War Begins

The Land of Fire was gripped by the oppressive feeling of an approaching storm.

Within the Senju Clan's territory, unit after unit stood ready to depart. Everyone wore standardized red armor, white headbands tied around their foreheads, each band bearing the Senju Clan crest.

This time, the Senju Clan had mobilized all its strength. The Senju Clan, Uzumaki Clan, and Sarutobi Clan—three first-rate clans—had joined forces, committing nearly a thousand fighters to the front. They had truly gone all out.

After arranging the personnel deployments, Tobirama Senju strode toward the central command tent. The moment he reached the entrance, he saw someone lift the tent flap and step out.

The instant he saw her, Tobirama respectfully greeted her. "Sister-in-law."

She wore a white kimono and had long red hair styled into twin buns. Fan-shaped ornaments adorned her head, while a purple diamond-shaped mark rested on her forehead. Two talismans hung from her hair buns, and she carried herself with an air of grace and nobility.

She was the eldest princess of the Uzumaki Clan, Senju Hashirama's wife, Uzumaki Mito.

"So it's little Tobirama." Mito nodded in return. "Are you going to report to Hashirama?"

"Yeah. Sister-in-law, did you need something from my brother?"

Mito did not hide it. "I want to do my part in tomorrow's battle too, but Hashirama... Sigh, I'll be going back first."

Watching Mito depart with graceful steps, Tobirama actually agreed that she should join the battlefield. She was a formidable fighter, after all. But she was his brother's wife, and there were some things he could not insist upon.

Entering the tent, he immediately saw his elder brother seated in the center. Beside him stood a slender female ninja, her long side bangs concealing half of her pretty face. Her cold demeanor carried a trace of solemnity. She was also one of Senju Hashirama's trusted aides, Toka Senju.

"Brother, everything is ready. We are only waiting for you to deliver the pre-battle declaration."

"Tobirama, you've worked hard. Get some rest." Hashirama's face showed a hint of fatigue. As the Senju Clan's leader, he chose to personally handle many matters, and was still reviewing letters sent by the Uzumaki Clan.

Tobirama stood silently for a moment before suddenly asking in a deep voice, "Brother, I want to ask something. After the war ends, how do you intend to deal with the Uchiha Clan?"

At the mention of this, longing flashed through Hashirama's eyes. "I plan to reconcile with the Uchiha Clan, then establish a village in the Land of Fire that belongs to us ninja. We'll invite other clans to join us and make that village prosper!"

Tobirama frowned. "Brother, one mountain cannot hold two tigers. The Uchiha Clan is ambitious. Reconciling with them is like seeking a tiger's skin. My suggestion is to eliminate them completely!"

"That won't work." Toka Senju immediately spoke in a cold voice. "Although we have the advantage in numbers, the Uchiha Clan's foundation cannot be underestimated. Especially when they have the three Uchiha brothers. The price of exterminating them completely would be too great for us to bear."

Tobirama nodded. "Then kill the three leaders and drive the rest out of the country."

Toka considered it. "That could work. If possible, we should recover their eyes. Without the Sharingan, they won't be able to cause much trouble."

The two continued discussing the matter back and forth, neither noticing that Hashirama's expression was growing increasingly grim.

"Enough!" At last, Hashirama could no longer hold back. "Doing that will only perpetuate hatred. No one likes war. I believe Madara—deep down, he must also yearn for peace. The grudge between the Senju Clan and the Uchiha Clan should end with us."

"I'll follow the clan leader's decision." Toka immediately changed sides. In her heart, Hashirama's orders were what mattered most.

Tobirama let out a helpless sigh. He knew Hashirama well. Though he usually seemed easygoing, once he had made up his mind about something, no one could change it.

"Brother... Sigh, I'm just afraid they may not see it that way."

Uchiha Clan territory.

Enkō took a sip of the hot tea in his cup and let out a satisfied sigh. "Excellent tea. I never expected Clan Leader Miyakenichi to have such skill in brewing tea."

Miyakenichi, the Chinoike Clan leader, sat across from Enkō, skillfully handling the various tea utensils. "It was just a hobby I used to dabble in. I never thought it would come in handy in this life."

Ever since the Chinoike Clan and Taketori Clan had joined the Uchiha Clan, Enkō had taken on the task of communicating with and managing the newly incorporated clans.

"Heh, Clan Leader Miyakenichi, how have you been feeling lately?"

Miyakenichi calmly took a sip of tea. "It's certainly a hundred times better than Hell Valley. Unfortunately, this leisure is only fleeting. Only after coming here did I learn that the Senju Clan is even stronger than the legends say."

Enkō said teasingly, "What? Regretting boarding the Uchiha Clan's ship?"

"Not quite. You wouldn't have come all this way just to find someone to be buried with you." Miyakenichi shook his head. "If I'm not mistaken, you've already prepared a way out, haven't you?"

"Hahaha, truly, nothing escapes a perceptive man. If not for that incident, under your leadership, the Chinoike Clan might not have failed to surpass the Yotsuki Clan."

"Don't flatter me. One wrong move was enough to prove that I'm not an outstanding leader." Perhaps because he had laid down the burden on his shoulders, Miyakenichi spoke openly now. "I originally agreed to let my clanswomen become concubines at Daimyo Palace only because I wanted to establish a connection there. No matter who ruled a country's ninja, they could not avoid the daimyo's support. I thought I would gain the initiative, but instead I only made things worse."

Enkō shook his head. "But who could have foreseen such an accident?"

Miyakenichi neither agreed nor disagreed. "Since we are now on the same ship, naturally I do not want such an accident to happen again. During my time in Hell Valley, I thought about many things. If I had another chance, I would not choose marriage alliances. I would directly choose to control the daimyo of Daimyo Palace!"

Enkō's eyes narrowed. "You mean... genjutsu?"

A vicious glint appeared in Miyakenichi's eyes. "That's right. In the entire Shinobi World, only three clans can control a person flawlessly through genjutsu: the Uchiha Clan, the Chinoike Clan, and the Kurama Clan of the Land of Fire. With such an advantage, why not seize power for ourselves?"

"Then why not simply kill the daimyo? Why use genjutsu to deceive everyone instead?"

Miyakenichi waved a hand. "Some things are worse when pushed too quickly. A transfer of power cannot be completed overnight. Seizing power is easy, but holding it is difficult. Only after thoroughly grasping how a country operates should one replace its ruler. That is the only way to govern it better. Of course, that is merely my personal view."

Enkō thought it over and felt that it was not without merit. Just then, someone outside the tent came to inform Enkō that it was time to attend the oath-taking assembly. He solemnly nodded to Miyakenichi. "I've learned much."

"It's simply my duty."

Leaving the tent, Enkō followed his subordinate to the central clearing. The clansmen participating in the battle had long been brimming with fighting spirit. Izuna and Madara stood atop the raised platform before the formation, loudly rousing the morale of those below.

At the same time, in the Senju Clan's camp, Hashirama, accompanied by Tobirama, also shouted loudly,

"Tomorrow will be our final battle against the Senju Clan (Uchiha Clan), and the decisive battle that will determine the Land of Fire's future (peace). Give everything we have and end these decades of war (grudges)!"

Madara (Hashirama): "Then, let the war begin!"