A Deal to Be Made

Hikari nodded as if she understood, though not quite. "Then... what about the Corrective Force? If we go to the Senju Clan, will we change history?"

"Not only will we not—we'll give it a push!"

A calculating madness glinted in Yue's eyes.

"The great historical tide of this era is 'Konoha's founding.' Taking Minato Namikaze to the Senju won't hinder peace. On the contrary, it can represent the 'sincerity' of a portion of the Uchiha Clan and hasten their alliance!"

"As long as we follow the predetermined historical outcome of 'Konoha's establishment,' we can hold up the timing a little and gain some benefits along the way... The World Correction Force won't turn hostile. It'll even smooth the road ahead for us, like pushing a boat along with the current!"

On this chessboard called Fate, Yue had thoroughly grasped the judgment logic of the "Corrective Force."

As long as he did not erase or alter anything or affect the core outcome, acting as an accelerator was theoretically completely permissible!

"Let's go. Time to meet the future God of Shinobi."

Half a day later, deep within the Land of Fire, at the outer defensive line of the Senju Clan.

There were no towering walls here, but the massive trees that required several people to wrap their arms around, along with the hidden chakra-sensory barriers between the woods, formed a green fortress tougher than steel.

Yue Uchiha did not choose to sneak in. Instead, he openly led Hikari down the most conspicuous main road toward the Senju defensive line.

He even deliberately released a trace of the Uchiha Clan's uniquely cold and sharp chakra.

"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"

Almost the instant they stepped across the warning line, dozens of figures clad in heavy lamellar armor burst out from the surrounding treetops and underground.

"Stop! Who goes there?!"

Cold kunai and gleaming ninja blades instantly pointed at the two of them.

The Senju patrol captain leading the group swept his hawk-like gaze over them. When he saw the scarlet Three Tomoe in Yue's right eye and the faintly visible Gunbai crest on Hikari's clothes, his expression changed drastically.

"Uchiha Clan ninja!"

"Sound the alarm immediately! Everyone, stay on guard!"

The Senju ninja instantly treated them as formidable enemies. Moisture in the air and earth-style chakra surged wildly, as though a fierce battle could erupt at any moment.

Hikari's eyes turned cold. Her wrist shifted slightly, and her short blade had already left its sheath by half an inch. The killing instinct forged by the Warring States era had her ready to strike and kill at any time.

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

Yue pressed down on Hikari's hand, then raised both hands in an utterly relaxed manner, signaling that he bore no hostility.

"Relax, everyone of the Senju Clan. If we wanted to ambush you, we wouldn't have come through the front gate."

Yue's voice was remarkably calm, piercing the tense air around them.

"We're not here to fight. We're here to seek treatment."

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

"Pull back the cloaks," Yue said to Hikari.

Hikari did as she was told and tore away the black cloaks covering Minato and Kushina.

When that head of dazzling, blood-red hair was exposed to the air, all the surrounding Senju ninja froze.

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

The patrol captain was shocked.

The Senju and Uzumaki had been close allies for generations. They were more familiar than anyone with that distinctive red hair.

Moreover, even from far away, they could sense the nearly extinguished vitality from the woman's fatal wound through her chest.

"An Uchiha actually carried a gravely wounded Uzumaki clanswoman to us Senju for treatment?"

The patrol captain's brow furrowed tightly. "Do you think we'd believe such a clumsy trap?! Maybe you Uchiha were the ones who attacked the Uzumaki envoy!"

Just as the patrol captain was about to order his men to fire arrows—

"Stop."

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

The Senju clansmen, who had been standing ready for battle, immediately and respectfully opened 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 ruby-sharp eyes stared fixedly at Yue Uchiha, as though they intended to see through every lie in the depths of his soul.

Tobirama Senju!

The future Second Hokage of Konoha, and the brilliant general of this era who held the deepest wariness and hostility toward the Uchiha Clan!

"An Uchiha comes to the gates of my Senju Clan to put on this pathetic act? You truly think too little of the Senju Clan."

A dangerously intense killing intent radiated from Tobirama. "No matter what happened to the Uzumaki clanswoman on your back, Uchiha are innately evil. Leave the wounded behind, and the two of you may die."

Facing Tobirama's nearly tangible killing intent, Yue not only did not retreat, but curled his lips into an exceptionally brilliant smile.

He knew Tobirama was provoking him into making a move, testing whether he was truly sincere.

If Yue could not resist attacking, it would prove he lacked sincerity, and Tobirama could easily blast the two of them to death. If Yue endured it, that would suggest he might be sincere. Then, while Yue restrained himself, Tobirama would investigate whether he had any schemes. If he did, Tobirama would kill him outright. If not, he would continue observing to see whether Yue had any schemes.

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

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

Yue Uchiha lowered his hands. The Three Tomoe in his right eye slowly turned, and his tone carried an arrogance and confidence powerful enough to overturn the entire Ninja World.

"Kill me, and not only will you cause the death of this important member of the Uzumaki Clan, you may also lose an opportunity to make your elder brother Hashirama Senju's dream come true."

Yue stared directly into Tobirama's eyes and spoke each word clearly.

"I came to find Hashirama Senju and discuss a major deal concerning 'ending the Warring States era and establishing a ninja village.'

"And, on behalf of some Uchiha who no longer wish to fight... offer our allegiance."

"End the Warring States era... establish a ninja village?"

"Your lie is far too absurd, Uchiha."

Tobirama's fingers had already settled on the ninja blade at his waist. Azure water-style chakra gathered faintly beneath his feet. "My brother's dream is not a bargaining chip for you innately evil people to exploit!"

Still provoking me. Still provoking me.

Yue silently complained to himself as he waited for the good cop to arrive.

Seeing Tobirama about to strike, Hikari bent her body as well. With a twist of her wrist, the cold gleam of her short blade shone brilliantly beneath the sunlight.

At that critical moment—

"Hahahahaha! Tobirama! Stop it already! Don't be so rude to guests who have come from afar!"

A hearty, vigorous laugh like rolling thunder suddenly rang out from deep within the forest.

Along with that laughter, a terrifying chakra as deep as an abyss and brimming with immense vitality swept across the entire area in an instant.

It felt as though the entire forest had come alive at that moment, bowing its head in reverence to its master.

Yue Uchiha's heart jolted as he turned toward the sound.

A man clad in dark red layered armor, with long black hair, strode out from among the trees.

His features were rugged and resolute, yet his black eyes held an unbelievable warmth and tolerance.

The God of Shinobi, Hashirama Senju!