Yūshin set out from the Land of the River Source with Ran and Nara Hideyuki, heading straight for the Senju Clan's village.
As for Ran, Yūshin couldn't quite gauge her true strength, so it was hard to judge her capabilities. Though bringing a former Uchiha ninja as an envoy to the Senju Clan was somewhat absurd, the good thing was that Yūshin hadn't brought just one Uchiha.
At this moment, Nara Hideyuki's abilities were somewhat exaggerated—this man was developing rapidly as if he'd consumed some miracle growth formula... A person's destiny still depends on individual choices.
By the time they departed, more than half a month had passed since Firefly Village's establishment. Everything in the village had settled down, presenting a thriving state.
Yūshin felt quite urgent—he had to act quickly. Though celebrating the New Year's arrival during wartime was an extremely luxurious behavior, kind-hearted Yūshin still wanted to present the Hagoromo Clan with a bright red gift before the new year began.
Therefore, as the group traveled, they ignored all other circumstances. Even when occasionally encountering certain ninja clans passionately slashing at each other in the wilderness, Yūshin didn't join the excitement. They simply pursued a straight line, heading directly toward the Senju Clan.
With the relationship established through the Senju brothers, Yūshin's group directly met Senju Butsuma, the Senju Clan leader.
"The Fireflies organization? Our Senju Clan should have no previous dealings with you. May I ask what purpose brings you here?" Senju Butsuma asked directly, getting straight to the point.
This man's attitude was somewhat cold, filled with wariness toward the so-called multi-clan alliance organization.
You're a multi-clan alliance, I'm a single clan leader—does this mean you have intentions of swallowing us up?
On one hand, Senju Butsuma felt the so-called Fireflies contacting him was overreaching, naively lacking sufficient understanding of the power disparity between both sides. On the other hand, he felt he'd seen through their attempt to exploit his side, secretly raising his vigilance to the maximum.
What multi-clan alliance—how chaotic must that be? Could such a leader control subordinates as well as a clan head?
In Senju Butsuma's view, maintaining internal unity within the clan, unified under the clan leader's single voice, while externally maintaining long-term friendly relations with clans like the Hyūga, Sarutobi, and Uzumaki, was already the perfect situation.
So many clans uniting together—what future could weak forces huddling together possibly have? Could they resist forces like the Senju? That was somewhat laughable.
As for repelling the Hagoromo Clan, others might not understand what really happened, but didn't he, Senju Butsuma, know? Wasn't it because the Hagoromo suffered Senju attacks that their clan leader had to retreat? Without the Senju Clan, the so-called Fireflies would have been destroyed long ago.
It could only be said that though Senju Butsuma had fought Tajima Uchiha his entire life, essentially the two weren't so different. Senju Butsuma's thinking had also severely stagnated, his mind full of old-fashioned content, neither seeing the changes occurring in the Shinobi World nor accepting any new ideologies or organizational methods.
Moreover, they would view any novel organizational forms they disliked as potential threats.
Not just in this era—even during the ninja village period, quite a portion of people were like this.
For example, how did those "Shinobi World bigshots" treat Yahiko's Akatsuki organization? That period's Akatsuki was a wartime mutual aid relief organization; they even considered themselves Hidden Rain ninja, doing good deeds. And then what?
Then because they developed too rapidly, they became thorns in certain people's eyes and suffered coordinated annihilation.
There might have been "puppet masters" stirring things up, but actually, even without Black Zetsu's interference, the situation's development wouldn't have changed much.
Senju Butsuma's view of the Fireflies was essentially no different from Hanzō the Salamander's view of the Akatsuki.
Though Hashirama and Tobirama had already explained what the Fireflies were about, Senju Butsuma indicated: I won't listen, I don't want what you think, I want what I think... His attitude hadn't softened due to his two sons' explanations, and had even become more cautious and vigilant because of such overly friendly remarks.
For instance, Yūshin's group had just been secretly brought into the Senju Clan village by Tobirama Senju, and their meeting location was in a hidden secret chamber, with only Hashirama and Tobirama accompanying Senju Butsuma.
This clearly meant no public dealings—first secretly hearing what Yūshin wanted to say. If beneficial to their side, they'd listen. If detrimental, they'd directly drive Yūshin's group away, or even make them stay here forever—that wasn't impossible.
Yūshin had already anticipated this clan leader's attitude—this was the more normal phenomenon, what should happen... The kind of attitude Koizumi Retto had shown was the exceptional incident.
Fortunately, Yūshin's visit to the Senju Clan wasn't to build good relations with them... He didn't need to care about current relations with the Senju, because once the old man died, relations between the Fireflies and Senju would naturally warm up rapidly.
Closer future interactions were for the future, not the present.
Senju Butsuma had an arrogant mentality, not knowing that Yūshin didn't regard him at all.
There was no need to regard him either. Yūshin's judgment had always been good—he felt Senju Butsuma was already half-buried in history's trash heap. Before long, this person would be completely eliminated.
What do you have to be proud of? If you're so capable, let's duel... uh... if you're so capable, first get your son out, then duel.
"I heard the Senju Clan's previous attack on the Hagoromo Clan achieved limited results. I've come to inquire whether you have thoughts of attacking the Hagoromo Clan again... More precisely, are you willing to cooperate with us to seek the outcome of annihilating the Hagoromo Clan in one stroke?"
Yūshin had no intention of exchanging pleasantries or talking nonsense. He directly stated his purpose.
Contempt, wariness, even malicious intent—Senju Butsuma's attitudes were all fine. As long as both sides had consistent points of cooperation and mutual benefit, they could cooperate.
Senju Butsuma's expression showed not the slightest change. Due to distrust, he remained completely unmoved.
We Senju Clan can't accomplish annihilating the Hagoromo Clan—how about you, can you do it? Your tone is far too arrogant. What do you take us ancient ninja clans with hundreds or thousands of years of heritage for? Small fry?
Actually, Yūshin really was treating certain people as small fry—like this Butsuma.
"Things that can't be accomplished have no need for discussion... Young man, don't overestimate your own strength."
Yūshin just shook his head. His gaze shifted from Senju Butsuma's face, then looked at Hashirama and Tobirama. Seeing both were listening seriously, he continued:
"We'll handle the assault, forcibly cracking open the Hagoromo Clan's shell, throwing them into chaos—even eliminating their command system in one stroke isn't impossible."
"But subsequent cleanup work can only be entrusted to the Senju Clan. Completely eliminating the Hagoromo Clan—only forces like yours can accomplish this... Simply put, the Senju Clan is indeed the main fighting force."
"If the Hagoromo are completely eliminated, then the Uchiha will also be unable to stand alone."
Among the three Senju present, Butsuma had campaigned his entire life and had become numb to the point of emotional indifference—his eyes held only the Senju Clan's gains and losses.
Hashirama had a kind of transcendent, compassionate macro perspective, so often his personal emotions weren't so intense.
Only Tobirama Senju—neither magnanimous nor petty, neither numb nor compassionate—held only pure, intense, irreconcilable hatred for the Hagoromo Clan. Though he never showed emotion, the hatred accumulated in his heart had long since evolved into murderous intent.
Exterminate the Hagoromo Clan? Tobirama agreed with both hands and feet—he even wished he could raise a third leg.
"This isn't even a plan, just wishful thinking. You just want to try exploiting the Senju's strength... Crack open the Hagoromo's shell? Such grandiose words—do you think you can accomplish such things?"
Senju Butsuma became increasingly contemptuous, no longer concealing his tone... Stinking beggars came to our Senju village?
"We can. I have proof of this capability."
Yūshin ignored the other's mockery. Seeing Tobirama nod, he produced a storage scroll, unsealed it, and held a pale human head in his hand.
"Senju clan leader, can this thing prove our capability?"
Yūshin raised his arm horizontally, like holding a lantern, so the other could clearly see the head's appearance.
"This... this is... Tajima Uchiha?"
Senju Butsuma had previously heard rumors of Tajima Uchiha's disappearance or death, but he didn't believe them. No one understood Tajima's strength better than he did—how could such a person easily die?
The two had fought as equals their entire lives. If Tajima could die so casually, wasn't that saying he, Butsuma, could also die so casually?
Upon seeing Tajima's head, Senju Butsuma's emotions could be described as a rollercoaster.
First shock, then immense satisfaction, his mind beginning to brew disgusting words like "Brother Tajima, how have you been?"
Then he began sweating coldly, his entire person stunned, as if what Yūshin held wasn't Tajima's head but Medusa's head—he was completely "petrified."
Seeing Tajima in such circumstances, Butsuma felt like looking in a mirror, as if also seeing his own ending.
And whether it was an illusion or not, Butsuma always felt the young man's gaze occasionally wandering over his own neck... He might not have heard the phrase "a common man's anger spills blood within five steps," but at this moment he experienced this feeling incredibly vividly.
Yūshin used Tajima's head to prove he had the ability to kill the Uchiha clan leader, the ability to kill the Hagoromo clan leader, and the ability to kill the Senju clan leader.
Whether he could actually do it was another matter—the possibility and deterrent force were laid out here.
Subsequently, Yūshin also threw three Uchiha elders' heads onto the ground. This increased his persuasive power by another three points... If he hadn't achieved great victory in battle, how could he possibly have obtained these heads?
Battlefield scavenging? Only victors have the qualification to clean battlefields.
Senju Butsuma's current feeling was very unpleasant. On one hand, this head proved he'd just been looking down on people like a clown; on the other hand, he felt that though Yūshin held Tajima's head, it was practically no different from holding his, Butsuma's, head.
Butsuma twisted his stiff neck, turning to look at his two sons, discovering they were both carefully listening to Yūshin's words, completely ignoring him.
"Father, this might be a rare opportunity." Hashirama finally noticed Butsuma's gaze, then began helping Yūshin speak.
Hashirama wasn't worried about his own head, so naturally couldn't understand Butsuma's empathy.
Though Tobirama lacked Hashirama's strength, he wasn't Tajima's lifelong enemy either. Regarding Tajima's death, besides applauding, he thought nothing else.
In this secret chamber, only Butsuma had become isolated.
"Hashirama, shut up."
Sigh, Yūshin shook his head inwardly.
Senju Butsuma's breadth of mind, vision, and even strength were just so-so, yet he could scold the "God of Shinobi" and even slap the "God of Shinobi."
He, Yūshin—selfless, focused on Shinobi World peace, constantly striving to realize a ninja community of shared destiny—couldn't slap the "God of Shinobi." Where was the justice in this?
But regardless, Senju Butsuma wasn't mentally deficient either. If there really was a possibility of cracking open the Hagoromo Clan's defenses...
"I need to consider this seriously."
He couldn't back down immediately, couldn't manage a complete attitude reversal, so he could only find this excuse.
One thing exceeded Yūshin's expectations—he hadn't anticipated this head would have such good persuasive effect on Senju Butsuma... He knew this thing was excellent proof of his own capabilities, but hadn't expected it could become the best proof.
"Then I'll maintain contact with Tobirama in the future."
Yūshin knew things were about settled, so he very tactfully took his leave. Such large-scale combat operations couldn't expect Senju Butsuma to agree on the spot.
Tobirama Senju led Yūshin's three-person group in secretly leaving the Senju village. After reaching outside the ninja village's range, he couldn't help asking:
"Can you really penetrate the Hagoromo Clan's defenses?"
If going all-out, the Senju could definitely accomplish this, but the casualty rate definitely wouldn't come down.
Or using the super Wood Release user at full power, but wouldn't that mean the Senju village fell into a power vacuum? If they encountered sneak attacks on their home base...
The Senju's warfare behavior either deployed large numbers of ninja while Hashirama guarded home, or deployed Hashirama while large numbers of ninja guarded home. They rarely engaged in risky all-out behaviors.
"Rest assured, we can definitely do it... Mm, I guarantee it with my character."
Tobirama: "..."
Originally he'd believed it, but after Yūshin added the character guarantee, somehow he felt uncertain again.
Tobirama didn't ask how Yūshin planned to do it. He just nodded and said: "I'll convince my father, definitely will... I also guarantee it with my character."
Yūshin: "..."
Are you doing risk hedging or what?
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