Chapter 54: The Truth Revealed
The force of Hyūga Tōgen's punch resonated deep in Uchiha Raizen's bones, making his hands tremble involuntarily.
Is this the true power of a Kage-level fighter? No, this surpasses it. The current Hyūga Tōgen likely possessed strength rivaling the future Madara and Hashirama. Even a full-powered Susano'o or a Wood Golem might struggle to completely withstand the patriarch's full-force blow. This was just the Gentle Fist's Mountain-Shattering Fist. If he had used the legendary Eight Trigrams Palms Revolving Heaven, Uchiha Raizen would already be a corpse.
"You truly live up to your title as the strongest of the Hyūga," Uchiha Raizen forced out, steadying his body and his voice. "That punch was... formidable." A primal part of him trembled with fear before such raw power.
"Elder Raizen," Hyūga Tōgen began again, his stance defensive. "Your chakra is immense, but you are young. You are not my match here. Can we not speak?"
Uchiha Raizen's face tightened with conflict.
"Elder Raizen, fall back! We will hold them off!" one of the ANBU guards declared, stepping in front of him, his three-tomoe Sharingan already active. Uchiha Raizen glanced around; all ten guards had activated their Kekkei Genkai, ready to die for him. He found it strange that none of them were dropping Sharingan fragments now, but this wasn't the time to ponder system mechanics.
"Retreat," Uchiha Raizen ordered.
"Elder!"
"I said, RETREAT!" Uchiha Raizen roared, his voice cracking with authority. "Do you dare disobey a direct order from your elder?!"
Cowed, the ANBU guards immediately fell back into a protective formation behind him.
"Let's talk, Patriarch Hyūga," Uchiha Raizen said, lowering himself to sit cross-legged on the scorched earth. It was a gesture of temporary truce.
Seeing this, Hyūga Tōgen relaxed minutely. A direct confrontation with Uchiha Tajima on his own clan's soil was the last thing he wanted.
"Aren't you curious?" Hyūga Tōgen began. "Why would we attack your compound? You know our clans are not allies, but we are not fools. Such a move is suicidal."
"I care about results, not excuses," Uchiha Raizen retorted coldly. "The result is that our people are dead, killed by you. And now you claim innocence? Put yourself in our position. If this happened on your land, would you stop to listen to our reasons?"
"What we did was wrong," Hyūga Tōgen conceded, "but the instigator was the Senju. Their elder, Senju Mizushin, approached us with a plan for a joint attack. We committed our forces, but the Senju never showed. This time, when we learned your main force was away, we contacted the Senju again. Senju Butsuma, upon hearing this, will not pass up such an opportunity. Your clan lands... could it be that..."
Uchiha Raizen's blood ran cold. What?
Without another word, he shot to his feet. The ANBU guards, understanding the grave implication, needed no further instruction. They turned as one and fled the battlefield with Uchiha Raizen, abandoning the assault on the Hyūga.
"Patriarch, was that wise? It was a perfect opportunity, why didn't we...?" a Hyūga elder questioned as the Uchiha disappeared.
"Hmph! The Senju used us as pawns last time, and they seek to do so again," Hyūga Tōgen snapped. "And if Uchiha Tajima returns to find his home destroyed by the Senju, what mercy do you think he will show us? I might survive his wrath, but what of the rest of you?"
The elder fell silent.
"Our losses are heavy. We will close our borders. And... cede the mine adjacent to the Uchiha lands to them as reparations," Hyūga Tōgen declared wearily before turning and walking away, the weight of the day heavy on his shoulders.
Meanwhile, Uchiha Raizen raced back to the main Uchiha camp, a single, terrifying thought driving him forward. The Senju were attacking their home.