Tales of Konoha: Hashirama's chronicles Chapter 19: Impures, a naruto fanfic

Disclaimer: All my love for this saga won't change the fact that I do not own Naruto.

English not being my native language, please forgive me for the eventual errors I might do, I'll do my best to avoid doing them in the first place or remove them after the fact.

Summary: A story of Hashirama Senju, the one who revolutionized the Shinobi world. AU.

Season II

Chapter Eight: Impures

Hashirama breathed softly.

Madara!

Here!

She should have expected their paths to cross again now that she was back from Uzushio, but this fast…? And his strength… had been remarkable…

He too had evolved, the teenage girl realised as she moved back toward the caravan.

The clash of their swords… she could still feel the potency of his hits in her bones… Every one of them had been meant to end her life…

To kill her.

It was the first time he had ever fought her with the intent to kill, and it had shown…

And yet, while they had been trading vicious blows, Hashirama couldn't help but feel Madara had been happy to fight her, once more… for she felt herself the very same excitement at what had just occurred.

"What's wrong with me…", she chuckled as Tobirama, who had been discussing with Renji, Tôka and Koji Senju, motioned her to join them.

"How good was he, Hashi?" her brother asked soberly, without preamble.

The question felt more rhetorical than genuine - despite defending the caravan, Tobirama must have seen the battle between her and her old friend, Hashirama thought to herself.

Nonetheless, she indulged him.

"Strong", the Senju girl answered, massaging her dominant wrist absentmindedly.

"Could you take him head-on, Lady Hashirama?" asked Koji-san tensely.

Hashirama thought the question was strange.

Why her? There were other strong shinobis in their groups…

Was it because of her familiarity with Madara he was turning to her specifically?

It was an edge, she couldn't deny it…

Moreover, was Madara considered nowadays such a threat by her clan? Things had changed this much during her years in Uzushio? Koji-san's wariness was troubling…

She shrugged apologetically.

"I'm not sure, Koji-san… I don't know how much Madara has evolved, but he wasn't pushing himself here, that's for sure. From this clash, I can't tell his ceiling..."

Yet, she caught herself before the word crossed her lips.

"If our little girl genius can't tell for sure… Then it's settled", Tôka said next to her, clasping her hands.

"What is?" asked Hashirama, now confused.

"The Uchihas weren't travelling alone", stated Tobirama bluntly. "Moreover, there's a chance that they stumbled on Koji-san's caravan accidentally."

"We lost our point guard tracker early on", Koji-san confirmed. "I suppose he stumbled on their group and they had no choice but to kill him and engage us as a result of their escorting."

"Hmm… so they weren't in a position to actually fight us", realised Hashirama. "Right. I did find odd the way Madara was stopping me from joining the caravan…"

"They were probably moving away the persons they were escorting, while fighting us", hypothesised her brother. "Stalling us on purpose."

"Your brother suggested we track Madara and his group, remove them from the picture on a definitive basis…", said Tôka casually, playing with a kunai. "Plus, the ones they are escorting certainly have value to them!"

"... But as I said earlier, unless it's a sure win for us, there's no point in delaying our main objective", interjected Renji.

As Hashirama rounded on her brother, his look was utterly defiant, as if to remind her where the lines were standing between them...

She was Senju.

Madara was Uchiha.

As a result, was Tobirama really wrong in wanting to kill off Madara? Didn't he try to kill her minutes ago himself?

The eyes of her brother were forcing on her the truth: that ever since that day on the Naka River, Madara had become more than just a rival to her, but a mortal enemy to her whole clan.

Don't you dare forget this! is what his eyes were telling her…

She nodded, and Renji-san took it as his cue.

"In that case, Lord Tobirama, Lady Hashirama, we need to get back on track now. Koji-san, we'll reorganise the defence around the caravan. Tôka will be the one taking point as the vanguard of our caravan… Also, I'll have three of my men join-up with one of yours to try and recover your tracker's body. Who was it?"

"Soyaru-san."

Tobirama frowned, exchanging a sombre look with his sister.

Soyaru was a very good shinobi, he used to be part of their uncle Rambuto fighting group before he left the village with them to reach Uzushio… This was a grim loss.

"Alright. Let's try and do this quickly", stated Renji, not betraying the emotions this loss brought forth. "I want us to be moving by noon."

"Aye."

Thankfully, the skirmish hadn't caused any further losses to the defenders of the caravan - they had reached the area just in time, Tobirama told himself.

Thankfully.

Koji-san's group looked exhausted.

The man himself seemed to have lost a few years of life here, with how livid he looked, fatigue plaguing his every step… When they retrieved the corpse of Soyaru-san, this was all the more apparent.

Tôka didn't spare more than a glance to the body, before departing to take her advanced position; she didn't fool anyone. She too was upset at the loss of Soyaru-san.

The odds of crossing paths with the Uchihas hadn't be so low finally, they thought something like this could happen with the Council, while they prepared for this journey near the Red Forest…Though it seemed the attack was completely unrelated to the caravan in itself, their enemies had been on a mission of their own… The fact that it involved Madara Uchiha however…

The young Senju Heir glanced at his sister as their group of shinobi deployed around the caravan, starting to move in a circling pattern…

From what he had seen, Hashirama seemed to have kept her wit to herself when seeing the other boy. Their fight had been clean… Maybe a little too clean?

Tobirama wasn't sure.

Madara's attacks looked dangerous enough, but his older sister… What were the real limits of Hashirama's new techniques? Mokuton… How far could it go in terms of power? Could she have crushed the Uchihas by herself if she had desired to do so?
That day on Okama lake, she had shown such tremendous abilities… How far ahead could she go… really? How was he supposed to keep up with her?

But the more they progressed through the countryside, the more these questions faded away from Tobirama's mind, replaced by what they were seeing…

The Land of Fire was suffering.

They went through many villages where this suffering was apparent.

Villages where the strength of men had been taken away by their feudal retainers…

Villages where women cowered away at their sight, from fear of cruel assaults done again to them…

Villages where orphaned children roamed ruined neighbourhoods, looking for scraps of food…

Abandoned villages, even.

The ravages caused by these feudal conflicts were everywhere, and the closer they got from Suemori, the more this destruction was apparent…

"Such devastation…", murmured the young Mitoma next to him as they passed a column of refugees, fleeing in the other direction, their lives torn apart. "Such misery… The country will break…"

"All the more reason to end our daimyo's enemies as fast as possible", countered Tobirama quickly. "The country will know peace again through him."

"Aye, Lord Tobirama."

The white-haired Senju felt the gaze of his sister weigh on him as the words left his lips - determination marred her traits, and he knew perfectly why.

She wouldn't rest until she had made their dream of peace a reality.

The others seemed more sceptical however, even if they didn't let their emotions show on their faces - the way their eyes pitied away from the smallfolks they crossed was enough to show it.

The caravan arrived at Suemori with the first snows, in the early evening of the second day of their journey.

The city was cutting an impressive sight under the fading sun, with its large walls scaling all around it. And overlooking the city from a hilltop, already white from the rapidly falling snow, laid their objective: Suemori's castle.

After crossing a small river and sifting through a forest already an inch deep in snow, they reached one of the city's gates, under control of their daimyo's troop and a small group of Senjus shinobis.

They bowed deeply at the sight of Tobirama and quickly directed them through the maze-like neighbourhood, under the suspicious stares of the samurais and regular soldiers present.

"So, this is Suemori…" said Hashirama out loud. "That's…terrible."

Tobirama found himself agreeing with his sister.

The city was in ruins.

Houses laid to the side, destroyed.

Craters were visible where jutsus had made landfall.

The ground itself was upended in some areas, making it impossible to continue by foot.

The devastation was total, as if the city had been mowed down by some cataclysmic event…

Behind its walls, Suemori was crumbling. Only its castle still stood proudly, before their eyes, its white walls overlooking them in the distance.

Unscathed.

Tobirama felt ashamed at the level of destruction he witnessed.

Was his clan responsible for all this? They had taken their daimyo's orders way too far: either capturing or destroying Suemori's castle didn't mean they needed to raze the city as well… And he could tell, from the remnants of the constructions he saw, that Suemori probably used to be a pretty sight before this battle...

No wonder the civilians they met seemed to hate and fear them: as shinobis, the power they wielded was uncanny.

"Aye, Lady Hashirama! This is why from now on, you need to be focused at all times", warned one of the Senju escorting them, a tall man named Daira, as they moved through desolated quarters. "All of you. As we told Renji-san earlier, the Hyugas use their dojutsu to target groups of enemy shinobis and foil any troop movement in a certain perimeter around the castle. This route should be fine though, our clan has this part of the city under control. "

They moved using the remaining buildings as covers, skimming through the destroyed city in unison.

Soon, they reached an area where everything had been flattened, and reorganised in a military encampment, with a clever use of dug moats and large wooden fences. A fortified structure was manned by the guards posted there, regulating the coming and going of several warriors and workers through that route as they joined, mainly samurais with the occasional shinobifolks.

"This place used to be the craftsmen district, this is where we set up camp for this operation", said Daira as they progressed through the camp. "The rest of the daimyo's troops are a mile away from the city's walls, waiting for… My Lords."

Daira had stopped their troop to bow down in front of a group of armoured figures that Tobirama hadn't seen in years.

There was his oldest uncle Tenma, one of the strongest shinobis of his clan. And the crafty Aderama, looking pleasantly surprised at their presence. And at the forefront of them, standing tall, with a burly, muscular frame and black eyes taking note of him… was the leader of this operation, the leader of this clan and the leader of their family…

"Father", said Tobirama simply, bowing as well in front of Butsuma Senju. "We have returned."

Above them, a half-moon was emerging, slowly unveiling the night around them. It shone briefly as Butsuma offered them one of his rare smiles.

"Welcome home, children of mine."

The Senju patriarch stifled the burst of joy he felt as his two eldest stood there, in front of him, for the first time in years.

Almost man.

Almost woman.

Changed… yet unchanged.

With the white fur collaring his battle armour, and eyes betraying a sharpness as ever present, Tobirama looked the part he expected of him: tall, his presence radiating with natural authority.

A true heir of the Senjus!

And a leader in the making, if the reports he received from Rambuto hadn't been exaggerated.

His son had always been a very capable and skilled shinobi, but the way he had used his intellect in the missions he took for Uzushio… It seemed he had gained many favours from Uzushiogakure's Head, Ashina Uzumaki, to the point he had his ear inside his circle of councillors.

His son! It showed a growing leadership Butsuma was betting on when he sent him there.

Furthermore, it meant their position with the Uzumakis as a clan was strengthened, an excellent perspective considering the challenges they would be facing in the future…

When looking at Hashirama however, Butsuma's heart was torn, plummeting somewhat.

If Tobirama had grown very much like the future leader he had been grooming him to become, Hashirama looked the opposite.

There was no steel in her eyes, and her face was as innocent as it had always been, unsoiled by the grim reality of their world… Butsuma couldn't read the warrior he knew she already was into her traits; in fact, it was very much absent from her expression: he could even guess her kindness under the veil of neutrality she showed him.

Her shinobi attire couldn't mask it completely: his eldest was alarmingly taking after her mother… as he thought she potentially would.

Her presence on the battlefield would become a problem soon, if that wasn't already the case…

She didn't convey the threat of death like her cousin Tôka, or indescribable pain like Lady Rukia did, when you looked at them… making her even more of a target for easy picking than she already was. Would that occur here, in Suemori? He wondered…
She would be amid friends and allies, so the risk of untoward attacks didn't seem quite as grand as her facing enemies on her own…

But the thought was nagging Butsuma nonetheless.

Unlike her late mother, Hashirama was a powerful shinobi, a kunoichi of the first order even… That power… She'd have to show him! Show him she had the strength to overcome the mightiest of enemies… Not only for the sake of their clan, but for her own sake as a kunoichi! Only then, he would feel somewhat at ease with her presence on the same battlefields as he and the other Senjus...

Butsuma kept scrutinising both his children as they were saluted and interrogated by their uncles.

The journey didn't seem to have taken too much on the two teenagers.

No trace of fatigue.

No trace of hurt on themselves…

They would be fresh for the next wave of engagement… the most crucial one.

What better way to test their development than doing it in the fiercest environment of a deadly battle? He had no doubt they would prevail.

They were his blood.

Moreover, they were…

"Senjus", interrupted Butsuma drily. "Coordinate with Momotama-san to set yourself up in the camp. Time is of the essence."

"Aye , Butsuma-sama!" choraled several shinobis.

The Clan's Head motioned the others to follow him.

"Daughter. Son. I'm glad to see you are doing well. Since you are here, come with me. We were on our way to the War Council. You too, Renji-san. Koji-san, Tôka-san, see to it with Momotama-san that the caravan is unloaded in the appropriate area. Daira will lead you to him."

"Aye, Lord Butsuma!" bowed Koji and Daira Senju at the same time.

"Yessir!" teased Tôka with a mischievous grin.

The Senju leader saw how his two children exchanged a quick glance with one another: it seemed they were more aware of the local situation than he had expected them to be…

Good.

It would save them all time.

Their walk was short.

In the centre of the camp, laid the remnant of what should have been a large bath house before.

The water was gone, but the supports and various alcoves remained, allowing for a large tent with standing guards to be positioned around it. Not unlike an artificial encroachment of their troops to this area, noted Butsuma as the guards looked at them awkwardly, unsure over the new faces they saw.

"The generals are expecting us", simply said Butsuma, which was enough to dissipate any hesitancy the sentinels might have had to let them through.

"Samurais", said Tenma with an unimpressed tone next to Butsuma.

They allowed them entrance, glaring slightly at the man, as one of them announced their arrival.

"My Lords, the shinobis are here."

People were studying maps and plans on the improvised surfaces and remaining tables. Aides were exchanging notes in hushed tones left and right, and every so often, a servant was coming in to deliver a missive - or going the other way around, with some demands to reach the main encampment outside the walls of Suemori.

All of them stopped as the three men he addressed looked up from the table they were studying, one of them frowning and muttering under his breath, the two others pale and hands nervous. They were young, all of them, not much older than his own children…

Butsuma bowed, and suddenly the flow of activities went back to normal.

"Lord Otada. Lord Otaka. General Yoshinari."

"Lord Butsuma", answered the eldest Otada,"and Lord Tenma and Lord Aderama are with you too! Good. We were hoping to hear more about… but who is this with you?"

"I received the reinforcements I mentioned this week just now", said the Senju leader, putting a hand on each of his children' shoulders. "Here are my son and daughter, Tobirama and Hashirama. And this is Renji-san, who escorted the supplies needed to ease your operations this winter."

"A girl? Really? You goddamn shinobis…! You have no respect for anything, have you?" grumbled Yoshinari, approaching Hashirama quickly.

He was taller than most men around him, easily looking down on her with a sneer Butsuma was now very familiar with. The general had no love for the shinobis, and he never missed an opportunity to show it directly, or make it known.

"Look can be deceiving, my Lord," said Hashirama, seemingly unfazed. "I'm a Senju: in our clan, even women are elite shinobis."

Butsuma's face remained neutral, but the suppressed anger he perceived in the stillness of her words reassured him somewhat. Even the other Senjus present telegraphed some amusement toward her retort.

"Ha! Yoshinari-san, don't underestimate the shinobifolk, they are dangerous! "laughed heartily the youngest of the commanders present, Otaka, with a shorter stature and ever present mirth in his words. "Even their children are fierce warriors… Besides, who are we to talk, when my father has an entire regiment of Onna-Bugeisha at his command?"

Yoshinari scoffed.

"How can you compare our female samurais to this… masquerade of a warrior, Lord Otaka? It is beyond me."

"Excuse our dear General Yoshinari here", eased the eldest of the three men, Otada, hair longer, face sternier and more rugged than his brother. "We were expecting your arrival later… Yoshinari-san here told us you were still inspecting the palisades our engineers installed around the castle - we weren't expecting you with us this soon lord Butsuma."

"The reconnaissance went well", stated Butsuma simply. "The structure will hold against any rush from the defenders out of the main road."

"A quick assessment, as expected from a top shinobi", rejoiced Otaka, impressed.

Yoshinari scoffed once more next to him, turning his vitriol toward the leader of the Senjus this time.

"You overvalue the weight of the shinobis my lords... The fort that they were supposed to deliver to us has withstood for two weeks now! Your father is growing impatient, our troops can't complete the encirclement of Jigan unless things are secured here… When will you deliver results, Lord Butsuma?"

"Isn't that proof that shinobis are formidable opponents?" countered Otaka. "Yoshinari-san, your samurais were routed by the Pure Clan… Twice. Their involvement is a serious obstacle to our ambitions."

"My brother is right: we need the Senjus to combat fire with fire, finish things here with the remnants of Inô and allow our father to march on Jigan", stated Otada. "Yoshinari-san, you had your chances. Winter is already here, our movements will soon be impeded for good… Don't antagonise the Senjus uselessly... Their success would benefit us."

The general muttered something to himself but didn't add anything, allowing Tenma to take the lead in their conversation.

"As we told you, my Lords, thanks to the resources and allies at our disposal, we should be able to facilitate the logistical efforts for your troops during this winter", the Hand of Butsuma said." Tobirama?"

The young Senju advanced, inclining his head toward the samurai generals.

"My Lords", Tobirama said smoothly, "I came here with my sister Hashirama, bearing crucial resources from the Uzumakis to support you in those future battles, as well as reinforcements from our own clan, twenty of our devoted, elite Senjus shinobis. Whatever burden lies ahead for you, we will handle them for the sake of your campaign."

Otada and Otaka exchanged looks of commiseration as Tobirama bowed in front of them, with Hashirama and Renji at his side.

"Ah, sadly it won't be enough, Lord Tobirama", Otaka finally said gravely as the Senju Heir straightened up. "Thanks to our father's reforms, we have the fastest troops in Fire country! The bulk of our soldiers can deploy as very mobile units, whereas our enemies still rely on the ad hoc conscription of peasants! In terms of combat prowess and efficiency, they cannot compare… But we'll lose that advantage with the coming winter. Tell him, general Yoshinari! You who are so eager to speak, this is your chance."

Yoshinari crossed his arms, reluctantly nodding before turning toward Tobirama and the group of Senjus.

"One of the strengths of our army is its mobility", he said somewhat proudly. "Our strategy relies on rolling in our loyal retainers' troops as we march through an area, so that our daimyo's army don't lose in strength and speed and overwhelm the enemy defences that way. Winter naturally prevents that from happening. No matter the supply line you can develop, our men cannot defy the cold and the wind like you shinobis do… Our enemies know it and hired the Pure Clan for this exact reason: as the Hyugas stall us here, our enemies will be able to dig themselves greatly elsewhere, strengthening their defences, while we'll struggle more and more to progress through the country because of the climate… Eventually, we'll be at risk of suffering a counter-offensive come the spring… squandering all the successes made in recent years!"

"This is why we need closure when it comes to the current campaign:", concluded Otada. "Jigan needs to fall before the full brunt of winter is on us, for our armies are not designed to operate efficiently in those conditions… And to achieve that, Suemori needs to be removed beforehand."

"The real issue is the Hyugas", added Otaka. "If we hope for any progress, dealing with the Hyugas quickly is the top priority."

"I… understand," said Tobirama, side-eyeing gratefully at his father Butsuma, grasping why his father had allowed that conversation to occur. "What's their status in the city then? How did they organise their defences?"

"Aderama", motioned Butsuma.

His cousin stepped forward, bowing slightly.

"Right. Hmm… Simply put, the castle is unassailable by conventional forces", Aderama said, clearing his voice. "As you saw when you arrived earlier, it's situated atop of a hill, overlooking the entirety of Suemori, and is surrounded by moats with water on the low side, and dry ditches on the hill side, with banks, walls and cliffs located all around the castle."

"It is that much of a tough nut to crack…" said Otada gravely.

"Moreover," continued Aderama, unfazed by the interruption, "the way Suemori has been designed, it's clearly to hamper the kind of invasion we are attempting to make. Cavalry is useless in that cramped up city. The issue here for the enemy is, they can't use their cavalry efficiently inside this city as well... The palisades we set up neutralises the few routes allowing for a cavalry charge. However, with how tight the houses are from each other, the defenders still have other advantages they can use against us: our archers on foot don't have the same field of view the defenders have above them, giving them the edge in a head-to-head contest."

Aderama looked intently at his nephew's concentrated expression, wondering how much growth he had gone through and if it would be enough in order for him to lead the clan into battle. This mission was as much a test for the clan as a whole as it was for him as an individual…

The older man trudged forward.

"A heavy Masugata gate overlooks the main road toward the castle. It's a well-designed structure: small ports allow for the defenders to shoot at foot soldiers from within the walls or planks easily, the same as with the castle complex… So, even though they lack the crowd to hit from distance as strongly as we do, our daimyo's archers outnumbering them three to one easily in this area, they still have the advantage over us, here too. Usually, small groups of miners would be enough to try and sabotage the base of the castle, possibly use incendiary methods to set the structure ablaze, and smoke the defenders out, but the Hyugas prevent even that."

"So we've been told when coming here", said Hashirama simply. "They set up some sort of interdiction zone around the castle, correct?"

"Aye", chimed in Otaka vehemently. "The Hyugas. None of our weapons can reach the defenders. They block everything, protect the castle from any projectiles… and take down anyone coming too close from the structure themselves. And when they strike…! They strike hard. We are at a disadvantage regardless of range, since it's impossible to mask any approach made from them."

The boy bit his lips, reminding Butsuma of the gloomy and livid expressions they walked into while coming to the tent: that of caged animals.

"Our army is blocked at the worst possible time", continued Otaka. "We were supposed to make the junction with our father's army to complete the encirclement of Jigan two weeks ago, but as things are, there's still a corridor allowing for passage toward that city because of that hold-up here… Who knows what kind of reinforcements have been made possible in this two-week period thanks to our incompetence and powerlessness?"

"Even against our clan, they stand?" asked Tobirama, already knowing the answer.

"Aye", confirmed Aderama. "They have the ability to neutralise the ninjutsu techniques that our clan has deployed to try and subdue the defenders."

So, bukijutsu and ninjutsu were useless against the Hyugas. Even genjutsu, if like Otaka said, any form of deception failed against them. Which left…

"Seems like they are trying to play to their strengths against us: hand-to-hand combat…" pondered Hashirama. "How did it go so far?"

"Poorly, as we were expecting", said Butsuma, moving toward a large table with maps of the area on it, causing the soldiers and aides present to bow and retreat. "They know how to deal with kenjutsu as well, so spectacular is their skill... We lost many of our own on our first attempt… This is why your role is going to be crucial here Hashirama. We have devised a last plan to try and pry the castle away from the defenders and their Hyugas dogs, and you are at the heart of it."

The Senju patriarch examined one of the maps closely, before turning it toward them and pointing at the august figure of Suemori's castle on it.

"Listen here: tonight, we'll be attacking the castle. Eight shinobi units in total: five at the front, three at the rear."

He pointed the two areas directly on the map, scrutinising the now focused audience. His eyes fell on Hashirama, his eldest and only daughter.

"Hashirama. Your role will be to open a passage for the three units at the rear with you, southside, inside the perimeter of the castle - that's three compounds you'll have to cross to do that, in total. With your new techniques, this shouldn't be an issue for you to pierce the Hyugas' defences and reach for the Tenshu keep… Our success will depend on your ability to do just that. As for those units…"

Butsuma pointed to several areas of the map.

"Those three units will secure the breaches made and open the main accesses to the castle, from the main road to the two service tunnels used to supply the castle's keep and its garrison. The five decoy units will drive maximum attention to them at the same time on the northern parts of the castle, to mitigate the pressure put on this infiltration. Even though the Hyugas will definitely see you coming and mobilise against you, Hashirama, they won't be able to ignore us on the other side of the castle either, and will have to respond strongly to our push as well… Once we've received the signals from the rear, we'll destroy the Masugata gate and switch to the defence of the accesses you opened as well. Is that understood?"

"Aye, Lord Butsuma!" chorused the Senjus present.

"I understand, father! I won't fail you", added the teenage girl, her eyes locking into his uncompromisingly.

Ah.

There it was…

The killer he sought out so much in his daughter… he could see it in those eyes of hers now…

A brief smirk reached Butsuma's lips, before he turned his attention to the rest of the group.

"Lord Otada. Lord Otaka. General Yoshinari. Your troops should position themselves near the main road toward the castle. If all goes well, we'll signal you when the Masugata gate has fallen, and the passage to the castle has become clear. The two other accesses will be for our own reinforcements to join in. You'll need to be ready to charge at all times, but until the path is made available, your troops need to act as support for us from a distance, same as our back-up. That's all we'll be asking of you. "

"Impressive, Lord Butsuma! As expected from the leader of the great Senju clan!" said Otaka enthusiastically.

"Your strategy is sound, I admit…", added Otada thoughtfully. "So, your daughter is actually the trump card you intended to play all along… She must be quite the powerful warrior…"

"Enough."

Yoshinari's hand slammed the table, attracting cold unsurprised stares from Butsuma and several of the others.

He ignored their hostility, matching theirs with his own.

"Yoshinari-san, you forget yourself!" scolded Otada. "I warned you earlier not to antagonise-"

"Forgive me my lords, but I cannot let things slide that way without speaking up!" cut the general sternly. "Too much is at stake here, it is your father's work we are talking about!"

He turned immediately toward the objects of his ire.

"Lord Butsuma, striking at night like a bunch of thieves and cowards?! How are our archers supposed to support the assault when they can see little to no differences between your warriors and the enemies'? Huh? Besides, too much is riding on the shoulders of that… of that kunoichi", Yoshinari spat without missing a beat. "What if she fails and your plan doesn't succeed as a result? What then?"

Butsuma paused for a second - Hashirama's mask didn't slip, determination still absolute and deadly in her eyes - before turning his attention back on the map he used earlier.

"Then… we'll level the castle and its complex altogether", he said, looking at it up and down. "We've been careful to not telegraph it so far in our skirmishes with the Hyugas, but our clan has many good doton-users and a lot of them are now gathered here - including the kunoichi that is my daughter… Enough doton-users that we can provoke such destruction with a single, synchronised strike."

A stunned silence welcomed his words.

"You shinobis… you hold this kind of power?" murmured Yoshinari, suddenly pale.

"We do", confirmed Butsuma crushingly.

"The eight units you'll be deploying… I suppose each of them has the right user in its midst to do this, then?" asked Otada, somewhat struck by his words as well.

"Ah… I told you, that number was suspicious!" said Otaka to his older brother, laughing nervously.

"Isn't that a risk for this encampment?" protested Yoshinari, recovering from Butsuma's words a little. "Not only that, but it could destabilise the whole area, making the terrain a complete chokepoint to overcome uselessly for the future siege of Jigan… "

"It is a risk, that's true", recognised Butsuma easily. "There's a chance the city suffers much more than anticipated from such an attack; but there could be no holding back from us here, for three reasons: firstly, the base of the castle is made of sturdy rocks. Suemori's castle was too well built, it won't destabilise unless we go at it for real... It's a calculated gamble with the city, but it's a necessary one - this kind of ninjutsu can't be stopped by the Hyugas. Secondly, we are running out of time: snow is already falling in this part of the land; Suemori needs to be dealt with once and for all, before your troops are immobilised for good."

"And… the last reason?" asked Otada warily.

Butsuma turned toward the boy in front of him, his eyes turning predatory, chilling him to his bone.

"Not unlike your father, I have little patience for that kind of resistance", said the clan's Head casually. "I don't want any clan to think they can stand up to the Senjus in direct warfare: it's a lesson the Hyugas have yet to learn, the same way the Uchihas are currently learning as we speak…"

And this is my Nindo, he added in the quietness of his mind.

Hoping that, in time, it would become his children's too.

"I yield."

Silence welcomed the man's words, as the room grew suddenly still around him.

It was early in the day, a time where sentinels were still dwelling around the village, and its people only beginning their daily activities.

Yet, the Council was already hard at work, discussing plans of war and deceit, for the sake of their clan and their daimyo. Tajima Uchiha was leading those discussions, seconded by his most trusted advisors, and his son Madara, shadowing him.

The Head of the Fûma clan, Ryosuke, arriving in the village with his escort, in those early hours, to request an extraordinary audience had come to the surprise of no one.

And the answer he just made, was even less unexpected.

"My clan… we will honour our duties to yours. We will send you the required troops", the man repeated in disgust.

Tajima examined him at length: his eyes spoke the truth. He would submit to Uchiha's heel.

Their gambit had paid off.

"That is… excellent news."

"As a result, I beg of you, Lord Tajima: release in our care our clan members."

Tajima didn't answer immediately, his gaze shifting to that of his eldest son. He had come back two days earlier, agitated and with one less party member than what he initially went with.

A chance encounter with the Senjus.

They almost foiled his plans and from what Subaku and Daichi had reported, it was the battle with one of the Senju who had particularly troubled him… He had been ruminating on it ever since.

Tajima wanted him to snap out of this reverie, be involved in the now, with him, with the rest of his clan… He would make it happen, now.

"I'm sorry to say… I have no clue who you are talking about."

"...! Lord Tajima…!" reacted the other one, almost jumping to his feet.

Tajima put a placating hand in the air. From the corner of the eye, he could see Madara's own eyes widen briefly, like those of many in the assistance… He had caught them all off-guard.

Good.

"Hold on, Fûma-san. Maybe we can help you find them… After all, our clans are allies, aren't they?"

With an exaggerated turn, he looked at his son.

"Madara?"

The teenager shifted on his seat, his eyes roaming toward his father, a peculiar look plastered on him.

"Yes, father?"

"What do you think of this situation?"

Madara's gaze grew cold and cruel, as he stared at the other man for a few moments. Tajima wondered where the thoughts of his son were dwelling; his face was so sombre…

"I think something will turn up once a new clan's Head appears for the Fûmas… We'll definitely find those errand clans members again once this occurs."

A murmur went through the room, some of the Uchihas in the room barely hiding their appreciation at the proposal.

Intellectually, Tajima understood it.

The current Head was proving unreliable, the Uchihas would benefit from having someone more malleable at the head of the Fûmas. But since they had discussed it the last time, concerns had emerged in his mind regarding this.
The timing?
Not ideal, as it was right before they send troops to support their effort. It would antagonise the Fûmas, brush them the wrong way… Tajima wasn't sure he wanted to deal with disgruntled retainers.

The Fûma's clan Head, of course, was seething with rage, so much the tumult of his mind almost seeped in this room full of Uchihas…. Tajima could almost taste his killing intent.

"You are… out of your mind" Ryosuke spat to the Uchihas' Heir.

Madara's glare grew ugly.

"Oh, am I? We are constantly battling the Senjus near the Red Forest… who knows what would happen to people caught in the crossfire of our jutsus?"

His own eyes flashed red briefly, the warning clear.

"Do you want to test that hypothesis, Fûma-san?"

Tajima decided it was time to step in.

"There won't be a need to; Fûma-san will make sure to step down and appoint his brother as a replacement. Once it is done, and he stands here with the fifty shinobis we asked, maybe he'll have a joyous reunion with the clan members he misplaced…"

"I…"

"You can go now Fûma-san. I hope we'll hear from you before the next full moon occurs…"

"But, that's four days from now!" protested Ryosuke, now very pale.

"Exactly. Time is of the essence, Fûma-san. Don't squander it. Don't waste it. Just go and do what needs doing. Now."

Pure hatred welcomed his words, as Ryosuke Fûma stormed out of the room, then the village, never to be seen again by the Uchihas.

The day was ending.

A day of work, discussions... decisions, sometime implacables.

As most of the council members had left the premises to go their separate ways, father and son had remained behind, taking a stroll to one of the quieter rooms of the Hall, to enjoy the soothing tea brought out by servants, and at the older man's behest.

"So you really followed through that ruthless proposition of yours… That was the right move to make."

"Thank you, father."

"Your development. Your strength. Your instinct. You are heading in the right direction, son… You'll be able to weigh more and more in the affairs of the clan, at this rhythm… Be able to lead it."

Madara nodded, sipping his tea quietly.

"Now, tell me about that fight with the Senjus… I want to hear it from you directly."

The Uchiha patriarch could see in the stiff nod his son made, that he was somewhat surprised by his ask… Hadn't been expecting it.

Tajima almost chuckled.

Even after all these years, his son was still hard pressed to mask his emotions properly to him…

In that way, he still had to make progress as a man and as a ninja, becoming an impossible read whenever he needed to be... That's how things were for him in his youth, and how things should be for the ones who would succeed him.

"She was there", said Madara simply. "Hashirama. She has… changed."

"How much?"

Madara remained silent.

He didn't need to add much - didn't need to add anything really. It was all too clear on his face for his father to understand…

It had been the first time he fought against Hashirama in years… She had changed; so did he.

Her, for the worst, he thought. Him, for the better.

Even without his Sharingan, he remembered how she used to be.

So fast.

So strong.

So intuitive.

And fierce!

Every battle with her was a challenge, used to be one.

Which is why he had been confused, almost disappointed, when they clashed a couple of days ago. At first, she wasn't the dominant force he expected her to be… quite the contrary.

Sluggish.

Pressed.

He had had the upper hand, almost astonished to push her the way he did. Realising that even someone like her, blessed with natural talent, couldn't surpass the power of the Sharingan!

And then… something had switched in her, a sharp focus that had led her to demonstrate new skills. One that she had never displayed to him before, and… another.

A jutsu, too uncanny to believe… and their battle hadn't been the same afterward.

With the Sharingan becoming the difference between him surviving her attack, instead of being crushed by it.

"I need to become stronger", Madara stated sombrely. "Because… she became so much stronger as well. I won't be able to overcome her for good otherwise…"

The Uchiha teenager looked at his troubled reflection in his remaining tea.

"I don't know how, but Hashirama… she has developed a new ability, something that I ended up… struggling with, even with the Sharingan. She called it Mokuton."

Tajima frowned.

Wood release? That was… unheard of.

Unique.

"A kekkai genkai?"

"An asset, at the very least", said Madara cautiously. "And from what I could gather from our skirmish, it's that Mokuton is both versatile and deadly...! And the wood produced, my Sharingan could tell it had a vitality of its own, something vibrant… Hashirama was still rough and tentative with it, but with time, training and experience…? She'll refine Mokuton into something unstoppable."

Madara's eyes turned red for an instant, replaying the scenes of his confrontation with Hashirama.

"And the more I think about it, the more I realise that I don't know where the limits to her power could be - if they even exist. That's why… "

"... you need more power yourself", finished Tajima, now understanding.

"Yes. Yes, I do" admitted Madara, his frustration showing.

"I see."

Tajima walked toward the end of the room, opening the door to the exterior, taking in the fading sun and soft caress of the wind - absorbed in his thoughts.

Mokuton.

A mutation among the Senjus, an unprecedented one…

And it had to fall into the lap of the brat they almost killed on that infamous day on the Naka River… Tajima smiled to himself, at his own stupidity and carelessness: if he had done what needed doing three years ago, they wouldn't have to deal with that Mokuton problem now.

A huge one, that would only keep growing the more time passed, if his eldest son was correct...

His roaming eyes fell on the crowns of several trees, the ones planted near the Hall's gardens. Remnants of the forest that was once at the heart of their village. The forests…

"In there, that girl is going to become invincible…", Tajima murmured to himself. "And the Senjus harder to handle…"

Madara listened to his father's rumbling, uncertain of where it would lead… A trait that was recurrent with him when he was absorbed in his thoughts... In fact, this scene was eerily reminiscent of the time he discovered Madara's transgression with Hashirama, and pondered in front of him whether killing or seizing her was the better advantage for their clan against the Senjus… No matter the years passing, Madara never got used to this, chilled by the uneasiness it elicited in him…

Finally, Tajima turned his attention back to him, eyes calculating.

"... Take a group of twenty men with you and go to the Land of Rivers."

"Why?" asked Madara suspiciously.

"Takumi", came his father's answer. "It's a village of artisans and craftsmen, with unparalleled knowledge when it comes to weaponry, save maybe the Land of Water's legendary swordsmiths… Go there and secure a special weapon for yourself. One that allows you to trade blows with that Mokuton power, and ultimately, that Senju girl wielding it."

"Is that a real thing?" asked Madara bluntly. "Weapons that can overcome ninjutsu?"

"It is, ever since the Sage of Sixth Paths wandered the world with sacred tools alongside him…"

Tajima sat, hands resting on his legs, leaning forward with an eager look.

"Some of those tools and weapons are lost, forever, to us. But the knowledge to create them survives in communities like Takumi. If you commission them carefully, then yes, they will provide you with something formidable in your hand, and formidable to our clan.
But make it clear that our clan is the only one they'll supply weapons to from now on, legendary or otherwise."

"Assuming they can deliver… Why them? Why this far?" asked Madara still not convinced. "We already have our allies at Sora-ku to rely on when it comes to this kind of resource… and the weapons they supply us are top tier…"

"That's exactly why, son!" reasoned Tajima. "There's no certainty when it comes to things like those, it's prudent that you secure that additional source of exceptional weapons both for yourself, and for the shinobis of this clan. Takumi is the perfect place for that, our spies identified it as an ideal alternative to Sora-ku a while ago. Its reputation starts to transcend frontiers…"

"Hmm. They are far away", tampered Madara. "Hard to control. And we'll make enemies from their usual clientele if we force them to cut ties as you suggest…"

"We are Uchihas. Our clan is the strongest in this land, maybe the strongest in all of the known world… There won't be anyone to dare confront us over Takumi. And when it comes to it, my son, you have the ability to be very convincing, as you just demonstrated to the Fûmas… I trust you to make this village see where their real interest lies. With us. And with you."

"… Fine. I'll prepare a group; we'll depart tomorrow morning."

"No. Tonight. You too don't have any time to waste on this journey... Daichi will ensure you lot travel with the... most appropriate supplies."

"... Yes, father."

Hashirama quieted her breathing.

Tobirama, Momotama and Tôka were at her side, escorting her.

They were the group of shinobis chosen to protect her and, spread in three directions around them, were the units she was supposed to help break into the perimeter of the castle.

All of them were waiting for the signal to begin the operation, dissimulated in the nooks and crooks of the ruined houses around them. Not that it would make a difference against enemies wielding such a potent dojutsu like the Byakugan… but it was an awareness too ingrained into every combatant of their clan, whether ninjas or kunoichis; no exception would be made.

Momotama shifted uneasily on the roof he was crouched on. Though older, he hadn't changed much since the last time Hashirama had seen him: his armour struggled to contain his burly frame, his face stuck into a permanent scowl of his own doing…
The young adult had barely addressed her when he had seen her at the briefing, scrambling a feeble nod when the Senju teenager had saluted him.

Tôka laid lazily against a wall beside them. She looked bored, despite the gravity of their mission, her hair and armour still impeccably pristine... How long they would stay that way with the battle to come, Hashirama was unsure…

She glanced at her brother next to her.

Tobirama wasn't supposed to be here.

The Council back at the village didn't want him in Suemori, at the same place as the Clan's Head, their father. They had deemed that too risky for the clan, in case a catastrophe occurred…

Tobirama hadn't listened.

Their father Butsuma hadn't said anything about that. He had briefed them, like he had briefed the rest of the leaders of this operation, about his plan to cause Suemori's castle to fall into their hands.

Like Renji, Tobirama was supposed to take command of one of the three infiltration units, twenty shinobis in total.

Again, Tobirama hadn't listened.

"I'm escorting Hashirama", had been his simple answer to the tactical plan presented by Tenma.

And now he was here, with her, eyes focused on the castle' silhouette emphasised by the dawning moon, all his senses in alert.

Hashirama felt grateful for his presence.

To know her family had her back was a powerful sentiment…

Momotama perked up suddenly and turned toward them.

"They've engaged on the other side", he said almost with a sneer at the sight of her.

All these years apart, yet Hashirama still found the guy disagreeable to work with… and visibly, the dislike was mutual.

Tobirama nodded.

"It is time then, let's do as planned. Form up, we are a go."

Their group took flight above the city ruins.

The three other groups moved in unison, falling naturally behind Hashirama's unit. They kept moving using the ruins and surviving buildings to navigate their way toward the castle.

"We are at the limit of the interdiction zone", stated Momotama as they crossed over a crumbled edifice. "The Hyugas are repositioning across the moats."

"Any plan, princess?" said Tôka as she flew in the air next to Hashirama. "We are at range from their archers."

Hashirama glanced back at the other units following them. They had fallen behind, freeing up some space for her to operate. This was as good a moment as any to give it a go.

"Well… we are Senjus of the Forest, aren't we?" Hashirama stated, focusing on the task ahead as she landed deliberately on the ground. "Watch. When I'm done, be ready to pounce at once."

She could feel it, far beneath her feet, the beating of life, waiting to surge freely…

("Arrow fire incoming!")

The mudras came to her naturally, as if a hand other than her own was guiding her…

Tiger.

Snake.

("Don't slow down! Parry and push forward!)

("Aye!")

Then…

"Mokuton Hijutsu: Jukai Kôtan!"

The rambling was distant at first, then grew louder and louder, until immense roots pierced the paved ground left and right, sprouting everywhere, guided by the serene hand of the Senju girl.
Their growth suffered no obstruction, tossing some houses to the wayside, branches forming quickly into juvenile trees shooting for the sky above them…

Hashirama focused her mind, and the new trees responded in kind, clapping away the projectiles, moving, twisting left and right to both support one another but also pave the way of this new world…
When they crossed the moats and shattered the outer walls of the castle, the sound reverberated mightily throughout the city, gripping the hearts of attackers and defenders alike.

The teenage girl pressed forward, and her Mokuton followed her will, crossing the first compound explosively in order to reach the second one; piercing the second one to penetrate the last one…

Only when it did, Hashirama asked the new trees to halt their growth; they obediently slowed their progress to a crawl.

The sight of this lined forest reaching through the castle's layout was glorious.

"I'll be damned…" murmured Tôka, landing on a young branch, astounded. "A forest. She created a fucking forest out of thin air…"

"The power of Mokuton is no joke", commented Momotama landing next to her, just as astonished.

"No time for gawking! That's our cue, so let's go!" ordered Tobirama, jumping up into the new foliage above them.

The reaction was immediate, as the Senjus launched themselves on this new field that they discovered yet knew like the back of their hands…

"Shit, Hashirama!" laughed Tôka heartily. "That technique… It's brilliant! There's no way the Hyugas can stop our progress now! Try and shoot us now, you white-eyed freaks of nature!"

And she was right.

The Hyugas and the defenders, once passed the initial shock of this new emerging forest, tried to target them through the dense woods - a useless initiative.

They were Senjus - forests were their home.

This… was both familiar and perfect for what they were trying to achieve.

Skilfully using the trees as both support and protection to the attacks, the Senjus progressed quickly enough to cross the moats and reach the crushed outer walls of the castle's fortification.

As soon as they reached the inside, one of the units dropped behind, scattering to form a defensive perimeter around the new entrance, a second one doing the same thing as they checked through the second compound.
As they flew through the last layer of protection, Renji's unit dropped and scattered in the courtyard, under the ringing of the bells and the panicked shooting of the defenders.

The infiltration was a success.

They were inside the belly of the beast.

"That was lightning fast! Good job cousin!" rejoiced Tôka as their group sprinted toward the castle's main keep.

"Given our success, we are bound to attract more and more attention - so we better start on the list of the enemies' key figures: they're our top priority", stated Tobirama while scanning the surroundings. "We'll deal with the Hyugas as they come."

Despite the frenzies of the situation, they crossed the large courtyard relatively unimpaired, zigzagging through the occasional volleys of arrows launched at them from atop the yagura towers located around.

The four of them finally reached the imposing Tenshu, the main keep structure; without missing a beat, Momotama surged forward, chakra bursting through both his arms at once, visibly engorging their muscles with vitality.

"GraaaaAAGH!"

The young ninja pored through the natural stone wall like it wasn't even there, hands forward like a battering ram, pulverising it in a gust of dust and wind; they all immediately started to sprint into the corridor he had just breached into.

"Nice job, Momo-san!" said Hashirama, spontaneously impressed. "Yang chakra, is it? That's the real deal!"

The look of irritation Momotama threw at her sobered her up at once.

"Momo-san…?" the Senju ninja said with disgust. "So what, just because you spent some time abroad, you think you are hot stuff? While you were cosying up with the Uzumakis, we were fighting wars here! When it comes to my generation, I'm the strongest!
So, you will address me with the respect I deserve! Mokuton or not, I'm still your senior damnit…!"

"For someone whose techniques work in such short bursts, that's a pretty cocky statement…" chuckled Tôka next to him.

"Why, you little-"

"Everyone, enough", clamped Tobirama. "Focus! It's time for us to switch gears: from now on, capture or kill anyone coming our way!"

"Alright!" nodded Hashirama, taking his words to heart.

"Copy that", grumbled Momotama reluctantly.

Tôka punched the palm of her hand viciously.

"Yessir…", she said, a violent hunger in her eyes. "Let's make it quick and dirty…"

Hashirama couldn't help but smile to herself: even in this deadliest of situations, she couldn't have wished for better companions to support her.

They would definitely prevail here.

They had to.

Their group progressed rapidly to the following floor.

"Enemies straight ahead!" alerted Tobirama.

"Fucking finally!" shouted Tôka.

She couldn't help herself - seeing the prowess of her cousin had made her blood boil.

The young Senju bursted inside the room like lightning, going through a set of mudras as the soldiers in front of her scrambled to hit her with their weapons.

"Magen: Jubaku Satsu!"

Shouts and yells welcomed the new technique, as the warriors found themselves suddenly paralysed, trees surging from the floor beneath their feet to entrap them.

"That genjutsu, did you just…?" said Hashirama with a start, as the other Senjus joined her in the room. "On the fly?"

"Inspiration lies in nature", grinned Tôka. "You're not the only genius around, princess."

Tobirama approached the first soldier.

"Soldier-san, who's your platoon leader?"

The man didn't answer, avoiding his gaze.

"I am."

Tobirama turned to the voice who answered, that of a middle-aged man clad in armour who straightened up when their eyes met. Tobirama approached him, exchanging a quick glance with Tôka, before crouching next to the man.

"What is your name?"

"Ishii, from Toku clan."

"Ishii, from Toku clan", repeated Tobirama slowly. "Your demeanour, your attire, your posture… You are definitely a samurai, aren't you? And this here is your platoon… So tell me Samurai-san, where is your Lord Intendant?"

The man named Ishii looked at him defiantly.

"I won't tell you anything, shinobi scum", he declared calmly.

Tobirama sighed, as the other Senjus exchanged amused looks.

"Wrong answer."

His katana found its way in his hand and, with a flashy swirl, lobbed off the arm of one of the warriors next to Ishii. Muffled shouts of anger went through the paralysed soldiers as the one who'd been hit fell to the ground, yelling at the top of his lungs.

"Shut up, you bastard!" barked Momotama, kicking the prostrated man in the throat.

Gurgling sounds replaced the screams as the warrior was bleeding out profusely on the ground, his severed arm laying afar.

"Samurai-san, let's try this again: where is your Lord Intendant?" repeated Tobirama.

"You… gutless scum! My men are devoted to our Lord, they'll gladly lay their lives down for him…", said Ishii in incensed disgust. "An honourless dog like you can't handle that!"

Two more men fell to Tobirama's sword, their feet cleanly severed this time. The cries were filling the ears of Ishii, with powerless hate.

"Those men, you've spent months with them, haven't you?" pondered Tobirama quietly. "Trained them thoroughly to become proper Ashigaru soldiers, I bet… Well, I can work quickly, and remove the limbs of all of your men here, in a matter of minutes, really.
They'll become cripples, whittled down men… Samurai-san, tell me this: what use has a Lord for whittled down men in his army? By the kamis, even their families I guess…? As a man, isn't the point to be a provider - and not a burden?"

Tobirama moved away.

"Haven't you heard, Samurai-san: the age of the samurais is coming to an end - this is our world now… A shinobi world. Honour is a useless currency in it."

Ishii looked around him; though his men tried not to show it, he could see the words of the stranger had affected them. He could see doubt and fear in their eyes, maybe reflecting his own… while the gaze of the other enemies was mocking and full of disdain.
Losing one's life purpose was a fate worse than death to most of them, and that was the promise this silver-haired ninja was making...

Tobirama's eyes locked into his.

"Last chance, Samurai-san: where is your Lord Intendant?"

He wouldn't betray him. Never.

Ishii reflected deeply on what this response would entail, for him and his men…

The enemy wasn't lying, he had harmed his men earlier to make his point: he would definitely hack at all of them to make them cripples.

And the consequences…

Even though they had been conscripted in this war months ago, most of the Ashigaru soldiers were farmers and commoners in their civilian life. And most of them were assuring their families' subsistence by the strength of their arms…

Could their women support their families in their stead? Their parents? Their children?

What would happen to their sanity in the long run, their sense of self?

The truth is, as a Samurai, Ishii knew he couldn't live like that, and most of his men wouldn't want to either. It would be death sentences, not only to them, but to those families as well… In this day and age, society was merciless to the weak and inadequate;
Ishii made his peace with this fate and his new reality.

"Fuck you", was his final answer.

The enemy smiled, then blurred - and the massacre began.

Limbs chopped and flying everywhere, the room was soon red from the blood spilled, the cries of the maimed and dying, and the laughter of the shinobis.

One last time, Ishii's eyes met those of the young Senju.

One last time, Tobirama looked at him with certain pity.

"Wrong answer, Samurai-san", stated Tobirama in a very final manner - as he slit Ishii's throat.

Then, he turned to his cousins and sister, ignoring the flailing body behind him...

At their feet, the enemy warriors all laid on the ground as well, knocked unconscious by the now dispelling genjutsu.

"Well, that was fun", declared Tôka with a small grin, releasing her stance.

She was glad: the intricacy of immersing a second genjutsu into her first one hadn't deterred her; she had managed. In that, Hashirama couldn't begin to compare… The way her cousin was progressing, she felt like she had to rise as well in terms of abilities.

It was her duty.

"Your love for theatrics is too much", glared Momotama, going through the warriors to tie them up and disarm them.

"The two of you secure those guys", said Tobirama promptly. "Once you are done, keep cleaning up this place floor by floor. We'll pick up the search with Hashirama, I have the location of their Intendant… Rendezvous at the breached walls, once we are done.
If the enemy makes any trouble for you… do not hesitate, cousins: it's still a capture or kill operation."

"Aye-aye, sir!" smiled Tôka.

"We will", assured Momotama."

"Let's go, Hashi!"

The two siblings departed in a hurry, as Momotama and Tôka continued to pace through what were now their prisoners to secure them.

"Your second genjutsu must have been pretty distasteful", said Momotama with a frown after a couple of minutes. "They all had a look of utter disgust and pain before collapsing to the ground… Was it really necessary?"

Tôka stopped what she was doing, a hand on the side.

"Huh? What are you talking about? Narakumi no jutsu is the perfect play in that kind of situation… Momotama-san, you do realise this man, Ishii, was never the target of my genjutsus, right? As long as any of the others thought of the Intendant, we were bound to snatch the intel from them. I just helped them get in the right mindset… collectively and creatively, I dare say."

"So they were the real objective all along…? I see… Quite the smart play, cousin", admitted Momotama sincerely.

"Of course it was: that's me we are talking about..." said Tôka cheekily. "Besides, I'm just like you: we are the seniors here, we can't have Tobirama and Hashirama show us up here like it's normal! I want to shine too… Now come, let us find other toys to play with."

They ran out of the now quiet room, confident in overcoming whoever would stand in their way.

The siblings were moving quickly, disparaging the few soldiers they met along the way: Hashirama with swift yet powerful blows, Tobirama with fast strikes to vital points.

Preserving their chakra for the fights ahead.

Tobirama could tell the battle was going in the right direction: he had felt the mass of chakra from general Yoshinari's men crossing over into the area between the Masugata gates and the outer walls of Suemori's castle.

Furthermore, his father's presence and that of his troops was closing in onto the area near the first wall, engaged with what Tobirama identified as shinobis from the Hyuga clan. They were stalemating, but the armies of Lord Otada and Lord Otaka would soon press from different sides as well, reaching through the breaches his Senjus clansmen had further expanded.

The forces of Suemori were dwindling, this would stretch them even thinner… Capturing Daimyo's Ujimasa's Intendant would finish to demoralise the enemy.

Thanks to Tôka's genjutsus, they had been able to extract his exact location: the Gozasho room, his living quarters on the fourth floor of the keep. That he was entrenched there further indicated the tide of the battle was definitely leaning into their direction.

Even though the presence of enemy shinobis in the upper floors was unmistakable, a wave of optimism seized Tobirama.

He trusted himself and he trusted his sister' strength.

Soon, it would be over…

Suddenly, the young Senju Heir perked up.

"Hashi'..." he started to say, just as two figures emerged from one of the corridors diagonals to theirs.

Both pairs eyed one another.

Both pairs stopped at once.

"Hyugas," murmured Tobirama, lowering himself into a combat stance, sword heavy on the shoulder.

Hashirama paused.

He was right.

The two shinobis in front of them were tall and long-haired – they could have been twins, so similar they were… Their clan' symbol was displayed on the headband they wore: a folded fan with a dense flame ablaze in the middle.
And both harboured white-collared vests and pants as clothing… Definitely Hyugas.

Hashirama had heard the rumours, the tales exchanged between soldiers in the safety of their encampment, right before they headed into this night's battle...

Just like the Uchihas and the Kaguyas, the Hyugas were known to not wear any kind of armour on battlefields, instead favouring white clothing - a testament to the strength of their kekkei genkai, and to the extreme arrogance that came with it.

The Byakugan.

The most powerful dojutsu in existence with the Sharingan.

It would be the first time they would face it in battle… That eye was unique, nothing like the Sharingan at all.

A ring - a protuberance really - where the pupil should have been, was visibly contracted. Hashirama could see overflooded veins converging around the pupiless eye, pulsing under the flow of blood and chakra, inundating the area completely.

The sight was impressive, and slightly unnerving - freak of nature, that was the term Tôka had employed earlier, and Hashirama could understand where the other girl had come from...

Those eyes were so strange from up close, so different and vibrant with the reverberated light of the sclera that, on an instinctual level, the young Senju heiress knew they couldn't be natural appendices of Man, not at all… but otherworldly tools that fell into his possession instead.

She could almost buy the rumours making the Hyugas relatives to the Sage of the Six Paths.

Almost.

"Take us to your leader," declared Hashirama calmly, eyeing the pair in front of her with curiosity.

It was rumoured the Hyugas were so powerful, they couldn't be touched by any ninjutsu or genjutsu techniques in battle. Flawless shinobis with perfect defences... "Untouchables", "the Pure Clan" or "Divine warriors" were some of the monikers that commoners used to describe them across the country… Not a lot of clans had the ability to instil such widespread admiration or fear - beyond her own clan that is.

Or Madara's.

No wonder the attack on Suemori had been taken to a standstill for weeks... Hashirama was confident some of those rumours were somewhat exaggerated, but the Hyugas' reputation of being formidable shinobis wasn't - only strong opposition could have stopped her father and his men's assault on this castle. She still couldn't help wondering how many of them were true though.

The two other shinobis exchanged quick glances and mutely switched their own stances.

"You're wasting your breath Hashirama", said Tobirama, still eyeing their opponents. "Hyugas don't address their enemies on the battlefield… They barely address people who don't belong to the 'Pure Clan'."

"Hmm," said Hashirama thoughtfully.

"Also, don't let them close-up on you," continued Tobirama. "I'm sure you understand what that means."

"Of course, Tobi," said Hashirama.

More than with any other clan, Hyuga's bodies were deadly weapons. She'd have to keep them at bay, which was going to be a mouthful in this corridor, and without resorting to ninjutsu or taijutsu on top of that.

A shadow obscured her sight instantly, causing her to lean backward reflexively - an open palm surged above her head. Grabbing the piece of clothing dangling, she forcibly spun the Hyuga down, while bringing her knee up at top speed, aiming for his chin.

The man evaded the blow elegantly, his other hand deviating the strike and causing Hashirama to hiss in pain.

Careless!

The man pressed his advantage, and the girl was suddenly on the defensive, forced into a taijutsu bout she never wanted, with a dead leg to deal with as well.

He circled her, taking advantage of his speed over her and bending around her blocks, smoothly coiling and uncoiling into lightning hand strikes.

Hashirama gritted her teeth.

It took her every bit of concentration to block the offending palms at the wrist, or dodge them altogether… Nimble, fast movements of her hands which managed to keep at bay - barely! - her opponent's fluid-like strikes…

In the quiet of her mind, she thanked her father for the years of intense, gruesome practice and rigorous regimen he had made them go through. She thanked the Fire monks who'd help her polish her katas, and the Uzumakis who'd fought her weeks-in and weeks-out in the Coliseum bouts they organised in Uzushio…

It was thanks to all this she managed to survive the onslaught her enemy submitted her to without crumbling…

Hashirama parried another hit, using her momentum to launch a circular kick at the Hyuga's head.

The man stoically moved his head away from its trajectory, deviating in the same movement her follow-up blow.

"Tch!"

It was like fighting against the air itself.

No matter the attempt, the man kept parrying and evading all her attacks… effortlessly.

The way he read her movements was uncanny…

They met a flurry.

Her, driving hits which would have taken down many other shinobis.

Him, batting them away without any difficulty.

He surprised her, suddenly moving under her guard, striking her dead in the chest with his open palm; the wall behind her exploded as the Hyuga tracked her movement behind him with his Byakugan.

He smirked.

Shunshin no jutsu.

What a simple, yet elegant use of this technique… In a battle to the death, her timing had been perfect to avoid his Shotei.

She was a decent warrior… Both their opponents were.

The man looked over at Hikuro.

He seemed to be at a stalemate with his own opponent; in this place, the boy he faced was still able to handle his katana very well, denying his fellow clansman an opportunity to deliver any finishing blow… targeting his hands, it seemed. Smart.

"Do you really have time to daydream, Hyuga-san?"

Ran didn't say anything.

Though talented, the fact that the enemy shinobi kept addressing them like they were equals was grating on his nerves. He might be a simple branch member, but he was still Hyuga - theirs was the origins of all shinobis!
That kunoichi should kiss the ground they walked on, instead of foolishly opposing the Pure Clan…

He would teach her.

The man launched his attack suddenly, rushing Hashirama at full speed, hands trailing behind.

"Mokuton: Kikaiheki!"

Ran stopped mid-stride; tree branches had emerged from the wood walls of the corridor, forming a complete barrier behind him.

What a technique! Moreover…

"You…" murmured Ran, aggravated.

That kunoichi… she was the one who'd breached the ramparts from the castle! That sudden forest emergence… It was her doing!

"So, you do talk…" noted Hashirama amusedly. "This is so you don't escape what's coming next, Hyuga-san."

Ran swore.

Her chakra was changing, transforming into something else… transforming her.

She was full of an energy he couldn't describe, a vitality that radiated from every pore of her being, supercharging her chakra network.

This was bad.

He needed to end this now.

The next moment, he was on top of her with a rain of Jyuken strikes, pressing her with his superior speed and flexibility.

She matched both easily.

More than that, she now matched his strength with iron parries and unshakable blocks.

The momentum of the fight had now changed; no hit was landing. The enemy kunoichi was rapidly adjusting to the wide variety of attack patterns he was pressuring her with… Ran could see it but felt powerless in stopping that shift from happening.

"Shotei!"

The open palm meant to hit her straight in her gut became a glancing strike as Hashirama nudged it to the side with the palm of her own hand. She breached his circling pattern in the same breath, with a dynamic side-step instantly exploding into a dash.

Ran's eyes widened.

He saw her emerge from under his protective guard.

He saw her free arm move like a whip, ready to strike a direct blow.

He saw it all with his Byakugan but couldn't match her new speed…!

Her punch landed square in his jaw, shattering it, while his now limp body exploded the wooden wall that had trapped him previously.

"Stay down", commanded Hashirama." Both of you", she added, while seeing the crumpled form of Tobirama's opponent struggling to get back up in front of him as well.

Hashirama admired the chakra sword, Vajra, that her brother wielded.

It seemed that there were limits to their resistance to ninjutsu finally, she thought. That weapon and its special properties seemed to be one of those…

"Hikuro. Ran. You fought well. Let me handle this from this point forward", came a voice at the end of the corridor.

"... And who the hell are you?" asked Tobirama, katana in one hand, Vajra in the other.

Hashirama watched the tall, slender figure approach them, intrigued. Long, black hairs were swirling lazily with each of his steps, like ornaments on his white robes and pale skin.

"Ginjima Hyuga", came the answer. "I'm the one who'll put an end to this nonsense tonight."

"Ginjima-sama! We are … unworthy of your attention!"

"Lord Ginjima, d-don't sully your hands for the likes of us… of them."

"I'll be the judge of that", cut the slender man, as he put a soothing hand on his fallen clansmen' shoulders.

The newcomer scrutinised Hashirama, then Tobirama, his Byakugans full of benevolent curiosity.

"Senjus… and siblings. Young, yet seasoned. The both of you exude real strength", stated the man named Ginjima, as his eyes kept drifting from one Senju to the other. "I admire that. Even now, I can see how you overcame my fellow clansmen…"

He fell into a stance gracefully, hands inclined, like an invitation.

"One last time… show me a taste of that strength."

Hashirama exchanged a knowing glance with Tobirama, the message unsaid but clear in the mind of them both; her brother exploded forward, as she jumped back, going through mudras quickly.

"Mokuton: Shinra Banshô!"

Wood tendrils grew almost instantly, emerging from the walls at tremendous speed - as fast as their new opponent was deviating her brother's strikes. They bound him, snatching his limbs and immobilising the Hyuga easily…
Tobirama descended on the now stilled figure like lightning, his Vajra screaming through the air for blood.

He was met with blue light and an iron wall of chakra.

"Hakkeshou… Kaiten."

Hashirama's Mokuton exploded in a cloud of splinters, as an orb of swirling chakra engulfed the corridor, swatting both her and her brother away, devastating everything.

Her breath was cut short as she hit violently the ground beneath her - a spike of pain radiated through her left side, almost snapping her focus out of her trance with natural energy…

Something landed not far from her, clattering on the ruined floor, before skidding to a stop.

Vajra.

Next to it, her brother was struggling to get back to his feet, bloodied and a cold anger in his eyes.

She grunted as she struggled to get on her knees as well.

What the hell had just hit them?

What happened?

At the centre of the deflagration and a newly formed floor crater stood Ginjima Hyuga, hand outstretched, clothes flying quietly.

His clansmen were prostrated behind him, awed and subjugated in an act of deference.

Hashirama's eyes widened, as she slowly understood what had happened…

Somehow, the man had produced a chakra barrier, one that was so intense and powerful it had blown them away with ease. Her Mokuton… It was the first time her jutsu had been countered by another one so efficiently…

"No, not the first time…" the girl murmured to herself, reminiscing of Shibuya's white blades.

Mokuton could do a lot of things, achieve a lot of things it seemed… but she shouldn't think of it as something invincible, otherwise she would get killed by shinobis as powerful as Shibuya… or this Ginjima.

For Ginjima Hyuga was powerful.

In her state, she could gauge the man's chakra reserves and they were huge.

"His power is no joke", stated Tobirama, still bloody and crouched next to her. "Vajra couldn't put a dent on it before he swept me away."

"And that shield of his… I never saw anything like it, "admitted Hashirama. "He destroyed the Mokuton…"

Her mind was running fast, as she kept seizing up the now observant Ginjima.

The man's defence was a problem; even among the Hyugas it must have been exceptional.

Should they try to force him into a close quarter battle? Smother him before he could deploy it?

How did it work anyway? How did he make it? This all seemed like a dreadful idea, especially if the two other Hyugas decided to join in to help what seemed to be their leader…

She hoped Tobirama was coming up with a better plan next to her…

"I've seen enough."

Hashirama froze.

Ginjima had vanished.

And the calm, cool hand on her neck…?! How…?

"You fought valiantly, both of you… but this fight is now pointless", said Ginjima's voice coming from somewhere behind them.

The teenage girl glanced at her brother. He was just as immobile as she was, with a hand of his own grabbing his neck from behind…

She could make the white clothing of their enemy between them.

"You've been defeated… but this battle is lost for my clan. Suemori's defences are crumbling, the main Musagata gate is breached, and the troops of your daimyo will soon flood this place and seize everyone in it… There is no point in having more Hyuga's blood be spilled as a result."

The grip on their necks shifted, becoming heavier and more pinch-like.

Hashirama winced.

Not quite the death grip… but close enough: he could kill them in an instant.

Maybe with natural energy, she could survive a strike - but Tobirama…? Her brother had no such luxury. If she wanted to save him, she needed to strike before the Hyuga could react. Draw up her chakra instantly to dislodge his hands! Could she be fast enough to do that? Could she make this gamble…?

No time to think! Just d-…!

"Don't."

Tension rose in Hashirama, as she felt the heat of foreign chakra creep on her neck… A warning, and a deadly promise!

"I can see the softest movement of your muscles, the faintest shiver of your chakra, the intent behind your every breath… With those eyes, I cannot be deceived", stated Ginjima not unkindly to her, voice now very close to her ear. "For the sake of your brother - and for your own sake - don't be rash. Don't try what you thought of trying. And listen to my words, Senju-kun."

A cold sweat overtook her - she bit her lip both in frustration… and fear. To be completely at the mercy of someone else… To have someone literally holding the power of life and death over her… and her brother! She was the eldest, she was supposed to protect Tobirama with her life if need be…! Such failure…

"Me and my troops will be retreating, so… don't try to follow us", continued the voice of Ginjima serenely. "Let it be known in your army that we'll crush any fools who attempt it."

"... Why?", asked Tobirama, quite taken aback. "Why spare us?"

Hashirama could almost make the piercing gaze that was burning through the back of their heads.

"The Byakugan see very, very far… farther than anything in this world", finally came the answer. "And I can see a future where the two of you will be of use both to me and my clan. I'm letting you live for the sake of this goal. That's the purpose of your defeat at my hands here."

"That's quite the reckless position to hold", said Hashirama fiercely. "What of your duty as a shinobi? What of the Lord you are defending?"

"What of him, indeed…?" chuckled Ginjima. "Let's just say… he won't be an issue anymore. Ran. Hikuro. Let us go home."

"Aye!"

Like ghosts, the Hyugas vanished, leaving behind Hashirama and Tobirama with phantom weights on their necks and real doubts in their hearts.

"I failed you Tobirama… Forgive me", said Hashirama, releasing a breath she hadn't realised she was holding.

"What are you on about? To be defeated… and live", said Tobirama with gritted teeth. "The failure lies in our powerlessness Hashi. Not you - the two of us. We are strong, but there still are stronger shinobis in this world… We still need to better ourselves. That's the reality."

He grabbed Vajra, a dark look in the eyes.

"'For the sake of his goal?' That arrogant bastard…", he added with cold anger.

Hashirama remained silent.

Somehow, they felt dirty after this, dirtier than if they had gone through a mountain of human waste and blood...

And at dawn, as Suemori's defenders surrendered to their father's troops, crushed by the news of their Lord Intendant having committed seppuku and overwhelmed by the bloodthirsty troops of Otaka and Otada, the two Senjus siblings understood why the Hyugas called themselves the Pure clan.

Why wouldn't they, when others around them felt so filthy impures?

Silence.

And darkness.

As they journeyed through the unfathomable, those two had been the divers' only companions for hours - joined intermittently by a harsh, gripping cold that only a constant influx of chakra managed to keep at bay… barely.

They were gliding, riders and mounts, moving rhythmically, above and bellow their world, crossing vast distances and landscapes they were never meant to cross… never meant to know how to.

One last maelstrom.

One last deadly current.

And then… The pale, blue promise of a new sea.

Of a new land.

Uzushio.

We made it. Brace yourselves, signed one of the figures, a massive man with the skin as blue as the water around them. Up. Now.

The sharks obeyed their riders, progressing mightily in the waters, trailing two or three shinobis with them at times, to the frontier between water and air...

The water was losing its cold aspect rapidly, as its temperature rose - the surface!

Rontô breathed a large gulp of air, like the other figures who emerged around him, strange dots on the vast sea… before looking at their horizon and being left silenced.

Afar, a white city was visible through the tropical forest and mountains surrounding it.

Buildings shining brightly under a kind blue sky.

A white pearl on the sea…

Rontô was awestruck, like many around him - he never imagined such a city could exist in this world…

Uzushio was beautiful.

Beautiful, and ripe for the taking.

"Let's move!" came the order forcefully.

And they moved, still shaking from the vision, and anticipating the wealth the city would procure them.

No wonder the Uzumakis were so zealously isolationists: they wanted to keep all of this to themselves alone. Who wouldn't? He almost felt shameful for disgracing such a magnificent place...

Almost unworthy.

Their contingent was soon close enough to the island to leave their summonings behind, and start moving toward what seemed to be a little creek, not far from the island's port.

A white beach welcomed them under the warm sun… and Rontô felt it as soon as he set foot on the sand.

Traps.

All around them.

It was subtle: the weight of the air around them, the crisp of the sand under their feet… the cold breeze on their skin, despite the blazing sun above their heads…

Small things that felt not quite right, didn't fall the way they were expected to… Tears at the seams.

One thing was certain: they needed to move.

Fast.

This beach… would be the death of them otherwise.

They all felt it.

They all moved accordingly.

Rontô and the others flew through the sand, quickly scanning their surroundings, senses on edge and heart racing. And as they ran, a cold chill settled in their racing hearts: the more they ran… the tighter their vision became, as darkness devoured everything at the edge - gnawing at reality rapidly.

Anguished shouts reached Rontô's ears, left and right - he wasn't the only one experiencing… this.

Soon, all he could see was a tunnel with the edge of the beach as his horizon.

Then, a line of sand.

And then… nothingness.

"Halt!" ordered a voice.

Kizoru's voice, the giant Hoshigaki who had been leading their platoon and busted their balls for nothing all the way from the Land of Water…

"A genjutsu", stated Kizoru's voice. "Brace yourselves for anything, it'll take a few moments for our rear to cotton on in and - *aCk*"

Rontô swore as something wet hit his face, the sound of metal sinking into flesh suddenly filling the air, followed by loud thuds to the ground.

He counted eight of them.

Nausea filled him, as the pungent smell of blood assaulted his breathing, and something more ephemeral as well: fear.

"A few moments is plenty enough", drawled a new voice far above him, reeking of boredom and cold tobacco.

Rontô seized a pronged kunai, all his senses pushed to their limits, the sound of fabric and tilting metals around him confirming others had had the same idea as him.

All of them marred with anticipation….and anxiety.

Driving chakra to his ears, Rontô focused all his might on detecting the subtlest movement in the air…

A simple whizz that…

He was tested immediately.

Some things tore the air so fast, Rontô acted on pure reflex. His armed hand went up as the whizzing dove to his left.

*KLING!"

The scintillating sound echoed several times around him - challenged by the gurgling agonies of those less successful in their defences… and the rapid shift of sand swirling left then right to him, getting closer and closer, cries and repetitive thuds punctuating its progress…

A sudden urge to dive overtook Rontô, all his senses screaming to do so in order to avoid certain death.

Pearling sweat rolled over his eyes as he dropped low; a whooshing sound passed above him; a *KLANG* resonated in his ear as he jumped as far as he could, landing unceremoniously in more sand.

"Ahhh, the famous rear… Poor timing though: I already got half of your shinobis here", said the enemy's voice to whoever had arrived to stop him.

"Senju scum, you can go through the other half for all I care… but all this? It was a good try from you, I reckon", came the oily voice of said opponent. "Trapping the small fry with genjutsu was smart..."

"Not smart enough if I missed the likes of you."

"Fufufu… You didn't expect everyone to rush in, really? I always let the meatbags play their roles in battles like these."

Rontô froze, heart racing both with anger and small relief.

That dissing tone and infuriating laugh… He knew of only one ninja in their battlegroup that fitted such characteristics… Byakuren.

"You're a shinobi all right", said the enemy with his own dispassionate tone. "Quite cold toward your fellow companions…"

"And you are stalling, trying to hold the line long enough for reinforcements to arrive", retorted Byakuren. "Which means… you are alone here. Correct?"

"Quite the analysis -"

The sound of something hard hitting the sand came to Rontô's ears, followed by grunts and a brief struggle. Metal sang in the air and death manifested again to his senses.

He heard someone land next to him. A close tap, and suddenly light rushed back to him, almost blinding.

The ugly muck of Byakuren welcomed Rontô's returning sight; the man almost wished he was still under the genjutsu.

"You, listen up", said Byakuren, eyeing the enemy with a creepy smile on his face. "Gather the small fries left and get moving, now. I'll handle this fucker."

The enemy in question was clad in brown armour, a tanned man with square jaws and onyx eyes that looked calculatingly at the both of them. A body was at his feet, one of Rontô's teammates who had attempted to surprise the Senju apparently… and had paid the ultimate price for it.

"You will try," said the Senju quietly.

They always try, he repeated in the quiet of his mind.

Rambuto cursed his rotten luck.

His enemy was a smart and resourceful veteran: to break off or escape from the Bringer-of-darkness genjutsu like he did… he had to be the crafty-type.

Moreover, he had deduced his isolated situation quickly and put an end to his extermination of the enemy platoon…

And now, he had to watch the survivors break from the little trap he had set up for them, deadlocked by this mysterious enemy.

He didn't like it one bit.

Though reduced, that group was still large enough to put unwanted pressure on the defenders located in the areas behind them; spilling the fights beyond the shores and port where they had debarked to reach the city was now a certainty. Entailing another kind of defence to occur… and urban warfare.

And that was assuming the enemy would only breach here, on his side; other battles were currently fought on the shorelines of Uzushio, all uncertain, all impredictable.

All in all, this wasn't a good match-up.

Whoever was his opponent, he was a cut above the shinobis surrounding him, Rambuto had no problem acknowledging that.

"So, you reached the coast of Uzushio… How?"

"Through the myriads of whirlpools surrounding this island, how else?" smirked his opponent pompously.

"Must have taken you the longest of time."

"Must have."

Cagey. What was the trick they used to get past their defences? How did they do it?

"Hmm… some special jutsu then?" wondered Rambuto aloud. "I spotted an unusual number of sharks not far from the beach."

"The Hoshigakis have their use…" chuckled Byakuren.

Hoshigakis… A clan of pirate raiders… So, they used sharks as tools and weapons?

Rambuto's mind suddenly spiralled as a provocative thought came to him.

Did that man and others like him join forces with the Hoshigakis because of their control over sharks?

Kami…! Were those sharks invoked?

"That explains things…", murmured Rambuto.

Like how they managed to break through the archipelago's protective whirlpools, and how they could emerge off the coasts of Uzushio to even reach this small beach next to the port.

Animals were the perfect tools for infiltration, but to use this on such a large scale…? The resources used to achieve this must have been massive.

Rambuto's eyes fell on the gathering of shinobis in front of him…

Now was the time.

"But first: you didn't really think I would let your pals go, did you?"

The Senju ninja watched with satisfaction the eyes of his enemy widen a mere instant before shouting.

"Kai!"

The ground beneath all their feet detonated, engulfing them in a maelstrom of fire and sand…

When the dust settled, the beach was devastated, cratered and soaked in the blood and limbs of the dying.

Rambuto landed… and saw his opponent land too, at the edge of one of the craters.

The explosive tags had done their work: most of the invaders were either dead or dying in the sand… Rambuto turned his attention toward the shinobi facing him, smirking.

"Just you and me then, ninja-san?"

"Just you and me", confirmed Byakuren. "Come on!"

The Senju ninja drew out his katana, a long thing with an outstanding edge, smirking.

"I heard an interesting story a few weeks ago", Rambuto commented, looking at Byakuren intently. "One of a shinobi disgraced by the kamis when it came to looks, humbled by a younger ninja with superior skills, relieved from a strange weapon in that battle…"

Byakuren didn't answer, gauging the other's posture. Not too forward, nor rigid… Experimented.

"There's a hunch telling me I'm facing this man, right now", continued the man. "That correct?"

He was on top of him in a blink of an eye.

Only his reflexes saved Byakuren: he shifted instinctively to his left side, betting on an attack coming from his blind spot… and it worked. A sword slashed the space where his head was moments prior at incredible speed, raising a gust of wind and sand in its trail.

Rambuto followed up with a quick dash behind his opponent, his katana slashing in a wide arc - a grunt and the metallic clash of weapons confirmed his enemy's deft parry, as a kick meant for his head forced him to dodge and jump back.

"Don't get so fucking cocky!" snarled Byakuren, while going through a set of mudras quickly. "Suiton: Suijinheki!"

A mass of water explosively surged from the sea beside them, circling Byakuren before rising upward to form a wall, forcing Rambuto further back.

"Time to take the lead on this fufufu!" Byakuren rejoiced from behind the safety of his walls, hands forming the Tiger seal. "Take a look at this play, Senju!"

Rambuto took a look, and blemished.

From the water wall surged one, then two, then ten copies of the enemy ninja.

Water clones!

Meanwhile, the wall itself remained intact, still guarding the area around the enemy shinobi while keeping his line of sight unobstructed due to the clarity of the water.

"Impressive", murmured Rambuto. "Suiton clones to do your bidding, while you pilot them from the safety of your water jutsu… A perfect balance between offence and defence."

And from what Tobirama had shared with him, if they were the same as during his fight… they could be used in suicidal attacks against him.

"Indeed fufufu! You know, this whole time you acted like you had the terrain advantage - when in reality you were the one thoroughly outmatched! Now, die!"

At once, the water clones moved in concert and rushed him.

"As if!"

Rambuto's blade cleaved open the first one, lobed off the head of the two others who came after it, before retreating afar, while the three clones collapsed into masses of water promptly absorbed by the sand.

The other clones pursued after him… but he was ready.

Dog.

Horse.

Bird.

"Fuuton: Toppa!"

The Senju ninja breathed powerful wind from his mouth, directing his stream toward the ground and causing a large sand cloud to form in the area, hiding everything.

Focus. No need to rush. Distance and visual hampering will make his control of the clones difficult… I can handle them, Rambuto thought to himself, while retreating further back into the cloud.

And visibly, Byakuren had come to the same conclusion.

He's apt at kenjutsu… and doesn't take unnecessary gambles. Next strike will have to make a difference: despite the low visibility, he won't risk anything with me having access to all this water!

"Are you that afraid of me, Senju?" mocked the scarred ninja. "I can sense the doubt plaguing you in this move of yours, fufufu… "

Rambuto didn't answer, ready for what would come next.

"You've spoken to that brat I faced, so you should know I hate prolonged battles! It's time to end this!" shouted Byakuren, his stance shifting.

At once, all the remaining clones ran into the sand cloud, and the Senju knew they would detonate in seconds, aiming for even one of them to be close enough to him to harm him…

But two could play that game!

In a swift movement, six kunai found their ways to the six remaining clones, and the tags attached to them exploded just as Rambuto went into his own releasing stance.

"Fool! You walked into my trap!" jubilated Byakuren, going through hand signs. "Suiton: Sensatsu Shuishou!"

The water expelled by the explosions immediately formed hundreds of long needles, which scattered in all directions at spectacular speed.

The thought of dodging left Rambuto the moment he realised he physically couldn't do that, the cloud becoming suddenly his worst enemy.

No time! Shunshin no jutsu!

The sudden influx of chakra was almost painful, as Rambuto tore the space around him at even more incredulous speed, landing on the beach again. Once in contact, the needles zeroed in and finished piercing the crippled body of one of the ninjas he had disposed of earlier, in a geyser of water and blood. The Shunshin seemed to have given him a small opening, for he saw how the other shinobi looked momentarily satisfied at his trick "working".

We are too evenly matched… He's right: time to end this!

"Scurrying away was the specialty of your trash clan, wasn't it?" smirked Byakuren, looking around with his one valid eye to try and make his corpse in the cloud. "That'll teach you to not mess with the likes of me!"

"... Surprising the enemy is more my clan specialty…" said Rambuto, so close to the other's water defence, he could almost touch it.

And in the same breath, he unleashed his jutsu.

"Fuuton: Daitoppa!"

This time, the wind expelled from Rambuto's mouth had the strength of a hurricane, forming a vortex that clashed mightily with the water walls in front of them.

Byakuren swore and jumped high in the air as the walls collapsed under the power of his enemy's ninjutsu. That bastard had managed to survive his technique!

"Senju…" snarled Byakuren with disgust, "I'll crush you once and for all!" he shouted, his hands going through mudras in a blur of speed.

"Well… too fucking bad, I'm the one who'll do the crushing!" retorted Rambuto, gathering to the limit chakra in his stomach.

They knew this would be their last attack, as signs of fighting and explosions started to pop all around the port of Uzushio.

They would make it count.

Byakuren began his descent toward the ground and Rambuto, his unique eye locked into the two ones of his adversary.

Now!

"Suiton: Suiryudan no jutsu!"

"Fuuton: Daitoppa!"

Sky and sea clashed in a maelstrom of chakra and power, blazing through a beach already red from the blood spilled on it.

The mighty water dragon and the uncanny whirlwind shook the earth itself as they wrestled with one another, blowing the red sand, the bodies and the two remaining fighters away…

Leaving the sun above as sole witness of the events.

It was at its zenith, and war had descended on Uzushio.

The sun was rising on Suemori.

The battle had been over before the first signs of dawn, with the enemy's resistance being gathered into temporary camps, essentially vacated spaces between the castle's defences.

The watch of the regular forces was strict.

The watch of the Senjus was stricter.

Tobirama felt this very tension in the war room they found themselves in - the very place where the enemy Lord Intendant had committed sepuku.

The very place where they would be meeting lord Otada and lord Otaka in an hour, if their information was correct…

This meeting was to prepare the next, more important one, that was coming to them. As a result, most of the senior shinobis of the clan were gathered here, as well as their father Butsuma, and their uncle Tenma. Aderama was still with General Yoshinari, coordinating the castle's capture.

All in all, it was the right time to put forth their agenda concerning Uzushio, and the help his clan needed to send them… To send Mito.

"You've won a crucial battle here, Butsuma", Tenma Senju stated, taking Tobirama out of his reverie, his eyes veering into the ones of the Senju leader. "Losing Suemori is a serious blow to daimyo Ujimasa retaining control over the area. He'll be crippled economically."

"How many prisoners?" asked Tobirama.

Tenma smirked.

"Two thousand, give or take."

"That's two thousand mouths to feed, and deal with", commented Hashirama. "In the middle of a campaign, I don't think that's ideal."

"It's not", confirmed Tenma. " But General Yoshinari assured to me and Aderama that they will be dealt with: some of the peasantry will be enrolled into the regular forces of the Lord Brothers, the rest will be sent to the mines under our daimyo's direct control."

"That means more work for the clan in the long run, I suppose…" pondered Tobirama, thinking. "To transport them and keep the risk of rebellion to a minimum."

"Absolutely."

Economically, the venue would be good for their clan, Tobirama recognised.

A strange thing to see his clan would benefit from the war in that way… when it was killing and maiming the ones who were meant to support its future.

"Now", continued Butsuma. "The road to Jigan needs to be cut off for good. Lord Otada already indicated they'll be moving their troops by tomorrow noon. A token force will remain here to secure the area and hold Suemori, the rest…"

"They want the blockade of Jigan to be completed as soon as possible."

"Yes."

"We will continue to secure the progress of our daimyo's armies toward Jigan, but his sons have been clear, they want us to detach shinobis to secure the blockade as well, beyond the contingent they'll be tasking to do that."

"Can't say that this is a surprise…" commented Koji Senju. "So, this is a two-parter operation huh."

"Yes", acquiesced Butsuma, "it is one. Tenma, I want you to be on top of this. Gather twenty shinobis, trackers and reconnaissance specialists. You'll be the tip of the spear on our journey to Jigan, but once the city is in sight…"

"... fall back, and start cycling the areas around it, to whiff out the spies and enemy scouts… All right."

"That means you too Tobirama.. As a sensor, you are perfectly suited for this."

"Aye."

A soldier entered the room, unannounced.

The man looked like he had been to hell and back.

Exhaustion.

Desperation.

Even though they weren't plain on his face, they could feel it was there, kept at bay… but lurking.

Moreover, the man wasn't one of their shinobis.

"An Uzumaki," Tenma said, eyes narrowed.

"Maoru-san?!" exclaimed Hashirama.

The general bowed deeply.

"For once, I'm happy to see you again, alive and well, Lady Hashirama. You too, Lord Tobirama."

Hashirama and Tobirama exchanged a quick glance: the situation on Uzushio must have been degrading much faster than they anticipated, Maoru wouldn't have left the island otherwise. Speaking of…

"How did you do it?", asked Hashirama, curiosity piqued despite the dread she suddenly felt. "Uzushio is hundreds of kilometres from here, not counting the sea…"

"When you are a Summoner, there are ways to travel faster than for other shinobis, ways that are open to you alone, not accessible to most people…" said Maoru.

"The land of the Toads?" asked Butsuma.

"Mount Myoboku, yes", confirmed Maoru.

"As expected from the Uzumakis… Ties with the Summons of the Six Path Sages himself…" commented Tenma quietly. "What's this?"

"A missive from Lord Ashina", answered Maoru. "For you, my Lord."

Butsuma took the scroll given to him, opened it, and spent the next few minutes reading, his expression getting darker and paler as it went on. When he finished it, he didn't say a word, only giving the document to Tenma Senju, who swore as he read it next to him.

"The bastards!"

"What is it?" asked Hashirama, tensely.

"Read it with your brother", growled Tenma, passing the missive to the Senju Heir.

Tobirama sat, staring blankly at the scroll in front of him, while Hashirama became more and more agitated, until…

"L-Lord Rambuto too?"

"We are unsure, we've lost control of the area of the bay he was battling the invaders…" said Maoru uncertainly. "Many of those who were there… We've been unable to retrieve their bodies when there were bodies to be retrieved… I'm sorry."

A cold chill seized the room.

To think Rambuto Senju had been killed like this…?

Death… or capture, which was a fate worse than death itself for a shinobi…

An emotion gripped Tobirama's heart, similar to the one he felt when they had to bury Kawarama… Blurring his mind, his thought process… Blurring everything.

The young Senju realised his sister had turned away quietly, facing the windows outside.

Trembling.

She too was wrestling with her emotions…

"That method of travel… Can it be used by others?" asked Butsuma stoically.

"I'm a special case", said Maoru. "The Toads won't allow foreigners to go through their lands. They allow me to be a messenger out of loyalty to me, and that's already pushing it."

Everyone in the tent, from servants to commanders, was silent.

"How accurate is this?" asked Tenma tensely.

"Despite my… celerity, it's still a day old missive", answered Maoru."The situation on the battlefield is very fluid... That being said, I left messengers of my own back on the island. If the situation were to have shifted dramatically, I'd be informed immediately."

"So, what we were fearing finally occurred… Uzushio is under siege", said Butsuma, eyeing the missive in the hand of his son. "And my brother - your cousin - is lost, if not worse…"

"You don't know that", said Hashirama with raging conviction, finally looking back at them, eyes dreary.

"We have to assume that is the case", said Tenma sombrely. "As Maoru-san said, it was from a day ago… Look at us: between yesterday and today, Suemori has fallen in our hands. One day, and one night... It is a long time, for us shinobis."

He turned to the Uzumaki general.

"Do you know how many invaders you are facing?"

"All in all, almost a thousand shinobis from the Land of Water, an ad hoc alliance between several pirate clans from there", answered Maoru.

"I see…"

"Father, this is it… This is what we warned you about!" chimed in Tobirama. "Now is the time for us to act, before things go too far, before we are too late…! We can't have Uncle Rambuto be gone for nothing…!"

"Can we spare some manpower? To help them?" asked Hashirama. "To honor our commitment to them?"

"It's doable, as long as it remains a manageable number", answered Butsuma, thinking hard. "This campaign against daimyo Ujimasa is far from over..."

"This is a matter of the clan: it cannot impact our work for our daimyo", cut Tenma. "Whatever you decide brother, the campaign must continue to progress, and the forces engaged here need to stay involved!"

"The treaty between us -" protested Maoru.

"I know what the treaty says", cut Butsuma. "We will honour it, in a way that doesn't harm our clan as well", he added when seeing Tenma open his mouth.

"What are you suggesting, Butsuma?" demanded Tenma.

The Clan's Head turned toward his children, both angered and hurt yet masking it as best as they could, and then toward the Uzumaki general, who was keeping his cool despite the grave situation of his people.

"With that method of yours, how long will it take you to reach our village?"

"A day, at most, maybe half", said Maoru non-commitally.

"Good. I'll prepare a missive for the Council of Elders there... They'll prepare a troop of shinobis for you, ready to go."

"How many?"

"Fifty."

"That's not good enough", sunk Maoru, frowning.

"It needs to be. Beside…"

The Senju leader turned toward Hashirama and Tobirama.

"My children will lead that group."

"Tch, Butsuma!" snarled Tenma angrily. "That's awfully risky to send both of them at once…! And we need them here, with us. That was the whole point of bringing them back, to help with the battles to come for our daimyo!"

"Itama is still home, if anything should happen to all of us. Him, and a Council to back him. In that regard, nothing has changed…", pondered Butsuma. "Furthermore, now that the Hyugas have retreated themselves, we can spare some of our finest warriors elsewhere, in places where they can be more impactful… That won't stop us from making that blockade of Jigan complete - far from it."

"Bold gamble", appreciated Tenma grundgingly. "Are you that confident in your progeny?"

"Calculated," Butsuma simply answered. "And yes, I am."

He motioned his two children to approach him.

"Tobirama", he added swiftly. "Take Hashirama and the rest of your unit with you, and head to Port Ryuk immediately. Once there, wait for Maoru-san's arrival, he shall be there with the troops we'll lend him by the end of tomorrow. Once you join-up, head to Uzushio at once."

"Aye!"

"Aye, father!"

"You've shown your strength in Suemori. You've proven yourselves quite formidable…", continued Butsuma determinedly. "With another fifty Senjus at your side, I'm sure you will turn the tide on Uzushio's enemies."

Butsuma turned to Maoru, not noticing the shadows that had crept on both his children's faces.

"Is it good enough now?"

Maoru grinned.

"With those two? Has to be…"

Outside, the sun pierced the clouds forcefully, making his way toward freedom.

Author's note: Hashirama and Tobirama tasted true defeat for the first time, during their first, true large battle! And as they learn of Uzushio's fate… How will they handle the news of the loss of Rambuto? Will they make it back in time for their Uzumaki allies? And Madara is going on a quest of his own… one for a special item. Have you guessed which one, dear reader?

Thank you for reading the eight chapter of season two of Hashirama's journey as a shinobi!

A chapter hard to birth, challenged by both life and researches, but it's finally here, giant size! And now, it's only two chapters left before the season finale...

Enjoy!

And see you next time, dear reader!