" chinatsu... chinatsu-nee... It's... too fast... I... I can't take it anymore..."
"Fast what? I think we're still too slow! Grit your teeth and keep going!"
chinatsu and Naruto flashed across wastelands, forests, and roads like two shooting stars streaking across the Land of Fire.
Although Naruto possessed enormous chakra reserves and had already learned the Flying Thunder God Technique, Flying Thunder God relied on pre-placed Flying Thunder God formulas. Instant teleportation and sustained long-distance travel were two completely different concepts.
For a journey like this, Naruto couldn't simply throw a Flying Thunder God kunai hundreds of kilometers away and teleport repeatedly. Without prepared markers, he still had to rely on the Body Flicker Technique for movement.
Naruto's Body Flicker Technique was already excellent compared to most jōnin, but compared to chinatsu, there was still a considerable gap.
After all, chinatsu's older brother had been none other than Uchiha Shisui.
The famous "Shisui of the Body Flicker."
The shinobi whose speed had become legendary throughout the Five Great Nations.
Before the Uchiha Clan Massacre, when Konoha was still relatively peaceful, Shisui frequently trained chinatsu personally. Among all the things he taught her, the Body Flicker Technique was undoubtedly practiced the most.
Thanks to inheriting most of the original owner's memories, chinatsu could still vividly recall those scenes.
" chinatsu."
"The shinobi world is dangerous."
"You could lose your life at any moment."
"But since you've already chosen this path, I won't stop you."
Shisui gently patted her head.
"Your brother isn't particularly talented at teaching people."
"The only thing I'm confident in is my Body Flicker Technique."
"You have to master it."
"Then surpass me."
"Only then can I truly relax."
Back then, Shisui's smile had always been gentle.
The original Chinatsu had worked hard at Body Flicker training, but unfortunately time hadn't been on her side.
Before she could reach Shisui's level, the clan's political problems, marriage arrangements, and eventually the Uchiha massacre had arrived one after another.
And then
She got stabbed in the kidney by Uchiha Itachi.
"Ouch..."
Just remembering it made chinatsu instinctively grab her lower back.
Seriously.
Uchiha Itachi, what was wrong with you?
Weren't you practically Shisui's best friend?
And then you stabbed Shisui's little sister?
Then again...
You were also the guy who personally killed his own parents.
Uchiha Itachi: I was actually very considerate. One strike. Instant death.
Chinatsu: Instant death my foot! You stabbed my kidney!
Uchiha Itachi: But you didn't die.
Chinatsu: That's because I transmigrated! Do you know I've already walked through the gates of death twice?!
The more chinatsu thought about it, the more irritated she became.
If she had arrived even a few years earlier...
If she had possessed her current strength before the massacre...
Danzo Shimura could have been buried under Wood Release.
Shisui could have successfully used Kotoamatsukami.
The Uchiha Clan might have survived.
Of course...
That was merely wishful thinking.
The past couldn't be changed.
Still, some regrets couldn't be helped.
While chinatsu was silently grumbling to herself, Naruto behind her was already drenched in sweat.
He had absolutely no idea what his older sister was muttering about.
" chinatsu-nee... are... are we there yet?"
"Not yet..."
chinatsu suddenly paused.
"Oh. Actually, we're here."
She immediately slammed on the brakes.
Less than one meter ahead was a steep cliff.
"That was close. I almost "
Before she could finish speaking, a yellow blur shot past her.
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH !"
Naruto completely failed to stop.
Whoosh!
Plop!!!
The blond missile flew straight off the cliff and crashed into the sea below.
chinatsu blinked.
Then slowly leaned forward and looked down.
"Naruto, are you alright?"
A few seconds later, Naruto's head emerged from the water.
"I'm fine!!!"
For someone who could casually withstand blows from giant summons and tailed beast chakra, that height wasn't a problem at all.
Naruto immediately formed a Rasengan.
Using its rotation and chakra output as propulsion, he blasted himself upward.
BOOM!!!
Like a human rocket, Naruto flew back onto the cliff.
Perfect landing.
"Alright, chinatsu-nee!"
Naruto proudly raised his head.
"Which way now?"
"Down there."
chinatsu pointed toward the sea.
"Let's go down."
"..."
The Land of Whirlpools.
Formerly known as Uzushiogakure.
An island nation located east of the Land of Fire.
A stretch of ocean separated it from the mainland.
Flying wasn't an option.
They needed a boat.
chinatsu inhaled deeply and jumped directly off the cliff.
At the same time, she clapped her hands together.
"Wood Release!"
Wood surged from beneath her feet.
A sturdy wooden boat rapidly formed atop the water.
chinatsu landed lightly on the deck.
Naruto immediately jumped aboard as well.
" chinatsu-nee!"
Naruto looked around.
"Where's the paddle?"
"Paddle?"
chinatsu looked confused.
"What paddle?"
Then she pointed behind the boat.
"Use your Rasengan."
Naruto froze.
Then realization struck.
"Ohhhhhhh!"
He immediately created another Rasengan and pressed it against the sea behind the boat.
The powerful rotational force acted like an engine.
The boat's front lifted.
Then
WHOOSH!!!
It shot forward across the ocean.
One hour later.
The boat arrived at the island.
Naruto and chinatsu stepped ashore.
Then both fell silent.
Neither could take another step immediately.
Before them stretched endless ruins.
Collapsed buildings.
Broken walls.
Overgrown roads.
Everywhere they looked was devastation.
The Uzumaki Clan had once been feared throughout the shinobi world.
Their powerful life force.
Their massive chakra reserves.
Their unparalleled sealing techniques.
Even Konoha had adopted the Uzumaki Clan's spiral crest as a symbol of friendship.
Yet despite their alliance with Konoha, Uzushiogakure had ultimately been destroyed by the combined fear and hostility of multiple nations.
Now nothing remained.
Even chinatsu felt a heaviness in her chest.
Naruto stood completely frozen.
Unlike chinatsu, this place wasn't merely history.
This was the homeland of his clan.
His roots.
His people.
"Naruto."
chinatsu gently patted his shoulder.
"Let's go deeper."
"Maybe..."
"We'll find a few relatives."
Naruto's dim eyes immediately brightened.
"Right!"
He nodded vigorously.
Then took the lead and rushed forward.
chinatsu followed behind him.
The two headed toward the center of the island.
There were three goals for this trip.
First.
Determine whether the Land of Whirlpools could become a future base.
Second.
Search for any surviving Uzumaki sealing scrolls or hidden archives.
Although the odds were low.
Third.
Look for surviving members of the Uzumaki Clan.
Though honestly...
That possibility felt even smaller.
Still.
I've always had pretty good luck.
Maybe fate will help me out this time.
Haha.
Just kidding
"..."
chinatsu suddenly stopped walking.
Her expression became strange.
Okay.
Maybe fate really does favor me.
After walking for roughly ten minutes, chinatsu abruptly halted.
Naruto noticed immediately and turned around.
" chinatsu-nee?!"
"Yeah."
chinatsu slowly raised a finger.
"Looks like there really is one."
Naruto's eyes widened.
"A survivor?!"
"Maybe."
chinatsu pointed toward the forest on the left.
"In that direction."
At the exact same moment
A rusty kunai carrying enough bacteria to qualify as a biological weapon shot directly toward her face.