Raiden stood at the gates of the Uzumaki village, the early morning mist swirling at his feet as the world beyond beckoned. The quiet tension in the air felt heavier than usual. This wasn't a normal mission—he wasn't just leaving for battle or training. He was going to meet Hashirama Senju, the boy who could one day reshape the shinobi world. The heir of the Senju clan was the future of an entire bloodline, and Raiden had to be ready for whatever that meant.
Shinra, the leader of their group, gave a curt nod as the gates opened. "Move out."
Raiden adjusted the strap of his pack, feeling the familiar weight of the book Elder Takeshi had given him. The seals and training exercises within it were crucial for his growth, but today, his mind was elsewhere. He had heard stories of the Senju-Uchiha conflict, but now, he was about to step into the heart of that warzone. The prospect left him both excited and uneasy.
As the group moved through the dense forest, the silence between them was filled with tension. The Uzumaki shinobi around Raiden remained alert, eyes scanning the trees for any sign of danger. Though they weren't expecting an attack, everyone knew that in the Senju-Uchiha war, danger could lurk anywhere.
Shinra slowed his pace, falling back to walk beside Raiden. He glanced at the boy, noticing the quiet concern in his expression.
"Ever been outside the village this far?" Shinra asked.
Raiden shook his head. "No. I've heard about the wars but never seen anything."
Shinra's face darkened. "You're about to see more than you'd want to."
Raiden turned his eyes forward, curiosity and worry twisting in his gut. "What's it like? The fighting, I mean?"
Shinra let out a long sigh. "It's not the kind of thing you'll forget. The Senju and Uchiha have been at each other's throats for years, and it's only getting worse. Just before we left, we got word that the Uchiha launched another attack on one of the Senju outposts. They're not holding back anymore—destruction is all that matters."
Raiden felt a chill run down his spine. The war was more brutal than he had imagined.
"The Uchiha are dangerous because of their Sharingan," Shinra continued. "Once they activate it, they can see and counter most attacks. They're faster, more precise, they fight without hesitation and they van copy almost any jutsu they see once. The Senju are strong too, of course. They have the numbers and the land, but that's not enough when you're dealing with the Uchiha's raw power."
Raiden listened intently. He had seen it on a screen, but imagining seeing it firsthand was different. The idea of facing a shinobi who could read your every move sent a shiver through him.
"The last battle between them was about two weeks ago," Shinra said. "A large-scale skirmish on the eastern front. The Senju pushed back the Uchiha, but at a cost. Both sides lost a lot of shinobi. It was a bloodbath. The reports said the ground was soaked red."
Raiden clenched his fists, trying to imagine the battlefield Shinra described. It wasn't the clean, honorable fight he had pictured as a boy. War was messy, chaotic, and brutal.
"The Uchiha fight with hatred," Shinra added, his voice lowering. "They thrive on their emotions, especially when they've lost someone important to them. That's why they're so unpredictable. They can seem calm one moment, and in the next, they'll tear through you with everything they have."
Raiden's stomach twisted at the thought. His mission wasn't to fight, but knowing he was walking into a conflict that could erupt at any moment left him feeling more vulnerable than ever.
Shinra gave him a steady look. "But don't let that scare you. The Senju aren't weak either. They've got strength in numbers, and their leader, Butsuma Senju, is ruthless in his tactics. Hashirama is different, though."
Raiden's attention snapped to the name. Hashirama Senju. This was who he was being sent to meet.
"Hashirama...?" Raiden questioned, curious.
Shinra nodded. "He's powerful, no doubt about that. But unlike his father, he doesn't seem to enjoy fighting. Word is, he's got ideals—talks about peace like it's something we can actually achieve. But peace doesn't come without blood."
Raiden frowned. Peace. It seemed like such a distant concept when all he could picture were the battlefields Shinra had described. How could anyone believe in peace when the world was so consumed by war?
As they traveled deeper into Senju territory, the forest began to thin out, replaced by open fields and towering hills. Raiden could see the remnants of past battles—burnt-out trees, cracked earth, and old bloodstains that had dried into the soil. His heart raced as they passed through the desolation, a reminder of what awaited just beyond the horizon.
The gates of the Senju compound loomed ahead, tall and imposing. Guarded by stern-faced Senju shinobi, the compound stood as a testament to the clan's power and resolve. As Raiden and his group approached, the gates creaked open, revealing the heart of Senju territory.
A Senju emissary stepped forward, his gaze sweeping over the Uzumaki group before settling on Shinra. "You've arrived. Welcome."
Shinra nodded in response. "We've come as promised. The Uzumaki stand ready to assist."
The emissary's eyes flicked to Raiden briefly, his expression unreadable. "Follow me. The Senju leaders are waiting for you inside."
Raiden's heart raced as he stepped through the gates. He was about to meet Hashirama Senju, a boy who was already carrying the weight of his clan on his shoulders. What kind of person could believe in peace amid so much bloodshed?
As they walked deeper into the compound, Raiden couldn't shake the feeling that this was just the beginning. The world was about to get a lot more complicated, and he had to be ready for whatever came next.