Opening the Eyes

"Is that so... Then I shall head back for today as well." Hashirama waved his hand in agreement.

The moment they both turned around, they simultaneously exerted force and sprinted toward the distant forest.

Their movements were immediately detected by those hiding in the woods on both banks.

"So fast, are you trying to run away? Let's go, Tobirama. That brat Hashirama actually leaked information." Senju Butsuma, having been tipped off by Senju Tobirama, immediately moved to intercept them.

However, two figures also burst out from the woods on the other side: Uchiha Izuna and his father, Uchiha Tajima.

The four of them stood in a standoff the moment they met. Hashirama and Madara, who had been fleeing, stopped in their tracks to watch the confrontation.

Uchiha Tajima and Senju Butsuma were evenly matched in strength. As old rivals who had clashed countless times, they knew that the key to breaking the deadlock lay not in their own prowess, but in the children beside them.

After all, ninjas were trained that no matter the situation on the battlefield, one must never lose their composure. A single moment of panic would create an opening, which could then decide life or death.

Senju Tobirama and Uchiha Izuna were the very existences that could cause the other side to panic. If they could find a way to kill the other's child, they would surely be able to kill the opponent as well.

Thus, both clan heads immediately chose the method most likely to succeed: using the guise of their duel to hurl short blades and shuriken aimed at the other's child.

Hashirama and Madara naturally understood their fathers. They kept their eyes fixed on the battle, instantly throwing the pebbles in their hands to intercept the weapons flying toward their respective brothers.

Sensing the intense mental fluctuations from the two, especially Madara, Bai Sui, who had been observing from the shadows, chose to intervene.

After all, he could not simply stand by and watch adults kill children before his very eyes.

"Go!"

Bai Sui's sword flew from its sheath, arriving late but striking first, severing both the blade and the shuriken almost simultaneously.

Feeling the power of that astonishing strike, Uchiha Tajima and Senju Butsuma immediately ceased their duel, retreated, and pulled their sons back to their sides.

By then, Madara and Hashirama, having just thrown their pebbles, had reached their respective fathers. All six of them looked toward Bai Sui, who had emerged from the woods.

Uchiha Tajima and Senju Butsuma were unsure if Bai Sui was an ally of the other side, so they dared not act rashly. Instead, they focused their minds, remaining vigilant and ready to flee with their children if things took a turn for the worse.

Bai Sui did not play any games and spoke directly, "You two are heads of great clans; why resort to attacking children? Does it not lower your standing? Since neither of you can overcome the other, why not stop here and take your people away?"

Once these words were spoken and they observed his expression, they realized Bai Sui was not an accomplice to the other side. Though they relaxed slightly on the surface, they remained inwardly wary.

"Go!" Uchiha Tajima and Senju Butsuma spat out the word almost simultaneously, departing into the distance with their respective children.

Bai Sui noticed the gaze Madara and Hashirama cast as they left and returned a smile to them both.

In truth, Bai Sui had sensed the pebbles thrown by Hashirama and Madara earlier; even if he hadn't intervened, they would have protected their brothers. The reason he felt compelled to step in was, don't forget, the reason Bai Sui had come to this forest in the first place: to find his blood relatives.

And today, Bai Sui felt he was close to finding them, with the key lying in these two families. That was why he had forced his way into the situation, hoping to locate his kin.

Sure enough, before the next day had even passed, Bai Sui's spiritual sense detected a group of people heading in his direction.

The leader was none other than Senju Butsuma, who appeared to be coming to cause trouble for Bai Sui.

It was to be expected; this place was not far from the Senju Clan's territory, and he naturally wouldn't feel at ease leaving someone like Bai Sui unchecked. This trip might not necessarily be to take Bai Sui down, but primarily to ensure the safety of their clan lands.

The group consisted of about twenty people, but only half were from the Senju Clan. The other half were also familiar to Bai Sui—they bore the mark of the Uzumaki Clan.

Although Senju Butsuma was aggressive, Bai Sui's true attention was fixed on a young man within the ranks.

Like the others, he had red hair and wore a black combat suit with blue layered armor over it, and a large clan emblem on his back.

The man looked to be about fifteen or sixteen years old, but since he was able to join the expedition, he clearly possessed some strength.

The reason Bai Sui focused on him was that he sensed something different about him. One look was all it took for Bai Sui to know this was the person he had been waiting for—his own kin.

Clearly, this group possessed scouting or tracking methods; they were heading straight for Bai Sui, likely using the Uzumaki Clan's Kagura Shingan.

Bai Sui even suspected they hadn't sensed him, but rather the wooden hut he occupied. After all, Bai Sui's spiritual sense didn't just see images; it could also hear what they were saying.

"Lord Butsuma, we are one kilometer away from that wooden hut, and I still don't sense any traces of chakra. It is very likely that the person has already left," a young girl reported to Butsuma.

"Good. Keep guarding the perimeter and ensure none of those Uchiha people approach. We will search the hut for information; if we find nothing, we will retreat," Butsuma ordered the group.

Ninjas moved quickly, and within a minute, they arrived before the hut. However, no one acted rashly, for they had already spotted Bai Sui inside.

The same girl from before confirmed with Senju Butsuma again, "My Lord, I still cannot sense the person's chakra. It's as if they don't exist at all."

Butsuma signaled that he understood and waved for her to step back. He took a step forward and addressed Bai Sui, "Sir, since you are aware of our arrival, why not come out and meet us?"

"I do indeed need to come out and meet you. After all, I have finally waited for the people I was looking for." Bai Sui stood up and tucked his meditation cushion into his Storage Jade Pendant. After all, the cushion wasn't cheap; it had been a gift from a nobleman specifically for Bai Sui, and it was quite comfortable to sit on.

And so, before the eyes of the group, the wooden door of the hut opened on its own without anyone touching it, and they didn't even detect any fluctuation of chakra.

Butsuma, the leader, immediately signaled his men to be on guard. This single feat alone showed that Bai Sui was no simple man. Combined with the sword strike he had witnessed on the river, he judged the person before him to be powerful—certainly no weaker than his old rival Uchiha Tajima, and perhaps even stronger.