"Cough! I was careless. Never thought that I, Uchiha Tajima, who have swept through the battlefield my entire life, would be defeated by a brat like you."
The "Uchiha Tajima" who had just been pierced clean through the waist by Tobirama's Flying Thunder God Slash now knelt on one knee. His fierce eyes opened faintly, flashing a hint of daze, as if surprised by his own defeat. He hunched over, covering his waist while secretly forcing open the nearly closed wound so that the almost-clotted blood wouldn't stop flowing. With a light cough, he muttered seemingly to himself—but his voice was projected with precision to everyone around.
"Nani? Baka stunned?!"
Madara, in the middle of a friendly brawl with Hashirama, tilted his head upon hearing the familiar voice. But what he saw next froze his blood—the image of his father collapsing to the ground pierced his burning heart with ice. The uchiwa fan in his hand froze in midair. He stood there as if struck by a binding technique, mouth half-open, unable to make a sound.
"Madara, what's wrong with you?"
Standing atop the wooden golem, Hashirama tilted his head and asked with confusion. But as he followed Madara's gaze and saw what looked like Tajima struck down by his own younger brother, he too shouted in shock.
"Tobirama!"
Sensing the declining life force of his father, Madara snapped out of his daze. He immediately abandoned the battle, dropped the fan, and leapt toward the falling "Tajima," his voice filled with rage and sorrow as he yelled the name of the "killer."
"Hey! If the scene is done, hurry up and get out of here! What are you still acting for?!"
Now lying on the ground, Gin—disguised as Tajima—frantically blinked at Tobirama, signaling him to retreat quickly. If Madara came over and a real fight broke out, the plan would be exposed ahead of schedule.
But to his dismay, Tobirama acted like he didn't see the signals at all. He examined his hands in disbelief, as if he had seen a ghost.
"I actually… killed Uchiha Tajima in one blow? Am I really the Uchiha nemesis?"
Tobirama also sensed the fading life force of the "Tajima" before him. Though confused, he felt more pride than doubt.
Just moments earlier, as Tobirama was preparing to pursue Izuna off the battlefield, he was struck by a strong sense of danger. A mysterious voice echoed in his mind, warning him not to leave his brother alone. If Madara and Tajima joined forces, Hashirama might be in danger.
That unease grew until he turned back. A flash of black flickered in his Sharingan-like eyes as images of his brother's death appeared in his mind. He rushed back to the main battlefield—after all, as the saying goes, "You go to war with your brother." If not him, then who?
Upon arrival, he first saw Hashirama locked in battle with Madara and breathed a sigh of relief. Then he spotted Tajima standing nearby with arms crossed, exuding hostility. Gritting his teeth, Tobirama threw several shuriken and launched a Flying Thunder God strike without hesitation.
"Tch! What's wrong with this clone? Can't he see my eyes signaling?!"
Gin, unable to get any reaction from Tobirama, opened the mental chat window to message the wooden clone. But to his surprise, his inbox was filled with question marks.
"Main body! I'm here, how should I enter the scene?"
"???"
"Damn, why is the real Tobirama here too?!"
"Director! Director???"
"???"
"…Fine. Looks like I'm not needed anymore."
Gin felt like a herd of wild horses had just stormed through his mind. He activated his chakra sensing and quickly discovered the real Tobirama was hiding on a nearby hill, munching on snacks while watching the show. Rage boiled in his chest.
And I called you a master actor? Turns out you were just sending in the main body as a stand-in. No wonder the stab was so intense!
With no other choice, Gin steeled himself to finish the performance. After a moment of thinking, he closed his eyes and feigned extreme weakness, waiting for Madara to arrive.
"Father!"
Madara knelt beside him, his hands trembling as he gently lifted the bleeding "Tajima." His heart ached at the sight of the blood pooling from his waist.
"Cough cough… Madara, I was too careless."
Forcing his eyes open, "Tajima" coughed up a bit of blood as he addressed his son with a voice full of regret.
"It's because… these old eyes of mine can no longer follow even a simple kunai's arc…"
He raised a hand and pointed at his thick reading glasses, then warned Madara.
"Don't talk, Father. I'll take you back for treatment."
"Hmph… You think you can just leave? Did you ask me first?"
From the shadows of false triumph, Tobirama's killing intent surged again. He pulled the blade from "Tajima's" waist, his eyes gleaming scarlet as the Flying Thunder God's mark lit up. Another fatal strike was charging.
"Tobirama! Stop!"
A loud shout descended from the sky. Hashirama landed in front of his brother and raised a hand to stop him.
"Big brother, this is the perfect chance to wipe out the Uchiha!"
Tobirama was furious that his brother was being soft again. He tried to argue.
"I said… stop."
Hashirama's eyes darkened. With a heavy aura, he glared at his younger brother. The pressure of a mountain fell upon Tobirama, who hesitated, then reluctantly sheathed his blade and turned away in frustration.
"Madara…"
Turning around, Hashirama looked at Madara, who was carrying "Tajima," and said gently, apologetically.
"Shut up. My father needs treatment. We'll suspend the fighting today."
Madara didn't even spare him a glance. Without wasting another word, he lifted his father and dashed toward the Uchiha camp.
"Sigh~"
Watching Madara's retreating back, Hashirama let out a long sigh. A wave of helplessness surged in his chest.
"Big brother, why didn't we finish off the Uchiha right now?"
Now that the outsiders had left, Tobirama approached with a furrowed brow and questioned him.
"Tobirama, how many enemies do we have left?"
Hashirama didn't answer the question directly. Instead, he turned around, eyes deep with a strange glint, and posed a question of his own.
"Uh… none. The Uchiha are the only ones still resisting us. The rest of the clans in the Land of Fire have all submitted."
Tobirama gave a quick answer after thinking it through. With the Senju's unmatched strength, they had already dominated the entire region. Even once-defiant clans like the Hagoromo had been erased.
"Exactly. The Uchiha are the final—and most important—piece of my dream."
Recalling the dream he once shared with Madara, Hashirama took a deep breath. Facing his confused brother, he continued:
"Madara and I once envisioned a village that could protect children from the horrors of war. A place that could change the world. But without the Uchiha clan… that dream is hollow."
To Hashirama, building a dream village with Madara had long been his emotional foundation. All the battles with the Uchiha over the years were just him "slow-cooking the eagle." Once Madara truly submitted, their dream village could finally take form.
"I just hope things don't take the worst turn."
Hashirama's voice grew soft as he stared toward the distant Uchiha camp, a look of worry in his eyes.
"Hurry! Elder Mizu, save my father!"
Racing into the Uchiha camp with the unconscious "Tajima" on his back, Madara happened to run into Elder Mizu, who had come to check on him. His eyes lit up with hope—this elder was the clan's greatest medical expert. His father had a chance!
"Ah! Bring the clan head in right away! The rest of you wait outside!"
Pretending to panic, Elder Mizu waved them in and quickly shut the door.
"…Gin?"
Once the door closed, his expression completely changed. Gone was the anxious face. He looked at the bloody "Tajima" on the bed and whispered.
"Hey! How was that performance, huh?"
The pale-faced "Tajima" opened one eye and gave Elder Mizu a raised brow.
"Judging from Madara's reaction, we definitely fooled him."
Mizu nodded. Even though he hadn't witnessed Gin's masterful performance himself, Madara's devastated face said it all—this act was his best yet.
"Good. Are the eyes ready?"
With the hardest part over, Gin still didn't relax. He turned to the elder.
"Ready. Just need to convince the clan leader to accept the transplant."
Mizu turned to his medical kit and retrieved two blood-red eyes floating in nutrient fluid. He displayed them briefly, then nodded.
"Alright then. Let's bring in the big cousin."
Gin glanced at the freshly harvested Mangekyō Sharingan and smiled.
"It's time for my real performance~"
(End of Chapter)
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