I'm Here to Make a Deal

Hikari nodded, seemingly understanding Yue's words: "Then... what about the World Correction Force? If we run over to the Senju Clan, won't that change history?"

"Not only will it not, but we are going to fan the flames!"

A look of frantic calculation flickered in Yue's eyes.

"The historical trend of this era is the 'Founding of Konoha.' By bringing Minato Namikaze to the Senju, I won't be hindering peace; instead, I'll be representing a portion of the Uchiha's 'sincerity' to accelerate their alliance!"

"As long as we conform to the established historical outcome of the 'Founding of Konoha,' and just tweak the timing or skim off some benefits along the way... the World Correction Force won't cast its malice upon us. Instead, it will act like a favorable wind, helping us pave the way!"

On this chessboard called destiny, Yue had thoroughly grasped the logic behind the "Correction Force."

As long as one doesn't delete or alter the core ending, acting as an accelerator is theoretically completely permissible!

"Let's go, it's time to meet this future God of Shinobi."

Half a day later, in the heart of the Land of Fire, at the outer defensive perimeter of the Senju Clan.

There were no towering stone walls here, but the colossal trees—each requiring several people to embrace—and the hidden chakra-sensing barriers woven between them formed a green fortress more solid than steel.

Yue Uchiha did not choose to sneak in; instead, he swaggered with Hikari along the most conspicuous main road toward the Senju's defensive line.

He even deliberately released a trace of the cold, sharp chakra signature unique to the Uchiha Clan.

"Swish! Swish! Swish!"

Almost the moment they stepped across the warning line, dozens of figures clad in heavy plate armor burst forth from the surrounding treetops and the ground.

"Halt! Who goes there?!"

Cold kunai and shimmering ninja blades were instantly leveled at the pair.

The Senju patrol captain's gaze swept over them like a hawk. When he caught sight of the scarlet Three Tomoe in Yue's right eye and the faint fan crest on Hikari's clothing, his expression changed drastically.

"It's a ninja from the Uchiha Clan!"

"Sound the alarm immediately! All units, prepare for combat!"

The Senju ninjas instantly braced for a major threat; the moisture in the air and Earth Style chakra surged violently, as if a fierce battle could erupt at any moment.

Hikari's eyes turned cold, her wrist twitching as her short blade slid half an inch from its sheath. The killing instinct of a Warring States weapon had her ready to strike at any second.

"Hikari, stay calm. Don't draw your blade."

Yue pressed down on Hikari's hand, then raised his own hands in a relaxed manner to signal he had no hostile intent.

"Don't be nervous, members of the Senju Clan. If we wanted to launch a sneak attack, we wouldn't have walked through the front gate."

Yue's voice was calm, piercing through the tense atmosphere.

"We aren't here to fight; we are here to seek medical treatment."

As he spoke, Yue stepped aside and pointed to the two people on Hikari's back.

"Remove the cloak," Yue said to Hikari.

Hikari complied, pulling away the black cloak covering Minato and Kushina.

When that flash of hair, as dazzlingly red as fresh blood, was exposed to the air, the surrounding Senju ninjas were all stunned.

"That is... the red hair of the Uzumaki Clan?!"

The patrol captain was shocked.

The Senju and Uzumaki had been allies for generations; they were more than familiar with that iconic red hair.

Moreover, the fatal puncture wound on the woman's chest was so severe that even from a distance, one could feel the life force fading away.

"An Uchiha, actually carrying a critically wounded Uzumaki to our Senju for medical help?"

The patrol captain's brows knit into a tight knot. "Do you think we'd believe such a clumsy trap?! It's likely you Uchiha who attacked the Uzumaki envoy!"

Just as the patrol captain was about to give the order to fire, at the critical moment of Thousand Jun.

"Stop."

A cold, rational voice, heavy with the authority of a superior, came from behind the Senju ninjas.

The Senju clansmen, who had been on high alert, immediately and respectfully cleared a path.

A young man wearing blue layered armor, with spiky silver-white hair and red markings on both cheeks, walked out with his arms crossed and an expressionless face.

His sharp, ruby-like eyes stared fixedly at Yue Uchiha, as if trying to see through every lie deep within his soul.

Tobirama Senju!

The future Second Hokage of Konoha, and the strategist of this era who held the deepest caution and hostility toward the Uchiha Clan!

"An Uchiha, coming to the gates of my Senju to stage this sob story—you underestimate the Senju Clan too much."

A dangerous killing intent radiated from Tobirama. "Regardless of what happened to the Uzumaki on your backs, the Uchiha are evil by nature. Leave the wounded, and the two of you can go die."

Facing the killing intent that felt almost tangible, Yue did not retreat; instead, a brilliant smile curled at the corners of his mouth.

He knew Tobirama was goading him to strike, testing to see if he had any genuine sincerity.

If he could not hold back and attacked, it would mean he lacked sincerity, and Tobirama could easily blast them both to death. If he endured, it would mean he might possess that sincerity; Tobirama would then investigate whether he was plotting anything while he endured. If there was a plot, he would kill him instantly; if not, he would continue to observe him for any signs of conspiracy.

In short, it was merely an alternative form of provocation.

"Lord Tobirama Senju, I have long admired your name."

Yue Uchiha lowered his hands, the Three Tomoe in his right eye rotating slowly, his tone revealing an arrogance and confidence capable of overturning the entire Ninja World.

"If you kill me, not only will you cause the death of this important member of the Uzumaki clan, but you might also miss an opportunity to make your elder brother Hashirama Senju's dream come true."

Yue looked straight into Tobirama's eyes, enunciating each word clearly:

"I have come to find Hashirama Senju to discuss a major deal regarding 'ending the chaotic era and establishing a ninja village.'"

"And, incidentally, to represent a portion of the Uchiha who no longer wish to fight... and offer our allegiance."

"Ending the chaotic era... establishing a ninja village?"

"Your lies are too absurd, Uchiha."

Tobirama's fingers were already resting on the hilt of the ninja sword at his waist, and azure water-attribute chakra faintly gathered beneath his feet. "My brother's dream is absolutely not a bargaining chip for you naturally evil people to exploit!"

Still provoking, still provoking.

Yue silently grumbled in his heart, waiting for the arrival of the "white face."

Seeing that Tobirama was about to explode into action, Hikari also arched her body, her wrist turning as the cold glint of her short blade shimmered in the sunlight.

Just at this critical, hair-trigger moment.

"Hahahaha! Tobirama! Stop at once! Don't be so rude to guests who have traveled from afar!"

A hearty, resonant laugh, like rolling thunder, suddenly erupted from the depths of the forest.

Accompanying this laughter, a terrifying chakra, vast as an abyss and filled with surging life force, instantly swept across the entire scene.

The sensation was as if the entire forest had come alive at this moment, bowing in tribute to its master.

Yue Uchiha's heart jolted as he looked toward the source of the sound.

He saw a man wearing deep red layered armor with long black hair walking toward them with bold, swift strides from between the trees.

His features were rugged and resolute, yet those black eyes revealed an incredible sense of warmth and tolerance.

The God of Shinobi, Hashirama Senju!