Waves spread
The news of the upcoming marriage between the Uchiha and Yeyue clans was like a dull thunder, or like a huge rock thrown into a seemingly calm lake, exploding in the Uchiha clan territory, setting off huge waves and layers of waves that were difficult to calm down.
Initially, there was extreme shock and disbelief, which quickly spread among the clan members. The Uchiha clan was steeped in pride. Even in their current predicament, their strength significantly diminished, few would truly consider seeking a solution through marriage, especially with the Yeyue clan, a clan known for their fierce martial spirit and distinct culture and customs, far from the Land of Lightning. To them, this seemed, in some ways, like a plea for help, utterly incompatible with the Uchiha's inherent pride.
What's more, the object of the marriage is actually the clan leader's sister, Uchiha Aoi, who almost only exists in rumors and is over-protected by the clan leader and rarely appears in public!
For a time, all kinds of discussions, speculations, sighs and whispers quietly surged and spread like undercurrents in every corner of the clan, every training ground, and every family's dinner table.
"Have you heard? That news... is it true? Princess Aoi is going to marry in the Land of Lightning?"
"The Yeyue Clan? Oh my god... those barbarians who are said to live in thunderstorm areas, with muscular bodies and tempers hotter than lightning escape techniques?"
"Shh... Keep your voice down! This is the only solution, right? Look at the tribe's current situation... Supplies are scarce, the wounded are increasing, and the Thousand Hands are pressing hard..."
"Alas, that's what I said... but still... it's such a pity for Princess Kui. I heard that she's not in good health. Such a weak and quiet person, to marry far away to such a harsh environment, where she's unfamiliar with the place... how will she live in the future?"
"It's all for the family... Making such a huge sacrifice, I wonder how hard it must be for the clan leader..."
"What can we do? If Master Izuna were still here... with his wisdom and strength, perhaps we wouldn't be forced to this point..."
Upon hearing the news, most ordinary Uchiha clan members reacted with deep regret and sympathy. Many older members remembered Aoi's adorable childhood, and the thought of her becoming a political victim, married off to a distant land, filled them with pity. At the same time, a complex mixture of humiliation and gratitude permeated the air—humiliation that the clan had to rely on marriage alliances for survival, and gratitude that Aoi, a seemingly fragile daughter of the head clan, was willing to make such a huge sacrifice. Faced with the grand question of the clan's survival, the fate of the individual seemed so small and insignificant. A tragic and oppressive atmosphere, like an invisible fog, enveloped the already tense Uchiha clan, adding a sense of heaviness and sorrow.
However, not all voices were sympathetic and understanding. Some of the young, energetic, and passionate ninjas in the clan felt a strong sense of indignation and shame upon hearing the news.
"What a joke! We are Uchiha! We actually have to exchange peace by sending the clan leader's sister away? This is such a shame!" A young ninja who had just finished training and still had scars on his face couldn't help but growl in front of his companions.
"That's right! The Uchiha's dignity should be seized with the kunai and Sharingan in hand! Not by a woman's marriage!" another person echoed, his fists clenched so hard that they made a creaking sound.
"We should petition the clan leader! Protest to the elders! Even if we fight to the last man, it's better than this!"
However, this opposition, based on blood and pride, was quickly suppressed by more pragmatic or pessimistic voices. Some middle-aged ninjas who had experienced too many life and death situations and witnessed the cruelty of war calmly, even coldly, retorted:
"Fight? That's easy to say! What are we going to fight with? Are we going to fight with the lives of the few remaining members of our tribe?"
"Have you boys never seen true despair? Don't you know how powerful the Thousand Hands are? Fighting hard now will only lead to your own destruction!"
"Sacrificing one person in exchange for a chance for the family to breathe, or even a chance for a turnaround... This is the least bad option at the moment. It's cruel, but this is reality."
Debates often fell silent in the face of these harsh realities. The young ninjas gritted their teeth, their eyes reddening, yet they could utter no more rebuttals. Blood and arrogance could not fill the gap in strength, pride could not feed one, and certainly could not bring back the dead.
The emotions within the clan were complex and difficult to describe, but thanks to the elders' conscious guidance and the harsh reality of reality, the decision to marry ultimately avoided a wave of outright opposition. It was gradually and painfully accepted by most members of the clan as a "necessary sacrifice" in desperate circumstances. The gazes toward the clan leader's residence were filled with a complex mixture of respect and unspoken guilt.
However, such a significant piece of news could not possibly be spread only within the walls of the Uchiha clan.
Almost at the same time when undercurrents surged within the Uchiha clan because of this news, the outstanding intelligence ninja of the Senju clan, who had been lurking like a ghost on the outskirts of the Uchiha clan and keeping a close eye on the every move of their mortal enemy, had already used special communication means to transmit this heavy intelligence that could change the situation of the war back to the power center of the Senju clan at the fastest speed.
Senju Tobirama - the second-in-command of the Senju clan, known for his calmness, wisdom and efficiency, and the younger brother of clan leader Senju Hashirama. After receiving the encrypted intelligence scroll and quickly deciphering its contents, his usually expressionless handsome face instantly became extremely solemn, and his brows were tightly locked.
Without even a moment's delay, he immediately sent someone to urgently notify his brother Hashirama, who was handling other matters, and at the same time ordered the gathering of all the core senior elders in the clan to hold an emergency meeting of the highest level.
When Hashirama Senju quickly walked into the already solemn meeting room and took the intelligence from his brother, his rugged and handsome face was first filled with astonishment. Then, his eyes, which were always full of tolerance and gentleness, were filled with deep worry, and his brows were tightly furrowed. "Uchiha... want to marry Yeyue?" He repeated subconsciously, his tone full of disapproval, "Actually... want to use marriage as a way..."
Hashirama instinctively resented this act of completely tying personal feelings and happiness to cold political interests. It violated his belief in genuine understanding between people. Especially when he thought that the one about to be sacrificed was Madara's sister...a family member whom he had never formally met, but knew how important she was to Madara...his heart became even heavier.
At this moment, standing beside him, Senju Tobirama appeared calmer than anyone else. However, the moment he deciphered the information, he subconsciously wiped his beloved ninja sword when his fingers suddenly stopped. The extremely sharp blade even nearly cut through his black-gloved fingertips!
The Uchiha...Princess is getting married? To the Night Moon Clan in the Land of Lightning?
A brief, deliberately hidden image, almost forgotten, suddenly and uncontrollably burst into his mind—the cold moonlight, the towering walls of the clan, the clear eyes peeking out from behind the wall, filled with vigilance and a hint of barely perceptible curiosity, and that absurd and fleeting conversation about "bad guys"...
His heart felt as if it were suddenly and fiercely gripped by an invisible hand, and a strange, sharp, and extremely unpleasant complex emotion emerged. But the feeling was fleeting, so fast that he almost thought it was an illusion.
His frozen expression didn't falter, only his piercing red eyes grew deeper and colder, like frozen blood-red ice. He quickly shrugged off that inappropriate, useless emotion, pushing it back into the deepest recesses of his consciousness, leaving no trace.
Now is not the time to consider any personal emotions.
The Senju Clan's oldest and most hardline elder slammed his cane against the ground and spoke firmly, his aged voice filled with unquestionable resolve: "We must not allow their alliance to be achieved!"
In one sentence, it set the tone for this meeting.
"The Uchiha are already extremely formidable, and the power of the Sharingan is a real headache. If they receive support from the powerful and renowned Yozuki clan of the Land of Lightning, their strength will skyrocket! Our hard-earned strategic advantage will be completely wiped out, and the tide of battle could even be turned! The Senju clan will face an unprecedented threat!"
All the high-ranking officials present wore grave expressions, fully aware of the gravity of the situation. The Yeyue Clan was no small clan; their lightning-style techniques and powerful physical skills were renowned throughout the ninja world. Furthermore, their territory extended far into the Land of Lightning, making it difficult for the Senju Clan to extend their influence there. If they were to form an alliance with the Uchiha clan, the Senju Clan would likely find themselves in a passive position, vulnerable to attack from both sides and unable to defend themselves from both ends.
"This marriage must be destroyed at all costs!" Another elder echoed in a deep voice, with a murderous tone in his voice.
How to destroy it? A heated and efficient discussion immediately broke out in the conference room.
Sending a large army directly to intercept the wedding procession? The risk is too great, the target is too obvious, and it could easily turn into a situation where war breaks out simultaneously with the Uchiha and Yeyue clans. The outcome is unpredictable and will inevitably result in heavy losses. It is not a wise move.
Sending out an elite squad to stage a fake attack, creating the illusion of a bandit raid or an accident? This method is relatively feasible, but extremely difficult to execute. The Uchiha's Sharingan possesses exceptionally keen insight, making ordinary disguises difficult to pull off. The wedding procession would undoubtedly be heavily guarded, and if a scuffle ensued, the risk of their identities being exposed would be significant.
Or, try to spread rumors and sow discord between the Uchiha and Yeyue clan? There might not be enough time. Since both parties have already decided on the marriage, they must have reached a basic agreement and would not easily give up on rumors. Furthermore, the Yeyue clan is known for their straightforwardness and toughness, and they might not buy into such a conspiracy.
Various plans were proposed, and their pros and cons were analyzed one by one, with endless debate.
Senju Tobirama listened in silence, his face expressionless, like a cold statue. But his rapidly moving red eyes gleamed with an extremely calm and analytical light. His mind, like the most sophisticated instrument, rapidly calculated the success rate, risks, and subsequent impact of each plan. Occasionally, his gaze would briefly glance at the clear name on the intelligence scroll spread out on the table—"Uchiha Aoi." Whenever this happened, the suppressed, inexplicable irritation in his heart would churn ever so slightly, only to be instantly frozen by his stronger rationality.
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