Rescue

Although Yue had seen countless powerful people in the future and even faced the malice of the Corrective Force, seeing this living, peak powerhouse with his own eyes still sent a shiver through his soul.

It was the embodiment of pure, unadulterated "absolute power."

In short, a walking stat monster.

"Big Brother!" Tobirama frowned and hurried forward, stepping in front of Hashirama. "These two are Uchiha! They're carrying a badly wounded member of the Uzumaki Clan, and they even used your dream as a bargaining chip in their deception! We absolutely can't let them in just like that!"

"Come now, Tobirama. You're always so serious."

Hashirama slapped his younger brother on the shoulder with carefree good humor, then walked around him and straight up to Yue and Hikari.

He didn't even guard against Hikari's Short Blade. Instead, he stared straight at Yue, his face—previously beaming—suddenly turning utterly serious.

"You said just now... that you're here on behalf of some Uchiha who don't want to fight, to discuss founding a shinobi village?"

Hashirama's eyes shone with barely contained excitement.

"Yes, Clan Head Hashirama."

Yue took a deep breath and met Hashirama's gaze without flinching.

"Endless war has made every shinobi clan bleed far too much. Even children only a few years old are sent to the battlefield.

"Not everyone in the Uchiha Clan is a warmonger.

"Hikari and I came here to find a path to peace."

Senju Hashirama was stunned by her words.

The next second, to the horror of every Senju shinobi present—including Uchiha Hikari—the renowned Senju Clan Head dropped to the ground on his backside and burst into tears, streams of them pouring down his face!

"Waaah... Madara! Did you hear that? I knew there were still people in the Uchiha Clan who understood me! My dream wasn't just wishful thinking after all! Waaah..."

"Big Brother! Get a grip! What kind of behavior is that in front of a crowd of strangers and your subordinates?!" Tobirama was so furious that the veins on his forehead bulged. He looked ready to blast his own brother away with Water Release.

Watching the scene worthy of a comedy sketch, Yue's mouth twitched uncontrollably.

Although she'd known the First was a clown by fits and starts, seeing the contrast in person was still almost too much.

Still, that was exactly what made Hashirama so charming.

"Ahem!"

After getting scolded by his younger brother, Hashirama quickly wiped away his tears and stood back up.

At last, his gaze fell on Kushina, carried on Hikari's back, and Minato, whom Yue was carrying.

"That distinctive red hair... They really are members of Mito's family!"

Hashirama's expression turned grave. He hurried over, holding his broad palms just above Minato and Kushina.

A moment's sensing was enough to change his expression.

"What a terrifying impalement wound... Their internal organs are almost completely destroyed, and their life force has long since dried up."

Hashirama jerked his head up and looked at Yue in disbelief.

"But there's an incredibly intricate and profound Yin Release Chakra within their bodies. It's like a chain, forcibly pinning their scattered souls and their last trace of life to these ruined bodies!"

"Did you do this?" Hashirama asked Yue.

"I did." Yue nodded. "Hikari and I are disciples of a disciple of Izumi Uchiha. We've been working to change our clan. We found these two while traveling and used Yin Release to keep their souls from departing, but Yin Release can only 'deceive' death. It can't restore their bodies. In this land, the only ones who can save them are the Senju Clan with their Yang Release—and you, Clan Head Hashirama."

"You're disciples of a disciple of Izumi Uchiha?" Tobirama seized on the key point.

"Yes."

After hearing their answer and seeing such masterful Yin Release, Tobirama fell silent. Then he said nothing more, seemingly lost in thought.

"This is a miraculous technique. If you hadn't anchored their souls, not even the Sage of Six Paths could save them."

Hashirama offered his praise without reservation, then swept out an arm and spoke with decisive authority:

"Someone! Prepare the highest-grade intensive care room at once! Take these two patients inside!"

Seeing that his elder brother was about to take the two Uchiha into the compound, Tobirama immediately tried to stop him:

"Big Brother! We don't know anything about these two Uchiha. How can we let them into the Senju Clan's core camp? Besides, treating wounds like these will require you to use the most central Yang Release secret technique of our clan!"

Tobirama's meaning was clear.

Yang Release was the foundation of the Senju Clan. Using it in front of Uchiha who possessed the Sharingan risked having its secrets copied or spied upon, with unthinkable consequences.

Hashirama rubbed his chin. Though he was honest and guileless by nature, he wasn't entirely careless when it came to the limits of his clan's secret techniques.

"Tobirama's right."

Hashirama turned to Yue and gave her an apologetic smile.

"Sorry, Uchiha. I believe you sincerely want peace, and healing the sick and wounded is one of the Senju Clan's principles. But the core treatment process involves clan secrets, so..."

"I understand."

Yue nodded, quite tactfully. She even closed the right eye bearing her Three Tomoe Sharingan.

"We'll wait outside the medical tent and won't pry, not even for a moment. As long as they can be saved, we won't overstep the Senju Clan's rules."

She knew that things had to be taken one step at a time.

Besides, her goal was to make sure Minato and Kushina survived, and that didn't conflict with the current situation.

"Good! You're a very understanding Uchiha!" Hashirama laughed heartily. "Tobirama, take them to their quarters! I'll handle the treatment!"

Watching his elder brother hurry off with the medical team and the injured pair, Tobirama fixed Yue with a cold stare.

"Don't think I'll let my guard down just because Big Brother trusts you."

Tobirama spoke icily. "Until your identities and that Uzumaki's background are verified, you'll stay wherever I tell you."

"Hikari, put your blade away."

Yue patted Hikari on the shoulder, signaling for her to relax, then gestured to Tobirama. "We're guests here. We'll go wherever you tell us, Lord Tobirama."

Half an hour later, in a secluded corner on the eastern side of the Senju Clan camp.

"This is where you'll be staying from now on."

The Senju Chunin assigned to watch them pointed at a spacious tent that was clearly isolated from the central area, then read out Tobirama's orders with a stern expression.

"On the clan leader's instructions, until the injured have recovered and your identities are verified, you're being temporarily appointed as 'special guests' of the Senju Logistics Department. To put it simply, your job is to help the logistics department count some discarded ninja tools and unimportant old scrolls."

"Without permission, you may not go near the medical area, the barrier area, or the clan head's main tent. Lookouts will be posted in shifts around the clock. Understood?"

The Senju Chunin clearly wasn't fond of the Uchiha. As soon as he finished speaking, he hurried off.

Hikari entered the tent and surveyed its sparse furnishings, her brow furrowing. "Yue, does this mean we're... under house arrest?"

"A dead-end job, house arrest, and being sidelined."

Yue stretched and flopped down on the plank bed as naturally as could be. She wasn't angry in the slightest about being confined; instead, she let out a contented sigh.

"But this is exactly what we need right now—absolute safety and a free, high-end hospital room."

Really, was there anywhere in the entire Ninja World safer than the Senju Clan Compound?