Uchiha's personal opinion

The Uchiha clan members as a whole generally welcomed this. Even the most die-hard and radical Uchiha, given that the clan leader, Elder Setsuna, also held a positive attitude towards it, would not be so tactless as to say anything out of the blue.

The Uchiha clan has been lonely in Konoha for a long time.

Despite their pride, their excellence, and their formidable strength... despite having many reasons to comfort themselves, the Uchiha clan still harbors a deep longing for comrades.

The Uchiha clan has been maliciously labeled an "evil clan" by outsiders, but the Uchiha themselves do not agree with this label and consider themselves a "clan of love."

Regardless, the Uchiha clan still held high expectations for Uchiha Tokumitsu's visit to the Senju clan headquarters to meet Uzumaki Mito.

This is especially true for the conservative Uchiha clan.

The next day, after careful preparation, carrying meticulously chosen gifts and the blessings and expectations of the Uchiha clan, along with the nine Uzumaki children who had been rescued and brought back from the Land of Whirlpools by the Uchiha Anbu the day before, Uchiha Tokumitsu, escorted by the Uchiha Anbu, embarked on his journey to the Senju clan's territory like a diplomatic envoy on a great mission.

The Senju and Uchiha clans, with their long and distinguished history, are showing signs of moving towards each other again after experiencing hardships and setbacks.

The Hokage Building and other major ninja clans have shown great interest in the unexpected improvement in relations between the Senju and Uchiha clans, especially the sudden exchange visits.

The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, was able to smoothly assume the position of Hokage thanks in no small part to the strong support of Mito Uzumaki, the great-grandmother of the Senju clan.

However, the performance of the Konoha F4 in rescuing their ally, the Land of Whirlpools, truly disheartened Mito Uzumaki, who had devoted himself to the village.

After all, the Uzumaki clan was her mother clan.

Therefore, it's normal for Mito Uzumaki to have feelings of goodwill towards Uchiha Tokumitsu and Hatake Sakumo, who are in charge of combat missions, under the influence of such emotions. It's just that Uchiha Tokumitsu, as a member of the Uchiha clan and the young lord of the faction, attracts more attention for his every move compared to Sakumo, a Jonin from the already weakened Hatake clan.

Perhaps thanks to their glorious achievements in rescuing the Land of Whirlpools, most of the ninjas and villagers they encountered along the way took the initiative to give way to Uchiha Tokumitsu's group and pay their respects.

His expression showed less of the fear he used to have and more of respect.

The Uchiha members of the police force who were on guard along the way were also proud of this, and they stood up straighter than usual.

Meanwhile, the ANBU members, who were clearly sent out to gather information, could only stand on the trees and watch from a distance, blocked by the Uchiha police officers.

The Konoha F4 in the Hokage's office silently watched through the crystal ball as Uchiha Tokumitsu and his group headed towards the Senju clan's territory. In the deathly silent office, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, puffed out smoke; the thick smog mirrored his heavy and uneasy mood.

But so what? As long as Mito Uzumaki lives, she will always be the most transcendent and supreme unique existence in Konoha, and no one will dare to obstruct her every move for any reason.

At the entrance to the Thousand Hands territory, members of the Thousand Hands tribe were already waiting to greet them.

According to the etiquette of the ninja clan, after the two sides exchanged formal greetings, Uchiha Tokumitsu instructed his attendants to present the gifts prepared by the Uchiha clan. He then ordered the Uchiha Anbu ninjas to wait where they were, and led nine Uzumaki children into the Senju clan territory, surrounded by respectful Senju clan members.

Meanwhile, the image on the crystal ball on the office desk in the Hokage Building abruptly stopped.

The Senju clan's territory differed from the Uchiha clan's. The Senju clan's territory was planted with various precious flowers, trees, and shrubs, and unlike the Uchiha clan's territory, which had high walls and gates, making it resemble a village within a village, the Senju clan's territory was more like a natural park full of flowers.

"As expected of the Thousand Hands of the Forest..."

Guided by the Senju clan members, Uchiha Tokumitsu slowly walked towards Mito Uzumaki's residence.

"The Senju clan has always loved being close to nature, so they plant many trees and grasses in their clan's territory and homes, which is also a way of cultivating their character..."

The person in charge of welcoming them was an elderly Senju clan member named Senju Hiroyuki. Although he was dressed in fine clothes, his movements suggested that he had once been a highly skilled ninja senior. However, his steps were uneven, which may have been due to a leg injury that required a prosthetic.

Uchiha Tokumitsu listened attentively to Senju Hiroyuki's explanation.

Although the Senju clan's territory is larger than the Uchiha clan's territory, and its gardens and architectural styles are unique, very few Senju clan members were encountered along the way, and those that were encountered were mostly old and young, which also shows the decline of the Senju clan's strength.

"arrive."

In front of a magnificent mansion, Ashina Uzumaki, acting as a greeter, awaited the arrival of the Uchiha clan.

Upon seeing the nine children from the vortex group among his entourage, Ashina Uzumaki could no longer control himself, and tears streamed down his face.

"Grandpa Chief!" The child rushed over and hugged Ashina Uzumaki, crying bitterly.

Having experienced the pain of losing their home and the suffering of their country, even those who had previously been able to control their grief could no longer help but pour out their inner pain through tears when facing familiar relatives.

Seeing the scene before him, Uchiha Tokumitsu was also upset and had to lower his head to avoid revealing his slightly reddened eyes.

"Tokumitsu-kun, thank you for your assistance." Uzumaki Ashina once again bowed sincerely to Uchiha Tokumitsu in gratitude.

Uchiha Tokumitsu stepped aside, saying, "Chief Ashina, there's no need for such formalities..."

"Lord Mito is waiting. Please follow me." Wiping away the tears in his eyes, Uzumaki Ashina bowed to Uchiha Tokumitsu with his hands clasped, and guided Uchiha Tokumitsu into the Mito residence.

As the residence of Mito Uzumaki, the mansion was naturally a beautiful sight at every turn, with flowers in full bloom. However, Tokumitsu Uchiha also saw a desolation similar to that of the Senju clan's territory outside, as well as the bleakness and ruin behind it.

In other words, it's "unpopular".

"Lord Deguang, please come inside."

Standing in front of a large hall, Ashina Uzumaki bowed to welcome him in.

Inside the hall, Mito Uzumaki sat in the center, smiling as she welcomed Tokumitsu Uchiha. Tsunade sat to Mito's left, accompanying her, along with a red-haired little girl, Kushina Uzumaki.

On either side of the wall, there were a dozen or so elderly people sitting on either side. Among them were several red-haired people who looked somewhat familiar to Uchiha Tokumitsu; they were Uzumaki clan members rescued from the Land of Whirlpools.

On the second futon to the right of Mito Uzumaki was a person that Tokumitsu Uchiha had never expected.

Sakumo Hatake, with a white bandage wrapped around his left shoulder, also smiled and greeted Tokumitsu Uchiha.

"Lord Mito, this junior, Uchiha Tokumitsu, has come to pay his respects."

Uchiha Tokumitsu stood outside the hall and bowed to Uzumaki Mito inside.

“Tokumitsu-kun, please don’t stand on ceremony. Please take a seat.” Mito Uzumaki said with a smile, pointing to the first futon on the right.

Uchiha Tokumitsu bowed again, took off his shoes, and went inside to sit down.

"Tsunade-hime".

After taking his seat, Uchiha Tokumitsu bowed to Uzumaki Mito, who was seated above him, and then gave a slight bow to Tsunade on his left.

As the granddaughter of Hashirama Senju, Tsunade was of noble birth and held a higher status than the young master of the Uchiha clan, Tokumitsu. Since she was visiting today as a member of a ninja clan, she naturally could not be neglected in terms of etiquette.

"May De Guang be well."

Tsunade responded politely.

"Sakumo-kun, it's been a long time."

Uchiha Tokumitsu extended his hand to Hatake Sakumo beside him, his face beaming with a bright smile.

"It hasn't been long, just one day since we last met."

Hatake Sakumo was also grinning from ear to ear, and shook hands firmly with Uchiha Tokumitsu.

Friendships forged in blood and fire are exceptionally pure.

"A day apart feels like three autumns; it has been a long time since I have witnessed the majestic white teeth of Sakumo-kun."

Then, with a serious expression, Uchiha Tokumitsu straightened his clothes slightly and bowed to Uzumaki Mito.

"Lord Mito, on behalf of Lord Uchiha Yomo, the head of the Uchiha clan, and on behalf of Elder Setsuna, the leader of the Tiger Clan, and the Uchiha clan members, I extend my greetings to you."

"The Uchiha are very kind."

Mito Uzumaki didn't put on airs and nodded slightly in response, "Time flies. That little brat Yomo is now the head of a clan. How is he doing... And Uchiha Setsuna, how is he?"

"Since the Four Directions Clan Chief ascended the throne, he has implemented many benevolent policies, benefiting both the upper and lower classes, and has always been deeply loved by the clan members; Elder Setsuna is a bit old, but his health is still quite good, thank you for your concern, Lord Mito."

"More than thirty years have passed." Mito Uzumaki sighed. "Hashirama and Madara... founded Konoha back then. Although their differing ideologies led to things that no one wanted to see, the past is the past..."

Uchiha Tokumitsu bowed again.

"Since the untimely death of Mirror-kun, this is the first time I have met another hero of the Uchiha clan. Tokumitsu-kun, you are very good."

Faced with Mito Uzumaki's praise, Tokumitsu Uchiha continued to bow and express his gratitude.

"The past is the past. The ninja clan must look forward to avoid being swept away by the tides of the ninja world." Mito Uzumaki sighed softly. "The Land of Whirlpools is a painful example..."

“But the power of the ninja clan is always limited, which is why villages exist… What do you think, Tokumitsu-kun?” Uzumaki Mito looked at Uchiha Tokumitsu.

"Konoha was born in pursuit of peace, and also to provide a safe haven for future generations to grow up in, free from the bloodshed of the Warring States period," Uchiha Tokumitsu replied solemnly. "This is also the long-cherished wish of Lord Hashirama and Lord Madara..."

Although Uchiha Tokumitsu mentioned Uchiha Madara, who was labeled a rogue ninja by the village, Uzumaki Mito didn't take it to heart. As an older generation ninja who had lived through the Warring States period, she naturally knew about the differences in the paths and ideologies between Senju Hashirama and Uchiha Madara.

“But Tokumitsu-kun, you don’t seem to be that old either,” Mito Uzumaki said with a smile.

“As the young lord of the Uchiha clan, I should naturally bear the responsibility of being the heir.” Uchiha Tokumitsu raised his head and said in a loud voice, “I have received the careful cultivation of Elder Setsuna and the clan elites since I was a child. In return, it is only natural for me to lead the clan to fight for Konoha and the clan.”

"It seems the Uchiha clan has indeed produced a remarkable hero," Mito Uzumaki said with a smile to the elders seated on either side. "What do you elders think?"

The elders all nodded in approval.

The elders, who were from the Uzumaki clan, politely bowed to Uchiha Tokumitsu, and Uchiha Tokumitsu returned the bow one by one.

"Tsunade, as the eldest daughter of the direct line, you should also maintain contact with the Uchiha clan in the future," Mito Uzumaki instructed Tsunade.

"Although Tsunade is usually impulsive, she is extremely skilled in medical ninjutsu. As a ninja, it's inevitable to have some bumps and bruises. It would be great to have Tsunade take a look."

These words were spoken to Uchiha Tokumitsu and Hatake Sakumo.

"Tsunade's medical ninjutsu is truly miraculous," Hatake Sakumo echoed respectfully.

His left shoulder was injured by the dying blow of the Hidden Mist Master in the Land of Whirlpools. After returning to Konoha, the entire Konoha hospital was unable to cure him. However, this injury, which was extremely troublesome in the eyes of ordinary medical ninjas, was easily resolved by Tsunade.

The fundamental purpose of Uchiha Tokumitsu's visit to Uzumaki Mito was to break the long-standing ice between the two clans. Although their conversation consisted mainly of mundane family matters, it was precisely these seemingly ordinary words, witnessed by the Senju and Uzumaki elders, that signified the breaking down of the barriers between the Senju and Uchiha clans, two powerful ninja families with a history of love and hate, and the beginning of a normalization of their relationship.

This is a very valuable step forward.

"But in any case, we really have to thank Sakumo-kun and Tokumitsu-kun for the battle in the Land of Whirlpools."

Mito Uzumaki once again bowed solemnly to Tokumitsu Uchiha and Sakumo Hatake.

Uchiha Tokumitsu and Hatake Sakumo quickly jumped up from the prayer mat, avoiding the elders' bows, and repeatedly said that they dared not accept the greetings.

The elders on both sides bowed to Uchiha Tokumitsu and Hatake Sakumo in gratitude, and the two quickly returned the bows.

After chatting for a long time, Mito Uzumaki, being quite old, began to show signs of fatigue, and Tokumitsu Uchiha and Sakumo Hatake took their leave.

Accompanied by Tsunade, Uchiha Tokumitsu and his group left Mito Uzumaki's residence.

As they parted, the content of today's meeting and the subtle, refreshing fragrance emanating from Tsunade's hair filled Uchiha Tokumitsu with a sense of tranquility.

Today is a beautiful day.

Chapter 68 The Wind Rises! The Survival Rules of the Ninja Clan

The news of Uchiha Tokumitsu's visit to the Senju clan to meet with Uzumaki Mito has stirred up a frenzied undercurrent of turmoil within Konoha.

Although the high-ranking ninjas and various clans in the village are extremely concerned about the future relationship between the Uchiha and Senju clans, on the surface they still act as if they know nothing.

Suddenly, the ninja clans found themselves visiting each other's relatives and friends much more frequently.

Uchiha Tokumitsu continued to rigorously intensify his daily training according to his plan. The secret Fire Release techniques treasured by the Uchiha clan were completely open to Uchiha Tokumitsu for him to read and study; moreover, the Uzumaki clan sent personnel to be stationed in the Uchiha clan territory, to transfer the secrets of the Uzumaki Sealing Technique while simultaneously explaining and teaching the techniques to the carefully selected Uchiha clan members who had received training in sealing techniques.