NOVEL NEXT Chapter 143: Winning the Battle and Joining the Uchiha
They had only managed to retreat—and the crucial reason was that none of them expected the Uchiha to wield Susanoo. That was practically absolute defense with overwhelming offense, and once it appeared, their lines collapsed like a mountain slide.
Not only were most of their fighters dead or wounded, but many of the elders, women, and children had been forced to their knees. The remaining seriously injured ninja were seized as prisoners.
"Kaede, the Akimichi clan head fought me just now—I killed him. Standing here now are the clan heads of the Yamanaka and the Nara. They chose to surrender on their own."
Shizuru reported to Kaede.
"Oh? Is that so? Shizuru, go call sensei over."
Kaede regarded the surrendered with unhurried calm and, instead of deciding on the spot, sent Shizuru to fetch Kaede.
"Understood."
But Shizuru had barely taken two steps when Kaede appeared in front of them.
"Sensei! You're here." Kaede couldn't help sounding excited.
"Mhm. I figured you were about done, so I came. These are the ones surrendering, right?" Kaede glanced over the group and spoke flatly.
"Yes. They're the clan heads of the Yamanaka and Nara. At the fiercest point of the battle they brought out their remaining clansmen and surrendered. I just haven't decided how to handle them… or these elders and children." Kaede frowned slightly. "We've already cut down most of their fighters, but their numbers are still large. If we bring them back, I'm worried about problems on the road. But killing them all here doesn't sit right either. Those small clans before charged only because their chiefs were killed. Now that these two have yielded, cutting everyone down is… troublesome. And these three clans are among the top powers in the shinobi world—if we resolve it crudely, it may cause trouble."
"Why overthink it? They're your enemies. If the Uchiha don't intend to spend resources feeding useless mouths, then just kill them and be done."
Kaede's voice was expressionless.
"No—please don't kill us! We're willing to swear fealty to the Uchiha. Let us live!"
The heads of the Yamanaka and Nara blurted out. They didn't want to die; they didn't want their clans erased.
Kaede hesitated. In truth, the Yamanaka, Nara, and Akimichi were useful.
"You decide," Kaede said. "Live or die—it's your call."
If this were the present, Kaede would have ended them without hesitation. But this was the past. He was Uchiha by blood, yes, but ultimately an outsider here. The clan would have to be managed by Kaede. If Kaede's nature was twisted into indecision now, who knew what the future would become?
"…Alright."
Kaede exhaled, letting go of his inner misgivings.
"You don't have to die. But if you dare harbor any other thoughts, I'll kill you immediately. Swallow this. It's a secret medicine of the Uchiha used to control vassals. If you betray us, the drug will make you die in agony."
Kaede produced a small bottle of pills and handed them over.
Seeing that the Uchiha would spare them, the two chiefs nodded at once and swallowed the pills without hesitation. Their chakra was then sealed away, and they became docile.
As for the resources of the three clans, the Uchiha took everything. Spoils of war are spoils of war.
On the road back, if they encountered scouts of other clans, they killed those who discovered them; if some escaped, they didn't bother to chase. Soon enough, the entire shinobi world would know. There was no point hiding it.
Upon returning, the captives from the other clans were settled temporarily—but until they proved true submission to the Uchiha, they would not receive good treatment.
This time, even though Kaede had accompanied Kaede to attack the three clans, he had interfered very little. The credit for breaking these clans belonged to Kaede.
Tajima was delighted, and Izuna was equally proud of his elder brother. Only by becoming stronger would their clan grow stronger.
"Good. The victory feast has already been prepared. Get some rest and then come out at once to celebrate."
The battle had been costly. Of the dozens Kaede had led, five or six Uchiha were dead, and more than twenty were wounded—even though these were elite trained with ninjutsu that Kaede had refined. If it had been ordinary clansmen, casualties might have been half or worse. After all, the Yamanaka, Akimichi, and Nara were weighty powers among the clans.
For the fallen, their Sharingan would be brought back and they themselves buried in the clan cemetery. Their families would be well cared for by the Uchiha.
While the Uchiha celebrated loudly, the other clans wore bitter faces. The Hagoromo clan, especially, felt dread.
In their heyday they had once fought a great war with the Uchiha—and most importantly, they had killed Tajima's third and fourth sons. Those two had died miserably at Hagoromo hands. The Hagoromo had wanted to take Uchiha bloodline power, but after killing the sons they were defeated before they could even carry away the bodies, and had to withdraw in frustration. From then on, it was an unending blood feud.
Worse, they had also once annihilated members of the Senju; Tobima and Wakama had fallen to them as well. Those two children had had real skill—even though they'd only gone out to fetch water, not to fight on the front lines…
(End of Chapter)
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