"Right now, immediately gather the clan's elite. Bring your family members and evacuate at once!"
Senju Butsuma's face was cold and stern as he issued a strict order to everyone around him.
"Clan leader, what about the rest of the clan members? How should they be arranged?"
An elder with graying hair and beard asked.
A trace of hard indifference flashed through Senju Butsuma's eyes, his voice steady as ever. "Bringing them along will only slow our march, and we'd have to divert elite forces to protect them, which would only tie our own hands."
"Better to leave them in the clan territory. That way, they can delay the pursuers' advance. Besides… Senju Hashirama, considering blood ties, will never lay a hand on them."
The elder fell silent for a moment after hearing this, then finally nodded, tacitly accepting this cold-hearted decision.
There was no time to delay. Senju Butsuma immediately led the elders and the clan's top elites, quietly leaving the Senju clan territory and fleeing into the distance in haste.
———
By the time Senju Hashirama led his forces to the Senju clan territory, all he saw were the elderly, women, and children who hadn't managed to evacuate in time, along with the sick and disabled.
They stood alone in the now empty clan grounds, their expressions filled with panic, their eyes full of confusion and fear.
"Ah…"
Looking at this familiar homeland that carried countless childhood memories, a complicated sigh rose in Hashirama's eyes.
Scenes of the family's past warmth surfaced one by one in his mind, filling his heart with bitterness and helplessness.
After a brief moment of distraction, Hashirama quickly steadied his emotions.
His hands formed seals rapidly, and vast Wood Release chakra surged forth. In an instant, a tall and wide wooden platform rose in the center of the clan grounds.
Hashirama leapt onto the platform, his gaze sincere as he looked at the uneasy clan members below.
He spoke loudly, his deep and powerful voice echoing throughout the entire clan territory, "Everyone, Konoha is not some vicious den of beasts."
"It is a home that sincerely welcomes every member of the Senju clan!"
"I, Senju Hashirama, swear on my life here that after you join Konoha, you will never face any reckoning or suppression. Konoha will do everything it can to treat every one of you well!"
"Senju Butsuma has already abandoned you. As the clan leader, at the moment of danger, he took only the elites and his own family, leaving you behind in this perilous situation."
"My fellow clansmen, I, Senju Hashirama, have never forgotten the bond of blood. I ask you to trust me!"
The Senju clan members below, who had been full of anxiety and hesitation, began whispering among themselves after hearing Hashirama's heartfelt words. Their expressions gradually softened.
They all knew very well what kind of person Senju Hashirama was.
From a young age, he had been kind-hearted and generous to others.
Back when he was falsely accused and expelled from the clan, most people in the clan had known the truth in their hearts, that he had suffered an unjust grievance.
But since it was a topic that could never be touched within the clan, they had all chosen silence.
At this moment, an elderly man with white hair, walking unsteadily with a cane, slowly stepped out from the crowd.
"Hashirama… are the words you just said all true? You won't go back on them?"
The old man asked in a hoarse voice.
Senju Hashirama's eyes were incomparably firm, clear and sincere. Raising his voice, he responded solemnly, "I, Senju Hashirama, keep my word. In this life, I will never deceive my own clan. Let the Six Paths bear witness!"
The old man nodded slowly, the last trace of doubt in his eyes disappearing.
He immediately let go of his cane and knelt down with a trembling body, saying in a deep voice, "In that case, we of the Senju clan are willing to submit to Konoha and follow Lord Hashirama!"
Seeing this, the rest of the clan members no longer hesitated. They all knelt down one after another, voicing their willingness to join Konoha.
The weight hanging in Senju Hashirama's heart finally lifted. He quickly stepped down from the platform and personally helped the elderly man up, his tone gentle and earnest.
"Please, everyone, get up. There's no need for such formalities. From now on, we are still one family."
He then turned and instructed the attendants beside him, "Immediately arrange manpower to help everyone pack their belongings and escort them to Konoha to settle down."
"Also, distribute Konoha headbands. From today onward, you are all part of Konoha!"
———
In the eastern sea of the Land of Fire, the sea wind howled as it swept over the waves. The cold seawater crashed against the shore again and again.
After clearing out several enemy ninja clans in the east, Senju Tobirama had already led his forces to the coastline ahead of time, laying a tight net of traps.
Standing on a reef, Tobirama's eyes were calm and sharp as he methodically arranged tactics, "Plant explosive tags across the nearshore waters."
"Strictly prevent Senju Butsuma from taking the opportunity to cross the sea and flee to the Land of Whirlpools."
"At the same time, set up defensive lines and stay on constant alert for a possible surprise attack from Uzushio Hidden Village. We must not give them any opportunity."
After completing the deployment, Tobirama went to several key hidden points along the shore. Chakra gathered at his fingertips as he quietly left Flying Thunder God technique marks, just in case.
With everything arranged, Senju Tobirama immediately led his team to hide within the dense coastal forest, holding their breath as they waited quietly for their prey to walk into the trap.
Sure enough, before long, Senju Butsuma arrived at this stretch of coastline with the exhausted elites of the clan.
After fleeing all the way here, their clothes were disheveled, their breathing ragged, and their morale had sunk to the lowest point.
Looking at the vast ocean before them, Senju Butsuma forced himself to stay composed.
He turned to face the people behind him and raised his voice to encourage them, "Everyone! Once we cross this sea, we'll reach the Land of Whirlpools!"
"I've already sent word to Uzushio Hidden Village. They will definitely send people to receive us! As long as we land safely, we can completely shake off our pursuers and regain a chance to live!"
Just as everyone steadied themselves and prepared to board ships...
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Earth-shaking explosions suddenly erupted. The explosive tags Tobirama had planted detonated instantly.
The waves were blasted sky-high, rubble scattered, and smoke filled the entire coastline in an instant.
"Capture Senju Butsuma!"
Senju Tobirama's cold shout cut through the air as he charged out from the forest first, chakra bursting around him.
The Konoha ninja under his command followed closely behind, surging forward like tigers descending a mountain.
Senju Butsuma's elites had already been fleeing the entire time, both physically and mentally exhausted.
Facing Konoha ninja who had been waiting in full readiness, they had no strength to resist. In just moments, they were completely routed and subdued one after another.
In the end, Senju Butsuma was pinned tightly onto the cold sand by several agile Konoha ninja. His hands were bound firmly with special ninja tools, leaving him unable to move.
Senju Tobirama walked slowly to his father, looking down at Senju Butsuma, who struggled in fury before him.
"Ah…"
A trace of complicated emotion flashed in Senju Tobirama's eyes, but it quickly returned to calm.
"Tobirama! You heartless, unfilial son! You dare betray your clan and your own father!"
"You bastard! If you're going to kill me, then do it already and make it quick!"
Senju Butsuma's eyes were bloodshot as he struggled desperately, roaring.
Looking at this son who had submitted to Konoha and personally captured him, his heart was filled with towering rage and hatred.
Senju Tobirama's expression remained indifferent, completely unaffected by his father's curses.
He simply spoke calmly, his tone without the slightest ripple, "Father, the winner becomes king and the loser becomes a bandit. It has always been this way."
"At this point, struggle is meaningless. I will not kill you privately. Your crimes will be judged publicly by Konoha's court and dealt with according to the law."
Senju Tobirama's words only made Senju Butsuma even more furious.
"Senju Tobirama! I'll f*** your mother!"