Chapter 19 How foolish!
An emergency meeting was held at the Uchiha clan compound in a tense atmosphere. Inside the brightly lit council chamber, high-ranking officials and core combatants gathered, each with a frosty expression on their face.
The squad leader in charge of the pursuit knelt on one knee and reported in a deep voice: "...We followed the tracks for ten miles but failed to find any trace of the attackers. However, we found the body of a Senju ninja in the bushes on the flank of the pursuit route."
These words shocked everyone present.
"The Senju's corpse?" An elder frowned. "Who did it?" His gaze swept over everyone present. If it had been one of their own ninjas who killed him, they would have already stepped forward to claim credit or explain the situation.
However, the hall remained silent. No one answered.
The only person who initially saw the "attacker," Uchiha Kazuhiro, had already died in the line of duty, and no one could confirm whether the Senju corpse was the perpetrator.
But if it wasn't the Uchiha clan's doing, then who could it be? It couldn't be infighting among the Senju, or the attacker committing suicide to atone for their sins, could it?
It might be possible for ninjas from other ninja clans, but it's absolutely impossible for their arch-enemy, the Senju.
The ninja in charge of the autopsy stepped forward, his tone puzzled: "The deceased's fatal wound was on the back of the neck, pierced precisely through the cervical vertebrae and nerve junction by a shuriken, killing him instantly. The technique... was extremely skillful and precise, but the residual chakra at the wound site was very weak and... peculiar, unlike what an ordinary ninja would do."
"The back of the neck?" An impatient elder slammed his fist on the table. "This is clearly a sneak attack! A despicable assassination! Could it be that those bastards from the Thousand Hands gang staged this themselves, killed one of their own, and are trying to frame us so they have an excuse to launch a larger-scale attack?"
Immediately someone retorted: "Ridiculous! The Thousand Hands and our clan are sworn enemies. If we want to fight, we should fight. Why make up such a lame excuse? When did that old fellow Butsuma become so roundabout?"
"Don't forget Yu Yi!" another elder reminded solemnly. "Years ago, someone was already stirring things up behind our backs! Who can guarantee there won't be another Yu Yi?"
This speculation caused a brief silence in the council chamber, with many people looking thoughtful and finding the statement reasonable.
Just as everyone was arguing and making various speculations, Uchiha Tajima, who had been silent all along and whose fingertips were unconsciously tapping the armrest, finally spoke in a cold voice: "Enough."
The noisy argument abruptly ceased. All eyes turned to the clan leader.
Tajima slowly raised his eyes, a cold, sharp light settling within those weathered Sharingan eyes. He surveyed the entire room, each word striking clearly and heavily into everyone's hearts: "That corpse was Senju Butsuma's younger brother, Senju Masaharu."
"What?!"
"The Senju clan chief's younger brother?!"
"this......"
In an instant, the entire council chamber fell silent. Everyone's expression changed.
If it were just the death of an ordinary Senju ninja, there might still be room for maneuver. But the death of the Senju clan chief's younger brother, especially on the outskirts of Uchiha territory... this practically pushed the two clans to the brink of a total war to the death!
Although, the two races were originally in a state of irreconcilable conflict.
That being said...
The speculations that had been stirred up suddenly seemed fragile in the face of this astonishing identity. Who could possibly have the audacity and power to use the life of the Senju clan chief's brother as a pawn?
A heavy cloud of doubt hung over the entire council chamber.
After a long silence, the deathly stillness in the council chamber was broken by Tajima's deep voice.
"Madara." Tajima's voice was emotionless, his weathered Sharingan eyes fixed on his eldest son. "What do you think?"
As the undisputed next clan leader, Ban's opinion is crucial at this moment. This is not only a test of his abilities but also a critical moment for him to establish himself.
All the pressure instantly converged on Madara. He could feel those scrutinizing, expectant, and even somewhat hesitant gazes. Taking a deep breath, his crimson Sharingan gleamed calmly under the light, and Madara stepped forward.
“Father, elders.” Madara’s voice was steady and powerful, breaking the stagnant atmosphere. “It is a fact that Senju Masayuki died on the outskirts of our clan’s territory. But there are a few doubts that I think must be clarified.”
He explained clearly: "First, the motive is questionable: If the Senju clan really wanted to attack, they wouldn't have sent only one person, much less risk the clan leader's own brother's life. This is inconsistent with Senju Butsuma's consistently cautious style (at least in his strategy against the Uchiha).
Secondly, the cause of death is suspicious: Senju Seiji was quite strong, yet he was killed instantly by a blow to the back of the neck, a vital spot, but there were no signs of intense fighting at the scene. Either it was an attack by someone he knew, or... the killer was far more powerful than him and was proficient in assassination.
Thirdly, the timing was coincidental: the attack occurred the instant the alarm sounded and the clan's attention was drawn to the gate. The timing was too precise, like a meticulously planned diversionary tactic.
“Therefore,” Madara concluded decisively, “I believe it is dangerous to rashly attribute Masaharu’s death entirely to the Senju’s conspiracy or declaration of war. It is more like a carefully designed trap, intended to escalate the conflict and lure us into a full-scale war with the Senju, while the person behind the scenes reaps the benefits.”
He paused, his sharp gaze sweeping over everyone present: "Don't forget the lesson of Yu Yi. We've exposed Yu Yi, but who can guarantee that no other forces aren't lurking in the shadows, waiting for us and the Thousand Hands to both suffer heavy losses?"
Several radical elders looked indignant upon hearing this and wanted to refute it, but Ban's next words silenced them.
"The most urgent task is not to seek revenge against the Senju clan immediately." Madara turned to Tajima and bowed slightly. "Father, I suggest: First, immediately send more people to closely monitor the Senju clan's movements, especially the Senju clan leader's reaction, but avoid provoking them."
Second, thoroughly investigate the area surrounding the clan's territory, especially the area where Zhengzhi's body was found, looking for any clues that might have been overlooked, and track down the actual attacker.
Third, reopen the investigation into the remnants of the Hagoromo faction and other potentially hostile forces, and expand the scope of the search. The manner of Senju Masaharu's death is unlike that of either the Senju or Uchiha clans; this in itself is the biggest point of suspicion.
Ban's suggestion was calm and comprehensive, demonstrating both his determination to protect the family and a composure and strategic vision beyond his years. Many elders who had initially been skeptical nodded slightly in agreement.
Tajima gazed at his eldest son for a long time, then slowly nodded. Madara's analysis coincided with his judgment.
"Do as Madara says," Tajima declared decisively. "All departments must act immediately. Before the truth is ascertained, no one may take any excessive action against the Senju."
After speaking, his gaze finally fell on Ban and the elders and captains: "Ban will be fully responsible for coordinating this matter. I want to see the results as soon as possible."
The order was given, and everyone obeyed and left. Soon, only Tajima and Madara remained in the council chamber.
Looking at his eldest son, whose eyes were resolute, Tajima slowly said, "You've done very well. But now all the pressure is on you. Senju Butsuma... will not let this go."
A fierce flame ignited in Madara's Sharingan: "I understand, Father. I will find out the truth. Until then, I will never let the clan be put in a passive position."
***
late at night.
Three elite Uchiha teams, each consisting of four members, stealthily infiltrated several pre-arranged observation points on the outskirts of the Senju clan's territory under the cover of darkness. Their Sharingan eyes allowed them to see clearly in the dark, and they recorded everything they witnessed.
This includes, but is not limited to, the shift change times, frequency, and routes of the Senju patrol team—although they had already figured this out long ago... Now, the investigation is focused on whether the Senju have made any unusual moves, in other words, whether anything is different from usual.
They even observed the changes in the brightness of lights in different areas of the Thousand Hands territory at night.
On the other side.
Madara personally led a small team to conduct several rounds of comprehensive investigations within a hundred-meter radius of where Senju Shoji's body was found, and discovered more details: in addition to the traces left by Senju Shoji himself, there were indeed footprints of a third party, but the footprints were too shallow to be observed and the area was very small.
—Could it be a child?
Don't be ridiculous. Senju Seiji would be ambushed and killed by a child? Not only would the Uchiha clan not believe it, but even the Senju himself wouldn't believe it.
The investigation stalled thereafter and could not proceed further.
at the same time.
The intelligence department focused on investigating whether there were any unusually high bounties on the black market recently, as well as all rumors about the remnants of the Feathered Robe Clan or unknown organizations.
However, the feedback was disappointing: everything seemed normal.
However, the more normal something seems, the more abnormal it actually is—it's like a meticulously planned conspiracy that deliberately erases all external traces.
***
As dusk deepened, Senju Butsuma finished dealing with his tedious affairs, rubbing his throbbing temples, and suddenly realized that he hadn't seen his younger brother, Seiji, for several days.
A sense of confusion arose in the heart of the Buddha, and he summoned his attendants to inquire, only to receive the same reply: "We have not seen Lord Seiji." This confusion gradually turned into a vague unease. He rose and strode quickly toward his brother's residence.
Pushing open the door, the room was simply furnished, exuding a sense of desolation. The Buddha's gaze swept across the room, finally settling on a corner of the table. There seemed to be a piece of paper there.
He stepped forward and picked up the paper. It contained only a few words, the handwriting deep and even somewhat distorted from the pressure, as if the writer were desperately suppressing some surging emotion:
Brother: I'm going to the Uchiha clan to settle old scores. Do not look for me.
The Buddha's heart sank suddenly.
The feud between the Senju and Uchiha clans has been entangled for generations, accumulating a mountain of blood debt. By their generation, the hatred had deepened to an unyielding level.
Zhengzhi's wife perished in the flames of the Uchiha clan during a brutal conflict five years ago. He raised his young daughter alone, cherishing her dearly and pouring all his heart and soul into her. However, fate played a cruel trick on him; this year, his daughter, who had just come of age, followed in her mother's footsteps, dying in a battle against the Uchiha.
Upon learning of his niece's death, Butsuma was extremely worried about his younger brother's condition. But unexpectedly, Masaharu remained unusually calm, neither crying nor roaring, but simply becoming even more silent, as silent as a stagnant pool. Although Butsuma felt uneasy at the time, he did not know how to comfort him, and could only instruct the clansmen to take good care of him.
Looking at this note, Fojian finally understood the bone-deep hatred and despair suppressed beneath that calm! It was a death wish!
"Foolish! Foolish indeed!" Butsuma was both shocked and furious, his hand holding the letter trembling slightly. To venture alone into Uchiha clan territory was tantamount to courting death!
He was instantly filled with anxiety, pacing back and forth in his brother's quiet room like a caged beast, his heart in turmoil. On one hand, he was extremely worried about his brother's safety; on the other hand, he knew that as the clan leader, he could not easily take risks and cause greater turmoil.
Ultimately, brotherhood prevailed over reason. Buddha abruptly stopped, gritted his teeth, and a resolute glint flashed in his eyes.
Just as he was about to leave, a clansman approached him with a grim expression. Without even a proper greeting, he reported rapidly, "Clan leader! Something terrible has happened! Lord Zhengzhi..."
Thousand-Armed Buddha was struck as if by lightning. Everything went black before his eyes, his ears rang, and all the sounds of the world vanished in an instant. The thin letter fluttered from his suddenly weakened fingers and slowly fell to the ground.
“Zhengzhi…” he murmured, his tall body swaying as a heart-wrenching pain and overwhelming rage exploded in his chest, forcing him to grab the table next to him to steady himself.
Lost in grief and indignation, he failed to notice the strange upward curve of the corners of the mouth of the clansman who came to report.
A note from the author:
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[Sprinkling flowers]
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