Negotiation (Part One)

The sun gradually climbed higher, and the group moved swiftly through the dense forest.

When they were about fifty li from the scheduled negotiation site, the open buffer river valley along the northeastern border.

Qin Mo, walking at the very front, suddenly stopped.

"Stop!"

"On guard!" Grand Elder Uchiha Lei Dou barked. He and Second Elder Uchiha Yan Yue used the Body Flicker almost at the same time, taking position on Qin Mo's left and right to shield him, Madara, and Izuna.

Jin and Yan also stepped forward soundlessly, their gazes beneath their bamboo hats sharp as knives, powerful chakra held back and unreleased.

Crimson Snow, Cang, and Shun formed a triangle around Qin Mo, protecting him at the center.

Hozuki Dark Moon and Xue Tahai also quickly formed hand seals, water vapor and ice crystals quietly spreading around them.

All around was silent, with only the rustle of wind through the forest leaves.

Several young Uchiha jonin nervously swept their gazes across the deep forest, yet found nothing.

Just as a trace of doubt rose in someone's heart, suspecting that Qin Mo might be too sensitive.

"Hmph." Qin Mo let out a mocking sound. "The Senju Clan really can't change its turtle-like nature.

Can you only hide in the dark like cowards and do underhanded things that can't be brought into the light?"

The instant Qin Mo's words fell!

"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—!"

The sound of air being torn apart suddenly rang out!

A dozen figures flashed out like ghosts from the dense canopies, from behind rocks, and from the shadows beneath the ground in every direction!

The man in the lead was tall and burly, his eyes as oppressive as a fierce tiger's. It was none other than the Senju Clan's patriarch—Senju Butsuma!

Behind him, four figures stood like iron towers, their auras deep and heavy. They were the renowned Senju Four Polar Generals—Kai, Wu, Sen, and Hao!

Behind them were ten sharp and imposing elite Senju jonin!

Jin and Yan's bodies instantly tensed beneath their bamboo hats!

Though their faces could not be seen, that bone-deep hatred almost seemed ready to turn into tangible flames and erupt!

It was these four men before them who had ambushed and gravely wounded them back then, leaving them with lifelong disabilities!

If Qin Mo had not healed them, they would have been cripples for the rest of their lives.

New grudges and old hatred surged into their hearts in an instant!

But they forced down the impulse to rush forward and fight with their lives, only because Qin Mo had yet to speak!

When Senju Butsuma saw that his son was still alive, though in a sorry state, his taut face relaxed slightly.

"Lei Dou, you old bastard!" Senju Butsuma's voice was like muffled thunder. "State your terms! What will it take for you to release Tobirama and my clansmen?"

Qin Mo said calmly, "Patriarch Butsuma, why ask what you already know?

The letter made it perfectly clear.

A one-year ceasefire, and you hand over control of the three border fortresses in the northwest, due north, and northeast.

Then I will naturally return them to you safe and sound."

"I'm speaking with that old ghost Lei Dou. What right does a brat like you have to cut in?" Senju Butsuma's gaze sliced toward Qin Mo like an icy blade.

However, Qin Mo met Senju Butsuma's oppressive stare without the slightest weakness.

"Impudent!" Grand Elder Uchiha Lei Dou gave a heavy cold snort, and a majestic aura no weaker than Senju Butsuma's suddenly spread out with a boom!

"Standing before you is the third young master of my Uchiha Clan—Uchiha Mo!

His status is honored, and he is also the plenipotentiary representative for this negotiation!

The fact that he is willing to speak with you personally already gives your Senju Clan more than enough face! You should be reverent!"

"Plenipotentiary representative?" Senju Butsuma's pupils suddenly contracted as he looked at Qin Mo in disbelief!

This overturned his understanding!

Uchiha Tajima had actually allowed such a young son to control such an important negotiation?

He suppressed the shock and doubt in his heart, his voice carrying a probing note. "You mean... he can make decisions on behalf of the Uchiha Clan?"

"Young Master Mo's words are the will of the entire Uchiha Clan!" Lei Dou said decisively.

Second Elder Uchiha Yan Yue also nodded slightly, his cold gaze locking onto Senju Butsuma and making his stance clear.

"Since a brat like you can make decisions, then this old man will speak frankly to you!" Senju Butsuma said loudly. "A one-year ceasefire can still be discussed!

But three border fortresses?

Absolutely impossible!

Those are strategic barriers my Senju Clan spent countless effort to build, gateways used to resist powerful enemies!

How could we hand them over freely?

This is the bottom line of my Senju Clan!"

As he spoke, the fingers hidden in his sleeve made another extremely concealed gesture!

An attack gesture!

"Old ghost Butsuma! I'd advise you not to play these petty tricks!" Madara, who had been staring fixedly at Senju Butsuma's subtle movements, warned. "Otherwise, you'll regret it too late!"

Almost at the same time Madara spoke, the escorted Senju Tobirama also shouted himself hoarse. "Father, be careful! My body... is covered in explosive tags!"

Senju Butsuma roared sharply, "Stop! Nobody move!"

"Buzz—!

"Click-clack-clack-clack—!"

A burst of buzzing from tightened bowstrings being forcibly slackened, along with the harsh grinding of massive mechanisms being forced to reset, came rapidly from deep within the dense forest on both sides.

Clearly, the twenty siege-breaking heavy crossbows lying in ambush had already been primed and ready, only to be forcibly halted at the critical moment!

Izuna sneered disdainfully. "Tsk, tsk, tsk. So this is the so-called prestigious Senju Clan of the ninja world!

You tried to shoot us dead while we were unprepared, then take the chance to rescue Senju Tobirama?

What a brilliant scheme!

This sinister and despicable behavior truly does carry on the 'glorious tradition' passed down by your Senju Clan!"

Izuna's words were like poison-tempered arrows, precisely piercing through the Senju Clan's final fig leaf.

The faces of the Senju instantly flushed the color of pig liver.

To have such a lowly ambush exposed in public, and to be mocked so viciously for it, was simply an extraordinary humiliation!

"You sharp-tongued little beast!" Senju Butsuma was thoroughly enraged!

Humiliated so publicly by a junior, with the dignity of the entire Senju trampled underfoot, the fury of the patriarch instantly overwhelmed his reason!

A violent chakra pressure, carrying almost tangible killing intent, surged like collapsing mountains and roaring seas, crushing toward Izuna!

"Old ghost Butsuma! You dare!" Grand Elder Uchiha Lei Dou's hair and beard bristled with rage, and his explosive shout was like thunder from the ninth heaven!

The three tomoe in Lei Dou's eyes slowly transformed into three pairs of sharp fan shapes, like blood-dripping blades and shadows that devoured light.

Within the rotating vortex, they locked together fiercely, tearing and dragging out a dizzying trajectory.

"Boom—"

An invisible wave of air violently collided between the two men and exploded!

A violent wind suddenly rose, sweeping dead leaves and shattered stones into the sky!

The surrounding trees shook violently, groaning as if they could not bear the strain!

The ninja with slightly weaker strength were forced back again and again by the aftermath of this clash of auras.

Lei Dou stood firmly in place, like an unshakable mountain.

"The dignified Senju patriarch is actually this despicable!

When negotiations fail, you fly into a rage from shame and try to bully the young with your age, making a move against my clan's young lord?

Old ghost Butsuma, don't tell me you obtained your position as patriarch through sneak attacks, plots, and bullying the weak?"

Senju Butsuma was so choked by Lei Dou's aura and those heart-piercing words that his blood churned, and he nearly spat blood!