"I think you're the one who wants to go out. Fine, fine. You've been stuck here with me for five years, so you must be going stir-crazy. This time, let Garuda go with you. With her and Shizune by your side, I'll have a little more peace of mind."
"Isamu, aren't you coming with us?" Garuda asked. Honestly, she still preferred staying by his side.
"You three go on ahead. I still have some important matters to take care of within the clan. It'll probably take about a month. Enjoy yourselves first, and once I'm finished, I'll come find you."
"Then we'll leave tomorrow!" Hearing that Isamu would join them in a month, Tsunade happily grabbed Garuda and dragged her outside.
Watching Tsunade's cheerful retreating figure, Isamu shook his head helplessly and muttered,
"Hashirama may not have passed down his finest qualities, but he certainly passed down that gambling addiction. No wonder the Senju Clan declined. They inherited all the bad habits and none of the good ones."
The next day at noon, after seeing Tsunade and the others off, Isamu immediately summoned Uchiha Sora and Uchiha Zhan to his home.
"Former Clan Head, did you need us for something?"
"Lord Isamu, whatever you need, just say the word. The entire clan will support you with everything we've got. Even if it means fighting the Five Great Nations again, we won't hesitate!"
"No, no, nothing that dramatic. The clan has finally enjoyed years of peace, and I have no intention of starting another war. Still, there is something I need your help with."
"Former Clan Head, just tell us what it is. We'll do everything in our power to help."
"Sora's right."
Seeing the father and son respond without hesitation, Isamu felt a warm sense of satisfaction.
This was his clan.
His family.
People who would stand behind him without question.
"Thank you."
"Then let's get down to business."
He placed a scroll on the table.
"This is the technique I want you to learn."
It was the Illusory Spirit Nine Extraction Technique, which he had copied onto a scroll the previous night.
After taking turns reading it, both Sora and Zhan wore puzzled expressions.
"Former Clan Head… what exactly is this technique used for?"
"It's a sealing technique designed specifically to imprison certain beings. Once they're trapped, escape becomes impossible."
He paused.
"This will also be the last time I ask the clan to carry out a large-scale operation."
"So…"
"No need to explain any further," Zhan interrupted firmly.
"Lord Isamu, whatever it is, the entire clan will stand behind you. Just tell us what needs to be done."
After speaking, he gave Sora a meaningful glance.
Sora immediately understood and nodded.
"That's right, Former Clan Head. Just give the order. We won't let you down."
"Hahaha… good. Very good."
"Only my own clan would trust me so completely."
"Still, there's no need to rush. We won't need this technique for quite some time."
"Sora, gather everyone."
"I'll personally train the entire clan for the next month."
"This matter is extremely important to me."
"There cannot be a single mistake."
"Everyone must master this technique."
Zhan immediately caught the hidden meaning behind those words.
"Lord Isamu… does that mean you'll be leaving in a month?"
"Former Clan Head… are you really leaving?"
"Yes."
"My wives, children, and grandchildren are all outside. It's time I spent more time with them."
"Besides, I'm completely confident leaving the clan in your hands."
He smiled reassuringly.
"Don't worry."
"I won't be cutting ties with the clan."
"I'll return from time to time, and if anything important happens, you can always come find me."
Only then did the father and son finally relax.
To them, Isamu was the pillar supporting the entire clan.
If he truly abandoned them, it would be a devastating blow.
Fortunately…
That wasn't his intention.
With everything settled, Isamu personally led the entire Uchiha Clan in training the Illusory Spirit Nine Extraction Technique.
Thousands of clan members practiced together, constantly coordinating with one another.
The scale of the training was enormous.
After an entire month, everyone had essentially mastered the technique.
All that remained was continued practice until they could execute it flawlessly.
With his task complete, Isamu bid farewell to the clan and left the hidden world once again to reunite with Tsunade and the others.
Just like that, the four of them traveled throughout the Land of Fire.
Three years passed in the blink of an eye.
Even so, Isamu still returned to the clan every six months to inspect everyone's progress with the Illusory Spirit Nine Extraction Technique.
At the same time, he secretly placed several Xuanyuan Clan Puppets inside Konoha, as he remained concerned about his children and grandchildren.
Ironically, it was those very puppets that weighed heavily on his heart during the past two years.
Despite his intervention…
Uchiha Itachi's fate had remained unchanged.
Through Uchiha Mikoto, Itachi gradually grew closer to the clan's Moderate Faction.
Just as in the original timeline, he eventually became a double agent, serving both Konoha and the Uchiha Clan.
One thing, however, had changed.
Although Isamu had taken away the original Hawk Faction, another group of hardliners still emerged within Konoha.
As fate continued turning its gears, history found a way to correct itself.
With Konoha constantly suppressing and mistreating the Uchiha, it was only natural that another militant faction would arise.
After all…
No one could endure oppression forever.
Especially not the proud Uchiha.
Still, Isamu paid little attention to the clan's internal politics.
The only thing he truly cared about…
…was his grandson, Itachi.
That poor child.
Uchiha Obito had already begun approaching him.
Another tragedy was drawing near.
After suffering another disastrous day at the gambling tables, Tsunade and the others returned to find Isamu drinking alone.
"Isamu, what's wrong?"
"You've looked weighed down lately."
"I've got a very bad feeling."
"I have a feeling that something terrible is going to happen within the next few days."
He didn't elaborate, merely expressing the unease weighing on his heart.
"What terrible thing?"
Tsunade rolled her eyes.
"I think you've just had one drink too many and are taking another jab at me."
"I only lost a little more money than usual."
"Do you really have to scare me with ominous predictions every time I have a bad day?"
Over the past two years, whenever she lost heavily at gambling, Isamu would tease her relentlessly.
She had long since grown used to it.
This time, she naturally assumed he was mocking her again.
"I'm not joking."
Isamu looked at her with complete seriousness.
There wasn't the slightest trace of humor on his face.