The Uchiha Compound was near the outskirts of Konoha. And there, just next to it was the prison which held all the prisoners.
As far as Araki remembered, the Uchiha Clan had been given the Konoha Military Police Force to enforce justice in Konoha. He remembered his grandmother had informed him that this was just his granduncle Tobirama's way of isolating the Uchihas. It was to prevent them from having any sort of power related to the governance of Konoha.
Giving them this Konoha Military Police Force, they had given them power on the surface but limited their actions.
The Uchiha Clan Members held bitter hatred for Tobirama because of this. There was a chance they wouldn't listen to him because of this.
But, Araki still continued to walk forwards. Some of the Uchihas noticed Araki entering the Uchiha District. They immediately stopped him and said to him coldly, "Who are you? What is your reason for entering the Uchiha Clan District?"
"I am Senju Araki. I want to meet the Uchiha Clan Head." Upon hearing that he was from the Senju Clan, the Uchihas narrowed their eyes and stared at Araki. They couldn't believe someone from the Senju Clan would dare to come here.
"You truly have some nerve coming to here, Senju Boy." One of the Uchiha spoke while his eyes changed colour from black to crimson red colour with 2 tomoe revolving in his eyes.
Araki looked into his eyes without any fear. The Uchiha who was using his 2 Tomoe Sharingan snorted at this and used Genjutsu. It was a Genjutsu in which the opponent would feel as if they were thrown into a sea of fire.
However, contrary to his belief, Araki's expression never changed. He was naturally experiencing the Genjutsu. However, he experienced no pain in this sea of flames.
Araki gently shook his head and said to the Uchiha, "Next time, use a better Genjutsu. This is far too weak." Just as he finished speaking, the Genjutsu shattered.
Araki's chakra was strong enough to pressurize all these Uchiha Clan Members. He gently said, "I haven't come to fight here. I sincerely wish to meet the Uchiha Clan Head to improve the relations between the Senju Clan and the Uchiha Clan."
The Uchiha Clan Members recovered from their shock after Araki withdrew his chakra. He continued to stare at them as if forcing them to make a choice.
Noticing that the Uchiha Clan Members were still puzzled, Araki asked them, "Is the Uchiha Clan so weak that they can't even let a child like me enter the Clan Compound?"
Just as he imagined, the faces of the Uchiha Clan Members changed immediately. They stared at Araki and grunted before speaking, "Hnn… Who is scared of you? Come inside… We can't guarantee that the Clan head would meet you though. Unlike a carefree child, he is a busy man."
"I thank you," Araki said before following them inside the Uchiha District.
There were many houses in the Uchiha Clan District. Araki and 3 Uchihas in front of him continued to walk for some time before they finally reached their destination.
It was the house of the Uchiha Clan Head.
The three Uchiha in front of Araki first entered the house to inform the Clan Head that Araki wanted to meet him.
After what seemed like 10 or so minutes, Araki was finally called inside the house.
He was made to sit in the guest room where the current head of the Uchiha Clan, Uchiha Kazuma soon joined him.
The man looked to be nearly 35 or so years old. He had an aura of an expert around him. It was similar to the aura Araki sensed around Uzumaki Hishin and the Hokage.
Uchiha Kazuma had a tranquil domineering aura. Even though he was aware that it was a Senju Clan Member who had come to see him, Araki felt no trace of hatred. Just confusion…
"Why have you come to meet me, Senju Araki?" His voice was emotionless, just mixed with a hint of confusion.
Araki took a deep breath to calm his thoughts and said, "I have come to improve the relations between the Senju and the Uchiha."
"Improve relations? Do you even understand the graveness of the matter?" Uchiha Kazuma's voice was incredibly cold as he questioned Araki.
Araki nodded his head and started speaking, "Our Clan's history dates back to the time when the villages weren't even formed. The Senju and the Uchiha, our fierce rivalry existed for hundreds of years before it was finally united by the efforts of my grandfather, Senju Hashirama and Uchiha Madara. This symbol of unification is this village of Konoha."
"I don't know what happened, but Uchiha Madara left the village at some point. Even the Uchiha Clan didn't support his notion of leaving the village and let him go alone. Uchiha Madara returned with Kyuubi before he was defeated by my grandfather. This is something my grandmother Mito told me." Araki stared at Uchiha Kazuma's face.
Uchiha Kazuma then said, "Uchiha Clan might hate the Senju Clan to the bones, but even we know that Senju Hashirama was a man of his words. During the time of his reign, the Uchihas were treated equally or perhaps even better than the Senju Clan. That is why the Clan decided not to follow Uchiha Madara and remained with Konoha. However, everything changed when Senju Tobirama became the Hokage." Uchiha Kazuma's face darkened when he spoke about Senju Tobirama.
Araki didn't interrupt him and let him continue speaking, "After Senju Tobirama became the Hokage, he started limiting our influence in the governance. Not just that, he handed us the Konoha Military Police Force so that we can enforce Justice. We accepted it, thinking that this could be another sign of trust between the Senju and Uchiha. But we were far too naïve."
"He constructed a prison next to the department of Konoha Military Police Force. Since then, people have started avoiding the Uchiha as a plague. Our reputation has slowly degraded to this point that shinobi wouldn't serve us. They no longer hold any respect for Uchiha." Uchiha Kazuma finished speaking with a grave voice.
Araki nods his head and says, "I won't lie and say this wasn't the fault of my granduncle Tobirama. He was paranoid against the Uchiha and released policies against you. I do agree that he has been very unfair to you…"
He then raised his head and looked into Uchiha Kazuma's eyes, "However, this is the sole reason I have come here. I wish to repair our relations."
"What can you offer the Uchiha? There are no Senju Clan survivors other than you and Senju Tsunade. Other than your wealth, do you have anything left?" Uchiha Kazuma looked at Araki and asked with a domineering tone.
Araki wasn't intimidated by this tone and merely smiled in return, "The Senju Clan has the respect of the people. My grandfather and granduncle were the first and second Hokage of Konoha. And I will become the Clan Head of the Senju Clan. As the Head of the Senju Clan, I have enough say over who becomes the next Hokage. I can recommend a candidate from the Uchiha Clan."
"Why would you do that? Don't you want to become Hokage?" Uchiha Kazuma showed off a confused look.
Araki simply shook his head negatively, "I hold no ambition in leading Konoha. Being the head of the Senju Clan is enough for me."
"Hoh… This is an interesting proposal. But… I believe the Clan Elders wouldn't trust your word for it." Uchiha Kazuma says while staring at Araki.
Araki frowns at those words. He knew Uchiha Kazuma was just using the name of Clan Elders. In fact, he also didn't trust Araki's word, as well.
Araki was a little helpless when he faced this issue and asked Uchiha Kazuma straight away, "How can I make you trust me?"
"Currently, you can't. Trust is built over time. However, I wouldn't say that this alliance has no future." Uchiha Kazuma said, giving a hint of hope to Araki.
Araki's eyes widen a little before he showed a grateful look, "Alright. I will show my sincerity towards the Uchiha with time. Now, let's talk about the other reason I am here."
"The reason why I am asking for the Uchiha Clan's co-operation is for you to give me information about the things occurring in the Elemental Nations and maybe sometimes let me spar some of Uchiha Clan members."
"We won't give away the information for free. We will charge you according to the value of the information. And as for the matter of sparring, each Uchiha Clan Member will be eager to prove his superiority over you." Uchiha Kazuma had a hit of a smile. Maybe he could use Araki as a sharpening tool for the young Uchiha Clan Members.
Araki knew that Uchiha Kazuma planned to use him, but this was in an acceptable range. He could accept it. It wasn't like he wouldn't benefit from this.