It was already early spring.
Having lost face by "gorging themselves" during their last visit, the Uzumaki Clan waited until after the New Year, when the weather improved, before making a formal visit.
The Senju Clan's reception hall was a spacious building whose architecture gave it an airy feel.
Its roof was shaped like a feather, and solemn, intricate patterns adorned the sides of its beams and pillars. Flowing white gauze hung from the beams, entwined with white wisteria and willow branches, while rare flowers and plants grew in the inner rooms on either side.
Strange flames burned in peculiar vessels in the corners, keeping the rooms warmer than outside.
The hall as a whole had a sacred air, subtly conveying the Senju Clan's harmonious coexistence with nature.
Simply sitting on the polished wooden floor of the hall and gazing up at the roof filled the visiting Uzumaki Clan members with awe.
Butsuma Senju sat in the seat of honor, his expression solemn, with a group of stern-faced Senju Clan ninjas standing beside him.
Like an emperor receiving a group of commoners, Butsuma Senju waited until Uzumaki Ashina finished explaining before saying expressionlessly, "You mean you wish to fulfill the agreement we made several years ago and marry the Princess into our clan, correct?"
Butsuma Senju had originally intended to say that Hashirama should decide for himself.
But that did not seem to be what they had agreed upon. The Senju Clan and the Uzumaki Clan had, in fact, already agreed to a marriage alliance.
At the time, the Uzumaki Clan's Princess Mito had still been too young, so the Uzumaki Clan had merely raised the matter, and no one had given it much thought.
Then Uzumaki Aizen kept trying to provoke Yanbai and later caused the grave-digging incident, and