SWNOVELXO Chapter 67: Compensation
The Senju Clan still didn't know exactly what the Uchiha Clan was planning, but one thing was certain: it wouldn't be beneficial for them.
When comparing the strengths of the two clans, the Senju Clan technically held the upper hand. However, forcing a breakthrough would come at a tremendous cost, one the Senju were unwilling to bear—especially not for the sake of the Hyuga Clan.
"That damned Hyuga Clan! Are they seeking death?" Senju Romma gritted his teeth. If it weren't for the sudden assault by the Kaguya Clan, the Senju could have easily mustered an overwhelming force to break through the Uchiha's defenses. But alas, there were no "ifs" in this world.
With the Kaguya Clan launching a surprise attack, the Senju couldn't afford to divert more forces to fight the Uchiha. The Kaguya Clan, in their own way, was even more dangerous than the Hyuga Clan. Once they started fighting, they turned into an unstoppable frenzy, impossible to reason with.
"What could the Uchiha have offered the Kaguya to make those lunatics attack us at this time?" Senju Unma wondered aloud.
"Who knows? But whatever it was, we'll make those lunatics pay for it later. For now, what do we do?"
"What else can we do? We hold our ground. We can't afford to lose more of our elite jōnin just to carve out a path. Once the clan leader repels the Kaguya, we can deal with this later. The Hyuga are an old and established clan; they'll survive for now."
The two Senju leaders concluded their discussion.
---
On another battlefield, the Hyuga Clan had just repelled yet another wave of Uchiha attacks, but at the cost of three elite jōnin and one peak-level jōnin.
In the main tent of the Hyuga, Hyuga Tennin sat with a pained expression. Each loss of an elite jōnin was like a dagger to his heart.
"Clan leader, this can't go on. Our food supplies are almost gone. Even peak-level jōnin need to eat, or they'll have no strength to fight after a few days."
An elder, coughing heavily, spoke up. Blood stained his hand as he covered his mouth. This was Hyuga Shinso, the grand elder and another shadow-level powerhouse of the clan. Wounded by Uchiha Tajima earlier, his injuries had worsened after continuous battles. Now he was barely holding on.
Hyuga Tennin sighed deeply, rubbing his temples in frustration. Direct confrontation didn't scare him; with the Hyuga's strength and favorable terrain, he was confident they could hold off the Uchiha. But being cut off from supplies was like a fishbone stuck in his throat—an issue they couldn't resolve.
"What about the Senju reinforcements? Didn't they send Senju Unma to the battlefield? Are you telling me Uchiha Tou can hold him off singlehandedly?" Tennin asked angrily.
Two jōnin exchanged glances. One of them cautiously replied, "Clan leader, there hasn't been any news yet." Just as he finished speaking, an eagle's cry rang out. A hawk descended from the skies, landing gracefully. Tied to its leg was a scroll.
"It's here!" The jōnin quickly retrieved the scroll and handed it to Tennin, who immediately opened it and read every word carefully. As he read, his expression darkened, and his anger became palpable.
"What's the matter, clan leader?" Hyuga Shinso asked between coughs, noticing Tennin's grim expression.
Without saying a word, Tennin handed the scroll to Shinso, who read it in silence. His expression turned equally grim.
"This... Uchiha has gone mad!" Shinso coughed violently, struggling to form his words.
Tennin forced himself to calm down. Now, more than ever, he needed to remain composed. As the clan leader, it was his responsibility to guide his people through this crisis.
"The Uchiha have abandoned their defenses on the northern and southern fronts and redirected all their forces to the main battlefield. What are they planning? Do they truly intend to perish together with the Hyuga?" Tennin questioned, deep in thought.
No—impossible. Unless Uchiha Tajima had gone insane and wanted to give the Senju an easy victory, this strategy made no sense. The Hyuga could muster enough strength in a last-ditch counterattack to severely cripple the Uchiha.
"If that's not their goal, then what is?" Tennin pondered, eyes scanning the map on the table. Slowly, the pieces began to fit together in his mind.
"Could it be...?" Tennin muttered, a revelation dawning on him. He closed his eyes, letting out a long breath before opening them to meet Shinso's gaze.
"I think I understand now, but understanding won't help without strength. We're going to have to bleed heavily for this. The Uchiha's appetite this time is enormous. And to think we foolishly believed this was about revenge. How naive."
"What have you figured out, clan leader?" Shinso asked urgently.
"Don't ask. Wait for my decision tonight. Whether we fight to the death or endure humiliation depends on this."
---
Late at night, in the Uchiha camp, at the central tent, Uchiha Tajima sat cross-legged, reviewing reports from their battles with the Senju.
Suddenly, a gust of wind lifted the tent's entrance. Tajima didn't look up but instead shifted his gaze to the left. Sitting silently at a table was a middle-aged man in white robes, his demeanor calm yet commanding. He bore a striking resemblance to Tajima, save for his pure white eyes—completely devoid of color.
"Hyuga Tennin, you have the audacity to walk into my camp so brazenly? You've got guts!" Tajima's voice was cold, his killing intent evident.
Tennin remained unfazed. "What's there to fear? You've been waiting for me. Otherwise, you would've struck the moment I entered."
"Oh?" Tajima's interest was piqued. "Interesting. Speak then; I'm curious to hear what you have to say."
Tennin's expression remained calm as he stated, "From today, the Hyuga will no longer be a subordinate clan of the Senju. We will remain uninvolved in wars for ten years. In return, we will pay the Uchiha a tribute: ten million ryo, three S-rank jutsu, 100,000 kunai, one million explosive tags, and one million pounds of copper ore. What do you think?"
Tajima sneered. "Do you think you can dismiss me with such a paltry offer?"
...
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