Chapter 169 : The Magical Brain Circuit!

Senju Isamu appeared to be an elderly tea enthusiast, frequently indulging in the delicate art of tea tasting. He graciously presented the tea set and expertly poured a cup for Kazuhiko while sharing his morning tea routine.

"I enjoy having a cup of tea in the morning and another after lunch. You've arrived just in time; come, savor the tea I've brewed."

"Thank you, Uncle Isamu," replied Kazuhiko, respectfully addressing the elder of the Senju clan.

Kazuhiko brought the tea to his lips, acknowledging the Senju Isamu's status within the clan. He took a sip, appreciating the flavor, and then finished the remaining half of the cup.

Kazuhiko expressed his thoughts, "I may not understand much about tea, but I can feel the intricacy in its taste. Bitter and sweet, especially with the second sip, it becomes even more unique. I like it; this is good tea!"

Senju Isamu, pleased by Kazuhiko's candid response, smiled. Internally, he admired the young man's genuine nature, thinking, "This is a true person, sincere without pretense. It seems he may not know much, but he is wise."

As they continued to share a few more cups of tea, Kazuhiko, seemingly oblivious to any underlying tension, quietly enjoyed the moment.

Finally, Senju Isamu gently placed his teacup on the wooden table, his gaze upon Kazuhiko filled with complexity.

"The Land of the Whirlpool," Senju Isamu spoke after a pause, "How is it faring now?"

Aware of the turmoil in the Land of the Whirlpool, he had not personally intervened to assist.

This weighed heavily on him, as it was his father, Senju Hashirama, who had entered into a covenant with the Uzumaki clan. Over the years, the Uzumaki clan had been steadfast allies to Konoha, but now Konoha owed them a debt.

"All is well," Kazuhiko responded nonchalantly. "After the war, we received reparations from Kirigakure. Reconstruction has commenced, and things should return to normal soon. The Land of the Whirlpool will thrive once again."

"Good to hear," Senju Isamu sighed in relief, his guilt alleviated by Kazuhiko's assurance.

Although he knew the Land of the Whirlpool had weathered the storm, hearing it directly from Kazuhiko provided a sense of closure.

Observing the spirited young man before him, Senju Isamu couldn't help but be moved.

So young!

The shinobi world had never seen someone so youthful and formidable. Even his father, Senju Hashirama, hadn't displayed such strength at this age.

Finally, after a moment of silence, Senju Isamu looked into Kazuhiko's eyes and softly asked, "Do the Uzumakis harbor any resentment towards Konoha?"

Kazuhiko was taken aback when he heard the question, looking up at Senju Isamu in front of him, and remained silent for a long time.

Hate? Certainly! The Uzumaki clan harbors much resentment towards Konoha now, but what's the point of discussing it at this moment?

Moreover, as he mentioned, Sarutobi Hiruzen and Danzo might not represent all of Konoha; they might just be the faces of the Leaf Village.

The present state of the Uzushiogakure cannot endure such turmoil.

Thus, Kazuhiko displayed a conflicted expression, let out a sigh, and spoke.

"Hate alone is not enough. We can understand that Konoha acts in the interest of peace for the ninja world."

Regardless of the correctness of the actions, as long as the intention is peace, it is considered right. This is the best political correctness in the world of shinobi.

"Haha!" Senju Isamu chuckled and shook his head. He could discern that Kazuhiko still held grievances against Konoha, but...

He also empathized because, after all, Konoha had committed numerous wrongs...

It wasn't grave; as long as it wasn't hatred, time could heal a person's inner wounds, especially a teenager.

He believed that with some reparations and a few more years, things would significantly improve.

For instance, he was aware that his daughter Tsunade had been getting along well with Kazuhiko lately, even though she was a bit older...

Contemplating this, he cast a glance at Kazuhiko, a person who truly belied his age.

"This time, Konoha indeed owes the Land of Whirlpools an apology," Senju Isamu admitted, shaking his head.

"But back then, Konoha couldn't intervene easily. Achieving peace is challenging, and Konoha feared that direct interference might spark a new war."

Upon hearing Senju Isamu's explanation, Kazuhiko was left speechless, unable to comprehend the reasoning.

Being bullied to their doorstep, Konoha, in the name of peace, refrained from acting. Instead, they watched as their kin suffered, planning to disperse the Land of Whirlpools to other ninja villages to quell animosity. After all, they were loyal allies!

Once peace was secured, what about the Land of Whirlpools? Oh, right, forget it—the Land of Whirlpools is no more, and they can't voice their concerns.

Kazuhiko, at last, chose to remain silent, occasionally sipping his tea.

He genuinely didn't know what to say; this line of thinking was baffling. He found himself at a loss for words.

"But the Senju clan did attempt to persuade Lord Hokage. Though it proved futile, we did dispatch support to the Land of Fire's borders. If the Land of Whirlpools truly can't endure, we can promptly rescue some Uzumaki individuals."

Sensing Kazuhiko's discontent, Senju Isamu quickly added, "We want to help, but this is the extent we can go to."

"Lord Hokage and Elder Danzo have had their eyes on the Senju clan for a while now; our hands are tied..."

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