Reinforcements

The two Hoshi Clan ninjas snatched up the fruits and ran as fast as they could, afraid the person who had fed them such dark cuisine might change his mind.

Hiugo thought it over. Maybe he could look into a Cursed Seal for controlling people in the future. Threatening and controlling someone that way took too much time; a Cursed Seal would be more reliable and save time and effort.

He put the three fruits into a storage scroll, planning to sell them to ordinary people for some money.

During the Warring States period, clans made up of ordinary people were generally very wealthy. They developed through trade and were the main parties that issued missions. Some of these clans might even be the predecessors of the daimyō of the future.

Over the years, these ordinary people had reached a kind of balance with the shinobi. Under normal circumstances, the shinobi would not make a move against them.

The eastern battlefield was Senju Meima's domain, and nothing could be hidden from him. Ordinary storage scrolls had no preservation function, so Hiugo simply placed the Heavenly Gift Fruit in front of Senju Meima and let him sell it.

Senju Meima was studying a map and gesturing over it. He quickly recognized the fruits Hiugo had brought out. After a brief discussion, the older man and the younger one decided to split the proceeds evenly. It was a gesture of goodwill from Senju Meima; otherwise, he could have simply pocketed what a Special Jōnin handed him.

Once they had finished discussing personal matters, Senju Meima handed Hiugo a scroll and said:

"The Onmyo Clan has joined the Uchiha. That's put a lot of pressure on the Hatake and Fuma Clans. After learning that our fighting with the Kaguya Clan has died down, the clan head sent new orders: we're to harass the Uchiha's eastern positions and ease the pressure on them."

Hiugo opened the scroll and skimmed it, then pursed his lips.

"They're not giving us any time to rest."

Senju Meima smiled.

"That's how the battlefield is. We've barely won one fight, and already we have to head to another."

"But as I recall, aside from the northern battlefield, where we're directly in contact with the Uchiha, the other positions all have smaller and mid-sized clans in between. Are we just going to march straight through in broad daylight?"

"Hiugo, who do you think the Uchiha were fighting while we were battling the Kaguya?"

Hiugo understood. He glanced at the map on the table.

"Those smaller clans are pretty bold, daring to take on a major clan directly."

Senju Meima shook his head and gestured over the map.

"Of course they wouldn't dare. But they're positioned between us, the Kaguya, and the Uchiha. Even though the Uchiha are stronger than they are, they can't wipe them out in one fell swoop."

"Before you arrived, they'd also repeatedly asked us and the Kaguya to help them fight. Over time, they've built up a fighting force of their own, which they call the 'Eastern Alliance.' It consists of five mid-sized clans and ten small ones, with Mizukumo Metsuen, the head of the Mizukumo Clan, as its leader."

Mizukumo Metsuen? What a grand name.

Hiugo understood the gist of it now. They would reinforce the Eastern Alliance and put pressure on the Uchiha. There was no need for the Senju to send a large force, and the move would also show goodwill toward the Hatake and Fuma Clans.

"We don't need everyone for this operation. You can stay at the eastern position, or you can go with the others..."

"I'll go. We'll have to face the Uchiha sooner or later, so we might as well fight them now."

"Good. I'll lead the team tomorrow. Get ready today."

Senju Meima's eyes flickered. If Hiugo had decided not to go, he would have sent Senju Akikagami with a team instead. So what if the Hatake and Fuma had helped the Senju? The Uzumaki were distant relatives, and they still wouldn't lend a hand unless they were in danger.

In the Eastern Alliance,

When Mizukumo Metsuen read the letter from the Senju, a trace of a smile finally appeared on his gloomy face.

"Father, what is it?"

A twelve-year-old girl asked curiously. Her name was Mizukumo Renai. She was a rare kunoichi with extraordinary talent and was already at the level of a Jōnin.

Even in this era, when clan heads were mostly men, she would become the next head of the Mizukumo Clan after Mizukumo Metsuen's death, barring any unforeseen circumstances.

"The Senju have agreed to help. With them on our side, we can drive the Uchiha back again."

Mizukumo Metsuen replied warmly.

The girl sighed.

"Father, the Uchiha are a major clan. Just their eastern position has cost us so many lives. Why do we keep fighting them?"

"Renai, that's a narrow way of looking at things. In this world, the strong make the rules. If we don't fight them, all we can do is wait to be swallowed up."

"If we can unite the strength of the other clans, who knows? One day, we might become a major clan ourselves. Then, when you take over, you won't have to curry favor so much with the Kaguya and the Senju."

Mizukumo Metsuen had his own ideas. In these chaotic times, only a major clan could claim a place for itself.

A clan could become a major one not only by having a clan-head-level fighter; having enough shinobi overall could also do the trick.

The alliance of fifteen clans might sound impressive, but in truth the five mid-sized clans each had their own agendas, and their forces were not united. The small clans were somewhat better, but they still had ideas of their own.

Self-interest had brought them together, and it could also drive them apart. Only the constant pressure from the Uchiha could keep them united.

Mizukumo Metsuen had become their leader not because he could overpower the others, but because his Water Release could counter Fire Release. That was all.

Mizukumo Renai had nothing more to say. It was true that this was a world where the strong preyed on the weak.

The next day, under Mizukumo Metsuen's arrangements, they gave the Senju shinobi a grand welcome.

Senju Meima led the group. As an old acquaintance, Mizukumo Metsuen greeted him with great enthusiasm, but his attention was soon drawn to the boy beside him.

Pure-white hair, far too young—he looked no older than five or six. And he was standing beside Senju Meima...

Mizukumo Metsuen guessed who he was and couldn't help thinking:

I never thought the White-Haired Demon spoken of by the Baiye Clan would really be such a young boy.

The boy noticed him staring and lifted his head slightly. Their eyes met for an instant.

"Clan Head Mizukumo, do you have some special hobby? You've been staring at me for quite a while."

Mizukumo Metsuen felt as if the Sharingan had fixed him in its gaze. He abruptly came to his senses and smiled apologetically.

"Sorry. Compared to the Senju Clan's 'genius,' our genius looks like an ordinary person. I'll take you to your quarters..."

Xiongli Qianjun suddenly spoke up. "Alliance Leader, shouldn't you be thinking about how to deal with the Uchiha? Leave these little things to me."

The Xiongli Clan was one of the five mid-sized clans. Its members were skilled in Earth Release, and they were stronger than ordinary shinobi, with good Taijutsu to match.

Mizukumo Metsuen's displeasure flashed across his face, but Earth Release countered Water Release, and Xiongli Qianjun was strong in his own right. In the end, he gave him the courtesy of a reply.

"Then I'll leave it to Elder Xiongli."

Xiongli Qianjun nodded and led the Senju shinobi away, then lowered his voice and spoke to Senju Meima.

"Our Xiongli Clan has long admired the Senju Clan. We're also not too far from your positions. Would it be possible for us to become part of the Senju Clan?"

Senju Meima lowered his voice.

"We've only just taken in the Baiye Clan, and we haven't given that kind of thing any thought yet."

Seeing this, Xiongli Qianjun fell silent. He left as soon as he had shown them to their quarters.

Senju Meima sent his words to Hiugo through Chakra.

"The Xiongli Clan never showed any particular warmth toward the Senju before, but now they're making a point of reaching out. In a situation like this, don't agree right away."

"To test their sincerity?"

"They're part of the Eastern Alliance. It wouldn't do us any good to barge in. The Xiongli Clan may be close to our territory, but if we don't swallow the entire Eastern Alliance, we won't have the time to manage these matters. They could end up using our name to do as they please."

"I understand..."