66: The Forgotten Whirlpool of the Sea Country and the Conspiracy of the Wind Shadow

The sea breeze of Sea Country was mixed with salt and the smell of fish, as an ordinary transport ship slowly docked.

Tang Yan and his two companions disembarked, their feet treading on the slippery wooden pier, the swaying sensation making Zi Luo's face turn a little green.

"This is my first time on such a broken ship." Zi Luo held onto the railing, barely holding back from throwing up. "This is more uncomfortable than walking in the desert for three days and three nights."

Qian, on the other hand, showed no reaction, only frowning as she looked at the small island shrouded in thick fog in the distance.

"Is that 'Strange Island' ?"

Tang Yan nodded, pulling out a sea chart from his Ninja tool pouch. He had "borrowed" it from an unlucky pirate, and it marked the locations of various islands in Sea Country and some shady rumors.

"The survivors of the Uzumaki Clan are on it. It's said they built a small Village there and live by fishing."

Zi Luo finally recovered, stretching his stiff shoulders: "So, should we go directly?"

"No hurry." Tang Yan waved his hand. "Let's observe the situation first."

He patted the scroll on his back with one hand, and Owl · Stealth silently ascended into the sky. Through the puppet's vision, Tang Yan quickly discovered the small Village hidden on the north side of the island.

The entire Village had fewer than ten households, and the houses were built very simply, but the doors and windows of each household were adorned with complex talismans. Although these talismans looked a bit faded, they still emitted faint Chakra fluctuations.

Through Owl · Stealth's vision, Tang Yan could clearly see the daily lives of the villagers. Several children were playing at the Village entrance; they all had the characteristic red hair, and their Chakra levels were noticeably higher than ordinary people. Most of the adults in the Village were busy mending fishing nets or drying yesterday's catch by the sea.

Most striking was a middle-aged woman who was teaching a boy of about ten years old to practice sealing jutsu. Pure Chakra condensed in the boy's hand, and although his movements were still clumsy, his innate sealing talent surprised even Tang Yan.

"The defensive measures are quite good." Tang Yan's mouth curved slightly. "It seems these Uzumaki Clan members still have some tricks up their sleeves."

Zi Luo leaned over, asking curiously, "Yan, what did you see?"

"I saw a group of people living cautiously." Tang Yan withdrew his gaze. "They have set up at least three layers of barriers on the island: an outer mist formation, a middle warning barrier, and an inner attack barrier. Although not particularly advanced, they are cleverly arranged."

Qian added, "This multi-layered barrier design is indeed the Uzumaki Clan's style. They have always been skilled in defensive sealing jutsu."

The three took a small fishing boat and approached Strange Island.

Before they could even land, an old voice came from the island:

"Outsiders, state your identities and intentions!"

Zi Luo vigilantly looked around but found he couldn't see where the speaker was.

"Invisibility jutsu?"

"Not invisibility jutsu." Qian shook her head. "It's some kind of barrier that can transmit sound but not show people."

Tang Yan stood up, his voice clearly reaching the island: "People from Hidden Sand Village, here to visit the survivors of the Uzumaki Clan."

After a brief silence, the old voice spoke again, this time with clear caution:

"Hidden Sand Village? What are you doing here?"

"To discuss a business deal." Tang Yan's answer was concise. "A deal that benefits everyone."

There was another silence.

Tang Yan could feel the people on the other side of the barrier discussing intensely, with occasional hushed arguments. Clearly, the villagers were not unified in their opinion on whether to receive these uninvited guests.

A few minutes later, the mist on the island began to dissipate, revealing a small path leading to the Village. Evidently, the Uzumaki Clan members decided to meet these uninvited guests.

The villagers all hid in their houses, with only a white-haired old man leaning on a cane waiting for them at the Village entrance.

This old man looked at least seventy or eighty years old, but his eyes were still clear and sharp. Although he wore ordinary fisherman's clothes, the faint Chakra fluctuations emanating from him indicated that he was by no means an ordinary person.

"I am the elder of this Village, Uzumaki Qinghai." The old man scrutinized the three, his gaze lingering longest on Tang Yan. "What are you three young people doing coming to such a desolate island?"

Tang Yan noticed that the old man's cane was not an ordinary wooden stick, but a sealing staff carved with dense runes. The head of the staff was inlaid with a dim crystal, inside which a powerful force was sealed.

"We would like to invite the survivors of the Uzumaki Clan to settle in Hidden Sand Village. We can provide shelter and resources."

"Shelter from Hidden Sand Village?" Uzumaki Qinghai's voice instantly sharpened. "Boy, do you know how our Uzumaki Clan was destroyed? It was because we were betrayed by so-called 'allies'! What makes your Hidden Sand Village think we'll trust you?"

Zi Luo scratched his head impatiently: "Old man, we sincerely want to help you."

"Sincerely?" Uzumaki Qinghai sneered. "All you want is the sealing jutsu in our heads! We've seen this trick many times!"

Just then, several people walked out of the Village, one of whom, a middle-aged man, said angrily, "Elder, I told you long ago, outsiders shouldn't be allowed on the island! These Hidden Sand Ninja definitely have ill intentions!"

Another woman also chimed in, "That's right, we finally settled down here, why should we trust them?"

Tang Yan did not argue, but slowly pulled out a crystal ball from his embrace.

"Instead of empty words, let's look at my sincerity."

He injected Chakra into the crystal ball, and images began to appear inside the sphere.

The scene displayed was precisely the battle in the Land of Rice Fields. The sight of those arrogant rogue Ninja being instantly killed by senbon made Uzumaki Qinghai's pupils contract slightly.

Then, the scene switched to the Uzumaki couple being safely escorted by the Hidden Sand Anbu. In the image, Uzumaki Mina was calmly mending clothes in a warm room, while Uzumaki Kusota was playing in the courtyard with the children of Hidden Sand Village.

"This woman..." Uzumaki Qinghai's voice trembled slightly. "She is Qinghe's daughter!"

He put away the crystal ball, his tone still calm: "Option one, continue to stay here and pray that the next ones who find you are not enemies. Option two, accept my deal, and exchange your knowledge for a future that allows your bloodline to continue."

"Are you threatening us?" Uzumaki Qinghai's voice carried anger, and the sealing staff in his hand glowed faintly. Several other Uzumaki Clan members around him also began to subtly adjust their positions.

"Not a threat, but reality." Tang Yan spread his hands, completely ignoring these threatening gestures. "With my strength, if I truly wanted to force you, I wouldn't need to negotiate with you at all."

To prove his words, Tang Yan casually picked up a stone from the ground, his fingertips wrapped in golden lightning. The familiar power of Indomitable Lightning shimmered faintly on the stone's surface, looking harmless.

A gentle flick.

Whoosh—

The stone instantly pierced through a large tree at the Village entrance, leaving a perfect circular hole in the trunk. Even more shocking, the stone's momentum did not decrease, continuing to penetrate the second and third trees behind it until it disappeared from sight.

Uzumaki Qinghai's expression changed. The sealing jutsu he was about to cast instantly halted, and fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.

As a survivor of the Uzumaki Clan, his knowledge was beyond that of ordinary people. That move just now had exceeded his understanding. Such a penetrating ability, ignoring material defenses, was something even the strongest sealing master of Uzushiogakure back then could not achieve.

"Who exactly are you?"

"Tang Yan of Hidden Sand Village." Tang Yan's answer was simple. "Someone who wants to do business with the Uzumaki Clan."

Zi Luo looked at the pierced trees beside him, marveling: "Yan, your move is even more overbearing than my fist. Old man, did you see that clearly? Our boss can casually flick a stone and use it as a cannonball."

Qian glared at Zi Luo, signaling him not to cause trouble at such a moment. But Uzumaki Qinghai was clearly stunned by this display of extraordinary power.

After a long silence, Uzumaki Qinghai finally spoke: "If we agree to cooperate with you, what guarantee can you give us?"

"I can promise to provide you with land to rebuild the 'Land of Whirlpools' in the future." Tang Yan said without hesitation. "Just like the ancient Loulan Kingdom, choose a piece of land in the Land of Wind to be our subordinate country."

At these words, not only Uzumaki Qinghai but also the other Uzumaki Clan members around them showed shocked expressions. A young man, speaking of establishing a country, this kind of boldness made them re-examine the seemingly harmless youth before them.

Uzumaki Qinghai's eyes lit up, his voice trembling slightly: "Rebuilding the Land of Whirlpools, that is the greatest dream of these survivors. Do you keep your word?"

"I always keep my word." Tang Yan nodded. "However, you also need to show corresponding sincerity. I need you to send the most skilled sealing jutsu experts from your clan to help me with one thing first, and then you can move to Hidden Sand Village."

"What is it?" Uzumaki Qinghai asked cautiously.

Tang Yan's gaze looked into the distance: "Sealing a dragon."

"A dragon?" Uzumaki Qinghai was stunned. "Are you talking about a Tailed Beast?"

"No, a real dragon." Tang Yan did not explain further. "The Dragon Vein Dragon."

Although Uzumaki Qinghai didn't understand what a Dragon Vein was, he heard the seriousness in Tang Yan's tone. An existence that could make someone of such strength treat it cautiously was definitely not an ordinary sealing target.

"This can be considered." Uzumaki Qinghai slowly nodded. "But we need time to discuss."

Just then, the sound of a ship came from the sea. A large ship bearing the Hidden Sand Village symbol was rapidly approaching, and the figures on board made Tang Yan narrow his eyes.

"Ryosuke is here."

Ryosuke led an elite squad ashore, and his arrival gave Uzumaki Qinghai a deeper understanding of Tang Yan's strength. The fact that Hidden Sand Village sent a ship indicated that this young man's status in Hidden Sand Village was by no means ordinary.

"Lord." Ryosuke walked up to Tang Yan and reported in a low voice, "The couple from the Land of Rice Fields has safely arrived in the Village, and Kazekage-sama wishes to see you."

"Kazekage?" Tang Yan raised an eyebrow. "What does he want with me?"

Ryosuke looked at the surrounding Uzumaki Clan members and lowered his voice: "It's about Konoha. Kazekage-sama has already launched the plan to attack Konoha, and he wants you to serve as the Deputy Commander of the northern front."

"Deputy Commander?" Zi Luo overheard, unable to resist grinning. "Yan, you're getting a promotion and making a fortune!"

Qian, however, frowned. She keenly sensed the problem. "Who is the Commander?"

"Maki Jonin." Ryosuke replied.

Tang Yan's expression became interesting.

Having Maki as Commander and himself as Deputy Commander, this arrangement was thought-provoking.

Was Rasa trying to use Konoha to get rid of him, or did he want him to prove his worth on the battlefield?

"An interesting arrangement." Tang Yan did not answer immediately, but turned to look at the distant horizon. "You take your people back to the Village first. You handle the matters of these Uzumaki Clan members; I have other things to do."

"You're not coming back with us?"

"No hurry." Tang Yan shook his head. "In the face of absolute power, any scheme or plot is just child's play. Before returning, I need to retrieve something."

His gaze turned in a certain direction, towards the ancient city where the "Dragon Vein" was buried.

"Something that will qualify me to set the rules of the game."