After Mu and Ōnoki left Konoha, Senju Tobirama stormed into Uchiha Yan's office.
"Uchiha Yan, you're too weak."
"It was Iwagakure that came to seek an alliance. Konoha's strength means we have no need to ally with them at all. We should have taken the opportunity to demand more benefits."
"Tobirama, Konoha was founded to protect peace, not to kick people when they're down. Besides, even if Lord Hokage were here, I believe he would have done the same."
Uchiha Yan struck straight at his heart. "Also, I am the acting Hokage, not you."
"Uchiha Yan, you'll regret this."
Bang—
Senju Tobirama slammed the door behind him and left in a rage.
Although Konoha had not gained any enormous advantage from its alliance with Iwagakure, it had still secured plenty of tangible benefits.
Economically, Konoha's goods could be sold in the Land of Earth, while raw materials could be bought from the Land of Earth at lower prices. The Land of Earth was rich in mineral resources, including iron ore and all kinds of rare ores. By purchasing them at lower prices, Konoha reduced its costs.
Culturally, Konoha's books, films, and television productions could be exported to Iwagakure. Children in Iwagakure would grow up under the influence of Konoha's culture, and their values would gradually become Konoha-oriented. Once they grew up and gained influence in Iwagakure, they would naturally feel closer to Konoha and steer policies toward it.
This was cultural infiltration, export, and influence. Sometimes, this kind of soft power was even more effective than the battlefield.
Unfortunately, that old ghost Senju Tobirama was short-sighted and saw only the immediate benefits. He was practically a relic of the Warring States era. There was destined to be no place for him aboard Konoha's great ship of the new age.
However, the greatest beneficiary of this alliance was Uchiha Yan himself. Although he had used Kotoamatsukami, and his left eye might not be usable again for more than a decade, his right eye's Kamui remained. As long as he did not roam wildly across the ninja world, it would be enough to protect himself.
Before Mu left Konoha, he handed over the Dust Release ninjutsu and Earth Release: Light-Weight Rock Technique to him.
Dust Release was a ninjutsu developed by Mu and later passed down to his disciple Ōnoki. Yet Ōnoki and Mu were not related by blood, while Ōnoki's granddaughter, Black Earth the Leg Shadow, had failed to learn Dust Release.
This showed that Dust Release was not inherited through bloodlines, but rather a Kekkei Tōta that could be learned through training.
Dust Release required precise control over fire, wind, and earth chakra. The three types of chakra had to be mixed in exact proportions and fused in perfect synchronization.
The Uchiha Clan were born experts at playing with fire. Aside from the Sharingan, the Uchiha Clan's signature specialty was Fire Release ninjutsu.
Uchiha Yan was also skilled in Wind Release. Fire borrowed the wind's force, while wind enhanced fire's might. Wind Release and Fire Release could be combined to increase the power of Fire Release, and quite a few Uchiha Clan members were proficient in Wind Release as well.
In the original work, Uchiha Obito's Fire Release: Blast Wind Wild Dance was a unique technique combining Kamui with Fire Release—he first used his Mangekyō to distort space and create a spiraling gale, then spewed flames to form a rotating fire vortex. It had a wide range and incredible speed. In essence, it also used Wind Release to amplify its power.
Earth Release... he truly was not very proficient in it.
Still, he could practice it slowly. Once he could skillfully master fire, wind, and earth chakra, he could begin learning Dust Release.
Land of Earth, Iwagakure.
Mu and Ōnoki returned to the village without incident.
"How did it go? What was the outcome of this alliance?"
Ōnoki spoke first. "Grandfather, Konoha and Iwagakure successfully formed an alliance this time. The Hokage was absent, so the acting Hokage, Uchiha Yan, handled it on his behalf. People say the Uchiha Clan are arrogant and conceited, but this Uchiha Yan was humble, polite, and approachable."
Mu said, "Lord Tsuchikage, this alliance between Konoha and Iwagakure went so smoothly thanks to Uchiha Yan. He is known in Konoha as the 'Konoha Kirin.' He is resourceful and intelligent, serving not only as Konoha's Minister of Revenue but also as Konoha's strategist. The Uchiha Clan would not have its current status without his contributions."
"The detestable one was Senju Tobirama. At first, he actually demanded that Iwagakure pay tribute. Later, he changed it to demanding that Konoha station troops in Iwagakure. He is narrow-minded and lacks the bearing of a gentleman. However, he is at odds with Uchiha Yan because, during the final battle between the Senju Clan and the Uchiha Clan, Senju Tobirama was defeated by Uchiha Yan. That led to the Senju Clan's defeat, and the position of Hokage falling into Uchiha hands."
"Discord within Konoha is not a bad thing for us." He waved his hand. "The alliance succeeding this time is already an unexpected delight. You have worked hard. Go rest first."
As Mito and Uori neared their deliveries, Konoha's twin pillars, who had been capturing Tailed Beasts throughout the ninja world, also returned to Konoha.
"Lord Madara, Lord Hashirama, you've worked hard."
"Lady Mito and Miss Uori are due within the next few days."
"During this time, Lord Hashirama should spend more time with Lady Mito. And Lord Madara, Lord Izuna has been waiting for you to give her a name."
This time, Senju Hashirama and Uchiha Madara captured the Five-Tails Reverent King, Seven-Tails Double Brightness, and Eight-Tails Ox Demon.
Of the Nine Tailed Beasts in the ninja world, aside from the One-Tail Guard Crane, Isobu, and Nine-Tails Nine Lamas, the other six were all in Konoha.
Other than the Nine-Tails, Uchiha Yan had no interest in any of the other Tailed Beasts.
In the original work, the Nine-Tails possessed an enormous amount of chakra. Even half of the Nine-Tails had more chakra than the complete Eight-Tails. During the Fourth Great Ninja War, Naruto relied on only half of the Nine-Tails to withstand the combined Tailed Beast Bomb of five Tailed Beasts, and he even held the advantage.
Even the Eight-Tails, which was known as the strongest Tailed Beast aside from the Nine-Tails, was less useful than the Seven-Tails in Uchiha Yan's eyes.
Leaving aside the Nine-Tails' various modes—the One-Tail Guard Crane could use Magnet Release and Wind Release, the Two-Tails Matatabi could use Fire Release, Isobu could use Water Release, the Four-Tails Son Goku could use Lava Release, the Five-Tails Reverent King could use Boil Release, the Six-Tails Saiken could use Corrosion Release, and although the Seven-Tails Double Brightness could not use ninjutsu, it could fly. There were countless ninja in the ninja world, but only a handful could fly.
In the original work, after Uchiha Madara was brought back through Impure World Reincarnation, he saw a ninja flying in the sky and immediately guessed it was Ōnoki. That also showed how few flying ninja there were.
Early summer of Konoha's second year.
Konoha welcomed its greatest event since the village's founding—Senju Hashirama and Uchiha Izuna had become parents.
Uzumaki Mito and Uzumaki Uori had the same due date.
First came news from the Senju Clan compound that Lady Mito had given birth to a boy named Senju Shuzong. Senju Tobirama had chosen the name, hoping that the child would inherit his elder brother's Wood Release.
Immediately afterward, news also came from the Uchiha Clan compound. Miss Uori had given birth as well, to a girl named Uchiha Quanzhi. Uchiha Madara had chosen the name. It represented firmly remembering the bond formed by the union of the Uchiha and Uzumaki Clans, a testament to their love and bloodline.
Originally, Uchiha Madara had prepared two names. If it was a boy, he would be called Uchiha True Flame; if it was a girl, Uchiha Fireworks. But in the end, Uchiha Madara adopted Uchiha Yan's suggestion and changed it to Uchiha Quanzhi.
According to their prior agreement, Uchiha Yan became Quanzhi's godfather.
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