Chapter 76

"Phew~"

The two youths, currently locked in close-quarters combat, simultaneously let out a long breath. Seeing the situation reach a stalemate, they retreated by mutual understanding.

Flashing back to before their respective camps, the youth Madara, his expression slightly cold, stared fixedly at the few people opposite and issued a warning:

"I will never forgive anyone who attempts to harm my brother!"

"Me too!"

Standing at the very front, the bowl-cut Haxi Lama also wore a serious expression, echoing his friend's sentiment.

After saying this, a flash of resolve crossed the eyes of the youth Madara, whose expression was complex, and he spoke slowly to the person before him:

"Haxi Lama."

"What is it?"

Hearing the youth Madara's slightly icy tone, the bowl-cut Hashirama felt his heart tighten.

"Those silly, beautiful futures we talked about... in the end..."

Why did this sentence sound so strange? Uchiha Gin, who was watching the show, almost pulled out some melon seeds and a small stool to watch the naive love-hate entanglement between the youths.

"Perhaps they really can't be reached..."

After the youth Madara finished this sentence, it was as if he had exhausted all his strength. After lowering his head, the look in his eyes changed from conflicted to indifferent.

"Madara, you..."

Sensing the unfamiliar indifference, the bowl-cut Hashirama looked at his former best friend with a shocked expression, but after opening his mouth, he couldn't continue.

The youth Madara, whose heart had already decided to sever this bond, raised his head with hollow eyes and said with a cold expression:

"Although the time was short, I was truly happy, Haxi Lama."

???

Isn't the Senju clan famous for having great stamina and endurance?

Just as the two youths were saying their emotional goodbyes, the adults on both sides had their own thoughts.

Senju Butsuma: There are four people on the other side; three against four puts us at a disadvantage.

Standing behind the group, Uchiha Tajima asked:

"How is it? Can you do it, Madara?"

He would hold off Senju Butsuma, Izuna would stall the white-haired brat, and as long as Madara could defeat the bowl-cut Senju kid and distract Senju Butsuma, their side would secure the win.

"No, Haxi Lama is stronger than me."

Hearing the subtext in his father's words, Uchiha Madara, who hadn't truly let go in his heart, said:

"If we go head-to-head, we will lose!"

No, did you guys leave me out? This is three against four; the advantage is with me, right?

Uchiha Gin heard the retreat in the youth Madara's words. This kid might indeed be unable to beat the bowl-cut Hashirama, but if he added himself to the mix, it shouldn't be much of a problem.

With Uchiha Gin's current strength, crushing the four brats present without exposing Amaterasu would be as easy as pie.

"A child stronger than big brother?"

Standing behind the youth Madara, the brother-obsessed Izuna couldn't help but ask in surprise. In his mind, his big brother should be the strongest among their peers.

"Is that so? To have such strength."

Uchiha Tajima, who also sensed that his eldest son had no will to fight, said helplessly:

"Don't be like that, cousin. If we fight side-by-side, we might be able to keep this old guy here."

Uchiha Gin leaned over to Uchiha Tajima's side and whispered, trying to incite him. Having been silent for so long, he could no longer bear it and came out to desperately seek attention.

The result was a big eye-roll from Uchiha Tajima.

"Gin, you don't understand the strength of a clan head. Senju Butsuma is on par with me; taking your life would be as easy as pie."

Uchiha Tajima wasn't deliberately ignoring Uchiha Gin's combat power; he knew Uchiha Gin's physical condition better than anyone. It was precisely because he understood it so well that he wouldn't let him act rashly.

"But I've already awakened my eyes."

Uchiha Gin, feeling looked down upon, couldn't help but mutter to himself.

"It's precisely because you've awakened your eyes that I won't let you go up. Your body can't handle it..."

Uchiha Tajima explained briefly.

What do you mean it can't handle it? He was as strong as an ox right now, okay? Uchiha Gin curled his lips helplessly.

The original owner's physical fitness was indeed too trashy; if he showed off too much now, it would only invite suspicion. Forget it, forget it, lying flat is fine.

"Retreat!"

Uchiha Tajima didn't know if the other side had reinforcements, and knowing his own side had none, it was better to retreat first.

"Gana~"

The youth Madara glanced at the bowl-cut Hashirama and turned to leave.

"Madara! Actually, you haven't given up, right!"

Seeing the person he cared for about to leave him, the bowl-cut Hashirama took a step forward, emotionally trying to hold onto this bond.

"You finally had the same thoughts as me..."

"You are a Senju!"

With his back to the bowl-cut Hashirama, the youth Madara said slowly:

"If possible, I really wish our thoughts were different... Our two clans have been enemies for generations. My relatives died at the hands of the Senju clan, and your brothers and sisters also died at the hands of the Uchiha."

"Therefore, there is no need for you and me to be honest with each other. From now on, let's meet on the battlefield!"

"Senju Haxi Lama!"

The youth Madara, his tone cold, said these words one by one. The power of language was like a sharp blade, cutting through the deep bond the two had built.

"I am... Uchiha... Madara!"

For the first time, he added a surname between the two, like a bottomless chasm splitting them apart, forever separating the two who were once childhood sweethearts.

After saying these words, the youth Madara felt a pain in his heart. Under the stimulation of his brain, a cold energy surged into his eyes. When he raised his head again, the youth Madara's pitch-black eyes had turned scarlet.

"Look, Father, big brother's eyes!"

Izuna, the first to notice, pointed excitedly at the youth Madara's eyes and shouted to Uchiha Tajima behind him.

"Hmph, hmph, hmph. Although we couldn't get the Senju's intelligence, we got another good thing on our side."

Looking at the youth Madara walking slowly toward him, Uchiha Tajima nodded with satisfaction. Although they retreated without a fight and gained nothing, his eldest son successfully awakening his eyes was a great joy.

"Sharingan? Did he just awaken it?"

Senju Butsuma, who was still waiting for an opportunity, witnessed the youth Madara awakening his eyes, and a sense of foreboding rose in his heart.

Such a genius must be nipped in the bud. Senju Butsuma's gaze shifted slightly. Although they were at a disadvantage in numbers, if he took advantage of the opponent's retreat to strike with thunderous force, the chance of taking down that Uchiha brat was very high.

He exchanged a look with the white-haired brat beside him without changing his expression. The scheming father and son hit it off, and they reached out to touch the weapons behind them.

"Gin, let's go. This place is not a place to stay for long."

Uchiha Tajima, with a slight smile, patted Uchiha Gin, who was stunned beside him, and urged him.

Something's not right. Why is my Heartsteel chest still in the combat activation state? Didn't they all stop?

Uchiha Gin looked at the Heartsteel chest still playing BGM in his mind, and a trace of doubt rose in his heart.

"Okay."

Uchiha Gin, who had come back to his senses, scratched his head and hurriedly followed his cousin's pace.

Suddenly, a sense of crisis arose spontaneously. With his back to the Senju group, he could clearly see in his field of vision that Senju Butsuma and the white-haired brat, who were feigning retreat, had drawn their weapons again and were charging toward the two brothers at the back of the team with extremely fast steps.

"Not good!"

Too late to think about why he could suddenly see the scene behind him, Uchiha Gin kicked off with his feet under the blessing of super strength, and his whole body rushed toward the two cousins behind him like a cannonball.

"Duck your heads!"

The youth Uchiha Madara, who had just awakened his eyes, was physically weak, and Izuna was supporting him from the side. Following behind Uchiha Tajima and Uchiha Gin, they hadn't noticed the murderous intent behind them at all.

The two brothers suddenly heard their big cousin's serious shout and subconsciously ducked their heads.

"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!"

Several sharp kunai grazed their scalps, and the two brats were instantly covered in cold sweat.

(End of chapter)