"Northwest harbor." Yu opened another scroll and studied it carefully.

It recorded Shinno's last known movements. He likely snuck away from Kirigakure through the northwest harbor, a main port that leads inland.

It could pass through the Land of Waves, reach the Land of Fire, and enter the mainland.

"Land of Fire… Konoha."

Yu made a guess.

His right hand trembled slightly as he stored the scroll into his storage space.

Shinno had most likely gone to Konoha a week ago. That was good news.

Yu planned to return to the Land of Fields to see if Orochimaru had found any new information on Shennong. If not, he would head to Konoha.

"Thanks for your hard work."

Yu looked at Mei Terumi in front of him.

Mei Terumi smiled and said:

"It's what we should do. Also, thank you for your interrogation last night. After we got the intel, we sent a scout team to patrol the Water Country border and found that Sunagakure had withdrawn its troops early."

Her expression brightened with joy—Kirigakure, now in recovery, couldn't afford another conflict.

"Withdrawn?"

Yu frowned slightly. What game was the Fourth Kazekage playing?

"Yes, it seems Sunagakure is heading to Konoha. They've lost interest in Kirigakure."

Mei Terumi handed over a key military intelligence scroll right in front of the other Mist-nin.

None of the Mist-nin objected.

Because this intelligence, warning of a potential Sunagakure raid, was uncovered through Yu's interrogation.

Yu read the scroll. The report matched Mei Terumi's account and had been confirmed multiple times—no errors.

Sunagakure…

Rasa…

Yu handed the scroll back to Mei Terumi.

He sighed inwardly.

The debt for being interrupted last night would be settled with the Fourth Kazekage eventually.

"If Kirigakure is safe for now, we'll be leaving today. If any crisis arises, send word to the Sound Village in the Land of Fields."

Yu instructed.

"...Will you… come back to find me?"

Mei Terumi asked softly.

Learning that the Uchiha would be leaving immediately, her face showed helplessness and reluctance.

Kirigakure needed her now. Otherwise, she would've liked to travel the shinobi world with Yu.

"Let's hope I won't have to come back because of a crisis," Yu replied.

...

Kirigakure, Northwest Harbor.

Before departure.

As the soon-to-be Fifth Mizukage, Mei Terumi had personally prepared military rations, dry food, and ninja tools for the Uchiha team.

She arrived at the harbor herself with Ao and a group of Mist-nin to see them off.

"That's the ship we prepared for you! You can take it to the mainland!"

Ao proudly pointed to the harbor.

In the shallows docked a massive cruise ship.

Hoooot—

The massive steel-gray ship let out a long horn blast, black smoke billowing from its chimney.

The ship's industrial build was something only Kirigakure's heavy industry could produce—a precise, sea-crossing steel beast.

The Uchiha cast curious glances at it.

After their first ship was chopped to bits, they'd lost all faith in the safety of ships.

Even this giant one.

"No need for all this."

Yu gave the ship a quick glance.

He didn't care.

The Mist-nin were stunned.

They thought the Uchiha were truly arrogant. Not using a ship? Who in the shinobi world could cross the sea without one?

"Your pet can't possibly swim from Kirigakure to the mainland…" Mei Terumi began, then suddenly widened her eyes.

Yu had walked to the edge of the sea. Right in front of everyone, he raised his hand toward the water.

Boom—

A thunderous noise.

The Three-Tails "Isobu" appeared out of thin air, crashing into the ocean. Its body was covered in heavy, spiked armor, and three scaled tails extended behind it.

Splash—

Its massive body hit the water, sending huge waves that pushed the nearby cruise ship to the side.

Mist-nin screamed in shock.

Everyone stepped back immediately.

"Roar—"

Isobu raised its head and roared. Its spiky head thrashed around, and in its single eye appeared the pattern of the Mangekyō Sharingan.

Until its mind was completely bound.

The Three-Tails calmed down, floating like a massive island, waiting for its master to board.

"Woohoo—!"

Tamao cheered, waving his arms excitedly.

The other Uchiha stood with mouths slightly open.

Riding a tailed beast!

To use a tailed beast as a mount—only a handful of people in all shinobi history had ever managed that.

Under everyone's gaze, Yu stepped forward. His figure moved like a swimming dragon, landing lightly on one of the spiked ridges of Isobu's shell.

"Even the former Mizukage couldn't make a tailed beast willingly act as a steed, right?"

Everyone gasped.

Afraid that the Three-Tails might go berserk.

But the imagined rampage never came. Even as Yu walked to the front of its shell, Isobu waited quietly, like a tamed horse awaiting orders.

"Tch. Show-off brat."

Tsunade scoffed.

She held the little piglet in her arms and was the second to step onto Isobu's massive shell, followed by Shizune and the remaining Uchiha.

The sea breeze was salty and damp.

The mist cleared.

Tsunade stood at the edge of the shell, gazing at the shrinking harbor and the Mist shinobi in the distance.

She instinctively stepped down on the hard shell beneath her feet, checking if this was all a dream.

Tsunade had to admit — aside from her grandfather and his rival, the ninja world had produced another person who could command a tailed beast at will.

With that thought, she couldn't help but steal a sideways glance at Yu's tall, upright back.

"Thank you."

Mikoto, face full of melancholy, spoke to Nonoyu as the latter helped her climb onto Isobu with difficulty.

"My lady… you should take it easy!" Nonoyu muttered awkwardly.

Mikoto's cheeks flushed bright red.

Standing at the front of Isobu's shell, Yu looked out across the vast sea they had crossed and murmured, "Depart."

Splashhh—

Isobu, like a moving island, began to swim swiftly forward.

Yu estimated that the original three-day voyage from the Hidden Mist to the mainland, by ship, could probably be cut down to just one day on Isobu.

The Uchiha looked back toward the Hidden Mist Village with mixed feelings — this place had never truly been their home. There was no reason to linger.

Tamao ran up to Yu excitedly and asked, "Big Brother, once we find Shinno, can we build our new ninja village?"

"Yeah."

"Where will our land be located?"

"You'll find out when the time comes."

"Okay!"

Satisfied with the answer, Tamao cheerfully dashed across Isobu's shell, seemingly intent on studying every inch of the tailed beast's armored surface.

The other Uchiha relaxed as well.

Izumi and the others had already begun fantasizing about the future.

Yu sat at the front of the shell, and with nothing else to do, pulled a book from his storage space and began reading.

Back at the harbor, as Isobu stirred up great columns of water, a rainbow shimmered across the misty sky.

"Sigh…"

Mei Terumi, full of reluctant longing, turned and gracefully led the Mist shinobi back.

…

…

Mt. Kikyo.

Thick black smoke rose from the forest — the war between Iwagakure and Konoha had reached a fever pitch.

Not long ago, Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, had nearly been disintegrated by Onoki's Dust Release.

In the midst of Konoha's steady retreat…

The toads of Mount Myoboku had intervened. Gamakō and Gamaken arrived in time to save Hiruzen.

A fierce tug-of-war unfolded around Mt. Kikyo, but Konoha's defenses were crumbling by the day.

In the Konoha camp—

Inside the command tent—

Hiruzen's old face darkened as he read a scroll of intelligence from the front lines.

"The main force of the Hidden Cloud… has reached the northeastern border of the Land of Fire?"

The intelligence ninja answered softly, "Yes. The Raikage claims that since Onoki is now in Konoha, he's bringing his army to settle the score for the ambush that killed the Third Raikage."

"He's full of crap!" Hiruzen slammed back into his seat, his face red with anger. "Cloud's real target is Konoha!"

°°°

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