"I won't allow any of my comrades to die for my sake."
Minato Namikaze
Akira Senju.
Arata Senju.
Akihiro Senju.
Akihiko Senju.
Hashirama and Tobirama were more than familiar with all of them at this point in their lives.
Mito wasn't familiar with them, but given their appearance and their demeanors she already knew who they were.
They were the Council.
They were at least four times their respective ages, and some were even eight times their age, or damn close to it. Some were pushing close to one hundred and five, while the Senju didn't have the Uzumaki's longevity so to speak, they were extremely vital even in old age, thus they looked to be in their forties despite being much older.
These meetings usually went one of two ways.
The first was they were short and sweet, few words were exchanged and everyone would be on their way; more to the point they didn't happen at all. It was just a rare occurrence when someone, or some event got out of line or hand, and action needed to be taken. That action had to be discussed and reasoned, naturally, in order to avoid any rash decisions being made.
The second being they ended with nothing short of high tension and everybody ready to strangle the other, and he was not exempt to this. Even if he was more emotional than Tobirama, he couldn't let these people speak the way that they did, at times. The Council often times forgot their place as advisers and not actually being leaders. It could be argued they were the actual leaders, since anything important had to be run and go through them beforehand.
Tobirama kept his expression stoic as he sat next to his brother resisting the urge to cross his arms over his chest. He took note of the gathered four Senju elders were all wearing black-which meant something happened, that wasn't good. It was only worn by widows who were grieving, or if...
The large room was dimly lit with lanterns, the Senju symbol drawn everywhere, big and small.
The last thing Tobirama really wanted to deal with returning to his compound was the obstinate elders. He had nothing against them, but they were old. Old people were set in their ways and didn't budge, it also didn't help many of them disagreed with his brother and his methods.
He disagreed with their methods.
They wanted peace, but their methods were different in comparison to his own.
And, some of them wanted the conflict to continue.
There were other elders, that wanted peace in the same way Hashirama did.
But, emotions ran high in the Senju, and it could lead to opposing parties.
"I was going to call a meeting, but tomorrow." Hashirama broke the silence.
Akihiro inclined his head, mindful of Hashirama's composed tone. "That will be a different meeting, discussing a different topic."
"So, I can't discuss it after this?" Hashirama looked weary, itching the side of his head.
"In the best interest of discussion, we will discuss that tomorrow. Besides, what happened pertains to the Senju clan."
Tobirama looked tense. "What happened?
"As you know, we Senju have strived for peace. Often times, we strive for war, but we've always tried to stride for peace." Arata took the reins before one of his fellow elders let their tongue slip.
Tobirama was always good at piecing things together. The fact Asami, Aoi, and the others weren't present painted a clear picture. But, this had to be handled delicately.
"Indeed." Tobirama nodded stiffly, already dreading which direction this was heading in. "The village is the only way to protect our clan, and other clans. It is the only way we can end these incessant wars."
He wasn't going to sugarcoat anything, if these elders wanted to be obstinate he was going to be nothing short of agitating for them.
"As it was said, we are not discussing that." Arata said.
"What is more important than this?"
"Tobirama." Hashirama frowned.
"When anything pertains to the Senju clan, it is of the utmost importance. It is more important than a village." Akira said, glaring hell fire at the white haired Senju.
"Then what happened?"
"You're behaving like a little brat." Akihiko said coldly.
Tobirama snorted.
"Is there something you'd like to say?" Akihiro asked, inclining his chin.
Tobirama crossed his arms over his chest, sighing.
"Moving on from the Tobirama-san's interruption. You sent Disuke to the Hyuga compound to see what happened there. There have been many rumors that the Subatsu and Mo laid waste to their compound, killed Daiki, and killed four more division leaders." Akira said a bit coolly, flicking his eyes from one brother to the next before continuing on.
"I don't know why you'd ever think of doing such a thing, let alone following through on it."
"What do you mean?" Tobirama asked, eyes piercing.
"We Senju never concerned ourselves with such affairs."
"If the Subatsu and Mo really did lay waste to the Hyuga like the rumors say, that is troubling. You can't tell me not to take action!"
Tobirama couldn't stop his voice from rising. He wasn't going to allow these bags of wrinkles to speak against the choice he and his brother made. It was something that couldn't be avoided.
"You will mind your tone!" Akihiro snarled.
Tobirama crossed his arms over his chest, neck going taut. "If you can't handle the truth that isn't my problem. If the Senju don't take action, we will be exterminated."
"I can't agree with the extermination part, but I do support my brother's clamor to action." Hashirama cleared his throat loudly, catching the eyes of everyone for a few moments.
"We used to be allies with the Subatsu. As long as we don't encroach on their land or attack their children, we will not be facing battle with them. However, it'd be naïve of me to not look into the gravity of the merit of these rumors. There was no one better for the mission than Disuke. Satoshi had defected."
Akira's eyes shaded mysteriously.
"Why would you even have the thought? The Subatsu always keep some numbers behind in order to keep the area clear. It's why nobody survives that ever encounters them. Hashirama. why did you think it was a good idea to send Disuke on such a mission? He is one of the older Senju, and has decades of experience. He is older than your father."
"You listed enough reasons." Hashirama said, bluntly.
Akihiro took a deep breath, exhaling. "Disuke nearly died...The Senju with him were killed as well...They were all slain by Yokuna Subatsu."
Hashirama and Tobirama both snapped their eyes wide.
Mito, having remained silent, could only close her eyes.
"Are you certain?" Hashirama raised an eyebrow, trying not to sound incredulous.
Akihiro nodded, eyes on the table. "Yes. His use of Earth Clones has always been on a different level, but, she was able to see through them and came close to killing him. The other Senju weren't so lucky. We buried them before you returned."
"The Senju with him...Had you not given that order." Akihiko said, tone starting to bite.
Hashirama wasn't ignorant of it. "I needed the information."
"Is that information worth the life of our kin?!" Akira rumbled.
Akihiko slammed his hand on the table, breaking the tense atmosphere, but making it more tense. "Butsuma used to send Senju children to their graves. He had his reasons for doing it. He still did it, that is the point. It's why we were always at war in the meeting rooms. We Senju preserve, we don't send our own to early deaths! We don't send our own into death!"
Hashirama took a steady breath, knowing this was just the tip of the iceberg. Nearly losing Disuke, and all the Senju that were with him was a critical blow. Satoshi leaving was a critical blow.
But, something worse happened.
"What's happened?"
"You haven't pieced it together, Hashirama-san?" Mito asked softly, eyes hovering on empty seats around them.
"The Uzumaki is perceptive. Aoi Senju. Hiroki Senju. Fumio Senju. Asami Senju. Have defected tp the Domou compoud. " Akira said, his tone breaking no argument.
He could already see the signs of disbelief and icy wrath in Tobirama's ruby eyes, the stunned and mortified glimmer in Hashirama's eyes. and he didn't even brace himself for what was about to come out of his mouth.
Like father like son, the apple doesn't fall far from tree.
"That's impossible! They're our enemies! They've been our enemies! The Senju would never get on with them! Madara is with the Domou and Izuna!" Tobirama snapped.
"You allow your disdain for the Uchiha to cloud your judgement." Akihiko said.
"Do you think Asami and Fumio just had the idea to defect? Emotions run high in the Senju, and there have been mass desertions and defections in the past, but even in those circumstances...Do you think they just decided to do it on a whim?" Akira continued.
"You're speaking in riddles. This is ridiculous." Tobirama said, tone cold as ice. "They are allies with the Uchiha under Madara and Izuna now. That is if they haven't been killed or tortured!"
"Do you know why the Senju that defected and deserted, did what they did?" Akihiro asked.
"The village..." Hashirama said, solemn.
Akihiko nodded. "They were concerned about the Senju clan disbanding once this village is formed. Hashirama and the way he bends backwards to placate everyone, will he relegate the Senju to just lowly commoners of the village? Or will he disband us? Many believed that the way you are trying to consolidate power in this village is a slap in the face to everything the Senju stand for. Others just didn't agree."
"That's rubbish! How can they even think of something like that!?" Tobirama was about to lose it.
"Try to understand their concerns, brother."
"They've left us..." Tobirama bit out. "What is there to understand?"
"Do you believe your way is the right way? Akira asked.
"Yes, without question."
Akihiro looked at Tobirama, then at Hashirama. "You two are powerful, even among Senju standards. Your names are spoken and whispered across the whole Elemental Nations and outside world. Tobirama is known to form oceans of water with no water source around, and well, your usage of the Mokuton has brought the Senju infamy as well as fame."
"Power is the issue here?" Tobirama asked, eyes softening.
This is where the Senju differed from the Uchiha. There were powerful Senju, but they didn't flaunt their abilities. The Senju didn't crave power. They didn't idealize power. They didn't idolize power. Power wasn't everything to them. For the Uchiha, they did all of those things. They craved it. They idealized it. They idolized it. For the Uchiha, power was everything.
For the Senju it was bonds. Their families. Their friends. Their lovers. No power could ever amount to that. Ashura had loved all of his children dearly, many that he had. He always strived for peace. He was the opposite of Indra, who had many wives, and fathered many sons and daughters. It's said that he ten children with more than nine women. It was a way to produce the Sharingan in high number.
Tobirama sighed softly. "Things can't keep going on as they are. Kumogakure has been founded, and it continues to make waves."
"If you believe your way is the right way. With your strength, you can eliminate any opposition..." Akira trailed off.
Hashirama leaned back. "My kin were worried I was becoming power hungry. That I'd eliminate anyone that didn't hold the same line as I do..."
It was something that had happened with his father, except it pertained to war. His father had pushed and pushed for war, he launched deliberate attacks, he provoked others, he desired revenge, and he did it just because. The situation was different, but he could see the similarities. Konoha was also a factor in all of this, and as Kumogakure was proving-a shinobi village was pinnacle.
If he had all of that sway and power.
All of that influence.
They were afraid he'd be more concerned about the village than the clan. This was at least one of their worries.
Tobirama sighed irritably, leaning back in his seat.
"I understand this is a lot to take in. We're still recovering from it, but as history has shown, we will continue to grow. There are times when the Senju defect and desert, but we always rebuild and grow stronger."
"Who left?" Hashirama questioned.
"Fumio. Aoi. Hiroki. Asami. The civilian population. Two thousand, and seven hundred Senju-men, women, children, and elders. No division leaders or people of that kind of importance left, save for Satoshi. So, a little less than half of our shinobi, kunoichi, and the entire civilian populace have left."
"Hashirama...This put us in a delicate situation, you understand...Don't you?" Arata asked, gently interlacing his fingers and resting his chin on top of them.
"I do." Hashirama said, eyes darting for the table.
His fists clenched.
The Senju didn't lose any battle strength, when it came down to it. The civilian population never contributed to battle, unless there were dire situations in play. The shinobi populace that left as well-though they contributed to battle, they weren't division leaders. Their missing spots would be filled, eventually. If division leaders had deserted and left, there'd be trouble.
His father had caused such a wave to overtake the Senju. Division leaders had been defecting left and right, growing weary of his warmongering ways. His father had put an order in place to hunt down any defectors or deserters, and kill them. This caused problems with other Senju because it was their friends or family, and Butsuma's ways and policies were the reason they committed to such actions in the first place.
Blind with power.
Corrupt with power.
Was he following the same path as his father?
"This village needs to be a success. We may have not lost any division leaders, or people of that importance. But, the Senju that did leave, will leave gaps behind, even when they are filled. Right now, we are weakened." Akira said, tight lipped.
"I can't believe this! What has become of the Senju clan?" Tobirama's eyes glinted furiously.
"We're down to four thousand. That's how many are here at the moment." Akihiro said, a dangerous glint in his eyes.
"You both should be cautious, or you may cause more of our kin to have doubts."
Hashirama couldn't hear him, however. He was just somewhere else altogether. He had been consolidating power, majorly. Coming together with Shisuke, and the clans that had gathered, was a consolidation of power. There was no one way around that. His kin were right to be concerned, and he tried to understand their feelings on the matter.
He was branching into the world. His power and influence just wasn't contained within the confines of the Senju clan. While Butsuma had some pull and sway, most of that power pertained to the Senju territory, and the Senju compound in particular. The decisions were centered around the Senju-good or bad, every choice was focused on the Senju.
That was slowly being changed. It was changing to decisions being centered around Konoha. In turn, that meant other clans. Perhaps some Senju were bitter, but for others it was just too much and they couldn't follow him any longer. They couldn't entrust their lives to him. He didn't fault them or bear them ill will. Their ideals were conflicting with his, and, they helped him see danger.
The danger is ideals. In ideology.
To focus on Konoha-even though they'd all be living in it, more than the Senju clan itself was something akin to madness. It was insanity. It was lunacy. No shinobi in their right mind would ever commit to such a thing. The clan was everything. It was the bloodline. It was family. It was relatives. It was life itself. He breathed as a Senju, and when he stopped breathing, he'd stop breathing as a Senju.
Hashirama looked oddly solemn. "I understand what must be done. This meeting is over."
The elders all nodded before bowing out.
Tobirama waited until they were out of the building before speaking. "Brother, don't take their words to heart."
"They are right to be so concerned and angry, though. Is it so hard to understand?!" Mito asked, having more than enough of important decisions being talked around. She was a women, and knew her place, but she never cared for formalities.
"If they actually went to the Domou compound, chances are they are dead or being tortured. Mikito doesn't kill needlessly, but she has great insight and foresight. She doesn't trust the Senju, and Madara doesn't either. But, if the Senju hold out that are there-they could become a part of them. That would mean progeny, brother. Do you understand what that implies? Something will happen that hasn't happened-the Uchiha and Senju blood will mix, and that's not including anyone else with them at this moment in time. Their descendants, even in the far future will be immensely powerful."
Tobirama nodded slowly, eyes focused intently on his brother.
When Hashirama wanted to be serious, he was extremely serious.
"The chances of that happening are low, though. Mikito has never spared Senju as far as I've seen, and you have a history with Madara, as do I with Izuna."
"The chance is still there, though, brother. That's my point, that is what Mito is getting at. I am almost certain there would have been...Restrictions if Madara had agreed to my ceasefire agreements-our clans wouldn't be mixing together. The Uchiha that may join Konoha, will not mix with Senju. However, these Senju that have left, are a different scenario entirely."
Tobirama's eyes narrowed. "Are you telling me the Domou and Subatsu are going to enter a truce?"
Hashirama and Mito traded looks before nodding.
"And, the clans with them?"
"The Nara and Yamanaka will be living in Konoha, should everything go smoothly. They are not stepping over any lines doing what they are. However, the clans you are speaking of, will most certainly come together with them, given time."
Tobirama set his eyes on Mito. "And, the Uzumaki? Shuji and the Hagoromo have joined the Subatsu and Mo. If the Uzumaki make the same choice, but with the Domou..."
It was going to be trouble.
Mito looked off to the side, eyes stoic.
"I'm not too worried about that, to be honest."
Tobirama grew irate. "You're being too careless, brother!"
Hashirama slammed his fist down on the table. He didn't restrain himself in the least and left a hand sized hole in front of him.
"Have you forgotten? Everything Mikito has done as of recent is geared towards ending the slave trade. Her focus isn't on us, and Madara's focus isn't on us either. As long as we don't get in her way, we should be fine. Even if we meet in the Water country, we are there for similar reasons. A mutual enemy. Our threats are Kumogakure and the Water country-that is why the Council is supporting Konoha at this moment in time."
"We're just going sidestep Mikito and company?" Tobirama frowned, hating how it sounded.
The Senju tip toeing, how unbecoming.
But, the Water country and Kumogakure were the real threats.
Mikito's focus was not on them, and Madara's wasn't. Souji's wasn't and Izuna's wasn't.
However, the threat was there. Tobirama wasn't a fool and he didn't have the same laidback outlook on life as his brother. He was fond of laws and order. He was pragmatic. He knew a threat when he seen one. It wasn't a stretch to say or think that the Namikaze and other smaller clans were already with the Domou and Uchiha at this point in time. So many clans coming together, and more would certainly join...
And, the one million, plus, people...
Did they all go to the Domou compound...
The Subatsu compound...
Both...
Tobirama rubbed at his forehead, frustrated.
He got an eerie feeling that was only the tip of the iceberg.
If things were left unchecked Mikito could gather billions. It'd be a portion of the world's population-just not the Elemental Nations. There'd be nothing that could stand against that. Any shinobi village would fall without reprieve, any shinobi clan would fall, any country would fall, and victory would always be assured. The only thing that could stand against this would be the Bijuu.
The thought of going after this masses of chakra made him grimace-he narrowly escaped with his life during that battle with the Two Tails.
They weren't an option.
Konoha, or this unseen, but very real threat coming to reality...Which was more important.
Focusing on Konoha...
Focusing on the threat...
Tobirama conceded, that it was the first.
"Now we just have to wait for the other clan leaders to send responses back to Shisuke and us." Hashirama spoke up.
Mito raised an eyebrow. "Mikito isn't going to those slave traders mercy. I doubt Madara will. You're just going to leave them to that fate?"
Hashirama nodded in understanding-he'd always been against slavery. Seeing such things as a child wounded him, to this day. He seen too much in his short, but long, in this warring era, lifetime. Too many things that a child should never see. Doing things a child should never do. There were worse things than slavery going on, but there were less awful things as well-everyone just accepted it.
He never could, but...
Mikito had that edge. That extra lunge, rather than a step, where he stopped short. Where he hesitated. She continued. She strode ahead without any reprieve. He could never accept the slave trade, but Mikito didn't accept, and now she was going end it. It just wouldn't end when they found the ships they're looking for-they'd go right to the source of the problem.
In the new era-when this old, warring era ultimately ends-slavery, children going to war, and other such atrocities will be no more. They will just be stories of how the world once was, during his years. He had no intention of stopping Mikito from putting an end to the horrible practice-killing the people perpetuating it saved him the trouble of doing it himself.
He was still a shinobi, after all.
Hashirama looked solemn as he spoke. "They've done it to themselves. I never supported that. Besides, it's time such barbarous practices were done away with and abolished. I won't obstruct her by any means. Her mission will take her right into the Water country, where worse things than slavery are happening. In the era after this, such things will be a thing of the past, as long as I can help it. Konoha is our priority, so that's where we'll keep our focus for the moment."
Mito smiled shortly. "Good enough for me."
Tobirama nodded.
It was relieving to see Hashirama thinking and making decisions as a shinobi.
Sometimes he didn't hold to the shinobi sect ideal.
The tournament was in full swing...Thousands of blows were exchanged, blocked, deflected, caught, trapped, and skewed. Blades clashed. Projectiles flew. Fists and shins crashed. While all of this was happening-while others competed feverishly and fought with their all, the leaders used this time of reprieve to meet in one of the rustic meeting rooms-spacious as it was, there was nothing grand about it.
One large table took prominence in the center of the room, chairs, rather than mats, chairs, were placed around it-two at each end, while the others lined the sides. Candles and lanterns kept the room glowing-only a few shadows had managed to stave themselves off from the fire's licking flame. The shadows gave way to shape and form, to hair and eyes, to a body, to a personality.
Mikito Domou
Souji Domou
Madara Uchiha
Izuna Uchiha
Yamanami Domou
Shinpachi Domou
Norio Uchiha
Keisuke Domou
Sanosuke Domou
Sakamoto Domou
Takeo Domou
Okemi Domou
Misaka Domou-Uchiha
Harada Domou
Daishiro Shimura
Katsumi Shimura
Kosuke Shimura
Mimori Nohara
Ai Terumi
Akari Kurama
Chie Yuhi
Yumi Haruno
Saki Namikaze
"It's time we call this meeting. We will be discussing our next move in bringing the slave trade to an end." Souji said, tone blunt.
Kosuke nodded. "Once we seize those ships in the Tea country's harbor, we'll need to move swiftly. War could break out between us and the outside nations."
"What if we were to be invisible, while doing this?" Izuna asked, looking genuinely invested in his question.
Akira didn't like beating around the bush or sprinkling hints in her sentences. She wished Izuna would just say what is on his mind, but she could put the pieces together of what he was implying. "Invisible..."
"Indeed." Izuna nodded swiftly.
Chie looked with interest. "If we were to execute a genjutsu, something to that effect could be achieved."
"To what end?" Shinpachi asked.
"I second that." Mikito spoke up.
"It depends on what the genjutsu is, but..." Madara frowned, not clueless of the way Shinpachi and Mikito were practically bristling.
"I don't think that that's the point." Sakamoto said.
"Go on, then." Saki pressed.
Sakamoto smiled. "Genjutsu is illusion based and uses the mind's energy, and chakra in the brain. If it is invisibility we seek, we'd need to cloak an certain radius in a genjutsu. It'd just be the environment, no variations. To everyone else it'd just be another day, but we'd already made our move and would be on our way back here. Thankfully, we have Akari, Chie, and the Uchiha present with us."
Izuna pulled out a map of the world, finger on the Elemental Nations-the arching extension of the Fire country. "Right here is the Tea country."
Mimori furrowed her brows, tracing her finger where Izuna's had been. "We'll need to cover one hundred miles, in eight directions. We need to cut off the Tea country from everything-for all intents and purposes, it'll be like the place fell into a trap hole. It'll be difficult to achieve this, if certain duties are carried out separately."
Katsumi leaned back. "The Kurama, Yuhi, and Uchiha will have to work in tandem. They will have to be in the same units."
Mimori nodded, looking at everyone present. "That will be best."
Keisuke considered it, slowly conceding with a nod. "It could work, but wouldn't the strain be too great?"
"Maybe if we were doing it by ourselves, but with the Uchiha and Kurama aiding us, the strain won't be anything we Yuhi haven't handled before." Chie said confidently.
"It'll be easy enough, if we all stay coordinated." Akari agreed. "How many Uchiha here have awakened the Sharingan?"
Madara looked serious. "Not including the former warrior class, which is all of them, about half of the civilian population has awakened it, though, that's thanks to the training."
The Domou's training was downright inhumane, and these Uchiha were forced into a stressful situation. It pushed them. It brought them to their breaking point. Physically, emotionally, mentally-they couldn't handle anymore. Then, in the midst of that training, they'd awaken the Sharingan...When you have someone coming at you with a log, it really made a chill go down the spine.
"We needn't use many Uchiha-clones of ourselves should be enough to keep the genjutsu sustained. It'll be a good idea to set a time limit."
Yumi blinked. "Time limit? Wouldn't that be detrimental."
"Not exactly. We can have many factors in our genjutsu because of the time constraint."
"Increase its power through intense focus. I think I see what you are getting at." Kosuke remarked.
"What do you mean?" Shinpachi rumbled.
Everyone blinked, either caught off guard or surprised.
"Why are we talking about using a genjutsu?" Mikito asked, tone dry.
"That is pretty damn stupid." Sanosuke seconded.
She wanted to make an example out of the slave traders. The same way her father made an example out of those perpetuating animal cruelty and killing children. He had hung them. Executed them. Starved them. Beat them. For every act they committed, he put them through it. He skinned them alive. He threw them into boiling water. Others were put in chains and left in the darkness to starve.
Some didn't have the mercy of dying, and suffered.
Some were still suffering to this day.
They left others in the jungle, and let the predators rip them apart.
Nothing would change if a drastic statement wasn't made.
She wasn't going to play the evasive role.
Mikito knew Shinpachi felt the same.
"To avoid war with the outside nations, for the most part." Sakamoto replied.
"Why are they a concern..." Shinpachi crossed his arms over his chest. "I want to make an example out of these slave traders. Using a genjutsu defeats the purpose of that."
"We could start a war with the outside nations. Are you willing to risk that?" Saki asked.
"I don't really give a crap about them." Harada said.
"They won't do anything to stop me." Mikito said, tone growing dark as she caught the eyes of everyone for a few moments.
"Mikito?" Madara looked at her, tone and expression still as stoic as before.
"The world needs to be put on notice."
"Mikito; the Water damiyo, his military, and all of those clans will be on the mainland soon enough. The shinobi villages will continue to be founded. With all of that, are you willing to risk an addition of foreign nations and lands declaring war on us?" Okemi asked.
"Damn right I am."
There was a bout of silence before Yumi broke it.
"To what end?"
Mikito's eyes darkened. "It is only a matter of time before those foreign nations and lands come here to the Elemental Nations to demand us to open our doors. I see no sense in delaying the inevitable."
Keisuke cleared his throat, drawing the attention on him. "It will be war, Mikito."
"The world has been at war for thousands of centuries. Why is there this fear of foreign nations and lands anyways? I don't see why we should be afraid? So what if there's a billion people living on them. The conflicts will not be ending anytime soon-the wars will continue. Kumogakure has been founded, and soon enough, Hashirama's village, Konohagakure, will be founded. But, yet these wars continue."
Ai smiled, lips pressing together. Mikito, so bold.
"You can still make an example out of them." Saki said with a raised eyebrow.
Izuna sighed softly. "She wants the whole world to know and see."
She was like Madara in that aspect. They didn't care what they did or who they pissed off.
"We Domou don't stand for such things, and when we go on the attack, nobody survives. I don't see the need for secrecy." Shinpachi stated.
"They must be cut down, swiftly." Yamanami agreed.
"I understand where you're both coming from, but declaring war on foreign lands and nations wouldn't be the wisest thing to do right now..." Katsumi said.
She knew exactly what the foreign lands and nations were capable of.
She knew the kind of manpower and weapons they had. She knew what strategies they used. Their ships were larger than whales-lined with cannons, every person on board has something of a smaller cannon on their side. They were all also very haughty and arrogant in their status-it was only a matter of time before they come knocking on the Elemental Nations doorstep, Mikito was right about that, but that wouldn't be for another eighty decades, if that.
But, doing this, could accelerate that process.
They needed to consolidate their power, still. Once Hashirama had his way, which he would, clans in the Fire country would come here. The Tachibana and Chibana. Maybe the Mitarashi will finally see reason, or perhaps they'll join Konoha. Either way, patience proved to be an advantage, but Mikito wasn't a patient woman.
"I don't agree with this. How are we going to put an end to this if we don't hit it at the source? It is clearly happening beyond the Elemental Nations, and said place is just a small part of the monopoly. Using a genjutsu is nothing short of cowardice." Shinpachi snapped, his tone breaking no argument.
"Shinpachi, try and mind your tone." Okemi said softly.
Shinpachi grunted, growing angry.
"I don't agree with this. I think we should just kill them all, who cares what happens!" Sanosuke shouted.
"I'll just run the bastards through!" Harada snapped.
Chie snorted. "You're going to run a million people through?"
"I'll run a bazillion through. All I need is my spear, you got that right!"
Chie blinked, exasperated. Harada was out of his chair, about to flip the table over.
"Sit down, Harada." Takeo said calmly, smacking him upside the head with his bo staff, eyes hard.
"You're a fool." Chie watched Harada nurse his wound.
"This is horseshit. I am not going to agree to this." Shinpachi said.
"I second that." Mikito banged her fist on the table. "I third and fourth that!"
Keisuke and Okemi looked at Shinpachi, then at Mikito-they weren't going to let this go.
Yamanami, quiet as he was, sitting with his arms crossed, he too, wasn't going to let it go.
"It is the best strategy. Don't get the wrong idea-we will hit this at its source, that will bring us into conflict with outside nations and lands. But, before that happens-we want to avoid anything unnecessary. We can still make an example out of those slave traders-the whole world just doesn't need to know about it. We may no longer follow the shinobi sect, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't not use subtlety." Madara reasoned.
He could understand where Shinpachi and Mikito were coming from, completely. He had been the same way with Hashirama, the Senju, and every other clan in general. He was not afraid. He didn't hesitate. And, he didn't give a damn who knew what he did or thought of him. If they had pluck, they'd try to take his head. If they didn't, they'd only scheme and whisper thousands of feet away from him.
Maybe that's what Mikito thought would happen with the foreign nations and lands. They'd scheme for the decades to come, and when he is pushing one hundred, or close to it, they'd start their advance on the Elemental Nations. It was only inevitable, as she had said before. Some foreign lands and nations were allowed in the Samurai's domain.
But, the Samurai were always more diplomatic than shinobi.
"I still don't agree with this." Mikito said, tight lipped. "What they are doing is wrong. The whole world needs to know it's wrong, and that I will purge anyone perpetuating such things."
Shinpachi grunted in agreement. "Evil must be slain swiftly."
"And, you can still do that. It is just with these ships we have to be more calculating and precise. Besides, there will be tens of millions, maybe hundreds of millions of slaves on these ships that we seize. We don't need the whole world knowing that we have amassed such numbers. That there are so many people running around, with no idea where they are. We may have to bring the Tea country to ruin and slay the damiyo, as he will certainly get in the way. Or, he'll leave the slavers to their fate and cut his connections with them. The slaves may turn against us, or run away-if they run, they will certainly die. But, they'd choose death over being chained and in the bondage of slavery again. Now isn't the time to make waves. Hashirama is going to found Konoha-Kumo has been founded for more than a few weeks now." Madara continued.
Mikito clenched her teeth, neck going taut. She glared at the table. She was never one to sugarcoat anything or tip toe. She could be subtle, but when she was doing something, she never hid it from anyone. When she was out and about, she didn't suppress her chakra-she flared it. There were times she suppressed or extinguished it, but that was during assassination missions.
When she had to be like the wind.
Facts were facts, though.
Her emotions were getting the better of her, but she really couldn't help it.
"Tch." Mikito hissed, resting her hands on her thighs. "Very well."
"I'll concede." Shinpachi muttered.
Yamanami uncrossed his arms, nodding slightly. "Very well."
Ai took a small breath, fanning herself. Things got really intense there. "So, now that we have the basis covered, we can go into the details...If none of you mind, that is."
"Not at all, I think we should clear this up so we can move onto the next topic of discussion." Saki replied.
"I agree." Misaka chimed.
Saki looked around a little wary-Shinpachi looked ready to explode, and Mikito was barely calming down. They both had strong feelings on the subject, but she wasn't going to say they were too personally invested into this.
They could only move ahead.
"We should probably form the strategy, but the Kurama, Yuhi, and Uchiha should be the ones to execute it." Daishiro said, speaking for the first time.
"There's some within the Nohara that excel in genjutsu. We focus on sound, sight, and hearing. We have tools that help increase the effectiveness of this."
"It sounds like that is geared more towards killing." Ai noted.
Mimori looked a little blank. "Well, yes."
Souji considered it for a second. "Yes, that will be a great help. But, you won't be with them, you'll be with us. Your genjutsu is geared towards killing and wholly disabling your enemies. We're going to need that."
Mimori beamed a smile, chestnut brown eyes, bright. "Very well."
Akari closed her eyes. Coordinating this genjutsu would be the complicated part. They'd be spaced out over a long distance. There was also the execution and application of genjutsu, and the differences therein of, in which her clan, the Yuhi, and the Uchiha used it.
The Uchiha used the Sharingan. It was a mixture of being hypnotized and lead along. If the Uchiha was extremely skilled and talented-they could make the genjutsu look like reality, and could really kill the person. The genjutsu could kill the person. Though, it wasn't in the same way as her own clan, the Kurama. The Uchiha's genjutsu caused severe brain hemorrhaging.
The Yuhi used the surroundings around, between, and over themselves and their foes. It was like an invisible force field being formed, twisted and contorted by their chakra and imagination. It wasn't of such a physical, overwhelming nature like the Uchiha and her own clan's genjutsu. It was almost intangible, like walking through haze or fog, but like in every horror story-eventually one got caught in the web of the giant spider.
The Yuhi would then sink their kunai and shuriken into the throats and necks of their enemies. It was slow and methodical. They didn't hack and slash, they didn't slice, they didn't cleave, they only punctured and stabbed. Chie was notorious for slowly sinking her shuriken into her enemies necks, before slowly removing it, and piercing flesh again.
Her clan surpassed the Uchiha in genjutsu in her opinion. Truly, the Uchiha were peerless in the art of genjutsu, but their genjutsu was geared towards hypnotizing. The Kurama's clan genjutsu was overwhelming, It was a storm. It became reality. The person would wander and wander until they starved-until they draw their last breath, will they be captured in the Kurama's genjutsu.
Some of her kin, like herself, had an extreme aptitude towards genjutsu, and severe chakra levels. Without proper training and control, it could drive a Kurama crazy, who was born with these innate talents. They wouldn't know what is genjutsu or reality-they may see an animal in the genjutsu, but in reality it is their family, and they stab their mother...Or just something crazy.
But, through harsh and rigorous training, the overwhelming power could be honed. But, it required patience.
Once the training was complete, a Kurama had the ability to warp reality around people, entire villages even. Their foes wouldn't know if it was reality or illusion. They could alter between reality and illusion, both and neither, intangible. They drove their foes mad with terror and fear, drove them to death with their illusions, and lead them off of cliffs with their subtle manipulation of the mind.
"Can the Uchiha cast a genjutsu without the Sharingan?" Akari finally broke the silence.
It wasn't an insult by any means. The Uchiha were infamous and famous for their Sharingan. But, they were also known to rely heavily on it, and were extremely arrogant in their abilities stemming from the powerful eye.
"There are genjutsu we execute that don't require the Sharingan." Madara replied.
"We use the Sharingan to execute our genjutsu because more often than not, everyone will look directly into our eyes. It is geared more towards long distance battle and hypnotizing. We do have genjutsu that don't require the Sharingan, but we could still use both to increase the effect." Izuna added.
"Our execution, application, and also how we have trained in genjutsu is different. I won't say polar opposites, but they are distinctly different. We will need to take the lead. Akari. Madara. Izuna. Some clones will also suffice." Chie said, eyes sagely.
"Do you need a Fuinjutsu? My clan have a few from the Uzumaki." Yumi looked between them.
"I'm not too sure. A fuinjutsu could dissipate our genjutsu, have the opposite effect that we want. Besides, they're both different things. We will need that Fuinjutsu for the slaves, though." Misaka said.
"We could divide into smaller units, and space ourselves out. Rather than having several large groups, we can have a lot of small groups. Once the genjutsu is active, we'll be in the clear. I'll make a few clones, as will Izuna. Akari and Chie, you both do the same. Not even the Senju will know what is going on." Madara said, a small smile coming to his lips.
He clenched his fingers.
He wouldn't be able to be with the genjutsu unit. He didn't want to be with them, as he was more suited for battle, but he couldn't do it, even if he wanted to. He needed to be with those seizing the ships so he could keep Mikito under control. Madara had been dealing with her for over a year now-he was married to her, this tornado of emotion and destruction was his wife.
He had to keep Mikito under control. If she seen dead children, and there would certainly be dead children, she'd lose her temper. She might lose her sanity. There'd be men, women, elders, children all dead.
He didn't want to think of a human younger than a child dying, but he knew there'd be much of that on these slave ships.
Everyone knew what happened in the slave trade. But, slaves were a part of the economics in a lot of places. It could be argued it was the backbone of economics in the Elemental Nations. Damiyos, lesser lords, province and providence lords, feudal lords, shop owners, even families had servants. Many just accepted it as a part of life.
But, they didn't see the families being sold and ripped apart-that didn't happen when they were working away in a field, or in a home. They just seen a lowly servant that'd do their manual work. Some people treated slaves right, but the mere fact they had a servant. But, it couldn't be helped. Only doing away with slavery would solve it, and if that meant they had to slew through many, so be it.
Madara was resolved to see it through.
"I can coordinate with Chie and Izuna." Akari said, tight lipped. "I'll make twenty clones. Madara, Izuna, and Chie, do the same."
"Very well." Chie agreed with a small nod.
"Once we get into the Tea country, we'll have to disperse. I can use a summoning jutsu." Saki ventured.
"Good idea, Saki-san." Yumi praised.
"Which ships are we going to be looking for?" Chie asked, eyes turning to Daishiro.
Mikito looked at her rival and former enemy with all intent.
"The ships are larger than whales, but they'll have distinct sails and appearances. I can assure you, you won't mistake them and will know once you catch a simple glance."
Takeo tapped his bo staff on the floor-the tense atmosphere dissipated, vanishing. "Now that we've squared this away. We must talk about the Senju defectors."
"We can't trust them. Hashirama and Tobirama probably sent them here under a guise." Madara said.
Rather than being at this meeting-Ahiko was with those Senju at the moment. They had all come. But, before them, it had been Satoshi. The man had tried to his sword, but in two movements, Ahiko had him dead to rights. The Senju insisted he held no loyalty or ties to the Senju, and that he could no longer follow Hashirama or Tobirama. He couldn't put his faith in them any longer.
So the Senju said.
The Senju that followed spoke a different, but similar story. They were afraid Hashirama was becoming too power hungry. He was trying to amass and consolidate power, and make himself the center of that power. Others were afraid he'd put the village above the clan in importance. Others were afraid that there'd be no place for them in the village because of Hashirama's yielding ways. Others were weary altogether.
There were men, women, children, toddlers, infants. Some of the women were pregnant. The entire civilian population had to be present, and a good portion of the shinobi and kunoichi population was also present. There were no division leaders, or people of that sort of importance. Hashirama and Tobirama had them reined in good. The Domou's didn't have cells exactly. They didn't take any prisoners. And, Mikito wouldn't stand for children to be put in a cell, to begin with.
So, they were all put in the same area, and were told to wait.
It was a far cry from how they'd be treated by the Uchiha. Being mortal enemies. The Senju would be beheaded. Hung. Burned alive. Skinned alive. But, the Domou didn't do such things.
He still didn't trust them-one could never trust a Senju. They were too good with words, playing with hearts and emotions.
"They can't be trusted." Madara repeated, more firm than before.
"Are you so certain?" Takeo asked.
Madara nodded. "They are just talking."
"Senju are good with their mouths. I can't tell you how many times some woman sweet talked her way into an Uchiha camp, just for that wench to be a Senju. They are good with words." Izuna added.
"Perhaps it'd be healthier to view these Senju as breaking away from the other stock." Saki ventured.
"Hardly." Izuna bit out.
Perhaps we should torture them. You can watch with your Sharingan." Kosuke suggested.
"I'm not opposed to that. Even shinobi break when they see a loved one in despair." Mikito said.
Madara grunted.
"Think of the possibility, Madara. The descendants who came after us, and after your children. And the children after them, and after them, and so forth." Takeo advised.
"Fine, but I'll be watching. I'm telling you, they can't be trusted."
"You would know better than any of us. The enmity between Uchiha and Senju is legendary." Yumi said with the utmost bluntness.
"I'll trust your judgment on the matter. Experience shows us all, this could all just be a guise used to attack us from the inside out. The Senju are good with their mouths and can pull on the strings of a person's heart. But, there's no sense in being hasty and making rash decisions, we can really do something here. If the Senju are genuine, and wish to live with all of us, we should let them. If the Senju are with us, in addition to the Yuki, just think about that." Ai sang.
Mikito hummed in agreement.
"I can see the appeal." Izuna admitted begrudgingly.
It's not like he had to get on with Tobirama-that would never happen in a million years. Some of the Senju at the compound he didn't even know, to be honest. They were just minor shinobi, or never stepped foot on the battlefield. They weren't Senju that killed his family-that Senju bloodline was only living through Hashirama and Tobirama for the most part.
Still, the thought of being on...Terms with them, was just sickening...
"I think we should just consider the fact that Uchiha and Senju may just end up mixing together, and that's not including the rest of us. Uchiha have defected, and now Senju have defected. It'd be prudent if we assume there will be other scenarios just like this." Okemi pointed out.
Everyone nodded-can't argue with facts.
"So, the only thing to do is take advantage of this." Izuna conceded.
Daishiro nodded. "We will consolidate our strength. While everyone is playing the waiting gams, we'll be four steps ahead."