Torifū thought, 'Even if the Tsuchigumo clan members had run further, they could have been sucked back and completely annihilated.'
The Cloud Dissipation and Illusion's Demise Jutsu was an incredibly wide-ranging lethal ninjutsu. Once sucked into the cloud orb, it was almost certain death, unless Torifū released them. However, ninja of Kage-level strength, like Torifū himself, could potentially offset the cloud orb's suction with their physical prowess or personal techniques. For strong individuals, it wasn't an unsolvable jutsu, but it was certainly convenient for clearing out miscellaneous troops.
According to the Cloud Release scroll, this ninjutsu was likely created by Torifū's great-great-grandfather. It was also thanks to this jutsu that the Cloud Clan's reputation became widespread, making no one dare to easily provoke them. Otherwise, with such a powerful ninjutsu, who wouldn't covet it?
Although the Tsuchigumo clan possessed a highly destructive forbidden jutsu, its weakness was also very obvious: it required charging. Without its charge, Arashi was no different from a Jōnin. Furthermore, there was a large group of clansmen who couldn't learn the forbidden jutsu, and these would become vulnerabilities for the clan head, causing him to be distracted in battle. Conversely, Cloud Release was a ninjutsu; as long as there was chakra, it could be used. Moreover, the Cloud Clan had a single lineage, with at most five family members, making them difficult to hold hostage.
In short, this outing yielded some gains, but not much. In Torifū's opinion, gaining a ninja clan with a forbidden jutsu wasn't as valuable as cultivating his own Sage Mode. Moreover, he wasn't sure if Tobirama would agree to let the Tsuchigumo clan join Konoha. The main reason for agreeing to the Oyashirō clan was that they were very weak and easy to control. There was almost no chance of them rebelling, and by the time their clan recovered its strength, the new generation of ninja would have already integrated into the village. However, the Tsuchigumo clan had a figure like Clan Head Arashi; once his natural energy was fully charged, he could unleash the forbidden jutsu, which could truly cause world-shattering destruction. The recent battle had flattened such a large lake and several miles of land on the shore in an instant! This was why he hadn't given Arashi a guarantee.
If Tobirama truly didn't agree, then he would approach the Tsuchigumo clan as the leader of the Lotus Organization. He couldn't guarantee anything else, but he could certainly help them find a peaceful, secluded place to settle within the Land of Fire.
Aokumo and Ryūfū's speed was swift; it only took them about an hour to return to Konoha Village. He had planned to train all day, but now he was back by noon. He wasn't in the mood to eat, so he simply had Aokumo land directly in front of the Hokage's Office. After Torifū dismounted, Aokumo and Ryūfū flew off, ignoring him, and Torifū walked straight inside. He arrived at the office door, knocked, and pushed it open.
"Torifū, my boy, why are you here?"
Only Tobirama was inside; Kagami was nowhere to be seen. Torifū recounted the morning's events to Tobirama, making minor adjustments but keeping the overall plot unchanged. He simply changed his reason for going out from "practicing Sage Mode" to "going for a leisurely trip," which was harmless. After all, Tobirama understood Sage Mode; to learn it, one had to go to a Sage Region for training. If Torifū were to say he was practicing Sage Mode, things would become complicated, so he simply didn't mention it.
Upon hearing Torifū's account, Tobirama frowned. It wasn't because the matter was difficult, but rather because he found Torifū's luck a bit too coincidental. How is it that every time he goes out, he encounters a clan in crisis? And from Torifū's words, this clan was actually heading towards Konoha anyway, and he just happened to stumble upon them and get into a fight.
"What do you think? Do you think this clan is suitable for joining Konoha?"
Tobirama already had an answer in his mind the moment Torifū finished speaking, but he still wanted to hear Torifū's opinion.
"I fought their clan head, and I feel his character is quite acceptable. However, his clan's forbidden jutsu makes him an unstable factor, and I can't guarantee anything about that."
Tobirama nodded; Torifū's assessment was quite fair.
"I think we can accept them," Tobirama said calmly. "They originally came seeking Konoha's help. If we agree, they will naturally be grateful. As long as we don't treat them too harshly or discriminate against them, they shouldn't develop resentment towards the village."
Torifū found Tobirama's reasoning quite sound. Tobirama then continued, "What truly attracts me is their clan's forbidden jutsu. In the entire ninja world, there are so many secret techniques and Kekkei Tōta, but jutsus that can control natural power are incredibly rare." He added, "It's rare to encounter one, and they're actively seeking help, so naturally, we can't refuse."
Tobirama was not wrong. Throughout the ninja world, various ninjutsu were abundant, but those that could utilize natural power, besides Sage Mode, were only found in Jūgo's clan and the Tsuchigumo clan. That being said, once the Tsuchigumo clan joined Konoha, certain rules would still need to be established. Not being allowed to use their forbidden jutsu within dozens of miles of Konoha Village would certainly be one of them. The rest could be slowly refined later.
"Then where should the Tsuchigumo clan be settled?"
Tobirama replied without hesitation: "They'll be settled near the Senju clan. Unlike the Oyashirō clan, I can only feel at ease with this clan near the Senju, and it will be convenient for my clansmen to look after them."
Since the settlement location had been chosen, there was nothing left to do. Torifū had expected it to take an entire afternoon for review and discussion, but it was decided in less than an hour. This demonstrated Tobirama's decisiveness; he wasn't indecisive or hesitant. If Konoha Village lacked the courage to allow a clan to join, then there would be no talk of future development. They would simply spend their days guarding against potential clan rebellions. It was better to have more confidence in the village.
"To think, back then, Brother went through such immense effort to persuade various clans to join Konoha Village, and you, after just two outings, have brought back two clans. I really don't know what to say about you."
Torifū scratched his head and smiled: "I can't help it, I guess I just have a knack for acquiring clans."
Hearing this, Tobirama laughed heartily: "Hahaha, today won't be enough time. You should go pick them up tomorrow morning."
"Alright, Hokage-sama, I'll head back now."
"Go on, go on."
Watching Torifū walk away, Tobirama smiled: "That child has really grown up." He remembered the first time they met, Torifū was just a six-year-old child, barely taller than his knees. Now, he was almost up to his chest; time truly flew by. After a few sighs, he returned to work. Since becoming Hokage, his workload had doubled. Previously, Hashirama and he would each do half the work, but now Hashirama had completely retired, enjoying the happy life of raising his granddaughter. All the work now fell to him alone, which was somewhat troublesome.