"My deepest apologies," the ninja said, bowing his head. "But we've received a report from our agents in the north. Half a day ago, the Shimura clan head, Shimura Keizo, personally led thirty of his clan's ninja westward."
"What!?"
Everyone in the room was stunned.
The Sarutobi-Shimura alliance could easily be called the fourth-greatest power in the Warring States period, second only to the three great clans: Senju, Uchiha, and Hyuga.
Generally, a clan head rarely left their territory except in times of war. For Shimura Keizo, the leader of the Shimura clan, to personally set out westward with dozens of followers... what were they planning?
The Sarutobi and Shimura clans were also located extremely close to the Senju, just to the north. The Senju watched their every move.
***
Within the Uchiha's northwestern Stonecastle.
Two days had passed since Izuna and the others who had wiped out the Hagoromo clan returned to the city.
Only after a series of reconstruction efforts were well underway did Izuna decide to lead a small number of clansmen back to their home territory.
The two hundred reinforcements Madara had dispatched were not only to help Izuna finish off the Hagoromo but also to supplement Stonecastle's depleted forces. They would remain there as a permanent garrison for the northwest.
Uchiha Kong, formerly the top figure in Stonecastle, would not be returning with Izuna due to his severe injuries.
Accompanying Izuna were seven Jonin representatives from the northwest, led by Uchiha Ise, as well as the clan elites he had brought with him a year ago.
Of course, some would never return. As a final compensation, Izuna did his best to have the living bring back their ashes. Even so, the vast majority had not even left ashes behind. On the battlefield, it was kill or be killed. The bodies of most of the fallen were left forever on the plains, food for vultures and hyenas.
The weakest among those returning with Izuna was an elite Chunin. In less than three days, the clan's territory came into view.
The layout of the Uchiha clan compound in the future Konoha, despite being pushed to the village's outskirts due to the prejudice of the Konoha council led by Shimura Danzo, had largely drawn inspiration from the Uchiha of the Warring States period.
At this time, however, the Uchiha compound was centrally located, surrounded by ordinary residents without the Uchiha surname. These people had no ninja abilities and lived as merchants and farmers, serving as the Uchiha's "productive" base. They were not permitted to enter the clan's inner territory.
As they passed through this area and prepared to enter the clan gate, Izuna suddenly raised a hand. "Wait."
The group stopped at his command and looked ahead. To the right of the clan gate stood a new, dark blue boulder, about one and a half meters tall.
A Memorial Stone.
This was what Izuna had ordered Uchiha Zuoxiu to create after he, acting as "Tobi," had killed the Uchiha's Despair Corps.
On the first row of the Memorial Stone, a line of names, each the size of a fingernail, was already carved.
Uchiha Ryu, Uchiha Iwa, Uchiha Kenya, Uchiha...
"Vice-Clan Head, this is..." Uchiha Ise asked in a low voice, standing just behind Izuna's right shoulder.
"A Memorial Stone," Izuna said coolly, striding into the clan territory. "Let's go."
*"A Memorial Stone..."* Uchiha Ise and the others murmured to themselves before quickly following Izuna's footsteps into the compound.
Not long after Izuna's party entered, a group that had been waiting for them approached from a distance.
"Brother," Izuna called out, picking up his pace and waving.
Standing at the very front, dressed in a black robe, was none other than the current clan head, Uchiha Madara.
"Hahaha! Izuna, well done! I told you that rabble in the northwest was no match for you."
Having won a seemingly impossible battle, even Madara couldn't contain his elation and let out a hearty laugh.
The three elders—Uchiha Xingzhi, Uchiha Tianzang, and Uchiha Kai—led the other high-ranking members currently in the territory, who all came forward to offer their congratulations.
"This isn't the place to talk. We'll hold a banquet tonight to properly welcome the Vice-Clan Head. Anyone who doesn't show up will be dealt with according to clan rules."
In the cheerful atmosphere, Madara couldn't help but crack a joke.
After a round of laughter and a few more pleasantries, everyone dispersed and returned to their duties.
Izuna returned to his own courtyard. Though he had been gone for nearly a year, the floorboards were spotless. It seemed the servants had been cleaning it daily.
He sat down on the veranda next to the courtyard and had a servant bring him a cup of tea. Savoring the rare moment of peace, he took in the rockery standing quietly in the upper-right corner of the yard, the fishpond at its base, and the heads of large golden carp that occasionally broke the water's surface.
It was now deep winter, and the cherry blossom trees on the left side of the courtyard were bare.
"Zuoxiu..." Izuna said suddenly after taking a sip of green tea.
"You found me. Your sensory abilities are as sharp as ever, Vice-Clan Head."
A dark figure flickered into existence before Izuna. It was the Uchiha's top reconnaissance ninja and a contemporary of Madara and Izuna, Uchiha Zuoxiu.
"How did it go?" Izuna asked with a faint smile.
Uchiha Zuoxiu's face was full of admiration. "Vice-Clan Head, you are truly prescient. Everything happened exactly as you said it would."
"You should come to the banquet tonight as well. And inform the higher-ups about this matter."
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