"Stars that once shone side by side have faded away, turning into a mournful song echoing before the break of dawn. Now in this endless drizzle, I have no time to fear the past. Within this endless darkness, the campfire you gave me burns inside my temple-like heart..."
What nonsense.
After writing this line, Haseo crumpled the paper in his hand and casually tossed it aside.
It was late at night. The post-dinner chatter had long since died down, and aside from the ninja still on night duty, everyone else had already retired for rest.
Although the camp wasn't fully built yet, Haseo was still technically a commander of sorts, so he already had his own private tent.
Under the flickering candlelight within the tent, Haseo switched to a new sheet of paper and continued leaning over the simple table, writing something.
"When utter despair closes in, true sorrow begins to take flight. Dreaming of brightness like daylight—moonlight, dawn's golden hue, sunlight, stars, all mere illusions..."
Alright, the entire passage sucked.
Haseo calmed himself for a moment, thought for a while, then dropped the brush in his hand and fell backward to sleep. Whatever nonsense he created tonight could wait—tomorrow he had more important work ahead.
After a full night's rest, Haseo woke up early, grabbed a quick bite to eat, and prepared to start his day's duties... soon, he would leave this camp with more than ten ninja to set up a forward outpost in the Land of Whirlpools.
Though newly established, the front-line camp was already operating under strict regulations. In Haseo's opinion, its scouting capabilities were already at maximum efficiency, more than sufficient to monitor any potential threat from Mist.
His temporary absence wouldn't be a problem either. First, yesterday's reconnaissance confirmed that Mist remained quiet—there was no way they could mount a sudden attack without Konoha spotting it. Second, the distance between the Land of Whirlpools and Konoha base wasn't particularly far; should any issues arise at the camp, Uzumaki Shikou would be able to handle them. If she couldn't manage, Haseo could always return in time… After all, all assignments, shift rotations, and rest schedules were managed through her hands.
So, routine operations usually don't require the boss—the right secretary can handle everything.
After breakfast, he quickly tidied himself up, then left the camp alongside the ninja assigned to the mission, ready to head toward the Land of Whirlpools.
Besides Haseo, twelve Konoha ninja were to be stationed at the forward outpost in the Land of Whirlpools. Its leader and commander was Nagisa Nara, personally selected by Haseo—the position of forward scout was still very important, and Haseo knew Nara well, knowing him to be a very reliable person.
Among them were also two Hyuga ninja, whose advanced visual abilities significantly boosted intelligence-gathering capabilities, adding another layer of security and giving the isolated unit more room to maneuver offensively or defensively.
In wartime, there weren't many ways to guarantee a ninja's safety—and Haseo had done everything he could.
A group set out from the Konoha base. After crossing a portion of the Land of Fire, they reached the coast and boarded a ship for the open sea. Across the water lay the Land of Whirlpools.
Two Hyuga ninjas remained vigilant, scanning their surroundings, while Haseo began explaining what he knew about the Land of Whirlpools.
"After the Uzumaki clan left this island, the ordinary citizens enjoyed a few years of peace. However, when tensions started rising in the Ninjutsu World—more precisely, when signs of unrest first appeared—the people of the Land of Whirlpools began systematically leaving the country.
"Most of them relocated to either the Land of Hot Springs or the Land of Fire. According to my intelligence, they mostly went to the Land of Hot Springs. In any case, the vast majority of the original population moved to these two countries. One has to admit, their instincts are incredibly sharp. When push comes to shove, they don't seem to harbor any strong emotional attachment to their homeland."
Ordinary people have their own ways of surviving, perhaps precisely because they live in such a dangerous world as the Ninjutsu World, where survival skills are seriously questionable. They know exactly how to protect themselves and become extremely sensitive at the slightest sign of danger.
"So now, the once-thriving city of the Land of Whirlpools has been entirely abandoned. This island has become uninhabited, essentially turning it into a deserted land...a rather sorrowful outcome, admittedly. However, this situation is more convenient for our current operation.
"And furthermore, if we detect any presence on this island now, we can safely assume they're hostile."
In a sense, the Land of Whirlpools ultimately met its destruction. Tracing back the origins, the root of this destruction seemed connected directly to Haseo himself...After all, it was his initial suggestion that the Uzumakis relocate to Konoha, wasn't that the very reason for the Land of Whirlpools' present desolate state?
Bringing down an entire country with just a few words? A true master of tongue-fencing—terrifying indeed.
"If it's truly abandoned, then yes, it'll definitely make things easier for us. Ten years ago, the Land of Whirlpools and the Uzumaki clan were among Konoha's most important allies. Yet, who could've imagined that today, the Uzumaki have integrated into Konoha while the Land of Whirlpools no longer exists?"
Nagisa Nara didn't dwell on it for long. Now wasn't the time for reflection; he had to focus on the mission at hand. After all, Haseo himself didn't seem emotionally invested in the fate of the Land of Whirlpools. And as for Nagisa, having had little personal involvement in the Uzumaki migration and only possessing secondhand knowledge about both the Uzumaki and the Land of Whirlpools, his emotional response to this matter paled even compared to Haseo's.
He merely said it aloud—nothing more than passing commentary.
Different people naturally react differently to the same thing. That's also why Haseo chose not to bring along any Uzumaki shinobi on this scouting mission—they might get too caught up in memories just by stepping onto the soil of their lost homeland. Who knows how much of their focus would remain on the task?
They'd probably be too busy mourning the ruins of their past.
While discussing details about the Land of Whirlpools and precautions for the mission, the team quickly crossed the relatively calm sea. Then, after many years, Haseo once again set foot upon the land of the Land of Whirlpools.
The group had been going in circles for ages, but finally reached the ruins of the Uzumaki village.
It was completely abandoned. Scars of a great fire were still visible, and interestingly enough, signs of the battle that had taken place on its final night years ago had almost entirely faded away with time.
Haseo squatted down and lightly pinched some sandy soil between his fingers, confirming that no one had come here for years. Then he stood back up and asked Nagisa Nara, "What do you think? Should we set up a forward outpost inside this village?"
Nagisa naturally shook her head. "There's no need. Even though it's a ruined village, precisely because this place used to be the home of the Uzumaki clan, it stands out too much... It would be better if we found an inconspicuous location in the wilderness instead."
Haseo smiled. Nagisa's words were just as he had expected. "In that case, there is one place I can recommend—"
However, before Haseo could finish speaking, a Hyuga ninja from their group who had been standing very close to him suddenly lunged forward, extending one arm straight toward him.
Haseo staggered back just in time—his eyes caught sight of the Hyuga ninja's arm sliced cleanly in two, both pieces flying off.
Blood drenched Haseo's face in an instant.
One second peaceful, the next a bloodbath—this world revealed its brutal nature in that very moment.
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