Taming the Eagle?, Water House √

These Senju elders even saw in Senju Hashirama the hope of annihilating the Uchiha Clan, so they indulged the clan leader's decision to part with a little bit of grain.

Although grain was precious, as long as there was enough to eat, it was fine; by giving the surplus to the Uchiha now, they would gain even more once the Uchiha were wiped out later.

When the Uzumaki Clan, who had been anticipating grain aid from the Senju, learned that the Senju had actually given the grain to the Uchiha, they were instantly enraged.

What was the meaning of this?

Had the Uzumaki Clan become outsiders?

Even if Uzumaki Mito was currently in the hands of the Uchiha, the Senju Clan couldn't just say nothing and abandon the Uzumaki Clan to their fate, could they?

Were they playing the Uzumaki family for fools?

Senju Tobirama was also working hard to appease the Uzumaki family's emotions. In truth, his elder brother hadn't abandoned the Uzumaki Clan; Senju Tobirama had simply secretly suppressed his brother's orders.

They had already given half of the Senju Clan's stored grain to the Uchiha; if they gave another half of the remaining half to the Uzumaki Clan, the Senju Clan would face problems with their own meals in the future.

Going to the Daimyo of the Land of Fire to buy grain at this time was even more impossible, as grain was such a precious commodity that it was practically not for sale.

The Land of Fire had a large population, but due to the wars, grain production had always remained at a balance—neither too much nor too little.

However, Senju Tobirama could not watch the Uzumaki Clan starve to death either. He planned to wait a little longer, intending to offer help only when the Uzumaki Clan was truly at their breaking point, merely stalling them by saying it would take time to gather the grain.

Senju Tobirama had already set his sights on the sealing techniques of the Uzumaki family.

The Uzumaki family could only pin their hopes on the Senju Clan, as there was not a glimmer of hope to be seen anywhere else.

Especially since the Uchiha Clan had declared that anyone who dared to support the Uzumaki Clan would certainly be held accountable later.

No one dared to risk offending the Uchiha to secretly support the Uzumaki Clan.

Even some clans on good terms with the Uzumaki were avoiding them like the plague, making excuses and offering empty promises while doing nothing, all for fear of being targeted by the Uchiha.

After all, the news of the Uzumaki's sneak attack on the Uchiha Compound had spread everywhere; the Uzumaki family had overestimated their own strength and brought this upon themselves, so it was only natural that they were being targeted by the Uchiha.

At this moment, Uchiha Madara was already preparing to begin the next phase of his plan.

The Senju Clan's reaction was entirely within his calculations, and this had caused the name of Uchiha Yang to be deeply etched into the minds of the clan's top brass.

"Izuna will lead the team this time. To be safe, I will send people to meet you outside."

Standing before Uchiha Madara were Uchiha Izuna and the elite jonin from the previous mission.

"Please rest assured, Clan Leader. We will certainly follow Captain Izuna's commands and complete this mission."

Uchiha Sake, Uchiha Ya, and the others spoke one after another.

"Brother, I'm leaving."

Uchiha Izuna nodded to his elder brother and left the compound directly with the men behind him.

"Don't worry. The Uzumaki family is already in a grain crisis, and it will take the Senju Clan some time to mobilize the next batch of grain."

"That fellow Senju Tobirama is probably still waiting to play the hero, little knowing that this is exactly what we planned. Although the process differs slightly from the plan, the result is the same."

Uchiha Yang held a pot of goji berry tea, speaking to Uchiha Madara with a calm expression.

He had started focusing on health preservation; one had to start early, for it would be too late once one was old.

"Hmm, if you think so, then I am even more at ease."

Uchiha Madara also set aside his worries and said to him.

"By the way, how is Uzumaki Mito doing?"

"I am wearing her down."

Uchiha Yang curled his lips into a smile and said with an air of composure.

"Wearing her down? You boiled her?"

Upon hearing this, Uchiha Madara's hair stood on end, and he stared at him with wide eyes.

"What do you mean boiled? I mean I am wearing down her spirit, not letting her sleep."

Uchiha Yang explained with a speechless expression, then handed the teapot to him. "Take this and nourish your body; your hearing is already failing you."

"I'm off."

Uchiha Yang turned around and waved his hand. "I might be quite busy lately, so don't come looking for me unless it's important."

He had been too high-profile recently; it was time to cool things down and remove himself from the public eye.

Returning home, he wrapped his arm around the waist of the maid Xia Lian and slowly entered the basement.

In the basement, several maids kept Uzumaki Mito from falling asleep; the moment she drifted off, she was forcibly woken up.

The two Uchiha elite jonin responsible for guarding her sat to the side, drinking tea and watching the show with interest.

To be honest, the method of "breaking an eagle" had never appeared in this world before, so they were learning it with great interest.

This kind of mental torture was too simple for the Uchiha, who excelled in genjutsu.

But this was the first time the two of them had seen a method of torture that didn't require genjutsu.

Uzumaki Mito had developed heavy dark circles under her eyes, and her spirit was already extremely weak; this was the first time she had encountered such mental torment.

Her ears were filled with nothing but these women droning on about loyalty to their master.

At first, Uzumaki Mito had paid no mind to this hypnotic rhetoric, but she soon came to realize just how formidable these techniques truly were.

"Yo, if it isn't the dignified Princess of Uzumaki, Uzumaki Mito."

Seeing Uzumaki Mito looking utterly mentally exhausted, Uchiha Yang smiled with satisfaction.

It seemed the effects were quite good; if he kept this up, the only outcome awaiting Uzumaki Mito would be a mental breakdown.

"Do you have any idea that your Uzumaki Clan is currently unable to even protect itself?"

Uchiha Yang leaned in close to Uzumaki Mito's ear. To her, his gentle tone sounded like a devil whispering, cold and grating.

"What did you say?"

Uzumaki Mito, who had previously shown no reaction, suddenly became incredibly animated in Uchiha Yang's eyes.

Uchiha Yang clapped his hands in satisfaction. "The Senju Clan has abandoned the Uzumaki Clan. Now, they are left with nothing but starvation, or the choice to go out and scavenge for food."

"But just imagine what awaits them out there! Considering how precious sealing techniques are, in the eyes of certain ninja clans, the ninjas of your Uzumaki Clan are nothing more than glittering treasures."

"Hahaha!!!"

Uchiha Yang's words drew a violent reaction from Uzumaki Mito. "You devil! You Uchiha will meet a miserable end!"

Her clan had always been the top priority in Uzumaki Mito's heart. As the Princess of Uzumaki, she had only ever wanted to see the Uzumaki Clan flourish.

Yet now, hearing the other party describe the clan's current plight, Uzumaki Mito even began to harbor resentment toward the Senju Clan.

With her mental stamina already nearing its limit, this news—regardless of whether it was true or false—dealt a massive blow to her psyche.

"Let me go! I want to go back! I have to go back!"

Uzumaki Mito began to scream and shout, her mind spiraling toward collapse.

Uchiha Yang dug at his ear, finding the noise somewhat grating.

"Keep wearing her down."

After giving this brief instruction, Uchiha Yang wrapped his arm around Xia Lian's slender waist and left the basement.