Having read the original series, Natsuhane had a vivid memory of a girl from the Uzumaki clan who resided in the Land of Sea.
Her name was Uzumaki Honoka, a character who appeared during the early stages of the Fourth Great Ninja War. She had the distinctive long red hair of the Uzumaki clan, with a strikingly cold appearance and a sweet, gentle nature.
In the original story, she was a soul, lingering inside the volcano on the main island of the Land of Sea due to unfulfilled wishes. Her soul refused to depart, remaining trapped for years.
Natsuhane was determined to find Honoka while she was still alive, convinced that she hadn't yet met her tragic fate.
His mission was to save her before it was too late, bringing her into his fold.
Such a remarkable girl should not meet a premature end.
Moreover, she carried the Uzumaki bloodline, adding to her value.
Given his reincarnation into the shinobi world and the advantages of his powerful system, not gathering the women he admired would be a waste.
Natsuhane traveled swiftly and reached the Land of Sea in half a day's time.
Upon arrival, he bought a map of the Land of Sea at the port.
The Land of Sea consisted of four islands: Mother Island, Darō Island, Jirō Island, and Mystery Island.
There were no ninjas here, just a small, obscure country. When protection was needed, they hired ninjas from the nearby Kirigakure in the Land of Water for military support and security.
As a result, the stationed Kirigakure ninjas held a higher status than the locals, and their occasional arrogance, though excessive, had to be tolerated by the villagers for the sake of peace.
Natsuhane had no interest in the local politics or customs.
He only wanted to find the Uzumaki girl as soon as possible.
As he walked, many beautiful young women passed by, and several even tried to strike up a conversation with him.
His looks were just too appealing.
However, Natsuhane no longer wanted to waste his energy on random encounters.
Times had changed. With his current strength, he could dominate without needing to build numbers. He preferred to focus on "quality" over "quantity," aiming to strengthen future bloodlines.
Natsuhane arrived at a boat rental shop, planning to rent a sailboat to reach the central Mother Island.
The proprietress, upon seeing Natsuhane, was initially stunned, quickly wiping away the drool that had escaped her lips. She then turned on her charm.
"Oh my, handsome boy, you must be from out of town. Traveling alone? How about a pretty, kind, and obedient guide sister?"
Natsuhane gave her a charming smile. "Is there really such a helpful sister?"
"Of course there is, right in front of you!" The proprietress said, squeezing her arms together to emphasize her meager assets.
"Hehe..." Natsuhane shook his head, uninterested, and changed the subject. "I want to rent a boat, one with a sail."
The proprietress's smile faltered for a moment, but she quickly recovered, leaning forward seductively. "Looks like you're still a novice, not knowing how to enjoy life's pleasures... Tell me, where do you need the boat for? How many days? We're having a promotion: rent a boat, and I'll personally steer it for you."
"Little brother, if you're going far... We'll be romantically adrift at sea for days. With me around, you'll never get seasick. Trust me."
Natsuhane maintained his composure. "I need to go to Mother Island."
"What?" The proprietress froze, her face turning pale. "What do you need there?"
"I don't need to explain myself to you. Just rent me a boat. I'll pay you well and don't need your discount."
"No way! I won't do business with you. Find another shop!" The proprietress shook her head vigorously and waved him off.
Natsuhane's eyes narrowed slightly. "What's the matter? Why the sudden change in attitude?"
The proprietress's tone turned serious. "Brother, I initially wanted to win you over. I'd agree to almost any condition. But I value my life more than my desires! Mother Island isn't a place for humans! If you don't want to die, forget about going there! Otherwise, you'll waste that handsome face of yours!"
Curious, Natsuhane asked, "Isn't Mother Island the central capital of the Land of Sea? What's the issue?"
"The central capital? Ha... It's been a ghost town for a while now!" The proprietress's eyes were filled with fear and reluctance. "Mother Island recently became an experimental base for Kirigakure ninjas. They experiment with creating huge, monstrous summoning beasts. These beasts are ferocious, cannibalistic, and even eat humans!"
"There are no more citizens from the Land of Sea on Mother Island! Those who could escape did so. Those who didn't were eaten by the beasts. Do you know what people call Mother Island now?"
"Paradise for Summoning Beasts, Hell for Humans!!"
"Hell, huh?" Natsuhane wasn't deterred by her warning. "That's exactly where I need to go..."
"Then I can't rent you the boat. You won't return, and I'll lose a whole boat for this rent. It's not worth it!"
Natsuhane pulled out several stacks of bills. "Is this enough?"
"Uh..." The proprietress didn't expect such generosity and gasped. "Little brother, you have both money and looks. Why seek death? Listen to me, don't go. I don't want to see you die..."
Natsuhane's expression softened slightly, but his resolve was unshaken. "I appreciate your concern, but I have to go. Please, just rent me the boat."
The proprietress sighed deeply, clearly torn. "Fine, but just know that you're doing this against my advice. I hope you come back safely."
Natsuhane nodded appreciatively and placed the money on the table before heading out.
At the dock, he selected a boat he liked and leaped onto the deck.
The proprietress ran out, shouting desperately, "Little brother! Do you really have to rush to your death? If the boat's not coming back, I won't charge you. Can you spend an hour with me in the back room before you go? I promise you won't regret it!... Thirty minutes will do!"
Natsuhane looked back one last time, a small smile on his lips. "Thank you for your concern, but I have a mission to complete, take care."
The proprietress watched as he set sail, a mix of worry and admiration in her eyes.
...
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