Reborn in Konoha, Sailing to the Grand Line

How could they allow the Third Hokage to relax and do whatever he pleased?

They had to create more trouble for him, diverting his focus so that he wouldn't have the time or resources to target the Uchiha. If the Third Hokage was occupied elsewhere, it would buy the Uchiha clan much-needed time to develop and stabilize their position.

"No problem! Leave it to me!" Ethan responded confidently, patting his chest in reassurance.

Sarah nodded in satisfaction. "Alright! Then I'll continue mapping! I'm almost at Gaya Island!"

"I should be able to complete my mission today," she continued. "Then, it's off to Loguetown!"

She sighed. "Unfortunately, we haven't found a suitable flying ninja beast to land on Sky Island yet, so we can only wait."

If they had a reliable flying beast, it would solve their financial concerns in an instant. Sky Island was rich with gold—too much to transport by ordinary means. Although gold wasn't convenient for direct currency exchange, it could be converted into usable funds through the black markets or the Fire City's financial district.

Ethan smirked. "Don't worry! It's only a matter of time. If nothing turns up in this world, we'll find a flying beast in the Pirate World! Mom, keep an eye out while mapping. There might be something useful out there."

Sarah's eyes lit up. "That's a great idea! I'll keep a lookout! See you!"

With that, she teleported away.

Arrival at Gaya Island

Half a day later, Sarah stood at the edge of Gaya Island, looking around. "Huh! So this is Gaya Island? It's even more chaotic than I imagined."

As soon as she landed, she felt numerous hostile and scrutinizing gazes directed at her. Pirates, mercenaries, and criminals lurking in the shadows sized her up, assessing whether she was an easy target. The island reeked of lawlessness, the perfect haven for cutthroats and thieves.

"A pirate's paradise, indeed."

Instead of stepping onto the island immediately, she let her boat drift along the shore, slowly circling the landmass. She activated her Observation Haki, carefully scanning the threats that lurked within. Several groups seemed ready to make a move, yet some hesitated.

"Let them watch," she murmured. "I'll deal with them soon enough."

Her goal was clear. She needed to map out safe zones for Ethan. He would eventually need a place to establish a stronghold, and this island's lawless nature made it a double-edged sword. Without proper footing, it could turn into a death trap.

"I should prioritize security first. With Ethan's current strength, this place would be dangerous for him."

After completing her reconnaissance, she guided her boat to a secluded northern beach. Once she landed, she placed her hand on the boat and, with a thought, stored it within the space-time gate.

Ethan had specially allocated a 10,000-cubic-meter storage space for her within the dimensional gate, making it incredibly convenient for transport and collection of supplies. This same privilege extended to Mikoto as well.

The dimensional space was vast—spanning ten kilometers in all directions—and it would continue to expand as Ethan grew stronger. Who knew? One day, it might evolve into an actual world of its own.

Suddenly, loud footsteps and crude voices echoed from the nearby forest.

"Look! Over there!"

"Heh! She couldn't resist landing! Look at her—she's gorgeous! Maybe we can sell her for a good price?"

"Sell? What are you thinking? A beauty like that should be a gift for the boss!"

Sarah frowned, glancing toward the disturbance. Soon, a group of ragged pirates emerged from the forest, grinning wickedly as they rushed toward her.

"Fools."

Without hesitation, she formed a series of quick hand seals.

Fire Style: Great Fire Annihilation!

With a deep breath, she exhaled a massive torrent of flames, engulfing everything in its path. The searing heat spread in a wide fan-like formation, consuming the approaching pirates instantly.

Screams filled the air before fading into silence.

When the flames died down, only blackened earth and smoldering corpses remained. Sarah observed the scene coldly before vanishing in a blur, using the Body Flicker Technique to continue her mission.

Meanwhile, in the Ninja World, within the Senju clan's courtyard, Tsunade sat beside her grandmother, Uzumaki Mito, animatedly discussing recent developments.

"Grandma! You won't believe what's happening with the Uchiha clan! They've made some drastic changes. They're opening up the Security Department and even forming an elite security team!"

Mito listened patiently, nodding. "Yes, I've heard about it. Monkey came to speak with me about it."

Tsunade blinked. "Teacher? Why would he come to you about this? Does he want you to stop them?"

"Not quite." Mito smiled knowingly. "This is an opportunity for him. He wants to use it to insert his own influence within the Security Department."

Tsunade scoffed. "Figures. But why is he so interested? The Uchiha have always been territorial about their authority over security. They never let outsiders meddle."

"That's precisely why he's concerned," Mito said. "He doesn't understand why the Uchiha are suddenly allowing external involvement. He also received word from inside their ranks—Uchiha Sarah has seemingly regained her peak strength."

Tsunade's eyes widened. "That explains it. Teacher must be nervous."

Mito nodded. "He is. More than that, he fears that the Uchiha may overturn the policies that Tobirama put in place to isolate them from the village. If that happens, Sarutobi's power balance will shift dramatically."

Tsunade sighed, crossing her arms. "I never really agreed with Tobirama's policy of isolating the Uchiha. It only pushed them further away and made them resentful. In the long run, it was bound to cause major problems."

Mito smiled. "You're wise beyond your years. But unfortunately, Sarutobi won't listen to that logic. He's determined to maintain control, and if that means keeping the Uchiha under tight surveillance, he'll do it."

Tsunade hesitated before asking, "So, what did you tell him?"

Mito chuckled. "I agreed to meet with Uchiha Sarah."

Tsunade's eyebrows shot up. "Wait… you mean you actually want to talk to her?"

"Why not?" Mito said with a mysterious smile. "I have my own reasons. Besides, if Sarah has really regained her strength, I want to see it for myself."

She exhaled softly. "I'm not afraid of death, but I still have responsibilities. I worry about you, about Nawaki, about Kushina… and what will happen to the Senju after I'm gone."

Mito's gaze hardened. "Sarutobi has been suppressing the great clans for years. I shudder to think what he'll do to the Senju once I'm no longer here."

Tsunade felt a pang of concern. "Grandma…"

Mito placed a reassuring hand on her granddaughter's shoulder. "That's why I want to meet Sarah. Not to expose her secrets, but to see if there's a way to prolong my own life. Not for myself, but for the sake of our clan."

Tsunade nodded slowly, understanding the weight of her grandmother's words.

One thing was certain—the upcoming meeting between Mito and Sarah would shape the future of the village.