Crash--
The waves slammed against the rocks, sending sprays of seawater into the air.
For Naruto, this was an unfamiliar land, but for Kushina, it was a homeland she could never return to.
Since the plan was to revive Minato and Kushina, the first step was to release Minato's soul.
After resting in the Land of Waves for just one day, Naruto set out for the Land of Whirlpools the very next morning.
The Land of Whirlpools was a peninsula, not far from the Land of Waves, located to the south and bordering the Land of Fire. It also faced the Land of Water across the sea.
In just half a day, Naruto was standing on the soil of the former Land of Whirlpools.
As Naruto entered the ruins of the Land of Whirlpools, he released Kushina and Minato from the seal space.
Minato was just sighing in his heart, but Kushina was struck speechless by the sight before her.
The scenes from her fragmented memories flashed before her eyes.
Long ago, the Land of Whirlpools had been a place of lush greenery and rolling rivers. The trees had painted the edges of the water a vibrant green, while the center reflected the vast, deep blue sky.
The trees would dye the water waves at the edge into a green color, but the center still reflected the vast blue sky.
She had also witnessed the fall of the Land of Whirlpools, living through the chaos of war every day. But even during those turbulent times, the land had never been as...
Utterly ruined.
The once-green forests were gone, replaced by a few scattered, withered trees leaning precariously.
Under the not-too-intense sunlight, the air seemed to shimmer, and a faint mist rose from the ground, carried by the breeze, bringing with it the pungent smell of blood.
After the fall of the Land of Whirlpools, the area hadn't been abandoned.
Instead, this land, which should have been lifeless, had been drenched in even more blood.
It had become a lawless zone, a haven for all kinds of criminals.
Rogue Ninjas, Ronin, Wandering Samurai, bandits, thieves...
All sorts of people gathered here, forming their own organizations and carving out their territories.
Every day was filled with bloody battles.
In fact, if Naruto were to drop a Great Spiralling Ring here, it would be hard to find even one innocent person among a hundred dead.
Naruto didn't rush. He waited for Kushina to slowly regain her composure.
Minato stood quietly by Kushina's side, silently supporting her.
"Can we go in and take a look first?"
Kushina's voice was tinged with sadness as she asked for their opinion.
Minato, of course, had no objections.
Naruto also nodded in agreement. They weren't in a hurry.
The surroundings were filled with dark, crumbling buildings.
The air was filled with the faint sounds of rustling and the fluttering of ash, along with the thick, almost tangible scent of blood.
The entire area was a mess… or perhaps 'ruins' would be a better description.
The pockmarked, blackened ground was stained with fresh, shocking splashes of blood.
Naruto could feel the countless malicious gazes around him.
The people wandering the streets stared at the trio with greedy eyes.
In this lawless land, Kushina's mature beauty, Minato's handsome charm, and Naruto's youthful good looks made them prime targets.
Naruto didn't immediately deal with the onlookers. After handling a few groups that tried to approach them, most people kept their distance, though they didn't leave. Instead, they lingered, likely calling for reinforcements.
Kushina wasn't wandering aimlessly. Though she hesitated at a few intersections, she generally knew her way.
Finally, the trio stopped in front of a barren patch of land.
Kushina stared at the empty, yellow earth, her expression blank.
Naruto felt like Kushina might cry.
"It's gone…"
Kushina murmured to herself. Before leaving for Konoha, this had been her home.
But since she's a Jinchuriki, she was never allowed to leave Konoha and had never had the chance to return.
Now, coming back, the house she once lived in was gone, leaving only a patch of barren soil.
Minato, sensing Kushina's mood, stepped forward and gently embraced her.
Feeling Minato's arms around her, Kushina's body trembled slightly.
But suddenly, Kushina pulled Naruto next to her over and But then, suddenly, Kushina pulled Naruto into the hug as well.
Caught off guard, Naruto found himself sandwiched between the two.
Sensing Kushina's emotions, Naruto didn't push her away.
If he pushed her away at this time, it would be too inhumane.
After a while, the crowd around them grew larger.
They whispered among themselves, discussing how to divide the 'fat sheep' that had wandered into their territory.
"Alright, it's time to find the Shinigami Mask."
After being hugged for a while, Naruto finally couldn't take it anymore and wriggled out from between the two.
"Okay, I'll take you there now!"
Kushina's mood brightened again.
Looking at the father and son who shared such similar features, a happy smile returned to her face.
Kushina bowed to the patch of land and whispered, "I'm doing well now. Even though I died once, I've come back to life. I also have a husband and a son."
After speaking, Kushina took the lead and started walking toward the exit.
But as soon as she turned around, she saw the dense crowd.
A burly man with a face full of scars stepped forward.
Kushina's earlier reaction hadn't gone unnoticed.
"Hey, sweetheart, since you're from around here, why don't you stay and keep us company?"
"Ugh!"
Before he could finish, a kunai shot into his mouth, shredding his tongue.
Another shuriken embedded itself in his forehead, ending his life.
Minato's movements were swift. He wasn't in a good mood either.
Though the crowd was large, none of them were even decent Ninjas. They were no match for him.
Minato's sudden attack caught everyone off guard, and the atmosphere turned deathly silent.
But it was only a moment or two before someone shouted again.
"Damn it! Let's get them!"
"Bloody and wild, just how we like it!"
As the crowd surged forward, Minato reached for his Ninja Pouch.
But before he could act, a black light shot out from Naruto's hand, piercing through the crowd.
With a single sweep, the world fell silent.
The black light in Naruto's hand slowly dissipated, his expression unchanged.
Naruto wasn't sure why the crowd had chosen to charge headfirst, but it had certainly made things easier for him.
Stepping over ants without crushing them… that's a difficult power to master.