Chapter 204: Uchiha's New Sanctuary

The ocean stretched endlessly, a vast expanse of cerulean.

Under the radiant sun, the shimmering waves lent a calm and tranquil ambiance to the seascape. Countless islands, each like a scattered pearl, dotted the horizon. For those weary of the never-ending shinobi wars, these islands offered a perfect sanctuary.

For instance, during the Third Great Ninja War, some elite ninjas fled the mainland and established the Crescent Moon Village on one of the islands. Today, it thrived as a peaceful, prosperous small country.

Yet, the ocean wasn't just a haven of beauty and calm.

At times, it displayed its wrath with thunderstorms, torrential rains, hurricanes, and tsunamis, making it an inhabitable place. Further complicating maritime life were the sea monsters and pirates, often raiding merchant vessels and looting island villages.

Dangers lurked everywhere.

A large ship named "Blue Sky" sailed serenely on the calm waters. From the outside, it seemed like a bustling merchant vessel. However, its passengers weren't traders. They were members of the Uchiha clan.

They'd been at sea for days.

The Uchihas had been aimlessly drifting on the ocean. Finding a new home turned out to be a more challenging endeavor than initially anticipated. Although they'd come across several uninhabited islands, each exploration revealed some issue.

Some islands were too small to accommodate the entire clan, others lacked essential resources or fresh water, and yet others were subjected to extreme weather conditions. In short, finding a suitable island was proving nearly impossible.

Left with no choice, the Uchihas continued their voyage deeper into the ocean.

Could they ever find their ideal new home?

As days turned into weeks, the clan's morale dwindled, and their once resolute determination began to wane.

At the ship's bow stood Fugaku, the Uchiha clan leader, gazing at the distant horizon, his expression ever so composed. His calm demeanor always brought solace to his clan. Yet, even the stoic Fugaku occasionally revealed hints of anxiety in his eyes.

"Father."

Itachi approached from behind.

"Itachi, any news from Uncle Dan? What's the situation in the shinobi world?" Fugaku inquired, turning his gaze to his son.

Itachi shook his head, simply saying, "Nothing."

Since the Uchihas set out to sea, they had been cut off from the rest of the world. All they knew was that the Fourth Great Ninja War had erupted, with the four major ninja villages laying siege to the Leaf Village.

Could the Leaf Village have withstood the assault?

But in all honesty, Fugaku had grown indifferent to the fate of the Leaf Village. Their ties had been severed. He, along with many other Uchihas, now yearned to find a peaceful island to rejuvenate and end centuries of battles and conflicts.

However, Fugaku never fretted about Dan's safety. He believed that with Dan's skills, he would undoubtedly be alright.

Suddenly, a clan member named Tetsuo rushed up, reporting, "Lord Fugaku, there's a ship approaching from the west."

Fugaku, curious, grabbed a telescope and discovered... a pirate ship, loaded with hundreds of men.

Yes, pirates.

The pirates seemed to have spotted the "Blue Sky" too, as they adjusted their course and headed straight for them.

The vast ocean was never devoid of pirates. These rogues were typically composed of rogue ninjas, wanderers, and destitute samurai who couldn't find a place in the shinobi world and turned to the seas.

Seeing the aggressive approach of the pirate ship, Fugaku's eyes lit up, exclaiming, "Perfect!"

To the Uchiha clan, the most agonizing part of this journey had been the endless, aimless drifting across the vast ocean without encountering a soul.

Now, crossing paths with pirates, Fugaku saw an opportunity. Perhaps, their luck was turning.

"Tetsuo, prepare for battle. Let's take these pirates down, but ensure we capture a few alive. They might lead us to their base, which could potentially be our new home," Fugaku commanded with determination.

"Understood," both Tetsuo and Itachi acknowledged, their spirits buoyed.

The Uchiha combatants quickly assembled on the deck.

On the pirate ship, a tall man observed the approaching "Blue Sky." Grinning, revealing sharp teeth, he remarked, "Looks like a big catch today. Lucky us."

His forehead protector bore the symbol of the Hidden Mist Village, albeit with a slash across, indicating his rogue status. This wasn't surprising. Over the past years, due to the oppressive policies of the Fourth Mizukage, the number of rogue ninjas from the Mist Village had surged, many of whom sought refuge at sea.

This pirate captain, Kurokawa, was once an elite ninja of the Mist Village.

Noticing the "Blue Sky" adjusting its course, he scoffed, "Trying to flee now? Too late."

However, to his surprise, the "Blue Sky" didn't flee. Instead, it turned aggressively, charging straight at the pirate ship.

Seeking a death wish?

Kurokawa squinted, grabbing a telescope, only to see hundreds of figures in iconic Uchiha robes, equipped with kunai, shinobi blades, and explosive tags.

Suddenly, these figures leaped from the "Blue Sky," their chakra allowing them to walk on water, and charged at the pirate ship.

Ninjas!

Kurokawa's initial amusement shifted to concern. He immediately thought of a major ninja village sending this force to eliminate pirates like them.

With a snort, Kurokawa signaled his men to retaliate. As the pirates jumped off their ship, the two forces clashed amidst the waves.

"Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!"

The Uchihas unleashed their signature fire techniques, hurling blazing fireballs at the enemy.

Fire Style?

Kurokawa almost laughed.

Playing with fire techniques on the open sea? Are they out of their minds?

Without waiting for an order, the pirates quickly formed hand seals, collectively casting a water barrier, creating a massive water wall on the ocean's surface.

Hiss, hiss, hiss.

The fireball hit the water wall and was swiftly extinguished by the rushing water, generating a vast amount of steam that spread over the sea.

Most of the individuals on Kurokawa's side were former Mist Village ninjas, all adept in water jutsu, making them especially suited for sea battles.

Moreover, the opponents used fire jutsu, which was perfectly countered by water jutsu.

Thus, with the environmental advantage, even if the enemy's numbers doubled, Kurokawa remained fearless, confident of victory.

However, what transpired next was nothing short of a nightmare for Kurokawa and his crew.

Swoosh.

A pair of crimson eyes with three tomoe appeared amidst the white mist, captivatingly distinct.

"Ah!"

Two pirates instantly screamed, collapsing onto the sea without warning.

Then, one pair after another, nearly a hundred crimson eyes emerged from the mist, surrounding the pirates.

That's...

Kurokawa's pupils shrank, his entire body shuddering. His voice tinged with horror, he exclaimed:

"Sharingan! Damn, it's the Uchiha clan. Retreat!"

Without waiting, he was the first to turn and flee without looking back.

To think they'd run into the renowned Uchiha clan on the high seas.

The Uchihas of the Leaf Village, renowned throughout the ninja world for their Sharingan, were universally recognized.

Kurokawa knew the Uchihas had recently severed ties with the Leaf Village and their whereabouts were unknown.

Who could've predicted...

That these formidable figures, feared by all, would be on the high seas and he'd run into them?

Such rotten luck.

Facing the Uchihas, Kurokawa had no intention of resisting. He only thought of escape, as far away as possible.

But could he?

Within ten minutes, the maritime skirmish concluded.

The sea was littered with pirate bodies, with the Uchihas suffering only minor injuries.

Kurokawa was the sole survivor.

"Where's your base?"

Fugaku loomed over Kurokawa, his Mangekyō Sharingan activating, swiftly placing him under genjutsu and extracting the desired information.

Two years prior, Kurokawa, along with a few elite Mist ninjas, escaped from the Blood Mist, established their territory in this sea region, and formed a pirate crew.

Their base was nearby on an island known as Paradise Island.

"Set sail!"

After swiftly dealing with Kurokawa, Fugaku gestured, and the Uchihas set sail towards Paradise Island.

Half a day later, their destination loomed on the horizon.

Under the azure sky, a beautiful circular island rested peacefully on the calm sea, lush with tropical vegetation and teeming with seabirds.

According to Kurokawa, this island, a gem amidst the vast ocean, was abundant with resources, including a freshwater lake.

Hence, it was named Paradise Island.

Fugaku, upon first sight, decided this would be the Uchiha's new homeland.

But first, they had to clear out the remaining pirates.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh.

Over a hundred Uchiha ninjas leaped from the ship, charging towards the shore.

The pirates, numbering in the hundreds, quickly prepared for combat against the incoming Uchiha onslaught.

Boom!

With a cannon's roar, a dark projectile targeted the densest cluster of Uchihas.

If it detonated, casualties would be inevitable.

Fugaku, in a swift motion, summoned a colossal blue figure wearing a Tengu mask.

Susano'o.

"What... what is that?"

Astonished pirates watched as Fugaku's Susano'o deflected the incoming projectile, causing a massive explosion and decimating dozens of them.

"End this quickly. Leave none alive!"

With Fugaku leading, three more distinct Susano'os emerged, showcasing the might of Itachi, Tetsuhi, and Chishuko.

Such a magnificent display hadn't been seen for years, even in the grand ninja wars.

The pirates, witnessing this spectacle, felt both awe and fear.

Within minutes, most pirates were eradicated, with only a few escaping.

And thus, the Uchiha clan claimed Paradise Island.

After landing, Fugaku and his clan found the island even more promising than anticipated.

"Blessings be upon the Uchiha," Fugaku mused.

They say that fortune follows tragedy. After escaping their potential annihilation and the hardships faced since departing the Leaf Village, the Uchiha's luck had indeed turned.

Paradise Island was a divine gift to the Uchiha.

Upon reaching the pirates' camp, Fugaku didn't hesitate to use his jutsu to purge the area, leaving nothing.

Then, he channeled a vast amount of chakra into the ground, summoning wooden structures to form an organized settlement by the coast.

With that, the foundation for the Uchiha's new homeland was laid.