Extermination of the Fuma Clan (2)

At the end of a dilapidated street stood a manor, yet the thick layer of dust and fallen leaves told Uchiha Mingye that no one had walked here for a long time. Mingye smiled faintly; he had not expected the so-called clan of samurai-ninjas to have fallen to such a state. It was no wonder his elder brother hadn't even bothered to come himself, merely sending a letter to dispatch him here. He walked up to the manor gate and knocked.

"Who is it!"

The voice was resonant and filled with vigilance. The gate creaked open just a sliver, and a pair of sharp eyes appeared to size Mingye up. Unfortunately, Mingye could perceive none of this. He smiled calmly and spoke to the person behind the door.

"An envoy from the Uchiha Clan. Are you truly so afraid of us?"

"Hmph!"

With a cold snort, the gate groaned as it was pulled wide. Mingye sensed the man who had spoken step away from the entrance. Without a second thought, Mingye stepped forward, following the path the man had taken into the manor.

"So the brat is a ninja from the Uchiha Clan!"

As he entered the main hall, an aged voice reached Mingye's ears. Yet, Mingye could not sense a shred of chakra presence. He frowned for a moment before smoothing his expression, speaking with calm composure.

"I have long heard that the Hatake Clan excels in swordsmanship, having trained to such an extreme that one can hide their very self like a blade in its sheath. Seeing it today, the reputation is well-deserved!"

"A minor trick, a mere trifle. It is simply a meager skill passed down by our ancestors, and this old man is too stubborn to discard it. I did not expect the lad to be blind; please forgive my lack of hospitality!"

The old man's voice sounded again. Unlike before, Mingye now sensed a faint trace of chakra—so weak it was almost imperceptible. Knowing this was the old man signaling his location, he walked toward it. His keen sense of air currents allowed him to reach a tea table quickly and sit down gracefully.

"The lad has some talent, actually using air currents to navigate. No wonder you can act like a normal person despite your blindness. Marvelous! Truly marvelous!"

"I am Uchiha Mingye."

"And I am Hatake Zangshuo."

After they exchanged names, a playful impulse struck Mingye, and he turned to ask, "So you are the patriarch of the Hatake Clan. I never would have guessed—truly, I never would have. May I be so bold as to ask a question?"

"Oh? And what does the lad wish to know?"

"Is it true that the Hatake Clan is defined by their white hair?"

"Hahahaha! It is no mere rumor!"

The old man had been curious about what Mingye wanted to ask, and he hadn't expected the boy to point to his own head just to inquire about hair color. He laughed heartily, took a sip of tea, and answered. Mingye, unable to see, had been genuinely curious. After hearing the reply, he took the letter tucked into his sleeve and placed it on the tea table.

"I have come today for one purpose: to merge our clans. And I do not mean that in a literal sense. It is to bring clans together to build a village, to mediate the conflicts between ninja clans so they no longer slaughter one another. We shall build a village to coexist in harmony, while still retaining the secret techniques and true traditions of each clan. We will establish a ninja army; those fifteen and older may enlist, and they shall only be eligible for retirement at twenty."

The old man took the letter without opening it. The six characters written in the hand of Uchiha Madara left him momentarily stunned. He had heard the Uchiha leadership had changed, but he hadn't given it much thought. Recalling it now, the name of the new head was indeed Uchiha Madara. He looked at Mingye, trying to glean some hint of truth from his expression.

"The Uchiha Clan has grand ambitions indeed!"

Mingye replied with a blank expression. After this business was concluded, he needed to return to the clan quickly; Madara's series of plans were about to commence. A month of preparation had allowed Madara to make full arrangements to build a true village on the barren land Mingye had requested, rather than just another secret Uchiha outpost.

"We merely wish to end senseless strife. It is time for the world to know peace."

"Hahahaha! Might you allow this old man a few days to consider?"

Though his expression remained calm and devoid of emotion, the old man understood another fact: the Uchiha Clan had truly begun their move. This was no empty threat; they were absolutely determined to follow through on their words.

"Please consider it carefully, sir. We have ample time, but you must give me a date so that I may be prepared. I must report back to my elder brother, after all."

The old man's laughter did not move Mingye in the slightest. Ever since he had killed that unwavering youth of the Fuma Clan, Mingye's heart had grown cold once more. The so-called "good" had been ruthlessly erased, and the consequence was that Mingye had become increasingly rational. He pressed the old man for an answer.

The old man was startled and asked again, "And your elder brother is...?"

A smirk tugged at the corner of Mingye's mouth as he replied, "Uchiha Madara."

The old man was no stranger to the ways of the world. Mingye's words carried two meanings: first, that as the brother of the clan head, his personal visit was a gesture of great respect; second, it was a warning—the Uchiha Clan would not wait indefinitely. The date the old man provided would be the final ultimatum.

"Hahahaha! This old man understands. Then, how about you give me one month?"

"Then we shall meet again in one month."

A month was neither long nor short, and Mingye was satisfied. He decided not to linger, stood up, nodded to the old man, and the moment he stepped out of the house, he dissolved into a mist and vanished from the old man's sight.

"A Shadow Clone technique?! No, that was a clone technique infused with chakra! Hahahaha! What kind of trouble have I brought upon myself, old man?"

After delivering the letter, Mingye used the Reverse Summoning Technique to return to Ryuchi Cave, then was summoned back by Ara, who had been following the clansmen. In just a few breaths, he was back at the Uchiha compound.

Appearing directly in the newly renovated study, Mingye joked to the people gathered there, "There aren't many ninjas left in the Hatake Clan."

"According to the records, there are only five or six of them. But you must never underestimate them. Their blades are such that even I would need to use Susanoo to block them."

Izuna, having finished drawing the map on the screen, turned to look at Mingye, warning him not to be careless. Mingye shrugged, sat to the side, and teased Izuna, "I won't be foolish enough to fight them. They've taken it under consideration—one month."

Izuna nodded, pondered for a moment, and then looked toward Madara, who was sitting at the head of the table reviewing documents.

"One month? That's acceptable; the time is relatively sufficient. Elder brother, what about the issue we just discussed?"

"What happened?"

Mingye asked curiously. Madara's expression was grave as he spoke to Mingye.

"We just received an intelligence report. It says the ninjas of the Senju Clan are moving east. They have migrated as a whole clan, leaving the heart of the Land of Fire. I don't know what kind of conspiracy they are plotting."

As the Uchiha Clan's number one mortal enemy, even though Madara had been deliberately avoiding further conflict, the hatred between them was unavoidable. Furthermore, because Senju Hashirama was always someone Madara kept in mind, he often focused his attention on the movements of the Senju Clan.

"It's been three years since I last saw him."

Mingye chuckled softly, as if reminiscing about an interesting childhood, while Izuna did not respond, instead turning contemplative as he spoke.

"Their destination should be the Land of Whirlpools. I've heard that the Uzumaki Clan there shares a certain bloodline connection with them. Furthermore, from what I understand, the Uzumaki Clan in the Land of Whirlpools possesses extremely powerful sealing techniques!"

Mingye knew that the Senju Clan and the Uzumaki Clan would intermarry. In the near future, the head of the Senju Clan, Senju Hashirama, would marry the daughter of the Uzumaki Clan's leader—the woman who would become the renowned princess of the Land of Whirlpools and the first Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, Uzumaki Mito.

"What do they want with sealing techniques? I've looked into the Uzumaki Clan; they are known for their massive chakra reserves, but they lack any real combat ability. Otherwise, they wouldn't be confined to the tiny territory of the Land of Whirlpools acting as royalty. I truly don't know what the Senju Clan is thinking!"

Mingye's words caused Madara to frown as well. After pondering for a moment, a smile touched his lips as he looked at Mingye and Izuna.

"Whatever they are thinking, that is no longer the most important thing. What we can do while they are away is to deal with those who have been far too compliant and agreeable toward them!"

"Does Big Brother mean...!"

As Madara's right-hand man, Izuna had spent the last three years helping him handle the majority of the clan's administrative affairs, so he vaguely sensed what Madara was implying the moment he spoke.

Madara looked at Izuna and nodded. To ensure Mingye understood the situation, he immediately began to explain.

"Three targets. In the past three years, I don't know what Senju Hashirama has done, but three clans have already begun to lean toward the Senju Clan: the Haguro, the Togakushi, and the Kurohabaki. These are just the ones who have shown their intentions openly. If these three clans are truly allowed to integrate into the Senju Clan's ranks, it will inevitably lead to a qualitative increase in the Senju Clan's strength!"

"The Senju Clan has never been a clan centered solely on bloodline. Although they haven't made any major moves in the past, that doesn't mean they are a clan that fights alone. The abilities they possess and the legends passed down about them have earned them high prestige among many smaller clans. If they are willing, those small clans will absolutely pledge their faith to them, and their submission will be no issue at all!"

Mingye nodded while deep in thought. During his three years at Ryuchi Cave, he had learned much about the legends of ninja clans—the Uchiha, the Senju, and even the Uzumaki. Of course, none of that was the main point; what truly interested him was not those powerful clans mentioned above, but a clan that was not yet very famous, yet was already the most powerful in the Land of Lightning: the Yotsuki Clan.