Chapter 147: The Discord in the Five Kage Alliance
"That's the Land of Whirlpools?"
From 5,000 meters up, on the back of the black iron eagle, Li Yao looked at the small island ahead, visible at a glance.
He had expected a place called a "nation" to be large, but it turned out to be a mid-sized island — no bigger than a small town.
Of course, that meant a town made up of several villages.
"Yes, that's the Land of Whirlpools," Kushi nodded. She and her daughter looked down at the island, their hearts heavy.
This was their first time returning since the country had been destroyed.
They hadn't imagined it would have been so thoroughly annihilated.
"Where's the inheritance site?" Li Yao asked.
"In that mountain range over there," Kushi pointed toward the mountains at the island's rear.
The island was divided into flat plains in the front and mountains in the back. Uzushiogakure had been located at the center, where plains met mountains.
Li Yao steered the black iron eagle lower, descending to about 100 meters above sea level as they headed in the direction Kushi had indicated.
Along the way, remnants of enormous rocks jutted up from beneath the water's surface.
The deeper they flew, the more obvious it became that these weren't just rocks — they were the corners of collapsed structures.
"This used to be fertile plains," Kushi said, her eyes flashing with hatred. "The Land of Whirlpools' crops and settlements were here."
"And now it's all been sunk."
Li Yao gave her a quick side glance, unsure if she was saying all this absentmindedly or deliberately pointing out that this was once the heart of the nation.
"Lord Li Yao, why did those people want to destroy the Land of Whirlpools?" Kushi looked at him, confusion in her eyes.
So it was just idle sorrow, Li Yao thought.
"Probably for the Uzumaki clan's sealing techniques."
He answered casually.
That was just his guess — yet it happened to be the real reason the Land of Whirlpools was destroyed.
It had all been about power and greed.
Kushi was stunned at first, then gave a bitter smile.
So this was truly "bearing guilt for possessing a treasure."
No — it was simply that they weren't strong enough.
Otherwise, why hadn't Konoha, with its own powerful sealing and forbidden techniques, ever been destroyed?
Why had the five great nations endured for so long, while smaller nations like the Land of Whirlpools were wiped out every decade or two?
It all came down to strength.
At that moment, Kushi understood the world's truth.
Everything — everything — was dictated by power.
She turned her eyes to Li Yao, a new resolve forming in her heart. Everything she would do now was for the sake of reviving the Uzumaki clan.
The trio soon reached the site where Uzushiogakure once stood.
Now it was submerged in seawater. Only fragments of massive buildings remained visible — just enough to tell that this had once been not a village, but a mighty city.
They didn't stop.
The black iron eagle continued toward the mountains behind the ruins.
Kushi and her daughter turned to look back at the village until it vanished from view.
"We have to become stronger!"
Both mother and daughter made the same resolution — though their methods might differ.
Not long after…
The black iron eagle landed atop a small hill.
"This is the inheritance site?"
Li Yao's expression turned odd. The hill looked more like a grassy bump, speckled with cow dung. There was nothing to suggest this was the location of an ancient secret.
"It's the spot the elders gave us," Kushi replied, a little surprised too. She'd expected something hidden and remote.
She'd even visited this place as a child — never imagining it housed a legacy site.
But the elders wouldn't lie to her.
"Let's take a look."
The eagle landed. The three jumped down.
Yuzu ran to Li Yao's side and clung to his hand, watching her mother with anticipation.
Kushi stepped onto the clearing, formed several unusual hand seals, then pressed her hand to the ground.
Immediately, black seal lines spread from her palm into the earth.
Rumble!
The ground trembled. The hill cracked open, revealing a dark stairwell descending below.
"Looks like this is the place," Kushi smiled at Li Yao.
"Mm." He nodded, visibly excited. At last, the sealing technique knowledge he had sought was within reach. He scooped up Yuzu and walked toward the entrance with Kushi .
"This must be the Uzumaki clan's inheritance site."
Just as the three entered, a spiritual form soared into the sky above — it was Dan Kato.
He hovered, sensing the souls of the three descending into the passage below.
"The plan can begin now."
Having confirmed this was the site they had searched for, he immediately flew toward the sea — sixty kilometers away.
There, gathered above the water… was a legendary assembly.
"Hahaha."
"Turns out living long enough lets you see some truly strange sights."
Ōnoki, the oldest and shortest among the Five Kage, floated a meter above the ocean. He looked at the four wary delegations around him with a smirk of wonder.
The Five Kage joining forces — something once unthinkable — was actually happening!
And in the middle of a world war no less!
Just thinking about it felt surreal.
Even though the shinobi escorting the Kage had been informed ahead of time, seeing all Five Kage standing together was still an unbelievable sight.
"Living long, huh?"
The Third Kazekage threw a sidelong glance across the Third Hokage and smirked, "Sounds more like Iwagakure's running out of fresh blood."
Clink clink... His words had barely left his mouth when Ōnoki's two ANBU guards unsheathed their blades — ready to draw blood.
"Wanna die?"
The Kazekage's guards weren't any tamer. They locked eyes with Iwa's ANBU, ready to brawl at a moment's notice.
The Third Raikage raised an eyebrow. He was only a few years younger than Ōnoki. Still, the jab had been directed at the Tsuchikage — not him — so he let it slide, even watching with interest.
Believe it or not…
Despite Konoha being at war with all four of the other great nations…
Their relations with each enemy were, relatively speaking, still manageable — none were mortal enemies.
The other four? Bitter rivalries.
Iwagakure and Kumogakure — sworn enemies.
Iwa and Suna — same.
Suna and Kirigakure — also blood enemies.
And as for Kirigakure… well, that village fought everyone. If they weren't your enemy now, they would be soon. In short: lunatics.
"Enough. Don't forget why we're here."
Hiruzen stepped forward to mediate. Seeing how much hostility still lingered between them, he realized the alliance wouldn't be nearly as harmonious as he had hoped.
"Hmph." Ōnoki snorted, unwilling to argue further with the younger Kazekage. If the chance came after Li Yao was dealt with, though — he'd kill that brat.
"Heh." The Third Kazekage gave a cold laugh. He also dropped the matter, but in his mind — once Li Yao was dead — the old fossil was next.
With the leaders backing down, the guards followed suit. Tensions eased.
Everyone turned their gaze toward the horizon, silently waiting for Dan Kato to return.
(END CHAPTER)
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