However, when news arrived that the Sarutobi and Shimura clans had gathered a massive army, petitioned the Senju for right of passage, and begun marching toward the Hyuga, Hyuga Tenso moved past anger and straight into apoplectic rage.
Damn you, Sarutobi!
I, the victim here, was kind enough not to declare war immediately. Yet you villains file the suit first and march your army right to my doorstep!
When he thought about how he had spent this time constantly sending people to appease the Gekko clan, and even planned to send negotiators to the enemy, Hyuga Tenso felt like an utter fool. The enemy army was already on the move, yet he had still been thinking of solving things with words.
"Clan Head, what should we do now?"
Standing in two rows in the great hall were four Hyuga ninja. All of them were elites at the peak of Jonin rank or higher. They were the core of the Hyuga clan.
Hyuga Tenso slammed his fist heavily onto the table beside him, furious. "The Sarutobi bully me too far! I, the victim, planned to try courtesy before force, yet they dare to accuse us falsely and attack first!"
The clan members below were filled with righteous indignation. Someone immediately waved their hand and shouted, "Clan Head, let's fight them! Let them witness the power of the Hyuga!"
"When has the Hyuga Byakugan ever feared anyone?!"
"I volunteer to serve as commander of the vanguard!"
At that moment, a Hyuga ninja with center-parted hair sitting in the front row on the right stood up and cupped his hands. "Clan Head, the Sarutobi and Shimura clans are geographically distant from us and haven't warred with us for hundreds of years. By borrowing passage from the Senju, they have already secured a terrain advantage."
The speaker was Hyuga Yuanzheng. He was the strongest warrior in the family after Hyuga Tenso, possessing Kage-level strength.
However, he was barely a Kage-level combatant. If Hyuga Tenso was a seasoned veteran comparable to Tsunade, Hyuga Yuanzheng was roughly equivalent to Gaara's father, Rasa—someone who had just scraped into that tier.
"That is indeed a factor we cannot ignore. Yuanzheng, do you have an idea?" Hyuga Tenso asked.
Hyuga Yuanzheng spoke without hesitation. "Since the Sarutobi can borrow passage from the Senju, the Hyuga can do the same."
The crowd immediately began to discuss this. A peak Jonin frowned. "The Senju have already granted passage to the Sarutobi. It is unlikely they would grant it to us..."
Stopping mid-sentence, he suddenly realized the implication and looked at Hyuga Yuanzheng.
Hyuga Yuanzheng nodded with a grave expression. "Correct. We must ask the Uchiha for passage."
The hall went silent.
"Lord Yuanzheng, are you serious?"
"Those Uchiha lunatics... I really don't want to get involved with them."
"It's a pity the Sarutobi bastards beat us to it. Otherwise, we could have asked the Senju."
Everyone showed hesitation, worry, and unease at the proposal.
In the Warring States period, other clans tried to keep their distance from the Uchiha and Senju. Establishing a relationship with one usually meant offending the other. However, if forced to choose, eighty percent of the clans would choose the Senju.
The reason was simple: the Uchiha gave off a bad feeling. Just being around them made people feel they harbored ill intentions.
Hyuga Yuanzheng spoke confidently. "Rest assured, everyone. The Uchiha are currently hard-pressed on the battlefield. They will absolutely not give up a chance to ally with the Hyuga. I, Hyuga Yuanzheng, am willing to personally go as an envoy to the Uchiha."
Once the Uchiha agreed, the conditions would be equalized. Otherwise, the Hyuga would be at an absolute disadvantage before the war even began.
With no other options, everyone had to agree to Hyuga Yuanzheng's suggestion.
Leading a squad of Jonin, Hyuga Yuanzheng reached the Uchiha's southern defensive line in just four days. They moved with incredible speed, appearing as black blurs shuttling through the jungle.
"Who goes there? Ahead lies Uchiha territory. Trespassers leave immediately, or else..."
Hyuga Yuanzheng and his team leaped down from the tree branches. He cupped his hands. "I am Hyuga Yuanzheng, representing the Hyuga clan of the South. I have come to visit your noble clan."
Only Hyuga Yuanzheng was allowed inside; his squad of Jonin was isolated in the forest outside the clan entrance.
"Currently, the Clan Head and Vice-Clan Head are both on the front lines. Lord Yuanzheng will be meeting with the Great Elder," explained the guide, a Uchiha Jonin from the Security Division under Great Elder Uchiha Xingzhi.
Behind them, five other Uchiha ninja watched him closely.
While responding politely, Hyuga Yuanzheng secretly observed the state of the Uchiha.
"Hah! Shadow Clone Jutsu, and then... Rasengan!"
Passing a clearing that looked like a training ground, he saw a Uchiha child, about ten years old, split into two. Immediately after, the boy gathered chakra to attack a training scarecrow.
Boom!
A loud impact echoed as the scarecrow's stomach was blown open.
"Yeah!" the boy shouted excitedly.
His Rasengan quality wasn't quite there yet—it was only the size of a tennis ball—but the power was already comparable to a B-rank ninjutsu.
The new generation of Uchiha already possesses such strength?
Hyuga Yuanzheng was secretly shocked. He realized that beyond just clan resources, the Uchiha must have a formidable method for cultivating their younger generation.
Walking through a small path into a quiet bamboo forest, the Uchiha Jonin stopped. "Ahead is the residence of the Elders."
Hyuga Yuanzheng nodded to show he understood and stepped onto the stairs of the most prominent ancient mansion in the center.
"Junior Hyuga Yuanzheng pays respects to the seniors of the Uchiha."
Great Elder Uchiha Xingzhi sat in the center in a formal kneeling posture. Flanking him were the Second Elder, Uchiha Tianzang, and the Third Elder, Uchiha Kai.
"The honored guest from the Hyuga has come regarding the matter of borrowing passage?"
"Vice-Clan Head, the three hundred reinforcements under the Great Elder have arrived and have been integrated into the barracks."
In the Uchiha camp at Shirotani Pass, Uchiha Shin reported to Izuna. "Also, in accordance with your and the Clan Head's wishes, we have agreed to the Hyuga's request for passage. Now, it is only a matter of time before war breaks out between the Hyuga and the Sarutobi-Shimura alliance."
Izuna sat in the main seat with his legs crossed, pondering Uchiha Shin's words.
To Uchiha Shin, this silence made Izuna appear unfathomable.
After thinking for about three minutes, Izuna finally spoke. "Shin, you have a child, right?"
Uchiha Shin was stunned. He didn't know why Izuna would bring up his child at a time like this, but he answered dutifully, "Yes. His name is Uchiha Shen. He is eleven years old this year."
"Eleven. He should have started executing missions by now, correct?" Izuna asked.
"Yes. Under the Vice-Clan Head's educational policy, he has formed a squad and is accepting mission commissions under the leadership of a Jonin."
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