Views and Understanding

Chapter 9: Views and Understanding

"My lord! This is the Uchiha Clan's territory. According to the agreement between both sides, we may now send out a signal and wait for the Uchiha patrol ninjas to receive us."

"Since that is the case, send the signal. This is already Uchiha Clan territory, not Hagoromo Clan land. We must follow the Uchiha Clan's rules."

"Understood. I'll send the signal at once. Please wait a moment, my lord."

A signal flare shot into the sky and burst into fireworks resembling a five-pointed star. The fleeting sparks were carried far away by the wind, but within less than five minutes, the Hagoromo Clan ninjas saw Uchiha Clan ninjas appear nearby.

The one in charge of the patrol was Uchiha Hato. With his Three-Tomoe Sharingan activated, he stared fixedly at the Hagoromo Clan ninjas, using the abilities granted by the Three-Tomoe Sharingan to determine whether any of them had used the Transformation Technique.

After all, in order to support the Hagoromo Clan and recover the supplies and ninja tools they had ordered, Uchiha Clan head Uchiha Tajima had led his clansmen into battle. They had suffered heavy losses fighting several ninja clans and had reached the point where they had no choice but to rest and recuperate for the time being.

The Hagoromo Clan elder raised a hand to restrain his somewhat impulsive clansmen, allowing Uchiha Hato, with his Three-Tomoe Sharingan activated, to inspect them.

After a while, Uchiha Hato deactivated his Sharingan and said, "Follow me. Do not take a wrong step, or you will die."

No one doubted the truth of those words. A large ninja clan would certainly have many traps and mechanisms around its territory to prevent sudden enemy attacks. They could delay intruders to some extent and also alert the clan as soon as the mechanisms were triggered.

The Hagoromo Clan followed carefully behind Uchiha Hato, placing every footprint precisely where the previous footprint had been.

After bringing them before Uchiha Tajima, Uchiha Hato retreated to one side, like Uchiha Tajima's shadow.

Uchiha Tajima said, "Has your clan made up its mind?"

"Lord Tajima, yes. Our Hagoromo Clan can join the battle at any time. We will follow the Uchiha Clan's commands in all things and will never commit betrayal."

"Then can you tell me why you are here instead of your clan head?"

"My deepest apologies! Our clan head has decided to personally lead the clansmen in migration, so we are merely the advance party. On one hand, we needed to rendezvous with the Uchiha Clan as soon as possible. On the other, we must build several simple houses for the clansmen who will soon arrive and make preparations in advance."

"If that is the case, then it is understandable. All right, you may withdraw for now. Hato will take you to the designated area. That will be your new clan territory."

Uchiha Tajima did not stand. In this Ninja World, where strength was revered above all else, a ninja of Uchiha Tajima's caliber did not need to rise and see off even the Hagoromo Clan's head.

After all, strength was everything.

Once the Hagoromo Clan members had left, Uchiha Tajima glanced toward the shadows behind him and said, "Come out and tell me what you two think."

Uchiha Jobu and Uchiha Madara emerged from the corner and approached Uchiha Tajima's side.

"Father, although the Hagoromo Clan is not weak, the gap between them and both the Uchiha and Senju Clan is still too great. We can only use them; there is no need to treat them as allies."

"Clan head, my view is precisely the opposite. It is because the Hagoromo Clan lacks strength that they have no choice but to rely on our Uchiha Clan. Otherwise, if they encountered other ninja clans with their current strength, their best outcome would only be mutual destruction. Only by turning them into our subordinates can we protect them while using the Hagoromo Clan's power without restraint."

"Are these the views and understanding of you two?"

His only eye opened, carrying a trace of disappointment. Yet that disappointment was directed at Uchiha Madara. In Uchiha Tajima's eyes, the Uchiha Clan did not lack true ninjas. What it lacked was someone capable of leading the clan onward.

Uchiha Madara was undoubtedly talented, but he was too spoiled and arrogant. Other than fellow Uchiha Clan members, no one else could make Uchiha Madara spare them a second glance.

There was nothing wrong with a proud Uchiha, but Uchiha Madara was meant to inherit the position of clan head in the future. He could not merely become someone with power yet no understanding of how to lead the clan forward.

In contrast, what Uchiha Jobu had said made Uchiha Tajima regard him more highly. The Uchiha Clan truly did need the Hagoromo Clan as an ally now.

But if they acted as Uchiha Madara had suggested, the Uchiha Clan might not suffer much loss, while the Hagoromo Clan that had come to rely on them would be constantly expended until it was completely eliminated from the ninja world.

That outcome might seem to bring no harm to the Uchiha, but if they could not even protect a clan willing to seek refuge with them, then no other ninja clan in the Ninja World would be willing to join the Uchiha Clan in the future.

"Jobu, lead the clan from now on. The clan needs talent like yours, not a ninja like me who only knows how to fight."

After leaving the clan head's quarters, where the atmosphere was heavy, Uchiha Jobu stepped outside and took a breath of fresh air. Then he turned around in astonishment toward Uchiha Madara, who had just spoken. "Cousin, what are you saying? You are the one meant to inherit the position of clan head. You are the one who should lead the clan forward."

Uchiha Madara shook his head. "I understood what Father meant just now. There was disappointment in his eyes, but he admired you, because what you said was in the clan's interests and could also let the Uchiha Clan go farther and endure longer."

"Cousin, you will be the Uchiha Clan's head, while I will only be the foundation supporting the Uchiha Clan's continued strength. I will use every ability I possess to help the clan become even stronger, but that is on the premise that you become clan head. I will acknowledge no one else."

"I understand. I will not disappoint you. At the same time, I will make Father see clearly that I have the ability and qualifications to lead the Uchiha forward. I, Uchiha Madara, can do it!"

Of course he could. In the future of the Ninja World, Uchiha Madara would be feared as the Demon of the Ninja World. Other than the Senju Clan, every clan would submit beneath the Uchiha Clan's feet.

Uchiha Jobu had already found his place: to become someone like Tobirama Senju, the Second Hokage. For the Uchiha Clan to continue growing stronger, he could do anything, no matter the means.

After all, even a thriving sapling needed its "roots" buried beneath the soil to absorb nourishment. It was those "roots" that supported the sapling as it gradually grew into a towering tree that blotted out the sky.