He moved relentlessly, showing no signs of fatigue.
This annihilation campaign was all about speed. It had to be fast, fast enough!
Fortunately, the battle went smoothly.
Hagoromo Masanari had already sent the vast majority of his clan's top-tier fighters to the front lines.
And a significant number of their Jonin had been tricked and killed by Izuna, in his guise as "Tobi," during the ambush on the Sarutobi and Shimura.
In less than ten days, Izuna completely wiped out the Hagoromo, one of the powerful clans of the Warring States period.
The only ones left were the civilians and members of other clans who performed menial tasks within the Hagoromo lands.
Izuna decided to bring these people back to Stonecastle to provide more manpower for the Uchiha's most important northwestern city, which now lay in ruins.
Clan annihilation.
It was undoubtedly the most direct, and also the riskiest, way to acquire resources in the Warring States period.
Amidst the ravaged Hagoromo lands, Izuna ordered his men to plunder everything. What could be taken was taken. What couldn't be taken was not to be left behind, but burned.
Food, money, utensils, weapons, and, of course, the most important jutsu scrolls.
In addition, any of Izuna's clansmen with free hands didn't even spare some of the decorations and daily necessities.
What moved these men even more was that after the plundering, Izuna issued a second order.
Rewards for meritorious service.
Based on the number of enemies killed, they could choose whatever they liked from the spoils of war.
This was less a reward for merit and more an extravagant bonus.
The men were overjoyed, and as they collected their rewards, they were filled with gratitude for Izuna.
***
In the Warring States period, the speed of information dissemination was extremely slow compared to later generations.
It took nearly a month for the news of the end of the battle at the Uchiha's Stonecastle, the negotiations with the four northwestern clans, Madara sending reinforcements, and Izuna's complete annihilation of the Hagoromo clan to gradually spread throughout the land.
Of course, the major, well-established clans were able to obtain this intelligence much faster.
The various ninja clans were utterly shocked to learn that Uchiha Izuna had led a force of no more than five hundred to defeat a five-clan alliance totaling over two thousand.
Among them, the Nara, Yamanaka, and Akimichi clans of the Ino-Shika-Cho trio breathed a collective sigh of relief.
Thank goodness they had rejected Hagoromo Masanari's invitation. Otherwise, they might have suffered the same fate as the Hagoromo.
Of course, if the Ino-Shika-Cho had joined, it was impossible to say how things would have turned out.
As their sworn enemies, the Senju were among the first to learn of this news.
Upon receiving the information, they immediately convened a clan meeting to discuss the matter.
"Uchiha Izuna has truly created a miracle. Have you investigated how he did it?" asked Senju Yuma, who sat in the main seat.
Although he still held the position of clan head, the title of "Strongest Senju" no longer belonged to him—not since a year ago, when Senju Hashirama had single-handedly taken down more than half of the clan's Jonin with a single Wood Release: Deep Forest Emergence.
Senju Tobirama, who was in charge of this area, replied, "According to my subordinates' investigation, it seems that after the five clans captured the Uchiha's Stonecastle, they began to fight among themselves. Uchiha Izuna seized the opportunity while they were both severely weakened."
"Was it a dispute over dividing the spoils?" Senju Yuma stroked his chin. Such things were not uncommon in the Warring States period.
They were one family during the fight, but after victory, this family began to turn on each other for the rewards.
It was reminiscent of children fighting over an inheritance after their parents' death.
"So you're saying Uchiha Izuna just got lucky? Tsk, what a lucky brat!" Senju Yuma said with displeasure.
Senju Tobirama raised an eyebrow. At first glance, it did seem like Uchiha Izuna had gotten lucky, catching the enemy at a moment of internal strife and striking a fatal blow.
But was the timing of it all really such a coincidence?
At that moment, one of the highest-ranking members of the Senju clan, the near-Kage level powerhouse Senju Buken, spoke up. "Now that the Uchiha have absorbed the power of the Hagoromo, their comprehensive strength is likely no less than our Senju. What should we do?"
The atmosphere instantly became tense.
If a year ago there was still a certain gap between the comprehensive strength of the Senju and the Uchiha, then by absorbing the Hagoromo, the Uchiha had closed that gap in one fell swoop. One could even say they were now on equal footing.
This was not something the Senju wanted to see.
But everyone tacitly avoided the idea of attacking the Uchiha during the armistice, all out of reverence for Senju Hashirama, who sat in the Vice-Clan Head's seat.
The image of Senju Hashirama unleashing his Wood Release last year, humbling dozens of Senju Jonin, was still seared into their minds.
This sort of planning was Senju Tobirama's forte. He rubbed the bridge of his nose, and after a moment's thought, he rose and said, "What we need to do now is strengthen ourselves."
"Lord Tobirama, what's the specific plan?" someone below immediately asked.
"Isn't it about time for my brother to start a family?"
The moment Senju Tobirama said this, he drew a puzzled look from Senju Hashirama.
*What does getting stronger have to do with my love life?*
Ignoring the blockhead Senju Hashirama, Senju Yuma, Senju Buken, and the others understood at once.
"Tobirama, you mean... an alliance with the Uzumaki?"
The Uzumaki clan's history was as long as that of the Senju and Uchiha. They were masters of sealing jutsu and resided in the Land of Whirlpools, an island nation to the southeast, separated from the ninja continent by a sea.
But the Uzumaki clan was unique. Living on an island, they disliked war.
Geographically, the Senju served as a barrier, shielding the Land of Whirlpools. Whether it was the Uchiha, Hyuga, Sarutobi, or Shimura, any clan that wanted to make a move on the Uzumaki had to get through the Senju first.
Therefore, to avoid being drawn into conflict, the Uzumaki clan had begun cooperating with the Senju long ago.
From the rear, the Uzumaki provided the Senju with provisions, food, and weapons for their war efforts. The two clans even exchanged jutsu for mutual study.
But one should not mistake the Uzumaki's aversion to war for weakness. Their formidable sealing jutsu and their naturally vast chakra reserves were on par with the Senju's. If one were to rank the clans, they would easily be among the top tier.
Senju Tobirama stood tall and declared, "We will arrange a marriage between my brother and someone from the Uzumaki, and we will request their direct participation in the war. If we succeed, the Senju's strength will skyrocket, surpassing the Uchiha."
Senju Hashirama scratched his cheek. To him, a political marriage wasn't anything strange. Unable to think of a reason to object, he had no intention of doing so.
"The Uzumaki clan hasn't participated in a war for nearly a hundred years. Getting them to join the fray won't be so simple," Senju Buken said with some concern.
The Uzumaki and Senju were distantly related from their ancestral days and had maintained friendly relations for many years, but living on their island, they had always rejected war.
"The situation in the Warring States is growing more chaotic by the day. If we make the proposal, they will agree sooner or later," Senju Tobirama said confidently. "It might take some time, but I'm sure I can convince them."
Just as he finished speaking, a reconnaissance ninja under his command appeared in the meeting room with a Body Flicker Technique, kneeling on one knee. "My lords."
Senju Tobirama's brow twitched. "What is it? We're in the middle of a meeting."
-----
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