Senju Mori had always been a man of swift and decisive action.
Once the plan to visit Uzushiogakure was confirmed, he needed only a few days to settle all village affairs.
After personally visiting Uzumaki Mito with Rei to bid farewell, he hand-picked a squad of ANBU—centered around Senju Genma and Senju Yoru—to form his Hokage Guard.
With preparations complete, the group departed immediately, embarking on their journey to Uzushio.
The sea breeze carried the salty humidity unique to the Land of Whirlpools, brushing against its signature dome-shaped buildings.
When Senju Mori, leading a Hokage Guard composed of more than a dozen elite Senju warriors, arrived at Uzushiogakure accompanied by Uzumaki Chihaya, Rei, and others, the village entrance was already crowded with people.
Compared to Konoha—nestled deep within the Land of Fire—Uzushio, sitting on a small offshore island, was far smaller.
It rested quietly within the embrace of the bay, like a pearl polished by countless years of crashing waves.
Foam danced along the reefs at the village's edge, and the massive Uzumaki clan crest carved into the most prominent cliff wall remained clearly visible despite years of wind and storm.
Most buildings in the village were constructed from locally quarried gray-white stone, the rounded domes gleaming softly under the sun, with only minimal dark wood accents.
The overall style was rougher and more ancient than Konoha's, yet carried a weighty solemnity shaped by time.
The village gate was lively and packed with people.
The welcoming ceremony was grand yet completely different from what one would see in Konoha—everywhere one looked, nearly all were red-haired figures bearing the unmistakable traits of the Uzumaki.
This was the fundamental difference between Uzushio and Konoha:
Senju Hashirama had united many clans to build the Hidden Leaf, whereas Uzumaki had built a village out of a single clan—truly a place where "family became village."
Almost every high-ranking officials present belonged to the Uzumaki. The few exceptions were minor clans who had long attached themselves to the Uzumaki and were now nearly indistinguishable from them.
It was no surprise, then, that the Uzumaki clan head naturally served as the village chief—unlike Konoha's complex web of major clans, Uzushio's subordinate factions lacked the strength to form their own political voice.
When Uzumaki Chisawa appeared with his gentle smile, a group of Uzumaki shinobi instinctively gathered behind him—many of them central figures of the village.
The group standing near the center was well-balanced in age and status, with respected elders and younger faces alike.
They represented the will of current clan head Uzumaki Chihaya, favoring steady and conservative policies, and prioritizing maintaining and deepening the alliance with Konoha.
To the right stood the conservative faction led by Uzumaki Ashina.
Ashina wore ornate robes, his chin slightly raised, his eyes carrying a faint but unmistakable arrogance.
A number of his supporters gathered beside him, including several composed, influential elders. Though they bore polite smiles, their distance was palpable.
A smaller, loosely grouped faction stood toward the left.
In the shadow of the left colonnade lingered the third group.
Uzumaki Iori—the so-called prodigy—didn't even bother to stand in front. She simply leaned casually against a pillar, arms crossed, her blazing red hair whipping in the sea breeze, her bold gaze openly fixed on Senju Mori.
At this moment, the three factions together painted an intricate and delicate tableau.
Though differing in stance, all maintained the dignified decorum expected of the Uzumaki. Warm applause and greetings echoed through the village gate, flawlessly concealing the undercurrents beneath the surface of this seemingly harmonious welcome.
…
The next day,
Senju Mori, dressed in the ceremonial robes of the Hokage, walked with steady steps toward the central shrine of the village, accompanied by Uzumaki Chihaya and Uzumaki Chisawa.
Uzumaki Rei, wearing the traditional attire of the Uzumaki clan, followed quietly a few steps behind.
The plaza before the shrine was filled with gathered clansmen. Uzumaki Ashina stood in the front row, his expression dark, while Uzumaki Iori stood among the crowd with her arms crossed, her sharp gaze scrutinizing everything.
The ceremony proceeded in an orderly manner.
Just as Uzumaki Chihaya was about to announce Chisawa as the successor, Ashina finally lost his patience. He stepped forward and declared loudly:
"Hold on!"
All eyes instantly shifted to him.
"Clan Head Chihaya, fellow clansmen!"
Ashina's voice carried righteous fervor.
"Our Uzumaki clan's thousand-year lineage was built upon our own strength and unyielding resolve—not by clinging to others! Chisawa is too soft-hearted. If he becomes clan head, will we not forever bow to Konoha?"
The crowd stirred at his words.
Senju Mori's expression remained unchanged. He only tilted his head slightly and murmured softly to Rei—just loud enough for those beside him:
"As expected."
With Ashina's open challenge disrupting the ceremony, the proceedings were halted. The core members moved to a side hall of the shrine to discuss the matter.
"Lord Ashina."
Senju Mori finally spoke, his voice calm yet undeniably authoritative:
"The 'unyielding resolve' you speak of—does it mean shutting yourselves off and rejecting strong allies? When former clan head Uzumaki Ashina signed the alliance with the First Hokage, Senju Hashirama, did he consider it dependence?"
"As for strength…"
Mori's gaze shifted toward Uzumaki Iori, who had been silent the entire time.
"I have heard that your clan's prodigy, Uzumaki Iori, mastered Adamantine Sealing Chains at the age of ten—her talent surpassing all her peers. May I ask, Lord Ashina: at her age, what had you accomplished?"
"By your logic, should the one with the greatest talent be the rightful leader of the clan?"
Ashina's expression stiffened slightly at those words.
Uzumaki Iori raised her eyes and regarded Senju Mori intently, her gaze more evaluative than hostile.
Mori continued, his tone deepening:
"The shinobi world may have just emerged from war, but hidden currents still surge beneath the surface."
"A lone strongman may survive, but only united and trustworthy allies can safeguard a clan's peace and prosperity. Chisawa's gentleness is the strongest thread binding together this precious alliance."
He rose to his feet, the authority of the Hokage radiating from him naturally:
"On behalf of Konoha, I reaffirm: any hostile action against Uzushio will be treated as an act of aggression against Konoha. And Konoha's wrath will be every enemy's nightmare."
"This is my promise—and Konoha's support—to Chisawa and to the entire Uzumaki clan."