Night Talk

The campfire illuminated a small area, and Senju Senba, whose body had mostly recovered, turned the barbecue grill in front of him. They had now reached the border of the Land of Rivers.

The journey back, without the burden of a merchant caravan, meant they would return to Konoha by the day after tomorrow at the latest. Thus, Senba once again unleashed his talent as a foodie.

To Uchiha Shisui's astonished gaze, he took out the barbecue grill and seasonings from a Sealing Scroll, then retrieved a cleaned goat from another Sealing Scroll.

The goat meat from the Land of Rivers was plump and juicy. After careful roasting, the outside was crispy, while the inside remained tender, springy, and succulent. The evenly distributed fat was rich in aroma and not greasy.

Of the one goat, Uchiha Yue claimed both front legs, while Senba took both hind legs. The rest went to Iruka and the others.

After everyone had eaten their fill, Senba leisurely took out another goat to continue roasting. This way, by the time it was cooked, the food in his stomach would have been mostly digested.

As everyone else went to rest, Senba hummed an incomprehensible tune, happily brushing on oil. He felt uneasy if his stomach wasn't full before sleeping.

Just then, a faint sound of footsteps echoed. Uchiha Shisui walked over and sat opposite Senba, watching Senba's skilled barbecue technique.

Perhaps due to the history between the Uchiha and Senju Clans, Uchiha Shisui felt an extra layer of curiosity towards Senba. He wanted to know Senba's views on the village's situation but didn't know how to start the conversation.

"Senior Shisui, ever since I met you, you haven't truly smiled," Senba said, using a small knife to make several slits in the lamb. The skin and meat peeled back, and the fat sizzled as it dripped down.

"It seems the ANBU isn't a suitable place for someone like me. I'd go crazy if I stayed like this every day," Senba quipped as he turned the grill.

"It's actually alright," perhaps influenced by Senba's relaxed tone, Shisui's voice lost some of its somberness. "As long as one doesn't join certain special departments, it's no different from being a regular ninja."

Senba merely smiled at this. He couldn't discuss ANBU matters in depth; otherwise, it would become another troublesome issue.

After a moment of silence, Uchiha Shisui couldn't suppress his curiosity any longer. "Senba, what are your thoughts on the relationship between the clan and the village?"

As soon as he spoke, Uchiha Shisui regretted it. They had only known each other for two days, and he felt he had spoken too deeply, too soon.

"Interdependent," to Uchiha Shisui's surprise, Senba actually responded. "Senior Shisui, don't look at me like that. I am the only ninja of this generation from the Senju Clan who carries the clan name."

Senba handed Uchiha Shisui a succulent lamb rib. "The initial village was formed by the aggregation of various clans, led by the Senju and the Uchiha."

"From this perspective, without the clans, there would be no Konoha. And without Konoha, these clans would still be warring with each other."

"However," Senba's tone suddenly became much more serious, "although the clans contributed to the founding of Konoha, they absolutely cannot supersede the village. Especially as the village gradually absorbed more civilian ninja, the importance of clans within the village has greatly diminished."

"Two of Konoha's Sannin are not clan ninja. This is the first time Konoha's civilian ninja have surpassed clan ninja, especially..."

At this point, Senba looked at Uchiha Shisui's intently listening expression and slowly continued, "The Senju Clan disbanded and merged into Konoha. Their bloodline has produced numerous talents among Konoha's civilian ninja."

"At this time, some clans still tightly grasp the power they hold. If they don't let go, it will incite dissatisfaction. After all, there are only so many positions. The capable rise, and the mediocre fall. Why should someone hold onto them forever?"

Upon hearing this, Uchiha Shisui completely overturned his previous views. This young man, Senju Senba, was clearly like him, a person who placed the village above the clan.

With this thought, Uchiha Shisui's tone carried a hint of closeness as he asked, "So, Senba, you also believe that clans should make way for the village's development, rather than remaining stagnant?"

"For example, like the Senju Clan behind you?"

Senba, who was cutting the lamb, paused. Did this person have poor eyesight, or did he only listen selectively?

Had he not heard the words "interdependent" at all?

Senba popped a piece of lamb into his mouth and calmly looked at him. "Senior Shisui, do you have the confidence to make the Uchiha Clan disband?"

Hearing Senba's question, Uchiha Shisui was stunned for a moment, then quickly shook his head. Let alone disbanding, he couldn't even get them to talk a little less.

"That's the thing. The idea is beautiful, but reality is harsh." Shrugging, Senba picked up a hind leg and began to gnaw on it.

"But, the Senju Clan could do this for the village, so why..." Uchiha Shisui asked his question, somewhat bewildered. The Senju and Uchiha Clans had once worked together to build Konoha; why couldn't they now?

"Because the Senju had a clan leader named Hashirama Senju. His decision was the clan's future," Senba stated the true reason for the Senju's disappearance: nothing more than sheer power.

Hearing Senba directly reveal the key to the clan's dissolution, Uchiha Shisui lowered his head in silence. His own clan lacked such a figure.

Clan Leader Fugaku was already struggling just to maintain the current situation.

So, was power still needed? With power, could he change the clan members' minds? With power, could the village and the clan coexist peacefully?

As he thought this, Uchiha Shisui's eyes flashed with the Three Tomoe Sharingan. With his agitated emotions, they spun wildly, trembling intermittently, before finally returning to normal.

Sensing the abnormal fluctuation of Chakra from across him, Senba knew the other party had reached an extreme. Uchiha Shisui clearly believed that dismantling the clan was the solution.

Shaking his head, Senba's idea that the Uchiha clan members were a destabilizing factor became even more fixed. Their ideas were too extreme; couldn't they compromise? Couldn't they negotiate?

However, today Senba had witnessed what a genius was. His words had actually caused Uchiha Shisui's Three Tomoe Sharingan to fluctuate.

If he awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan prematurely, would it bring disaster to the Uchiha clan earlier?

As his thoughts wandered, Uchiha Shisui's emotions on the other side also stabilized. He stood up and bowed deeply to Senba.

"Senba, thank you for clarifying my doubts. Rest assured, I will not reveal a single word of our conversation today. It's getting late, I'll go rest now."

Watching the retreating figure, Senba's lips twitched. He actually didn't care if his words reached the Third Generation's ears.

His remarks, which clearly favored the village over the clan, would obviously earn him the admiration of Hiruzen Sarutobi, so Senba wasn't worried at all.

He had spoken too much just now. It was time for a proper replenishment. Looking at the tempting roasted lamb, Senba's mouth watered.