The Love Story of the Senju Clan and the Uchiha Clan; Conspiring Out Loud

Watching Uchiha Makoto's actions, Miroku made no move of her own.

She understood very well that from the moment Susanoo appeared, this was no longer her turf. Besides, both she and the Land of Demons would still need to rely on the Uchiha Clan afterward.

Miroku took a deep breath and calmed herself.

She turned and led the guards who had arrived late to escort the Four Symbols Heavenly Being away.

Seeing this, Uchiha Makoto nodded. A glint of red flashed in his eyes as he silently activated Fearful Reverence.

"Now that Mōryō is dead, I can finally rest for a while."

Hearing Miroku's words, Uchiha Makoto gave her a bland look. "Your business may be finished, but mine isn't!"

"Huh?"

Miroku froze and looked at Uchiha Makoto in confusion. At some point, a sealing scroll had appeared in his hand.

"This is a book. I can't exactly publish it myself, so I'll need your help."

Uchiha Makoto paused, unsealed it, and continued, "This shouldn't be difficult, should it?"

Miroku's expression changed slightly. If it were merely an ordinary book, there would naturally be no problem, but the one before her clearly could not be ordinary.

Miroku steadied herself and cautiously asked, "Is this... a forbidden book?"

As the shrine maiden of the Land of Demons, she was naturally no stranger to all kinds of forbidden texts.

"Mm, it's not quite that bad. The book's genre is rural tragic romance, love quadrangle, secret crushes, conspiracy, espionage, science fiction, wild fantasy, and melodramatic suffering!

Here, take a look."

Miroku forcefully suppressed the throbbing in her temples and silently accepted the book.

Mm, the title was <Misplaced Love, Hashirama & Tobirama & Madara & Izuna, Forbidden Love | A Pitiful Life.>

Her trembling hands flipped to a certain page.

The contents read:

"Hashirama, did you smell someone fart beside us just now?"

"Oh? Really? How come I didn't notice?"

"Farting is only human."

"Fine, Madara, I admit it. It was me who farted, hahahaha!"

"What did you eat for it to smell so awful?"

"Madara, don't be so greedy. Smelling it should be enough, yet you actually want the recipe!"

She flipped to another page.

Senju Hashirama: "Tobirama, you don't understand Madara at all!"

She flipped another page.

"I will never agree to your unification of the nations! Now, I am the Hokage!"

Madara Uchiha was silent for a moment, then turned and stormed out, slamming the door behind him.

"Hashirama, you'll regret this!"

Miroku: ????

Could this really be sold? Wouldn't Konoha's people come to her door and beat her to death?

The Senju Clan and the Uchiha Clan had once been mortal enemies. A love story between mortal enemies was certainly compelling, but wasn't this a little too...

"Ahem, the strength of my guards is limited. I'm afraid..."

Miroku tried to dissuade him tactfully.

"Don't worry. It's not like it has to be published in the Land of Demons." Uchiha Makoto saw through Miroku's concerns. "The nearby Land of Wind would be a good choice. I happen to have connections there."

Miroku hesitated for a moment before finally nodding. "All right. I'll arrange it."

"Then I'll trouble you with it. Oh, and there will be more to this book. I'll give it to you when I find a suitable opportunity."

Miroku sighed helplessly and could only pray silently, I hope there won't be any more outrageous plotlines...

"Speaking of which, that Susanoo of yours was the color of an iris. It was so beautiful!"

Miroku smiled, trying to change the subject and ease the atmosphere.

Uchiha Makoto smiled faintly as well.

An iris?

Its meaning was not all that good—desperate love.

It also represented wandering fate and shattered passion. Exquisitely beautiful, yet fragile and fleeting.

Heh, it really suited the Uchiha Clan.

People always said the Uchiha Clan was evil, but in truth, from the First Shinobi World War to the Third, where had the fire-style-specializing Uchiha Clan fought on the main battlefields?

Either the Land of Rain or the Land of Water!

What kind of suffering had they endured?

Only after the Nine-Tails Incident, when they were monitored like criminals, did thoughts of rebellion gradually arise.

That repeated special treatment had thoroughly disappointed this clan of love. Wasn't that precisely desperate love?

Uchiha Makoto could not help giving Miroku another look.

Konoha had indeed needed him during the Third Shinobi World War, but if circumstances changed, or if he went too far, he would also be the first one to suffer.

Perhaps he should find a few more helpers, people who could keep Konoha alive when necessary?

"Miroku, do you have any thoughts on stockpiling ninja tools?" Uchiha Makoto asked.

"At present, the Land of Demons does not have many ninja, so our stock of ninja tools is still fairly sufficient. If we are to stockpile them, it may take some time," Miroku replied.

"If you need them, I believe our Land of Demons should still be able to meet the demand."

Uchiha Makoto raised a brow and, with great interest, took out a list and handed it to Miroku. "These are all things I need. Take a look and see whether you can help prepare them."

Miroku accepted the list and looked it over, surprise appearing on her face. It listed all kinds of ninja tools, from common shuriken and kunai to rare explosive tags, sealing tags, and more.

"That's quite a large quantity of ninja tools..."

Miroku looked troubled. "I'll need time to gather them. But what exactly are you planning...?"

Uchiha Makoto waved a hand and explained, "The situation in the future may become very complicated. We must be fully prepared."

"Especially those small countries and small ninja villages. Most likely, they'll stir up trouble!"

"You and I already have considerable commercial influence. Once another Shinobi World War breaks out, we'll be the first ones to suffer!"

"But what if we prepare in advance?"

"Think about it. Once the situation grows tense, won't the daimyō and ninja of every nation panic?"

"Then if a little bloodshed happens and a new war is on the verge of breaking out, tsk tsk tsk, they'll want to arm themselves to the teeth!"

"If, at that time, you put a large quantity of ninja tools up for sale, even if the prices are a little higher, won't they still willingly buy them?"

"Money can be earned again when it's gone!"

"But once a life is gone, it's truly gone!"

Uchiha Makoto spoke in an irresistibly tempting tone.

"Right now, we buy up all kinds of minerals and ninja tools at low prices, then sell them at high prices when the time comes..."

"Who would dare refuse? If they don't come buy from us, then we'll help their enemies!"

"Can... can that work?"

Listening to all this, Miroku felt her mouth go dry and her eyes sting, yet she could not stop herself from agreeing inwardly.

"Won't we get beaten to death for this? If we drive prices up like that, I'm afraid they'll attack us first when the time comes!"

Miroku expressed deep concern for her personal safety.

"Don't be afraid! I'll introduce you to an expert. When the time comes, those thieves will come and never return!"

Uchiha Makoto said mysteriously, "This man is the only person in the ninja world who survived after assassinating the First Hokage..."

"Once they finish causing trouble, we can strike while the iron is hot!"

"Join forces with the other ninja tool merchants in the ninja world and raise the prices!"

Uchiha Makoto swallowed and continued, "When that time comes, those who buy will live, and those who don't will be beaten to death. I believe they'll understand."

"And besides... they have no choice."

Uchiha Makoto wore a meaningful expression.

"This is a tide that will sweep through the entire ninja world. Those small countries can only submit to it."

"Hiss..."

Miroku took a deep breath. All of a sudden, she felt a little sorry for those ninja.

Once this man set his sights on them, they were truly beyond saving!

They were already behind at every turn, and now everything from beginning to end had been arranged for them to the letter.

What could they do?

Now that he had laid out his entire plan before her, she had no way out either.

She could only join him!

As the two conspired out loud, Uchiha Makoto's killing of Mōryō had already caused an enormous stir throughout the ninja world.