened them before taking up a loose defensive position.

I narrowed my eyes at the positions. “... seals… There are seal traps set up that stepping on the beach activates,” I declared, annoyed at the fact that I hadn’t been able to sense it before stepping on the damn things.

My gaze flickered up the beach to where the person was now turning towards us. They locked onto me only to stiffen.

“—!” they called, and I frowned as they wiggled oddly.

I inspected the person closely only to frown as various oddities began stacking up. They had a large chakra capacity, but it was all oddly condensed within their torso.

It took me another few moments to realise that this wasn’t something they had trained themselves to do to throw me off, but rather the result of their torso being all they had.

“I do believe I am looking at a survivor of the battle of Uzushio from the Uzumaki side of things,” I announced carefully. 

“They left someone alive?” Sharkbait gasped. “Why would they do that?”

“Oh, alive, certainly, and unharmed? No.” At Sharkbait’s questioning look I grimaced. “They don’t have any legs… or arms for that matter.”

The form, rather than remaining upon their section of the beach, wiggled, and their chakra shifted, causing them to slide along the beach towards our positions atop a small sled made of a metal disc. I clinically noted that none of the traps activated for their passage. So it couldn’t be a pressure sensor.

Or if it was, then perhaps it was calibrated for people’s feet stepping on the beach rather than someone sliding across it.

Elegant in its simplicity.

The person pulled up and oriented themselves towards us. “You Kiri fucks have a lot of nerve showing up back here, henged as one of my people!” called what sounded like a masculine voice that was hoarse by nature or from disuse.

“This is no henge!” I called back from the water near the ship. “I am Matsu Uzumaki, of Kirigakure! I was raised within Kiri before the war took place and am now coming to witness Uzushio for myself!” 

It didn’t bear mentioning that I had several dozen empty storage scrolls that I hoped to use to loot the very bedrock of the buildings of Uzushio if given the chance. That could come later.

“... Kiri raised an Uzumaki?” he demanded. “Of all the sick twisted… Those bastards! Utter bastards!” he shouted, slumping slightly before shaking his head. “Regardless, you will not set foot on this island again!” roared the man.

Sharkbait cupped his hands. “We already did that though? And it's not like you can really stop us! You’re an old cripple!”

That drew a growl from the limbless man. “Cripple I might be, but I still know enough sealing to have created the traps that will—” the man began to rant at us.

Sharkbait turned to me with a slightly pleading expression.

I sighed and waved a hand.

Sharkbait turned with a gleeful expression, his hands flashing through seals. “Great wave of destruction!” he shouted before calling up a huge wave that shot forward and smashed into the beach, causing the beach to become churned up and for more traps to go off.

Sharkbait made to step forward only for me to cough pointedly. 

He paused, and formed another handseal, causing several water clones to form up around him and race forward.

“Much better,” I praised, only for the man on the beach to sit up from where he’d been tossed off his sled. The wave must have caught him slightly, as the rags that had covered him up were thrown off, revealing lanky, dull red hair along with an untamed beard and red eyes that glared at us with a crazed zealotry.

“No! No! You will not set foot upon my home while I draw breath!” he roared, and a small chain made of chakra erupted from him only to stab into one of Sharkbait’s water clones.

The others turned, converging upon the man, revealing that he barely came up to their navel. I wasn’t sure if it was because of his short stature or something else, but I felt oddly like I recognised this man.

Perhaps it was just short solidarity.

I quickly shook that thought away.

I wasn’t going to be short for long; I just needed my growth spurt to come in. It was just delayed due to my chakra cultivation.

The Uzumaki man glared at Sharkbait’s water clones and tried to swing his chain around only for it to be slow on the recall.

One clone stepped on it, revealing it to also be rather weak. My hopes for this man dropped a fraction as the other clone walked up to the man and kicked him in the face.

My hopes dropped another notch as the man rolled across the beach, spitting curses and sand as he went. He rose wobbly, only for the chakra chain to vanish, causing him to spew out another string of curses as he gasped for air.

Hmmm, he never learned to use jutsu without hand seals and thus has been restricted to what he could do with chakra control exercises and jutsu that must be innate for some Uzumaki.

Interesting. 

I pursed my lips as the man tried to bite one of Sharkbait’s clones. “Call them off Sharkbait,” I ordered. “He might have useful intel that he can give us. No point wearing him out too much now.”

Sharkbait shot me a look that told me just how strongly he doubted that would happen.

I sighed but nevertheless gestured for him to pull the clones back.

Deciding to take a risk, I walked forward. “As I was saying, I’m Matsu Uzumaki, Jonin of Kirigakure. I’ve come to learn more about Uzushio that isn’t just from history written by Kiri.” I stopped roughly five metres from him, just in the shallows.

“I know Hiroshi, Mara and Momotaro Uzumaki as well. They are healthy and living well,” I added.

That caused the man to blink slowly, his gaze locked on me.

From how close I was now, I started to pick out familiar features. The red hair, of course, even while needing some care, obviously resembled my own shimmering locks. 

His eyes stared into my own red orbs.

A face thinner than it should have been for any capable chakra wielder gaped back at me, revealing similar high, aristocratic cheekbones while sporting a thicker nose.

I exhaled through my nose as my mind registered these details and drew up a conclusion.

“You’d be Arashi Uzumaki, wouldn’t you?” I asked with a flat tone, already suspecting the answer.

Where before there might have been an island’s worth of ghosts standing before us, I knew there was only one that truly mattered. One that I hadn’t thought about in years.

The man didn’t respond, instead staring at me in shock. “...Yuna…” he rasped, and I felt a flicker of emotion at the name being spoken aloud for the first time in years.

Swallowing down the feelings threatening to rise within me and instead cataloguing his response to me along with how he knew that name, there could only be one conclusion that I decided not to shy away from. “Yes, Yuna was my mother’s name… I suppose that would make you my father."

_______________________

A.N. Thanks go to my patreons for your continued support.

It also goes to Twmmy for proofreading this chapter!

According to google, Yuna can mean 'outstanding', 'kind', or 'skilled'; but if the kanji is altered, it can mean ‘to fish’.

Matsu’s name means 'hook' for those interested.