Chapter 120: Chapter:117
Hyuga Tenmen was angrier than ever.
As the head of the Hyuga clan, he had exercised patience beyond his usual restraint with the Gekkō clan, one of their subordinate clans. But even after the tragic death of their leader, Gekkō Fengbo, the Gekkō clan had not only resisted appeasement efforts but also rallied other subordinate clans to press for action.
In the past, such a rebellion might have been controlled through the "caged bird" technique, yet that tradition hadn't been established during this Warring States Era. Hyuga's control over its subordinate clans was, therefore, tenuous.
Tenmen's initial plan had been to calm the Gekkō clan and then send delegates to the Sarutobi and Shimura tribes to seek answers regarding Fengbo's death. He wanted to find out why they would harm one of Hyuga's loyal allies. He harbored doubts—after all, in the Warring States Period, ninja clans acted out of self-interest, rarely out of malice. Only Uchiha and Senju harbored deep-seated vendettas that fueled their desire to destroy each other.
However, upon hearing that the Sarutobi and Shimura clans had mobilized their armies, gained permission to cross Senju territory, and were now marching directly toward Hyuga lands, Tenmen's frustration turned to fury.
"So, Sarutobi and Shimura dare to march on us!" he muttered, his voice laced with anger.
Tenmen's sense of insult deepened when he thought of his attempts to resolve the situation diplomatically. He'd sought peace, yet the Sarutobi clan had responded with aggression.
"Clan Leader, what are your orders?" asked one of the assembled Hyuga elites.
Standing in two rows along the sides of the hall were Hyuga's senior jounin, the clan's core. Four of these men held the rank of elite jounin, each highly skilled in the clan's powerful Byakugan techniques.
Tenmen pounded the table in front of him and said with a heavy tone, "The Sarutobi have gone too far. We, the Hyuga, tried to maintain civility, but they march on us as if we're the aggressors!"
The clan members around him responded with their own frustration. One of them raised a fist and shouted, "Clan Leader, we should strike back and show them the strength of the Hyuga!"
"The Byakugan stands against any opponent," added another, "I'll lead our forces into the vanguard if need be!"
One of the Hyuga's senior advisors, Hyuga Genmasa, stood and addressed Tenmen. "Clan Leader, the Sarutobi and Shimura clans haven't clashed with us for centuries due to the geographic distance between our lands. But now, by borrowing the path through Senju territory, they've gained a considerable advantage."
Genmasa was one of the Hyuga clan's most powerful members, second only to Tenmen himself. His strategic mind matched his jounin-level strength, though his power was not as refined as Tenmen's.
Tenmen turned to him. "What would you suggest, Genmasa?"
Without hesitation, Genmasa replied, "If Sarutobi can borrow the path from Senju, then we Hyuga should seek the same advantage."
The room buzzed with conversation, but one elder hesitated. "Senju has already given permission to the Sarutobi and Shimura forces. I doubt they'll grant us passage too…"
His voice trailed off as he realized Genmasa's meaning. His eyes widened. "You mean… we ask Uchiha for passage?"
A heavy silence filled the room as everyone considered this bold suggestion.
"Genmasa, are you serious?" one elder asked.
"Do we really want to rely on the Uchiha? Those people are nothing but trouble."
"It's too bad Sarutobi got to Senju first; otherwise, we could have avoided any dealings with Uchiha," muttered another elder.
The Hyuga and many other ninja clans often tried to avoid aligning themselves too closely with either Uchiha or Senju. Associating with one clan often meant alienating the other. For most, it was a simple choice: if forced to choose, most would align with Senju. The Uchiha, with their intense and often ruthless demeanor, were not an easy ally to trust.
But Genmasa remained confident. "I understand your concerns, but the Uchiha are under extreme pressure on multiple fronts. They won't turn down an opportunity to ally with us, even temporarily. I, Hyuga Genmasa, volunteer to personally go and negotiate with the Uchiha."
After a moment of consideration, the others reluctantly agreed. It was the only way to avoid a disadvantage before the battle even began.
Taking a small team of jounin, Genmasa reached Uchiha's southern defense line within four days, traveling swiftly and avoiding unnecessary stops.
"Stop! You've entered Uchiha territory," a Uchiha jounin warned as they approached. "Turn back now, or face the consequences."
Genmasa stepped forward and bowed. "I am Hyuga Genmasa, here to request a meeting with Uchiha leadership on behalf of the Hyuga clan."
Genmasa was permitted to enter, while his team remained outside the clan's gate.
As they made their way through the Uchiha compound, the escorting jounin explained, "The Clan Leader and Deputy Leader are at the battlefield. You'll be speaking with the Great Elder, Uchiha Yuhiyuki."
The Uchiha compound was formidable, its paths winding through dense forests and traditional Uchiha architecture. As they passed a training ground, Genmasa noted a young Uchiha boy practicing an advanced jutsu.
"Shadow Clone Jutsu! Followed by Rasengan!"
The boy split into two clones and struck a training dummy with a condensed chakra sphere, piercing it in a single hit. The Rasengan was small, but its power was undeniable.
"The next generation of Uchiha is already this skilled?" Genmasa thought, impressed. It was a testament to both the clan's resources and their focus on training.
Eventually, they reached a bamboo grove surrounding the elder's residence. The jounin stopped. "This is the elders' hall. You may proceed."
Genmasa nodded, taking in the imposing structure. He approached the entrance, bowed respectfully, and announced, "Hyuga Genmasa, of the southern Hyuga clan, pays his respects to the esteemed Uchiha elders."
Inside, Uchiha Yuhiyuki sat in the center, flanked by the second elder, Uchiha Tenzo, and the third elder, Uchiha Kai.
Uchiha Yuhiyuki regarded him calmly. "So, the Hyuga clan has come to request passage, have they?"
(End of the Chapter).
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