(View 20 Chapters ahead in Patreon).
In the end, Sarutobi Furukawa's answer was also rejection.
If it weren't for the current lack of clan power, Shimura Keizo would have wanted to imitate what Uchiha Izuna did a year ago by seizing Senju Tobirama and threatening the Senju, arresting the two brothers, and profiting from it.
But the current clan strength was not enough for him to take the risk of offending the Senju, so he had no choice but to let the two leave from the main entrance in an open and honest manner.
After walking out of the Sarutobi-Shimura clan, Senju Hashirama asked Senju Tobirama next to him with a troubled expression, "Tobirama, was I not sincere enough just now?"
Senju Tobirama glanced coldly at his elder brother, giving him a look that said, "You're hopeless."
How could that be the reason?
Shimura Keizo and Sarutobi Furukawa simply refused the alliance due to profit factors.
What seemed like a sure thing turned into a disappointment, leaving the two brothers, who would later become the First and Second Hokage of Konoha, feeling disheartened.
"We have no choice but to go back and talk to Kawaragi, the clan leader, and the others. The Uzumaki have maintained a friendly attitude with the Senju for hundreds of years, so there should be no problem."
Senju Tobirama said.
Senju Hashirama let out a long sigh. "Huh... that's all we can do."
---
"The Uchiha have withdrawn their troops?"
It took nearly a week to return to the clan, and after hearing the news, Senju Hashirama immediately understood why Shimura Keizo and Sarutobi Furukawa refused their joint invitation without hesitation.
When he and Tobirama had arrived at the Sarutobi-Shimura clan, the Uchiha had already withdrawn their forces!
Originally, the Senju had taken advantage of the fact that the Sarutobi-Shimura clan was suffering from continuous attacks by the Uchiha and seized the opportunity to propose an alliance.
Now that the Uchiha, their main enemy, had withdrawn, there was no reason for them to accept the alliance.
Sarutobi Furukawa aside, this old man Shimura Keizo was even trying to surpass both Uchiha and Senju!
Not only that, Senju Kawaragi, who had returned from the Land of Whirlpool, also encountered Uchiha Izuna, saw them fighting the tailed beasts, and lost two jounin, while Uzumaki Mito, Hashirama's marriage partner, was captured.
All these incidents were discussed at the Senju clan meeting.
Uchiha Izuna had trespassed on the Senju's allied Uzumaki Clan's territory without permission, blatantly violating the terms of the truce agreement, and even killed two Senju jounin.
For a moment, the entire Senju senior leadership was enraged. They argued that since Uchiha had acted dishonorably, Senju had no choice but to retaliate.
Given the situation, some even suggested declaring war on the Uchiha. After all, it was the Uchiha who violated the agreement first!
Senju Hashirama, sitting in his position as deputy clan leader, looked visibly uncomfortable.
Among the Senju, he had tried his best to maintain the truce agreement between the Senju and Uchiha clans.
But just when Hashirama was about to stand up and calm the anger of his clansmen, a new piece of information came in from an investigating ninja.
The Uchiha had also sent word to the Senju, demanding an explanation, accusing Senju Hashirama of violating the truce by going to the Sarutobi-Shimura clan—Uchiha's enemy—and attempting to form an alliance.
Upon hearing this, the Senju leadership felt like vomiting blood.
It was Uchiha Izuna who had violated the treaty first by trespassing in the Land of Whirlpool. Now, they were accusing the Senju of the same thing!
Senju Kawaragi's face darkened as he turned to Senju Tobirama. "Tobirama, were your movements leaked?"
Tobirama frowned, thinking for a long time before speaking coldly. "Hmph! It's Uchiha Izuna's trick again!"
Upon hearing this, everyone present was struck with awe. It had been Uchiha Izuna who forced the Senju and Uchiha into a truce a year ago.
"What do you mean, Tobirama? What does this have to do with Uchiha Izuna?" Senju Kawaragi asked in confusion.
Senju Tobirama explained, "Uchiha Izuna is a cunning guy. He entered the Land of Whirlpool with a certain goal in mind but was discovered by Clan Leader Kawaragi. After escaping, he knew full well that he had violated the treaty. So he turned the situation around, using my elder brother's visit to the Sarutobi-Shimura to accuse us of violating the truce."
Senju Kawaragi frowned and asked, "But how did he know that Hashirama and Tobirama were meeting Sarutobi Furukawa?"
Tobirama crossed his arms and sneered, "Hmph! As much as I hate to admit it, that guy is very resourceful. He captured Uzumaki Mito and likely extracted plenty of information from her, then made his deductions. The Uchiha withdrawal last week was his doing. He knew that once the Uchiha withdrew, Sarutobi-Shimura would not ally with us. What a plan!"
Upon hearing Tobirama's analysis, everyone in the room gasped.
If Senju Tobirama's analysis was correct, Uchiha Izuna's strategy was frighteningly advanced.
One of the Senju's top jounin asked, "So how do we respond to Uchiha now?"
"What is there to say to these evil bastards who accused us first?"
"We should mobilize our troops and attack them immediately!"
"Yes, this should have been done a year ago!"
"I'm willing to be the vanguard and crush the damn Uchiha!"
Before Senju Kawaragi, Senju Hashirama, or anyone else could express their thoughts, the others were already waving their fists, demanding immediate action against the Uchiha.
(End of Chapter).
🖤Ye Qingtian| Patreon🖤
Visit our Patreon for more:
https://www.patreon.com/YeQingtian.
Extra Content Already Available.