Ch. 21Hundred Clans Melee
Key Plot Points and Events
- Hyuga Rika visits Whirlpool Village, seeking Byakugan for her clan. She propositions Shusen, who declines, leading to a kiss and a declaration of love from Rika.
- Shusen's plans to acquire more Byakugan are thwarted as the Hyuga Clan leaves with the sealing techniques they wanted.
- Shusen shifts his focus to acquiring Sharingan and Rinnegan. He sends a Shadow Clone to monitor the Uchiha territory but finds them inactive.
- The Senju Clan, Uchiha Clan, and Kaguya Clan are conserving strength, waiting for the Uzumaki Clan's collapse.
- Shusen's Sharingan fusion experiment makes a significant breakthrough.
- A great melee among a hundred clans begins, with the Sarutobi Clan and Kurama Clan as the main conflict.
- Shusen receives a summons from his father to visit the imperial capital of Fire Country.
Character Developments
- Shusen remains humble and unassuming, prioritizing a peaceful life over ambition. He admits to being an "insignificant nobody" and decides not to beat up Rika in disguise.
- Hyuga Rika is confident, proud, and direct in expressing her feelings. She dares to love and hate openly.
- Ryū, Shusen's father, is involved in political matters, as seen in his summons to the imperial capital.
Significant Themes
- Ambition vs. Contentment: Shusen values a peaceful life with someone he likes, while Rika seeks an "earth-shattering and magnificent" life.
- Power Dynamics: The Uzumaki Clan's rise and the other clans' reactions highlight the shifting power dynamics in the Warring States era.
- War and Alliances: The great melee among a hundred clans demonstrates the complex alliances and rivalries among different clans.
Character Interactions
- Shusen and Hyuga Rika: Their interaction results in Rika kissing Shusen and declaring her love for him, despite Shusen's initial disinterest.
- Shusen and Ryū: Their relationship is shown to be close, with Ryū involving Shusen in political matters.
- The Uzumaki Clan and other clans: The Uzumaki Clan's rise affects the dynamics between them and other clans, leading to alliances and rivalries.