Uchiha's personal opinion

The twenty ironclad warships that sailed across the sea were the elite of the Shogunate Navy. The fleet's ships were also equipped with the most powerful new war ninja tools. Their sudden disappearance was equivalent to paralyzing half of the Shogunate Navy, and it also hindered the progress of the plan to open up the sea route to Mount Myōboku.

More importantly than the lack of equipment, the shogunate was finding it increasingly difficult to spare enough naval ninjas—especially Jonin from the Uchiha clan who were proficient in water-style techniques.

If there were no trustworthy clansmen to serve as commanders, Uchiha Tokumitsu would rather leave those ninja army units empty than arbitrarily add personnel.

"How about we send Orochimaru instead?"

Sakumo Hatake suggested, "Anyway, he's the best at researching these kinds of strange things."

"He has a lot of research to do lately, so let's take it easy."

After pondering for a moment, Uchiha Tokumitsu spoke.

After all, he also wanted to know the secrets of Wood Release.

……

Has the rain stopped today?

Uchiha Rumbu, the commander of the lost Shogunate ocean fleet, had just woken up from his sleep and, yawning, picked up the communicator to call the control room.

"Moderate rain today, with signs of turning into heavy rain."

Fleet Chief of Staff Ichiraku Uzumaki, who was on duty in the helm room, replied in the same languid tone.

"Are there any fish on the boat today?"

Uchiha Rumbu rubbed his still blurry eyes and began to get up and change his clothes.

"Another fish I've never seen before has been blown onto the boat. Judging by its size, it should be perfect for sashimi..."

Ichiraku Uzumaki was also infected and started yawning.

After being lost at sea for so long, even the most well-trained ninja would become complacent, and Commander Uchiha Rumbu was no exception.

Uchiha Rumbu relaxed the military discipline slightly in order to ease the tension of the fleet ninjas and prevent them from breaking down due to excessive tension.

Despite the high winds and rough seas, the Shogunate's ironclad warships were still very resilient to the elements. To this day, all twenty ironclad warships remain intact, without a single loss of personnel.

This is also why the fleet ninjas can remain emotionally stable.

Of course, the Uchiha ninjas and their affiliated clansmen in command at all levels of the fleet also made significant contributions.

Have you found land?

Uchiha Rumbu asked as usual.

He didn't even need to answer; he knew what Uzumaki Ichiraku would say.

If land had actually been discovered, he wouldn't have been sleeping until now.

Although the fleet has been relatively well-fed and clothed since its voyage, after drifting at sea for so long, everyone on board has long been thinking about finding an island to land on and take a proper rest.

Unfortunately, all we encountered along the way were groups of reefs rising from the sea; we didn't even see a single island with green leaves.

"not yet……"

As expected, the answer that Uchiha Rumbu had already guessed came through the communicator.

"Prepare to expand the radar search area!"

Before leaving, Uchiha Rumbu gave the order.

"As ordered!"

A reply came immediately from the microphone.

Regarding the access control settings of various instruments on the fleet, operations such as "overclocking" can only be activated by Uchiha clan ninjas by inputting chakra. This is also part of ensuring the Uchiha ninjas' absolute leadership over the fleet.

Of course, as a blood alliance with the Uchiha clan, the Uzumaki clan naturally has some powers that are higher than those of ordinary Navy ninjas, such as performing "pre-tuning".

"By the way, how many days have we been at sea in total?"

After entering the command center, Uchiha Rumbu asked.

"She's probably in her forties or fifties..."

Ichiraku Uzumaki shrugged and vacated the radar control panel.

"Ugh……"

Uchiha Rumbu asked casually, then injected chakra into the radar control panel. After identifying the special chakra, the search range displayed on the screen immediately expanded.

Small red dots appeared on the screen, but Uchiha Rumbu remained unmoved.

Those were just reefs and beaches that had surfaced, not worth paying attention to.

"strangeness……"

Suddenly, something unusual appeared on the radar screen.

"what happened?"

Ichiraku Uzumaki asked casually.

Is the screen broken?

Uchiha Rumbu hesitated for a moment.

"Just tap the right side three times at a 30-degree angle. If that doesn't work, turn it off and restart it..."

Ichiraku Uzumaki answered absentmindedly, glancing up at the screen as he did so.

Then, he was stunned.

In the upper right corner of the screen, a red area is expanding continuously!

"I think……"

Uchiha Rumbu swallowed hard, and said somewhat uncertainly, "According to the example in the instruction manual, this should mean land, right?"

"land!"

Ichiraku leaped up and swiftly teleported to the control panel, beginning a dazzling array of key combinations.

"It's land!"

Uzumaki Ichiraku's face flushed red as he roared hoarsely, "It's at least a large island comparable in size to the main island of the Land of Water!"

Cheers erupted in the command center!

"Activate fleet broadcast!"

Uchiha Rumbu immediately gave the order.

"Fleet broadcast activated!"

The tech ninja responded immediately.

"Everyone!"

Uchiha Lunbu exclaimed with great passion, "After many days of sailing, we have now discovered a new continent!"

As the fleet broadcast the message, the ships and vessels fell silent for a moment, then cheers resounded throughout the sky!

"Direction: 47 degrees east!"

Distance: 444 nautical miles!

Following Uchiha Rumbu's command, the fleet quickly began to correct its course.

"Lord Lunbu..."

Ichiraku Uzumaki suddenly looked up and said, "If there are humanoid creatures on that land..."

"……you mean?"

Uchiha Rumbu's eyes flickered.

"If they don't belong to the ninja world..."

"Ichiraku Uzumaki said in a low voice."

"It seems you've noticed it too..."

Uchiha Rumbu was somewhat surprised.

He thought that only he and a few Uchiha ninjas who had received the Sage Mode seed could sense the anomaly in this sea area—the absence of natural energy!

Ichiraku Uzumaki shrugged.

"So what's your suggestion...?"

"Uchiha Rumbu asked."

"If there really are humanoid creatures on the island..."

Uzumaki Ichiraku lowered his voice and said, "I suggest we don't sheathe our swords in the first battle."

"...You're going too far!"

Uchiha Rumbu was somewhat surprised.

This doesn't sound like something a Uzumaki ninja would say!

He also understood what Ichiraku Uzumaki meant.

If we want to maintain the stability of the ninja army, then there is no need to let them know too much; we just need to lead them to victory after victory.

Otherwise, if they were indeed in a new world, the morale of the fleet might begin to waver.

"The reason I was able to become a staff officer is because my heart is dirty enough!"

"Ichiraku Uzumaki said with considerable pride."

"..."

Uchiha Rumbu was at a loss for what to do.

After a while, he turned on the fleet broadcast again, and after a moment of hesitation, he finally spoke:

"All units, listen to my command!"

"To ensure the safety of the fleet and protect our intelligence, the command has decided—"

"The battle to come..."

"No military discipline! No survivors!"