In truth, although the date for Senju Hashirama and Uzumaki Mito's wedding had been set, Senju Hashirama himself had not yet traveled from the Senju clan lands to Uzushiogakure.
It was currently a truce period following the end of the war with the Uchiha. Based on the experience of the past few centuries, the Uchiha would not make a move against the Senju anytime soon.
While there was always the possibility of smaller ninja clans trying to take advantage of the situation, the deterrent power of Senju Hashirama—who, along with Izuna, was now known as one of the "Twin Heroes of the Warring States"—was no joke.
If any family dared to attack the current Senju or Uchiha, they would need to possess power at least on the level of a joint alliance between the Hyuga, Sarutobi, and Shimura clans.
Therefore, the wedding process was proceeding according to ancestral traditions: the three letters and six rites.
Although nearly half of the family's ninja had been deployed to help with defense, Senju Hashirama himself was still preparing within the Senju clan grounds. After all, even though the Senju had lost the recent war, Hashirama's personal strength could not be ignored.
Many ninja clans wanted to curry favor with Senju Hashirama. Though they dared not actually attend the wedding banquet of Senju Hashirama and Uzumaki Mito, gifts were being sent over in an endless stream.
As the new Clan Head, and possessing a somewhat bleeding heart, Senju Hashirama wrote letters in response to every small clan that sent a gift, even those whose names he couldn't quite remember.
When Senju Tobirama, the Vice-Clan Head, offered to ghostwrite them, Hashirama turned him down.
In his reply letters, Hashirama even mentioned more than once his desire to create a ninja village where all ninja families could coexist in harmony. He wrote with particular detail and sincerity to major clans like the Ino-Shika-Cho, Hatake, and Hyuga.
One could only wonder what expressions those clan heads would make upon reading the contents of his letters.
Just as Hashirama was pushing himself to finish replying to all the letters that day, a figure suddenly flashed to his side, looking panic-stricken.
It was Senju Unkan, a Near-Kage level expert who ranked within the top five of the Senju clan. Three years ago, he had only been a peak Jonin, but he had finally broken through.
"What's wrong?"
Seeing the expression on the man's face, Hashirama felt that something bad must have happened.
Senju Unkan gasped heavily for air, his face anxious. "B-Bad news, Clan Head! We don't know how, but a Kaguya clan army of five hundred has airborne-dropped less than ten miles east of Uzushiogakure. They are advancing with irresistible force!"
"Hah!?"
Even Hashirama couldn't help but gape in astonishment.
Airborne? And less than ten miles from Uzushiogakure?
That was nonsense! If you said they infiltrated, it would be slightly more believable. But a full five hundred people? With so many sensory experts in the Uzumaki clan, plus the hundreds of Senju ninja he had sent to assist in defense, how could they not detect so many Kaguya ninja infiltrating that deep?
If one had to insist on a possibility, it seemed only "airborne" fit the bill.
Senju Unkan's expression twisted, sweat pouring down his face. "Clan Head, I know it sounds incredible, but it is the truth!"
"Assemble the troops immediately. I will head out right now!"
Hashirama hurriedly stripped off his casual white home robes and changed into his black fitted combat suit and red armor.
"Clan Head, even if it's you, traveling alone without waiting for the troops will take more than a day and a half. What's more, although the Kaguya are few in number, they appeared far too close to Uzushiogakure. I fear..."
Hashirama shouted back to Senju Unkan as he quickly tied the cords of his armor. "Call Tobirama here! Have him use the Flying Thunder God to take me with him. It will consume a massive amount of his chakra, but there is no other way."
Just as Hashirama walked out of his courtyard with Senju Unkan, another Senju Jonin, Senju Ken, appeared before him, equally anxious and sweating profusely.
"Clan Head, the Intelligence Division just sent back word. Uchiha Izuna has led an Uchiha ninja army of six hundred and airborne-dropped ten miles west of Uzushiogakure."
"Airborne again!?"
Hashirama was completely dumbfounded.
Senju Unkan grew even more frantic. "Clan Head, the one leading the Uchiha is that Uchiha Izuna. What should we do now?"
Hashirama clenched his teeth tight. "There is no other choice. Tobirama and I will go ahead. Unkan, you lead the troops and reinforce us as fast as possible!"
Meanwhile, inside a high pavilion in Uzushiogakure.
Uzumaki Mito, dressed in a shiromuku—the traditional white kimono worn by Japanese brides—sat elegantly and gracefully within the high tower.
According to traditional wedding rules, she would complete her marriage to her fiancé, Senju Hashirama, in three days. Then, she would stand here to receive the enthusiastic blessings of the Uzumaki and Senju clans below.
Not only was she wearing the shiromuku, but her lips were also painted with rouge, removing the green immaturity of her seventeen years and replacing it with a trace of enchanting charm.
Pursling her lips, despite a year of separation, the figure of that scoundrel still occasionally appeared in Mito's mind. Especially his flustered expression at their final parting, which formed such a stark contrast to his usual arrogant, world-dominating demeanor; Uzumaki Mito couldn't help but secretly find it amusing.
He was called one of the "Twin Heroes of the Warring States" alongside her fiancé, Senju Hashirama, and possessed another moniker: "Pupil Emperor."
His fame was growing louder by the day, so his strength surely couldn't be inferior.
If only the Senju weren't generational allies of the Uzumaki, and the Uchiha weren't mortal enemies of the Senju...
If he were to propose to the Uzumaki, Grandfather—the Grand Elder—wouldn't refuse, would he?
Smack! Smack!
As soon as this thought surfaced, Uzumaki Mito jolted awake and patted her cheeks twice.
She was getting married in less than a few days; what was she thinking!?
Just then, Mito, whose sensory abilities were the strongest in the Uzumaki clan, changed her expression.
What is happening? Why is there such a terrifying chakra fluctuation to the east?
That is... War!
Yes, only a massive scale slaughter could produce such exaggerated chakra fluctuations.
Thump, thump, thump!
At that moment, an Uzumaki girl of only twelve or thirteen, also sporting a head of fiery red hair, ran quickly up the stairs, panting heavily. "M-Mito-sis, it's bad! It's bad!"
"What is it?"
The little Uzumaki girl spoke in a childish, milky voice, "It's the Kaguya! The Kaguya clan has attacked from the east. The Grand Elder and the others have already gone to meet them in battle. They say the enemy has already fought their way very close to our village."
"What!?" Mito's beautiful eyes widened instantly.
"A-And that's not all," the little girl continued. "In the W-West, the Uchiha have come too! It's led by Uchiha Izuna, but they haven't launched an attack. They s-said they want to see you... to c-c-come and p-p-propose marriage."
Instantly, Mito's heart trembled even more violently.
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