The elder of the Uzumaki clan smiled as he watched the two children playing. He had experienced too much in his long life, and his other half had passed away long ago on their long journey. Looking at these two young ones, a sense of warmth and nostalgia filled his heart.
"Greetings, Elder."
Su Xiuyu quickly stopped playing with Uzumaki Mito, showing proper respect. Mito's elder had appeared, and it was only right to acknowledge his presence.
"Your name is Uchiha Xiuyu?" The elder studied him with keen eyes. "Come along, both of you. Walk with me for a bit and talk to an old man."
Su Xiuyu nodded, and the two of them followed the elder, keeping a respectful distance as they strolled through the Uzumaki clan grounds.
"How has your stay been in the Uchiha clan?" the elder asked. "I heard that boy Hashirama calls you Su Xiuyu. You weren't originally part of the Uchiha, were you?"
Su Xiuyu hesitated slightly. "Elder, it's a bit complicated. But yes, I am now a member of the Uchiha. You could say I am considered Madara's younger brother."
The elder nodded thoughtfully, seemingly forming his own conclusions.
"What do you think of our Uzumaki clan?" he asked after a moment.
"The Uzumaki clan is one of the great clans of the Warring States period," Su Xiuyu answered, keeping his tone neutral. "In terms of military strength, you might be slightly below the Senju and Uchiha, but you are by no means weaker than the Hyuga or any other powerful clans. More importantly, your sealing techniques are unique. In the field of seals, no other clan can compare."
The elder sighed softly, his expression unreadable.
"Our sealing techniques are indeed exceptional, but hearing an outsider call them 'unique in the world' does not bring me pride—it brings me concern," he admitted.
Su Xiuyu remained silent, knowing where this conversation was headed. The destruction of the Uzumaki clan in the future would be directly tied to their sealing expertise. When Hashirama was alive, no one dared to act against them. After his death, not even Uzumaki Mito's presence in Konoha was enough to protect them. Their so-called allies abandoned them, and the Uzumaki were wiped out just a few years before the Second Great Ninja War.
Without Hashirama's protection, the Land of Whirlpools had no means to withstand the combined assault of several great nations.
"Without true strength, relying on allies for protection is a dangerous gamble," Su Xiuyu said bluntly. "If you have something valuable that others covet but lack the power to defend it, then sooner or later, you will become prey."
"Xiuyu!" Mito whispered urgently, gripping his hand. She was signaling him to stop. His words were too direct, almost offensive. While they might be true, saying them so openly in front of the most respected elder of the Uzumaki clan was reckless.
The elder, however, was not angered. He simply looked at Su Xiuyu intently, as if evaluating him. "You speak boldly, Uchiha Xiuyu. But tell me—what do you think you can offer Mito? You are neither Uchiha Madara nor Senju Hashirama. You don't have a clan backing you. So why do you presume to say that the Uzumaki place their hopes on their allies?"
Su Xiuyu met the elder's gaze without hesitation. "I can only rely on my own strength," he said simply. "If I have power, I can protect myself. And I will protect Mito—including those she wishes to protect."
Mito's eyes widened, her cheeks flushing slightly. For a girl in love, those words meant everything.
The elder chuckled. "You Uchiha are quite something. That confidence of yours is no less than Madara's arrogance."
"I'm not joking, Elder." Su Xiuyu's voice remained steady. "I know exactly what I am capable of."
The elder's gaze lingered on him for a moment longer before he let out another quiet chuckle. "Confidence is a good thing," he mused, before turning to continue his slow walk.
"Go on, enjoy yourselves. This old man still has some matters to attend to."
With that, he left them behind, his expression thoughtful.
As soon as he was out of sight, the elder called for one of the clan members. "Uzumaki Heli, gather the elders immediately. We need to hold a clan meeting."
"Understood, Elder."
---
Before long, all the elders of the Uzumaki clan had gathered.
"Great Elder, what is the urgency?" one of them asked.
"You all know the war between the Uchiha and Senju is approaching, correct?"
"Of course. The conflict has been brewing for a while now," another elder replied.
"We should assist the Senju, right?" someone else suggested. "After all, they are our allies."
The Great Elder remained silent for a moment before asking, "Has the Senju clan sent a formal request for our help?"
"...No," Uzumaki Masahiko admitted.
"Then we will not interfere in this war," the elder stated firmly.
The room fell into stunned silence.
"But why?"
"If we truly wished to aid the Senju, the Uchiha clan would also call upon their allies," the elder explained. "No matter who wins, the Uzumaki clan will gain nothing from this fight. However, if we participate, we will only lose clan members in a war that is not ours."
The elders exchanged uneasy glances.
"Have any of you thought about what will happen to the Uzumaki clan a hundred years from now?" the Great Elder asked solemnly.
That question silenced the room.
Everyone knew the reality—while the Uzumaki had long lifespans, immense chakra reserves, and unparalleled sealing techniques, their numbers were not large. Their direct combat abilities were average at best, and their younger generations lacked true prodigies—aside from Uzumaki Mito.
The clan was declining. It was an unspoken truth that no one dared to acknowledge.
"Why the sudden concern, Elder?" one of them finally asked.
"Because of Uchiha Xiuyu."
The elders were confused. "What about him?"
The elder's expression turned serious. "His chakra reserves surpass even those of our Uzumaki clan."
A ripple of shock ran through the room.
"That much chakra? But he's just a child—"
"Not just any child," the elder interrupted. "His chakra is vast, almost unnatural. His Yin attribute chakra is as deep as an endless sea, while his Yang attribute chakra burns as brightly as the sun. You all know what this means, don't you?"
Gasps filled the chamber.
"If Mito's reports are correct, he can use all five elemental releases and possesses enhanced Yin-Yang attributes. That's practically the foundation for the Six Paths Sage's power!"
The revelation sent the room into chaos.
"If he continues on this path, he will stand equal to Hashirama and Madara in the future," another elder muttered, stunned.
"And," the elder continued, his voice dropping to a grave tone, "according to Hashirama, this boy has only been training as a ninja for less than a year."
The room fell completely silent.
"That's... impossible."
"There's no way—"
"But if it's true…"
The Great Elder closed his eyes and exhaled deeply.
"The future of the Uzumaki clan might depend on how we handle this boy."
---
"Great Elder, are you serious?"
"Uchiha Xiuyu has only been training for less than a year? How is that even possible?"
"Hashirama was already considered a once-in-a-generation talent. If what you're saying is true, then doesn't that mean Uchiha Xiuyu surpasses even him?"
"Enough!" The Great Elder's voice silenced the room. "I had Masahiko confirm this with Hashirama multiple times. I even asked Uchiha Madara himself, and they both said the same thing—it's true."
"When Uchiha Xiuyu first met Hashirama and Madara, he was just an ordinary person. They both swore to it. At the time, they assumed he was a noble because of his luxurious clothing, but he had no power whatsoever."
The Great Elder let out a deep sigh. "That means Uchiha Xiuyu, once overshadowed by Hashirama and Madara, is actually the most terrifying genius of all. And now, he's grown strong—strong enough that it's unlikely he'll die young."
"So, what do you all think?"
"Honestly? This is a good thing. Mito already likes him, right? Before, I thought Hashirama would be the better choice, but after hearing this, Great Elder, I'd say we're in luck."
Masahiko seemed satisfied with this turn of events, and the other elders nodded in agreement.
"I've made my decision." The Great Elder's tone was resolute. "The Uzumaki Clan will gradually distance itself from the Senju. Not immediately, of course—it has to be a slow transition. For now, we'll shift our focus to Mito and Xiuyu."
"Isn't that too risky, Great Elder?" someone hesitated. Even though Uchiha Xiuyu's talent was undeniable, the alliance with the Senju had lasted for centuries. Severing that bond so easily would be a major loss.
"I understand that the Senju have been our allies for generations," the Great Elder replied, "but we cannot rely on them forever. The Uzumaki Clan needs to stand on its own."
"Xiuyu may come from the Uchiha Clan, but he only recognizes Madara and Hashirama. He isn't bound by the Uchiha's traditions or politics. He has no true support from within the clan, which makes this the perfect opportunity for us."
"I want the Uzumaki Clan to have real security—something we control—rather than placing our trust in other ninja clans."
Silence filled the room as the elders processed his words. No one had expected the oldest person present to be the boldest in strategy. The Uzumaki Clan was taking a gamble—putting everything on Uchiha Xiuyu, with no backup plan.
"I have no objections."
"I agree with the Great Elder's decision."
"Same here."
One by one, the elders voiced their support.
The Great Elder smiled. "Good. No need to look so serious—we should celebrate this decision. Masahiko, Heli, take the younger clan members and make sure Uchiha Xiuyu is well taken care of."
"Yes, Elder!" they responded in unison.
---
Meanwhile, Shuu and Mito wandered through the scenic Uzushio Village, unaware of the monumental decision made by the elders.
Sometimes, the wisdom of the old was truly remarkable. By betting on Uchiha Xiuyu, the Uzumaki Clan would eventually gain the protection of the world itself. But that was a story for another time.
"Sister Mito, Lord Xiuyu, it's getting late. Uncle Masahiko sent me to call you back for dinner."
A young boy ran up to them, his serious expression contrasting with his chubby cheeks.
"It's Uzumaki Asaoka!" Mito grinned and playfully pinched his round face.
The boy turned bright red. "Sister Mito, I'm not a little kid anymore! Stop teasing me, especially in front of Lord Xiuyu!"
Seeing Asaoka's embarrassment, Mito finally let him go. Xiuyu chuckled, watching the exchange with amusement.
He had never had a younger sibling in either of his two lives. Looking at Asaoka, he thought it wouldn't be so bad to have a little brother. Well, except for Izuna—he was too pretentious, even when he wasn't talking. It was probably Sasuke's fault. Izuna looked too much like him.
Leaning in close, Xiuyu whispered to Mito, "Hey, if you like kids, we can have a bunch in the future."
Mito's face instantly turned scarlet. "Who said anything about having kids with you?! I'm still young!"
Xiuyu burst into laughter, completely unbothered by her outburst.
Together, they followed Asaoka back to the main hall, where most of the Uzumaki Clan had gathered for the evening feast. The elders sat at the head of the room, while the rest of the clan arranged themselves in order. The atmosphere was lively, with Uzumaki children running around, play-fighting as they waited for the food.
"Tonight, we welcome a new member to our clan—Uchiha Xiuyu!" The Great Elder's voice carried across the hall. "Mito, bring him forward so everyone can get to know him."
Xiuyu stepped up, slightly uncomfortable with the attention. Most of the clan had no idea why the Great Elder was introducing him so formally, but they trusted his judgment and welcomed Xiuyu without question.
The Uzumaki Clan had always been known for their strong bonds. Their elders weren't distant authority figures but respected members, chosen by the people.
Of course, there was one unspoken rule—any elder who had survived the Warring States Period had to be strong. In times of war, the weak never got the chance to grow old.
Overwhelmed by their warmth, Xiuyu thanked them and quickly took his seat.
The rest of the night was filled with drinking, laughter, and celebration.
When the feast ended, Asaoka led Xiuyu to his guest room, and he quickly fell into a deep sleep.
---
The next morning, Xiuyu was woken by Asaoka knocking on his door.
"Lord Xiuyu, wake up! I'm here to help you get ready!"
Xiuyu frowned. He wasn't used to this. Back home, only his maid, Rei, had ever dressed him.
"Yeah, no thanks." He shooed the kid away.
Asaoka pouted. "Fine. But if you don't need my help next time, just say so—don't push me out like that!"
Xiuyu sighed, rubbing his temple. "Alright, alright. Now that breakfast is over, where are we going?"
"To Uncle Masahiko's place! We're going to train in sealing techniques with Sister Mito. I'll be learning alongside you." Asaoka answered proudly.
Xiuyu raised an eyebrow. "Wait, isn't the Uzumaki Clan's sealing technique a secret? Are you guys really allowed to teach me?"
"You're right—our sealing techniques aren't normally passed down to outsiders. That's why so few people in the world understand them." Asaoka explained.
"Besides, even though sealing isn't a bloodline technique, it's still incredibly difficult to master. Without an Uzumaki's bloodline and talent, most people can't learn it properly."
"Then why am I an exception?"
Asaoka grinned. "Because you're special! The elders decided that all of our clan's sealing techniques will be open to you. If you have the ability to learn them, you're free to choose any one you like."
Xiuyu was surprised by the Uzumaki Clan's generosity.
At this point, he still believed their kindness was because of his relationship with Mito.
Little did he know, even if someone else had married into the Uzumaki Clan, they wouldn't have been given this privilege.
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