An early outline

Only Ryuto and Hashirama were in the tent.

A large wooden table stood between them, with a sizable map spread across it. Its corners were slightly curled; it clearly saw frequent use.

Hashirama pointed to a circled spot on the map.

"Here. This is our current location, the Senju's main area of operations."

His finger moved east, stopping on an area marked with trees.

"Over here are the Nara Clan's grounds. They specialize in secret shadow techniques and have good heads on their shoulders. They make excellent tactical partners."

His finger moved to the side again.

"Next to the Nara are the Yamanaka Clan. You know the Mind Body Switch Technique, right? They're experts at intelligence and communications. The Akimichi Clan are in this area too. They excel at Taijutsu and strength, making them good at breaking through head-on."

Hashirama traced a small circle on the map, linking the three locations.

"The Nara, Yamanaka, and Akimichi have been close for generations and often act together. They're something of a small group. I've already spoken with the leaders of all three clans. They're willing to join this initial alliance."

Ryuto studied the map. The three locations were close together, forming a triangle.

"Sounds like... Ino-Shika-Cho?" he murmured without thinking.

"Hm?" Hashirama looked up. "What's Ino-Shika-Cho?"

"Oh, nothing." Ryuto quickly shook his head. "Just talking. Go on."

Hashirama didn't press him. His finger moved a little farther south.

"Here, the Sarutobi Clan. Their ninja have a fairly diverse range of skills. They know a little of everything, but their Fire Release is particularly outstanding. They occupy a key junction connecting several areas, so their strategic position is important. The Sarutobi clan leader is a sensible man. He's agreed to join too."

He picked up a charcoal pencil beside him, circled those points on the map, and connected them with lines.

"Look. This is where things stand," Hashirama said. "Us Senju, plus the Nara, Yamanaka, Akimichi, and Sarutobi. Five points."

He drew several small crosses in the empty spaces between the lines.

"These places are water sources, medicinal herb gathering areas, and a small vein of rare metal ore. They aren't particularly rich, but they're enough."

"The alliance's first rule is that everyone shares these resource sites." Hashirama looked at Ryuto. "Members of any allied clan can safely draw water, gather herbs, or conduct limited mining at these locations. Of course, everyone has to stick to the agreed amounts. We can't strip them bare."

Ryuto nodded.

"Share resources and reduce the reasons to fight over things."

"Right." Hashirama smiled. "The second rule is to mark out an area around each resource site as a 'noncombat zone.'"

He drew dotted circles around the little crosses with the charcoal pencil.

"Within these circles, all forms of armed conflict between allied clans are forbidden. If there's a dispute, we sit down and talk, or have the other clans arbitrate together."

"What if outsiders come in and attack?" Ryuto asked.

"Joint defense," Hashirama said. "If one clan is attacked, the others provide support as circumstances allow. Exactly how they help and how many people they send will depend on distance and the severity of the threat. We have a simple agreement."

Ryuto rubbed his chin.

"Sounds... a bit like a neighborhood property management joint defense scheme."

"Property management? Joint defense?" Hashirama didn't understand.

"It means... everyone watches over their homes together," Ryuto explained.

"Oh, right. Exactly." Hashirama nodded. "For now, it's just a few points and a few small circles."

He gestured over the map.

"But think about it. If this model works, and these little circles stay peaceful, with enough resources and lives better than fighting to the death outside, wouldn't the other small clans nearby want to join too?"

"They would," Ryuto said.

"Once they join, the circles grow and connect into patches." Hashirama's finger traced an imaginary expansion over the map. "Those patches connect into a whole. Eventually, perhaps the entire Land of Fire, or even somewhere larger, could be linked this way."

He set down the charcoal pencil and looked at Ryuto.

"Then it won't be one clan fighting another. It'll be a peaceful region standing against the chaotic regions outside that are still at war. The more peaceful territory we have, the fewer people will want to fight, and the more people we can bring in."

Ryuto stared at the circles and lines on the map.

The idea was fairly simple: start with a few points and gradually snowball.

But sometimes, the simpler an idea was, the more useful it could be.

"What about the Uchiha?" Ryuto asked. "Will they just watch you do this?"

"Madara certainly won't like it," Hashirama said frankly. "His attention is still on the main battlefield right now. He wants to crush the Senju completely. But by the time he notices, our little circle might already have taken shape."

"What if he attacks your circle directly?"

"Then we fight," Hashirama said. "But by then, it won't be the Senju fighting alone. Several clans will fight together. And we'll have stable resources behind us and safe routes to retreat. However strong the Uchiha are, stretching their battle lines will put more pressure on their logistics."

Ryuto thought it over.

This approach had something of the countryside encircling the cities about it.

First establish bases in small places, then build up gradually.

"Do you think it'll work?" Ryuto asked.

"I don't know." Hashirama shook his head. "But we have to try. If Madara and I just keep fighting for our lives on the battlefield, it'll never end. We have to show everyone another path, one where they can survive without killing."

Ryuto said nothing.

He looked at Hashirama.

The man didn't just have muscles for brains. He really had a blueprint.

"What do you need me to do?" Ryuto asked.

"Nothing specific for now," Hashirama said. "This alliance is still in its earliest stages. The fewer people who know, the better. I told you today because I thought you should know, and I should hear your thoughts."

He paused.

"Besides, you're a variable. Your power, your origins, the way you do things-all of it is different from everyone else. Your position matters a great deal to me."

Ryuto understood.

Hashirama was asking where he stood.

Whether he genuinely wanted to work toward peace together, or was merely staying with the Senju for the time being.

"I think your idea is pretty good," Ryuto said. "A lot more practical than spending all day thinking about how to beat every last Uchiha."

Hashirama smiled.

"That's good, then."

"But I have a question," Ryuto said. "What's the ultimate goal of this alliance? Bring every clan in and form a... superfamily?"

"More or less," Hashirama said. "But not one clan swallowing another. Everyone would retain their independence, their own clan grounds, and their own secret techniques, while following shared rules, sharing resources, and refraining from attacking one another."

"Then elect a boss to run things?"

"We could elect someone, take turns, or establish a council where representatives from each clan discuss matters together," Hashirama said. "We can work out how to run it gradually. What matters is getting it started."

Ryuto nodded.

He more or less understood.

What Hashirama wanted to create was the beginnings of a ninja village.

And one with a fairly good reputation, which people joined voluntarily.

"I agree with your approach," Ryuto said. "When you need my help, just say the word."

Hashirama clapped him firmly on the shoulder.

"That's all I needed to hear."

Outside the tent, the sky had gone completely dark.

Campfires were lit throughout the camp. The ninja ate, rested, and talked quietly.

No one noticed that the shadow of an old tree at the edge of camp was just a little darker than those of the other trees nearby.

It wasn't quite true that no one noticed.

A Senju Chunin who had gotten up to relieve himself glanced groggily that way and thought the shadow seemed to move.

He rubbed his eyes and looked again.

The shadow was perfectly normal, just a tree's shadow.

"My eyes are playing tricks..." the Chunin muttered, fastening his trousers and returning to his tent.

Of course, his eyes hadn't been playing tricks.

Within that dark mass of shadow, a pair of eyes slowly opened.

They had no pupils and were entirely black.

Black Zetsu had merged completely with the tree's shadow. His perception spread like water across the entire camp before finally focusing on the largest tent at its center.

He had "heard" every word of the conversation inside.

Expand from points into an area... share resources... noncombat zones...

Black Zetsu repeated those terms to himself.

Hashirama Senju really was up to something like this.

Trying to piece the fragmented Shinobi World back together through such gentle means?

Naive.

But what concerned Black Zetsu more was Ryuto's attitude.

"I think your idea is pretty good."

"I agree with your approach."

Ryuto had made his position clear.

He stood with Hashirama Senju, on the side of "peace."

That made things troublesome.

Black Zetsu's plan required continuous, intense conflict between Indra's and Asura's reincarnations. It required their hatred, their obsessions, and their power to keep escalating through confrontation until they reached that pinnacle.

Only then would someone seek to cast Infinite Tsukuyomi, awaken the God Tree, and allow Mother to return.

Of all the generations of reincarnations, Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha were the pair with the greatest talent, the strongest power, and the closest proximity to their destined showdown. Madara Uchiha was the "pawn" most likely to achieve his goal.

Black Zetsu had waited so long for them and had already given things several covert nudges, deepening the hatred between their clans.

But now, Ryuto had appeared.

His system of power was entirely unknown, and his growth was frighteningly fast.

More importantly, his position had been ambiguous, and now he had clearly sided with Hashirama's vision of peace.

A powerful third party whose position leaned toward peace.

It was like a new piece suddenly being thrown onto a carefully arranged game board, belonging to neither side and bringing its own new rules.

This piece might try to stop the fighting.

He might get two people who should have been mortal enemies to sit down and talk.

He might knock the destined showdown off course.

An unstable factor...

Black Zetsu silently turned the phrase over.

He must be eliminated.

But I can't act directly. This Ryuto's strength is uncertain, and Hashirama Senju values him. A direct assassination would be too risky and could easily expose me.

I need a subtler approach.

Push the conflict to escalate.

Make Madara Uchiha more desperate to conquer, to prove himself.

Deal Hashirama Senju's vision of peace a fatal blow before it can be realized.

Ideally, draw Ryuto himself into a conflict that will kill him, or... make him the spark that intensifies the conflict.

Black Zetsu recalled the keen "interest" and fighting spirit Madara Uchiha had shown toward Ryuto during his earlier observations.

Perhaps I can start there.

Make Madara want to obtain him even more, or want to destroy him even more.

The shadow rippled slightly.

Black Zetsu had a preliminary idea.

He took one last look at the illuminated tent, then slowly sank into the soil beneath the tree roots and vanished without leaving any trace.

As if he had never existed.

Inside the tent, Hashirama carefully rolled up the map.

"Right now, only Tobirama, a few elders I trust absolutely, and I know about these plans," Hashirama said. "And now you."

"Don't worry. I can keep my mouth shut," Ryuto said.

"It's not that I'm afraid you'll tell anyone." Hashirama smiled. "I just thought you should know. That way, you'll have a clearer idea when you do things in the future."

Ryuto nodded.

He knew Hashirama was laying his cards on the table, truly treating him as one of his own.

"Oh, right. You mentioned wanting to go out occasionally and see what things are like elsewhere." Hashirama put away the map. "Go ahead. Just stay safe. Who knows? What you see out there might give me some new ideas."

"Sure."

The two walked out of the tent.

The night sky outside was quite clear, with plenty of stars visible.

"Get some rest," Hashirama said. "Training as usual tomorrow."

"All right."

Ryuto headed toward his own tent.

He was still thinking about the circles and lines on the map.

Hashirama had certainly drawn a beautiful blueprint.

But Ryuto kept feeling that the road wouldn't be so smooth.

Madara Uchiha was no fool, and neither were the other clans watching hungrily.

And then there was... that faint sense of being watched. Although it hadn't returned since he came back from the Uzumaki Clan Grounds, a question still lingered in his mind.

He reached the entrance to his tent. Before lifting the flap, he instinctively glanced back at the pitch-black woods on the outskirts of camp.

All was quiet except for the wind.

"Maybe I really am overthinking it."

Ryuto muttered to himself and ducked into his tent.

He didn't see the small, inconspicuous patch of shadow on the ground several dozen meters diagonally behind his tent silently seep underground after he entered, disappearing completely.

Far away, deep in the mountains beyond the Senju Clan Compound.

Deep within a pitch-black cave.

Black Zetsu rose from the ground, his outline almost impossible to distinguish in the darkness.

Before him stood a smooth stone wall.

On the wall, two faintly glowing images were sustained by chakra.

On the left was Madara Uchiha, with his scarlet Sharingan and haughty gaze.

On the right was Hashirama Senju, his face gentle but resolute.

Black Zetsu's gaze moved between the two.

Finally, he raised his hand and used chakra to sketch a third, indistinct human outline dressed in black on a blank section of the stone wall.

Then he drew a cross over the outline.

"The plan... must be accelerated..."

His raspy voice echoed softly through the cave, soon swallowed by the darkness.