Chapter 41: Trouble Brews Again
One month after the "Founding a Nation" fervor had subsided, Masahiko thought he would return to his routine life of training, eating, and sleeping. Unexpectedly, his peaceful days were suddenly shattered.
Senju Tobirama visited the Uzumaki clan. It had been five years since Masahiko last saw him.
"Tobirama, you say you want me to help research and develop ninjutsu? Do you take your Great-Uncle for a senile old man...?"
Masahiko didn't buy Tobirama's pitch for a second.
"Great-Uncle, I've had many ideas recently. For example, a genjutsu that can strip away an opponent's vision, a jutsu that uses one explosive tag to summon infinite explosive tags, a Body Flicker that can be used in water to instantly appear anywhere within a body of water..."
With every sentence Tobirama spoke, Masahiko's face grew darker. "Bringer of Darkness Technique, Mutually Multiplying Explosive Tags, Water Instantaneous... you've developed them all."
Masahiko looked up to glare at Tobirama, only to find Tobirama's face was even darker than his own.
"My big brother is a spy you planted next to me, isn't he...? I just developed these jutsu not long ago, and you already know their names!"
Masahiko's expression froze. He had unknowingly spoken his thoughts aloud again. Steeling himself, he decided to just admit it. "That's right. Your big brother has been my man for a long time..."
Hashirama, sorry, but you'll have to take the fall for this one...
Back in the Senju clan, Hashirama was fantasizing about his grand plans for building a village when he suddenly sneezed. After a brief silence, he smiled warmly. "Madara, are you thinking of me too?"
Back at the Uzumaki clan, Tobirama was still trying hard to "trick" Masahiko into coming to the Senju.
"Great-Uncle, besides those jutsu, I have others to develop."
Masahiko curled his lip, thinking, Don't try to fool me. Those are basically all the jutsu in the Scroll of Seals. You've finished developing them... The only one left is Edo Tensei, and since you didn't perfect it while you were alive, you probably won't start that until at least 10 years after Konoha is founded...
Thinking of this, Masahiko suddenly remembered a forbidden jutsu of Tobirama's that few people noticed. When pursued by the Kinkaku and Ginkaku unit, Tobirama had touched the ground with his fingers and sensed the number and strength of the enemy force. Although the specific name was unknown, it was clearly a sensory ninjutsu.
"Tobirama, have you developed any sensory ninjutsu?" Masahiko asked decisively.
"Sensory? I actually haven't," Tobirama replied slowly. "I really should develop a sensory jutsu. You're a sensory ninja, aren't you, Great-Uncle? That's perfect! Come to the Senju and help me develop it!"
Masahiko shook his head. "You're still trying to trick me into going to the Senju. I can develop jutsu just fine here in the Uzumaki clan. Why must I go there? Out with it. What's really going on?"
Tobirama gave a bitter smile. "I still can't hide anything from you... It's the Uchiha. They've been preparing for war recently."
"Then what are we waiting for? Let's go... I'm going back to pack my bags." Masahiko turned and walked away, leaving a dumbfounded Tobirama behind.
Masahiko hurried home, his heart racing with excitement. Is war finally breaking out again? The founding of Konoha must be close...
After thinking it over, he decided to bring his three students along. The rest of the Uzumaki clan wouldn't be participating, but letting his three apprentices see a battlefield would be good training.
Hashirama will deal with Madara. As for the rest of the Uchiha clan, my current strength is enough to protect the three of them.
So, an hour later, Tobirama saw the master and his three apprentices standing before him, carrying bags large and small.
After a simple explanation, Tobirama accepted Masahiko's reason of "taking the disciples for training." The group bid farewell to the Uzumaki Clan Head and set off for the Senju territory.
On the way, Tobirama explained the situation in detail to Masahiko.
Since Madara had been thrashed by Hashirama nine years ago, no major war had broken out between the Senju and Uchiha. The Uchiha had invaded many smaller clans, but they had always steered clear of the Senju.
"This time, it doesn't look like the Uchiha are targeting a small clan. It feels like a full-scale mobilization. Worst case scenario... Uchiha Madara has found a way to deal with my brother," Tobirama said with concern.
Masahiko listened but wasn't too worried. He thought, That's probably not it. Madara's eyes are probably going blind... so this is the Uchiha's last gamble...
However... Masahiko pondered. Madara isn't a reckless fool. He wouldn't mobilize the entire clan if there was absolutely no hope... Whatever. Even if the sky falls, Hashirama is there to hold it up!
"Sensei, Uncle Tobirama is talking to you!" Nanako-chan interrupted from the side, seeing Masahiko lost in his own thoughts again.
Masahiko snapped back to reality, paused, and then grinned mischievously. "What 'Uncle Tobirama'? From my perspective, you should call him 'Nephew Tobirama'... And that goes for you two as well!"
Hearing this, the three students reacted differently. Nanako-chan looked exasperated. Yiko-chan looked a bit embarrassed, though secretly she really wanted to do it. Kento-kun looked excited and shouted, "Oh! Understood!"
Masahiko's face darkened. Having such a simple-minded student was a bit embarrassing.
Tobirama completely ignored the interaction between Masahiko and his students, still preoccupied with what the Uchiha were planning.
Upon arriving at the Senju clan, Masahiko settled his three students and was immediately dragged by Tobirama to see Hashirama.
Hashirama looked relieved to see them. "Tobirama, you're finally back. Just a short while ago, the Uchiha clan sent us a Letter of Challenge."
"A Letter of Challenge?" Masahiko looked confused. In the Warring States Period, he had never heard of clans sending formal challenges before attacking.
"Hashirama, let me see that letter..."
"Ah, Great-Uncle!" Hashirama finally noticed him. "You're here!"
Masahiko ignored the spacey Hashirama and grabbed the letter from the table in front of him.
"Three days from now, a decisive battle at Kazama Valley?"
Masahiko twitched his lips. What is this? Why not a duel at the top of the Forbidden City?
Tobirama read the content of the letter and looked equally confused.
"Brother, is it a trap? If we go to Kazama Valley, what if Uchiha Madara launches a sneak attack on our compound?"
Hashirama shook his head. "Madara isn't that kind of person! Tobirama, pass the order. Tell the clansmen to pack their gear. We march for Kazama Valley tomorrow morning!"
"Brother..." Tobirama was clearly uneasy, but seeing Hashirama's rare serious expression, he could only nod in agreement.
"Then, who should stay behind to guard the clan?"
Hashirama thought for a moment. "Let Ten'yu stay..."
Senju Ten'yu. Shortly after the mining war nine years ago, he had successfully broken through to the Clan Head level. Now, he was the new Great Elder of the Senju clan.
" The Great Elder, huh..." Tobirama pondered for a moment. "Understood." He turned and left to notify the clan.
Once Tobirama was gone, Hashirama looked at Masahiko and said, "Great-Uncle, for this war, I must ask you to hide among the ordinary clansmen. Unless something unexpected happens, you won't need to fight personally..."
Masahiko nodded. "I only came to this war to protect my three students anyway. Don't expect me to volunteer to fight..."
Hashirama: "..."
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