A similar scene was unfolding in the Senju Clan Compound.
Butsuma Senju was also asking Hashirama Senju what he thought of the Seven-Clan Alliance.
Hashirama Senju's first response was, "We Senju of the Forest are a clan of love. The Seven-Clan Alliance is only trying to survive."
"If that's the case, why don't we Senju acknowledge their standing and become good friends with them?"
Butsuma Senju sighed heavily, then turned to Tobirama Senju, who was only six years old. "Tobirama, do you agree with your elder brother?"
Tobirama Senju pondered for a long time. His gaze first grew grave, then delighted, and finally settled into understanding.
When Butsuma met Tobirama's eyes, he saw a light in his second son's gaze, so bright it seemed capable of piercing the darkness on the horizon.
"Father, no matter when or where, I will always stand behind my elder brother."
"Even if a bottomless abyss lies ahead, I will be his staunchest support."
"Ha ha ha! Ha ha ha!"
Butsuma Senju laughed in satisfaction. He already had his own plans for the Seven-Clan Alliance.
There were ways to forge an alliance, just as there were ways to suppress one.
The reason he had shown disappointment in his eldest son and taken the initiative to ask his second son's opinion
was to see whether his second son harbored any ambition to take his brother's place.
Both Tobirama's behavior and his answer pleased Butsuma immensely. "Tobirama! It seems you already have an excellent plan."
"In that case, you will assist your elder brother on this trip to attend the Seven-Clan Alliance's ceremony!"
Madara did not give his answer immediately. Though he felt there was plenty to exploit in the Seven-Clan Alliance, his proud nature made him ill-suited to schemes and intrigue.
Jing Xiu really is the best at this sort of thing.
With that thought, he took the intelligence report and headed for the door. "Father, let me go back and think it over carefully. I'll give you my answer tomorrow!"
Uchiha Tajima naturally knew what his eldest son was going to do. It seems Jing Xiu's presence has already begun to affect Madara's decisiveness.
Never mind. He is my son, after all. I'll give him another two years. If he still can't extract chakra by then, I'll have no choice but to give up on him.
He cannot be allowed to tarnish the glory of the Uchiha.
Once home, Madara tossed the intelligence report straight to Jing Xiu.
Jing Xiu, who was practicing visualization, paid no attention to the report and let it fall in front of him.
A long while passed. Only when Madara was growing impatient did Jing Xiu speak calmly. "Madara, rather than sitting there waiting, why not get some paper and a pen and give your own answer some serious thought?"
Madara froze at those words, then actually took out a map of the Land of Fire's factions and began carefully analyzing the Seven-Clan Alliance's impact on the Uchiha Clan.
After dinner, Madara did not disturb Jing Xiu's weighted physical training again. Instead, he took his own answer to Tajima.
"Father, the Seven-Clan Alliance's existence has both advantages and disadvantages."
"If they are willing to join our alliance with the Hyuga Clan, the combined strength of our three great powers will surely be enough to wipe out the Senju."
"If they ally with the Senju, that will surely draw our clan and the Hyuga Clan even closer together."
"Either way, their existence is a good thing for our clan."
Uchiha Tajima nodded in satisfaction. "My son, you're right. I think the same, so I intend to have the Fourth Elder accompany you to the ceremony."
"With you, the Uchiha Young Clan Leader, attending in person, the Seven-Clan Alliance will surely be overwhelmed by the honor and ultimately join our Uchiha camp."
Madara nodded. "I'd also like to bring Jing Xiu and Izuna. What do you think, Father?"
Tajima considered it and did not refuse. "Go ahead. From the moment they were born, they were destined to be your right-hand men. It would be good for them to see more of the world."
Madara found Jing Xiu and Izuna. "You two, pack your things. You're coming with me to Kinzawa Castle tomorrow. I'll show you the world!"
Izuna jumped for joy at the news. "Great! I get to go out and have fun with my big brother!"
Jing Xiu merely rolled his eyes at them. "I have no interest in going out. You two go without me!"
Madara's and Izuna's gazes sharpened. Their four eyes fixed on Jing Xiu, making him feel as though needles were digging into his back.
The three remained at an impasse for a long time before Jing Xiu finally raised his hands in surrender. "Madara, you'll regret this!"
Madara gave a disdainful smile. "Jing Xiu, I'm the older brother!"
The next day, as soon as the three reached the exit of the clan compound, they saw the Fourth Uchiha Elder, who had been waiting for quite some time.
"Fourth Elder, thank you for your trouble!"
Madara stepped forward to greet the Fourth Elder, while Jing Xiu and Izuna followed silently behind him.
The Fourth Uchiha Elder looked at Madara, then at the two little ones behind him, and felt uneasy. I didn't expect all three of the clan leader's sons to be going out together this time.
If anything happens to them, won't the Uchiha be left with no successors for the next generation?
At that thought, he discreetly made several hand signals, and his faction dispatched another two chunin squads to protect Jing Xiu and Izuna from the shadows.
They stopped frequently along the way. It looked less like a mission and more like a spring outing.
"Big brother, I want that!"
Izuna raced down the street to a dumpling shop.
The shop's dumplings came in three colors and looked delicious.
Izuna was practically drooling onto them.
The next moment, he grabbed more than ten skewers of three-colored dumplings from the stall and stuffed them into his mouth in no time.
The owner was rather annoyed, but just as he was about to lose his temper, several silver coins landed on his stall.
A calm voice spoke at the same moment. "Is that enough?"
The owner looked up and saw Madara's composed face.
He nodded deferentially. "Yes, more than enough! Sir, would you like a few skewers yourself? Our three-colored dumplings are the best in the city!"
Madara glanced at the silent Jing Xiu, then at Izuna, who had eaten too quickly and was choking.
He smiled faintly. "Thirty more skewers, then!"
By the time they walked from one end of the street to the other, Madara's bulging wallet had gone flat.
"Fourth Elder, how many more days until we reach Kinzawa Castle?"
Jing Xiu asked the steady, seasoned Fourth Elder beside him.
"We've already reached Nagasawa Castle. Another two days should get us to Kinzawa Castle."
"Our Hyuga friends should arrive here tonight. Tomorrow, we'll set out together."
Jing Xiu nodded and immersed himself in his training again.
In Kinzawa Castle, the leaders of seven great clans-Sarutobi, Shimura, Inuzuka, Aburame, Yamanaka, Nara, and Akimichi-had gathered together.
The Inuzuka clan leader spoke first. "According to reliable intelligence,"
"the young clan leaders of the three superclans-the Senju, Uchiha, and Hyuga-are all on their way to Kinzawa Castle."
"The Fūma, Hagoromo, Moonlight, Uzumaki, Hatake, Unknown Fire, Kurama, and other clans have also sent representatives."
The Sarutobi clan leader took over. "Everyone, the reason our seven great clans formed this alliance was to band together for protection!"
"To survive in this Shinobi World, where the strong prey on the weak!"
"So that our wives and children can sleep soundly, without fearing that war will kill them in their sleep!"
"So, how should our seven clans treat these smaller clans?"
"And if the three superclans make trouble for us, what should we do?"