c86: The Capital of Vortex
In the 51st year of Konoha, at nine o'clock in the morning on January 3rd, the bustling life of Konoha had not yet dissipated, and Uchiha Gen silently departed from the Hidden Leaf Village.
After leaving the village boundaries, Uchiha Gen landed lightly on the crown of a towering tree, and called softly, "Zhu Rong."
"Yes, Master," came the response.
A flash of crimson light streaked through the air, and a massive, fire-element dragon—Zhu Rong appeared, its form rapidly expanding. Uchiha Gen leapt onto its back, and the beast soared into the sky. The frigid morning wind howled, making his windbreaker flutter, but the cold was repelled Zhu Rong radiated a controlled warmth that shielded its rider.
Upon takeoff, Zhu Rong flew southeast toward the former Land of Whirlpools. By midday, the capital of the long-fallen nation came into view: Uzushiogakure now dubbed the "Whirlpool City."
Zhu Rong, whose growth is sustained through the absorption of fire chakra, is unique. Unlike typical fire-based summons or ninjutsu, Zhu Rong is fed with both naturally occurring flames and chakra-generated fire. This hybrid method, rooted in Gen's manipulation of chakra nature transformations, ensures that even chakra-absorbing enemies cannot nullify Zhu Rong's entire offense some of its fire is born of the world itself, not chakra.
Uzushiogakure had once been the heart of the Uzumaki Clan famed for their powerful fuinjutsu, life force, and sealing techniques. Their close alliance with Konoha had eventually led to their downfall. When several great nations, fearing the clan's power, banded together, Uzushiogakure was destroyed. The remnants of the Uzumaki scattered. Today, the city is no longer the glorious village hidden in the whirlpool it is a chaotic metropolis built upon the ruins of power.
But even within chaos, a certain order prevails.
And what kind of order?
An order dictated solely by two forces: money and strength.
Zhu Rong landed in the forested mountains several miles outside the city. Uchiha Gen entered the city on foot, leaping across rooftops with the ease of a trained shinobi.
Though the former Land of Whirlpools was a small nation, the capital it once held—now known as Whirlpool City was only half the size of Shirogane Castle in the Land of Fire. The city's layout mimicked the spiraling emblem of the Uzumaki: concentric circles, spiraling inward. Each layer represented a stratum of society.
The outermost ring was home to the destitute, the laborers, the criminals, and those who drifted between the two. Here, lines blurred easily a man might be a blacksmith by day and a mugger by night. When the profits were high enough, even a civilian could become a thug in daylight.
Only those who learned to adapt to the city's gray morality survived long in this ring.
Here too were located the numerous workshops and rudimentary factories remnants of the old village's infrastructure. The streets reeked of sewage. Garbage littered every corner. Foul excrement and rusted tools were common sights. Disease, crime, and misery lingered like a persistent fog.
The middle ring was the most chaotic and simultaneously the most vibrant. It housed rogue ninjas, mercenaries, traders, brothel owners, failed nobles, mercantile clans, and even foreign spies from the Five Great Nations. It was here that violence became currency.
Shops lined every street, selling both legal and illicit goods. Black market jutsu scrolls, smuggled chakra metal, counterfeit talismans it could all be found under flickering neon lights. Feasts, gambling, and flesh trades ruled the night, and this vibrant pulse continued until dawn.
Finally, the inner circle the smallest and most fortified was the seat of the city's real power. It housed the shadow rulers: gang bosses, warlords, crime lords, and former elite shinobi who had risen to the top of the underworld hierarchy.
Uchiha Gen approached disguised via a standard Konoha Transformation Jutsu. He had reshaped himself into a tall, broad-shouldered middle-aged man with a black samurai robe, a long blade at his waist, and a commanding presence.
Though people claimed not to judge by appearances, they always did. And in Whirlpool City, appearances often meant life or death.
Had he entered in his true form, he would have invited suspicion and attention was the last thing he needed right now.
Whirlpool City was rife with informants. All five Great Shinobi Nations Konohagakure, Sunagakure, Iwagakure, Kirigakure, and Kumogakure had their eyes and ears embedded in the chaos. To be identified early by their agents would jeopardize everything.
Thanks to his appearance, no one challenged him on his path from the outer ring through the middle ring.
He looked the part of someone dangerous.
In a city like this, people had no interest in starting fights with those who might kill them over a glance. And unless there was something worth taking, no one gambled on whether the wolf was wearing a sheep's skin.
"World Hotel."
Uchiha Gen raised his eyes to the building ahead. Flashing rainbow lights and a massive golden sign made the place look gaudy, almost theatrical.
The building itself wasn't large, but for this district, it was one of the grandest.
Uchiha Gen entered without hesitation. His stride was strong and confident—like a tiger descending a mountain.
Two young women stood by the door. Their makeup was thick, their figures emphasized by tight red dresses and black stockings. Their appearance wasn't stunning, but they carried themselves seductively.
"Welcome, honored samurai, to the World Hotel," they chimed in unison, their voices laced with deliberate allure.
Gen nodded slightly. In a place ruled by image and flattery, he accepted what was offered without reaction. The lobby inside continued the tacky extravagance walls of faux gold, crystal chandeliers, velvet curtains all aimed at those seeking ostentatious luxury.
Male and female waitstaff lined the hall in greeting. A woman stepped forward to greet him, heels clicking rhythmically on the tiled floor.
She was average in beauty, but her figure and posture were confident. Her red uniform was conservative compared to the greeters, but not by much.
"Welcome to the World Hotel. I'm Ikumi Kondo. It's my honor to serve you today," she said with a practiced smile.
"Will you be dining or lodging?" she asked as she walked beside him.
"Food first."
"Hall or private room?"
"Private."
They ascended to the second floor. The private dining room followed the same overdone aesthetic.
Once seated, Uchiha Gen waited until Ikumi offered the menu. His eyes spun into the familiar scarlet of the Sharingan three tomoe whirled hypnotically.
Under genjutsu, Ikumi's professional smile vanished, replaced by an empty expression.
"Which family is the most powerful in Whirlpool City?" Gen asked evenly.
"The Fujita family," she replied flatly.
"Why?"
"They control over a third of the city's grain trade and manage the largest contraband network in the region."
Gen nodded, satisfied. To dominate both the food supply and black market in a city of chaos yes, that made the Fujita family the true overlords.
And that made them his target.
Last time, Uchiha Gen had worked hard to gather souls and life force one by one. Now, he preferred efficiency: take control of a powerful faction and let wealth attract people and chakra on its own.
As the old saying went: throw enough money and influence, and people with chakra will crawl to your door.
"Forget everything just now. You were simply lost in thought."
"Yes…" she murmured dully.
With a snap of his fingers, the Sharingan's influence lifted.
"Apologies, dear guest," she said with a bow. "I was briefly distracted. Your aura is simply too commanding I've never seen someone so impressive."
"You're quite good with words. You're forgiven."
"Thank you. Here's the menu."
The cuisine mirrored Western dishes from Gen's previous life. He marked a few options and returned the menu.
"Do you need additional services?" Ikumi asked. "We have lovely ladies who specialize in private hospitality."
Gen smiled faintly. "No need. I have business later."
He knew how such things worked money bought companionship, not fate. He wasn't a romantic fool.
"I understand. Please wait, your dishes will arrive shortly. I am your personal attendant for the evening. Call if you need anything."
She gave him a subtle wink and left.
Uchiha Gen remained still. He felt nothing.
Not because of age, nor because he was above desire but because he understood value. If something better could be obtained without compromise, why settle?
He wondered why more ninjas didn't use Sharingan genjutsu for gain after all, it was potent. Why weren't Uchiha illusionists lords of wealth, rather than glorified assassins?
Why weren't illusionists across all clans exploiting their gifts for control?
Instead, ninjas lived like disposable tools. Even Zabuza Momochi, the Demon of the Hidden Mist, ended up working for a corrupt tycoon after defecting from his village.
Only when Cardo insulted the dead Haku did Zabuza reclaim his dignity and end the tyrant's life.
Had it been Uchiha Gen?
He would've killed the man, taken his wife, moved into his house, and stolen his fortune.
Ninja were brainwashed into servitude from birth.
Tools that is what ninja are.
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