Chapter 253: For the Record, I Am Not Cao Cao

"Is it about time? I'm starving!"

Having danced around with the Senju clan members before them for half the day, the Uchiha clansmen, feeling their stomachs growling with hunger, couldn't help but look toward the clansman leading them, their black eyes filled with impatience.

He had been hungry for an entire day, just waiting to have a good meal~

"Who's to say otherwise? Lord Tobirama isn't giving me any orders either. When I came out, I saw the tables were already set; it's time to start the feast."

The Senju clansman who had been circling with this Uchiha clansman for half the day was also full of weariness. Like the guy in front of him, he had been hungry for a day and was just waiting for the feast to begin so he could eat his fill, but it was almost afternoon and Senju Tobirama still hadn't made a move.

Similar situations could be seen everywhere on this battlefield. Some people with less-than-sharp minds were still putting on a convincing show of a fake fight, while the smarter ones had already found a secluded spot to cool off and wait for the feast to begin.

"The feast is starting! The feast is starting!"

Finally, under the expectant gazes of both sides, a messenger ran out from each camp simultaneously, loudly conveying the orders from the base.

"Yay!"

"Damn it, I'm exhausted. This is more tiring than actually fighting."

A burly Senju clansman collapsed onto the ground the moment he heard the order. Standing in front of him was a lean Uchiha clansman soaked from head to toe.

Who would believe that the two of them had been engaged in an "evenly matched" taijutsu duel the whole time?

"Hmph! I'm a genjutsu ninja. If I weren't under orders, you would have been dead the moment we met."

The lean Uchiha clansman felt he had been slighted. He didn't even bother to wipe the sweat from his forehead, glaring with his two black eyes and retorting with a threatening tone.

Although both sides engaged in post-war trash talk after the ceasefire, as the aroma of delicious food drifted into the battlefield, everyone swallowed their saliva in unison, packed up their gear, and prepared to go back for a hearty meal.

Once both sides had withdrawn from the battlefield, a hurried group flew out from the Senju clan's camp and rushed toward the center of the battlefield.

"Hurry it up, the banquet is about to start."

The leading Senju clansman, carrying a basket of bowls and chopsticks on his back, urged the teammates behind him.

Before long, they arrived at the center of the battlefield and began to set up in a flurry of activity. Tables and chairs were arranged properly, and exquisite tableware was laid out neatly.

A set of lamp stands was erected beside the tables, and the red candles symbolizing celebration were lit by the Senju clansmen using Fire Style. The flickering candlelight was particularly conspicuous in the quiet battlefield.

The Land of Fire is like spring all year round. Although the sky in November gets dark relatively early, it doesn't make one feel cold.

Once the Senju clan had arranged the banquet, Uchiha Izuna, who had been watching from not far away, turned his head and said to Uchiha Madara, who was meditating cross-legged behind him,

"Big Brother, they are ready."

"Then let's go. I want to see what kind of woman Hashirama has found!"

With a displeased expression, Uchiha Madara slowly opened his eyes. The scarlet glow faded, and his black pupils were filled with coldness. He then stood up and, taking Uchiha Izuna with him, headed toward the agreed-upon location.

"Is everything packed up?"

Just as the Senju clan had finished setting up, a blue light flashed, and a white-haired figure appeared beside the table. Looking at the burning red candles, Senju Tobirama asked the people present.

"Reporting to Lord Tobirama, everything is prepared."

The leading man, already accustomed to the elusive Senju Tobirama, immediately lowered his head and replied.

"Then you all may leave."

The delicacies on the table emitted an alluring fragrance. Senju Tobirama resisted the urge to poison them, waved his hand to dismiss the clansmen, and stood with his arms crossed, gazing toward the direction of the Uchiha clan's camp, waiting for the "guests" to arrive.

"Where is Hashirama?"

Not long after, two familiar figures descended from the sky in the distance. Uchiha Madara, dressed in dark blue casual clothes and carrying a square package in his hand, looked at the sour-faced Senju Tobirama and spoke coldly.

"What's the rush? Big Brother and his wife still have a lot to say to each other. If you don't want to wait, just leave the gift box and go."

Senju Tobirama curled his lip, looking as if he didn't care whether they stayed or not, which made Uchiha Madara's teeth itch.

"Hmph~ But your big brother invited us here. What right do you have to drive us away?"

As Uchiha Madara's number one loyal dog, Uchiha Izuna didn't indulge his old rival at all. He stiffened his neck and started bickering with Senju Tobirama.

"You turtle-like guy, if you have the guts, take off that weird armor and have a 1v1 man-to-man fight with me!"

"Hey~ I won't. I'll piss you off, you dead white-hair. I see you want to change your blade again, don't you?"

Ever since he put on the two pieces of equipment gifted by Uchiha Gin, Uchiha Izuna felt as if he had opened up a new world.

Facing Senju Tobirama, who used to make him feel timid, he stood tall after putting on the Warmog's Armor and Thornmail, no longer worrying about being finished off by a blade suddenly appearing from the shadows.

Thanks to my big cousin!

"Alright Izuna, let's just wait."

Waving his hand to stop his younger brother from continuing to argue with Senju Tobirama, Uchiha Madara looked at the glaring red candles on the lamp stands on both sides with a gloomy expression, then pulled out a chair and sat down.

He closed his eyes, not knowing what he was thinking.

"For the sake of your brother's big day, I won't argue with you. If you have the guts, let's see what you're really made of on the battlefield. I hope your blade is as hard as your mouth then."

The obedient Izuna immediately shut his mouth, looked at the on-the-verge-of-exploding Senju Tobirama with a provocative gaze, and after saying that in a measured tone, he also pulled out a chair and sat down.

"Hmph!"

Seeing that both members of the Uchiha clan had taken their seats, Senju Tobirama, feeling that standing made him look inferior, didn't want to be outdone and pulled out a chair to sit down, starting a staring contest with the provocative Izuna.

"Heh, I won!"

After a while, Uchiha Izuna and Senju Tobirama, both with dry eyes, were gritting their teeth and holding on. But in the end, Izuna, from a clan of dojutsu users, had more experience and won against the hateful white-hair with a slight advantage.

"I really am an idiot, why would I play such a childish game with you."

Rubbing his sore eye sockets, Senju Tobirama couldn't help but reflect on himself.

"Sorry, sorry, I'm late. I'll punish myself with three cups later~"

Just as the three were getting impatient, two figures flashed beside the dining table. Senju Hashirama, with an apologetic face, pulled along Senju Toka, whose eyes were filled with clear confusion, and apologized to the people present.

"Big Brother, why are you being so polite to them?"

Senju Tobirama, who had just lost a round, immediately stood up and reminded him.

"Hey~ Tobirama, Madara is my best friend~"

After pacifying his younger brother, who had become irritable for some reason, Senju Hashirama turned his head and said to Uchiha Madara, who seemed to be asleep,

"Madara, stop pretending. Let me introduce you. This is Senju Toka, my wife."

Sensing that the other party was feigning sleep, Senju Hashirama didn't stand on ceremony, pulled Senju Toka from behind him, and introduced her to Uchiha Madara.

"So it's her? Hashirama, your taste isn't that great either."

Slowly opening his eyes, Uchiha Madara's deep, dark pupils were filled with a scrutinizing gaze, which made Senju Toka get goosebumps instantly. She subconsciously leaned toward Senju Hashirama's arms, trying to find a sense of security.

"Hmph~"

Seeing this scene, Uchiha Madara immediately snorted coldly and said nothing more, raising his hand to push the prepared gift over.

"Oh~ Madara, you coming is enough, why bring a gift? But since it's your kind gesture, I'll accept it."

Senju Hashirama looked at the gift box being pushed over with pleasant surprise. This meant that Uchiha Madara acknowledged him as a friend, and thus his dream had one more possibility.

"Quick, Toka, this is my best friend Madara, pour him a drink!"

Senju Hashirama, who had accepted the gift, was very happy. He picked up his wine cup, pulled along Senju Toka, who still hadn't figured out the situation, raised his cup toward Uchiha Madara, and said loudly,

"Thank you for coming to my wedding, Madara!"

Holding his wine cup, Senju Hashirama walked up to Uchiha Madara and said to his old best friend with a sincere expression,

"Congratulations, Hashirama."

Staring at him for a long while, Uchiha Madara seemed to have figured something out. He picked up the wine cup on the table, clinked it with Senju Hashirama's, and then tilted his head back and drank it in one gulp.

"Haha! I'll finish mine too~"

Feeling his best friend's sincere blessing, Senju Hashirama didn't act coy and drank the wine in his hand in one gulp as well.

"I thank you all."

At a loss, Senju Toka could only pinch her nose and drink the wine in her hand.

Where had she ever seen such a scene? The Uchiha Madara before her was the strongest person in the Uchiha clan, fighting the clan leader to a draw on the battlefield. In front of such a powerful person, she could only try to minimize her presence.

"You have a new family now, Hashirama."

Having let go of his inner knot, Uchiha Madara raised his wine cup, glanced at the nervous Senju Toka, and said to the smiling Senju Hashirama in front of him.

"Yes, Madara. I have lost too many family members, so I never want to lose them again."

Clinking his cup with Uchiha Madara, a look of seriousness appeared on Senju Hashirama's face. He had not forgotten his dream; he wanted to create an ideal village that could protect his family and children from the suffering of war.

"Still insisting on that ethereal fantasy of yours?"

Taking a sip of wine, Uchiha Madara's eyes were unfocused, not knowing what he was thinking.

"Evil coward, where is that curly-haired brother of yours?"

On the other side, staring at Uchiha Izuna's sky-high straight hair, Senju Tobirama, having a hunch, suddenly asked.

"Huh? You dead white-hair, who are you cursing?"

Uchiha Izuna, who was eating happily, frowned upon hearing the sudden crude language and was about to teach this hateful white-hair how to behave.

"Has your hearing degraded to the level of a turtle? I'm asking where that curly-haired brother of yours is. I saw him last time; I didn't expect him to actually save his life under Father's iron fist."

Picking his ear, Senju Tobirama's red eyes were filled with contempt, which made the veins on Uchiha Izuna's forehead bulge.

"Uh, you two, please don't argue~"

Senju Toka, who had turned into a wallflower, looked at the two people on the verge of a fight and tried to mediate with a weak tone.

As for Uchiha Madara and Senju Hashirama, they seemed to understand the temperaments of their younger brothers and did not stop them, but instead looked like they were watching a show.

At worst, they'd have a fight; it's not like they'd die anyway~

In Uchiha Madara's view, Senju Tobirama couldn't even break through Izuna's defense.

And Senju Hashirama felt that he couldn't even catch Tobirama, who had mastered the Flying Thunder God, let alone a mere Uchiha.

This was hard on Senju Toka, who was caught in the middle. Anxious, she didn't know how to stop the fight between the two hot-blooded youths.

Just as she was at her wit's end, she suddenly felt an unfamiliar presence beside her. While she was wondering, she heard a sexy and lazy voice in her ear,

"Wow~ this lady, let me introduce myself. My name is Uchiha Gin, your future neighbor~"

(End of chapter)