Soon, the Grand Elder's reply arrived. The Hyuga Clan had accepted the Uchiha Clan's request for diplomatic talks.
They could send a delegation to hold talks outside the Uchiha Clan's grounds.
After receiving the Grand Elder's definite reply, Uchiha Takashi immediately returned to the clan grounds, mainly because the Uchiha had no one else to handle diplomacy at present.
Uchiha Takashi really could not trust anyone else with diplomacy. If they talked the Uchiha into having yet another enemy, the Uchiha really would be done for!
To be honest, the Grand Elder was also afraid that Uchiha Takashi would be just like the other Uchiha.
If the Grand Elder himself had not been the sort who could not hold his temper, and Uchiha Takashi had not given him repeated assurances, he would definitely have gone along.
Uchiha Takashi: I think the Uchiha are fucking screwed!
The Grand Elder understood this too, so he only assigned a few clan members with Mitsudomoe to accompany Uchiha Takashi as guards. As for assistants and the like, he did not send any at all.
And so, Uchiha Takashi took a few guards to the meeting place agreed upon with the Hyuga Clan.
Naturally, the meeting place was among the little hills between the two clans' grounds, where a camp had already been set up.
After all, contact had been made on short notice, and only two clans were involved. There was no need for such a formal setting.
To be honest, when the Hyuga Clan saw the Uchiha Clan's request for diplomatic talks, they almost took it for a prank.
Who did you say sent us a request for diplomatic talks? The Uchiha Clan? Are you kidding me? When the Hyuga Clan's diplomatic elder saw it, his expression was that of an old man on the subway squinting at his phone.
After all, it was simply too unbelievable. In all the years of the Uchiha's history, no one had ever heard of them having diplomatic dealings with any clan.
The only exception had been when they issued a warning of war to the Chinoike Clan.
And that had only been because the Chinoike Clan's Ketsuryūgan was highly similar to the Uchiha Clan's Sharingan.
The Hyuga Clan did not know exactly what grievances existed between those two clans. He only knew that this had been the Uchiha Clan's sole diplomatic announcement. At all other times, they fought when they wanted and stopped when it was time to stop.
Basically, there was never any diplomacy. Even their truces happened when both sides felt it was time to stop, then tacitly ceased fighting. They did not even sign formal ceasefire agreements.
Other clans might worry about sneak attacks or the like without a ceasefire agreement.
But this was perfectly normal for the Uchiha. If they engaged in diplomacy with you, that would be abnormal.
There were three impossible things in the Shinobi World. First, the Hyuga Clan would absolutely never give up the Caged Bird Seal.
Second, the Aburame Clan would absolutely never give up their insects.
Third, the Uchiha Clan would absolutely never engage in diplomacy! And now the third rule had actually been broken! Good heavens, the sun had risen in the west!
At the time, the Hyuga elder had wanted to throw the thing away, because he thought it was far too fake. There was no way the real Uchiha had sent it.
Only when he saw the Uchiha Grand Elder's signature in the lower-right corner, along with the Uchiha's unique message-transmission markings, did he confirm that it really belonged to the Uchiha Clan.
He immediately reported the matter to the Hyuga Clan Head. Upon seeing it, the clan head agreed to engage in diplomacy with the Uchiha.
A reenactment of the scene.
Oh my, the Uchiha Clan sent us a request. The Uchiha, who haven't sent a message in six months, actually sent one. Let's see what they sent.
Oh my, they even want to start a private chat with me. Accept, accept, accept, accept. Let's see just what you're after.
When Uchiha Takashi entered the tent, all the Hyuga Clan's representatives had already arrived.
Seeing someone enter, the Hyuga Clan's representatives turned their heads in unison. Once he got a clear look at the person in the center, the Hyuga Clan's diplomatic elder said unhappily,
"What is this? I thought your Uchiha Clan was coming here in good faith, yet you sent someone this young. Just what do you take our Hyuga Clan for?"
Uchiha Takashi merely walked calmly to his seat, plopped down, and folded his arms across his chest. "Elder Hyuga, age has never been a primary consideration in the Uchiha Clan.
"The Uchiha Clan has always respected the strong. I'm strong enough, so I can stand here as the clan's representative.
"You needn't concern yourself with anything else. After all, is there any direct connection between my age and what we're discussing?"
Upon hearing this, the Hyuga Clan's elder immediately put away his contempt. He had only been testing him just now.
With a typical Uchiha's temperament, he should have been slamming the table in a rage by now, pointing at his nose and cursing him, then activating his Sharingan without hesitation and demanding an apology.
Now it seemed that the Uchiha before him really could engage in diplomacy. After all... Uchiha who could speak this civilly were a rare sight.
As for the cocky, arrogant air inherent in Uchiha Takashi's tone, the Hyuga elder ignored it. He was an Uchiha. Being a little cocky and arrogant was perfectly normal. Not being arrogant would have been abnormal!
"Very well, brat. You say you can represent your clan, so fine... what have you come to discuss with us on behalf of the Uchiha Clan?"
Uchiha Takashi held out a hand, and a guard behind him immediately presented a map.
Uchiha Takashi casually pointed to a spot. "You should know that the Uchiha have recently been facing attacks from three clans.
"Although the Uchiha do not fear powerful enemies, considering the heavy losses the clan would suffer as a result, we have decided to ally with the Hyuga Clan.
"To resist outside enemies together..."
Hearing these words, the Hyuga Clan members froze for a moment, then could not quite hold back their laughter.
The Hyuga elder raised his chin slightly. "Is this your attitude when asking someone for a favor? Your Uchiha Clan really is arrogant. You're clearly on the verge of being unable to hold out, yet you still insist on talking tough.
"Didn't you come to us just to pull us in and deal with the Senju together? You were the ones who approached us, yet you still dare put on this attitude?
"Why should we help you?"
Uchiha Takashi paid no attention to the laughter of the other Hyuga Clan members. Instead, he looked at the Hyuga elder.
"Elder, I imagine you're an intelligent man. If the Uchiha Clan falls, who will be the next to be wiped out?
"The Uchiha Clan possesses the Sharingan, the finest in the Shinobi World. Its powerful ability to track motion alone has countless clans eyeing us covetously.
"If I remember correctly, the Hyuga Clan's Byakugan seems to be even more powerful than the Sharingan when it comes to reconnaissance.
"Once the Senju have dealt with an old rival like the Uchiha, who will they deal with next?
"The Senju Clan possesses incredibly powerful physiques and recovery abilities, but reconnaissance and mobility are major weaknesses for them. What will they do next? Do I really need to say more?"
The Hyuga Clan elder's expression darkened. It was not because Uchiha Takashi's words angered him, but because he knew that everything Uchiha Takashi said was right.
The Uchiha Clan and the Senju Clan had fought for over a hundred years. It was precisely because the Uchiha and Senju held each other in check that the balance between the two clans had been maintained, keeping them from swallowing up smaller clans.
If the Senju really brought down the Uchiha, then their Hyuga Clan would definitely be the next to suffer. The Hyuga Clan's Byakugan was simply the perfect support tool for the Senju Clan.
Were they supposed to expect the Senju Clan to come and ask nicely when the time came? What a joke! That was called robbery!