"Ah! I'd better go alone. You go back to the clan and give this letter to my elder brother!"
Mingye didn't say much more. Everything was moving too quickly, and he didn't know how soon the Senju Clan's ninja would return. But the Wind-Thunder Clan had to be wiped out before the Uchiha Clan went to war. In his current state, he could only rely on outside help—and it had to be a force that didn't belong to the Uchiha Clan. The Wind-Thunder Clan was currently under the Uchiha Clan's protection, and if the Uchiha attacked them, many smaller clans would be less willing to bow to the Uchiha Clan's summons in the future. The Hatake Clan was the only blade he could think of right now—and the sharpest one, too!
"Young Master, could you tell me the truth?"
"This world has no place for the Wind-Thunder Clan anymore!"
"...!"
"Heh, that's all there is to it! I'll be off, then!"
Lian pressed him for an explanation, but still couldn't get Mingye to say much more. Only Madara, Izuna, Shimizu, and Mingye knew that the Hatake Clan had agreed to submit. Now that Lian had learned of it, there were at most five people in the know, so there was no chance of anything going wrong. Mingye turned and vanished from Lian's sight in a flash, disappearing into the woods.
A faint sound broke the silence of the dark room. The old man, who had been asleep, opened his eyes, slowly shook his head, and sat up with a sigh.
"I'm always wondering: if everyone were willing to enter their so-called homes openly through the front door, would there be a little less strife in this world?"
The night at the Hatake Clan's home was even more desolate. Mingye couldn't understand how a clan with barely more than ten members could be so powerful that even Madara regarded them so highly. He suddenly thought of Kakashi from his previous life, and of the Konoha White Fang, who had never once fought in the story, yet was said to be someone "even the Three Sannin feared." He couldn't help but marvel at the Hatake Clan.
"I suppose I've given you something to laugh about, old man!"
As the candle was lit, its glow revealed Mingye in the corner of the room. When the old man saw his face clearly, he shook his head and sighed once more.
"Heh heh heh! I truly can't understand why Young Master Mingye is pressing me at every turn."
"Things happened suddenly. I was afraid I couldn't wait any longer. It couldn't be helped, could it?"
Mingye remained expressionless. The old man's tone sounded reflective, but Mingye scoffed inwardly. The choice had been made as soon as the Fuma Clan was wiped out. In truth, the Hatake Clan had no other path to take. The Uchiha Clan's overwhelming force in annihilating the Fuma Clan had been terrifying enough, but that wasn't the main reason. More than anything, it was the authority the Uchiha Clan had built up over the years that left the Hatake Clan no choice but to bow.
"Heh heh heh!"
The old man's mocking laughter rang out again. Mingye wasn't a fool. He turned and gave him an entirely guileless smile.
"Please don't use that laugh to mock me, old man. I'm here this time representing no one but myself—Uchiha Mingye!"
"If you're representing only yourself, then could you stop stressing the word 'Uchiha'?"
"I can't help it. This is what they call an open conspiracy!"
"Let's get down to business. As the Hatake Clan's head, I don't have much longer to live. Since I'll never see the clan rise to prominence, it seems I have no choice but to submit."
"The best choice. You'll be proud of it."
"Heh heh! Even if it isn't the best choice, at least I don't want to end up like the Fuma Clan."
"Thanks for the compliment!"
There had been no need for a war of words from the outset. Their positions had already determined the key to their inevitable outcome. No matter how powerful the Hatake Clan was, or how many talented people it had, its population hovered around ten. The Uchiha Clan, on the other hand, could wipe it out in a matter of minutes. The old man had no right to refuse.
"Enough talk. I came here to give the Hatake Clan a great gift. It's a rather heavy gift, though, and I don't know whether the Hatake Clan can handle it."
"Please, Young Master Mingye. Tell me plainly."
The old man thought for a moment, then decided to accept the "gift" Mingye had spoken of. Mingye had already made up his mind, and since the old man had agreed, he wasted no time and got straight to the point.
"For a number of reasons, I've decided the Wind-Thunder Clan can't be allowed to exist anymore. But our clan is protecting them, which has put me in a difficult position."
The old man fell silent. So he was to be the blade after all. It seemed everyone had to do this.
"Is this the great gift you spoke of?"
Mingye nodded and answered him with a serious expression.
"After this is over, the Uchiha Clan won't trouble you in the slightest."
"How will the benefits be divided?"
Since he had agreed to take on the task, the old man had to secure enough benefits to help his clan flourish. He asked at once. Mingye raised his index and middle fingers together and explained.
"When the clan alliance is established, you'll have priority in choosing missions. This decision will rank above the other clans, but below the Uchiha Clan. Your share of the profits will also be second only to the Uchiha Clan's. At least, it won't change while I'm alive."
"Mmm, mmm, mmm! By that measure, it really is a great gift!"
The Uchiha Clan had never allied with anyone, so when it suddenly began taking in a "small clan" like theirs, the old man knew its ambitions were enormous. The promised share of the profits and the right to choose missions first wouldn't last forever, but coming from Mingye, the pledge carried real weight. It would remain in effect until he died. As the old man saw it, Mingye would live at least another twenty years, giving the Hatake Clan two decades to grow its population and raise at least one new generation. The plan offered him nothing but benefits.
"The Wind-Thunder Clan came to the Land of Fire from overseas, and its population exceeds five hundred. I'd like to ask you something, Young Master. Can we leave any of them alive?"
The old man looked at Mingye, troubled by his choice of words earlier. It sounded as if wiping out the Wind-Thunder Clan wasn't the Uchiha Clan's idea. Still, he couldn't understand why Mingye was so set on destroying a clan that had already submitted to them. Mingye didn't seem like the sort to act out of competitiveness or jealousy.
"Anyone with a trace of chakra—kill without exception!"
Mingye's body stiffened. Then he shook his head.
"What made you decide to destroy the Wind-Thunder Clan, when they had already joined your clan?" Mingye didn't brush off the old man's question. Since he was asking them to destroy a clan that had submitted to his own, he had to give a genuine reason. He summoned the Blood Pact Scroll.
"It's personal. I'm an heir to Ryūchi Cave, and so are they!"
"Heh heh heh!"
The moment he saw the scroll, the old man understood everything. He gave a bitter laugh, though it was unclear whether he pitied the Wind-Thunder Clan or felt sorrow over their twisted fate.
"This is your proof of loyalty. If the Hatake Clan succeeds, you'll gain benefits beyond anything you can imagine. Everything the Wind-Thunder Clan currently owns will be under the Hatake Clan's control. The Uchiha Clan won't take a single coin!"
Seeing the old man laugh again, Mingye thought he was trying to bargain. Already rich enough to spare, he offered another generous concession. The old man was delighted. He nodded, unable to hide his satisfaction.
"I'll take the job."
At the foot of a steep cliff stood a village enclosed by a wooden fence. A few farmers began their day of planting and weeding, while smoke rising from the chimneys heralded the fresh start of a new morning. Leaning on a cane, Mingye slowly made his way along the muddy road and entered the unfamiliar village.
As soon as Mingye entered the village, he heard a familiar voice from inside one of the houses, one he hadn't heard in a long time.
"Young Master Mingye, I didn't expect you to honor us with a visit. Your training at Ryūchi Cave must have benefited you greatly!"
Mingye looked toward the voice, smiled, and nodded in praise.
"It's been three years, Lord Tamaza Ryojin, and you're still as hale as ever. It seems life on this land in the Land of Fire has treated you well!"
"Hahahaha! I have your Uchiha Clan to thank for that! Come on in!"
His hearty laughter rang out. The door opened, and Tamaza Ryojin walked over to Mingye. Though Mingye couldn't see the surroundings, his senses told him that the Wind-Thunder Clan's ninja were concealed among the ravines. They were in a remarkably secure position. Even if his own clan launched a direct assault, they would suffer casualties, and more importantly, they might not be able to wipe out the Wind-Thunder Clan completely. Poison had been an effective way to destroy the Fuma Clan, but that had been a trick; it couldn't be used against the Wind-Thunder Clan as well. After weighing the matter, Mingye changed the plan in his mind and praised the Wind-Thunder Clan's stronghold.
"The ravines are steep, and there's only one road into this valley. The cliffs on all sides are too steep for even ninja to climb quickly, and their surfaces are smooth and bare, with nowhere to hide. The Wind-Thunder Clan must have gone to a great deal of effort to establish a stronghold here."
Tamaza Ryojin was pleased by Mingye's praise. After all, it was hard to be offended by a compliment, and it felt good to be praised—especially by the clan that, in name, ruled over and protected his own. He enjoyed it for only a moment before asking Mingye another question.
"Our little stronghold is nothing special. May I ask what brings you here, Young Master?"
"The inheritance of Ryūchi Cave was passed down by your Wind-Thunder Clan, but it seems you've forgotten to write my name on the scroll, Lord Tamaza Ryojin."
"Heh heh! That was an oversight on my part. I forgot something so important. Please accept my apology, Young Master."
Mingye explained with a chuckle, and Tamaza Ryojin remembered that Mingye's name had yet to be written on the Blood Pact Scroll. Without it, he couldn't summon the creatures of Ryūchi Cave, and that would hinder him even if he had mastered its inheritance. He gave an awkward laugh to cover up his forgetfulness and apologized.
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