Chapter 252: Thank you for the special invitation to witness your love

Just as Uchiha Gin was preparing a congratulatory gift, the intense interaction on the battlefield was already drawing to a close.

Because both sides of the standoff had been notified in advance and could not engage in real combat, they had no choice but to resort to their less-than-proficient tongues and engage in a war of words.

"Is your Senju clan even capable? Why are you so weak?"

A handsome-looking Uchiha clansman waved his hand to deflect the two fists of a simple-looking Senju clansman in front of him, knitting his sword-like brows as he spoke in a sarcastic, mocking tone that made the other man's teeth itch with anger.

"Hmph, you sharp-tongued fellow! We Senju are famous for our endurance; we aren't like you Uchiha, who are just silver-tipped wax spearheads—good to look at but useless!"

Even a clay figurine has a temper; the simple-minded young man of the Senju clan racked his brains before finally coming up with a retort.

"Hmph~ whether I'm useless or not, you'll know once you try!"

Located behind the Senju clan's camp, inside a tent that had been specially and meticulously decorated, sat a tall figure with long black hair.

Dressed in a white kimono, Toka Senju was filled with anxiety. Her two fair, slender hands were nervously clasped together, and her slightly pale knuckles betrayed her uneasy state of mind.

"Isn't this a bit too fast?"

Having become the clan leader's wife in a daze, Toka Senju had not yet recovered from the shock of her change in status.

Two days ago, Toka Senju, who had been patrolling with her subordinates as usual, was suddenly summoned to the clan leader's office by a written order.

The one interviewing her was the cold-faced second-in-command, Tobirama Senju. The moment she saw him, she couldn't help but recall a shocking scene she had witnessed in the small woods one day.

Terrified that he was there to silence her, Toka Senju never expected that Tobirama Senju would simply look her up and down.

After asking a few simple questions, he nodded reluctantly, saying that there was an important mission concerning the survival of the clan to entrust to her.

With his brows tightly furrowed, Tobirama Senju looked at the tall, beautiful black-haired woman before him. Although somewhat reluctant, he nodded, recalled her resume, and then spoke up to ask:

"Toka Senju, I remember you lived in our house for a period of time when you were young, right?"

"Yes, Lord Tobirama. My father was once a personal guard to the clan leader, so I had the honor of staying in the clan leader's residence."

Not daring to look directly into those oppressive scarlet eyes, Toka Senju lowered her head and replied very respectfully.

"Then, what was your impression of us at that time?"

Tobirama Senju asked Toka Senju in a cold tone, wanting to see if his older brother had left any good impression on this woman in the past.

"Uh, I am truly sorry. At that time, my status was low, and I didn't have much interaction with you young masters, but..."

Toka Senju did not expect him to ask such an ancient question. After pondering for a moment, she answered truthfully.

However, following her train of thought, a short, lively figure appeared in her mind.

"But what?"

Seeing Toka Senju stammering, Tobirama Senju pulled a long face and asked impatiently.

"It was just that Itama..."

Recalling the little black-and-white-haired fellow who was always trailing behind her, a hint of warmth rose in Toka Senju's heart. She raised her head, her eyes filled with a touch of nostalgia, and she replied slowly.

But before she could finish, she was interrupted by a terrifying aura.

"Do not mention that name!"

With bloodthirsty hatred erupting in his eyes, Tobirama Senju clenched his fists, his face becoming extremely ferocious. The pressure radiating from his body made Toka Senju, who was only halfway through her sentence, instantly unable to breathe.

It's over, am I going to die?

Terrified by this aura until her legs went weak, Toka Senju's mind began to flash through her life like a revolving lantern. Her thoughts had just begun to replay from her childhood when she discovered that the pressure around her had come and gone as quickly as it arrived.

Relieved, she was drenched in cold sweat, and the look she gave Tobirama Senju was filled with awe.

"Phew~ sorry, I was a bit agitated."

After calming down, Tobirama Senju offered a rare apology. He looked at the slightly trembling Toka Senju, reached out a hand, and gestured for her to turn around.

Baffled by this action, Toka Senju still obediently followed suit, straightened up, and spun around in place a few times.

"Hmm~ hmm~ okay, she is the child-bearing type."

Having just crammed knowledge on this subject yesterday, Tobirama Senju looked Toka Senju over from head to toe, compared her to the descriptions in the books, and finally reached a very perfect conclusion.

"That's enough. You can go back and wait; someone will come to you in the next few days."

After vetting her for his dear older brother, Tobirama Senju waved his hand wearily and announced.

"Huh?"

Although her heart was filled with question marks, hindered by Tobirama Senju's terrifying expression, Toka Senju still snuck away. Just as she was about to reach the main entrance, a tall figure walked toward her.

"Greetings, Clan Leader!"

Seeing Hashirama, Toka Senju immediately suppressed the questions in her heart and bowed respectfully to him.

"Haha, isn't this Toka? Long time no see~"

Not yet realizing that he had already been arranged, Hashirama was still cheerfully greeting Toka Senju.

"I still remember when we were young, Itama quite liked you and always loved playing with you."

Not expecting Hashirama to actually remember things from their childhood, Toka Senju, feeling a bit excited, nodded repeatedly in agreement.

"Oh, well, that couldn't be helped. Compared to us big brutes, Itama definitely preferred playing with you. After all, you both are..."

A touch of tenderness appeared in Hashirama's eyes, but as he spoke, it turned into loneliness, and a dejected air radiated from his body.

"Sigh, never mind. Tobirama has something for me to do. Let's chat again when we have time."

Just like that, a bewildered Toka Senju returned home obediently, waiting for what Tobirama Senju called an important mission.

"What? You want me to marry Toka?"

In the clan leader's office, Hashirama, whose mouth was open wide enough to fit a watermelon, looked at his most trusted younger brother in disbelief, his eyes filled with the heartache of being betrayed.

"I have already screened all the women of appropriate age in the clan. From family background, appearance, and figure to personality, after layers of selection, Toka Senju is the best candidate."

Ignoring his older brother's "I'm moved but I refuse" expression, Tobirama Senju turned around, took a thick stack of documents from the drawer, and threw them in front of Hashirama.

"Tobirama, is this really necessary?"

Looking at the female profiles in front of him marked with various notes, Hashirama, who was not willing, muttered in protest.

"Although that stinking woman from the Uzumaki clan broke off the engagement, as the clan leader, your marriage is a major event that cannot be delayed."

First cursing at Mito Uzumaki in the void, Tobirama Senju turned his head, his scarlet eyes carrying an air of non-negotiability as he said coldly,

"To prevent you from harboring any improper thoughts while out, the constraints of a family are absolutely necessary."

"Haha~ Tobirama, what are you saying? Why don't I understand?"

Patting Tobirama Senju on the shoulder, a guilty Hashirama laughed very forcedly.

"You don't need to understand; you just need to obediently go and get married."

Knowing exactly what his older brother was thinking, Tobirama Senju immediately made the final decision, stating that he was his only relative and it was only right to worry about his lifelong event.

"I don't want to..."

"You do!"

Looking at his aggressive younger brother, Hashirama, knowing he could never win against him, had no choice but to compromise.

"Phew~ Older brother, actually, I am doing this for the sake of the clan. The battle with the Uchiha has reached a white-hot stage, but the clansmen are all exhausted. Holding a happy event at this time will allow them to relax briefly, which is beneficial for adjusting their mindset and helping them better face the battles ahead."

"Uh, it has that effect too?"

After listening to Tobirama Senju's nonsense, Hashirama scratched his head, his brows furrowed into a "chuan" shape.

"Trust your brother~"

"Then when are you planning to hold it?"

Forced into a corner, Hashirama sighed and asked.

"In these next few days."

Delays lead to changes; this must be done immediately.

"Huh? So urgent? But aren't we still at war? What about Madara..."

"Why do you care about him? Hmm, that's true too~ Older brother, you go and notify him."

At the mention of Madara Uchiha, a trace of annoyance rose in Tobirama Senju's heart, but then he thought about how this could irritate that detestable Uchiha, and he instantly felt enlightened. He sneered in his heart and arranged it with a strange expression.

"Alright~"

So the next day, Hashirama, piloting his Great Buddha, excitedly found Madara Uchiha and smilingly handed him the wedding invitation.

"You're getting married?"

A dumbfounded Madara Uchiha subconsciously poked a hole in the invitation in his hand, his scarlet eyes filled with disbelief.

"Yeah, tomorrow! Hahaha, I won again this time~"

Hashirama smiled brilliantly, the joy in his eyes stinging Madara Uchiha so much he couldn't open them.

"We are still at war!"

Madara Uchiha was choked with anger, waving the fan in his hand and pointing at Hashirama's nose as he reminded him loudly.

"I know, that's why I came to discuss it with you."

"We single dogs have nothing to say to a 'normie' like you!"

Furious, Madara Uchiha held his head high and replied in an inexplicable tone.

"Haha~ I just wanted to make an appointment. Can we have no bloodshed in tomorrow's battle? After we finish, I'll set up a table in the middle of the battlefield and invite you two brothers to have a drink."

Hashirama rubbed his hands, his eyes revealing a rare look of pleading. Although the two clans had been fighting endlessly due to generations of grudges,

in his heart, Madara Uchiha was always his best friend. How could the blessing of a best friend be missing from such a major life event as marriage?

"Madara, I beg you!"

As he spoke, the wooden figure beneath Hashirama twisted its massive body, took a few steps back, and performed a classic dogeza on the ground. Its huge head smashed heavily into the earth, causing the ground to tremble.

"I'll kowtow to you, is that enough?"

(End of chapter)