Hiding and biding one’s time does not mean sitting idly by while the clan perishes.
Uncle Tie Mu and Elder Makuma were both conservatives who had firmly opposed the complete civilianization of the clan back in the day.
Unfortunately, Tobirama’s will was set, and the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, remained steadfast in enforcing this policy.
Most of the clan members were blinded by the facade of stability and blindly complied.
The few dissenters had little influence and were powerless to turn the tide.
In their utter helplessness, they could only use their own methods to silently protect and secretly nurture the few promising young talents left in the clan, guarding the embers of the Senju Clan.
Elder Makuma nodded slowly, his aged eyes hiding deep worry and expectation: “It’s not just Chiba; Minato is also an outstanding child with remarkable potential. Tomorrow, I will gather the few remaining elders in the clan to discuss this matter properly.”
He sighed softly, his tone filled with helplessness and sorrow: “I have never approved of Tobirama’s method of integration. If this continues, the Senju Clan will completely dissolve into the smoke and fire of Konoha, eventually vanishing in the torrent of history.”
“The foundation of a Ninja clan lies in unity and blood ties. Without the cohesion and protection of the clan, the members scattered among the commoners are like duckweed without roots, possessing no power to protect themselves.”
“Hiruzen Sarutobi holds the reins of Konoha, and his fellow disciples are all deep and calculating, harboring hidden ambitions; they are certainly not good people. I am truly uneasy, fearing that the Senju Clan will eventually be quietly devoured until nothing remains.”
This was the deepest shackle and fear in the hearts of the older generation.
While they were still alive, they could protect a corner of stability for the younger generation of the clan.
But if they were all to pass away in the future, with no one left to shield the Senju descendants from the wind and rain, this powerful clan that had been passed down for generations would likely truly be extinguished forever.
What was most frustrating was that most of the clan members were shortsighted and simple-minded.
They were blinded by the so-called peace and stability, blindly following the Second Hokage’s will and trusting in the Third Hokage’s appeasement tactics, treating policies that destroyed their own foundations as gospel.
No amount of persuasion could change their minds.
“Sigh…”
Uncle Tie Mu let out a heavy, long sigh, his brow filled with melancholy: “Who is to say otherwise? The people in the clan are too naive; they completely fail to see the checks, balances, and schemes of the Konoha leadership.”
“Now, Hiruzen Sarutobi uses Tobirama’s will to claim moral authority, placing the Senju Clan on a pedestal. It looks like respect, but in reality, it’s a shackle at every turn. We are simply powerless to reverse this established situation.”
“The only turning point now perhaps lies with Young Clan Leader Nawaki. Only if he grows quickly, stands firm in the Konoha political arena, and holds enough influence will there be a chance to change the current status quo.”
As he finished speaking, Uncle Tie Mu shook his head, his eyes filled with disappointment; clearly, he held no hope for this.
As the current Young Clan Leader of the Senju Clan, Nawaki was too pure and naive, almost simple-minded.
He did not understand power struggles or schemes, and his Ninja talent was only average, barely reaching a mediocre level.
He could hardly shoulder the heavy responsibility of reviving the clan.
Elder Makuma’s expression darkened slightly upon hearing this, and he shook his head helplessly: “Counting on Nawaki? That is likely as difficult as ascending to heaven. That child is simple-minded and lacks any guile; he cannot see through the deep undercurrents of Konoha, nor does he have the courage or strategic mind to support the future of the clan.”
“If we are talking about potential, character, and talent, ten Nawakis wouldn’t compare to one Chiba.”
“Even the sensible and intelligent Minato still carries some of the pure innocence of youth. The one I have the highest hopes for is always Chiba.”
A moment later, Elder Makuma collected his thoughts, his expression suddenly becoming serious, and he instructed in a low voice: “But you must remember, you must keep this secret strictly. You must never leak the heaven-defying talent of Chiba refining Chakra in a single day. I will secretly act to mask his presence and cover his tracks.”
“Right now, his foundation is shallow and his wings are not yet fully formed; he simply lacks the strength to protect his own brilliance. Revealing such peerless talent too early will only attract the attention of those devious leaders in Konoha, making him a thorn in everyone’s side.”
“A tree that stands above the forest will be destroyed by the wind. For him right now, talent that is too dazzling is not an opportunity, but a life-threatening disaster that will only cause him to die prematurely.”
Konoha may appear prosperous, stable, and a peaceful golden age, but in reality, it is filled with rival factions and turbulent undercurrents.
Political schemes never cease, and it tolerates no outsiders rising up.
Uncle Tie Mu’s expression tightened, and he nodded solemnly: “I understand the stakes! I will go find the two children immediately and instruct them personally! As for the rest of the concealment, I will leave it to you, Elder Makuma!”
Before the words had even faded, Uncle Tie Mu moved.
The air around him rippled slightly as he utilized his skilled Body Flicker Technique.
His figure instantly faded and vanished from the room in an instant, his speed astonishingly fast.
The mountain forest valley on the outskirts of Konoha was the secret training base that Chiba and Minato had agreed upon privately; it was secluded, uninhabited, and far from the prying eyes of the village.
Two young figures were loosening their limbs in a clearing in the forest, adapting to the newly born Chakra within their bodies.
Just then, a steady voice called out from behind them.
“Chiba! Minato!”
The two turned around abruptly at the sound.
Seeing Uncle Tie Mu walking over quickly, their eyes were filled with surprise, and they spoke in unison: “Uncle Tie Mu? Why are you here?”
Uncle Tie Mu stepped forward slowly, the gravity from before fading from his face, replaced by a gentle smile.
He reached out and gently rubbed the tops of the two boys’ heads, then leaned down, his expression becoming serious and solemn once again, instructing them carefully, word by word.
“I know that both of you have successfully refined Chakra. But you must firmly remember: from now on, no matter who asks or interrogates you, you must have a unified story. Tell others that it took you an entire week of hard training to successfully refine your first wisp of Chakra. Do you understand?”
A simple sentence, without any extra explanation, yet it carried a heavy sense of warning.
Chiba and Minato exchanged a look, both of their expressions tightening as they instantly understood the deep meaning hidden in his words.
Both were orphans with no one to rely on, having long since seen through the fickleness of human relationships and the dangers of the world; their minds were far more mature and clear-sighted than other boys their age.
Even Minato, who was naturally gentle and simple, could keenly sense the importance of this instruction and dared not take it lightly in the slightest.
Let alone Chiba, who had long since awakened memories of his past life and whose intellect far exceeded his current age.
Chiba understood in his heart and thought to himself: As expected, Uncle Tie Mu and Elder Makuma are people who can be fully trusted.
If they didn’t genuinely care and protect us with all their might, they wouldn’t have come specifically to instruct us, helping us mask our talent and avoid disaster.
The little bits of warmth from the past few years of getting along were definitely not fake; the two elders had always treated him and Minato like their own grandson or son.
He could truly feel this sincerity.
Without the slightest hesitation, the two boys straightened their backs simultaneously, their eyes firm, their voices solemn and uniform: “We have remembered! From now on, when speaking to others, we will only say that it took one week of hard training to successfully extract Chakra!”
“Good! Good children!”
Seeing that the two were sensible and clear-sighted, Uncle Tie Mu felt very relieved and laughed heartily, his eyes and brows softening again.
Since the two children had successfully taken the first step on the path of the Ninja, he, as their elder, naturally had to support them with all his might.
He pondered for a moment and asked: “Now that you have successfully refined Chakra, have you tested your Chakra nature?”
Chiba nodded first, his tone calm yet steady: “I have already tested it. My Chakra natures are Water, Earth, and Lightning.”
No one knew that his dual Water and Earth natures had already reached a state of ultimate compatibility, bolstered by his top-tier nature affinity talent.
In the future, practicing Water and Earth style Ninjutsu would surely yield twice the result with half the effort, his progress would far exceed that of ordinary people, and the power he could unleash would be immeasurable.
Minato, standing beside him, followed closely, his voice clear and gentle: “Chiba gave me a piece of Chakra test paper in advance, and I have also finished testing. My Chakra natures are Wind, Fire, and Lightning.”