The masked shinobi who collapsed appeared to be the squad captain. Seeing their leader fall, the remaining masked assailants turned to flee.
"Trying to escape? Not that easy. Yashiro, Ritsu, don't let them get away," Naraku said in a calm but ruthless tone.
One of the fleeing shinobis leapt from the ship's stern, aiming to escape into the sea.
In a blur, Naraku appeared at the stern. With precision, he flung a handful of shuriken, which tore through the air and embedded themselves in the fleeing shinobi's body mid-jump. The shinobi coughed blood and crashed into the water, dead.
Yashiro and Ritsuji had also completed their part. All four masked attackers lay dead.
Naraku created a Shadow Clone using Shadow Clone Jutsu and instructed it to unmask the fallen enemies to identify their origin.
The clone checked each one, stripping away their hoods and inspecting their garments, but found no symbol or hint of allegiance.
Naraku clicked his tongue in frustration and turned his attention to the red-haired shinobi.
"You're from Uzushiogakure, aren't you? What happened to your village?"
"Konoha-nin! Please… help Uzushiogakure! We were attacked by unknown forces… we need your help!" the red-haired shinobi pleaded, his voice trembling with desperation.
By now, their boat was nearing the shore. Reinforcements had arrived—an elite Uchiha unit, including Naraku's squad, bringing their total number to seventeen. The Uchiha were split among three boats.
The red-haired shinobi, seeing more of these black-clad Sharingan users arrive, grew visibly uneasy.
"Captain Chika!" three Uchiha called out, bowing to a silver-haired man as he stepped forward.
Uchiha Chika, 40 years old, was the leader of this task force. After Yashiro reported the events, Chika gave a slow nod.
"Naraku, come here."
Naraku approached.
"Why did you save the Uzumaki shinobi?" Chika asked with a flat tone.
After a sigh, he added, "You're still too young to understand the Uchiha's history. Next time, if you find a red-haired shinobi in an abandoned place, kill them. No hesitation."
His voice was soft but laced with cruelty—colder than the masked attackers themselves. He gestured with his eyes, and several Uchiha silently reached for their kunai and swords.
"Wait!" Naraku shouted.
Everyone froze and turned toward him. Uchiha Chika raised an eyebrow but signalled his men to hold.
Naraku took a step forward and lowered his voice.
"Captain Chika, I understand our clan's past. Konoha's been around for 35 years now. We shouldn't live in the past."
He continued, "Eliminating these Uzumaki orphans is simple, but we haven't accomplished anything meaningful on the East Blue Coast. The Kirigakure forces are nowhere to be seen. Clearly, the Hokage placed us here to avoid giving us any merit."
"But rescuing Uzumaki survivors? That's an opportunity handed to us on a silver platter. It'll be remembered."
"And when this war ends, I'll return to contest the clan leadership. I need that kind of achievement."
Uchiha Chika fell silent, processing Naraku's calculated reasoning. After a pause, he nodded.
"Gōka, take a team and escort them back to Konoha," he said to a younger Uchiha.
"Sir, please… please save Uzushiogakure!" the red-haired man begged again.
Chika's expression turned cold, annoyed. He looked to Naraku.
"What do you think?"
"I recommend we mount a rescue."
Chika studied him for a moment, then turned.
"Gōka, take the children and survivors back to the village. You," he pointed to the red-haired man, "Guide us to Uzushiogakure."
"Yes, sir!" the man exclaimed, visibly relieved.
…
Over 50 people had originally been on the three ships; they'd been ambushed by unknown ninja forces en route, and nearly half had perished. Now, only a little over 20 children and youths remained.
Three Uzumaki ninjas accompanied them: one would lead the children to Konoha; the other two would guide the Uchiha to Uzushiogakure.
Naraku had now seen the truth: the scattered fate of the Uzumaki was not solely due to enemy nations, but because Konoha's own shinobi had turned against them. The main refugee group had been ambushed—not by outsiders, but by those they once called allies.
This fact would never be known to the world. History would record only that Uzushiogakure fell to a coalition of enemy nations.
Konoha would arrive "too late."
But now, because of Naraku's intervention, the timeline shifted slightly. The Uchiha did not massacre the remaining survivors. Instead, they escorted them.
Naraku had a larger goal: the position of Uchiha Clan Head. The clan was preparing to appoint a new leader—someone young, not one of the elders.
There were only three real candidates: Uchiha Fugaku, Uchiha Yashiro, and Uchiha Naraku.
Naraku's father, Uchiha Sanzō, was the Captain of the Konoha Military Police Force and held significant sway in the clan and village. Uchiha Chika was Sanzō's right-hand man, which explained why he valued Naraku's opinion.
Fugaku's father, Uchiha Daizō, was the Great Elder—perhaps even more powerful in clan politics.
Daizō and Sanzō were brothers, making Fugaku and Naraku cousins. The leadership struggle was a family affair.
As for Yashiro, he was a background figure—never a real contender.
In the original timeline, Naraku was likely too ordinary, leading to Fugaku becoming both clan head and Captain of the Police Force—commanding absolute authority.
But now, with Naraku having transmigrated and awakened at 13 with the Sharingan, already earning the title of "Copy Ninja" for mimicking countless jutsu, he was a real contender. He would not allow history to repeat.
While Naraku reflected, the ship reached the shores of the Land of Whirlpools—a small island nation off the coast of the Land of Fire.
The Uchiha team, led by the red-haired Uzumaki shinobi, headed toward the village ruins.
Uzushiogakure lay in complete devastation. Not a soul stirred. Once a proud clan with a thousand-year history—like the Uchiha—it now lay in ashes.
The group reached the village centre. Where the great central tower once stood, there was now only a massive crater, 50 meters wide.
It was clear—whoever had once commanded the village must've used a powerful jutsu, perhaps a sealing jutsu, to obliterate the area and drag their enemies into oblivion.
Even Uchiha Chika fell silent. There was no gloating in his eyes—only cold recognition of a fallen equal.
The red-haired shinobi began crying out names—desperately, hopelessly—searching for survivors among the ruin.
His voice cracked with sobs, calling into silence.