Chapter 78: Raizen's Gambit
As the Second Elder finished his indignant retort, a faint, knowing smile touched Uchiha Raizen's lips. A one-man performance was boring; a debate was far more productive.
"The esteemed elders and elites of the clan are all aware," Raizen began, his voice cutting through the murmurs, "that the Kaguya clan suffers from a severe bloodline disease, a direct side effect of their Shikotsumyaku kekkei genkai. There is only one known substance that can suppress this affliction: the Frost-Dew Herb." He paused, letting the information settle. "On my recent journey to the Land of Whirlpools, I confirmed that this herb grows exclusively within their territory. The Kaguya are undoubtedly aware of this source. Therefore, if we propose an alliance, they will agree. We have a justified grievance, and we are offering a mineral vein as a bonus. They will not refuse."
"If that is the case," Uchiha Shimori, the Second Elder, countered, "then we are the ones aiding them by providing a cure! Why should we pay any price at all? As Elder Raizen suggests, we should use this opportunity to reclaim the vein we lost!"
"On the contrary," Raizen replied smoothly. "If we present this as a joint venture—using the deception of our late patriarch as our casus belli, supplementing it with the mine as remuneration, and finally dangling the Frost-Dew Herb as the ultimate prize—the Kaguya will see a complete, logical package. They know the Uzumaki possess the herb, and they likely have some existing, tenuous trade for it, likely brokered or protected by the Senju. By offering them a chance to secure a permanent, independent supply, we ensure their full commitment. We promise to shield them from Senju retaliation, and they, in turn, erase the humiliation suffered by the Uchiha. Do you not think they would fight with utter desperation under such terms?"
A profound silence fell over the hall. Even Uchiha Oki, Raizen's own teacher, looked at his student with a mixture of pride and surprise. The boy he had trained was gone, replaced by a strategist of cold, calculating brilliance.
"An excellent gambit," Uchiha Madara's voice broke the silence, cold and approving. "We let the wolves hunt the sheep, and we wait in the shadows. We do not need to lift a finger. We simply position ourselves near the Kaguya lands. When the three clans are locked in battle, we move in and seize the Uzumaki's territory for ourselves. And we can even plant evidence, framing the Senju for the initial aggression. The Kaguya, desperate for the cure, will fight to the death. Even Hashirama would find such a berserk assault difficult to withstand."
Hearing Madara's swift and ruthless grasp of the plan, Raizen allowed himself a small, internal sigh of relief. The new patriarch's mind was still sharp, his strategic acumen untouched by his grief.
"I will personally handle the negotiations with the Kaguya," Raizen declared. "In addition, we have several masters of the Transformation Technique within the clan who have been training extensively. Patriarch, I will need a few prisoners from the Senju clan for them to study, to perfect their disguises."
The council was adjourned, its course set. Uchiha Raizen immediately embarked on the journey to the volatile and brutal Kaguya clan. His heart was not filled with malice for its own sake, but with a cold pragmatism. He would use any tool, any alliance, no matter how temporary or distasteful, to ensure the safety and supremacy of his family in the war to come.
Meanwhile, within the Senju compound, similar preparations for war were underway. They knew the Uchiha would not let the deaths of their clansmen and the abduction attempt go unanswered. Senju Hashirama had been officially installed as patriarch, though not without challenge. Dissenting voices, citing his youth and idealism, had risen, only to be swiftly and decisively silenced by the overwhelming power of his Sage Mode and Wood Release. He had stabilized the clan with an iron fist, a necessity that sat heavily upon his soul.
But there was no joy in his ascension. The memory of Uchiha Senna's death was a fresh wound, and the knowledge that his childhood dream of peace with Madara was now more distant than ever cast a long, dark shadow over his new title. The path ahead was paved not with the village of his dreams, but with the blood of a conflict he felt powerless to stop.