Move!

Ordinary missions were all recorded in the mission hall, so there was no difficulty in pulling up the relevant files.

Hashirama's mission was based on information provided by the Hagoromo Clan's enemy, the Black Feather Clan. It said he was to work with them to ambush the Uchiha Clan, and the paper recording the mission also included the general location.

The enemy of one's enemy was a friend. There was nothing wrong with that in principle. The Senju tested all information from outside clans with a water-ball lie detector before recording missions, so there was no chance it was false.

In particular, Senju Butsuma had kept the informant with the Senju to avoid any changes in the situation. It was fair to say he had taken good care of Hashirama.

Hiugo had someone bring over the Black Feather Clan's records, along with the Black Feather ninja who had provided the information.

The Black Feather Clan specialized in controlling birds, and their favorite was the crow. They had originally been called the Black Bird Clan, but after the Hagoromo Clan mocked them, they changed their name to the Black Feather Clan.

They could transmit information using birds, but the Black Feather Clan had never been in contact with the Senju Clan before. To ensure the information was accurate, it made sense to send someone in person.

There didn't seem to be any problem. That left only the man himself to examine.

"Young master, we've brought him in."

Two jonin escorted in a Black Feather ninja dressed in rags.

"Thanks for your help. You can go. Don't let anyone in without my orders."

"Yes, sir."

The two jonin nodded and went outside to stand guard.

Hiugo pinned down the paper with one hand and held a pen in the other. After sensing the area around him, he met the Black Feather ninja's gaze. The ninja's eyes grew vacant, staring blankly ahead.

"Was the information you gave the Senju Clan true?"

"It was. I heard it with my own ears."

Heard it with his own ears? Why did that sound so strange?

"Who did you hear it from?"

A trace of confusion surfaced in the Black Feather ninja's vacant eyes.

"From the clan head. I heard it from the clan head."

Hiugo frowned.

"Have you ever fought the Uchiha?"

"Yes."

"When?"

"Three days ago. While we were fighting the Hagoromo Clan, the Uchiha suddenly appeared. We drove them off."

"What have you been doing these past few days?"

"Recovering from my injuries at the clan compound."

"So, after you recovered, the clan head told you about the information and sent you to find the Senju?"

"Yes."

"When did you set out?"

"That morning."

"Did you encounter any attacks along the way?"

"No."

"Then what happened to your clothes? You didn't think to change before leaving the clan compound?"

The Black Feather ninja looked down at himself, then suddenly began to struggle.

Hiugo tightened his control.

"When did you arrive at the Senju compound?"

"That morning."

Hiugo glanced at the map and gestured.

"That doesn't make sense. You're a Chunin. It would take until the afternoon at least to reach the nearest Senju position from the Black Feather compound. How could you have gotten here so quickly..."

Hiugo stopped writing and closed his eyes for a moment.

"The only possibility is that you never returned to your clan compound. You were captured, and what you thought was your clan compound was an illusion—one that made you believe the illusion was real..."

"But this plan has two obvious flaws. If Butsuma had sent someone to escort you home, or paid more attention to your injuries and shown you more concern, it would have been enough to prove the information was 'false.' Did they calculate that Butsuma would do exactly that? Did they take advantage of his so-called 'love'?"

Hiugo released the genjutsu and rushed outside. He handed the scroll to the jonin standing on either side of the door and gave them orders.

"Give this to the clan head."

"You, gather as many people as you can. I'm leaving the compound."

"Yes, sir."

The two didn't ask questions. Their first priority was to obey the person in front of them; only afterward would they think things through.

When the clan members guarding the compound saw Hiugo heading out with a large group behind him, one of them stopped him.

"Young Master Hiugo, why are you taking so many people outside?"

Hiugo replied calmly, "Move. I'm going to save my brother."

The elite jonin on guard clenched his teeth.

"I'm sorry, but I can't let you through. It would violate the clan rules."

Hiugo's voice turned cold.

"I'm telling you that I'm leaving. If you waste time and something happens to Hashirama, you won't be able to bear the responsibility."

"You have two choices. Keep blocking me, and I'll have my men restrain you. If the delay leads to trouble, you'll be responsible. Or let me through, and I'll take responsibility if anything happens. I'll give you five seconds."

As Hiugo's voice fell, the ninjas behind him began releasing their chakra one by one.

A wave of pressure bore down on the elite jonin. After a brief moment of thought, he had no choice but to let them leave. Even if the First Elder's son acted arrogantly, the worst he would face was discipline.

But if the guard was blamed, he would be condemned to become a suicide operative, with no chance of redemption.

Elsewhere, Hashirama followed several clan members to the designated location.

But the Black Feather Clan, who were supposed to meet them, never showed. Instead, a large area was engulfed in Fire Style attacks.

The Uchiha ninjas had been waiting for them for some time. The blood of their old enemies was the best way to ease their restlessness.

"Hashirama, run! I'll hold them off!"

Senju Tadashi said in a low voice. When he realized something was wrong, he had shielded Hashirama first, and his back had been charred black.

"Uncle Tadashi..."

Hashirama's heart jolted. He knew this wasn't the time to show off. Only by running could he avoid wasting the sacrifice of his elders.

With their Sharingan, the Uchiha could clearly see the small figure fleeing. They couldn't help laughing.

They didn't really mind when their enemies ran. In fact, before killing them, they preferred to savor the fear in their eyes.

Hashirama didn't try to take flight. He couldn't control that ability well, and at his speed, the Fire Style would hit him before he even got off the ground.

All he could do was run. Keep running.

Hashirama gasped for breath as his strength dwindled. Suddenly, several kunai flew at him from ahead...

An Uchiha ninja with the Three-Tomoe Sharingan appeared in front of Hashirama, a trace of a cold smile on his face.

Hashirama changed direction and ran again, only to find another Uchiha ninja waiting for him...

Hashirama backed away slowly. Five Uchiha ninjas had surrounded him.

No matter how fast he ran, he couldn't outrun the Body Flicker Technique. Besides, a child's body couldn't match an adult's.

As he kept backing up, Hashirama suddenly stopped. A rock blocked his way.

The five Uchiha ninjas slowly closed in, their smiles growing more vicious. Their crimson Three-Tomoe Sharingan seemed stained with blood...

Suppressing his unease, Hashirama poured his chakra into Wood Armor. Branch after branch sprouted from his body, then shot out all at once.

The Uchiha ninjas were caught off guard and forced to defend themselves.

Taking advantage of the opening, Hashirama broke through the encirclement. But his struggle was like a rabbit biting a gray wolf, and the Uchiha's pride ignited their fury.

They changed their minds. They wouldn't let the boy die so easily.

A flash of white steel passed. Hashirama felt pain in both shoulders, then collapsed to the ground. His arms fell beside him.

"Heh. Run! Why aren't you running anymore?"

One of the Uchiha ninjas who had struck him sneered.

"Keep throwing branches. You almost scared me! Hahahahaha!"

Another Uchiha ninja who had struck him laughed loudly, then raised his foot to stomp on Hashirama's head...

Two enormous wooden hands suddenly burst from the earth and grabbed the two men. Then two branches flew in from a distance, striking them between the eyebrows. The branches split apart, destroying their brains.

Hiugo panted slightly as he used the Body Flicker Technique to reach Hashirama's side, then used Wood Style to stop the bleeding.

The remaining three Uchiha ninjas weren't the least bit nervous. Three against one, and their opponent was just a kid—even if he was a jonin, what was there to be afraid of?

Just then, one of the Uchiha noticed something moving around them...