Chapter 263: The Uchiha are an Inseparable Part of the Hidden Leaf

"Cough! I was careless. I never expected that I, Uchiha Tajima, having traversed the world for half a lifetime, would actually be defeated by a brat like you."

"Uchiha Tajima," having been run through by a Flying Raijin Slash from Tobirama Senju, knelt on one knee. His slightly widened tiger-like eyes held a trace of confusion, as if he had not anticipated his own failure. He bent over, clutching his waist, and quietly forced open the wound that was about to heal, ensuring the blood that was about to dry would not stop flowing. With a light cough, he appeared to be muttering to himself, but in reality, he was precisely projecting his voice into the ears of the few people present.

"Nani? Baka-long!"

Uchiha Madara, who was in the middle of a friendly match with Hashirama Senju, heard the familiar voice by his ear and turned his head in confusion. He never imagined that the scene before him would cause his burning heart to fall into an ice cellar. The war fan he was brandishing 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 no matter what.

"Madara, what is wrong with you!"

Hashirama Senju, standing atop the wooden figure, looked at the suddenly stunned Uchiha Madara with confusion and tilted his head, asking naively. However, when he subconsciously followed the other's gaze and saw Uchiha Tajima, who appeared to have been struck down by his own younger brother, he also shouted in surprise.

"Tobirama Senju!"

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 Tajima" had fallen, shouting the killer's name in hatred.

"Uh, the scene is wrapped, so hurry up and leave! Why are you still acting!"

Uchiha Gin, who had taken the opportunity to lie on the ground, secretly gave frantic eye signals to the incredulous Tobirama Senju before him, signaling him to hurry up and slip away. Otherwise, if the eldest cousin came over and a real fight broke out, they would be exposed prematurely.

Unexpectedly, in the face of his hints, Tobirama Senju seemed to turn a blind eye. He was seen examining his own hands up and down, looking as if he had seen a ghost.

"I actually finished off Uchiha Tajima in one hit? Could it be that I really am the Uchiha nemesis?"

Also sensing the dissipating life force of the Uchiha Tajima who had fallen before him, Tobirama Senju felt a bit of doubt in his heart, but more than that, he felt joy.

Just moments ago, Tobirama Senju, who was preparing to chase after 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 in his mind, 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, Tobirama Senju stopped his footsteps. A trace of black mist flashed faintly in his scarlet eyes. The image of his older brother dying a 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 ones who stand together; if he didn't go, who would?

Just like that, Tobirama Senju, who returned to the main battlefield at the first opportunity, saw his older brother locked in a fierce battle with Uchiha Madara and first breathed a sigh of relief. Then, seeing Uchiha Tajima standing to the side with arms crossed, looking on with hostility, he steeled his heart and, without further hesitation, threw several shuriken. At the same time, a Flying Raijin attack plan flashed through his mind.

"Tsk! What is wrong with this clone? Can't he see my eyes?"

Having failed to signal him, Uchiha Gin had no choice but to connect to the chat group in his mental space, preparing to send a pop-up window to this wood clone who was too deep into his role. He did not expect, however, that his dialogue box would be filled with countless question marks.

"Main body! I'm here, how should I enter?"

"???"

"Holy crap, why is Tobirama Senju 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 sent by the wood clone, he secretly released his super-sensory perception, only to discover another "Tobirama Senju" on a small hill not far away, eating melon seeds and watching the show. He was instantly furious.

I even praised you for being a veteran actor; it turns out the real person is subbing in. No wonder you were so heavy-handed.

Things having reached this point, the helpless Uchiha Gin 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 for Uchiha Madara's arrival.

"Father!"

Uchiha Madara, who had 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 Tajima" coughed a few times, accompanied by a bit of blood foam. He said laboriously to the grief-stricken Uchiha Madara,

"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 will take you back for treatment right now."

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

Waking from his false joy, Tobirama Senju curled his lips, pulled out the short sword that had just stabbed Uchiha Tajima's waist, and his scarlet eyes were filled with killing intent. His fingers moved slightly, the aura of the Flying Raijin emerged, and he prepared to brew a new wave of lethal moves.

"Tobirama! Stop!"

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

"Big Brother, this is a great opportunity to wipe out the Uchiha clan in one fell swoop!"

Seeing that his older brother was actually so muddled, Tobirama Senju, anxious in his heart, immediately shouted,

"I said, stop!"

Hashirama Senju, with a gloomy face, turned his head slightly and glared at his disobedient brother with eyes full of pressure. His mountain-like presence made the eager Tobirama Senju unable to breathe, so he had to sheepishly sheath his short sword, then turned his head away with an indignant look and said nothing more.

"Madara."

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

"Shut up. Father needs treatment. Let's have a ceasefire for today."

Uchiha Madara, not wanting to deal with Hashirama Senju, could not be bothered to say another word to him. He hoisted the Uchiha Tajima, who was breathing more than he was exhaling, and ran toward the direction of the camp.

"Sigh~"

Watching Uchiha Madara's retreating back, Hashirama Senju let out a deep sigh, and a sense of powerlessness welled up in his heart.

"Big Brother, why not take the opportunity to destroy the Uchiha clan?"

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

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

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

"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."

Faced with his older brother's question, Tobirama Senju frowned and thought for a moment before giving his 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 wiped 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 once shared with Uchiha Madara, Hashirama Senju took a deep breath, looked at his indignant younger brother, and said,

"Madara and I once imagined 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 dream of the past is nothing but empty talk."

Building an ideal village together with Uchiha Madara was the psychological pillar that had supported Hashirama Senju's struggle for many years. His battles with the Uchiha clan all these years were merely him "taming the hawk." When the time came to truly make Madara convinced and willing, their ideal village could be officially established.

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

Hashirama Senju 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 quickly!"

Uchiha Madara, wishing he had two more legs, rushed back to the camp carrying the unconscious "Uchiha Tajima." He happened to run into Uchiha Miao, who had come to check on his body. Uchiha Madara's eyes lit up, and his heart was filled with joy. Elder Miao was the clan's number one medical expert; his father's life was saved.

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

The "shocked" Uchiha Miao immediately waved his hand to have them wheel "Uchiha Tajima" into the room, then dismissed everyone, closed the door, and began the 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 the "Uchiha Tajima" on the bed covered in flowing blood, he asked in a low voice.

"Hey! Was my acting okay?"

The pale-faced "Uchiha Tajima" secretly opened one eye, saw the teasing look on Uchiha Miao's face by the bedside, raised his eyebrows, and asked.

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

Uchiha Miao nodded. Although he had not 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 the past.

"That's good. Are the old uncle's eyes ready?"

Having finally completed the most difficult part, Uchiha Gin still dared not relax and immediately asked Uchiha Miao, one of the participants in this performance.

"They are ready. I'm just waiting for you to persuade the clan leader to undergo the transplant."

Turning around, he took two scarlet eyes soaked in nutrient solution from the medical kit behind him. After showing them, Uchiha Miao replied to Uchiha Gin.

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

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

"It's time to perform some real acting~"

(End of chapter)