Undercurrents within the clan

The news that Senju Tobirama had brought back an unidentified woman and placed her directly in his private compound was like a dull yet powerful thunderclap, or like a thousand-pound boulder dropped into a seemingly calm lake. It instantly stirred a cascading, unquenchable wave of turmoil throughout the vast and orderly Senju clan. Speculations, doubts, and whispers, like vines growing in the dark night, quickly and quietly spread to the corners of the training grounds, around the dining hall tables, and in the shadows of street corners and alleys.

"Have you heard? The evening before yesterday, Lord Tobirama returned! He didn't come back alone!" A young Senju ninja lowered his voice and spoke mysteriously to his companions, with an unbelievable glint in his eyes.

"Of course I heard about it! Who in the clan isn't talking about this now? It is said that Lord Tobirama is still injured and looks quite embarrassed, but there is a woman following him!" Another person said, his tone full of curiosity.

"It's more than just a woman!" A third voice joined in, with even deeper surprise. "Someone with sharp eyes saw that the clothes the woman was wearing, although they were tattered and covered in mud and blood, the style and material were clearly Uchiha style! And... it's said that her face was incredibly beautiful, even that disheveled look couldn't hide it!"

"Uchiha?!" The ninja who spoke first took a breath and lowered his voice even more. "Why would Lord Tobirama bring an Uchiha woman back? And even place her directly in his own courtyard? This...this is against the rules, right? Even if they are important prisoners, they should be detained in the clan dungeon or a special detention center!"

"Who says it's not? What's even more strange is that the brothers guarding the gate of that courtyard spread the word that Lord Tobirama personally gave an order that no one is allowed to enter or leave without his permission, but the daily expenses of the person inside are all distributed according to the highest standards! How can this be an attitude to treat prisoners? It's more like..." The person who spoke hesitated and didn't dare to say the absurd guess out loud.

"What does it look like? A beautiful woman in a golden house?" Someone nearby couldn't help but whisper in response, which immediately led to suppressed exclamations and even more heated discussions.

"Impossible! Who is Lord Tobirama? He only cares about his family and the mission. How could he be so kind to an Uchiha girl... let alone one of that kind!"

"But how do you explain this? If there's no special reason, why go to all this trouble? Wouldn't it be better to just lock him up and interrogate him, or use him for profit?"

"I find it strange, too. Lord Tobirama always thinks things through carefully, and every step he takes has its reasons. This time... I'm afraid it's not that simple."

Various versions of the rumor spread rapidly and morphed privately. Curiosity, confusion, and bewilderment were the initial reactions of most ordinary clan members. But beyond this, more complex emotions were quietly brewing. Generations of accumulated blood feuds had left many Senju clan members with a deep-seated hostility towards the word "Uchiha." Now, a living, supposedly beautiful Uchiha woman had not only been brought back to the clan, but also been placed in the private quarters of the highly respected Lord Tobirama, enjoying near-protected treatment. This was difficult for some clan members with traditional ideas and a deep hatred of the Uchiha to accept, and they even felt a sense of unease and anger, believing that this was a blasphemy against the dignity of the Senju clan.

Upon hearing this news, some of the younger women in the clan, especially those who harbored secret feelings or hopes of marriage for the powerful, high-ranking, yet aloof yet charming Tobirama, felt an indescribable mixture of emotions. Unease, jealousy, curiosity, and a touch of offense all fueled a sense of inexplicable hostility and rejection toward the Uchiha woman they had never met. Why did this Uchiha woman deserve such special treatment from Tobirama-sama? What was so special about her?

While the common clan members were buzzing with discussion, the reactions of the clan's senior elders and core members were more profound and measured. The information they received was more detailed and accurate, at least confirming the woman's identity: Uchiha Aoi, Uchiha Madara's younger sister. This news itself was like a boulder, sending a powerful ripple through their hearts. They understood Tobirama's character and abilities better than the average clan member, knowing he was not one to be blinded by beauty or driven by emotion. His decision, so counterintuitive and potentially controversial within the clan, must have been driven by profound and complex considerations. Perhaps he saw deeper values ​​and interests that lay beyond the reach of the average clan member.

But what exactly was this "value"? Beyond her status as Madara's sister, what else was so special about that Uchiha woman that warranted Tobirama's risk and exception? Did she possess some core Uchiha secret? Or some special ability? Or perhaps... some hidden and significant connection to the recent events, including the failed marriage between the Uchiha and Yozuki clans and Tobirama's own return, wounded?

These questions, like a cloud of fog, lingered in the minds of the senior management. They needed to clarify this, as it not only concerned Tobirama's personal behavior, but also potentially the family's future strategy and interests. To stabilize the emotions and doubts within the family, a sufficiently convincing explanation was also needed.

So, on the morning of the second day after Uchiha Aoi was quietly imprisoned in that independent courtyard, Hashirama Senju, the current head of the Senju clan, sent his personal attendant to Tobirama's residence (not the courtyard where Aoi was imprisoned) and formally summoned him to the meeting hall in the core area of ​​the clan.

The atmosphere in the meeting hall was solemn and dignified. The walls of the heavy, dark wood structure were hung with totems and weapons symbolizing the Senju clan's history and military prowess. The air was filled with the faint scent of sandalwood and an invisible pressure. Senju Hashirama sat upright at the main seat, his face, usually playful, now firm and his eyes serious. On either side of him sat several of the clan's most respected and influential elders. Their ages varied, but without exception, their eyes were filled with the wisdom and prudence of a seasoned clan. At this moment, like a spotlight, everyone's eyes were focused on Senju Tobirama, who had just stepped through the threshold and walked steadily in.

Tobirama's condition was clearly not good. Days of travel and the continued presence of his injuries had left him paler than usual, his lips devoid of color. While he maintained his usual rhythm and steady pace as he walked, a closer look revealed a slight sluggishness to his movements, and his back wasn't as straight as usual, as if he were deliberately restraining himself to avoid disturbing the wound on his back. However, in stark contrast to his frail form, his crimson eyes, still like tempered blood jade, were calm, sharp, and profound, without a trace of emotion, as if he had anticipated the present moment.

"Master clan leader, elders." Tobirama walked to the center of the hall, bowed slightly, and performed a simple and standard etiquette to his brother in the main seat and the elders present. Although his voice was slightly hoarse (due to injury and fatigue), it was still clear and steady.

Hashirama Senju didn't waste any time in pleasantries and went straight to the point. His voice was as steady as a rock, yet it carried the unquestionable authority of the clan leader and a hint of inquiry from an older brother: "Tobirama, what's going on with that Uchiha woman you brought back? There's a lot of discussion in the clan right now, and we need a clear and reasonable explanation." His gaze was like substance, firmly fixed on his younger brother, as if to penetrate his calm exterior and get to his true inner thoughts.

Although the other elders present did not speak immediately, the looks they cast at Tobirama were also full of scrutiny, doubt, and expectation. Bringing back an important enemy personnel secretly was not incomprehensible to an elite ninja on a mission, but how to deal with the prisoner was very particular. The usual practice was to put him in jail, keep him under strict guard, and then interrogate him or use him as a bargaining chip. But as Tobirama did, placing him in his own private courtyard (which in itself had a certain ambiguous sense of shelter), and issuing almost protective instructions such as "highest standard of treatment" and "strictly prohibiting contact with outsiders", this was completely beyond the norm and made people ponder the motives behind it.

Tobirama seemed to have fully prepared himself mentally and logically for this situation and this questioning. His expression was calm, even a little too calm due to the blood loss. He stood up, his eyes calm (or rather, the calmness that perfectly concealed all emotion) meeting the gaze of his father and the elders. In his characteristically clear and logical tone, as if he were presenting a carefully calculated strategic plan, he began his explanation:

"Sir Brother, elders," he spoke again, his voice steady, each word resounding. "Regarding the woman I brought back, her identity has been preliminarily confirmed. Her name is Uchiha Aoi, and she is Uchiha Madara's biological sister."

This first statement, like a stone dropped into calm waters, instantly stirred a palpable ripple in the hearts of the knowledgeable elders present. While they might have already gathered some information through various channels, the confirmation from Tobirama himself held a completely different meaning. The elders exchanged glances, their faces growing even more solemn. Uchiha Madara's sister! This identity itself carries immense potential value, but also carries immense risk! Who is Uchiha Madara? He is the Senju Clan's most powerful and dangerous enemy! The importance of his sister is self-evident!

Without pausing, Tobirama continued his statement in his calm, almost cruel, objective tone, deftly avoiding any details that might raise further questions. "According to current intelligence, a few days ago, the Uchiha clan's marriage procession with the Lightning Country's Yozuki clan was attacked by an unknown force en route, resulting in heavy losses. The bride, Uchiha Aoi, the central figure in the marriage, fell off a cliff in the chaos and has been missing ever since. The prevailing opinion is that she is either dead or abducted by an unknown force."

He omitted the fact that he personally planned and participated in the attack on the wedding procession, and even more so the crucial details of the heart-wrenching cliff fall, his subsequent jump, and the night he spent at the bottom with Uchiha Aoi. He offered only a concise, conclusive account of the outcome: "By chance, he found her and brought her back." This understatement of "chance" was enough to spark endless imagination and leave room for his subsequent explanation.

He paused here, his red eyes scanning the room, gazing at their reactions and setting the stage for the next, more crucial part: why he was treating this captive so "specially." A brief silence fell over the entire meeting room, the only sound lingering in the air, the scent of sandalwood. Everyone digested this information, waiting for Tobirama to reveal the core of the mystery. The true explanation, the reason based on "rationality" and "interest" that would convince the clan's higher-ups, was about to be offered.