Views and Understanding

Views and Understanding

"My lord! This is the Uchiha Clan's territory. As both sides agreed, we can send the signal now and wait for an Uchiha patrol to escort us in."

"Then send it. We're on Uchiha Clan land now, not our own. We must follow their rules."

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

A signal flare shot into the sky and burst like a five-pointed star. The sparks vanished in an instant, carried far off by the wind. Yet within five minutes, the Hagoromo Clan ninja saw Uchiha Clan ninja appear nearby.

Uchiha Hato led the patrol. His Three-Tomoe Sharingan fixed on the Hagoromo Clan ninja as he used its power to check whether any of them were using the Transformation Technique.

After all, Uchiha Tajima, the Uchiha Clan leader, had taken his people to aid the Hagoromo Clan and recover the supplies and ninja equipment they had ordered. Fighting several ninja clans had cost them dearly, and they had reached the point where they needed time to recuperate.

The Hagoromo Clan elder raised a hand to restrain his more impulsive clansmen and let Uchiha Hato inspect them with his Three-Tomoe Sharingan.

After a while, Uchiha Hato deactivated his Sharingan. "Follow me. Don't take a wrong step, or you'll die."

No one doubted him. A major ninja clan would have traps and mechanisms around its territory to slow a surprise attack and alert it the moment an intruder triggered one.

The Hagoromo Clan followed Uchiha Hato carefully, placing each foot in the print left by the person ahead.

Uchiha Hato brought them before Uchiha Tajima, then stepped aside and stood behind him like a shadow.

Uchiha Tajima said, "Has your clan made its decision?"

"Yes, Lord Tajima. The Hagoromo Clan is ready to join the fighting at any time. We will follow the Uchiha Clan's orders and never betray you."

"Then tell me: why are you here instead of your clan leader?"

"My apologies. Our clan leader decided to oversee our people's relocation personally, so we came ahead. We wanted to join up with the Uchiha Clan as soon as possible and build a few simple houses for our people before they arrive."

"If that's the case, I understand. You may go. Hato will take you to the area set aside as your new clan territory."

Uchiha Tajima did not rise. In the Ninja World, strength commanded respect. Even if the Hagoromo Clan leader had come in person, he would not have been important enough for a ninja of Uchiha Tajima's caliber to stand and see him out.

Strength was everything, after all.

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

Uchiha Jobu and Uchiha Madara emerged from the corner and came to his side.

"Father, the Hagoromo Clan isn't weak, but they're still far behind us and the Senju Clan. We should make use of them. There's no need to treat them as allies."

"Lord Tajima, I think the opposite. It's precisely because the Hagoromo Clan lacks strength that they have no choice but to rely on us. If they encounter another ninja clan on their own, the best they can hope for is to bring each other down. Only by making them our dependents and protecting them can we draw on their strength without hesitation."

"So those are your views?"

His one remaining eye opened, disappointment showing in it. That disappointment was directed at Uchiha Madara. To Uchiha Tajima, the Uchiha Clan had no shortage of true ninja. What it lacked was someone who could lead the family forward.

Uchiha Madara was gifted, but he was too proud and headstrong. Unless someone belonged to the Uchiha Clan, he would barely spare them a glance.

There was nothing wrong with an Uchiha being proud. But Uchiha Madara was meant to inherit the position of clan leader, not become someone with strength alone and no idea how to lead his family into the future.

Uchiha Jobu's answer, on the other hand, had impressed Uchiha Tajima. The Uchiha Clan truly did need the Hagoromo Clan as an ally.

If they followed Uchiha Madara's approach, the Uchiha Clan might suffer little loss, but the Hagoromo Clan would be spent in one battle after another until it disappeared from the Ninja World.

That might seem harmless to the Uchiha. But if they could not protect even one clan that had come to rely on them, no other ninja clan in the Ninja World would ever choose to join them.

"Jobu, you should lead the clan one day. It needs someone with your abilities, not another ninja like me who only knows how to fight."

They left the clan leader's room and its heavy atmosphere behind. Outside, Uchiha Jobu took a breath of fresh air, then turned in astonishment toward Uchiha Madara. "Cousin, what are you saying? You're the one who will inherit the clan leader's position. You're the one who should lead us forward."

Uchiha Madara shook his head. "I saw what Father meant just now. He was disappointed in me, but he admired you. What you said served the clan's interests and would help the Uchiha Clan endure and grow."

"Cousin, you will be the Uchiha Clan's leader. I'll be the foundation that supports its strength. I'll do everything I can to make the clan stronger, but only with you as its leader. I won't acknowledge anyone else."

"I understand. I won't let you down. I'll make Father see that I have the ability and the right to lead the Uchiha forward. I, Uchiha Madara, will!"

He certainly would. In the Ninja World's future, people would fear Uchiha Madara as the "Demon of the Ninja World." Apart from the Senju Clan, every clan would submit to the Uchiha Clan.

Uchiha Jobu had already found his place: he would be someone like Tobirama Senju, the Second, willing to do whatever it took to ensure the Uchiha Clan kept growing stronger.

After all, a thriving sapling needed roots buried beneath the soil to draw in nutrients. Those roots would support it as it grew into a towering tree whose canopy blotted out the sky.