Uchiha Clan Compound, Clan Head’s Residence.
Uchiha Tajima handed Hagoromo Ryunosuke’s reply letter to the clan Elders for viewing.
The quiet atmosphere lasted only a moment before the Elders, having finished reading the letter, began murmuring, their voices growing louder, hinting at an impending argument.
Seeing Uchiha Tajima’s expression darken, the Great Elder, seated at the head position on Tajima’s left, spoke first: “Clan Head, are the conditions offered by the Hagoromo side negotiable?”
Hagoromo?
What about the Hagoromo?
The long discussions about clan affairs and response strategies had already made Madara, who was sitting in the corner, unbearably sleepy.
Hearing this familiar term suddenly while half-asleep, he instantly became alert.
“Negotiate what?” The hot-tempered Second Elder glared with crimson eyes, his fists clenching audibly: “Hagoromo Ryunosuke really thinks he’s something, daring to ask for anything and everything.
Doesn’t he fear choking on it?”
“What the Second Elder said—that’s Jianqi Mountain we’re talking about!”
“Even if we give it, can the Hagoromo hold onto it?”
“Exactly.
At worst, we’ll just find another Ninja Clan to form an alliance with.”
Clearly, the Second Elder’s statement received recognition from many, which allowed Madara to grasp the current situation.
His father wanted to ally with the Hagoromo Clan, but the opposing side demanded Jianqi Mountain as a condition, which a large number of Uchiha Elders found unacceptable.
Tajima, seated above, became interested as he watched his son thinking in the corner.
This child usually just slept through these meetings.
This time, he not only listened to the meeting content but was also seriously contemplating it?
Filled with momentary relief and satisfaction, Tajima wanted to know what Madara was thinking, so he spoke: “Madara, I want to hear your opinion.”
Unlike Ayato’s situation in the Hagoromo Clan, Tajima’s strength was overwhelmingly powerful, and Madara’s talent was obvious to all the Elders; he was destined to be the next Uchiha Clan Head.
Therefore, the Elders showed great curiosity regarding Madara’s current thoughts.
After all, who wouldn’t want their next Clan Head to be a strong leader possessing both wisdom and courage?
Facing the gazes cast by numerous Elders, Madara pondered for a moment.
Instead of rushing to state his own ideas, he posed a question:
“I believe Father and the Elders are considering an alliance because of the Senju and Uzumaki Clans, correct?
Besides the Hagoromo, are there any other Ninja Clans capable of playing a crucial role in our conflict with the Senju and Uzumaki?”
Hearing Madara’s question, everyone fell into deep thought.
Indeed, as the two foremost Ninja Clans in the Ninja World, not just any random group had the strength to serve as their ally.
The Third Elder seemed to hold a strong opinion against the Hagoromo: “I think the Hyuga Clan has decent strength.”
The Great Elder chuckled derisively upon hearing this: “I think you’ve lost your mind.
The cost would be smaller.”
Uchiha Tajima also looked at the Third Elder with displeasure.
This old fool was getting more muddled the older he got.
Although the Hyuga Clan’s strength didn’t match the Senju or Uchiha, in the Land of Fire, if they claimed fourth place, no one would dare claim third.
To persuade them to intervene, the price paid would certainly far exceed the value of one Jianqi Mountain.
Noticing Tajima’s displeased gaze and the faint mocking laughter of the other Elders, the Third Elder blushed crimson with shame, lowered his head, and remained silent.
Tajima cleared his throat, stopping the Elders’ discussion: “The Hagoromo are indeed the best allies we can find.”
“Trading Jianqi Mountain for an alliance with the Hagoromo Clan—I believe it is feasible.” After saying this, Tajima looked at the Great Elder.
The Great Elder immediately understood: “I also agree.
If anyone present disagrees with this decision, please propose a better solution.”
Seeing the Great Elder and Tajima working in concert, how could the other Elders dare to object?
They all nodded in agreement.
“Then, Great Elder, please draft the alliance document as soon as possible.
It will be delivered by—”
Tajima pondered for a moment, then suddenly looked at Madara: “Madara, you will lead the team to the Hagoromo Clan to deliver the alliance document.”
Upon hearing this decision, none of the Elders raised any objections.
It was obvious that the Clan Head was paving the way for the young clan head, using the Hagoromo Clan alliance to increase the young clan head’s political capital.
To object now would be asking for trouble, wouldn’t it?
Didn’t they see the Third Elder’s head was practically buried in the floor right now?
“Huh?
Alright, Father.”
The bewildered Madara rubbed his nose.
He had only spoken one sentence the entire time, so how did the Elders’ discussion result in him being sent to the Hagoromo Clan to deliver the document?
Moreover, he seemed to have inadvertently helped that little lunatic, Hagoromo Ayato.
Meanwhile, at the Sarutobi Clan Compound, Clan Head’s Residence.
“Are we really going to do this, Musashi?” Sarutobi Sasuke put down the letter in his hand and looked at his gloomy friend, his eyes full of apprehension.
“Haven’t you read the whole thing?” Shimura Musashi looked at Sarutobi Sasuke’s hesitant manner and said with frustration: “If you hesitate any longer, once those two clans form an alliance, we’ll just be waiting for death.”
What did we do wrong?
Think about your wife, isn’t she pregnant?”
Shimura Musashi’s tone was full of temptation.
With every sentence he spoke, Sarutobi Sasuke’s expression softened a little more.
Seeing Sasuke like this, Shimura Musashi knew he had been persuaded, and quickly struck while the iron was hot:
“If you don’t do this, it won’t matter if we lose the war, but when the Hagoromo come for you and humiliate your wife, you won’t even have time to regret it!”
“Conversely, if we succeed this time, once we acquire the Hagoromo Clan’s resources, the Sarutobi Clan will reach its peak under your leadership!”
Hearing this, Sarutobi Sasuke’s eyes flickered, as if he could already see the powerful and prosperous future of the Sarutobi Clan: “Then, as you say, I will immediately arrange men to intercept and kill the Hagoromo messenger.”
“What good is intercepting the Hagoromo messenger now?” Shimura Musashi looked at Sasuke speechlessly: “At this point, the Uchiha have probably already received the message.”
Sarutobi’s breath hitched upon hearing this.
Feeling tricked, he angrily said: “Then why did you tell me all this?
It’s too late now, we’ll just wait to die!”
“Hmph hmph,” Shimura Musashi sneered twice, looking completely confident: “It’s too late to intercept the Hagoromo messenger, but the Uchiha messenger hasn’t arrived yet.”
“As long as we kill the Uchiha messenger near the Hagoromo territory, we can achieve the same goal.”
Shimura Musashi’s venomous words made Sarutobi Sasuke’s heart tremble.
Insane, truly insane.
Sarutobi Sasuke closed his eyes and took a deep breath: “What happens after that?
Offending the Hagoromo Clan is one thing, but what about offending the Uchiha?”
That group of lunatics was not to be trifled with.
Sarutobi Sasuke wanted to persuade his friend to abandon this crazy idea.
“The Uchiha?”
Shimura Musashi snorted coldly and said sinisterly: “Once we’ve dealt with the Hagoromo, you will lead the Nara Three Clans and our Shimura Clan to defect to the Senju.”
“At that time, the Uchiha Clan?
It’s hard to say if they will even still exist…”
Hearing Shimura Musashi’s meaningful words, Sarutobi Sasuke recalled the recent rumors he had heard.
The Uchiha were indeed showing increasing signs of decline under the combined offensive of the Senju and Uzumaki.
After a long silence, Sarutobi Sasuke finally made up his mind.
He gritted his teeth and asked: “Do you have a complete plan?”
Hearing this, Shimura Musashi smiled faintly.
It seemed his efforts weren’t wasted: “We will do this…”