Genjutsu

After the welcoming ceremony for the Senju Clan ended, the Fujino Clan Head, leader of one of the medium-sized clans, slipped back to his clan's territory. Once he entered a secret room, he knelt on one knee before a shadow.

"My lord, the Senju Clan has arrived."

A man dressed in black stepped out of the shadows. His pair of scarlet Three-Tomoe eyes gave off an eerie glow.

"Heh... The Kaguya Clan really is useless."

His name was Uchiha Niji. He was an elite jonin with exceptional talent in genjutsu and disguise. His genjutsu did not rely solely on sight; even his movements could ensnare others in an illusion.

Fully controlling an elite jonin with the power of the Three-Tomoe was no easy feat.

He had spent a full six months on it, fighting the man again and again and gradually weakening his resistance with genjutsu. Several days ago, he had finally taken control of the man's mind.

The Fujino Clan valued strength above all else, and its clan head had the final say in every matter. Controlling him was tantamount to controlling the entire clan.

According to the plan, the clan could serve as an inside contact and use its intelligence to undermine the Eastern Alliance, allowing the Uchiha to eventually absorb that force completely.

The sudden arrival of the Senju Clan had made carrying out the plan difficult. Given the Fujino Clan Head's position, no one in the Eastern Alliance would normally investigate him. They had few sensory ninja, most of whom were already at the front lines, and the clan head himself had no Kekkei Genkai suited for sensing. There should have been no problem.

But the Senju sensory ninja wouldn't care about any of that. If they discovered something amiss with the Fujino Clan Head, they might grow suspicious.

To avoid any complications, he could only strike first...

After pondering for a moment, Uchiha Niji's scarlet eyes filled with murderous intent.

"When are your people on guard duty today?"

The Fujino Clan Head answered woodenly, his gaze vacant.

"Midnight."

Uchiha Niji narrowed his eyes.

"That's a good time. Go make preparations. We'll move tonight."

The Fujino Clan Head nodded stiffly. Only after leaving the room did his vacant expression return to normal.

Meanwhile, after inspecting their accommodations, the Senju ninja began moving around the area. More than a dozen ninja had been assigned to "look after" them, surrounding the entire district.

During that time, the leaders of three medium-sized clans—Xiongli, Fujino, and Mizukumo—visited one after another, giving Senju Meima a chance to make their acquaintance.

Hiugo, meanwhile, was surrounded by the young leaders of three medium-sized clans: Mizukumo Renai, Hayate Sho, and Tekka Domyo.

One girl and two boys—a combination straight out of a typical shinobi story. All three were twelve, and they seemed to get along well.

As he spoke with them, Hiugo made no show of his clan's status. Before long, they were seated around a wooden table, chatting and calling one another by name.

"Do Senju ninja have to go to the battlefield at this age?"

Hayate Sho was the first to ask. In his eyes, the great clans were all "monsters." The Uchiha's red eyes and the Kaguya's white bones both seemed somewhat "inhuman."

"Usually not, but those who are mature enough might go early to get used to the battlefield."

Hiugo shook his head.

"Sho, you idiot. Do you really need to ask that? Can't you use your brain for once?"

Tekka Domyo covered his face, exasperated.

Hayate Sho's expression stiffened.

"Damn it! Who are you calling an idiot? You're the idiot! I only asked because Hiugo's so young."

As he spoke, he sneaked a glance at Mizukumo Renai. Seeing that her expression hadn't changed, he secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Tekka Domyo gave a quiet snort and didn't argue. He, too, glanced at the girl a few times before taking a kunai from his ninja pouch and setting it on the table. It was bluish-black, with the emblem of a hammer on the ring at its top.

"Hiugo, it's a gift for our first meeting. It's not as good as a kunai from the Fuma Clan, but it's better than the usual mass-produced ones."

Hiugo picked it up and tested its balance with a few motions. It was a little heavier than an ordinary kunai. He could sense a faint Water Release property in it. It wasn't as good as Chakra Metal, but it should work better than a regular kunai when using Water Release.

Tekka Domyo smiled.

"If you ever need them, the Tekka Clan would be willing to make kunai and shuriken for the Senju. You'd only need to pay a third up front, and the Senju could set the deadline for paying the rest."

Hiugo's expression shifted slightly. Those were very favorable terms: pay a third, have a batch of weapons forged, and set the deadline for the rest of the payment. It would be excellent material support during a war.

Clearly, this wasn't something a child like Tekka Domyo could decide. It was probably his father's idea.

Hiugo considered it, then pushed the kunai back. "Sorry, I can't make that decision."

Tekka Domyo's expression changed. According to his father, the most they could offer the Senju was a third off the price, but this boy had refused outright without even trying to bargain.

"Ha ha ha! Domyo, you're not as clever as you think. How could a great clan like the Senju be short on something basic like kunai?"

Hayate Sho laughed and pulled several herbs from his pouch, but before he could introduce them, Hiugo cut him off.

Hiugo took a deep breath, his voice turning cold.

"You two, if you're just going to talk to me the way the adults told you to, you might as well go back and practice your ninjutsu."

As he spoke, a surge of Chakra burst forth. Hayate Tsubasa and Tekka Domyo, both special jonin, were immediately suppressed. Their Chakra control might have been about equal, but their total reserves were on completely different levels.

Mizukumo Renai felt a tremendous pressure. She was just about to resist when she sensed something locked onto the space between her brows. If she moved, it would surely hit.

The sensation came and went in an instant. Its range was limited to the small room, and anyone without a certain level of sensory ability wouldn't have noticed it.

Hayate Sho gasped for breath and hurriedly put the herbs away.

Tekka Domyo looked grim. He knew the gap between himself and the great clans, and he had been to the battlefield. He had been called a genius since childhood, yet Hiugo had completely crushed him after only a brief encounter.

Mizukumo Renai's face had gone pale, making her delicate features seem even more fragile.

Hiugo spoke calmly. "If there's nothing else, you can leave. For matters of cooperation, speak to the elders. It's not right to take advantage of a five-year-old who doesn't know any better."

Hayate Sho and Tekka Domyo forced out smiles and hurried away.

Mizukumo Renai bit her lip. "Sorry, my legs are a little weak. I can't walk."

Hiugo stood up and headed outside. "It's fine. You can sit there for as long as you like."

Leaving the girl sitting there, dumbfounded, he went straight outside.

Senju Meima was saying goodbye to the Hayate and Tekka Clan Heads.

The two clan heads glanced helplessly at their children and hurried off.

Mizukumo Metsuen smiled at Hiugo.

"If you want to buy anything, you can ask Renai. She can bring you anything we have here."

Hiugo chuckled. "The alliance leader has a clever approach, but I'm still too young to enjoy anything 'good.'"

From their brief interaction, it seemed Hayate Sho and Tekka Domyo both had some interest in Mizukumo Renai. By getting those two young clan leaders under her thumb, she had also gained considerable influence over their clans.

Mizukumo Metsuen didn't respond. He took a sip of tea. "Lord Meima, I have something to attend to, so I'll be going."

Senju Meima nodded slightly. Mizukumo Metsuen led his daughter out of the room and away from the area.

After they left, Hiugo asked, "Only one of the five medium-sized clans hasn't come yet—the Fujino Clan. Are they always so aloof?"

Senju Meima ruffled the boy's hair. "The Fujino Clan was quite welcoming to us before. They might have some reason for not coming this time. But you're right to think that way. Even among allies, you shouldn't let your guard down on someone else's turf."

"Mizukumo Metsuen's daughter is impressive. Be especially wary of kunoichi like her. Sometimes they're even more dangerous than men."

Hiugo ducked away from the hand on his head and asked, "What, did you get burned by a woman before?"

A complicated look crossed Senju Meima's eyes. At last, he let out a quiet sigh.

"Kid, don't be so curious."