[Fire Affinity: I can't stand this kind of thing. I want to burn the letter to ashes. Just reading it gives me goosebumps.]
[Water Affinity: What, are you jealous?]
Water Affinity should have kept quiet. The moment it spoke, Fire Affinity bristled and started having a friendly chat with it, beginning with their ancestors eighteen generations back.
Uchiha Yang, the body's owner, silently watched the show. Fire and Water Affinity never repeated an insult when they cursed each other. You really could learn something new every day.
Uchiha Yang set down the letter. "Your big brother is rather simple-minded. As his younger brother, you should keep an eye on him."
For the sake of his future, he couldn't stand by and watch Uchiha Madara get talked around by Hashirama's smooth words.
"I don't need you to tell me. I'll keep reminding Big Brother to stay away from Senju Hashirama."
Uchiha Izuna nodded and put the letter back in its envelope.
"Then that's settled. I'll be going."
After sharing a piece of gossip, Uchiha Izuna had arrived in a hurry and left just as quickly.
His goal was simple: while he was away from the clan, he wanted his cousin to keep an eye on his big brother.
After all, aside from him, his cousin was the only one in the whole clan whose words Big Brother would truly listen to.
Once he left his cousin's home, Uchiha Izuna set off from the clan compound with his men, feeling reassured.
Four days had passed since the Uzumaki Compound was attacked, and food shortages were beginning to crop up.
Senju Tobirama was still haggling with the Uzumaki Clan. After all, gathering a large amount of food at short notice took time.
On top of that, the transport route had to be planned carefully. If the Uchiha Clan found out, the consequences would be serious.
Uchiha Madara's second letter also reached Senju Tobirama.
"So? Did he write back to me?"
As soon as Senju Hashirama heard that a message had arrived from the Uchiha Clan, he hurried over to Senju Tobirama and asked, his face full of anticipation.
"Big Brother, it doesn't mention you."
Senju Tobirama answered bluntly.
"All right." Senju Hashirama immediately looked crestfallen and left the study, dejected.
When Senju Tobirama saw Uchiha's reply—that they would hand over the food in three days, or else the hostage would be killed—he smirked to himself. It seemed the Uchiha Clan really didn't dare kill the hostage.
That gave Senju Tobirama even more confidence in some of the decisions he'd made.
Uchiha Madara actually knew Senju Tobirama's temperament. There was no way the man would give in to the Uchiha. Unfortunately, he wasn't the one in charge of the Senju Clan.
Senju Hashirama returned to his room in low spirits, only to see a clan member waiting for him with a letter.
Senju Hashirama was the one who could truly make the decisions. As long as they went around Senju Tobirama, the plan would go smoothly.
Once Senju Hashirama read the letter, the compensation would be on its way to the Uchiha Clan the very next day.
Just as Uchiha Madara had expected, after reading Madara's reply, Senju Hashirama was so excited he nearly jumped for joy.
After reading its contents, Senju Hashirama went straight to find his younger brother Tobirama without a moment's hesitation.
As a result, Senju Tobirama stormed out, seething with frustration.
Uchiha Compound.
After reading Hashirama's reply, Uchiha Madara couldn't help recalling all the moments he and Hashirama had shared as children.
His smile gradually faded. Uchiha Madara sighed and forced himself to stop thinking about it.
"Just as planned. Senju Hashirama will agree to a demand like this."
A voice from behind Uchiha Madara made him jump.
"When did you get here? You couldn't even make a sound?"
When he saw that it was his cousin, Uchiha Yang, he grumbled.
Uchiha Yang sipped his cold drink and looked at him innocently. "I've been here for ages. You were too absorbed in reading to notice. How can you blame me?"
"Senju Hashirama's dream is too vague and idealistic. It's a world he imagines, not the world we live in."
"So you understand."
Uchiha Yang raised his eyebrows at Uchiha Madara, then left.
Madara was an adult. Uchiha Yang didn't need to tell him what to do; he only had to cool him down a little at the crucial moments.
After returning home, Uchiha Yang gave Uchiha Kage an instruction. "Keep an eye out for orphans with good potential, and train them. Let's start with a hundred."
"As you command, Master."
Uchiha Kage never asked why. His master always had his reasons.
Uchiha Yang didn't plan to train too many people. To put it plainly, he didn't have enough money.
A hundred was already his limit, and that was only the initial expense.
After the crisis at the clan compound, Uchiha Yang had realized that he still didn't have enough people he could rely on.
If he trained more people of his own, life would be easier. Whenever something needed doing, he could send someone else to do it instead of doing it himself.
To improve his quality of life, he had to make money. Money needed strength to protect it, so he had to build up his own forces.
The two went hand in hand, and neither interfered with Uchiha Yang's desire to live a peaceful life.
After all, all he had to do was give an order. Uchiha Kage was the one who actually carried it out.
"Xia Lian, how's that woman doing?"
After dinner, Uchiha Yang finally remembered Uzumaki Mito, who was being held in the basement.
"Master, Uzumaki Mito is still the same as before."
Xia Lian reported truthfully and respectfully.
"Have them wear her down."
Uchiha Yang's lips curled into a smile as he lounged in his rocking chair. Xia Lian knelt on both knees and massaged his legs.
Behind him, another pretty maid rubbed his shoulders.
Every so often, he opened his mouth and a maid popped a peeled piece of fruit inside.
Uchiha Yang treasured each day of this decadent life, so he lived like this every day, letting such indulgence test his resolve.
[Sharingan: I finally understand why Master wanted to hide the fact that he's a ninja. Who wouldn't love this kind of life?]
[Brain: Sharingan, you've fallen! Just last night, you were secretly complaining that Master was too indulgent. How did you switch sides today?]
[Sharingan: Ptooey, ptooey! My resolve really isn't strong enough. I nearly gave in just now.]
[Hand: I have to say, this feels—cough, cough. Master's actually testing me! I have to stay strong. So soft. Ptooey, no, I'm out, guys.]
[Leg: This maid's massage feels so good. Every time, she makes it impossible for me to focus on training. This is outrageous.]
[Brain: Everyone, stay strong! Just look at Master. He hasn't been corrupted at all, which means our training hasn't been good enough.]
Uchiha Yang, eyes closed as he rested, smiled smugly. What a bunch of lightweights. They couldn't even handle this.
That's it?
That's it?
Going head-to-head with his own body could be pretty interesting sometimes.
Because of Senju Hashirama, Senju Tobirama couldn't reach an agreement with the Uzumaki Clan. The food they'd just gathered had also been sent to the Uchiha by Senju Hashirama.
The Senju Elders had all objected, but Senju Hashirama had won them over one by one with his personal charm.
After witnessing the power of Senju Hashirama's Wood Release, even those stubborn old men had obediently shut their mouths.
Before you continue