Hidden Village

"Father!" Senju Tobirama forced himself to stay upright and said weakly, "We can't hesitate any longer! We have to act immediately!

Before the Uchiha finish consolidating their forces, we must form an offensive and defensive alliance with neutral clans like the Sarutobi Clan, Shimura Clan, Hatake Clan, Yamanaka Clan, Nara Clan, Akimichi Clan, and Aburame Clan as soon as possible!

We have to tie them to our war chariot!

Otherwise, once Uchiha Mo has his hands free, with the methods he used to win over the Kaguya and Hozuki Clan, those fence-sitting clans will surely fall to the Uchiha one after another!

When that time comes, our Senju Clan will truly be turtles in a jar, with no escape even if we grow wings!"

Senju Butsuma said darkly, "Do you think your father doesn't want to? I sent people to contact them many times before, but they either gave vague answers or simply avoided meeting us!

Those old foxes are all masters of calculation!

They won't loose the hawk until they see the hare!

Without enough benefits or a life-and-death crisis right in front of them, they'll only sit on the mountain and watch the tigers fight, waiting for us and the Uchiha to both end up battered and broken.

Then they can come out to clean up the mess and reap the fisherman's profit!"

"Then let me go!" Senju Hashirama said firmly. "Father! Let me go in person! I'll go to the Sarutobi Clan, the Shimura Clan, the Hatake Clan... I'll negotiate with them one by one!

I'll visit the clan lands of the Yamanaka Clan, Nara Clan, Akimichi Clan, Aburame Clan, and Inuzuka Clan!

I'll convince them!

I'll tell them the truth that when the lips are gone, the teeth grow cold!

I'll tell them about the Uchiha's ambitions!

I'll tell them that only by joining together do they have any hope of surviving!

And... the Uzumaki Clan... I'll personally make a trip there too!"

Looking at the unquestionable determination and rare forcefulness in his eldest son's eyes, Senju Butsuma fell silent.

He knew that this might be the Senju Clan's only chance at survival now.

After a long while, he let out a heavy sigh. "Fine... then... I'll leave it to you, Hashirama.

If you need manpower or resources, speak directly to the Great Elder! The full strength of my Senju Clan will support you!"

"Kai, Wu, Mori, Gou!" Senju Butsuma looked at the Four Polar Generals. "The four of you will lead twenty elite jonin and guard Hashirama closely!

You must ensure his safety!"

"Yes, clan leader!" the Four Polar Generals accepted in unison.

"Tobirama," Senju Butsuma looked at his second son, who was covered in wounds. "Your injuries have not healed. For this period of time, remain in the clan grounds and recuperate properly. You are not to go out!"

"Yes... Father..." Tobirama gritted his teeth and agreed, though his eyes were filled with unwillingness.

"Everyone, leave." Senju Butsuma waved tiredly.

Carrying heavy hearts and suppressed rage, everyone silently left the council hall.

Inside the hall where the lamplight flickered, only Senju Butsuma remained, gazing at the deep night outside the window, his back looking especially desolate.

At the same time.

Somewhere in the shinobi world, in an unknown paradise beyond the world, protected by layer after layer of natural barriers and powerful illusions.

Deep in a valley filled with birdsong and the fragrance of flowers, an ancient, simple village stood in silence.

At the center of the village, inside a hall built from massive logs.

A burly middle-aged man who had been meditating with his eyes closed suddenly opened them!

"This aura... such pure life force... such intense ripples of fate..." The middle-aged man was Ba Cangyue, the leader of this hidden village.

He rose abruptly, his gaze piercing through the wooden walls as if crossing countless mountains and rivers, locking firmly onto the southeast!

"Someone! Summon the Six Pillars immediately!" Ba Cangyue's voice instantly spread throughout the peaceful village.

In only a moment, six figures appeared in the hall like ghosts.

Their auras were deep and steady, some fierce and forceful, some soft and sinister, some scorching, some profound. Clearly, they were all individuals of extraordinary strength.

The man at their head had a stern face and eyes as sharp as a hawk's. He was none other than the chief of the Six Pillars—Yumen Luo.

"Lord Cangyue!" Yumen Luo bowed slightly. "To summon us so urgently, could it be... you sensed the child of destiny?"

Ba Cangyue slowly nodded, his face grave as never before. "Just now! In the southeast, roughly five thousand li away!

A vast, pure life energy carrying the guidance of fate erupted!

At its core... it contains the unique fluctuation of the one of destiny from our grandmaster's prophecy! There can be no mistake!"

"The one of destiny has finally appeared?" Several uncontrollable cries of shock and sharp intakes of breath instantly rang through the hall.

The faces of the other five all showed complex expressions woven from shock, wild joy, and anticipation.

The prophecy left behind by their grandmaster, the Sage of Six Paths, the key that guided them to protect the balance of the shinobi world, finally had a clear direction!

A scorching fire instantly ignited in Yumen Luo's eyes. "Then what are we waiting for! Lord Cangyue! We should descend the mountain at once, seek out that one of destiny, and help him fulfill his destiny!"

Ba Cangyue swept his gaze over everyone and said in a deep voice, "On this journey, I will personally lead the team. Yumen Luo, Guiwang Jie, you two will come with me."

The named Guiwang Jie was a thin man whose face was hidden in the shadow of his hood.

He nodded slightly without saying a word, yet his whole body exuded a chilling aura that made the heart palpitate.

"Zhuokong Lie, Nutao Ya, Long Xingshu, Luo Qianzhang!" Ba Cangyue looked toward the other four. "The village is our foundation. It cannot be lost.

The four of you will stay here, activate the highest-level alert barrier, and protect the villagers and our inheritance!

If any foreign enemy dares to pry, kill without mercy!"

"Yes, Lord Cangyue!" the four answered in unison.

However, Luo Qianzhang said with concern on his face, "Lord Cangyue! The outside world is now in the chaos of the Warring States era, with war fires everywhere and powerful experts as common as trees in a forest.

Though the three of you possess extraordinary strength, the road is a full five thousand li! If you encounter elite forces or experts from major clans with ulterior motives along the way and become entangled, something may change.

It could delay the great matter of seeking the one of destiny! Why not... bring more elite disciples with you?"

Ba Cangyue waved his hand, his tone carrying powerful confidence. "Too many people will only make the target conspicuous, easily exposing our movements and drawing unnecessary trouble.

The three of us are enough to deal with everything.

Besides... the secret arts we inherited from our grandmaster are not something those so-called ninjutsu of the outside world can compare to.

Even if we encounter powerful enemies, escaping will be no difficult matter.

All of you can guard the home in peace!"

Yumen Luo also spoke proudly, "Brother Luo, you worry too much!

The ninjutsu of the outside world is nothing but the shallow scraps they picked up from our grandmaster!

No matter how many variations it has, how could it shake our orthodox foundation?

If not for our grandmaster's final instruction that we must not actively interfere in outside conflicts, with the power of our village alone, we would be enough to sweep across half the shinobi world! What is there to fear?"

A hoarse chuckle also came from beneath Guiwang Jie's hood, carrying a hint of disdain.

Seeing that the three of them were resolute and that their words did indeed make sense, Luo Qianzhang no longer insisted. "In that case, Lord Cangyue, Brother Yumen Luo, Brother Guiwang Jie, please be careful! We will wait in the village for good news!"

"Don't worry." Ba Cangyue nodded.

There was no time to lose. The three quickly returned to their respective residences and took only simple bags containing necessary dry rations, clean water, and some emergency medicine and talismans.

"Let's go." Ba Cangyue gave a low shout.

The next moment, the figures of all three blurred at the same time!

There was no violent chakra eruption, no dazzling light or shadow effects.

Their method of movement was strange and swift, as if they had merged into space itself. With one step, their figures were already a hundred meters away!

With another step, they vanished completely at the valley's exit, leaving behind only a few fallen leaves stirred up by the breeze.

The sheer speed and mystique of their movement far surpassed the ordinary Body Flicker Technique of the outside world!