Chapter:115

"The Great Elder and Deputy Chief have sent a letter, requesting that the ninjas who act as our clan's last line of defense be dispatched to reinforce the Mountain Pass battlefield in the north," reported a ninja from the Intelligence Department, kneeling respectfully in front of the Great Elder, Yukiha Uchiha, in a quiet room at the Uchiha Clan's compound.

"Are they really so eager to weaken the strength of us old bones?" the Great Elder remarked, his tone edged with annoyance.

The elder was well aware of the grim situation in the northern battlefield. Although Izuna and the two-tailed beast had held back Senju kawaragi and Uzumaki Guanghai combined forces, the difference in sheer numbers was beginning to show. They couldn't advance, but neither could they break the enemy's defense.

Yet, despite the unfavorable odds, Izuna wanted to draw the clan's last line of defense into the front lines. The Great Elder knew the elders would interpret this as an attempt by Izuna to weaken their authority.

"Return to the deputy chief and inform him that we must maintain our guard against the Hyuga Clan in the south. Reinforcements cannot be provided at this time," the Great Elder responded, his reasoning faultless.

The Intelligence Department ninja then produced a letter, holding it out to the elder. "The Deputy Chief said that if you refused, I was to give you this letter."

Surprised, the Great Elder took the letter, examining it with a puzzled expression.

"The Deputy Chief said that you'd understand everything once you read it," the ninja added before using the Body Flicker Technique to disappear from the room.

The Second Elder, Uchiha Tazou, stepped forward, curiosity etched on his face. "What's written in it?"

The Great Elder opened the letter. After reading its contents, his eyes widened in disbelief. "This... how can this be?"

"What is it?" Tazou pressed, intrigued.

The elder handed him the letter. Tazou's eyes scanned the page, and soon, he, too, let out a shocked sigh. "How can this be?"

The letter from Izuna stated that the Sarutobi and Shimura Clans were soon planning to declare war on the Hyuga Clan. Once this happened, the Great Elder would have no reason to withhold reinforcements, as there would be no threat from the south.

Izuna had even pre-empted the elder's excuse, noting that with Hyuga preoccupied in battle, the Uchiha's defenses in the south would no longer be at risk. Refusing to send reinforcements to the northern battlefield would be impossible.

But Sarutobi and Shimura going to war with the Hyuga? It seemed unthinkable. Their territories were separated by the mountains of Uchiha and Senju lands, and the logistics alone would be a nightmare. A war that far from home would exhaust resources and make any victory a hollow one. Historically, there had been almost no friction, let alone any large-scale conflict, between these clans.

And yet, it was Izuna, the Uchiha's sharpest strategist, making this claim. No one could forget when he had accurately predicted that Sarutobi and Shimura would clash with the Four Northwest Tribes, allowing Uchiha to benefit. Could he be right again?

At the Sarutobi-Shimura Camp:

Sarutobi Koyuki, with his quasi-Kage level strength, had managed to evade the relentless pursuit of the Moonlight Clan and return to the Sarutobi-Shimura compound. Upon hearing of his return, the two clan leaders, Sarutobi Koga and Shimura Keizo, immediately summoned him.

Koyuki recounted his encounter, detailing the conversation he had overheard between Kaido and Gekkō Fengbo on the roof. He also mentioned how he'd narrowly escaped when Kaido detected his presence.

The news that Kaido was a Hyuga agent shocked the clan members, but Shimura Keizo, quick to analyze, replied, "When you think about it, this makes perfect sense. Kaido appears to have little involvement, but his schemes target all major clans, including us, Senju, and even Uchiha. He aimed to destabilize every major power in the region."

Keizo continued, "Tenzo of the Hyuga is ambitious. He has long envied the Uchiha and Senju, hoping to make Hyuga the strongest clan in the Warring States. But he never expected his plans to be exposed like this."

Suddenly, a Shimura elite jounin stood up, his voice brimming with fervor. "Clan leader, the Hyuga's schemes have cost our clans dearly. We must avenge this insult!"

Keizo nodded, but he maintained his composure. "Yes, revenge is necessary, but we must be strategic."

He gestured to the large map behind him. "The mountains of Uchiha and Senju separate us from the Hyuga Clan. If we attempt a direct assault, transporting supplies would take weeks. It's too impractical."

Sarutobi Furukawa, always the more reserved of the two, didn't discourage the talk of war but pointed out the logistical challenges. "If we were to gain passage through Uchiha or Senju territory, we could complete supply transport within five days."

A Sarutobi jounin looked up, startled. "Chief, are you suggesting… we request passage?"

Shimura Keizo stroked his chin thoughtfully. "An intriguing idea. But the real question is, which clan do we ask?"

The Uchiha and Senju territories were both critical to supply routes. Aligning with one would mean alienating the other. Keizo and Koga exchanged glances, aware of the delicate balance they would need to strike.

Sarutobi Furukawa addressed the clan members, his gaze piercing. "I believe you all understand the choice we face?"

One by one, the assembled members voiced their thoughts:

"Senju."

"Senju would be safer."

"The Uchiha are too unpredictable."

"The Senju hold the upper hand right now. Siding with them seems wisest."

It was unanimous; everyone favored asking Senju for passage. In their minds, the Senju seemed more stable, less volatile. They could be trusted to keep their word.

Keizo made his decision. "Bring me a pen. I'll personally draft our request to Senju."

At the Uchiha Camp, Mountain Pass:

In the northern camp, Uchiha nobility and jounin leaders—among them Uchiha Retsu and Uchiha Akechi—gathered in Izuna's tent. After hearing the news from the Intelligence Department, they all turned to him with admiration, each bowing deeply.

"Deputy Chief Izuna, your foresight is unmatched. We are in awe of your brilliance!"

Izuna accepted their praise with a calm smile, his eyes glinting with the satisfaction of having played his cards precisely right.

(End of Chapter).

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