Standing proudly atop the fierce-looking Eight-Tails, arms crossed, Madara gazed at the approaching Hashirama with a grin he couldn't suppress.
"Hashirama, how many did you catch?"
Lifting his chin with feigned ignorance, Madara asked. He hadn't tasted the sweet flavor of victory in years—and this time, he planned to savor every drop.
Hashirama didn't get upset. He scratched the back of his head and chuckled sheepishly.
"I only caught three."
In his mind, he had only captured the Five-Tails, Six-Tails, and Nine-Tails. That giant beetle? He didn't consider it a tailed beast. After all, it had no tails.
"Huh? Three?"
Gin, who had come to watch, paused mid-chew of his sunflower seeds. His dull eyes flickered with confusion. He clearly sensed four tailed beasts behind Hashirama—why was he claiming only three?
"In that case… I won this time, didn't I?"
Madara looked down at the slightly disappointed Hashirama and asked loudly.
"I lost."
Hashirama admitted without hesitation. He had always been an upright man, never one to scheme or lie.
Those who witnessed this exchange, especially members of the Ninja Alliance, were shocked. They were already calculating how best to cozy up to the Uchiha clan now that their influence was about to skyrocket. Many eyes subtly shifted toward Gin, who stood in the front row, brows furrowed.
"We've all spent money on the Uchiha. Technically, we've supported them. They won't make trouble for us, right?"
Shimura Kenichi asked quietly, anxious.
"Not sure... but your past attitude wasn't exactly friendly."
Sarutobi Sasuke stroked his chin. He had no grudge with Gin; in fact, they had a decent rapport. His clan should be safe.
"Ugh…"
Kenichi felt hopeless. If he'd known the Uchiha were about to soar, he wouldn't have clashed so much with Gin. Now, his son's butt wasn't even healed yet, and his clan might face disaster.
"The Yamanaka clan owes the Uchiha a lot of money~"
Unlike the nervous Kenichi, Yamanaka Minako looked relieved. She patted her full chest, lowered her head, and glanced at Gin's back. In her shimmering blue eyes danced secrets best left unspoken.
Gin stood in the front row, frowning, while Izuna clenched his fists, flushed with excitement. Seeing Hashirama bow to his older brother filled him with deep satisfaction.
If only that white-haired Tobirama would bow to me too… mmm~
"Big cousin, doesn't this mean we've won everything?"
Izuna asked excitedly.
"Not sure, but someone's clearly unhappy."
Gin sighed and quietly replied to his little cousin.
Madara, still atop Gyūki's head, let his black hair flow as he basked in the joy of defeating Hashirama—more thrilling than becoming Hokage.
"Madara, when we get back, I'll personally design your Hokage Rock carving. It'll be perfect!"
Hashirama jumped beside him, beaming with genuine joy for his friend.
"Heh. Just make sure I look thinner."
Madara grinned even wider.
"Wait!"
Just as everything seemed settled, a blue figure landed like lightning. Tobirama, his face grim, shouted at his brother.
"Brother! The Hokage position is serious business. The outcome isn't decided yet—this is too soon!"
"But I lost…"
Hashirama replied sheepishly.
"Exactly! Three versus four—my big bro wins!"
Izuna instantly chimed in, always ready to mock the white-haired one.
"Hmph! The contest isn't over. One tailed beast is still unaccounted for."
Tobirama crossed his arms and glanced at Izuna with contempt before loudly declaring:
"If Madara captures the last beast, he deserves to be Hokage. But if my brother gets it, then we'll have to reevaluate the outcome."
"You're twisting the rules!"
Izuna's eyes turned red, a yellow chakra figure forming faintly behind him.
"Tobirama, this isn't right…"
Hashirama frowned. It made him look like a sore loser.
"It's fine. I agree!"
Madara, calm and confident, accepted.
"Huh?"
Everyone was stunned. Madara had already won—why accept such unfair overtime?
"Big bro! The intel clearly says where the Seven-Tails is. You must go now—and don't slip up again!"
Tobirama urged his brother, feeling they still had a chance.
"Tobirama! I already admitted defeat."
Hashirama's pride wouldn't let him win through such scheming.
"Brother!"
"Enough! Not another word."
Hashirama's body erupted with purple chakra, releasing terrifying pressure that silenced Tobirama on the spot.
Having shut his brother up, Hashirama turned back to Madara and smiled warmly.
"Madara, I apologize for Tobirama. He's too extreme—I'll deal with him."
"No need. I'm used to it~"
Madara chuckled. Tobirama's rants were nothing more than a crippled dog barking.
"The Senju leader truly is a noble man. Even if he became Hokage, none of us would object."
Members of the Ninja Alliance nodded in approval. But one man wasn't convinced.
Gin tilted his head, looking toward the four cages housing the tailed beasts. They were all snoring peacefully. He scratched his head, confused.
Did Hashirama fake it? How could he miss a beast that big?
"Madara, remember when we used to catch beetles in the forest as kids?"
Hashirama tried to reminisce. Tobirama fumed, already planning how to sabotage everything. After all, Konoha was built by the Senju—how could the Uchihas just take over?
"Of course. I always caught the strongest beetles!"
Madara laughed. Those youthful days were precious to him.
"Hehe, I just caught a really fierce one recently. I was going to brag to you about it~"
Hashirama rubbed his face sheepishly.
"How fierce?"
Even Madara was curious now.
"You'll see. I'll give it to you as a gift for becoming Hokage!"
Unable to describe what he caught in the Land of Waterfalls, Hashirama simply pointed to the unconscious beetle beneath Madara's feet.
"Well? Show me!"
Excited, Madara followed Hashirama to the cages.
"This is the tailed beast you caught?"
Madara looked surprised as he examined the creatures. His method was simple—just use Sharingan. But Hashirama? He had no genjutsu. How did he catch them?
"Transporting them was tough. Every time I caught one, I had to return and cage it. It wasted a lot of time."
Hashirama sighed.
"???"
Madara's pupils shrank. He silently thanked fate for his easier method. Otherwise, he might've lost.
"There! Isn't this beetle cool?"
Hashirama jumped atop a cage, pointing proudly at the unconscious Chōmei.
"Impressive!"
Madara's eyes sparkled with desire. That thick armor, sharp horn, and fanged mouth—it was majestic!
"You're really giving it to me?"
"Of course~"
That's the damn Seven-Tails!
Gin stood silently, watching the "beetle." The smartest tailed beast had disguised itself as an innocent insect.
It was genius… and shameless!
"Brother! I told you to catch a tailed beast—not some random bug!"
Tobirama nearly exploded.
"It was on the way!"
Hashirama shrank under his brother's fury.
"I should never have trusted you!"
Tobirama was furious for not supervising the capture.
"I swear—I found it while looking for the Seven-Tails!"
"Where's the Seven-Tails then?"
"Didn't find it. Maybe it went sightseeing~"
"ROAR!!!"
Suddenly, a loud roar shattered the calm. The Nine-Tails woke up, filled with rage.
"Disgusting humans, release me!"
From within the wooden cage, a fiery red beast opened its foul-smelling mouth and shouted.
"Whoa! Tailed beasts can talk?"
Itama tugged on Gin's sleeve.
"Even the Inuzuka clan's dogs can talk. Why wouldn't tailed beasts?"
Gin rolled his eyes.
But why was the Nine-Tails suddenly awake?
"Roar! Shameful humans, let us out!"
"Ugh… where am I?"
The Five-Tails and Six-Tails also woke up, raging against their prison. Only Chōmei remained "asleep," calm and quiet—biding its time.
"Hashirama, want help?"
Madara asked smugly.
"No need. They can't escape."
Hashirama smiled confidently.
"You idiots—wake up!"
The Nine-Tails screamed, realizing the wooden cage completely nullified their chakra.
"Look at their eyes!"
The steam-covered Five-Tails warned. The four beasts outside the cage… weren't moving.
"Damn it! Those brothers just won't stay dead!"
The Nine-Tails cursed.
"Hashirama, I'm feeling unbalanced. Want to catch the last one too?"
Madara couldn't stand being one short.
"Same here, but I searched the Land of Waterfalls—couldn't find it."
"Maybe we can interrogate the others. They might know something."
Madara turned to Isobu and asked coldly:
"Where's the last tailed beast?"
"In the Land of Wind."
"Huh? All the way out there?"
"Be more specific."
"It's… in a temple… chanting with monks."
"What?! The beast became a monk?!"
Even Madara and Hashirama were dumbfounded.
"Shut up, stupid turtle!"
The Nine-Tails screamed.
"Disgraceful beast. We'll chain you all as watchdogs for Konoha!"
Madara growled.
"YOU DAMN HUMAN!"
The Nine-Tails began forming a black sphere—but suddenly stopped.
"Wait… did you say you haven't caught the Seven-Tails?"
Its tail beast bomb faded as realization struck.
"Yeah. Just missing that green caterpillar."
SMACK!
"Uh, Gin-san, why are you smacking your forehead?"
Gin sighed deeply.
He'd forgotten to describe what the tailed beasts looked like when selling the intel.
Every other beast looked about the same.
But the Seven-Tails… it had transformed completely. As a child, it looked like a green worm. As an adult, it had wings and a single thick tail.
No wonder Hashirama didn't recognize it.
"Green caterpillar?"
The other beasts turned to Chōmei.
Cough cough cough
Still "unconscious," Chōmei pretended to cough—pleading for mercy.
"That bug… what will you do with it?"
The Nine-Tails tried to bargain.
"Why should I tell you?"
"If you tell me, I'll tell you where the real Seven-Tails is."
Cough cough cough
Chōmei groaned again, louder this time.
"Is this beetle sick?"
Hashirama asked.
"I don't care. If it's sick, toss it."
"That 'beetle' is the Seven-Tails! It used to be a green worm!"
Nine-Tails suddenly snapped and pointed at Chōmei.
"NANI?!"
"They can confirm!"
"Yes, yes, it's true! That coward pretended to be unconscious!"
Chōmei: You traitorous bastards!
"Hahahaha~"
Tobirama teleported to the cage and announced cheerfully:
"Both sides have the same number. Time for the next round…"
(End of Chapter)
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