Chapter 212: The Fall of the Clan Leader

"Cough! I was careless. I never expected that I, Uchiha Tian Dao, having dominated for half a lifetime, would actually be defeated by a brat like you."

"Uchiha Tian Dao," having been run through by a Flying Thunder God Slash from Senju Tobirama, knelt on one knee. His slightly opened tiger eyes held a trace of bewilderment, as if he had not anticipated his own failure. He clutched his waist, secretly forcing the nearly healed wound open to prevent the blood—which was about to dry—from stopping its flow. He coughed lightly, his words seemingly a mutter to himself, but in reality, he was precisely projecting his voice into the ears of those present.

"Nani? Baka-long!"

Uchiha Madara, who was in the middle of a friendly match with Senju Hashirama, heard the familiar voice and turned his head in confusion. He never imagined that the scene before him would cause his burning heart to feel as if it had fallen into an ice cellar. The war fan he was wielding stopped in mid-air, and he stood frozen in place as if hit by a binding jutsu, staring blankly at his father as he slowly collapsed. His mouth opened slightly, but he could not make a sound.

"Madara, what's wrong with you!"

Senju Hashirama, standing on the head of his Wood Human, looked at the suddenly stunned Uchiha Madara and tilted his head, asking naively. However, when he subconsciously followed the other's gaze and saw Uchiha Tian Dao, who appeared to have been struck down by his own younger brother, he also shouted in surprise.

"Senju Tobirama!"

Sensing his father's gradually fading life force, Uchiha Madara snapped out of his shock. He could no longer care about the battle, dropped his war fan, and flew toward the direction where "Uchiha Tian Dao" had fallen, shouting the killer's name in hatred.

"Ugh, if it's a wrap, just leave! What are you still acting for!"

Uchiha Gin, who had taken the opportunity to lie on the ground, secretly gave frantic eye signals to the incredulous Senju Tobirama, signaling him to run quickly. Otherwise, once the cousin arrived, if a real fight broke out, they would be exposed prematurely.

Unexpectedly, facing his hint, Senju Tobirama seemed to turn a blind eye. He simply looked at his own hands, back and forth, with the expression of someone who had seen a ghost.

"I actually took out Uchiha Tian Dao in seconds? Could it be that I really am the bane of the Uchiha?"

Also sensing the dissipating life force of Uchiha Tian Dao, who had fallen opposite him, Senju Tobirama felt a trace of doubt in his heart, but it was overshadowed by joy.

Just moments ago, Senju Tobirama, who was preparing to pursue Uchiha Izuna, had just stepped off the battlefield when a sense of crisis suddenly arose in his anxious and chaotic heart. An unknown voice echoed within him, telling him that he could not leave his brother alone there; if Uchiha Madara and his father joined forces, his older brother might meet a tragic end.

As the sense of crisis in his heart swelled, Senju Tobirama stopped his pace. A trace of black mist flashed faintly in his scarlet eyes. The image of his brother's tragic death seemed to be right before his eyes. Feeling exceptionally uneasy, he ultimately chose to return to the main battlefield to defend against the enemy alongside his brother.

As the saying goes, when fighting, brothers are the best support; if he didn't go, who would?

Just like that, Senju Tobirama, who arrived back at the main battlefield at the first opportunity, saw his brother locked in a fierce battle with Uchiha Madara and breathed a sigh of relief. Then, seeing Uchiha Tian Dao standing to the side with arms crossed and a predatory look, he steeled his heart and, without further hesitation, threw several shuriken while a Flying Thunder God attack plan flashed through his mind.

"Tsk! What's up with this clone? Can't he see my eyes?"

Uchiha Gin, seeing his signals were fruitless, had no choice but to connect to the chat group in his mental space, preparing to pop up a window for this wood clone who was too deep into his role. Unexpectedly, his dialogue box was filled with countless question marks.

"Main body! I'm here, how should I make my entrance?"

"???"

"Holy crap, why is Senju Tobirama here too?"

"Director! Director?"

"???"

"Fine, looks like you don't need me."

At this moment, ten thousand alpacas were stampeding through Uchiha Gin's heart. Looking at the message from the wood clone, he secretly released his super-sensory perception, only to discover another "Senju Tobirama" on a nearby hill, eating sunflower seeds and watching the show. He was instantly furious.

I praised you for being a veteran actor, but it turns out the real deal is subbing in. No wonder you were so reckless with your strikes.

Things having reached this point, Uchiha Gin, feeling helpless, decided to bite the bullet and finish the play. After a brief thought, he closed his eyes, feigned a look of extreme weakness, and waited quietly for Uchiha Madara's arrival.

"Father!"

Uchiha Madara, who rushed to Uchiha Gin's side, extended trembling hands to gently lift his father, who was breathing his last. Looking at the bright red blood flowing from his waist, the grief in his heart was beyond words.

"Cough, cough... Madara, Father was careless..."

Barely opening his eyes, "Uchiha Tian Dao" coughed a few times, accompanied by a bit of blood foam. He said laboriously to Uchiha Madara, whose face was filled with grief:

"It is all because of Father's eyes; I can no longer even see the trajectory of a kunai."

As he spoke, he pointed to his thick reading glasses and warned Uchiha Madara:

"Father, don't speak. I'll take you back for treatment right now."

"Heh heh~ Want to leave? Did you ask me first?"

Waking from his false joy, Senju Tobirama curled his lips, pulled out the short sword that had just pierced Uchiha Tian Dao's kidney, and filled his scarlet eyes with killing intent. His fingers moved slightly, the aura of the Flying Thunder God emerged, and he prepared to brew a new wave of lethal strikes.

"Tobirama! Stop!"

Hearing a roar, Senju Hashirama descended from above, landed in front of Senju Tobirama, extended his hand to block his whimsical younger brother, and shouted to stop him.

"Big Brother, this is a great opportunity to wipe out the entire Uchiha clan!"

Seeing his older brother being so muddled, Senju Tobirama, anxious in his heart, immediately shouted.

"I said, stop!"

Senju Hashirama, with a gloomy expression, turned his head slightly and glared at his disobedient brother with eyes full of pressure. His mountain-like aura made the eager Senju Tobirama unable to breathe, so he had to sheepishly sheath his short sword, then turned his head away with an indignant look and said no more.

"Madara..."

Senju Hashirama turned back, his eyes filled with a trace of apology, and said softly to Uchiha Madara, who was carrying Uchiha Tian Dao:

"Shut up. Father needs treatment. Let's call a truce for today."

Uchiha Madara, not wanting to deal with Senju Hashirama, couldn't be bothered to say another word. He carried Uchiha Tian Dao, who was breathing more than he was exhaling, and ran toward the camp.

"Sigh~"

Watching Uchiha Madara's retreating back, Senju Hashirama sighed deeply, and a sense of powerlessness welled up in his heart.

"Big Brother, why didn't you take the opportunity to wipe out the Uchiha clan?"

With outsiders gone, it was now time for a family conversation. Senju Tobirama stepped forward, frowning, his scarlet eyes filled with confusion.

"Tobirama, how many enemies do we have left?"

Without answering his brother's question, Senju Hashirama turned around, his deep eyes carrying an unusual luster, and asked back.

"Uh... none. In the entire Land of Fire, only the Uchiha clan remains as our enemy. All other families, large and small, have already submitted."

Facing his brother's counter-question, Senju Tobirama frowned and thought for a moment, then quickly gave the answer. Their Senju clan, relying on their overwhelming comprehensive strength, had already swept across the entire Land of Fire; those who were unconvinced, such as the Hagoromo clan, had already been erased from the Land of Fire by them.

"That's right. The Uchiha clan is the last and most important piece of my dream puzzle."

Recalling the dream he had once shared with Uchiha Madara, Senju Hashirama took a deep breath, looked at his indignant brother, and said:

"Madara and I once envisioned building an ideal village that could protect children from the suffering of war and completely change this era of chaos. If the Uchiha clan does not exist in this village, then this former dream is nothing but empty talk."

Building an ideal village together with Uchiha Madara was the psychological pillar that had supported Senju Hashirama's struggle for many years. All these years of fighting with the Uchiha clan, he was merely biding his time, waiting for the moment when Madara would truly be convinced, so that their ideal village could be officially established.

"I hope things don't develop to the worst possible outcome."

Senju Hashirama looked toward the distant Uchiha camp with worry in his eyes, and a few traces of melancholy could not help but rise in his heart.

"Quick! Elder Miao, save Father!"

Uchiha Madara, wishing he had two more legs, carried the unconscious "Uchiha Tian Dao" back to the camp in a panic and happened to run into Uchiha Miao, who had come to check on his health. Uchiha Madara's eyes lit up with joy; Elder Miao was the clan's number one medical expert, so his father's life could be considered saved.

"Ah! Quickly, push the old clan leader in! You all wait outside!"

Uchiha Miao, "shocked," immediately waved his hand to have them push "Uchiha Tian Dao" into the room, then cleared the area, closed the door, and began emergency treatment.

"Gin?"

After closing the door, Uchiha Miao's face changed instantly. The panicked expression from just a moment ago was swept away. Looking at "Uchiha Tian Dao" bleeding profusely on the bed, he asked in a low voice.

"Hey! Was my acting okay?"

"Uchiha Tian Dao," with a pale face, secretly opened one eye. Seeing Uchiha Miao's teasing expression by the bed, he raised an eyebrow and asked.

"Judging by the clan leader's expression, it was indeed convincing."

Uchiha Miao nodded. Although he hadn't witnessed Uchiha Gin's superb acting, he could guess from the face of Uchiha Madara, who had seen the performance, that this acting was definitely far superior to before.

"That's good. Is the uncle's eye ready?"

Having finally completed the most difficult part, Uchiha Gin still didn't dare to relax and immediately asked Uchiha Miao, one of the participants in this performance.

"It's ready. We're just waiting for you to persuade the clan leader to transplant it."

Turning around, he took out two scarlet eyes soaked in nutrient solution from the medical kit behind him and showed them to Uchiha Gin before answering.

"Hmm, in that case, let the cousin in!"

Taking a look at the Mangekyo Sharingan freshly harvested from his uncle, Uchiha Gin nodded, signaling that his final performance was about to begin.

"It's time to show some real acting skills~"

(End of chapter)