The next morning, outside the gates of Hyuga Village.
The people from the various shinobi villages and clans had packed their bags and were ready to leave.
Shinichi stood at the village entrance with several Hyuga jonin to see everyone off.
Only the Kaguya Clan was absent from the crowd at the entrance.
Preoccupied with building his own village, the Kaguya Clan Leader had set off for the Land of Water with his clansmen before dawn.
The Hyuga jonin on night watch told Shinichi that the Kaguya Clan Leader had left a message: once the Kaguya village was built, he invited the Hyuga Clan Leader over for a drink.
Shamon of Sunagakure was the first to approach Shinichi with his people to say goodbye.
Shinichi looked at Shamon and said the first shipment would arrive in Sunagakure in half a month.
Shamon nodded and said Sunagakure would be waiting.
Over in the Land of Wind, they ate sand every day, and their ninja had long been short of kunai.
Shamon also asked how so many goods would be transported.
Shinichi said the Hyuga would send ninja to escort the goods all the way to the border of the Land of Wind.
Hozuki Gengetsu of Kirigakure came over next, grinning as he said Kirigakure was waiting for this shipment too.
Hozuki Gengetsu said they must not let Sunagakure get a head start.
Shinichi said all three shipments would go out together, with no one getting theirs earlier or later.
Mū of Iwagakure said the mountain roads in the Land of Earth were difficult to travel, so it would be best for the goods to arrive before the rainy season.
Shinichi said they would arrive in half a month without fail and would not hold up Iwagakure's affairs.
Mū nodded to Shinichi and said goodbye.
The three groups turned and left with their respective people.
The shinobi villages and clans from smaller countries that had become dealers were all beaming as they left. Before leaving, they told Shinichi that their village warehouses had already been cleared out and were just waiting for the goods.
The clan leader from the Land of Hot Water who had only managed to secure Level Three yesterday approached Shinichi again before leaving, saying that if more slots opened up in the future, he must think of their Land of Hot Water first.
Shinichi said they would discuss the slots after the first shipment started selling.
The clan leader from the Land of Hot Water agreed repeatedly before finally leaving with his clansmen.
The people from Konoha and the Uchiha also arrived at the village entrance.
Hashirama walked at the head of the group, with Tobirama beside him, followed by the Sarutobi, Shimura, and Ino-Shika-Cho clans.
Madara led the Uchiha clansmen behind them, leaving some distance between themselves and the people from Konoha.
The Akimichi Clan Leader lingered at the back of the group and approached Shinichi, quietly asking whether Konoha's ninja clans could buy ninja tools directly from the Hyuga.
Shinichi said anyone could buy from the Hyuga at retail.
Tobirama glanced back at the Akimichi Clan Leader, who hurried back into the group.
The Aburame Clan Leader had come out of the village with Shinichi early that morning and had been standing beside him the whole time, with several Aburame clansmen behind him.
Seeing the Aburame Clan Leader, Tobirama walked over and spoke in front of all the groups at the entrance.
"Aburame Clan Leader, have you reached a decision about the Aburame Clan joining Konoha?"
Hearing this, the Uchiha clansmen at the back also stopped and looked over.
The Aburame Clan Leader cupped his hands toward Tobirama.
"Thank you for Konoha's kind regard."
"Our clan has discussed it and decided not to join Konoha."
The groups that had yet to leave the village entrance all stopped and turned to look.
Tobirama looked at Shinichi, then at the Aburame Clan Leader standing beside him.
He remembered that the Aburame Clan Leader had come out of the village with Shinichi early that morning, and suddenly understood everything.
"So the Aburame plan to move out of the Land of Fire and join Hyuga Village?"
Shinichi stepped forward and answered directly for the Aburame Clan Leader.
"That's right."
"Everyone has their own aspirations."
"Hyuga Village welcomes the Aburame Clan."
"From now on, the Aburame Clan will receive the same treatment in Hyuga Village as the Hyuga Clan."
"We'll all be brothers and sisters."
Standing beside Shinichi, the Aburame Clan Leader nodded to Tobirama.
Tobirama stared at the Aburame Clan Leader for a while. In the end, he said only one word.
"Congratulations."
The Uchiha clansmen at the back began chuckling quietly.
One Uchiha clansman spoke up.
"Konoha invited the Aburame several times, but never managed to get them."
Another Uchiha clansman beside him chimed in.
"The Hyuga managed to get them in a single night."
The Shimura Clan Leader turned and glared at the Uchiha clansmen.
Rather than quieting down, the Uchiha clansmen laughed even louder.
Hashirama laughed heartily and addressed the Aburame Clan Leader.
"What a pity."
"It seems Konoha and the Aburame weren't meant to be."
Hashirama turned to look at Shinichi.
"Congratulations, Shinichi."
"Hyuga Village has gained another ninja clan."
"Come visit us in Konoha when you have time."
Shinichi nodded.
"I certainly will."
Throughout the exchange, Madara had stood at the front of the Uchiha group without saying a word.
Only after Hashirama finished speaking did Madara walk up to Shinichi.
"I didn't get my fill in our last fight."
"The next time we get a chance, I won't hold back."
Shinichi looked at Madara before him.
"Anytime."
Hashirama laughed heartily beside them, saying that if the two of them really were going to fight, they should remember to call him so he could watch from the sidelines.
Madara said nothing more, turning to leave with the Uchiha clansmen.
The Uchiha clansmen streamed after Madara, still laughing and discussing what had just happened with the Aburame even after they had gone a long way.
The people from Konoha were also about to set off.
Tobirama walked up beside Hashirama and lowered his voice.
"Brother, head back to Konoha without me."
"I have something to take care of in the Land of Hot Water. I'll return in a few days."
Hashirama turned to look at him.
"What do you need to do in the Land of Hot Water?"
Tobirama answered immediately.
"A small village matter. I'll explain it to you in detail when I get back, brother."
The Sarutobi Clan Leader asked whether Lord Tobirama wanted to take a couple of people along rather than go alone.
Tobirama said there was no need, and the Sarutobi Clan Leader asked no further questions.
Hashirama did not press him.
"All right. Come back soon."
Hashirama waved goodbye to Shinichi and led the Sarutobi, Shimura, and Ino-Shika-Cho clans toward the Land of Fire.
Tobirama did not follow Konoha's group, instead taking the road east toward the Land of Hot Water alone.
Only the Aburame Clan remained at the village entrance now.
The Aburame Clan Leader also came over to say goodbye to Shinichi.
"I'll take my clansmen back to the Land of Fire to pack first."
"In a little while, our entire clan will move to the Land of Rice Fields."
Shinichi told him to send word before setting off, and the Hyuga would send people to meet them halfway.
The Aburame Clan Leader said several elders in the clan could not travel far, so they would have to move in two groups.
Shinichi said the Hyuga would send more people to help carry the elders over.
The Aburame Clan Leader agreed.
Shinichi called the Hyuga jonin behind him over and escorted the Aburame Clan Leader out through the village entrance.
On the way back into the village, Shinichi instructed the Hyuga jonin to allocate the woods north of the village to the Aburame Clan as their compound. The dense woods there were ideal for raising kikaichū. They were to build the houses first so the Aburame Clan could move straight in when they arrived.
That night, a white-haired person wearing a mask appeared in the woods outside Hyuga Village.
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