When the fleet carrying over a hundred Uzumaki survivors slowly sailed into the port of the Land of Whirlpools amidst the golden light of dawn, everyone was struck speechless by the sight before them.

The dock was no longer the crude, fishy-smelling wooden pier they remembered. In its place was a wide, flat concrete embankment, with massive steel cranes standing like silent giants. In the distance, the outline of a magnificent, bustling city, still brightly lit in the morning glow, was clearly reflected in everyone's eyes. Towering lightning attraction towers pierced the sky, and scattered pedestrians and vehicles were already moving through neatly planned streets. The air was free of the salty tang of the sea, filled instead with the aroma of food and the vitality of construction.

This was a completely different world from the "sanctuary" they had imagined, built by exiled clansmen struggling to survive. This was not a sanctuary; it was a true city of steel, full of life and hope. Uzumaki Shibuki stood at the bow of the ship, his heart, which had turned cold and hard from years of vigilance and battle, was struck heavily the moment he saw this Uzushiogakure. He had thought he was leading his clansmen from one quagmire to another uncharted, desolate island. But the sight before him told him that they seemed to have... stepped from hell into heaven.

The ship docked, and the heavy anchor chain dropped. As the gangway was just placed on the embankment, a figure was already waiting there. It was the Uzukage, Uchiha Kei. He was not wearing the imperial robe that symbolized supreme power, but a simple black casual outfit. There was no posture of a victor or a benefactor on his face, only a calm and gentle smile.

He did not give a long welcoming speech, but simply nodded gently to the people on the ship. Then, he turned to the side, clearing the way. From behind him, a group of people walked out. At the lead was the white-haired Elder Uzumaki Masahiro, and behind him were those first Uzumaki clansmen who had returned to the Land of Whirlpools. Their faces were filled with a heartfelt, unmistakable smile and excitement.

"Welcome home!" Elder Uzumaki Masahiro's voice was choked with emotion.

The new clansmen looked at these compatriots who shared their blood but had a completely different spirit, feeling a bit at a loss. They were used to suspicion, used to humility, and used to masking themselves with indifference. But in the eyes of these compatriots before them, there was no pity, only the purest joy and acceptance.

An old woman who had returned from the Land of Grass walked forward tremblingly and hugged a woman who had just walked off the ship, her face also full of weathering.

"It's good to be back... It's good to be back..."

This hug was like a switch. Emotions suppressed for decades burst forth at this moment. Crying, laughter, and the calling of loved ones' names intertwined over the harbor. They hugged, patting each other's backs, confirming each other's real existence. This was not a dream; they had truly returned to a powerful home that belonged to the Uzumaki Clan.

Uzumaki Shibuki watched this all quietly. He saw a child a few years old curiously poking his head out from behind his mother, and a peer from the Land of Whirlpools immediately ran over with a smile, stuffing a piece of candy from his hand into the child's hand. He saw several of his clan elders being supported by Elder Uzumaki Masahiro, tears streaming down their faces as they recounted the hardships of these years in the Land of Water. He saw those clansmen who once had numb eyes, their faces beginning to glow with the radiance called "hope" bit by bit.

His heart, long frozen by the blood and cold of the Hidden Mist, began to melt at this moment.

That night, a grand welcome banquet was held in the banquet hall of the Uzukage Building. This was not only to welcome Uzumaki Shibuki and the hundreds of clansmen he brought, but also to celebrate the perfect success of the entire "Land of Water Breakthrough" plan. The protagonists of the banquet were these newly returned compatriots. They had changed into clean and tidy clothes, eating hot, filling food they had never imagined. Everyone appeared a bit reserved, but the light in their eyes was getting brighter and brighter.

Halfway through the banquet, Uchiha Kei walked onto the podium. Everyone's eyes were instantly focused on him.

"Welcome home."

Uchiha Kei's voice was clearly transmitted to everyone's ears through the amplification equipment. He didn't say too many sentimental words, just used the simplest, most direct language to declare a fact.

"From today on, this is your home. Behind you, there is no longer the cold sea and pursuing troops, but a thriving country and thousands of family members who share your blood."

"Here, you don't need to swear allegiance to anyone to survive, you don't need to hide your surname, and you don't need to send your children away as hostages. There is only one thing you need to do—as descendants of the Uzumaki Clan, as citizens of the Land of Whirlpools, live proudly."

The short speech won thunderous applause. Those new clansmen, tears shimmering in their eyes, clapped with all their strength.

Subsequently, Uchiha Kei cast his gaze toward Uzumaki Shibuki, who was sitting in his seat.

"Uzumaki Shibuki."

Shibuki was startled and immediately stood up.

Uchiha Kei looked at him with a smile and announced an appointment that surprised everyone.

"I have decided to establish a new department—the Coast Guard. Its duty is to patrol and guard the hundred-mile coastline of the Land of Whirlpools, respond to all threats from the sea, and ensure the safety of our trade routes. I announce that Uzumaki Shibuki will serve as the first Captain of the Coast Guard, reporting directly to me!"

This appointment was beyond everyone's expectations. High-level members of the Military Department, including Fugaku, had expected that a powerful combatant like Shibuki would be incorporated into the regular military sequence. But Uchiha Kei did not. He tailored the most suitable stage for this powerhouse who had been soaked in water mist for half his life.

"Shibuki, you are familiar with the sea, familiar with Water Style, and even more familiar with the dangers lurking in the mist. There is no one more suitable for this position than you."

A member of the Kage Guard Squad walked up to Shibuki, holding a long wooden box. Uchiha Kei opened the box himself, and a brand-new ninja sword lay quietly on the red silk. The shape of the sword was 70% similar to Shibuki's original sword, "Shibuki," but the metal used for the blade shone with a strange, dark blue light that seemed capable of conducting Chakra. The holes in the blade had been precisely calculated and redesigned, arranged in patterns like whirlpools.

This was a weapon tailored for him by the R&D Department using the newly developed Chakra-conductive metal. Its quality far exceeded the original.

Uchiha Kei picked up the new sword and walked to Shibuki, handing it to him solemnly.

"In the Hidden Mist, you were a blade hidden in the mist, swung for others. In the Land of Whirlpools, I hope you become a blade that stirs up giant waves, carving out a clear sea for yourself and your family."

Uzumaki Shibuki looked at the brand-new ninja sword in his hand. A gentle sense of Chakra came from the hilt, perfectly resonating with the Water Style Chakra in his body. He could feel that this sword was like an extension of his own arm. He looked down at the stage again, at the faces of his clansmen full of hope and expectation.

He took a deep breath, and his spine, which had been straight for half his life and had never bowed to anyone, slowly knelt on one knee at this moment.

He held the new sword with both hands, raised it high, and offered his heartfelt loyalty to the young man in front of him, something he had never had in the Kirigakure.

"Lord Uzukage, Shibuki is willing to guard this coastline for the Land of Whirlpools until death!"

The Land of Whirlpools had gained another general.

Just as the atmosphere in the banquet hall reached its climax, a member of the Kage Guard Squad appeared silently behind Uchiha Kei, handing over a scroll delivered by a Kamui crow, engraved with the word "Urgent."

Uchiha Kei unfolded the scroll, the smile on his face slowly fading, and his expression became solemn.

The scroll was from Uchiha Itachi, far away in the Land of Lightning. On it was urgent intelligence regarding Kumogakure.