Ogre's Convoy

After emerging from his bath and donning a simple kimono, Yujiro headed towards the old man's smith. He had never bothered to learn the man's name, and frankly, he couldn't care less. As he entered the workshop, the elderly smith was engrossed in his craft, hammering away at a piece of metal.

Without much preamble, Yujiro spoke, "Old man, you're coming with me to the Land of Whirlpool."

The old smith, his face etched with years of grumpiness, didn't even bother to look up from his work. "And why would I do that?"

With a casual flick of his fingers, Yujiro released a surge of his immense chakra. The temperature in the room seemed to drop, and the walls creaked under the pressure. The old man finally glanced at Yujiro, a bead of sweat forming on his brow.

Yujiro's voice rumbled like distant thunder. "Because I said so. And you don't want to find out what happens when I'm not in a good mood."

The old man grumbled but didn't disagree. However, he still seemed reluctant.

Yujiro, seeing the stubbornness in the old man's eyes, decided to take a different approach. He leaned in closer and whispered, "Old man, in the Land of Whirlpool, I'll make sure you have enough land for your smithy, the best materials for your work, and you can take talented youngsters as your apprentices. You can pass on your legacy and be remembered for generations."

The old man's eyes widened at the prospect, and for the first time, a glimmer of enthusiasm danced in his gaze. Yujiro had found the right bait.

"Fine," the old man grumbled. "But you better keep your promises, Ogre."

Yujiro's grin was a wicked one. "You won't regret it. Now, gather your things. We leave soon."

With a reluctant nod, the old man began to prepare for the journey to the Land of Whirlpool, enticed by the promise of a legacy that would outlive him.

The old man's eyes widened at the prospect, and for the first time, a glimmer of enthusiasm danced in his gaze. Yujiro had found the right bait, rekindling the smith's fading fire of ambition.

"Fine," the old man grumbled, his voice hoarse from years of forging. "But you better keep your promises, Ogre."

Yujiro's grin was a wicked one, revealing a glint of his unyielding spirit. "Oh, you'll see. The Land of Whirlpool has more opportunities than you can imagine. You won't regret it. Now, gather your things. We leave soon."

Then, with a casual flick of his hand, Yujiro summoned forth a cluster of ornate scrolls. He tossed them to the grumpy old man, who fumbled to catch them. The scrolls bore a unique design, ornate and mysterious.

"Here," Yujiro explained, "you can store your ores, weapons, hammer, and anvil inside these scrolls. They're no ordinary sealing scrolls; they're my own unique creations. Be careful with them, old man. You won't find their like anywhere else. They'll make your work a lot easier."

The old man continued to examine the scrolls, his fingers tracing the intricate designs etched onto them. Curiosity gave way to a growing sense of gratitude, and the realization that this journey might indeed be the opportunity of a lifetime. It was a chance to secure his legacy, one that would extend beyond his years, and to train the next generation of blacksmiths.

With a reluctant nod, the grumpy old man acknowledged the potential of the undertaking. He didn't want to appear weak or overly eager, but he understood the significance of this moment.

"Tsk, when will we depart, Ogre?" he grumbled, his voice still carrying traces of annoyance.

Yujiro chuckled heartily, finding amusement in the old man's irritation. "In an hour."

The blacksmith's eyebrows shot up in incredulity. "An hour? Do you think I'll have enough time to gather all my belongings in just an hour!?"

Yujiro's laughter echoed through the smithy. "Hahahaha! That's your problem to solve, old man, not mine. I'll be waiting for you at the gates. Well then, I'll get going!"

As Yujiro made his exit, the old man couldn't help but mutter under his breath, "Muscular bastard freak!"

But even in his grumbling, there was a hint of a smile. Here in Konohagakure, he had struggled to find someone worthy of continuing his legacy.

His coffers weren't deep enough to fund an apprenticeship, and the local clans had shown no interest in the art of forging.

That's why he had quickly enticed him with the prospect of a legacy that would outlive him, an opportunity he couldn't afford to pass up. "Better finish storing all of my babies in these scrolls."

-----

After his interaction with the grumpy old man, Yujiro ventured to find Mito Uzumaki. He located her in a peaceful grove within Konohagakure, where she was meditating beneath the shade of a towering tree.

Approaching with his usual imposing presence, Yujiro spoke, "Mito."

Mito sensed his presence and opened her eyes, her serene gaze shifting from the placid lake to Yujiro. Her expression softened into a warm smile. "Yujiro, what can I do for you?"

He met her gaze with a sense of candor, a hint of curiosity glinting in his eyes, and he spoke, his voice tinged with genuine interest, "Mito, I'll be departing for the Land of Whirlpool soon. I wanted to know if you intended to follow me or if you wanted to  prolong your stay here."

Mito's smile remained kind as she replied, "I've decided to remain here a bit longer. I want to spend more time with Hashirama."

Yujiro nodded in understanding, appreciating her desire to be with her fiance.

Then, he couldn't help but smirk, his characteristic grin widening, and his hair bristling as if it mirrored his amusement, "That makes sense. But seriously, you two do make a good pair. He and Madara are all about world peace, and I'm here just to spice things up with a little chaos."

Mito grinned, her eyes shining with amusement. "Indeed, I think Konohagakure could use a bit of your 'spice' sometimes."

But his grin grew even wider, his hair dancing wildly, and he spoke with an almost mischievous undertone, "But make sure you produce a strong kid, Mito. You know, Hashirama, Madara, and I have this little bet going on."

"We're competing to see who can raise the strongest clan, and I don't want anyone to think you're letting the side down."

Mito's expression turned more serious, her competitive spirit ignited. "Of course, our child will be strong, no doubt about it."

With this playful exchange, Yujiro left, his grin still evident as he departed to make preparations for his journey. Mito returned to her contemplation by the tranquil waters with a faint smile,

Yujiro and Mito found a serene spot beneath a massive tree, where they could talk without distractions. The sun filtered through the leaves, casting dappled shadows on the ground. 

Yujiro leaned back, his fingers tracing patterns on the grass. "You know, Mito, I've been thinking about fuinjutsu. Those sealing techniques have always intrigued me, and I have an idea to take them to the next level."

Mito raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Oh? Tell me more, Yujiro."

A determine glint appeared in his eyes. "What if we could seal something truly enormous, like a mountain or an entire ocean? Just imagine the possibilities. We could shape and paint the world according to our desires."

Mito chuckled, captivated by his ambition. "That's an audacious dream, Yujiro. But I suppose if anyone can take the storage sealing technique to that incomprehensible level to a reality, it's you. It's a goal that might change the world in unimaginable ways."

Yujiro's laughter echoed in the peaceful glade. "Haha! That's the spirit, Mito. Fuinjutsu has always been about pushing the boundaries, hasn't it?"

"It may take time. Who knows, I might just set up a few mountains for my Hanma Clan's backyard someday!"

As they continued discussing their ideas, the world felt like a canvas of endless potential, waiting to be shaped by their ambitions.

Yujiro's departure drew near, and he found himself standing before Mito, their faces framed by the dappled sunlight filtering through the leaves of the grand tree.

"It's time for me to go," Yujiro said with a tinge of melancholy, his voice low.

Mito smiled warmly, her eyes reflecting the light of the sun. "I know, Yujiro. But remember, this is not goodbye forever."

He nodded, his expression resolute. "I'll be back. There's much to be done in the Land of Whirlpool."

As they stood in the quiet clearing, they both felt the weight of parting and the promise of a future reunion.

Mito extended her hand, and Yujiro clasped it firmly, a silent acknowledgment of their shared dreams and the adventures that awaited them.

She wished Yujiro well, "I hope your journey to the Land of Whirlpool is safe and successful. Take care, Yujiro."

"Who do you think I am, Mito? I'm Hanma Yujiro. I've always taken care of myself."

Mito's smile widen and she chukled. "You'll never change, will you? Hahaha"

-----

Yujiro made his way to the gate of Konohagakure, and as he arrived, his gaze fell upon his women and the promised carriage. A chuckle escaped his lips as he saw everything coming together.

There were also caravans that housed scrolls containing Yuko's Emperium goods, ready for the journey.

Not far away, he noticed the grumpy old man leaning against one of the carriages. The old man's eyes were filled with a mixture of reluctance and anticipation.

Yujiro approached, and with a casual nod, he gestured for everyone to prepare.

As the group assembled, Yujiro's sharp eyes locked onto the familiar figures of Hashirama and Madara, flanked by their brothers, Tobirama and Izuna.

He cast a roguish grin at his friends, "Look at you, Hashirama, with that eternally dumb-looking face, and you too, Madara, with that wild mane of yours. Do either of you even own a mirror or at least a comb?"

Hashirama and Madara, ever the perfect rivals, shared an amused look, taking this as an opportunity to tease Yujiro in return.

Hashirama, always one to start the teasing, took the lead. "Ah, Yujiro, my friend, I just busy handling my Senju Clan, you know? We got a lot of clan members."

"A small clan like your may not understand. Hahahaha! It seems my Senju Clan's power is unrivaled, and our victory in this bet is practically guaranteed."

Madara, his tone dripping with sarcasm and a wicked grin, couldn't resist adding his own flourish. "The great Ogre here doesn't stand a chance, hahahah! It's clear that the Uchiha Clan's power is unmatched, and we won't be content with anything less than victory."

In a rare moment of agreement, the two legendary rivals, as if they had rehearsed it, spoke in unison. "But of course, my clan will win the bet!"

Then, in a typical display of their fierce competition, both of them turned their attention to each other, Hashirama locking eyes with Madara.

He declared with a hint of arrogance, "Madara! What are you even talking about? You can't even begin to imagine beating my Senju Clan."

Madara retorted, his voice carrying a sly edge. "Huh?! What did you just say, Hashirama!? The Uchiha Clan's strength is clearly stronger, don't make me list down the wars you've lost to us in the past!"

As the bickering between the two legends escalated, Tobirama and Izuna exchanged exasperated glances. The embarrassment was becoming too much to bear.

Tobirama sighed and turned to his brother Hashirama, "Can you please stop this? It's not worth it."

Izuna, similarly addressing Madara, pleaded, "Brother, let's not do this here."

Both Hashirama and Madara finally relented, realizing that their argument was causing discomfort to those around them. The brothers' voices grew calm, and the banter subsided with both of them harrumphed, "Humph!"

"Well, my friends, I guess we'll only truly know the victor when we meet again."

"Just remember, don't get too comfortable atop that pedestal of yours, because in this world of warriors, the mightiest can still stumble and fall, humbling them right back to the ground where they belong!"

'Except for me,' he mused internally, a wicked grin playing upon his lips.

Then, with a voice that carried across the gathering, Yujiro let out a booming shout.

"Let's move! Onward to the Land of Whirlpool!" 

Hashirama and Madara were surprised initially, they immediately retorted back to Yujiro's word.

""OII!! What do you mean by that? YUJIROOO!!"" (╯╬▔皿▔)╯ ╰(艹皿艹 )╯