Holding My Own Against Anyone

"The Daimyo has sent envoys to invite every ninja clan to the imperial palace as guests. We don't yet know what they intend to discuss," Ryū informed them.

Shusen fell into thought. Since every ninja clan had been invited, it probably wasn't about the aid in money and provisions.

Then again, even if the matter of the aid in money and provisions were exposed, he had nothing to fear. He had used Uzumaki Naruto's identity at the time. His father might have his suspicions, but there was no reason for him to suspect Shusen himself.

Ashina had never visited the imperial capital of the Fire Country in all his life, and he wanted to go along as well. Unfortunately, Ryū refused, telling him to remain in Whirlpool Village and assist the Grand Elder and other clan higher-ups with their affairs.

Anyone with eyes could see how much Ryū intended to groom his younger son.

Early the next morning, after packing their luggage, the group set out fully prepared.

Besides Mito and Shusen, Ryū brought fifty Uzumaki clansmen as guards. It was no small party.

Ninja traveled quickly. The group departed Whirlpool Village in the morning and reached the imperial capital by afternoon. Along the way, they encountered quite a few ninja clans who had likewise been invited by the Daimyo. Those clans were not on friendly terms with the Uzumaki Clan, so neither side approached the other. They passed like strangers.

In the present-day Fire Country, the Daimyo's authority and prestige had already dwindled to almost nothing. He was little more than a ceremonial figurehead. Still, the Daimyo was the Daimyo. As long as no one had usurped his position, every ninja clan had to show him sufficient respect on the surface. Thus, nearly all of them accepted this invitation.

"Sis, are those people from the Namikaze Clan?"

Shusen spotted a group in the distance with dazzling blond hair and made conversation with Mito.

Mito took one look at their hair color and nodded. "Yes. The Namikaze are only a small clan with little foundation. We don't have much of a grudge with them, so don't mind them."

"I see..."

Despite saying that, Shusen still studied them curiously, secretly wondering which one might be Minato Namikaze's grandfather.

Observing the present through the eyes of someone who knew the future was a remarkably strange experience.

As they drew closer and closer to the imperial capital of the Fire Country, Shusen saw more and more ninja clans—the Hatake Clan, Inuzuka Clan, Aburame Clan, Sarutobi Clan, Kurama Clan, and others. Most of them would later become members of Konoha.

Upon reaching the city gates, they found a group of silver-haired people already waiting there. Everyone's hearts skipped a beat, and they unconsciously grew more tense.

"Clan Head Ryū, it has been a long time."

Kaguya Izui came over with an ill-intentioned smile to greet him.

"Thanks to the iron mine, we've been doing fairly well lately," Ryū replied flatly.

Izui's smile froze. He understood that Ryū was referring to the iron mine that had been taken from them.

"Hehe, I heard Whirlpool Village has thirty thousand residents now?"

"Not that many. Only thirty times more than your Kaguya Clan."

"..."

The moment they met, the air filled with gunpowder. Needle met awl, and both groups immediately raised their guard.

"A big appetite is a good thing, but I'm afraid you may overestimate yourselves and end up bursting to death," Izui said leisurely.

"No need for Clan Head Izui to worry. Even if your Kaguya Clan starves to death, our Uzumaki Clan won't burst."

"You—"

"Hahaha! Clan Head Ryū, I didn't expect you to arrive even earlier than we did!"

A rough, hearty laugh suddenly came from behind them.

Shusen turned and saw Butsuma Senju approaching with a group of Senju clansmen.

Seeing that the Uzumaki Clan's allies had arrived, Izui knew he would be at a disadvantage if anything happened. He snorted coldly and decisively led his clansmen into the city.

"Brother Butsuma."

Ryū's face broke into a smile as he went forward to greet him. He and Butsuma Senju were close in private, so naturally he would not treat an ally as he had treated Izui.

"Clan Head Ryū, I heard you developed a sealing technique for the Hyuga Clan that can prevent them from suffering Black Zetsu's poison again?"

"That was half a month ago."

"I reckon the Uchiha Clan must be tempted as well. If they come to you asking to buy sealing techniques, don't agree to it," Butsuma Senju said. The Senju clan and the Uchiha Clan were mortal enemies, so naturally he did not want the Uchiha Clan to fare well. Having Black Zetsu plague them was an excellent thing.

"Leaving aside whether I'd agree, they wouldn't have the nerve to come looking for me."

"That's true too, hahaha."

The two groups joined together and entered the city. Ryū and Butsuma Senju walked at the front, chatting merrily all the way.

Shusen's eyes darted around as he casually looked about without drawing attention.

Soon, he spotted a tall young man with an honest-looking face. Beside him stood a handsome silver-haired youth.

"Hashirama and Tobirama..."

Shusen was a little excited. Perhaps this trip to the imperial capital would become his opportunity to obtain Hashirama cells!

Just as his heart surged with excitement, he suddenly saw Hashirama walking toward him. His heart inexplicably skipped a beat.

Did he notice something strange about me?

Shusen grew nervous. Hashirama was the God of Shinobi, his strength reaching the absolute ceiling of the entire ninja world. To contend with him, Shusen would need to obtain either the Rinnegan or the Tenseigan.

As Hashirama drew nearer, Shusen's heart beat faster and faster.

"Mito, it's been a long time."

He heard Hashirama greet her awkwardly.

"Mm, it has been a long time." Mito smiled warmly.

"..."

Then came silence. Hashirama clenched his fists, and beads of sweat the size of beans kept forming on his forehead.

"..."

"..."

Tobirama could no longer watch this and secretly jabbed him.

"Uh, well—"

"Sis, who is he?" Shusen interrupted curiously.

"His name is Hashirama Senju," Mito introduced him simply. Hashirama wasn't the only one nervous; her heart was pounding like a startled deer as well.

Shusen widened his eyes in shock. "Hashirama Senju? I've heard of you. You're that genius from the Senju clan who's incredibly skilled with Wood Release!"

Hearing that made Hashirama even more nervous. He hurriedly waved his hands. "No, no, I'm not that impressive..."

Shusen had secretly observed Hashirama on the battlefield before. At the time, Hashirama had swept aside enemies in every direction with a single Deep Forest Emergence, displaying an invincible bearing as though a god had descended. Shusen, lurking furtively in the shadows, had not even dared to approach him.

Yet the flustered, red-faced Hashirama before him was practically a different person from the unstoppable Hashirama on the battlefield. He was like a complete blockhead.

Remembering Hashirama's characterization in the original story, Shusen understood.

"Y-you must be Mito's younger brother, Uzumaki Ashina." Hashirama struggled to find something to say. "I've heard of you too. They all say you're a child favored by fate, and that you can easily pick up ninjutsu scrolls..."

"Uzumaki Ashina is my younger brother. I'm Uzumaki Shusen."

"Huh? Uzumaki Shusen, um, well..."

Hashirama froze. He had never heard the name Uzumaki Shusen before.

Tobirama, standing nearby, secretly frowned as well. So Mito has two younger brothers? This Uzumaki Shusen is completely unknown.

"Um, that's a nice name!" After stammering for a while, Hashirama finally forced out a compliment, making Shusen want to laugh for no reason.

The God of Shinobi really was quite the blockhead. Maybe Shusen could trick some cells out of him.

"My father gave me that name. It means he hoped I could hold my own against anyone."