Approaching the Battlefield

Ever since that night, Hashirama had been training with increasing intensity. His Bloodline Limit was developing rapidly, and his strength was skyrocketing. Don't ask how Hiugo knew; he was currently struggling to suppress his "appetite."

Originally, once he reached the level of a Special Jonin, the hunger within his bloodline had become manageable. However, he couldn't withstand Hashirama, who treated training like a daily chore and came to find him every single day.

Tobirama was already "delicious" enough, but with Hashirama awakening Wood Style, it was even worse. Torturing his own spirit like this every day led Hiugo to discover, while alone one day, that his single-tomoe Sharingan had evolved into a double-tomoe.

As for Hashirama's blood, Hiugo did not ask for it. After several instances of devouring, he understood that his ability was to consume bloodlines and "Origin Chakra."

It was fine with others; if he devoured their bloodline, so be it.

But Hashirama was different. He was the reincarnation of Asura, the second son of the Sage of Six Paths, and carried the backup plans of the Sage himself. Hiugo felt that "eating" his bloodline would only lead to three outcomes.

1. The bloodline is too strong, and he cannot consume it.

2. He manages to consume it, only to explode on the spot.

3. He successfully digests it, but is highly likely to be targeted by the Sage of Six Paths.

Beyond that, there was Black Zetsu, who was desperate to save his mother. He had been observing the reincarnates of Indra and Asura, constantly looking for an opportunity. If anything were to happen to the reincarnate of Asura, there was no telling what he might do.

"What are you spacing out for? Is my strength so pathetic that it doesn't interest you at all?"

Senju Rinma shouted, throwing a punch toward his opponent's face.

Hiugo snapped back to reality and quickly grabbed his wrist, throwing him over his shoulder.

Senju Rinma felt a sharp pain in his back, while the former Third Elder standing off the stage let out a long sigh of relief.

He didn't know what had gotten into his grandson. Ever since he went to bring Hiugo back, the boy had been training diligently, completely unlike his former self. Now, hearing that Hiugo was going to the battlefield, he insisted on going too, which led to this spar.

Hiugo clapped his hands and said:

"With this level of strength, you'd better keep practicing. Training isn't something where you can just fly to the heavens because you suddenly had a change of heart."

"I... I understand."

Senju Rinma replied in a low voice and limped away.

The onlookers gradually dispersed, leaving only Senju Meima and the former Third Elder behind.

Senju Meima grabbed the hand of the former Third Elder as he reached for a scroll.

"Former... First Elder, what is the meaning of this?"

The former Third Elder asked with some dissatisfaction, thinking back to when they were accomplices who had committed the same offenses.

One had been removed from the center of power, while the other still managed to be the Second Elder.

Senju Meima said sternly:

"If you want to return, you need the Clan Head's nod. At this moment, only Hashirama and Hiugo have that possibility. At a time like this, do less of this bribery."

The former Third Elder flushed red: "I was just providing appropriate support."

"You two, is it alright to say these things right in front of me?"

Hiugo looked at them. Previously, they were big shots just like Genma, but now they were revolving around him, a child. This was likely what corruption by power looked like.

Senju Meima let go of the scroll:

"Hiugo, as your elder, I have some words of advice for you."

"Please speak, former First Elder."

"Some things are not done just because you want to, nor can you avoid them just because you don't want to. Just like me—in my position, my power was practically equal to the Clan Head's, but as soon as I made a mistake, I was sent back to square one."

"Your subordinates need benefits to work for you, and your allies need benefits for cooperation to last. In the Land of Fire, the way so many clans are managed is actually almost identical."

Hiugo smiled and said nothing. Once the "Gundam" era arrived, they would realize that so-called benefits were not even worth discussing in the face of absolute power.

The former Third Elder put away the scroll and left. Hiugo followed Senju Meima to an open space outside the clan grounds.

Hashirama, Tobirama, Butsuma, the Uzumaki Second Elder, Rion, Genma, and some other clansmen he didn't recognize were all there.

Because the two-month period had ended, Tobirama and Hiugo were each heading to the battlefield, and as for the two from the Uzumaki Clan, it was time for them to return as well.

"Take this."

Rion tossed over a bracelet carved in the shape of a whirlpool.

"What is this?"

"For safety. I wish you all the best."

Rion paused, then added in a low voice:

"I think you're quite interesting. Don't die; I'm not used to having to get to know someone else."

"Mn." Hiugo put the bracelet away.

The Uzumaki Second Elder nodded at the Senju group as a greeting and left with his granddaughter. Since the following matters concerned the Senju Clan alone, even though the Uzumaki were distant relatives, it was not appropriate for them to stay and listen.

Butsuma spoke first:

"Dark Two, Dark Six, you are responsible for protecting Tobirama, but you are not to intervene unless absolutely necessary. Dark One, Dark Seven, you are responsible for protecting Hiugo under the same conditions."

"Understood!" x4

Four voices rang out in unison. The Dark Ninjas were, on average, at the level of peak Jonin. Butsuma only had seven Dark Ninjas in total, so sending out more than half at once was truly generous.

Senju Meima spoke up, "Sending out four Dark Ninja all at once is a bit too grand. How about this: give three of the Dark Ninja to Tobirama. With me by Hiugo's side, there won't be any issues."

Butsuma replied in a cold voice, "I am the Clan Head. Former First Elder, please mind your phrasing. Once this trial ends, if there are no military achievements to show for it, you won't need to be the Second Elder anymore—you can just be the Third Elder."

"Heh." Senju Meima stopped talking. If this were in the past, he would have dared to point at Butsuma and curse him, but now that he had his own problems, the status of Clan Head could crush him directly.

"Well said. I wonder when I, this new First Elder, will be able to take office."

Genma said indifferently.

Butsuma frowned upon hearing this. Within the clan, the Clan Head possessed the authority to manage everything, while the three Great Elders, who were second only to him, also held distinct administrative powers.

The Third Elder tended toward management, the Second Elder toward intelligence, while the First Elder tended toward war readiness, holding specific authority over the deployment of ninja tools, provisions, and personnel.

By having Genma take over war readiness while Meima went to the battlefield, he could effectively hold both powers for three years. When Meima returned, he would need Genma's nod to regain his authority as Second Elder.

"No rush. When the time comes and Hiugo returns, I will hold the ceremony for you."

Genma glanced at Butsuma, then walked over to Hiugo and handed him a scroll:

"Study this well; it will be of help to you."

Hiugo opened it for a glance before quickly closing it. This scroll contained intelligence regarding the Kaguya Clan and the surrounding Senju clansmen, as well as some personal advice from Genma himself. It could be said to be extremely effective.

"Since your younger brother has given such a fine gift, I shall give one as well. Tobirama... come here."

Butsuma smiled.

Tobirama walked over silently, and a katana nearly as tall as he was appeared in Butsuma's hand.

"I already have a weapon."

Tobirama spoke up. Compared to a weapon that didn't match his height, he preferred weapons like Kunai and Shuriken.

Butsuma drew the blade swiftly, pale blue Chakra flowing along the length of the sword.

A katana forged from Chakra metal could not only amplify the power of certain Ninjutsu but could also be used in conjunction with other Ninjutsu to unleash new techniques.

Tobirama accepted the katana. Instead of returning directly to the camp, he handed a Kunai to Hiugo.

"This is?"

Hiugo looked left and right but couldn't find anything different about it, and it was impossible for Tobirama to have invented the Flying Thunder God at this time.

"A Kunai forged from Chakra metal. I originally intended to use it myself, but since I have this sword, I'll use the katana."

"Such a tsundere."

Hiugo muttered under his breath and took out a scroll:

"Take this. Some 'immature' ideas for Ninjutsu. You can think about them when you're bored."

Tobirama flipped through two pages, a hint of interest appearing on his face as he nodded: "Not bad ideas. I can give them a try."

The two fell into a brief silence. They had known each other since they were three and spent two years together; now, suddenly parting for three years, there was a sense of reluctance.

Hashirama stepped between the two and pulled his younger brothers into a hug: "Come back safely..."

"We will." X2