Chapter 190: The Older Cousin's Dream Is Stranded Once Again

"Bang!"

The fragile wooden door to Uchiha Madara's bedroom was as good as non-existent. Under the brute strength of Uchiha Gin, the door leaf, carved with the clan emblem, was shattered by a single palm strike. The broken door let out a miserable wail as it crashed heavily to the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust.

"Hey, hey, hey! I told you not to be impulsive, brother! Now everything is ruined!"

Uchiha Izuna, who had been unable to stop him in time, saw this scene and covered his face with his hand, feeling great regret in his heart. This older cousin was truly unreliable.

Ignoring Uchiha Izuna, who was heartbroken on the side, Uchiha Gin walked into Uchiha Madara's bedroom on his own, turning his head to look around at the room where his older cousin usually lived and rested.

Although it was the room of the clan leader's son, it was not as luxurious as he had imagined. The bed was not made of golden nanmu, and the table was not made of yellow rosewood. Apart from being relatively spacious, it was no different from an ordinary household.

Uchiha Madara, who was usually always in combat gear, was currently wearing a loose, dark blue robe, sitting cross-legged in the center of the room.

"I have already said, do not disturb me."

His custom-made red armor and sword were neatly placed in front of him. Hearing the intruder's voice, he slowly opened his eyes, a glimmer of spirit flashing through his ink-colored pupils.

"Older cousin? Are you planning to turn over a new leaf?"

Uchiha Gin did not take Uchiha Madara's warning to heart. He immediately leaned in close to his older cousin. Looking at the armor that had been wiped until it looked brand new, Uchiha Gin raised an eyebrow and spoke to his expressionless older cousin.

Hearing this, Uchiha Madara turned his head in surprise, looking at his cousin who was usually never serious, and slowly opened his mouth to say,

"Why would you think that?"

"Sigh~ You kid have been like this since you were little; you can't stand having people behind you, and you can't hide anything on your face."

"."

Uchiha Gin sighed, patted Uchiha Madara on the shoulder, and then sat down opposite him, extending a finger to rub the older cousin's brand-new armor, his eyes full of amusement.

"Admitted defeat?"

Staring at the indifferent Uchiha Madara, whose eyes held a sense of emptiness, for a long while, until the other's gaze became evasive, Uchiha Gin chuckled, his tone slightly provocative.

"I don't... I am indeed no match for Hashirama."

Hearing Uchiha Gin's mocking words, the usually proud Uchiha Madara was just about to retort, but then recalled the embarrassing state of being held in the palm of that Great Buddha. After hesitating for a moment, he still admitted that his skills were indeed inferior to others, but even so, he still had to drag someone else down with him.

"Even Father came back heavily injured."

That's right, when Father returned, his face was covered in blood; one look and you could tell he had been smashed in the face by that Great Buddha.

Old Uncle is heavily injured?

Fine, fine, fine. I knew that old guy didn't have a word of truth in his mouth; he'd say anything to sound impressive.

I was even thinking of writing his battle record into the Konoha Chronicles to brag about it later, but now it seems it's better to keep it hidden; it's just embarrassing to bring it up.

"Do you think you're inferior to that bowl-cut kid?"

Uchiha Gin curled his lip, and after grumbling about his uncle in his heart, he asked Uchiha Madara again.

"Bowl-cut? You mean Hashirama, right? He has changed his hairstyle now."

Thick eyebrows and big eyes, long hair flowing, it's actually quite good-looking...

"I have fought him no fewer than a hundred times over these years, and I have always won more than I lost. I have never felt that I am worse than him in any way."

Uchiha Madara recalled the bits and pieces of these years; he remembered every move, every style, every word, and every action of the other party clearly.

"Then why are you so depressed this time?"

Uchiha Gin was a bit confused. They had been fighting for so many years, and he had only lost this once, so why was he suddenly so emo? This didn't seem like his older cousin's style.

"Actually, it's not just this time. In the last few confrontations, I..."

Uchiha Madara raised his head, his furrowed brows tight enough to crush a Nine-Tails, his tone filled with deep confusion.

"I haven't won a single time, and each time I was defeated faster than the last. This time, I was captured in a single exchange."

As if summoning all his courage, Uchiha Madara gritted his teeth and said, his mind full of memories of being hung up and hammered by a wooden man.

"I get it. Is it because after that bowl-cut kid learned that Wood Release, you haven't won since?"

Uchiha Gin slapped his palm, suddenly enlightened.

Sure enough, Rome wasn't built in a day; his older cousin's confidence was being dismantled bit by bit by Hashirama's Wood Release.

"Yes. Even though I practiced with you and thought I had found a way to break it, in the end, all I got was even greater humiliation."

Uchiha Madara clenched his fists tightly, his eyes full of unwillingness. He had clearly analyzed the optimal solution, but Hashirama could always pull out something new every time.

Just like that tall and towering Arhat from a few days ago, which threw his confidence onto the ground and rubbed it repeatedly.

No, no, my foolish little brother, my Wood Release is just for fun. A serious person would start with a Deep Forest Emergence to set the stage, and then summon a Wood Golem in attack mode.

If you dare to activate your Susanoo to resist, the opponent will directly use a Magic Card—Sage Mode, and hit you with a full-screen AOE True Several Thousand Hands. Thousands of slaps will hit you so hard your own cousin won't recognize you.

Why are you still fighting? Just join him, that's the way~

"Sigh~ The responsibility lies with your cousin. It was my Wood Release that gave you the illusion that you could defeat that bowl-cut kid. Next time, I will definitely work hard to make you feel at home."

Uchiha Gin didn't expect that his own holding back would give his older cousin the illusion that he could fight against Wood Release Hashirama at this stage. It was truly a crime deserving of death.

"It's all in the past. I have already let it go."

Uchiha Madara closed his eyes, looking as if he had truly let go, and said indifferently.

"Although Father is in the prime of his life, Izuna, you must not forget to practice diligently. The future of the Uchiha clan is entrusted to you."

"Huh?"

Uchiha Izuna, who was kneeling on the side and daydreaming, suddenly heard what his older brother said and was too surprised to speak for a moment. Did his brother mean he was going to just lie flat and give up?

"Don't! Little brother, you can't just give up like this. Your falling behind is only temporary; no one can say for sure what the future holds."

Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river; just outlive that brat Senju Hashirama and you'll win!

"In the last battle, I could already feel the gap between us. It's not something that can be made up for by training."

Uchiha Madara was very moved by Uchiha Gin's encouragement, but the deep sense of powerlessness he felt when fighting Hashirama last time had created a mental block in his heart.

Constant self-doubt made him start to wonder if he could really lead the Uchiha clan to long-lasting prosperity in the Land of Fire.

Tsk! This is tricky. His older cousin's cheat code is slow to come online, while Senju Hashirama's version updated ahead of him, and he's almost been hammered into autism by Wood Release.

It seems the Eye-Opening Plan must be implemented immediately to let his older cousin regain his confidence and restore his masculine vigor!

"Older cousin, actually I have a way..."

Uchiha Gin opened his mouth to persuade, but was interrupted by Uchiha Madara waving his hand.

"Cousin, don't waste your breath. My mind is made up. You guys should go."

With that, Uchiha Madara closed his eyes like an old monk in meditation.

"Big Brother!"

Seeing that Uchiha Gin's intervention didn't work, Uchiha Izuna jumped up in a hurry. He didn't want to shoulder such a heavy burden at such a young age. If the sky fell, his big brother and older cousin could just hold it up; he only wanted to slack off.

"Say no more, Izuna."

Uchiha Gin raised his hand to stop his agitated younger cousin, shaking his head to signal him not to be anxious yet.

He then turned his head and stared at the expressionless Uchiha Madara, looking him up and down. When he caught sight of a fan placed by his older cousin's feet, a glimmer of realization flashed in his eyes. No wonder there was a rhythmic sound of footsteps in the room; so he was practicing this!

"Older cousin, is that a dance fan?"

Uchiha Gin pointed to the fan by Uchiha Madara's feet and asked.

"It's just an ordinary fan for cooling off. The weather has been a bit hot lately."

Uchiha Madara opened his eyes upon hearing this, kicked the fan aside with his foot, his tone somewhat unnatural.

"Oh~~~ So it's for cooling off?"

Uchiha Gin's eyes were full of mockery, the corners of his mouth curling into a devilish arc, and he said awkwardly,

"Whoosh~~~"

Because Uchiha Gin had removed the bedroom door, the cold wind outside blew in, and the three people present all shivered at the same time. The scene instantly turned cold.

"Hehe, it seems my older cousin hasn't forgotten his childhood dream. Then, Cousin wishes you a dream come true! I'll definitely bring everyone in the clan to cheer you on when the time comes!"

Uchiha Gin stood up with a smile, pulled Uchiha Izuna, who was still confused, and walked outside.

"Wait..."

Uchiha Madara's expression was strange, as if he were in a battle between heaven and man in his heart. His cold face turned blue and then white, and finally, unable to hold it in any longer, he slowly opened his mouth.

"Cousin! I think I can do it again!"

"Really?"

Uchiha Gin turned his head, his eyes full of teasing, and asked for confirmation.

"Absolutely true! It's just a mere Hashirama; next time I will definitely cut his big wooden sticks down!"

Uchiha Madara grabbed the sword he had been keeping by his side, drew the blade, and for a moment, cold light flashed everywhere. He swung it a few times, the wind from the blade sharp, and he promised with certainty.

It seems his older cousin's dream of stardom is going to be stranded again.

Uchiha Gin nodded with satisfaction, looking at his energetic older cousin, and gave him the highest affirmation.

"Good! Very spirited!"

"I'm going to train right now!"

()╯╰()

Although he was coerced, since the words were already out, Uchiha Madara didn't want to continue being decadent.

When he walked to the door, he turned his head to look at Uchiha Gin and Izuna, who were high-fiving in celebration behind him. A slight smile curled the corners of Uchiha Madara's frozen mouth, a look of determination rising in his eyes, as he thought to himself,

For the sake of the family who loves me, I cannot lose again.

Just wait, Hashirama! I will also prove to you that what I carry is no less than what you carry!

When I, Uchiha Madara, return as a king, I will also hold you in the palm of my hand and humiliate you at will to avenge the hatred in my heart!

"Wait~ Older cousin, where are you going to train?"

Tsk! With you training alone like this, when will your cheat code ever come online? Why don't you hurry up and get into Cousin's bowl; I'll take you to pilot a Gundam and take you to fly~

(End of chapter)