The Senju Clan's opponents on this mission were the Hagoromo Clan.
Because the Hagoromo Clan had failed to meet the mission's requirements, their employer had either replaced them with the Uchiha Clan or brought the Uchiha in alongside them.
As a result, the Senju Clan encountered two hostile shinobi clans on the same mission.
The Hagoromo Clan and the Uchiha Clan currently stood on the same side, allowing them to cooperate during missions.
And in the original course of events, Itama Senju had been killed by a group of adults from the Uchiha Clan and the Hagoromo Clan while on a mission with his clansmen.
What were children doing going on missions?
The missions actually had minimum manpower requirements, and the clans wanted their children to grow, so they had older members take the youngsters along to broaden their horizons and get them used to missions and life as shinobi.
If they were unlucky enough to encounter a stronger hostile clan, once the adults were wiped out, the children naturally met an early death next.
So...
The so-called Warring States Period of the Shinobi World was an elimination tournament for shinobi clans, large and small.
The big fish ate the little fish, and the little fish ate the shrimp.
The struggle to survive gave rise to some rather peculiar arrangements, such as the three Ino-Shika-Cho clans banding together to survive.
Or the Uzumaki Clan actively taking in civilians, closing off mountains to cultivate forests, and having more children, until their population grew so large that they were forced to establish a nation...
The Hyuga Clan, the Kaguya Clan, and all the other clans were much the same. Each had its own way of surviving.
All that talk about how many years the Senju Clan and the Uchiha Clan had fought... those battles happened when their interests clashed.
Employers used money to set missions designed to weaken the shinobi.
Instead, like breeding venomous creatures in a jar until only the strongest remained, the fighting made the shinobi clans stronger and stronger, producing monsters like Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha.
The deeper the bond, the harder they fought.
They could screw over their own children without a worry.
They could beat up their own friends with complete satisfaction.
The more they fought, the fiercer they became, and the fiercer they became, the stronger they grew.
It was precisely because of their overwhelming strength that Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha could join forces to establish Konoha.
To keep Hashirama Senju in check, the daimyo of the Land of Fire would form a marriage alliance with the Senju Clan.
So Yanbai knew full well that he could not prevent the conflict between Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha. They still had to fight when the time came. Without fighting, they would not grow stronger.
Perhaps Yanbai could give their growth a little artificial boost.
Besides, Yanbai believed he could at least keep Izuna alive when necessary.
"Ah... being a politician is exhausting. I hate it."
Looking at the documents in his hands, Yanbai grumbled, then glanced at the sky. He knew Hashirama Senju had been called out again to accompany the adults on a shinobi mission.
In other words, Hashirama Senju would be forced to kill again.
Before long, Kawarama and Itama would not escape that fate either.
At that thought, Yanbai narrowed his eyes. Before those two older brothers of his were forced to go on missions, he still needed to find a way to "correct" them...
Hearing Yanbai's complaint, Butsuma Senju watched him solemnly for a long while. Finally, he pulled a scroll from his sleeve and handed it to Yanbai.
Bewildered, Yanbai took it and opened it.
It contained information about the Hagoromo Clan.
As he read, Yanbai muttered to himself, "The Hagoromo Clan's emblem has three ribbon-like lines surrounding a full moon. It symbolizes the full moon, I suppose?"
Butsuma Senju frowned.
He had thought Yanbai would immediately focus on the intelligence about the Hagoromo Clan. Instead, Yanbai had looked at their emblem first.
Besides, what did it matter whether it symbolized a full moon?
"Hagoromo Clan: Insists that it is the legitimate line of descendants of the Sage of Six Paths and stands in opposition to the Senju of the Forest. Its employer has questioned its abilities following its failure to complete a mission to annihilate the Senju Clan.
Hagoromo Clan leader: Hagoromo Ryo, the clan's finest swordsman. His renown falls short of that of the Senju Clan and the Uchiha Clan.
Hagoromo Clan second-in-command: Hagoromo Uri, renowned throughout the Land of Fire for his self-developed spear techniques. A core figure in the Hagoromo Clan.
Hagoromo Clan leader's only son: Hagoromo Nobuyuki, handsome and personally trained in swordsmanship by his father, Hagoromo Ryo. Responsible for business communications and operations between the Hagoromo Clan and its employers. Deeply favored by the clan leader."
"Uchiha Clan: A powerful clan along the Naka River. Maintains good relations and business dealings with the nobility of the Land of Lightning. Its formidable strength has also given it countless ties to the daimyo's court in the Land of Fire. Deeply feared by other shinobi clans for its powerful kekkei genkai.
Uchiha Clan leader: Uchiha Tajima, possesses the Sharingan kekkei genkai and excels in Fire Release and swordsmanship. Has very close ties to the Land of Lightning. Calm and unscrupulous, he prizes martial valor. Both his swordsmanship and his scheming inspire terror.
Uchiha Clan second-in-command: Uchiha Motoyuki, possesses the Sharingan kekkei genkai as well as Lightning and Fire Release Ninjutsu. Cunning and calculating, full of malicious schemes, and says one thing while meaning another. Ranks second in strength within the Uchiha Clan.
Uchiha Clan elder: Uchiha Tama, possesses the Sharingan kekkei genkai. The youngest child of the previous clan leader. Arrogant and self-assured, sinister and vicious, cruel and lustful. Excels in swordsmanship and has killed countless people.
..."
The endless ranks of subordinates listed below gave Yanbai a headache.
Every entry listed the Sharingan kekkei genkai, as though knowing someone possessed the Sharingan was frightening enough. Then they added personality analyses on top of that.
The personality analyses for other clans were brief and to the point, but the Uchiha Clan's had to be saddled with labels like "sinister and vicious" and "cunning and calculating." It showed just how unpopular the Uchiha Clan was.
There was even someone "cruel and lustful" in the Uchiha Clan. Unbelievable...
Yanbai flipped impatiently through page after page before finally finding Madara Uchiha's name farther back.
"Uchiha Clan heir: Madara Uchiha, universally recognized within the Uchiha Clan as an outstanding talent. Considerate toward his subordinates, possesses the charisma of a leader, and is brave and skilled in battle. Has killed adult members of the Senju Clan during missions."
"Uchiha Clan leader's youngest son: Uchiha Izuna, a young prodigy of the Uchiha Clan. Keeps his cunning and calculating nature well hidden. Greatly favored by his father."
Madara... you really are weak right now. Your enemies can't even be bothered to make up nasty things about you...
That was the rueful thought that crossed Yanbai's mind.
Butsuma Senju had been watching Yanbai all along. He noticed that Yanbai kept skipping through the Uchiha Clan's information before his gaze finally stopped on the section about their heir.
Butsuma Senju narrowed his eyes thoughtfully.
Yet Yanbai did not seem particularly interested in the Uchiha Clan and soon turned to the Uzumaki Clan farther back.
"Uzumaki Clan: Distant blood relatives of the Senju Clan. Its members excel in Sealing Jutsu, possess vigorous life force, and have a flourishing population.
Uzumaki Clan leader: Uzumaki Ashina, extraordinarily accomplished in Sealing Jutsu and known as its founding master. A moderate clan leader who devotes himself to Sealing Jutsu and avoids involvement in missions as much as possible. Adept at navigating relationships to preserve his people.
Uzumaki Clan elder: Uzumaki Kiwami, the clan's second most important figure. His face looks cast from bronze, with a terrifying, savage appearance. Belongs to the same generation as Uzumaki Ashina. Excels in the Uzumaki Clan's special ability, Adamantine Sealing Chains. Despite being a clan elder, he harbors rebellious intentions toward the clan leader.
..."
Just as he had skipped through the Uchiha Clan's information, Yanbai skipped through the Uzumaki Clan's entries to the end.
"Uzumaki Clan leader's eldest grandson: Uzumaki Aizen, romantic and amorous. Excels in the Uzumaki Clan's Sealing Jutsu, Taijutsu, and Fire Release Ninjutsu."
Mito Uzumaki wasn't there...
Yanbai silently stopped turning the pages.
"Yanbai, are you looking for someone?" Butsuma Senju had been observing him the entire time, hoping to read his emotions from his expression.
Yanbai looked up at Butsuma Senju and answered honestly, "There are no women on this list."
Butsuma Senju stared at Yanbai wordlessly for a long time before replying, "Of course there aren't..."
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