Chapter 50

Xunjing had been left speechless by her. He reached out, pushed away the hand pinching his cheek, and sighed helplessly.

For some reason, he had actually sensed a motherly tenderness in Mikoto's expression and tone just now.

It left him utterly speechless.

In the end, he was still suffering from being too young.

Meanwhile.

Uchiha Chisato rushed to the Senju Clan Grounds as quickly as she could. After announcing herself, she soon met Uzumaki Mito.

"Jiri, why did you come to see me in such a hurry? Did something happen?" Uzumaki Mito clearly had not received the latest news yet, and she looked puzzled.

Uchiha Chisato gave a light laugh. "Heh, it seems your Senju intelligence network is a little slow. I just wonder whether the village has received the news yet."

After teasing her, her expression turned serious. "Let's get to the point. The Uchiha have just received intelligence from the various villages and the Land of Whirlpools..."

She then swiftly explained the situation in detail.

Finally, she gave her assessment. "Therefore, I suspect that aside from the Sand Shinobi Village, the other Three Great Ninja Villages have already dispatched elite forces to the Land of Whirlpools. They will probably make their move soon."

"What?" Uzumaki Mito's expression changed drastically, and she abruptly rose to her feet.

After thinking for a moment, she said gravely, "Your judgment is correct."

"I'll immediately gather the clan's elites. We'll depart in half an hour."

"You should gather your people as soon as possible as well."

This was urgent beyond measure!

A fire burned in her heart.

Not only was the clan's intelligence network utterly useless, but the village was no better.

She even suspected that the village had already received the news, but Hiruzen Sarutobi and the others had deliberately kept it from her.

That was not impossible.

For a moment, Uzumaki Mito became even more dissatisfied with the Third Generation's group.

She wished she could kill them outright.

But she knew full well that now was not the time to dwell on such matters.

"You needn't worry about my side. We're already prepared. The forces should have finished assembling and can depart at any time." Uchiha Chisato waved her hand, her tone calm.

Uzumaki Mito froze for a moment.

But she quickly understood—it was probably that elite Uchiha Police Force coming into play.

After thanking her, Uzumaki Mito turned and left the room.

She quickly called over a Senju clansman standing guard nearby.

"Immediately gather everyone in the clan who can fight. Something huge has happened to the Uzumaki Clan!"

Uzumaki Mito had long since made preparations within the clan, and the candidates had already been chosen.

Thus, it took only around ten minutes for everyone to arrive.

Even Tsunade was summoned.

All the remaining Senju elites numbered only forty-three in total.

There were seven Elite Jonin, six ordinary Jonin, and the rest were all Chunin.

This was nearly ninety percent of the Senju's combat strength.

More than half of these people had long since been scattered among the civilians and could no longer be considered pure Senju clansmen.

They had merely been staying temporarily at the Senju Clan Grounds during this period, ready to answer the call at any time.

Otherwise, they could not have gathered so quickly.

Compared to the Uchiha, they looked downright shabby.

"Let's go."

Once everyone had arrived, Uzumaki Mito spoke to Uchiha Chisato.

"Alright."

The group quickly set out, leaving the Senju Clan Grounds and heading for the village gates.

Uchiha Chisato created a Shadow Clone and sent it back to the Uchiha Clan Compound, instructing the clansmen waiting to depart to gather at the compound entrance.

That spot happened to be on the only route out of the village, making it convenient for the two groups to join up.

They had not brought everyone out to wait there earlier because they had feared causing a misunderstanding.

Yet the massive movements of both the Senju and Uchiha still alerted the Anbu and Root.

The news was delivered to the Third Generation and Danzo at once.

As the Senju elites headed for the village gates, they drew the attention of many ninja clans along the way.

For a time, countless clans wondered what could have happened to make the Senju mobilize everything they had, with even Uzumaki Mito personally taking the field.

Inside the Hokage's office.

"What did you say? The Uchiha are gathering elites, and Lady Mito has urgently summoned several dozen Senju elites? She and Uchiha Chisato are heading for the village gates together?"

After hearing the report, the Third Generation's expression immediately changed.

He suddenly realized something and turned to glare at Danzo.

Then he summoned the Anbu commander. "Immediately mobilize two Anbu units. Assemble at the village gates and leave with me."

"Yes!"

The Anbu commander answered and turned to leave.

Danzo also called over a Root ninja waiting outside and ordered him to head to the Anbu base, gather the several dozen Root elites who had already assembled, and move out with the Anbu.

As the Third Hokage walked toward the room next door and put on his battle gear, he turned and snapped at Danzo, "Danzo, this is all your doing. If you hadn't told me to suppress the news first and not notify Lady Mito in a hurry, would we be in such an embarrassing position?"

"Now she must have discovered the little schemes we've been pulling behind her back."

"Her impression of us is bound to get even worse."

In truth, the village had received the intelligence long ago.

They had received it nearly half an hour earlier than the Uchiha.

The Third Generation had originally intended to inform Uzumaki Mito immediately.

But Danzo had stopped him.

Danzo said there was no need to rush; they should delay for a while.

Ideally, by the time their main force reached the Land of Whirlpools, the battle there would already be nearly over. The Uzumaki Clan would have suffered severe casualties and be on the brink of destruction.

Only then would they intervene. That way, they could swallow all of the Uzumaki Clan's legacy in one stroke and cut off one of the Senju's arms.

It would ensure the Senju could never rise again.

Otherwise, if they truly rescued the Uzumaki Clan intact, then with Uzumaki Mito's personality and the Senju's current circumstances, she would definitely insist on moving the entire Uzumaki Clan to Konoha.

At that point, the Senju and Uzumaki Clan would be inseparable.

Their strength would undoubtedly soar.

With the Uzumaki Clan supporting them from behind, it would take no time at all for the Senju to recover their strength.

Neither Danzo nor the Third Generation wanted to see that happen.

So the Third Generation was persuaded once more and made a decision completely opposite to his previous one.

And so, they ended up in their current passive situation.

"What's the point of saying that now?" Danzo said with a dark expression. "Didn't you agree to it yourself?"

"Enough nonsense. Hurry up and leave. We need to stop Lady Mito!"

"I didn't expect her to act so quickly. The Senju definitely don't have that kind of intelligence network anymore. The news must have leaked from the Uchiha!"

"Didn't they say the Uchiha were gathering people too? Has Uchiha Chisato been staying by Lady Mito's side all along?"

"Clearly, they secretly reached an agreement right under our noses. Lady Mito pulled in the Uchiha to rescue the Uzumaki Clan together."

"Damn it!"

Danzo clenched his teeth, his face filled with fury.

The Uchiha again.

With this interference, all of their plans had been thrown into chaos.

"Yes." The Third Generation's expression darkened as well. "Who would have thought Lady Mito had secretly gotten involved with the Uchiha and arranged this cooperation?"

"She no longer trusts us at all. She would rather join forces with the Uchiha, her sworn enemies, than believe us again!"

"I just wonder what conditions she promised the Uchiha."

"I hope they aren't too bad."

What he feared most was the Senju and Uchiha truly forming an alliance.

If that happened, his future days would not be easy.

"Let's go!"

After saying that, the Third Generation rushed out of the Hokage's office. After meeting up with the Anbu and Root ninja outside the Hokage Building, the group hurried toward the village gates.

Just as Uzumaki Mito and Uchiha Chisato led the elites of their two clans out of the village, the Third Hokage arrived at the gates with Danzo and several Anbu members, blocking their path.

"Lady Mito, please wait! Where are all of you going in such numbers?"

The Third Generation put on an act as though he knew nothing.

"Heh!"

Uchiha Chisato laughed outright.

They were still acting at this point? Did they really think Uzumaki Mito was an idiot?