What truly surprised the Hyuga Clan elder was that Uchiha Takashi had actually noticed this and used it to put pressure on the Hyuga.
In fact, the Hyuga Clan had already discussed internally whether to help the Senju or the Uchiha.
At the time, the prevailing sentiment had been to help the Senju. After all, none of them had much fondness for the warmongering Uchiha.
But a single remark from the clan head had finally brought everyone to their senses: "If we help the Senju, what if they demand our eyes afterward?"
Friendship meant nothing between clans. Everyone cared only about their own interests.
If they helped the Senju crush the Uchiha, then without the Uchiha to keep the Senju in check, wouldn't the Senju be free to do whatever they wanted?
If they lacked reconnaissance abilities, couldn't they simply steal the Hyuga Clan's Byakugan? If they couldn't take them from the Branch Family, they could just take all the Main Family's eyes!
It was after this discussion that the clan had come to a decision: if the Uchiha really could no longer hold out, the Hyuga Clan would absolutely have to step in and help.
"Heh... brat, do you think we Hyuga can only hide behind your Uchiha Clan?
"I'm telling you, we aren't afraid of the Senju Clan at all. If worse comes to worst, we'll fight them.
"Whatever the Uchiha can do, we can do too."
The Hyuga elder was merely putting on a brave front. They couldn't do it at all. With the Caged Bird Seal and the Main and Branch Family system, they had no way to contend with the Senju, let alone the Uzumaki as well.
Uchiha Takashi interlaced his fingers and rested his chin on them. "I know you want to set terms... fine.
"After all, as you said, the Uchiha Clan proposed this. Let's hear your terms."
Hearing this, the Hyuga elder suppressed his delight and said, "We want thirty percent of your Uchiha Clan's iron ore output for three years!"
At that, Uchiha Takashi's black eyes nearly turned red. Once he recovered, he said coldly, "Thirty percent? Do you know how much that is?
"Absolutely not! The Uchiha Clan depends on selling iron ore and ninja tools. There is absolutely no way we can provide thirty percent."
"Then there's nothing we can do. The Hyuga Clan is desperately short of iron ore right now. Without enough iron ore, we won't help the Uchiha." The Hyuga elder spread his hands, looking as though he wouldn't budge unless Takashi agreed.
Uchiha Takashi lowered his head and pondered for a moment before saying, "At most, we can give you thirty percent of the output from the iron mine closest to you. You'll also have to send people to guard that mine."
The Hyuga elder glanced at the map. After confirming the output of the iron mine Uchiha Takashi had mentioned, he turned back and exchanged a few quiet words with the other clan members.
"Agreed, but we also want five hundred tan of your Uchiha Clan's prime farmland!"
This time, Uchiha Takashi really couldn't hold back. Damn it, you're trying to fleece me, huh? Do you really think I, Uchiha Takashi, can't wield a blade anymore?
"Know when to stop! Giving up thirty percent of that mine's output is already the absolute limit for the Uchiha Clan," Uchiha Takashi said, glaring with his Three-Tomoe Sharingan.
At the same time, the other Uchiha clan members behind him activated their own Three-Tomoe Sharingan.
Seeing that he had angered the Uchiha representatives before him enough to activate their Sharingan, the Hyuga elder also realized he had gone too far. He waved a hand and said,
"Thirty percent it is. We can forgo the prime farmland, but we must be able to guarantee the iron ore output.
"We don't trust you Uchiha... we want to mine it ourselves..."
Uchiha Takashi simply looked at the Hyuga elder, weighing the gains and losses in his mind.
If the Hyuga Clan did this, they would certainly sneak some extra iron for themselves, but... this would free up some labor.
Besides, the Hyuga Clan doing this wouldn't affect the Uchiha Clan's output. In that case, there was no harm in letting them have it.
The freed-up labor could be transferred to Uchiha Village to mine iron ore. If he remembered correctly, there happened to be an abandoned mine there with rich iron ore deposits.
Trading thirty percent or more of the iron for an alliance with the Hyuga Clan and the mining of a new iron deposit... it was a very good deal.
"Agreed. The Uchiha Clan accepts these terms and will hand over the iron mine. In that case, the Hyuga Clan should also demonstrate its sincerity..."
The Hyuga elder said, "You don't need to worry about that. Once your iron ore reaches the Hyuga Clan, we will naturally send people to intercept the Sarutobi and Uzumaki.
"Let me make this clear in advance: we will not engage the Senju Clan head-on."
The Hyuga Clan's condition was within Uchiha Takashi's expectations. They didn't dare fight the Senju Clan because they couldn't beat them. They only dared pick on the weaker Sarutobi and Uzumaki.
"Good. In that case, we can sign the alliance agreement." Uchiha Takashi reached out and produced a sheet of paper from somewhere, dipped his brush in ink, and began writing.
The Hyuga elder quietly watched him write. Honestly, the Uchiha Clan signing an alliance agreement with them-why did this scene feel so surreal?
First, the Uchiha Clan had sent them a diplomatic request for an alliance, and now they had even settled the terms and were about to sign an agreement. It all felt like a dream.
Had he not activated his Byakugan to take a couple of looks, the Hyuga elder might still have thought he was dreaming.
The representatives of both sides signed their names on the alliance agreement, officially marking the Hyuga Clan as the Uchiha Clan's first ally.
Upon returning to the clan grounds, Uchiha Takashi immediately sought out the grand elder.
The grand elder was gathering a group of clan members. Uchiha Takashi frowned at him and asked in some confusion, "Grand Elder, what are you doing?"
The grand elder blinked. "Ah, Third Elder, you're back. Well, I was thinking... this diplomatic trip might end up making another enemy for the Uchiha.
"So I thought that if the talks fell through, we should strike first and beat up the Hyuga. See, I'm gathering people right now."
Uchiha Takashi looked utterly speechless. "Grand Elder, just how little faith do you have in me? Wait, if you don't trust me, why did you only send guards?"
The grand elder said, "The worst that could happen was the talks with the Hyuga Clan breaking down, and then we'd have to fight them.
"Could there possibly be a worse outcome? It would be the same no matter whom we sent."
Fine, fine, fine. The grand elder had far too much faith in the Uchiha Clan's diplomatic abilities-so much faith that he wasn't remotely worried Uchiha Takashi could negotiate an even worse outcome.
Uchiha Takashi said, "The terms have been settled. The Uchiha Clan will provide thirty percent of the output from the iron mine closest to them, and they'll send people to intercept the Sarutobi and Uzumaki."
The grand elder looked at Uchiha Takashi with delighted surprise. "You settled the terms? You mean you didn't get into a fight with the Hyuga Clan and then declare war on them? That's wonderful!
"To think you actually have some diplomatic ability, Third Elder. It looks like that fellow Kyō Uchiha really did find the Uchiha a talented man."