Chapter 22

Delineating land, establishing independent administration, enacting laws, controlling taxation, arming defenses... The world of the Shinobi had no systematic political theory, so few realized that Uchiha Madara's actions already amounted to establishing a state within a state, or more precisely—usurping the country!

Things were moving in the predetermined direction, with the future king hidden behind the scenes, remaining calm and composed.

On the seventh day, the various documents were officially signed. Hashirama and Madara each wrote their names on the final agreement, exchanged them, and stood up to shake hands.

The two locked eyes. Madara nodded slightly at him, and Hashirama turned to survey the venue, announcing in a deep voice: "The Uchiha Clan and the Senju Clan are officially forming an alliance as of today!"

Prolonged applause erupted. The Uchiha and Senju clansmen present stood up to salute their respective heads, and the members of other attending clans followed suit, offering their respects to the two powerhouses at the center of the venue who controlled the two greatest forces in the shinobi world.

"Thank you all for your participation." Madara raised a hand, and the venue fell silent instantly. "As a testament and result of this cooperation, we have established a collaborative agency to handle specific matters. Allies present may submit letters to seek assistance, report intelligence, and work together in mutual aid, hoping for a win-win strategy. 'Sincere cooperation, unity is strength'—I wish to share this sentiment with you all."

His clear, resonant voice swept across the venue, and the crowd felt as if they had encountered a powerful cold front; their hair stood on end.

Although Madara's words were truly sincere and his expression was very earnest... but why did he have to keep those Sharingan activated!

After the meeting concluded, the various clans began packing their belongings for the return journey.

The Uchiha were no exception, busy bustling about to organize their carriages. Such trivial matters did not require Madara to lower his status and do them himself. The summer flowers were in full bloom, and the air in the inn's garden drifted with the scent of grass and trees. He rested his chin on his hand, closing his eyes to rest in the courtyard.

This was the scene Uchiha Etsu saw when he entered. Madara seemed to sense him, opening his eyes and turning to signal him to come over.

"Clan Head." Uchiha Etsu whispered the newly investigated intelligence into Madara's ear.

Whatever he heard, a faint, indifferent smile touched the corners of Madara's lips. He glanced at him and said, "Etsu, you don't need to go back for now."

Uchiha Etsu froze, his expression turning serious, anxiety hidden between his furrowed brows. "My Lord?"

Madara nodded, his tone mocking: "Judging by the situation, the previous speculation should be true... Hmph, those people have grown bold with time; they are nothing but a group of parasitic ants. Go directly to the Land of Fire. I am giving you an A-rank mission: purge the traitors within the Merchant Alliance of the Land of Fire!"

Purge... Uchiha Etsu pondered the word and asked, "Better to kill the innocent than to let one slip through?"

A sharp glint flashed through his eyes as Madara said softly, "Better to kill the innocent than to let one slip through!"

At this moment, Hashirama walked over, and Madara signaled for Uchiha Etsu to withdraw for the time being. "What is it?"

"Madara, I leave the Five-Tails and Six-Tails to you."

The unofficial cooperation project included the collection of Tailed Beasts. The Uchiha were determined to obtain them, and the Senju naturally refused to fall behind. Currently, the One-Tail Shukaku and the Three-Tails Isobu were with the Senju, while the Two-Tails Matatabi and the Four-Tails Shukaku were with the Uchiha. Intelligence on the other Tailed Beasts remained vague; it was only known that the Five-Tails and Six-Tails were in the south, and the Seven-Tails and Eight-Tails seemed to be in the north or the Central Plains. The south was an area almost entirely controlled by the Uchiha; even as allies, the Senju could not openly operate in their territory. Deep mutual precaution and wariness existed between the two families, a fact both understood without speaking.

Madara nodded and cautioned, "The strongest, the Nine-Tails, is currently missing. Do not act rashly if you discover it." As for whether this was for Senju Hashirama's safety or to ensure an even split of the spoils, only he knew.

As a clan head, Hashirama was not without depth. He replied with a double entendre: "I understand."

Hashirama paused, hesitating for a moment. Madara waited calmly for him to continue. If it were only about the Tailed Beasts, he wouldn't have made a special trip before leaving.

"Madara, the matter of building the city requires you to ease the relationship with the Daimyo of the Land of Fire."

Since Madara took over the clan, their external influence had expanded rapidly. Because the Land of Fire was fertile and located at a major transportation hub, its internal self-sufficiency was very high, which also meant its external exclusion and vigilance were very strong. Coupled with the opposition between the Senju clan—who were close to the Daimyo Akabane Hatome—and the Uchiha, the Uchiha's initial development in the Land of Fire had been very difficult. According to the strategy of the Second Elder, Uchiha Tai, the Uchiha had temporarily bypassed the Land of Fire, turning to the slightly more barren Land of Wind to subtly show favor to the Senju clan there. By then, Senju Hashirama was already in power and quickly responded to their overtures. Uchiha Soshu, who was working in the Land of Wind, cunningly set the activity site at the shared border of the two countries, only engaging in pure commercial operations, improving local livelihoods while earning some reputation, and handing over a significant amount of tax to the Daimyo of the Land of Wind that year. These small maneuvers subtly stirred up the relationship between the upper echelons of the two countries. At the same time, relying on the vast funds of the clan treasury, Uchiha Etsu secretly bribed many nobles in the Land of Fire. Within two years, Akabane Hatome finally bowed to pressure from various sides and agreed to the Uchiha's activities in the Land of Fire. He had bowed, yes, but his impression of the Uchiha had become worse than ever before.

Others were not clear about the ins and outs, but that didn't stop them from knowing their relationship was terrible. Hashirama had even received private letters from Akabane Hatome full of resentment.

For Hashirama to make this request was actually a bit excessive; after all, it was the internal affairs of the Uchiha. He had deliberated for a long time before speaking—the future Ninja City was to be built within the Land of Fire, after all. With such a strained relationship, things would likely be fraught with difficulties.

"Of course, as allies, it should be so." Madara agreed readily. Once Uchiha Etsu finished purging the various branches of the Merchant Alliance in the Land of Fire, their influence would certainly shrink. Selling a favor to Senju Hashirama now was no harm.

Nara Rokichi, who had been waiting on the side, only approached after Senju Hashirama left. "Lord Madara."

"Etsu has told you everything, right? How long will it take to complete?"

Nara Rokichi nodded: "Our clan already has a portion of the maps; we just need to supplement them based on the original. It will take about two months."

The so-called maps were the topographical charts of the northern part of the Land of Fire. The Nara clan based their livelihood on raising deer and researching medicine, controlling a very special forest in the Land of Fire, and this forest happened to be not far from the future site of the city. Although the surveying was the responsibility of the Senju, how could the Uchiha not leave themselves a backup plan?

"Then this matter is left to the Nara clan. Also, Etsu will return to the Land of Fire with you. The situation might be a bit complicated then, so keep an eye on things and help out." Madara mused. A great purge, indeed. The Merchant Alliance might lose half of its share in the Land of Fire. Losing it was one thing, but the most annoying part was benefiting the enemy and causing trouble for himself!

"Koichi, did you finish yesterday's tasks?"

"Koichi, read through this stack of documents!"

"Koichi, the intelligence from over there is handed to you for approval!"

"Koichi, go to Fifth Elder Uchiha Teng and get this month's task list, as well as the performance reviews for last month's tasks."

"Koichi, ..."

Patience has its limits! Uchiha Koichi slammed his desk and stood up, glaring at the old man lazily flipping through a book on the recliner. "Who exactly is the Second Elder here, Grandpa!"

Uchiha Tai chuckled twice. "I'm letting you adapt in advance."

Uchiha Koichi gritted his teeth. "There is! No! Rush! You're going to be in this position for at least another five years!"

Uchiha Tai wagged his finger. "I'm old, I can't compare to you young people. Look at Uchiha Teng, he's also helping the Third Elder. That kid climbed up on his own merits; he isn't complaining, so why are you?"

Uchiha Koichi felt like vomiting blood. How could they be compared! Uchiha Teng was just an intern, only handling peripheral matters, and had Uchiha Soshu helping to guide him. But him! His unscrupulous grandfather had simply pushed all the work onto him! He wouldn't even let Shizuka or Amano come to help!

When it came to hoodwinking people, Koichi admitted he couldn't compare to his own old fox of a grandfather. He raised his hands in resignation. "Fine, Grandpa, I accept what you've asked me to do, but at least check the documents I've approved. Small matters are fine, but if it's a major issue and a mistake occurs, it'll be a disaster!"

"Are you not confident?"

"I'm being cautious, Grandpa! Even if you won't do it, at least assign me an assistant!"

Uchiha Tai slowly turned a page. "That kid Amano was valued by the Fourth Elder and transferred to the Internal Guard; he's out with the Clan Head now. As for Shizuka—" He chuckled, "Then I would have to doubt your intentions, after all, she is such a beautiful girl..."

Hearing this, Uchiha Koichi's face flushed slightly, then turned pale in a flash. That violent woman Uchiha Shizuka? No, no, no, I still prefer gentler girls, like Miss Yoshiko who married the Daimyo. If I had been born a few years earlier... Ah! What am I thinking! "Grandpa!"

Teasing his grandson undoubtedly put Uchiha Tai in a very good mood. Jokes aside, serious matters could not be neglected. "What I'm letting you adapt to isn't just handling chores or writing analyses; Uchiha Teng, who just graduated, doesn't do any worse than you at those things. What you truly need to adapt to is your mindset. Confidence in your own judgment, how to appropriately give up certain things, and the firm determination to achieve your goals regardless of the means. Also, the position of Second Elder knows too many secrets; how to carefully hide certain things in the bottom of your heart, so that even those closest to you cannot perceive them. Have you grasped these?"

Uchiha Koichi was stunned. After a moment of silence, he spoke hesitantly: "I... I'm sorry, Grandpa."

Uchiha Tai sighed, "It's alright, take your time." During this period, Xingyi had been exposed to too much information; behind the veneer of gentle warmth, the ruthless side of the clan had been laid bare before him. Compared to straightforward slaughter, power—regardless of whether its purpose was noble or selfish—was a decadent, shameless, and corrupting force. In countless situations, obtaining the desired result through power was linked to a determination to pay the price, which necessitated sacrifice—whether that sacrifice was someone else's or one's own, reasonable or reprehensible—alongside facing the potential negative repercussions of sin. Bearing so much in silence placed immense psychological pressure upon him.

Xingyi's eyes dimmed, "The Clan Head will be back soon; you should get back to work."

Uchiha Tai studied him for a moment before Xingyi grinned, baring his teeth, "Don't worry, this isn't running away! I am your grandson, after all!"

"The trial was coming to an end anyway." Uchiha Tai withdrew his gaze, regaining his usual composure, and pulled a sheet of paper from between the pages of a book, shaking it out as if he had been prepared for some time. "Here, this mission is for you. It's a long-term assignment. Do it well, and you can officially graduate."

Xingyi took it and glanced over the contents, his pupils constricting, "The Hyuga Branch House?"