Two Choices

At the same time as the Uchiha Clan marched out in grand force to punish the Snow Clan.

A sudden gale rose outside the Senju Clan Grounds.

Uzumaki Ashina, draped in a white divine robe, led Uzumaki Mito and fifty elite Uzumaki jonin forward like a furious tide pressing down on the border.

"Senju Butsuma! Get the hell out here!" Ashina's roar exploded like thunder, shaking ripples across the barrier around the outer edge of the Senju Clan Grounds.

Senju Hashirama straightened his robes, then hurried toward the clan gate with the four elders.

From a distance, he saw Uzumaki Ashina and Uzumaki Mito's signature red hair whipping wildly in the wind.

Behind them, fifty Uzumaki jonin stood ready for battle. The atmosphere was drawn tight as a blade.

"Senior Ashina, Miss Mito!" Hashirama called out loudly, while signaling the guards to open a gap in the barrier. "Please calm your anger. My father is not in the clan right now. Whatever it is, we can talk it over properly!"

Uzumaki Ashina snorted coldly. "Talk it over properly? Your Senju Clan broke faith and betrayed us, and you still have the face to say talk it over properly?"

With a wave of his hand, the Uzumaki ninja behind him immediately formed hand seals. Dozens of golden chains wove through the air into a net.

First Elder Senju Zhijian hurriedly stepped forward. "Clan Leader Ashina, this is entirely a misunderstanding! We were also deceived by the Uchiha..."

"Bullshit!" Uzumaki Ashina cut him off with an angry shout. "My granddaughter saw it with her own eyes and heard it with her own ears. How could it be false? Your Senju Clan deliberately meant to harm my Uzumaki Clan!"

"That's right. Your Senju Clan has basically been scheming all along, trying to swallow up our Uzumaki Clan," Uzumaki Mito shouted angrily.

The Senju clansmen looked at one another, and the faces of the four elders instantly turned ugly.

Hashirama bowed deeply. "Senior Ashina, Miss Mito, on behalf of the Senju Clan, I offer you our solemn apology.

This matter was indeed our fault. The Senju can make amends to every member of the Uzumaki Clan..."

Uzumaki Mito's cold gaze stared straight at Hashirama. "Make amends? What compensation can the Senju Clan offer? Do you know how many Uzumaki clansmen this deception nearly killed?"

Fine beads of sweat seeped from Hashirama's forehead, but he still maintained his bowed posture. "I am truly sorry! Senior Uzumaki, Miss Mito, then how would the two of you like to resolve this now?"

Uzumaki Ashina said expressionlessly, "Hashirama boy, seeing as your attitude is still fairly sincere, this old man will give you two choices.

"First, hand over all of the Senju Clan's S-rank forbidden technique secret scrolls as compensation.

Second, from today onward, the Senju and Uzumaki will be enemies for generations!"

The faces of the four Senju elders instantly turned gloomy.

Second Elder Senju Linjian was so furious his beard trembled. "Uzumaki Ashina! Don't go too far! The S-rank forbidden technique secret scrolls are the foundation of my Senju Clan. How is what you're doing any different from robbery?"

Third Elder Senju Wenjian's chakra surged around him. "This is simply going too far! Do you really think my Senju Clan is easy to bully?"

Uzumaki Ashina sneered. "What? You did wrong and still act so righteous?"

The Uzumaki ninja behind him all stepped forward in unison, and the golden chains let out a piercing hum.

"Elders, please calm down!" Hashirama hurriedly raised a hand to stop them.

Then he turned to Uzumaki Ashina and said respectfully, "Senior Ashina, S-rank forbidden techniques are indeed extremely important to us Senju..."

"Cut the crap!" Uzumaki Mito shouted angrily. "Either hand over the secret scrolls, or go to war! We have no third choice for you!"

Hashirama struggled inwardly for a moment, then looked at Uzumaki Ashina. "Senior Ashina, I am willing to hand over three S-rank forbidden technique secret scrolls, plus ten A-rank ninjutsu scrolls as compensation.

This is already the greatest sincerity the Senju Clan can offer."

The four Senju elders immediately grew anxious. "Young Clan Leader! This..."

"Shut up!" Hashirama barked, rarely so stern. "I will make the decision on this matter myself!"

Uzumaki Ashina narrowed his eyes, clearly dissatisfied with these terms.

He was just about to speak when Uzumaki Mito gently tugged his sleeve.

"Grandfather," Mito said in a low voice, "let's quit while we're ahead. Three S-rank forbidden techniques are already enough for us to study for a while. If we truly push the Senju too far, it will be more loss than gain."

Uzumaki Ashina nodded thoughtfully. "Very well. Seeing as Hashirama boy is still fairly sincere... But the three S-rank forbidden techniques must be chosen by me personally, and the ten A-rank ninjutsu must include at least three medical ninjutsu."

Hashirama nodded without hesitation. "Agreed. I will have someone fetch the catalog of the secret scroll vault right away."

Then he turned and instructed the fourth elder, "Elder Lijian, please go and fetch it."

Though the fourth elder's face was full of reluctance, he still accepted the order and left.

Uzumaki Mito watched Hashirama. "Young Master Hashirama, I have a question."

Hashirama replied, "Please speak, Miss Mito."

"Does your father know about this?" Mito looked straight into his eyes.

Hashirama smiled bitterly. "Actually, before my father left, he instructed me that he would rather compensate you with more things than let us become enemies with the Uzumaki Clan!"

Uzumaki Ashina said coldly, "Hmph. If you knew it would come to this, why do it in the first place?"

Soon, the fourth elder returned with the secret scroll catalog.

After some haggling, Uzumaki Ashina finally selected three S-rank forbidden techniques: Fire Release: Dragon Flame Nuclear Blast, Water Release: Water Dragon Heavenly Burial, and an ancient space-time barrier technique, "Instant Eternity."

By the time the handover ceremony was completed, the sky was nearly dusk.

After Uzumaki Ashina finished checking the scrolls, he nodded in satisfaction. "We're leaving!"

Hashirama watched the Uzumaki Clan's retreating backs and let out a long breath.

The afterglow of the setting sun shone on his weary face, stretching his shadow very long.

The four elders gathered around him, all looking rather grim.

Second Elder Linjian was the first to speak. "Young Clan Leader, our losses this time are too great! Those three S-rank forbidden techniques are all ultimate arts our Senju keep at the bottom of the chest!"

"Especially 'Instant Eternity,'" Third Elder Wenjian beat his chest and stamped his feet. "That is a secret technique capable of briefly stopping time! And we just gave it away for nothing..."

Hashirama turned around, his calm gaze sweeping over the four elders. "Elders, think of it from another angle. As long as the Uzumaki Clan has not completely turned against us, there is still a possibility of repairing the alliance.

If they grow stronger, that may not necessarily be a bad thing for the Senju."

First Elder Zhijian's brows were tightly furrowed. "Young Clan Leader, what this old man fears is raising a tiger only to invite disaster! If the Uzumaki Clan bites us back in the future..."

"They won't." Hashirama interrupted the first elder. "I believe that with Miss Mito there, the Uzumaki Clan will not do such a thing."

Fourth Elder Lijian said in surprise, "Why is Young Clan Leader so certain?"

"When she left, Miss Mito secretly slipped a note into my hand."

Hashirama took a small note from his sleeve. There were only a few simple words on it: "Beware Uchiha Mo."

First Elder Zhijian took the note. "Beware Uchiha Mo? What does that mean?"

Second Elder Linjian stroked his beard and pondered. "Uchiha Mo... That name is unfamiliar.

Could he be a new genius who has emerged from the Uchiha Clan?"