Uchiha Madara immediately broke free from the two people holding his arms back and asked urgently, “Izuna!
Where are Ryoei and Kiya?
Where are they?”
Izuna panted heavily and had no time to answer.
He only grabbed Madara’s hand, turned, and ran toward the battlefield.
Seeing their actions, the clan members followed one after another.
When they reached the battlefield, the sight before them made everyone suck in a breath of cold air.
The corpses of Kurosawa Clan ninja lay scattered all over the ground, and the smell of blood filled the air, making people nauseous.
But Ryoei and Kiya were nowhere to be seen.
The clan members’ moods instantly grew heavy to the extreme, and a suppressed silence filled the air.
At this moment, Elder Yasumichi slowly stepped forward and carefully examined the wounds on the enemies’ bodies.
Suddenly, a trace of delight flashed through his eyes, and he shouted loudly, “The two young masters will be fine!
These wounds on the enemies were caused by Lord Nagi’s unique swordsmanship!”
That shout was like a stone thrown into a calm lake, instantly breaking the silence.
Uchiha Izuna, however, was still full of worry and questioned Elder Yasumichi.
“How can you be sure Elder Nagi was here?”
Elder Yasumichi hurriedly explained, “I absolutely would not mistake it.
Five years ago, Lord Nagi slaughtered the powerful Hagoromo Clan by herself.
At that time, I followed the clan head and was present at the scene!”
The surrounding clan members were shocked.
The destruction of the Hagoromo Clan five years ago had actually been done by Uchiha Nagi alone.
Only, at the time, Uchiha Tajima had chosen to conceal this fact in order to avoid unnecessary trouble.
When Uchiha Madara heard that you had saved his younger brothers, the taut string in his heart loosened slightly.
He lightly patted Izuna’s shoulder and comforted him, “Don’t worry.
With Elder Nagi there, they will be fine.
We’ll return to the clan grounds first and wait for them to come back.”
And so, everyone returned to the Uchiha clan grounds with anxious hearts.
However, time passed second by second, minute by minute.
From daylight until evening, you still had not returned.
The clan members paced anxiously through the clan grounds, and unease spread like a plague.
Uchiha Madara stood in the courtyard, looking toward the distant road with tightly furrowed brows.
His heart faintly worried over your safety.
That uneasy feeling was like an invisible hand tightly gripping his heart.
Finally, he could no longer hold himself back and turned, about to personally go search.
Just then, a loud shout broke the tense silence.
“Elder Nagi and the others are back!” The clan members surged out like a tide.
You wore that familiar black cloak, your expression calm as a deep lake, without the slightest ripple.
Ryoei had already been put down.
You had simply bandaged his wound.
Though his face was pale, from his steady breathing, it could be seen that he was not in serious danger.
Kiya followed behind, looking somewhat disheveled, his hair a little messy and his clothes covered in bloodstains, but his eyes revealed the relief of surviving disaster.
Izuna rushed forward excitedly and hugged Ryoei and Kiya, his voice trembling slightly.
“You’re both okay.
That’s great!”
Uchiha Madara’s gaze, however, landed tightly on you.
He slowly walked over, gently embraced you, and said softly, “Thank you.”
The instant he embraced you, Madara smelled the unique bitter medicinal scent on you, stronger than before.
You did not resist Madara’s embrace.
After a moment, Madara let go.
At this time, dark clouds suddenly covered the sky, and bean-sized raindrops poured down, smashing onto the ground and splashing up water.
You silently pulled the hood of your cloak over your head, covering your face, then turned and walked toward the council hall.
The clan members gathered around Ryoei, Kiya, and Izuna, asking about their condition with concern.
But Madara felt this rainy night was especially noisy.
Watching your back, the unease in his heart grew even stronger.
On the rain-soaked stone road of the Uchiha clan grounds, your steps were hurried, and your black robe snapped in the wind and rain.
You walked straight toward the council hall.
There, Uchiha Tajima sat upright, as if waiting for your arrival.
Inside the council hall, candle flames swayed, and light and shadow shook across the walls.
Seeing you step inside, Uchiha Tajima nodded slightly and broke the silence first.
“Thank you for saving them this time.”
His voice was low, but the gratitude within it was difficult to conceal.
If not for you acting in time, his sons Ryoei and Kiya would likely have lost their lives to the Kurosawa Clan.
To Uchiha Tajima, that would undoubtedly have been a heavy blow.
You seemed not to hear those words of thanks, your face cold and stern.
“There is no need for thanks.
I merely did it to protect Asuku’s eyes.
Hearing this, Tajima sighed helplessly.
In his heart, he knew clearly that his eldest son, Uchiha Madara, had been paying particular attention to you recently.
How could he, as a father, fail to see that burning emotion?
But with your naturally cold and indifferent personality, Madara would probably have to spend some effort.
Tajima raised his hand and handed a letter to you.
“After you slaughtered the Hagoromo Clan, the Kurosawa became friendly with us Uchiha.
These five years, the two clans got along harmoniously.
Now they suddenly stabbed us in the back.
I feared another family was causing trouble from behind, and sure enough.”
His face was as heavy as lead, and deep worry showed in his eyes.
Although the Uchiha Clan was powerful in the ninja world, the forces on all sides were tangled and complicated.
One careless step could plunge them into utter ruin.
You took the letter, your gaze sweeping over it, and the signature “Senju Jiro” entered your eyes.
In an instant, understanding dawned in your heart.
“So that’s how it is.”
You murmured softly.
Then, a deep blue flame lit at your fingertips, and the letter turned to ash in the flames, scattering into the air.
The Senju and Uchiha were evenly matched in this ninja world.
Other than the support of the Senju, there was likely no other possibility that could give the Kurosawa Clan the courage to betray the Uchiha.
“You once met Senju Jiro as well.
Speaking of which, he also had a hand in the war between the Hagoromo Clan and the Uchiha back then…” Tajima’s words stopped abruptly.
He knew well that you were exceptionally intelligent and would certainly guess the deeper meaning.
Senju Jiro!
Your fingertips trembled slightly without conscious thought.
It did not come from fear, but from the surging emotions deep in your heart.
All the grudges and hatred of the past rushed into your mind like a tide.
A trace of complex emotion flashed through your eyes, almost impossible to notice.
“I understand.”
After those brief words fell, you turned and left the council hall.
You walked quickly along the corridors of the clan grounds.
Rain poured down from the eaves, forming curtains of water.
When you passed the courtyard, you discovered Uchiha Madara still standing where he had been, like a statue.
Madara’s gaze stared straight in the direction you had left earlier, deep and burning, as though it wanted to pierce through this dark night.
You secretly thought that avoiding trouble was better than inviting it.
You had not intended to communicate too much with Madara, and only wanted to leave quietly.
But just as you were about to brush past him, Uchiha Madara suddenly spoke, his voice low and magnetic.
“Where are you going?”
His gaze locked tightly onto you.
Too many complicated emotions were contained in his eyes: worry, concern, and a trace of loneliness almost impossible to detect.
Your steps paused slightly.
After a brief moment of surprise, you still answered truthfully, “I have a mission.” Your gaze met Madara’s for only an instant before moving away.
Though Madara did not know what mission you were carrying out, judging from your current outfit, he knew it was certainly full of danger.
Moreover, what kind of mission could be so urgent that it had to be completed immediately on such a stormy night?
There were many things Madara wanted to say to you.
Those words of concern, worry, and deeply hidden love rolled on the tip of his tongue.
But when they reached his lips, in the end, only four simple words remained.
“Be careful.”
You raised your eyes slightly and looked at Madara a few more times.
There seemed to be a faint, almost imperceptible ripple in your gaze.
In this brief exchange of looks, Madara seemed to see a trace of softness deep in your eyes, but it was only for an instant, so quick he thought it was his imagination.
Then your figure quickly vanished into the darkness, leaving Madara alone where he stood.
The rain fell harder and harder, soaking Madara’s clothes, but he seemed entirely unaware of it.
He only stood for a long time, looking in the direction you had gone.
You moved swiftly through the rainy night.
Rain soaked your black hair and slid down your cheeks.
The name Senju Jiro constantly flashed through your mind, and those events from the past entangled you like nightmares.
Many years ago, during an assassination mission, you first met Senju Jiro.
On a battlefield filled with blood and slaughter, Senju Jiro’s figure stood out especially clearly amid the chaos.
His eyes revealed craftiness and cold cruelty, as though everything was within his control.
From that time on, you had kept an eye on Senju Jiro.
This man’s existence was an enormous potential threat to the Uchiha Clan.
Now, the Kurosawa Clan’s betrayal was actually also related to Senju Jiro, and this ignited anger in your heart.
New hatred and old grudges—then you would deal with them together.
Rain slid down the brim of your hood and dripped onto the muddy ground underfoot.
You stood on a hill, looking down at the Senju clan grounds shrouded in torrential rain.
Inside the clan grounds, Senju Hashirama lay in a warm bed, with young Itama beside him.
Hashirama ruffled Itama’s hair and said softly, “Itama, good night.” This chapter was copied from g.com without permission.
Itama yawned and replied, “Brother, good night.”
Just then, Tobirama also lay down beside them and was preparing to close his eyes.
Under the cover of the storm, you silently infiltrated the Senju clan grounds.
Senju Tobirama instantly sensed the aura of that hated kekkei genkai.
His eyes snapped open, full of vigilance.
“Tobirama?
Where are you going?” Hashirama asked in confusion when he saw Tobirama get up.
But Tobirama did not respond.
With a grave expression, he rushed out.
Hashirama and Itama exchanged a look, then hurriedly followed as well.
You found Senju Jiro’s residence and were just about to act when a shout came from behind you.
“Who exactly are you?”
Turning around, you saw a boy with a signature bowl cut staring at you seriously.
“Big Brother, don’t say any more.
This is an enemy!
And one from that evil Uchiha Clan!” Senju Tobirama said coldly with his arms folded.
You swept your gaze over the three of them without the slightest hesitation, then leapt up onto the rooftops of the Senju clan grounds and turned to flee.
“Chase!” Tobirama left that word behind and ran in your direction.
Hashirama and Itama followed closely.
Their movements startled the Senju clan members, who came out of their houses one after another to check the situation.
In an open courtyard, Senju clan members blocked your path.
“Give up struggling.
You’re already surrounded,” one Senju clan member shouted proudly.
At this moment, clan head Senju Butsuma also hurried over.
Seeing the black cloak on your body, a bad premonition suddenly surged in his heart.
“A death warrior robe?” In his mind appeared the scene from five years ago of that group of murderous Uchiha death warriors.
He remembered that Uchiha death warriors had already been forbidden from being trained.
How could there still be one?
Could this be a survivor from back then?
Thinking this, killing intent flashed through Senju Butsuma’s eyes.
This death warrior absolutely could not be allowed to return alive, or she would bring great trouble to the Senju Clan.
At Senju Butsuma’s order, a group of ninja attacked you.
Your strength far exceeded their imagination.
You moved freely through the crowd, the blade in your hand dancing into streaks of light and shadow.
You did not fall behind at all; instead, you handled them with ease.
Senju Butsuma’s wariness of you deepened.
He turned to Senju Jiro beside him and said, “Jiro, go help.” Receiving the instruction, Senju Jiro immediately charged toward the battlefield.
This was exactly what you wanted.
Your purpose in coming this time was to assassinate Senju Jiro.
Seeing his teacher fighting the enemy, Tobirama went forward to help without thinking.
The battle grew increasingly fierce.
Suddenly, the three tomoe in your eyes rapidly changed into a shikigami rune pattern, and the Mangekyo Sharingan opened.
When Senju Jiro saw this scene, his heart immediately felt that something was wrong, and he wanted to move away.
But your blade had already thrust toward him like lightning.
At the critical moment, Senju Jiro, in panic, pulled Tobirama in front of himself, attempting to make Tobirama block this fatal blow for him.
“Tobirama!” Senju Hashirama and Senju Butsuma cried out almost at the same time.
This scene was beyond everyone’s expectations.
Just as Tobirama thought he was certain to die, your blade turned and stabbed Senju Jiro instead.
“Why?” The stabbed Senju Jiro widened his eyes, unable to believe even in death that this would be his ending.
Senju Tobirama stared at you in astonishment, only to see that those cold and indifferent eyes did not seem surprised at all.
Why did she not kill him?
Taking advantage of everyone’s stunned pause, you leapt several times and escaped the Senju clan grounds.
Senju Hashirama and Senju Butsuma, burning with anxiety, hurriedly checked Tobirama’s condition.
Rainwater kept sliding down their hair, soaking their clothes, but at this moment, they had no attention to spare for any of that.
“How do you feel, Tobirama?” Senju Hashirama asked with a face full of concern.
His voice carried a trace of trembling, and his eyes were filled with worry.
Tobirama lightly shook his head, trying to reassure his elder brother.
“I’m fine.”
Then he turned his gaze toward his father, Butsuma, his eyes carrying inquiry.
“Father, do you know who she is?”
Senju Butsuma’s brows were tightly furrowed.
In his mind, he kept recalling your movements: that sharp figure, ruthless, yet carrying a trace of indescribable hesitation.
“She truly gives me a familiar feeling, like the Uchiha death warrior from the massacre five years ago.”
Butsuma’s voice was low and grave, as though the tragic past was reappearing before his eyes.
Hearing this, Tobirama’s brows immediately furrowed tightly.