Chapter 39: Allied Villages, Allied Clans
The clan elder who had arrived alongside Uzumaki Chizawa was named Uzumaki Yilu—a veteran shinobi from the Warring States era.
Though nearly sixty years of age, his eyes remained sharp and penetrating, devoid of the slightest hint of cloudiness.
As one of the Uzumaki clan's senior figures, Yilu was naturally aware of the impending marriage alliance between the new Hokage and the Uzumaki clan.
The moment they met, his gaze settled firmly on Senju Morin, studying him closely—almost brazenly—appraising him from head to toe.
The young man before him had long black hair and a high, straight nose. The contours of his face bore a faint resemblance to the First Hokage, Senju Hashirama, inheriting the bold, heroic handsomeness characteristic of the Senju bloodline.
Yet unlike Lord Hashirama's gentle warmth and easygoing benevolence, Morin's brows carried a far colder edge. His eyes were like a deep, frozen pool—still and unfathomable—yet imbued with a quiet, oppressive authority.
On closer inspection, his bearing was far closer to that of the Second Hokage, Tobirama.
And when Yilu's eyes finally settled on Morin's Hokage regalia—on the blazing red characters "Third Hokage" emblazoned across his back—he could no longer contain himself.
"Ha! Hahahaha—Excellent! Truly excellent!"
Yilu laughed heartily.
"The Hokage cuts a magnificent figure—dignified, commanding, and striking in appearance! It reminds this old man of Lord Hashirama in his prime—possessing that same extraordinary presence that makes one willingly bow in admiration!"
"This marriage alliance is truly a blessing for the Uzumaki clan!"
Morin allowed a faint smile to surface and replied calmly,
"Elder Yilu flatters me. I merely hope to follow the example set by Lord Hashirama and Lady Mito—using this bond to continue the thousand-year alliance between the Senju and Uzumaki, and to draw our two clans even closer."
"Haha—Precisely! Exactly so!"
Yilu laughed again, thoroughly pleased.
Taking the opportunity, Morin gestured politely and led the Uzumaki delegation forward, guiding them toward the main gates of Konohagakure.
Just then, Uzumaki Chizawa suddenly quickened his pace, resting one hand lightly on Senju Morin's shoulder as he leaned in and lowered his voice.
"Morin, I've brought everything you asked for. As for Kinkaku, Ginkaku, and that other individual… their bodies have all been completely sealed using specialized sealing techniques. They should remain preserved for a very long time."
Morin showed no surprise at all. He merely smiled faintly and nodded, continuing forward at an unhurried pace.
...
At the end of the road stood the towering gates of Konoha.
The massive wooden doors rose more than ten meters high, constructed from giant timbers reinforced with metal, making the many figures gathered below seem utterly insignificant by comparison.
Above the gates hung a stone plaque.
On its left and right were engraved the character "ninja"
while at the center lay the familiar spiral-leaf emblem. It symbolized Konohagakure, yet bore a striking resemblance to the Uzumaki clan crest as well.
Of course, as an allied village since Konoha's founding, the Uzumaki clan's influence within the village went far beyond a single emblem.
A glance around revealed that every Konoha chūnin and jōnin wore a red spiral symbol on the back of their uniforms and along the outer sides of their sleeves—identical to the markings on the Uzushio shinobi's forehead protectors.
Faced with such a high-ranking delegation—composed of the Uzumaki clan head's son, a senior clan elder, and six elite jōnin—Konoha naturally prepared a welcome of corresponding grandeur.
Beneath the village gates stood Senju Tōka, Hyūga Sōgo, Nara Shikatsune, and Sarutobi Hiruzen, the four Hokage Advisors, accompanied by many of Konoha's own jōnin.
This was a formal visit between two nations and allied hidden villages. Konoha could not afford anything less than the highest level of ceremony.
After the welcome rites concluded, Morin and Chizawa entered the village side by side.
Leading Konoha's senior officials and the Uzumaki delegation, they deliberately proceeded along Konoha's most bustling main avenue, putting the entire procession on display.
Countless villagers stopped in their tracks, whispering excitedly among themselves as they watched.
They knew nothing of Morin and Chizawa's private friendship.
To them, the sight was unmistakable: their Hokage had only just taken office, and already an allied nation had dispatched such a distinguished delegation. The message of support and closeness was impossible to miss.
Eventually, the procession arrived at the plaza before the Hokage Tower.
The area had already been meticulously prepared—it would serve as the venue for the Twentieth Anniversary Celebration of the Konoha–Uzushio Alliance.
Behind the plaza stood the Hokage Tower itself, and looming above were the stone faces of the First and Second Hokage.
Looking forward, one could see the bustling avenue they had just traversed, now packed wall to wall with villagers who had come to join the festivities.
Celebrations were the villagers' favorite events—each one felt like a festival.
Morin entered first, guiding Chizawa to a seat upon the raised platform. The four advisors followed closely behind and took their places.
Just as everyone finished seating themselves and the grand celebration was about to begin, a figure suddenly appeared.
Wearing an ANBU uniform and a fox mask painted with simple flame patterns, Senju Genma dropped to one knee beside Morin.
"Hokage-sama, we've just received intelligence…"
His voice was low and restrained. Given the setting—and his ANBU status—he deliberately used the formal address Hokage-sama.
As Morin listened, his expression turned subtly strange, before a trace of amusement flickered across his eyes.
No one could have expected this.
The delegation arriving in Konoha today was not limited to Uzushio alone—a Cloud Village delegation had arrived almost simultaneously.
After a brief moment of thought, Morin smiled faintly.
"A celebration is underway. Our allies have come from afar, and Konoha's leaders are all present. Isn't this… a rare opportunity?"
He made no effort to lower his voice. Calm and composed, his words were clearly heard by Chizawa and the nearby advisors.
"Invite the Cloud Village envoys to join us. Let them… share in the festive atmosphere."
"Yes!"
Genma bowed his head in acknowledgment and vanished in a flash.
Only after he disappeared did Morin's expression grow more solemn as he surveyed those around him.
"The Cloud envoys arrived at just the right time. The matter of the Second Hokage… is overdue for an accounting."
"Hokage-sama, do you intend to take action against the Cloud?"
Nara Shikatsune raised an eyebrow slightly, unable to stop himself from asking.
Morin merely shook his head gently.
"No need to rush. Let us first see what stance the Cloud intends to take. We'll decide after."
As he spoke, his hand casually patted something beside his seat.
Only then did Shikatsune and the others notice it—a massive scroll standing upright at Morin's side.
It looked extraordinarily heavy, radiating an unmistakable sense of significance.