The Bridge That Held the Uchiha Together

"The clans that used to be our vassals are all willing to return to the Uchiha's fold."

Hearing the good news from Setsuna Uchiha, Uchiha Takeyasu asked curiously, "Which clans are they? And how many Jonin do they have?"

"Some died on the battlefield. Small clans like the Shiranui Family, the Nohara Family, and the Kurama Clan have about two to four Jonin each."

"No wonder Elder Setsuna didn't care much about them before."

With strength like that, Uchiha Takeyasu could send a single squad from the Security Department to carry out a mass extermination mission.

"Just do everything you can, so you have no regrets."

Setsuna Uchiha felt little about those small clans. The Ninja World ran on the law of the jungle, and it was easy to understand why they had kept their distance from the Uchiha in the face of the Senju Clan.

They were all part of Konoha. Though there was a difference in strength, the Uchiha could no longer treat traitors with the brutal methods they had used in the past.

On the one hand, the Senju Clan was watching them too closely. On the other, those small clans hadn't sided with the Senju, which was enough for the Uchiha to begrudgingly accept them.

"But if those small clans dare to go back on their word again, they'll all be wiped out, root and branch."

Setsuna Uchiha brushed the matter aside and turned his gaze to Kaku Uchiha.

"Elder Kaku, your assignment is the most important of all. How is it going?"

"It hasn't gone smoothly. Mito Uzumaki agreed to let us read the Scroll of Seals, which contains Senju Tobirama's forbidden jutsu, but she insists on choosing which jutsu we can study."

Kaku Uchiha wore an apologetic expression. "I'm sorry to disappoint you all."

"Elder Kaku, there's no need for that."

Uchiha Takeyasu reassured him. "Even if we manage to get the Flying Thunder God Technique, I might not be able to develop a Space-Time Teleportation Array in a short time."

"Just as Elder Setsuna said, do your best and leave the rest to fate."

"Thank you for understanding, Young Lord. I'll go to the Hokage Building again tomorrow."

After making his position clear, Kaku Uchiha brought up what had happened at the Hokage Building that day. "Young Lord, perhaps we can find another way around Mito Uzumaki and get our hands on the Scroll of Seals."

"On my way out of the Hokage Building, I ran into Senju Moriki. He invited you to a gathering. He clearly has ulterior motives, but we might be able to use this to our advantage."

As the three men studied him, Kaku Uchiha put it simply. "Senju Moriki is ambitious but incompetent, and narrow-minded. He's always followed Senju Tobirama's lead in his attitude toward our clan, but he hasn't learned much of his skill."

"Elder Kaku, are you suggesting we control Senju Moriki to get the Scroll of Seals?"

Uchiha Takeyasu watched Kaku Uchiha nod, then considered the idea. "If he means to frame me, there are two ways I could deal with him."

"First, I could use Senju Moriki to force Mito Uzumaki to hand over the Scroll of Seals."

"Second, I could make use of Senju Moriki's mistake and have him steal the Scroll of Seals."

Uchiha Shikata stroked his chin, his eyes flickering. "Anbu guards the Hokage Building around the clock, and a barrier protects the area at all times. The place where the Scroll of Seals is kept is even more heavily guarded. Aside from taking it by force, these are probably our two best options for getting inside."

"If that fool Senju Moriki has come knocking on our door, we should use him."

Kaku Uchiha sneered. "I've been sick of that spoiled heir for a long time. Without Hashirama Senju and Senju Tobirama, how much standing would he have left?"

"Elder Kaku, did Senju Moriki say where the gathering would be?"

"Anywhere but our clan compound."

Uchiha Takeyasu pondered for a moment, then decided to take a risk. "Then let's hold it at the Senju Clan Compound."

"Young Lord!"

The three men cried out in alarm. Just as Senju Moriki wouldn't dare enter the Uchiha Clan Compound, they couldn't bear the thought of Uchiha Takeyasu venturing deep into the Senju Clan Compound.

Both places were dens of danger. Anything could happen.

"Please, seniors, hear me out..."

"No! Absolutely not!"

Setsuna Uchiha rudely cut Uchiha Takeyasu off, his face angry. "You're our Young Lord, the future of the Uchiha. How can you act so recklessly?"

Seeing that the other two men also disagreed, Uchiha Takeyasu didn't insist on his own way.

As for his safety, Uchiha Takeyasu didn't think he would be in danger at the Senju Clan Compound. He could teleport through space, and his Susanoo had reached its third stage.

But since nobody agreed, he gave up on going to the Senju Clan Compound to see what was there.

He also regretted that he couldn't make use of [Amenotokotachi]. If he just followed Senju Moriki around for a while, Uchiha Takeyasu could uncover everything the Senju of the Forest had left.

After walking around with Uchiha Shikata that morning, he had a clear picture of the Uchiha's strength. They currently had more than three hundred Chunin and nearly a hundred Jonin.

Some clan members had lost limbs and could no longer serve as ninja. If they could be put to use, the Uchiha's strength would rise further.

"I understand. I'll leave the arrangements to you three."

Worried that the young and hot-blooded Uchiha Takeyasu might act rashly, Kaku Uchiha gave up on using Senju Moriki and said, "Let's forget about meeting with Senju Moriki. I'll talk to Mito Uzumaki again tomorrow."

"Count me in. Having one more person there will put more pressure on Mito Uzumaki."

Uchiha Shikata chimed in, then looked at Setsuna Uchiha. "Elder Setsuna, please accompany the Young Lord tomorrow and meet with those vassal clans."

"Of course."

Setsuna Uchiha understood what Uchiha Shikata meant. He walked over to Uchiha Takeyasu and patted him on the shoulder, his gaze warm. "Young Lord, you're the bridge that keeps the Uchiha united. You must never act on impulse."

"Please rest assured, Clan Head and elders. Takeyasu won't do anything reckless."

Seeing that Uchiha Takeyasu had truly taken their words to heart, the three men relaxed and smiled. Uchiha Shikata waved a hand and said cheerfully, "Come on, let's try the food my wife made. I guarantee you'll be thinking about it long after."

The four of them enjoyed dinner together in a friendly atmosphere. Meanwhile, at the Senju Clan Compound, Senju Moriki stood with his head bowed before Mito Uzumaki.

"Why did you invite Uchiha Takeyasu?"

The woman's cool, stern voice reached his ears. Senju Moriki stammered, "I just wanted to get on good terms with Uchiha Takeyasu and ease the tension between our clans."

The obvious lie nearly brought Mito Uzumaki's temper to a boil. She snapped, "If you weren't already a father and the head of the Senju Clan, I'd slap you across the face."

Senju Moriki clenched his teeth so hard his gums nearly split, but he kept his head bowed and said nothing.

"..."

Mito Uzumaki couldn't understand how the son who had grown up under her watch had turned out this way. For no clear reason, she wanted to use Impure World Reincarnation to summon Hashirama Senju and have him beat Senju Moriki himself.

Impure World Reincarnation was a forbidden jutsu developed by Senju Tobirama based on the Reaper Death Seal. With her formidable Sealing Jutsu, Mito Uzumaki was naturally familiar with it.

To prepare for the Uchiha's coming challenge, Mito Uzumaki had also set aside her old misgivings and read the entire Scroll of Seals, which was filled with forbidden jutsu. She had learned everything she could.

The public election was seven days away. That deadline was not only for the Uchiha; it was for her too.

Mito Uzumaki didn't expect the Senju of the Forest to grow stronger. She only hoped they could maintain their current position.

But the next generation's heir had sorely disappointed her. She had already decided that this generation was a lost cause and that she would focus on raising Tsunade.

"Invite him if you want. With those three old men around, Uchiha Takeyasu won't put himself in danger."

Mito Uzumaki had lost interest in speaking with Senju Moriki. "I received a letter from the daimyo today. His heir and the princess will arrive in Konoha tomorrow."

"Tomorrow, I'm visiting the Ninja Army members who returned from the front and are too badly injured to serve as ninja. You'll host the daimyo's delegation in my place. Don't do anything unnecessary."

"Go back and get some rest."

(The daimyo's heir and the princess?!)

As he walked out of the room, Senju Moriki's eyes darkened, and a sinister smile crept across his lips.