Chapter 95: The Chakra Metal Gambit
"Raizen, where should we head first?" Hashirama asked, his eyes scanning the unfamiliar southern landscape.
"We'll start with the Sarutobi clan," Uchiha Raizen replied, his tone analytical. "The chakra metal vein lies within their territory. The power structure here is tiered. The top tier is the Ino-Shika-Cho alliance. The second consists of clans like the Kurama and Inuzuka. The Sarutobi and others are considered lower-tier. The fact that this incredibly valuable vein is located in a 'lower-tier' region is the only reason its ownership is still contested."
"The Sarutobi?" Hashirama mused. "If we can secure an alliance with the Ino-Shika-Cho first, then our five clans—Senju, Uchiha, plus the three—could lead together. With their support, unifying the other clans would be far simpler."
His vision was, as always, one of integration and collective leadership.
"Hashirama," Raizen countered, "your goal is unification. Mine is acquisition. I disagree with a purely diplomatic approach. So, here is the plan: Madara and I will go to the Sarutobi. You go to the Ino-Shika-Cho. We will meet at the vein in three days to compare results."
And so, the trio split into two groups.
Soon, Raizen, Madara, and their two guards stood before the gates of the Sarutobi compound.
"Fatty, announce us," Raizen instructed.
"On it," Uchiha Natsume replied cheerfully. He stepped forward and knocked firmly on the heavy wooden gate.
The gate creaked open, revealing a wary Sarutobi clansman. "Hello? Who are you…?"
"I am Uchiha Natsume. This is Uchiha Raizen, Elder of the Uchiha clan," he said, gesturing to Raizen, then to the imposing figure beside him, "and this is Uchiha Madara, our Patriarch. We are here to speak with Patriarch Sarutobi."
The guard's eyes widened. "Uchiha…! Please, wait here. I will fetch the Patriarch immediately!"
Minutes later, Sarutobi Fujiki, the clan's leader, emerged, his expression a mixture of caution and curiosity. "Sarutobi Fujiki. To what do we owe the honor, Patriarch Uchiha?"
"Patriarch Sarutobi," Madara began, dismissing the formalities with a wave of his hand. "We are here to discuss a matter that troubles you. Our involvement will make that trouble disappear."
"Please, come inside. We can speak in private," Fujiki offered, leading them into a sparsely furnished meeting room.
Once seated, Fujiki got straight to the point. "Patriarch Uchiha, what did you mean by that?"
Madara leaned forward, a confident, almost arrogant smirk on his face. "Hah! The reason is simple. Because I am Uchiha Madara."
Raizen had to suppress an eye-roll. Classic Madara. Never change.
"Patriarch Fujiki," Raizen interjected, taking a more pragmatic tone. "We do not come as the Uchiha alone. The Senju clan stands with us. And I will be blunt: our two clans have formed an alliance. I trust you understand the implications."
Sarutobi Fujiki's face paled. The Uchiha and Senju uniting was an earth-shattering event in the shinobi world. Their feud was legendary, their power unmatched. A union between them was an unstoppable force. This wasn't just a visit; it was a tectonic shift in the balance of power.
"I… I see," Fujiki stammered, collecting himself. "Very well. Our terms are this: we want ten percent of the ore from the vein. We will not interfere with your operations. However, if you require our military assistance for any reason, our share increases to twenty percent."
"One-tenth?! You—!" Madara started, his pride bristling at the demand.
"Agreed," Raizen cut in smoothly, overriding Madara's protest. "We accept your terms. You may watch the proceedings with… detached interest." He then fixed Fujiki with a sharp look. "I assume the Shimura clan, whose land also borders the vein, will demand similar terms? Let me be clear. This percentage is our final offer to both of your clans. You will each receive five percent. If you demand more, our next visit will not be for discussion. It will be with an army."
He knew the geography well. The vein sat on the border between the Sarutobi and Shimura lands. To secure it, they needed to neutralize both, and Raizen preferred to do it with words rather than bloodshed—if the price was right.