"Is this the Hatake clan's choice?"
Early the next morning, Senju Tobirama and his companions received Hatake Saiga's answer.
They had decided to remain neutral. Though this stance should be equal toward both the Uchiha and the Senju, under the present circumstances, it was tantamount to offending the Senju.
No wonder Senju Tobirama's expression was sour.
"My Hatake are but a small clan. We have no desire to be drawn into the struggle between the two great clans, the Uchiha and the Senju. I hope you all can understand."
Hatake Saiga bowed his head slightly as he spoke.
Senju Tobirama's lips twitched. He wanted to say more, but on second thought, the other side had deliberated all night—his few words were unlikely to change the outcome.
Izuna, on the other hand, was quite satisfied with the result. His tone was mild yet carried an innate aura of intimidation. "I believe the Hatake clan head's decision is entirely correct. I hope the Hatake clan will remain true to your word and remember it."
A slight twitch appeared at the corner of Hatake Saiga's eye, but he quickly replied, "Of course, of course."
"Then, if that's the case, I'll take my leave."
Though Izuna felt something odd in Hatake Saiga's tone, he could not, after all, read minds.
Under these circumstances, it was even less likely he would use his Sharingan to interrogate Hatake Saiga.
After Izuna left the council hall, Senju Tobirama and the other Senju personnel rose as well. "We, too, will take our leave."
Hatake Saiga exchanged a glance with Hatake Jin and the others beside him. Inwardly, they had already made up their minds.
Until Uchiha Izuna and the Uchiha forces had completely departed, they could not reveal their stance to the Senju.
On the eastern sea of the Land of Whirlpools, on the island inhabited by the Kaguya clan.
Because of the great distance, the team led by Madara arrived even later than Izuna had at the Hatake stronghold.
By the time he brought his people, Senju Hashirama, representing the Senju, had already signed an alliance pact with Kaguya Banro.
Inside Kaguya Village, the banners of both clans stood side by side. Senju Hashirama and Kaguya Banro clasped hands, symbolizing the establishment of the alliance.
Kaguya Banro was deeply shocked by Senju Hashirama's attitude—that he could let bygones be bygones regarding the Kaguya's earlier surprise attack on the Uzumaki.
He had initially suspected Senju Hashirama of ulterior motives, wondering if it might be a trap to lure him in.
But when Senju Hashirama offered vast tracts of land within the Land of Fire to the Kaguya, along with large shipments of weapons, food, and medicine, Kaguya Banro resolved to gamble once more.
These were things the Kaguya desperately needed right now.
There was also another factor: Senju Hashirama's personal charisma.
Perhaps, as the reincarnation of Asura, he was born with a magnetism that drew others to follow him.
The natural charm emanating from Senju Hashirama's words, along with his sincere yearning for peace, made it genuinely difficult to dislike him—even for someone as hot-tempered as the Kaguya.
Of course, that was only a secondary reason. The primary one was still a matter of interests.
By the time Madara and his group arrived, Senju Hashirama had already left with his people. More than a day had passed since the two clans formally allied.
Within five days, this news would surely spread throughout the Warring States period.
By then, even more clans would gravitate toward the Senju!
Upon learning this news, Madara was beside himself with rage. He had never imagined Senju Hashirama would be willing to ally with the Kaguya—who had just attacked the Uzumaki—and promise them so many benefits.
He discussed with the ten men he had brought: tonight, they would strike the Kaguya immediately, letting the entire Warring States know just how terrifying it was to side with the Senju and stand opposed to the Uchiha.
Madara's proposal was, of course, extremely dangerous. No matter how one looked at it, the Kaguya still retained at least seven or eight hundred combat personnel.
Moreover, every member of their clan was a formidable warrior. With only eleven people on their side—
To outsiders, this was tantamount to suicide. At the very least, they should have called in a large-scale Uchiha force.
But Madara had his reasons.
In just a few days, this news would spread across the entire Warring States.
By then, the Uchiha would find themselves in an even more disadvantageous position.
Furthermore, for the Uchiha to reach the island where the Kaguya lived, they would have to pass through territory near the Senju borders.
A small squad was one thing, but a large-scale shinobi force would definitely be detected.
"With just the eleven of us right now, even if we can't destroy the Kaguya today, we must at least leave them with a lesson they'll never forget—to show the entire Warring States that they dare not underestimate the Uchiha!"
Madara declared passionately, "Will you all fight alongside me?"
The ten Jonin exchanged glances, then shouted in unison, "We will fight to the death for the Uchiha!!!"
"Good. Let's move!"
Twenty minutes later.
A seven-man Kaguya patrol squad stood guard at the village gate, discussing as they patrolled—
"I never thought the Senju would take the initiative to ally with us. Do you think that Senju Hashirama is sincere?"
"I think so. I don't know why, but he has this incredibly sacred quality about him."
"Yeah. Just looking at the man gives you a feeling he'd never betray his word."
"But if that's the case, we've also put ourselves on the Uchiha's opposing side. We'll need to be careful from now on."
"Hmph! Last time we attacked the Uzumaki, didn't that bastard Uchiha Izuna attack us too? I've been fed up with that clan for a while now!"
"Exactly, exactly."
Just as the seven were discussing—
The evening sun turned an even deeper red, and an intensely scorching, burning sensation swept over them.
The seven looked up. More than a dozen enormous fireballs were descending from the sky.
"Fire Release jutsu!?"
"Enemy attack! Block them quickly!"
In an instant, the seven activated their Shikotsumyaku. Bones tore through their skin, and like seven porcupines, they charged upward, smashing into the fireballs.
Boom-whoosh!!!
The fireballs shattered into scattered sparks, raining down over various parts of Kaguya Village below.
If this had been a village in the Land of Fire, it would have caught fire immediately.
But the island where the Kaguya lived had an extremely humid climate. The sparks extinguished in midair before they even hit the ground.
And the seven Kaguya guards saw clearly—
The ones who had launched the jutsu were Uchiha shinobi riding on ninja hawks.
"Idiots. You fell for it."
One of the figures on a ninja hawk sneered coldly.
The Kaguya shinobi suddenly felt an ominous premonition.
"Roar-roar-roar!!!"
Suddenly, a heaven-shaking roar erupted from below. The seven looked down to see a Chakra giant as tall as a small mountain, wielding a glowing Chakra blade and sending a blue sword-beam surging toward them.
"This... this is the same as Uchiha Izuna's... Gah-aaah!!!"
Five of the seven failed to dodge in time and were sliced into bloody mist, obliterated by the blade's energy.
"Fire Release: Dragon Flame Jutsu!"
"Wind Release: Gale Wave!"
"Lightning Release: Chidori!"
The remaining two barely avoided the strike, but the Uchiha Jonin above leaped down from midair. Five of them formed a unit and unleashed their jutsu, blasting the survivors into oblivion.
In less than twenty seconds, all seven were dead.
But the commotion had drawn the attention of the entire Kaguya clan.
The ten Uchiha leaped down from the sky. Madara, standing within his Susanoo, crossed his arms before his chest and stared coldly toward Kaguya Village. "Everything my Sharingan can see—burn it all!"
-----
Read up to 20 advanced chapters on my P@treon.
[email protected]/fanfictionsimp