The Plan

A long-absent peace settled over the Ninjutsu training ground in midsummer. For once, it was deserted.

The once-constant sounds of clashing Ninjutsu and Kunai cutting through the air had vanished, leaving only the cries of cicadas echoing in the stifling heat.

With Black Zetsu, the mastermind behind it all, captured, the conflict that had lasted for years finally came to an end.

The alliance ceremony between the Senju and the Uchiha had officially been put on the schedule, and the elders of both clans were making feverish preparations.

On the night of the next full moon, the two clans that had once been as irreconcilable as fire and water would forge an alliance before the elites of the various clans and prominent figures of the Shinobi World.

An even grander plan to build a village, a vision magnificent enough to reshape the Shinobi World, was taking shape amid the cries of the cicadas.

The dreams of Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha were about to take root and sprout in this war-ravaged land.

"The Senju and Uchiha clan compounds will belong to you," Utsusemi said, slowly spreading the land deeds across the conference table. "But I bought all the surrounding land."

As she turned her wrist, across the open land from the edges of the clan compounds to the neutral town—

Countless red circles overlapped and clustered around the territories of the two great shinobi clans.

Hashirama Senju's teacup hung in midair. "You started preparing six months ago?"

Utsusemi smiled faintly. "Because I believed your dreams would succeed and the village would be built."

Hashirama Senju's lips trembled, leaving him speechless. Madara Uchiha lifted his Sharingan from the deeds and gazed at her flowerlike smile.

Utsusemi tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear. The crisp chime of the golden dangling ornament in her hair drew a string of compliments from Izuna. "Sister Utsusemi, even the way you fix your hair is so elegant."

Tobirama Senju cast Izuna a hostile glance and precisely measured the map's scale.

Then he suddenly sneered. "We can skip the terrain survey. This map is three times more detailed than the one drawn by the Senju Tribe."

Uchiha Izuna frowned deeply and took the opportunity to move his chair three inches closer to Utsusemi as he passed around refreshments.

"I'll contribute the deeds in exchange for a permanent seat among the elders." Utsusemi pulled out the village construction proposal and slapped it on the table. "No matter how many times the village head changes, I'll take thirty percent of the land rent."

As the pages fluttered, Hashirama began praising her, waving his arms and legs. "This is the true path to peace!"

The Uchiha's second-in-command chimed in, his voice sickeningly sweet. "Sister Utsusemi's business sense is worth far more than some people's Wood Release." Madara gave a low grunt of agreement through his nose.

Tobirama Senju slammed the table and sprang to his feet. "Don't lose your heads!"

He picked up the proposal and pulled Utsusemi over to the sand table.

Uchiha Izuna's smile vanished instantly. He sprang up like a leopard, the Mitsudomoe spinning rapidly in his irises.

When Madara Uchiha pointed out several defensive fortifications on the sand table, their gazes sharpened.

Hashirama Senju watched the scene with tears streaming down his face. Great drops splashed onto the sand table, washing away the newly formed village model. "Our generations-long feud is over... This is just..."

Choking back sobs, he reached for Utsusemi's hand. "We can actually..."

Tobirama hurriedly seized his elder brother's wrist, Chakra gathering in his hand.

Utsusemi had already used the Body Flicker Technique to dart to Madara's side. The tassels on her peony hairpin tangled in alarm with the Uchiha Clan Head's ponytail, a rare occasion on which he had tied his hair up.

"Hashirama, calm down." As Madara reached out to stop Hashirama, he put an arm around Utsusemi to keep her from running behind him.

A silver chain bearing the words "safety and peace" slipped from his left cuff and brushed the front of the Senju Clan Head's robes. Metal rustled softly against silk.

"Be more mature." He glanced sideways at the sand on the table, swollen with tears.

The markers that should have represented strategic locations had all blurred into clumps, just like their current chaotic situation.

"I heard from Utsusemi that you nearly crushed her ribs hugging her at the last birthday banquet." Madara's deliberately hushed reprimand made the God of Shinobi's face instantly cloud over.

Little mushrooms popped up over his head, growing wildly amid his disturbed Chakra.

Uchiha Izuna sneered, the "health" silver chain on his wrist chiming crisply. "You call yourself a shinobi after such a display? Have you mistaken the conference hall for a tavern, Senju Clan Head?"

Utsusemi pretended to lower her head and concentrate on adjusting the plans, her gaze resting on the draft of the Villager Code Tobirama had just written.

Tobirama Senju's sharp gaze swept over the Uchiha brothers' bracelets before finally fixing on the glittering "get rich quick" silver chain around Utsusemi's wrist.

A click of his tongue escaped him. "Tch."

They even exchanged gifts? And safety and peace and health, at that? Sly Uchiha!

Ever since Izuna had transplanted the Sharingan and broken the curse, this once-calm and self-possessed friend had become a sunflower in perpetual daylight.

He revolved steadily around Utsusemi like a satellite, his outpouring of scorching emotion more than even she could handle.

Madara Uchiha appeared to be resting with his eyes closed, but his Sharingan moved beneath the shadow of his bangs, taking in every subtle fluctuation.

Hashirama, their close friend, had always done whatever she said. Now Tobirama alone remained rational, like the last flood-control dike.

But his scarlet eyes followed every clause Utsusemi's finger passed over.

At a revision to the Land Law, he used a red pen to draw a heavy circle around the word "permanent."

"Let's use Wood Release to build the infrastructure." Utsusemi pushed the plans toward Hashirama, who was squatting dejectedly on the floor.

His clouded expression instantly brightened, and his brilliant smile lit up the entire conference room. "I've been waiting for you to say that!"

Utsusemi unfolded the blueprint for the commercial street. "The territories of each clan and the settlement areas for immigrants will all be planned according to the principles of the five elements and eight trigrams."

3D printing technology allowed the plans to project a clear three-dimensional image in the sunlight. "Rent will be waived for the first six months and halved for the following three as an incentive to attract businesses."

She turned the plans to show the underground pipe network and the concrete drainage channels. "Of course, with Wood Release... the pipes could be replaced directly with living plants."

Hashirama Senju immediately leaned over, his eyes shining like a child who had found treasure. "That's amazing!"

Utsusemi smiled and unfolded a cross-section of the buildings. "Three connected buildings. The ground-floor shops will have fire-resistant partition doors, the storage floors above will have sealing arrays, and the residential areas on the top floors will have private bathrooms."

"All of these will be money trees in the future." She tapped the plans. "Twenty percent of the rent will go to the school and orphanage. After all..."

Before she could finish, Hashirama gently patted her on the shoulder, interrupting her. The God of Shinobi kept his emotions under control.

His reddened eyes betrayed the turmoil in his heart. "That's wonderful. Our dream... can finally come true."

The five soon moved on to a detailed discussion. Tobirama tapped the edge of the sand table for emphasis. "The sewer system must take priority. After the last heavy rain, sewage backed up into the Senju Clan Compound..."

Utsusemi immediately chimed in. "The hydroelectric plant too..."

Before she could finish, Tobirama interrupted her. "That comes last. Building a power plant now would make the clans fight over the energy."

After securing a promise that it would be implemented later, she began assigning tasks. "Izuna will be responsible for the Uchiha side."

Uchiha Izuna immediately leaned against her arm like a vine and agreed in a sickeningly sweet voice. "Whatever you say, Sister Utsusemi~"

The sight made Tobirama look nauseated. Who could have imagined that his archenemy Izuna—

Used such an affected, cutesy voice in front of Utsusemi? Worse still, his elder brother thought it perfectly reasonable.

Utsusemi calmly turned to Hashirama. "The secret Flower Release technique Itama and I just developed can help build the houses. Vines can serve as reinforcing bars, and Mu Jin can turn into bricks and stone."

Madara Uchiha stood with his arms folded, pride shining in his Sharingan. "The tempered glass Utsusemi designed is seventy percent complete. It not only lets light through exceptionally well, but can also withstand the blast of an Explosive Tag."

"Good!" Hashirama laughed heartily, throwing his left arm around Madara's shoulders and wrapping his right around Utsusemi. "Good! Let's push ahead with everything we've got!"

In the work area behind them, Tobirama drew a three-dimensional cross-section of the underground pipe network. Izuna stood before the sand table, sketching out the various strategic locations.

When their eyes met as they handed over the plans, impatience flashed across Tobirama's austere face, while Izuna instinctively gripped the hilt of his sword.

It was a stark contrast to the three close friends and relatives enjoying themselves in front of them.