Chapter 94: Still Wanting an Alliance
Uzumaki Compound.
Masahiko was learning Shogi from his "big nephew," the former Clan Head.
"So, shortly after I left, you resigned from the position of Konoha Elder, and the clan didn't send anyone to replace you?"
The big nephew made a move and smiled. "Second Uncle, you lost again."
Masahiko's face darkened. He had already lost ten games in a row. He glanced at his status bar; "Shogi" had appeared, but after a moment's hesitation, he decided not to add points. Spending Witness Points on this would be too wasteful.
However, seeing the smug look on his big nephew's face opposite him, Masahiko still felt frustrated.
"So, Gensuke didn't agree to send Uzumaki clansmen to defend against Kumogakure earlier?"
The big nephew's smile froze, and he sighed.
"Second Uncle, do you think we Uzumaki should have sent people?"
Masahiko paused. "Of course..."
The words were on the tip of his tongue, but he suddenly couldn't say them.
In his heart, he had always believed that the Uzumaki should stand firmly in Konoha's camp to avoid the catastrophe of annihilation in the future. But thinking about it now, with him, Yiko, and Kento around, if the Uzumaki were still destroyed, Konoha wouldn't be much help either...
The big nephew smiled bitterly. "Actually, it's not just Gensuke. Many clansmen are somewhat dissatisfied with Konoha now. When Konoha was founded, besides Hashirama and Uchiha Madara, you also did a lot behind the scenes. The Senju have held the Hokage position twice consecutively. The Uchiha aren't being considered for now because of Madara's defection. Shouldn't the Third Hokage position belong to our Uzumaki clan? But looking at Tobirama's intentions, the next one will likely be chosen from his two disciples, Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzo..."
Masahiko let out a long breath. "I understand..."
"For the upcoming war, the Uzumaki don't need to send too many people. Sending around ten should be enough, just to fulfill our obligation as allies..." Masahiko felt helpless too. He hadn't expected conflicts to arise between the Uzumaki and Konoha internally.
The big nephew breathed a sigh of relief. He had really been afraid that this unreliable Second Uncle would insist on the clan joining the war. "Alright, Second Uncle."
Looking at Masahiko's expression, he added, "Second Uncle, let's talk about something happy. In a while, it will be my 66th birthday. I want to hold a big celebration. I probably won't make it to 70..."
Masahiko fell silent for a moment, looking at his nephew's aged face. "What's there to be happy about..."
"Go ahead and hold it... Just don't invite me. It would be weird for me to attend your big birthday celebration."
"Alright, alright. Come, Second Uncle, let's play another game of Shogi..."
"Does beating me make you that happy?" Masahiko muttered. He added one point to his Shogi skill. Sure enough, he couldn't tolerate losing anymore.
Two hours later, the big nephew's face was dark. "Second Uncle, were you pretending not to know how to play before?"
Masahiko smiled. "Come on, last game, the deciding match!" Masahiko had won ten games in a row.
"No more, no more. It's getting late."
"Don't go..."
Just as Masahiko was about to stop him, someone knocked on the door and walked in. It was Tobirama, who had just finished his busy work.
Masahiko looked delighted and stopped pestering his big nephew. "Tobirama, is there any news?"
Tobirama shook his head. "Great-Uncle, let's wait a bit longer. I've already sent people to investigate. If we go to Kumogakure now and they really are at war with Iwagakure, those two brothers might not be there."
Masahiko frowned. "Fine, let's wait."
This wait lasted for half a month. The Sunagakure envoy had left in anger two days ago after finally realizing Tobirama was playing him. War with Sunagakure was likely imminent.
News from the war in the Land of Rain also came back. Iwagakure was being pincered by Kirigakure and Kumogakure, and the situation was perilous.
"Iwagakure really took the fall?" Masahiko looked bewildered. Something felt wrong.
Just as Masahiko was agonizing over what to do, two days later, an envoy from the Land of Lightning arrived, inviting Senju Tobirama to Kumogakure to sign an alliance treaty.
"Sign an alliance?" Masahiko muttered, overjoyed. "The plot is finally back on track, and earlier than expected! Kinkaku, Ginkaku, your time is up!"
Tobirama, however, hesitated. "Great-Uncle, going to Kumogakure at this time... what about the Land of Wind situation? And are they really sincere about signing an alliance?"
"Are the Konoha clans still refusing to send people?" Masahiko frowned.
"No, after my persuasion, the clans agreed to send some elites..."
"Persuasion?" Masahiko chuckled secretly. More like threats...
"Then isn't that enough? As for the team leader, just let the Nara Clan Head go."
Tobirama sighed. "If the Nara Clan Head leads the team, Uchiha Izuya won't participate. And if the three of us don't go, we'll be at a disadvantage in terms of S-rank combat power. But letting the Uchiha lead... I'm really not at ease with that."
"Three of us? Oh, Kento. He doesn't need to come with us. The two of us are enough. This trip, if all goes well, we only need to face Kinkaku and Ginkaku." Masahiko knew that at the alliance ceremony, Kinkaku and Ginkaku would likely launch a sneak attack on the Second Raikage.
Tobirama looked at Masahiko's confident appearance. After hesitating, he agreed. He wanted to bring his six disciples along, but Masahiko rejected the idea. This alliance ceremony was happening three or four years earlier than in the original story; bringing them along would make them even more useless.
After some preparation and simple arrangements, Masahiko and Tobirama saw off the Konoha troops heading to the western border.
Masahiko smiled at Tobirama. "Rest assured now? Yiko is going too. Aside from Dust Release, she has learned basically all my ninjutsu. Even you wouldn't be able to beat her quickly. Plus, there's Kento..." Masahiko felt very proud to have such disciples.
Tobirama nodded. "Great-Uncle, Sunagakure indeed isn't too worrying. I'm more worried about Kumogakure now. Their recent movements have been really strange."
Masahiko shook his head. "Nothing to worry about. With the two of us together, nothing will go wrong."
Tobirama sighed. "Fine. Let's go back and pack. We'll make it a quick trip."
After briefly handing over Konoha affairs, Tobirama had Masahiko instruct his big nephew to serve as a Konoha Elder for a while longer. Otherwise, with only Uchiha Izuya and the Hyuga Clan Head, nothing would get done, and Konoha would likely fall into chaos.
Masahiko set off on the journey to Kumogakure again. This time, however, he went in his true identity, and he wasn't alone; Tobirama was with him.
Both of them were very fast. In less than two days, they arrived at Kumogakure.
The Second Raikage and B welcomed them at the village entrance. B looked perfectly fine; aside from a faint palm print on his chest, one couldn't tell he had been injured at all.
Masahiko sighed inwardly. "So tough..."
"Welcome, Hokage and Elder Uzumaki Masahiko!" The Second Raikage said with a smile.
Masahiko also smiled, thinking inwardly, "Sorry, I'm here to witness your death..."
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