Multiversal Wanderer: Starting in Naruto

Chapter 66 - 66: The Alliance between the Hidden Lightning Village and Konoha

"Kagami, come with me to the clan. You'll be able to meet Uchiha Xiuyu in the clan's meeting hall. Treasure this chance—who knows when you'll see Lord Xiuyu again."

Kagami wasn't exactly sure what his father meant. Only his father, Uchiha Dan, who had joined the journey to another world, knew that Su Xiuyu often traveled to different worlds and rarely stayed long in the ninja realm. This time, it had been nearly twenty years since Xiuyu last returned. What Dan didn't know, however, was that the time gap had been caused by a space-time storm, drastically altering the time flow between Xiuyu's destination and the ninja world.

The clan meeting wasn't large. Most attendees were representatives from the Uchiha and Uzumaki clans—easily distinguished by their black and red hair, respectively. Despite the visual difference, the atmosphere was lively and warm, with no signs of tension between the two sides.

At the front of the hall sat Su Xiuyu, Uchiha Madara, Uchiha Izuna, and Uzumaki Mito.

"It's been a while," Xiuyu said, his tone calm but commanding. "Some of you may know me well, others—especially the younger ones—have likely only heard of me. I am Uchiha Xiuyu."

"Lord Xiuyu, long time no see!" some of the younger members shouted, even standing up with excitement.

Uchiha Xiuyu and Madara were legends. While Madara was still around occasionally, few had ever seen Xiuyu in person—he was practically mythical to the new generation.

"It's good to see everyone so spirited," Xiuyu continued, smiling. "I hope you'll all continue to get along well. Everyone here is part of the same clan—even those of you who don't carry the Uchiha or Uzumaki name."

Indeed, a few "outsiders" had been accepted into the clans. Following Xiuyu's original proposal—later backed by Madara's command—both clans welcomed anyone who sincerely pledged themselves to the clan. These newcomers had proven their worth through talent and loyalty. Some married into the clans, others formed strong bonds through shared struggle and dedication.

Thanks to the clans' robust support—mentorship, financial aid, and ninjutsu training—these individuals had become well-known ninja throughout the village.

"I don't have a long speech for you today," Xiuyu said plainly. "Just remember this: the Uchiha and the Uzumaki are your true families. And Konoha is your home. So whether it's for the clan or the village, you should dedicate yourselves fully to both. It is wrong to sacrifice the village for the clan—or the clan for the village. Balance is the key."

"Take pride in being an Uchiha or an Uzumaki. This pride isn't meant to divide us from the villagers or other clans—but it is meant to be our strength when facing our enemies."

"That's all from me. One last thing—if you ever feel like you've hit a wall, that there's nothing left to challenge you... come find me. I'll give you new direction."

With that, Xiuyu ended his brief but impactful address. Madara spoke next, though he was even less talkative and wrapped up his speech in a few sentences.

After the meeting, a group from the Uchiha clan brought Kagami to personally meet Su Xiuyu.

"This is Kagami? Madara's mentioned you. So you're the little genius in our clan, huh?"

Xiuyu's compliment made Kagami blush slightly. After all, in front of someone like Xiuyu, no one could seriously call themselves a genius. Of course, only Xiuyu knew he had quite a few "cheats" on his side.

"You're Tobirama's apprentice now?"

"Yes, Lord Xiuyu," Kagami replied quickly.

"And you're being taught by the Sarutobi and Shimura families too?"

"Yes, Lord Xiuyu." It wasn't a secret—Tobirama's three disciples were well known throughout the village. Xiuyu was simply recalling it from memory.

Xiuyu didn't know exactly how Kagami had died in the original timeline, but he suspected it happened during the first major war. Now that they'd met, he figured he might as well give the kid something to help him survive.

"Kagami, look at me."

Kagami wasn't sure what was going to happen, but he didn't hesitate. With his father standing nearby, there was no reason to doubt Lord Xiuyu.

As Kagami locked eyes with Xiuyu, he suddenly felt a burning sensation in his eyes—painful, almost unbearable. He instinctively shut them tight.

"That's it, Kagami. You can go now," Xiuyu said casually.

"Hurry and thank Lord Xiuyu," Dan reminded him quickly.

"Thank you, Lord Xiuyu!"

"No problem, kid. Take care."

—

On the way home, Kagami couldn't help but ask, "Father, what did Lord Xiuyu do to me? Why did you tell me to thank him?"

"You got lucky, son. Lord Xiuyu used a Uchiha transcription seal to embed two Sharingan techniques into your eyes. That's like giving you not just one, but two trump cards. If you ever face a life-or-death situation, those techniques will activate automatically to save you."

"The abilities sealed in your eyes are powerful enough to help you escape even if you're surrounded by Kage-level opponents. I didn't expect Lord Xiuyu to be so generous with the younger generation."

"The transcription seal is a secret clan technique that requires a Mangekyō Sharingan to perform. Just remember—unless you actively seek death, it's going to be damn hard for you to die before those two techniques get used up."

Kagami was stunned. Only now did he realize how priceless the gift from Xiuyu truly was.

"Father... just how strong is Lord Xiuyu? Is he stronger than the First Hokage or Lord Madara?"

It was a question that had haunted many. Everyone knew Konoha had three ninja gods—but who was the strongest?

Most people assumed Hashirama was the top dog, since he held the Hokage title. But anyone with real insight into the village's history knew it wasn't that simple.

Dan chuckled and gently ruffled his son's hair.

"Every young ninja wonders that at some point," he said. "But between you and me, the strongest is likely Lord Xiuyu. That's what Lord Madara himself told me."

"Lord Xiuyu once fought both Hashirama and Madara at the same time—and without using his Sharingan, he held his own. And according to Madara, Xiuyu wasn't even going all out."

"I've also seen Lord Xiuyu's Susanoo with my own eyes. It's massive—like it could blot out the sky. If he ever had ambitions to rule the ninja world, no one would be able to stop him."

"So remember, Kagami don't get cocky. You may never reach the heights our predecessors did. But that's no excuse to stop climbing. Lord Xiuyu and Lord Madara are our guiding lights."

"I understand, Father. I'll keep chasing them."

--------------

The next morning.

"Now that everyone is here, let's move out together."

"Yes, sir!"

Tobirama led Kagami, Sarutobi, and Danzo toward the Hidden Cloud Village. The journey was uneventful, and before long, the group arrived at the Cloud Rain Gorge near the outskirts of the Hidden Cloud. This location had been chosen for the peace talks with the Land of Lightning.

They didn't meet inside the Hidden Cloud Village itself because there was still too little trust between the two sides. Tobirama was wary of possible ambushes if they entered enemy territory. While the Cloud Rain Gorge wasn't without risks either, it was at least an open space, not protected by the village's intricate barrier defenses—making it a safer choice.

"Long time no see, Tobirama." The Second Raikage, A, greeted the Konoha delegation with a smile as they arrived punctually.

"A, the last time we met, you were still a member of the Hokage Guard, like me. Now we meet again, and both of us have become Kage," Tobirama replied. His tone wasn't boastful—it carried a trace of somber nostalgia.

The First Raikage had retired due to age, passing on the mantle to A. Meanwhile, the First Hokage, Hashirama, had died unexpectedly and young—his true cause of death still unknown to the public.

"This time, we came with genuine intent. The ninja world is in chaos, and an alliance between us would help bring some stability."

Both sides sat down, carefully reviewing the agreement and discussing its terms. Kagami, Sarutobi, Danzo, and Koharu stood alert behind Tobirama, guarding against any possible attacks.

Suddenly, a Hidden Cloud ninja rushed over in a panic.

"Raikage-sama! Kinkaku and Ginkaku have rebelled with the Kinkaku Force—they're headed straight for Cloud Rai Gorge!"

"What?!" Raikage's calm shattered. Kinkaku and Ginkaku weren't just any ninja—they were senior elite jonin, their power rivaling even the Raikage's. With the elite Kinkaku Force following them, this was essentially the village's strongest military unit going rogue. It was a crisis.

"Hokage-sama, I'm sure you heard that. I'm afraid we won't be able to proceed with the alliance today. I have to return and suppress the rebellion."

"Understood," Tobirama replied with no hesitation. "Then we'll take our leave for now."

With that, the Konoha team began their return journey.

Once they were far enough away, Tobirama urged his team to pick up the pace. "Move quickly. This rebellion isn't something simple. The Raikage might not be able to stop Kinkaku and Ginkaku."

It was the first time they'd seen Lord Tobirama genuinely anxious.

"Hokage-sama," Utatane Koharu asked cautiously, "should we really be this concerned? Isn't this an internal issue within Kumogakure? It shouldn't affect us too much."

Tobirama shook his head. "Kinkaku and Ginkaku are the most powerful shinobi in Kumogakure, and they command an elite force. If I'm right, the Second Raikage won't survive this. If the alliance falls through and the rebellion succeeds, we'll have serious trouble. I didn't expect things to turn out like this."

His explanation silenced everyone. The tension was rising. None of them had ever experienced a real threat of war since the founding of Konoha. It was unsettling.

After traveling for half a day, the group stopped to rest in a remote area. As they paused, Tobirama suddenly placed his hand on the ground.

"They're here," he said grimly. "Pursuers are on our trail."

"What?!" Everyone stiffened. No one doubted Tobirama's sensory ability—he was even more adept at perception than Hashirama had been.

"It's them—Kinkaku and Ginkaku. Someone has to stay behind to delay them, or they'll catch up. There's no time. We have to decide now. Who's willing to stay and hold them off?"

Tobirama's eyes swept across the group. Sarutobi Hiruzen, Uchiha Kagami, and Shimura Danzo were all potential successors. This was a test. By strength and backing, Kagami was the best candidate—his Uchiha lineage gave him strong clan support, and his skill matched Hiruzen's. If Tobirama died, Kagami would have the best chance at becoming Hokage.

But Tobirama hesitated—for one reason: Kagami was an Uchiha.

Tobirama had always worked to weaken the influence of powerful clans, including his own Senju. Although the Uchiha had mellowed somewhat, their growing strength still made Tobirama uneasy. They hadn't crossed any lines yet, but the potential was always there.

The group fell silent. Everyone understood that staying behind meant death. No one was stupid.

Kagami almost spoke, but hesitated. He remembered what his clan elders once told him: An Uchiha can die for Konoha, but never die foolishly. He was willing to die for the village—but something about this situation made him pause.

"I'll do it!"

"I will too!"

Both Uchiha Kagami and Sarutobi Hiruzen spoke at the same time. Tobirama was moved. In this life-or-death moment, his disciples were still willing to sacrifice themselves. His teachings hadn't been in vain. Especially Kagami—despite being an Uchiha, he wasn't chained to the clan's self-interest.

"I understand," Tobirama said. "Listen carefully—if I don't make it, Sarutobi Hiruzen will become the next Hokage. Kagami, you'll be his right-hand man. Assist him however you can. Now go. Retreat immediately. As your teacher, I'll make sure you get back safely."

"No! Let's fight together! We might stand a chance!" Sarutobi protested.

"Yeah, we can hold them off as a team!" Kagami added.

Danzo and Koharu said nothing. Fear had paralyzed them.

"This is an order—from your Hokage! Sarutobi, Kagami—take care of Danzo and the others. Go!"

With great reluctance, the group turned back toward Konoha, leaving Tobirama behind.

"Tch. Just one guy?" Kinkaku sneered when they arrived.

"Don't let your guard down. He's Tobirama Senju—the Second Hokage," Ginkaku warned.

Tobirama stared at the two with grim certainty. "Since you've come this far... I assume the Raikage is dead?"

"More or less. He didn't die on the spot, but he's as good as gone. Don't worry, we'll send you to see him soon."

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