Senju Raizo

Ignoring the stunned members of her clan, Senju Arashi introduced them to Qiancao and Wuming, saying, "This is my father, Senju Raizo, and this is my mother, Senju Ryoko."

Wuming did not know how to greet them. She had taken quite a few lives from the Senju Clan, and being on their home turf made her feel entirely ill at ease.

Qiancao, however, felt no such psychological burden. He bowed politely and greeted Arashi's parents, "It is a pleasure to meet you, Uncle and Auntie!"

Senju Raizo frowned and asked, "Did you misspeak? Are they surnamed Uba, not Uchiha?"

Senju Arashi replied with a firm tone, "I meant exactly what I said: Uchiha."

Senju Raizo looked up at the sky for a moment, as if checking to see if the sun had truly risen in the west. After steadying his emotions and glancing at the surrounding crowd, he snapped, "What are you all staring at? Get back to work!" He then turned to the three of them and added, "Follow me. We need to get this sorted out."

As soon as Senju Raizo turned away, he couldn't help but spit on the ground, muttering angrily, "What a mess this is!"

The crowd dispersed at their clan head's command, and the few injured Senju who had accompanied Arashi were led away to recover.

Inside the Senju Clan's council hall, everyone took their seats. Aside from Raizo and his wife, the only other person present was a young man with thick eyebrows and large eyes, who kept looking at Qianshu and Wuming with a grin.

The moment they sat down, Senju Raizo couldn't wait to ask Arashi, "What on earth is going on here? Where did you meet these two... friends?"

Senju Arashi smiled and recounted the story of their journey, focusing on Black Zetsu, who had been impersonating Uchiha Keisuke, and highlighting the danger of his attempts to sow discord between the two sides.

When they heard that Arashi had been defeated by the young girl Wuming, the Senju couple looked at her in disbelief, while the thick-browed young man's eyes lit up as he sized her up from head to toe.

Upon hearing that it was Qiancao who had protected Arashi from Black Zetsu in the end, Senju Ryoko cast a grateful look at Qiancao, her impression of him improving significantly.

Once the story was finished, Senju Raizo couldn't help but remark, "Although these two Uchihas have helped you a great deal, Arashi, bringing them into Senju territory will have immeasurable consequences for our clansmen."

"I will let it slide for today, but you must send them back tomorrow."

At this point, the Senju youth who had been quiet until now spoke up: "Let me introduce myself to our two Uchiha friends first. I am Senju Seiichiro, Arashi's cousin."

After his introduction, Seiichiro turned to Senju Raizo and said:

"Uncle, there is no need to be so sensitive. Even though we have many frictions with the Uchiha Clan, since these two have done Arashi a favor, wouldn't kicking them out reflect poorly on our Senju magnanimity?"

Senju Raizo retorted angrily, "I know exactly what you're thinking, boy! You heard that this young girl could defeat Arashi, and now your hands are itching for a fight, aren't they!"

Senju Seiichiro simply smiled, effectively confirming Raizo's accusation.

He then gave Arashi a look that said, "I've done all I can; the rest is up to you."

Just then, Senju Ryoko spoke up: "I notice that these two young Uchiha friends have very powerful seals on them. I'm afraid your plans, Seiichiro, are going to fall through."

Qiancao and Wuming looked at Senju Ryoko in surprise, and Arashi explained to them, "My mother comes from the Uzumaki Clan and is very well-versed in all kinds of seals."

Senju Raizo frowned and asked his wife, "Are you certain?"

Senju Ryoko shot him an annoyed glare. "I am not you. Why would I lie?"

"I can feel that the chakra pathways of these two friends are firmly locked by these seals. I doubt they can even use a tenth of their true power."

Senju Seiichiro's expression was clearly one of disappointment, while Qiancao noticed a flash of relief cross Senju Raizo's face.

Arashi continued to ask her mother, "Can you undo the seals on them?"

Senju Ryoko rose from her seat, walked over to Qiancao, and asked gently, "May I take a look at the seal on you?"

Qiancao nodded and lifted his shirt to reveal his stomach. Senju Raizo and Senju Seiichiro both leaned forward from their seats to peer at Qiancao's midsection, creating a somewhat comical scene.

Senju Ryoko carefully observed the pattern of the seal, and after a long while, she frowned and said:

"I saw this seal pattern twenty years ago. This version must be an improvement upon the original."

"Ever since I came to the Senju Clan, I have grown rusty with new sealing techniques. To break this, we would have to go to the Uzumaki Clan and find Arashi's aunt."

Arashi was slightly disappointed, but then she brightened up. "I haven't seen my aunt in a long time. This is a perfect chance to meet her again!"

Senju Raizo, still in his seat, grew unhappy again. He frowned and said, "Why must you leave as soon as you've returned? Can't you just stay home and be still for a while?"

Ignoring her husband, Senju Ryoko continued:

"It takes immense chakra to place a seal like this. Why were these two children subjected to such a vicious seal at such a young age?"

Arashi sought permission from Qiancao and Wuming with her eyes before recounting their background. As she spoke, Senju Raizo slammed his hand against the table in the main seat and roared:

"Evil Uchiha! To lay a hand on such young children!"

He then turned to Qiancao and Wuming and said, "Don't worry, you two. Since you have come to the Senju Clan, you are our friends. I, Senju Raizo, will ensure your safety!"

Senju Ryoko rested her hand against her forehead, looking utterly speechless at her husband.

Senju Raizo offered a few more words of encouragement to the two Uchihas, mostly about how they should live upright lives now that they had left the Uchiha, before instructing Arashi to get some rest and talk to him again tomorrow, then leaving with his wife.

Once the clan head and his wife had departed, Seiichiro visibly relaxed. He walked over to the three of them and said with a grin, "Once you've had your seals broken, you must spar with me."

Arashi introduced him to the two, saying, "Don't mind him. This guy doesn't do any real work; he just looks for people to fight all day. He's been annoying everyone for ages."

Seiichiro complained, "Don't say that! Aside from Uchiha Eiki, it's been so long since we've had a young person who could beat you. How can you hog all the fun?"

He then turned to Qiancao and added, "It's best if you don't wander around too much these next few days. You know the reason why. If you get bored, make sure to take Arashi with you."

Seiichiro then turned toward the door, saying as he opened it to leave, "I hope you enjoy your time in the Senju Clan. Hahaha!"