[Inside The Six Paths Temple]
Moonlight passed through the window, covering the two figures standing opposite each other in the hall.
"Oh? Izumichi, you aren't setting up another conspiracy trap for me again, are you?"
Senju Shuichi slowly looked at the solemn-faced Uchiha Izumichi and curled his lips as he joked.
He truly could not understand what kind of person in this ninja world would require the clan leaders of Uchiha and Senju, who had always been like fire and water, to join forces to deal with.
"I'm serious, Shuichi."
Uchiha Izumichi frowned tightly, his voice low, without the slightest hint of a joke.
Seeing this, the teasing on Senju Shuichi's face instantly disappeared, and his expression became serious.
"Oh? What kind of opponent could make the two of us join forces to deal with him?"
"It's an old man."
Uchiha Izumichi's scarlet Sharingan narrowed slightly, his fingers unconsciously tightening.
"His strength is unfathomable. When I fought him, I was defeated with just one move. My Sharingan couldn't even see through the trajectory of his technique."
Hearing this, Senju Shuichi's brows also became more serious, and he subconsciously frowned.
"Do you know what shocked me even more?"
Izumichi's gaze grew deeper.
"I originally planned to capture the tailed beasts, but that old man said the tailed beasts were his old acquaintances."
"In just a few days, the tailed beasts changed from ferocious monsters hated by everyone into auspicious beings worshiped by the ninja world. All of this unbelievable change must absolutely be that old man's doing."
"What amazes me is that there is actually someone in this world with such heaven-reaching ability, capable of reversing the situation of the entire ninja world within just a few days."
"Even now I can't figure out how he managed to make all the forces of the ninja world speak with one voice and change their attitude toward the tailed beasts."
Uchiha Izumichi's voice carried undisguisable fear and dread.
The more Senju Shuichi listened, the tighter his brows furrowed. After thinking for a moment, he cautiously said, "Maybe there are hidden masters among those mortal nations?"
"Impossible."
Uchiha Izumichi rejected the idea without hesitation, his tone firm.
"Those nations only have slightly stronger soft power. They possess money, resources, and population."
"But in terms of top combat power, it's impossible for them to have such power to turn the world upside down."
Uchiha Izumichi had long planted Uchiha pawns in the upper ranks of those mortal nations, and he knew the details of those improvised groups very clearly. But naturally he would not reveal this secret to Senju Shuichi.
"I see…"
Hearing this, Senju Shuichi narrowed his eyes slightly and instantly understood in his heart.
It seemed the Uchiha clan had already used the secret techniques of the Sharingan to control quite a few high-ranking mortals.
But he saw through it without saying it.
"What are you trying to say? Do you think there exists an invisible hand in this world, quietly manipulating the entire trend of the ninja world?", Senju Shuichi suddenly laughed lightly and asked.
"Yes! Don't you find it terrifying, Shuichi!", Uchiha Izumichi suddenly stood up.
The pressure around him suddenly dropped, his scarlet Sharingan shrinking violently as excitement filled his voice.
"In this world, there are secrets we know nothing about. There is an unseen hand manipulating you and me, manipulating the entire ninja world, deciding the direction of the world! And we know absolutely nothing about it!"
In the bloodline of the Uchiha clan, arrogance and the desire for control were already engraved.
Izumichi had always been the one using his Sharingan to control others. He could never tolerate becoming a piece on someone else's chessboard.
Senju Shuichi instead laughed loudly, "Hahaha, I actually think that's pretty good."
"That way, no matter how chaotic the ninja world becomes, there will always be a strong person who comes out to clean up the mess and protect the peace of the world."
Senju Shuichi shrugged indifferently.
He was naturally open-minded and straightforward. He had always believed in having a clear conscience, and he was not too obsessed with so-called manipulation from behind the scenes.
"Hmph! When that invisible hand points its butcher knife at the Senju clan, you won't be so calm anymore!", Uchiha Izumichi snorted coldly, his expression growing even uglier.
Senju Shuichi scratched the back of his head and smiled awkwardly, "Izumichi, why do you always dwell on these things that might not even exist?"
"You're just like my wife. She always asks strange questions, like whether I would still love her if I turned into a caterpillar or something. They're all hypothetical situations that don't even exist…"
Uchiha Izumichi's face instantly turned as black as the bottom of a pot, and he shouted sharply, "Don't compare me to your wife! I'm not your wife!"
"I didn't say you were."
Senju Shuichi scratched his head, looking innocent.
"Enough! Who cares about these things!"
Uchiha Izumichi waved his hand impatiently and went straight to the main topic, staring intensely at Senju Shuichi.
"I'll just ask you one question. Do you want to go deal with that old man together with me?"
"Emm…"
Senju Shuichi rubbed his chin with his fingers and hesitated for a few seconds before honestly speaking.
"You couldn't even withstand one move from him. Even if the two of us join forces, wouldn't we still be instantly killed by him?"
Seeing this, a strange smile slowly appeared at the corner of Uchiha Izumichi's mouth.
"I've read the ancient scrolls passed down in the clan. They record that the power sources of the Uchiha and Senju are connected."
"If the two are combined into one, they can release power far beyond imagination." Uchiha Izumichi spoke slowly, his tone certain.
"So I think if the two of us join forces, we might be able to unleash power that can rival that old man."
"Then we can follow the clues and use that old man to uncover the invisible hand that manipulates the ninja world!"
In fact, Izumichi had misunderstood the scroll left by Indra. Uchiha Izumichi believed that Uchiha and Senju joining forces would make them stronger, but in reality it meant physically becoming one.
"How can I be sure you're not lying?"
"How can I confirm this isn't a trap you deliberately designed for me?" Senju Shuichi asked.
Deep in his heart, he had shared a strong bond with Uchiha Izumichi since childhood.
The two had played together by the river when they were young and had long formed a connection few others could match.
But now they each carried the rise and fall of their clans on their shoulders, and every decision had to prioritize the interests of their clans.
When it came to the survival of their clans, even the deepest friendship could not be completely honest without reservation.
"I swear to the ancestors of the Uchiha clan! I will never lie to you!", Uchiha Izumichi did not hesitate at all and immediately swore solemnly.
But Senju Shuichi only shook his head silently and said firmly, "I don't believe you."
Uchiha Izumichi frowned slightly, his gaze sweeping across the portrait of the Sage of the Six Paths enshrined in the temple.
"How about this. Your Senju clan definitely believes in the Sage of the Six Paths, right?"
Uchiha Izumichi turned to look at Senju Shuichi.
Hearing this, all the casualness instantly disappeared from Senju Shuichi's face, replaced by an extremely solemn expression.
"Of course. In this world today, who doesn't believe in the Sage of the Six Paths?"
"Not just the Senju clan. All the major ninja clans of the ninja world, every nation, even bandits in the martial world when they swear brotherhood, first bow to the Sage of the Six Paths.", Senju Shuichi said.
"Then good."
Uchiha Izumichi stared at the portrait. His scarlet Sharingan carried determination as he swore loudly, "I, Uchiha Izumichi, swear to the Sage of the Six Paths that everything I said today contains no lies."
"I hold not even the slightest scheme against Senju Shuichi. If I break this oath, the Uchiha clan will suffer internal chaos in the future and be destroyed by our own people!"
The weight of this vicious oath instantly froze the atmosphere inside the Six Paths Temple.
Senju Shuichi suddenly stood up and stared into Uchiha Izumichi's eyes. Seeing that his gaze was open and honest without the slightest falsehood, he finally nodded heavily.
"Alright, I believe you!"
Thus, the clan leaders of the long-time enemy clans, Uchiha and Senju, officially formed a secret alliance.
"But how are we supposed to find the old man you're talking about?", Senju Shuichi gathered his thoughts and asked.
Uchiha Izumichi's lips curved into a confident smile, his tone certain, "Don't worry about that. We just need to target one of the tailed beasts. Force the old man to show himself."
Hearing this, Senju Shuichi scratched the back of his head. His gaze fell on Uchiha Izumichi, but in his heart he quietly made up his mind.
If that old man was not an evil person, he would secretly hold back and let the other side go.