After Madara, the head elder and the others took turns giving speeches. Their eloquence far surpassed Madara's, and their words drew constant laughter from Uchiha Ise and the others who had returned from Stonecastle.
After three rounds of drinks, Uchiha Ise suddenly spoke up. "On the northwestern battlefield, due to the urgency of the situation, we never had time to investigate this matter..."
At this, Uchiha Ise stood and faced Uchiha Takahiko, the quartermaster responsible for supply transport. "When our food supplies in the northwest were running low, the clan head dispatched a shipment to us. According to the Vice-Clan Head, it was attacked by the Shimura clan, and all the provisions were destroyed. Was Lord Takahiko aware of this?"
Uchiha Takahiko was startled. All eyes in the banquet hall turned to him. The head elder, Uchiha Xingzhi, frowned. "Oh? Did such a thing happen?"
A supply convoy ambushed by the Shimura? How could he, the head elder, have not known about something so significant?
Uchiha Takahiko was momentarily speechless. He truly didn't know anything about it. The convoy was ambushed?
Seeing the atmosphere grow heavy, Izuna smiled faintly and raised a hand. "Let it go, everyone. This operation was conducted in secret. It's only natural that Minister Takahiko was not aware."
Instantly, all eyes shifted from Uchiha Takahiko to Izuna.
"Izu... No, Vice-Clan Head, what exactly is going on?" asked Uchiha Shin, a peak Jonin and a former supporter of Uchiha Gakugyo.
"This matter was key to defeating the Five-Clan Alliance. The details are not important now. What matters is the Uchiha's next move."
Halfway through, Izuna gave Uchiha Zuoxiu a meaningful look.
Understanding the cue, Uchiha Zuoxiu immediately stood up. "According to the investigation by our Shadow Investigation Department, yesterday, the Shimura clan head, Shimura Keizo, led thirty Shimura ninja toward the western region."
The elder faction, led by the three elders to Madara's right, exchanged glances. A look of helplessness passed between them.
*He won't even explain such a major event clearly. Is he trying to suppress us old-timers?*
In the elders' eyes, Izuna's refusal to explain the full story and his abrupt shift of topic by bringing in Uchiha Zuoxiu was a clear sign of exclusion.
But this time, they were overthinking it. While Madara and Izuna did intend for a new generation to replace the old, it wasn't being demonstrated in this particular matter. The truth was, even Madara only knew half the story, and people like Uchiha Zuoxiu knew even less, merely following Izuna's orders.
But if that's what the elders wanted to think, so be it. It was bound to happen sooner or later anyway.
Uchiha Zuoxiu continued, "Following the Vice-Clan Head's orders, our Shadow Investigation Department has been tracking the Shimura clan's movements. We can now confirm that their target is the four northwestern clans—the Fuma, Watanabe, Saito, and Kikawa—the very clans that just lost to us on the battlefield and signed an armistice."
"What?"
Everyone at the banquet frowned, completely baffled by Shimura Keizo's series of actions.
First, he attacks an Uchiha supply convoy, which could be explained as the Shimura trying to take advantage of the Uchiha's perceived weakness. But now, the clan head was personally leading a team toward the four northwestern clans. What was he up to?
They couldn't guess Shimura Keizo's objective at all.
Although Uchiha Shin was displeased by the perceived "exclusion" from Izuna's younger faction, he couldn't figure out Keizo's purpose and had no choice but to lower his head and ask, "Vice-Clan Head, do you know the purpose of Shimura Keizo's actions?"
Originally, the Sarutobi and Shimura clans were neutral toward the Uchiha and Senju. Naturally, the Uchiha and Senju were neutral toward them as well and wouldn't attack without reason. But now, the Shimura had dared to ambush the Uchiha and kill their convoy members, making them enemies. How could the vengeful Uchiha possibly let them go?
"If I'm not mistaken," Izuna's smile held a hint of conspiracy, "before long, the Shimura, together with the Sarutobi, will declare war on the four clans."
Everyone was completely lost. First, they attack the Uchiha, and now they're going to war with the four clans? If what Izuna said was true, what was Shimura Keizo's motive? The four clans were located far from the Sarutobi and Shimura territories. Even if they defeated them, it would be difficult to occupy their lands. They could only seize supplies, which would cut their spoils of war by at least half. If the Sarutobi and Shimura wanted to expand, there were far better targets.
"Vice-Clan Head, is that even possible?" Uchiha Takahiko asked in disbelief.
If Shimura Keizo were truly to declare war on the four clans, there could be only one explanation: they had a grudge. But no one had ever heard of any feud between the Shimura and the four clans.
"Lord Takahiko, do not doubt the Vice-Clan Head's words. Remember, his decisions on the northwestern battlefield were never wrong."
The moment Uchiha Takahiko voiced his question, Uchiha Ise, one of Izuna's staunchest loyalists, couldn't help but stand up and shout.
On the northwestern battlefield, Izuna had also given a series of bizarre orders that had caused some grumbling among his subordinates. But in the end, Izuna had led the entire clan to a resounding victory. Since then, a large number of ninja from the northwest territory, including Uchiha Ise, had become his unwavering followers.
Uchiha Takahiko's brow furrowed. This brat was no stronger than him and was a generation younger, yet he dared to contradict him in front of so many people.
Just as the atmosphere between the younger and older factions grew awkward, Madara, the clan head, spoke up. "Izuna, if it is as you say, and the Shimura and Sarutobi clans are going to declare war on the four northwestern clans, how should the Uchiha respond?"
Izuna rose. "They say the enemy of my enemy is my friend. Since the Shimura are now our enemies, I think we can lend the four clans a hand. Having just suffered a crushing defeat, they are no match for the Shimura and Sarutobi clans."
Madara understood. "And then absorb them as our Uchiha's vassal clans?"
"Exactly."
"Good!" Madara picked up his wine cup. "Then I will lead this battle myself!"
Having been clan head for a year without setting foot on a battlefield, Madara could no longer contain his excitement. Izuna had returned victorious, and he, as clan head, could not fall behind.
"Clan Head, it is still unknown whether the Sarutobi and Shimura will actually declare war on the four clans," the head elder threw a bucket of cold water on Madara's enthusiasm.
Madara was inwardly displeased. His brother-complex kicking in, he huffed, "When has Izuna's judgment ever been wrong? Head Elder, just you wait and see!"
The older faction, led by the elders, did not enjoy this celebration banquet. The spotlight was constantly on the younger faction, led by Izuna. If Uchiha Kong, who had also distinguished himself in the north, had returned, perhaps they would have had more of a say. Unfortunately, Uchiha Kong was still recovering from his severe injuries in Stonecastle and could not attend.
Not long after Izuna returned to his courtyard, Madara came looking for him to ask why the Shimura would declare war on the four clans. Although he had acted one hundred percent confident in Izuna's decision at the banquet, he was actually extremely curious and couldn't figure out why Shimura Keizo would do such a thing.
"Led by Shimura Ri of the Shimura clan and Sarutobi Domoto of the Sarutobi clan, a total of twenty-four Jonin-level masters from both clans died at the hands of the Hagoromo."
Twenty-four Jonin-level masters, dead!
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