Chapter 248: Captain Uchiha, Here to Pay Respects

After a brief and friendly consultation, the four Tailed Beasts led by the Nine-Tails willingly signed a strategic agreement for win-win cooperation with Senju Hashirama.

"Release."

"Roar!!"~

As Senju Hashirama lifted the binding of the Four-Pillar Prison, the four Tailed Beasts, having regained their freedom, raised their heads one after another and let out deafening roars.

The sound waves, carrying huge air currents, stirred up dust that filled the sky, forcing the onlookers to cover their faces.

The moment it regained its freedom, a flash of light flickered in the Nine-Tails' eyes.

Looking at Senju Hashirama, who was covering his face, it quietly retreated a small step, its huge beast pupils showing cunning, seeking a path to escape.

Let me help you humans fight? Keep dreaming!

However, just as the Nine-Tails was preparing to slip away, several thick wooden branches suddenly pulled up from the ground, startling it so much that it subconsciously clenched its butt crack, almost unable to hold it in.

Uh... I don't think I've even moved yet, is this human's perception so strong?

The Nine-Tails muttered in its heart, then closed its eyes, waiting for the wooden branch binding play.

"Roar~"

But, after waiting for a long time, the Nine-Tails didn't feel that suffocating tightness. Instead, a familiar scream made it open its eyes instantly and look toward the source of the sound.

It saw Kokuo, the Five-Tails, struggling and falling to the ground, its four slender hooves firmly entangled by thick wooden branches.

At the same time, the miserable screams coming from its mouth made the hearts of many Tailed Beasts tighten.

"Beings must keep their word... Beasts even more so!"

Senju Hashirama, with his hands pressed together, looked at the Five-Tails with a serious face, his tone very intimidating.

It turned out that after Kokuo, the Five-Tails, was released, it started its own little schemes.

Its eyes rolled around. The Five-Tails felt that as the Tailed Beast that ran the fastest, slipping away from this human's hands would be simple. Being captured before was just its own carelessness.

Thinking of this, it lifted its hooves, preparing to run toward the direction without obstacles.

But it never expected that this human had been prepared long ago. The moment it lifted one foot, several wooden branches had already bound it tightly with lightning speed.

Suddenly struck, Kokuo's balance was broken. After falling to the ground with a bang, it could only lie on the ground trembling like a lamb waiting to be slaughtered.

"Cough, cough, cough... I didn't want to run, I was just warming up~"

The Five-Tails, countered by Wood Release, felt all its strength being drained. It barely propped up its head and explained weakly to Senju Hashirama, who had an unhappy face.

"Hi~ You should have said so earlier! I thought you wanted to run!"

Senju Hashirama laughed when he heard this, which could be considered giving Kokuo a way out. Then he loosened his hands, and the wooden branches slowly relaxed, eventually turning into rotten wood.

"You guys, go for it. True freedom is right before your eyes~"

With a very warm expression, Senju Hashirama clapped his hands and encouraged the four terrified Tailed Beasts.

Leading the four now-honest Tailed Beasts, Senju Hashirama came to Uchiha Madara. Looking at his close friend who was resting with his eyes closed, he scratched his head with some embarrassment and said.

"Sorry, Madara, kept you waiting~"

"Doesn't matter, let's start."

Slowly opening his scarlet eyes, Uchiha Madara revealed a rare smile on his cold face. Full of anticipation, he was already poised and ready to meet Senju Hashirama's challenge.

Just at this moment, a blue lightning bolt suddenly streaked across the clear sky, and the familiar white-hair made a grand entrance~

"Then, I shall serve as the referee for this time~"

Senju Tobirama, with his arms crossed, appeared between the two contestants. The light in his scarlet eyes turned slightly, and then he spoke slowly, stating his identity.

He, Senju Tobirama, is absolutely impartial!

"Boo~"

As Senju Tobirama's words fell, thunderous boos erupted throughout the field. The deafening applause he had imagined did not appear.

"What do you mean by that?"

Frowning, Senju Tobirama looked at the people below with a gloomy face. Especially Uchiha Izuna, who even made a highly insulting gesture to express his dissatisfaction.

Uchiha Gin, calm and collected, stood up from the folding stool and looked directly into Senju Tobirama's gloomy eyes without fear.

Then he turned his head, looked at the silent members of the Ninja Clan Alliance, and said seriously.

"Having people from your Senju clan act as referees all the time is really unfair. Don't you agree, Sasuke, my brother?"

Not expecting Uchiha Gin to put him on the spot, Sarutobi Sasuke, who was on pins and needles, had to bite the bullet and reply.

"Uh... it really is a bit..."

Waving his hand to signal Sarutobi Sasuke not to be nervous—the Uchiha clan was his solid backing—Uchiha Gin looked at Senju Tobirama, whose face was as gloomy as dripping water, and said in a negotiating tone that brooked no refusal.

"Look, everyone thinks so. How about this round, we let the Uchiha send a referee, how about that?"

"Exactly, exactly~"

Senju Ban, who didn't think the show was big enough, also fanned the flames on the side, making Senju Tobirama feel a wave of sorrow in his heart.

The waist that had just straightened up was bent again by his own sister.

"Since it is the idea of the majority, I shall naturally comply. For this round, you Uchiha clan send a referee to supervise the battle."

Sighing in his heart, Senju Tobirama lowered his hands and nodded at Uchiha Gin, indicating that he was withdrawing from the refereeing world.

Seeing that the position of referee was about to fall into the hands of the Uchiha, little cousin Izuna was instantly excited, tugged at Uchiha Gin's arm, and recommended himself.

"Big cousin! Let me go, I guarantee a black whistle~"

"Stare~" The white-hair's gaze.

"Cough, cough, cough... Izuna, how can you say such heart-chilling words~"

Unobtrusively shaking off Uchiha Izuna's hand, Uchiha Gin immediately drew a line with him.

His gaze was full of regret, as if he were looking at a child who had gone astray, appearing very heartbroken.

"Forget it, let me, this elder, preside over justice for you all!"

Since his little cousin had already exposed himself and was ineligible to be a referee, the only person left who could take on the job was himself.

"You're acting as referee?"

Senju Tobirama withdrew his mocking gaze from Uchiha Izuna, looked at Uchiha Gin, who was sighing endlessly, raised an eyebrow, and asked in surprise.

"Is that not allowed? Does a referee need a license to work?"

"That's not the case. If you're the one doing it, I have no objections."

Uchiha Gin was a bit curious about why Senju Tobirama didn't stop him. This white-hair was a ruthless person who would even shake the yolk of the eggs sold by the Uchiha Trading Company.

"Then I'm going up~"

Seeing that Senju Tobirama had no objections, Uchiha Gin turned his gaze to the two people in the competition, his eyes filled with inquiry.

"I trust Big Brother Gin's way of doing things!"

Senju Hashirama had a bottom line in his heart and wasn't panicked at all. He smiled and nodded at Uchiha Gin, indicating he had no objections.

"..."

Uchiha Madara didn't speak, which was equivalent to tacit consent, but his face had a strange look. He always felt that his cousin would cause trouble.

"Hmph, hmph! Here I come~"

Bearing a heavy responsibility, Uchiha Gin straightened his face, reached into the bag on his back and fumbled for a while, slowly pulled out a luxurious golden staff, and then flew forward with a loud laugh.

Along with the disappearance of his figure, a deafening sound echoed throughout the entire battlefield.

"First: Absolutely do not act on impulse."

"Second: Absolutely do not miss judging any bad deeds."

"Third: Absolutely judge fairly and beautifully."

Landing steadily, holding the golden staff high, Uchiha Gin declared loudly to everyone present.

"Ding, ding, ding~ Captain Uchiha, here to pay respects!"

"Clap, clap, clap~ Wow~"

Senju Ban's eyes lit up, and her little hands clapped until they were red.

Such a soul-stirring declaration, such a handsome entrance—truly the man I have my eyes on.

"Uh, this..."

Uchiha Hikari and Uchiha Hikari on the side were relatively calm. After looking at each other, a trace of shame appeared on their beautiful faces simultaneously.

These lines were just too shameful~

"I didn't expect Mr. Gin to be such an impartial person. Truly a role model for our generation!"

The members of the Ninja Clan Alliance were also shocked by Uchiha Gin's statement. Sarutobi Sasuke nodded excitedly, unable to help but comment.

"Hmph! Definitely faking it. If it's not a black whistle, I'll stand on my head and eat ten jin of shit!"

Prejudice is truly like a mountain. Shimura Kenichi, after a brief moment of dullness, snorted coldly, indicating that if Uchiha Madara could lose, he would eat all the stock in the Konoha public toilet on the spot.

Scamming food and drink?

"Sigh~ Can we start now?"

Uchiha Madara, whose face twitched fiercely, looked stiffly at the smug-looking Uchiha Gin, suppressed a mouthful of old blood in his throat, and asked in a deep voice.

Uchiha Madara felt that every second now was a torment. He had almost dug out a four-bedroom, two-living-room apartment on Isobu's bald forehead.

"Big Brother Gin, you set the rules!"

Senju Hashirama, also with eyes lighting up, smiled and said to the new referee who had just taken office.

"Hmm~ Since neither side has any objections, then I announce, the first Konoha Village Pokémon Master Tournament, officially begins!"

Having received the approval of both contestants, Uchiha Gin felt that he had a heavy responsibility and didn't dare to slack off for a second. A faint light flickered in his dead-fish eyes, and he already had a plan in his heart.

He then threw the golden staff in his hand into the sky. It split into four in mid-air and landed steadily in the four corners of the field.

In an instant, an obscure and profound power was transmitted from the staff to the ground. Golden ripples spread rapidly, and in the blink of an eye, they enveloped the eight massive Tailed Beasts.

And the audience outside the field was isolated by this power.

Then, only a flash of blinding golden light passed, and a ring capable of accommodating several Tailed Beasts appeared before everyone.

Seeing this unbelievable scene, everyone present was shocked. They didn't expect that Uchiha Gin, who seemed unreliable, would have such magical means.

Trying to touch the golden transparent barrier, they found that the golden light inside the barrier was flickering, and no matter how hard they tried, they couldn't shake it in the slightest.

"What is this?"

Then, several confused eyes stared straight at Uchiha Gin, who had a satisfied face, waiting for his explanation.

"Sigh~ That was quite exhausting!"

Wiping the non-existent cold sweat from his forehead, Uchiha Gin let out a sigh and looked at the stage he had built, revealing a gratified smile.

"Big cousin, where did you learn this move?"

After sensing it for a while, Uchiha Madara finally put down his cold demeanor and asked his cousin.

What kind of ninjutsu is this golden barrier?

Uchiha Gin, when asked, blurted out.

"Hehe, see that staff? That was something I spent a huge price on, from..."

Preparing to use the excuse he had already worn out to fool everyone again.

"It's the Land of Crafts again, right? Can you change your story?"

Uchiha Gin's excuse was something his ears were almost calloused from hearing. In the past, he was young and ignorant and believed it deeply.

But later, when he occasionally passed through the Land of Crafts while doing missions, he learned that the people of the Land of Crafts had never even heard of the ninja tools his big cousin used.

"Cough, cough, cough... I've explained to you how many times, these are ninja tools exclusively made by a hidden family in the Land of Crafts. They are all unique items, not available on the market."

Coughing a few times, Uchiha Gin replied with a normal expression.

Seeing his sincere expression that didn't look fake, Uchiha Madara couldn't help but mutter in his heart.

Could it be that the guy named Seimei was lying to me?

Phew~ Big cousin is getting harder and harder to fool.

Looking at the frowning Uchiha Madara, Uchiha Gin secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Then, looking at the golden barrier rising around him, a look of smugness flashed in his eyes.

This golden barrier was originally called the "Four Red Yang Formation," an A-rank barrier ninjutsu he had drawn from the backyard.

The contributor was Monkey~

However, the original version was red, and the barrier was attached with scorching chakra, making it impossible for people to touch.

After Uchiha Gin's modification, using Yang Release chakra full of healing power to replace the scorching Fire Release chakra,

It eliminated the lethality while strengthening its defensive power. In addition, the ability of self-repair was added, and the color also changed from red to the current gold.

As a magic-modified version, Uchiha Gin named it the "Four Shining Yang Formation."

It's not the four table-flipping Crow Brothers, oh~

"So it's a ninja tool. I didn't expect it to have progressed to this point."

Unlike Uchiha Madara, Senju Hashirama believed Uchiha Gin's words deeply. He touched the golden barrier with his hand and looked at the four staffs stuck in the ground with glowing eyes, exclaiming.

"Can ninja tools reach this point?"

As one of the top scientific research masters in the Land of Fire, Senju Tobirama was not so easy to fool. From this golden barrier, he could perceive a rich aura of Yang Release.

If it was the effect of a ninja tool, then this technology must be monopolized by them; otherwise, if it fell into the hands of the enemy, it would become a major disaster.

"Hey, hey, hey, Kurama, what are you spacing out for?"

Equally surprised were the four Tailed Beasts with normal consciousness. After the Five-Tails had examined the Four Shining Yang Formation for a long time,

It found that the usually noisy Nine-Tails was terrifyingly quiet at this time, and its attention was not on the barrier, but staring tightly at that curly-haired human.

"Didn't you guys perceive it?"

The Nine-Tails, interrupted in its thinking, turned its head with furrowed brows. Its yellow beast pupils were filled with deep confusion.

"Know that your perception is strong, don't show off~"

Saiken, the Six-Tails, also leaned over. Hearing the Nine-Tails' words, it shook the tentacles on its head and said.

"That human has the old man's aura on him... No, not just the old man, but also the aura of his lecherous younger brother!"

Sniffing its nose, the Nine-Tails confirmed it several times, but the result remained the same.

"Uh... how is that possible? Do you have rhinitis? Saiken, I told you long ago not to scatter your crappy scales!"

Kokuo shook its head, revealing an expression of disbelief. After examining Uchiha Gin itself, it bluntly stated that the Nine-Tails' perception had gone wrong, and the culprit was that traitor Saiken.

"I just feel that human is quite punchable, and he doesn't have anything to do with the old man at all~"

"Indeed..."

The Nine-Tails covered its nose and observed only with its eyes, also feeling that Uchiha Gin was very punchable, and then began to doubt itself.

"This is the effect of a ninja tool. After injecting chakra, it will unfold a barrier. People outside cannot enter it, and attacks from inside cannot cause damage to the outside of the barrier."

Summarizing the effect of the ninja tool, Uchiha Gin rolled his eyes, raised his right hand, and said.

"Now, I will announce the competition rules."

The people who were still studying the barrier had their attention attracted. Looking at the expectant gazes of the crowd, Uchiha Gin said loudly.

"The competition is a king-of-the-hill match. Both sides send one Tailed Beast to compete. The loser leaves the field, the winner stays to defend the hill, until one side's Tailed Beasts are all defeated. The side standing on the ring last wins!"

Everyone nodded upon hearing this. The rules set by Uchiha Gin were very simple and didn't have any favoritism, making people convinced.

"I really didn't misjudge the person."

Senju Tobirama, feeling settled in his heart, looked at Uchiha Gin's curly hair that moved without wind, and nodded with gratification.

"Then, please have both contestants send out their Tailed Beasts for battle!"

After confirming that both sides had no objections, Uchiha Gin raised his hands high, signaling the start of the competition.

"Madara, the strength of a Tailed Beast is linked to the number of tails, you know~"

Seeing the competition start, Senju Hashirama smiled and said to Uchiha Madara, who had a choice-making difficulty.

"Hmph~ How is that possible!"

Uchiha Madara naturally didn't believe such a statement. He then lowered his head, looked at the blue big cat lying at his feet, red light flashed in his eyes, and he asked.

"You Tailed Beasts, do you measure strength by the number of tails?"

"Nonsense, meow. Our tails are just decorations; strength still depends on each individual's means."

Matatabi, when asked, even though hypnotized, didn't forget that "tails are useless" statement.

"Then good, you go first, and prove it to me with your strength."

Practice is the only criterion for testing truth.

Since you say tails are useless, then let you go on the field first.

"Meow~"

The hypnotized Matatabi had no room to resist. Under Uchiha Madara's manipulation, it jumped onto the golden ring, its scarlet eyes giving people an invisible sense of oppression.

"Sigh~ Madara, why do you just not believe it~"

Sighing and shaking his head, this Uchiha Madara really wouldn't give up until he saw the Yellow River.

Then he turned his head to look at the four Tailed Beasts whispering behind him and asked.

"Who goes first?"

"Fighting that guy Matatabi? I'll go~"

The four Tailed Beasts temporarily put aside the topic of Uchiha Gin. Looking at the Two-Tails that had already jumped onto the ring, after some discussion, Kokuo stood out.

No help for it, who told it to have the fewest tails~

After saying that, it turned into a white lightning bolt, and within a breath, appeared on the ring.

"Good~ First round, Two-Tails vs. Five-Tails, battle... start!"

A scene like a Tailed Beast brawl was very rare. Uchiha Gin watched the two Tailed Beasts poised for battle with great interest, waved a flag he had gotten from who knows where, and announced the start of the competition with a big wave of his hand.

"Roar!"

As Uchiha Gin's flag fell, the blue Matatabi instantly disappeared from where it was.

The next moment, sharp cat claws had quietly landed on Kokuo's head. This strike showed no mercy at all.

"Hmph~"

Even though the cat claws were about to land on its head, Kokuo didn't panic at all. A hint of contempt floated in its eyes, and the four sharp horns on its forehead suddenly lifted, carrying unparalleled brute force, meeting the Two-Tails' signature cat claws.

"Boom!"

The two collided. Only a loud bang was heard. In the astonished gaze of the crowd, the Two-Tails, which had just sworn that tails didn't represent anything, was sent flying for dozens of meters, and then smashed heavily against the golden barrier.

The huge impact force made the people behind the barrier subconsciously dodge.

As a result, the massive body of the Tailed Beast didn't shake the barrier at all, not even causing a ripple.

"Just this? Just this?"

The Five-Tails shook its head, which was feeling a bit of pain, raised its head, looked at Matatabi gasping on the ground, and mocked sarcastically.

"Sigh~ Damn it!"

Feeling as if its whole body was falling apart, the Two-Tails gritted its teeth and stood up. Looking at the smug Five-Tails, it then opened its huge mouth, and a huge fireball shot out from its mouth, aiming straight at Kokuo.

"Who are you looking down on?"

Kokuo didn't continue to indulge the Two-Tails; after all, the outcome was related to its freedom.

Thinking of this, it decisively opened its huge mouth, and a black Tailed Beast Bomb expanded in its mouth.

In comparison, the fireball spat out by the Two-Tails seemed a bit shabby.

"Tailed Beast Bomb!"

Seeing the Five-Tails playing for real, the Two-Tails didn't continue to probe. A black Tailed Beast Bomb also brewed in its mouth, deciding to settle the outcome in one move.

"Bang!"

Both Tailed Beast Bombs were fully charged. Only a flash of light flickered in the eyes of the two beasts, and the huge Tailed Beast Bombs shot out. The scorching chakra collided together, emitting a deafening explosion.

As the smoke from the explosion dissipated, everyone stretched their necks curiously, wanting to get a glimpse of the truth.

"Who won?"

Only the two Tailed Beasts in the field remained in the posture of firing the Tailed Beast Bomb, their fur covered in a bit of charred black.

"Ah~"

Just when everyone thought the outcome was undecided, the blue big cat's figure swayed, and after letting out a sad cry, it fell to the ground with a bang, its sharp eyes turning into mosquito-coil eyes, indicating that it had lost its combat effectiveness.

"Matatabi, now you should be convinced, right?"

Kokuo, covered in charred black, slowly opened its mouth, and a few wisps of white smoke drifted from its mouth.

"First round, Five-Tails wins!"

After confirming that the Two-Tails had lost its combat ability, Uchiha Gin decisively raised the flag and announced the winner to the world.

"Haha~ Madara, sorry about that~"

Senju Hashirama, who had won the first battle, laughed as happily as could be, waving his hands at Uchiha Madara, who had a cold face, and shouted loudly.

"Hmph~ Useless thing!"

Not expecting the Two-Tails to lose so cleanly, Uchiha Madara was so angry his nose was crooked. He didn't even want to look at Matatabi, fixed his gaze on the Four-Tails with bulging muscles, and asked.

"Can you win?"

"Fighting? Old Sun has never been afraid of anyone!"

Radiating a violent aura, the muscular Four-Tails stood up, its huge fists hammering its sturdy chest, showing its strength.

"Then you go, and hammer that mocking white-haired donkey into the ground!"

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 249 =====