"Tobirama, Madara says we can start preparing for the next peace talks!"
The young Hashirama cheerfully pushed open the door. After Tobirama's persuasion, he too no longer thought the authenticity of the stone tablet was of much importance.
With his nature, creating a village where everyone could enjoy peace was the ultimate goal of life.
"Only, he says there's no rush to see the Senju stone tablet just yet… Instead, he suggests both clans gather, and under everyone's witness, hold an engagement!" Hashirama spoke with delight: "Tell me, shouldn't we start preparing some gifts for the occasion? After all, it's Izunai we're talking about—the one you've liked ever since childhood!"
The moment he saw Tobirama's expression, the young Hashirama's smile froze.
Tobirama had opened his scarlet Mangekyō Sharingan. The chilling power in his eyes spread through the room, making it feel as though the temperature itself had dropped.
In his hands was a long blade. He was etching pitch-black curse marks onto it with his ocular power, making the weapon look eerie and ominous.
"Tobirama… what are you doing?"
The young Hashirama's voice trembled. "Are you developing another forbidden jutsu?"
"Not exactly… I'm imprinting my dōjutsu onto this blade, with the aid of fūinjutsu." Tobirama lifted the weapon, twirling it gracefully before saying in a low voice: "Any Uchiha struck by this blade—even one with a fully developed three-tomoe Sharingan—will be unable to use Izanagi."
"Ah, that's incredible…" Hashirama blurted out without thinking, but then quickly shook his head. "No, wait! We're about to form an alliance with the Uchiha through marriage. Why would you make something so dangerous now?!"
"Alliance? I don't believe Uchiha Izunai will truly agree. If she does, then good—I will treat her well."
A hard glint flashed in Tobirama's eyes as he spoke coldly. "But if she accepts with false intentions, using this so-called marriage alliance to set a trap for the Senju, I will never forgive it."
"This is happening too fast… there must be something suspicious here…"
The young Hashirama listened in shock, his mind reeling, his hand trembling slightly.
Wasn't this supposed to be a marriage alliance? Why did it suddenly feel like they were preparing for the final battle? He couldn't help but imagine the engagement ceremony ending with Tobirama and Izunai chatting pleasantly, then smashing their cups of sake to the ground—at which point both the Uchiha and Senju would drop their flowers and gifts, draw their blades from their waists, and start cutting each other down!
"Don't worry, Hashirama…"
Tobirama cast a glance at his brother, whose mind seemed frozen, and spoke calmly: "I won't strike first. Since I proposed the marriage, it means I truly can accept Uchiha Izunai as my wife."
"If my judgment proves wrong, I'll find a way to ensure the engagement continues, as though nothing ever happened."
"But if Uchiha Izunai plans to use the Uchiha clan to launch an attack, then Hashirama—you, as the head of the Senju, by duty, by position, by obligation—must be the one to hold Uchiha Madara in check!"
"You carry the lives of all Senju clansmen on your shoulders. This is not the time for hesitation!"
The young Hashirama was utterly dumbfounded.
Why was Tobirama suddenly doubting Izunai's sincerity? From what Hashirama remembered of their last meeting, Izunai's blush had spread all the way to her ears—it was obvious she was hopelessly smitten with Tobirama!
He wanted to argue, but memories flashed through his mind, leaving his lips sealed.
Time and again, since their youth, the Senju had nearly fallen into Uchiha ambushes—ambushes always exposed and unraveled by Tobirama. And the one who had orchestrated those very traps… was none other than Uchiha Izunai.
It could be said that if not for Tobirama…
The Senju clan would already have been destroyed by the woman known as the Uchiha Rose!
"…If this is your judgment, Tobirama… then so be it."
The young Hashirama shook his head in dejection. "I truly hope you've misjudged this, Tobirama! Must our two clans really be unable to dissolve the hatred of the past, to sit together as one family?"
Tobirama shook his head coldly. "That isn't up to me to decide… I already told you, Hashirama—I won't strike first. But we cannot drag our clansmen into danger."
"If she truly wants to be with me, then of course I'll agree… But if she sets a trap for me, then don't blame me for showing no mercy!"
From Tobirama's scarlet eyes radiated killing intent so tangible it seemed to fill the air. His words rang out firm and sharp: "If anyone threatens our clan, then even the woman I've always cared for—I can never forgive her!"
Hearing this, the young Hashirama froze, then sighed and nodded helplessly.
He really had no way to refute Tobirama…
Whether it was Tobirama's love for Izunai or his own friendship with Madara, in the cruel Warring States era, when weighed against the obligations of being heads of the Senju and the Uchiha, such ties had no priority.
Ensuring the survival of their clansmen—that was the first and foremost duty.
...
"Everyone, do you understand?"
Clad in a pure black haori, Tobirama stroked the custom short blade in his hand, speaking in a cold voice: "All of you must remain on constant guard. Watch my movements—if I draw this blade, you enter battle stance immediately!"
Before him stood the entire Senju clan.
At this moment, their expressions mirrored those of the young Hashirama earlier—filled with conflict and confusion.
Their brilliant young clan leader had awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan, and was about to be engaged to Uchiha Izunai—their sworn enemy.
That alone was enough to shatter their understanding of the world!
But it didn't end there. Tobirama ordered every clansman to conceal short blades and ample ninja tools within their formal attire for the engagement ceremony, prepared at any instant for the outbreak of battle.
Was this truly an engagement… or the eve of a decisive clash? No one could make sense of it.
The only small comfort was that their young leader Tobirama, despite awakening the blood of the Uchiha, remained the very same man— the Senju's and the entire shinobi world's vanguard against the Uchiha, spending every waking moment scheming against the Uchiha.
"You all understand, don't you? Theoretically, Uchiha Izunai might indeed agree to marry me—but the chances of that are slim…"
Tobirama once again emphasized his orders as he slid the specially crafted short blade—capable of sealing away Izanagi—into his haori.
The young Hashirama watched with a complicated expression.
That haori was one he had commissioned at great expense from the daimyo's court in the Land of Fire, made from the finest material, cut to a perfect fit…
Its tailored lines showed off Tobirama's figure, making him appear especially handsome, while the pure gold tassels embroidered upon it lent him an air of nobility.
And yet, who would have imagined that beneath such a fine garment lay a blade meant for the heart? A blade so lethal that even the Uchiha's power to overturn life and death with Izanagi could not withstand it.
The young Hashirama let out a muffled sigh. But what else could he do?
Even a marriage alliance turned out like this—perhaps such was the miserable fate of this Warring States era.
Clinging to the last thread of hope, he prayed silently in his mind: 'Please, Izunai… please let it be that you truly wish to marry Tobirama!!'
...
"Everyone, have you understood?"
Uchiha Izunai gripped a short blade that looked nearly identical to Tobirama's. From her Mangekyō radiated a terrifying crimson light.
Her proud, beautiful face, which should have looked dazzling beneath the white wedding robe, now only gave off a chillingly stark contrast.
"If, under my dōjutsu, that bastard Senju Tobirama turns out to be lying to me…"
"Then I will kill him! Watch my movements closely. I will demand to test his sincerity… The moment I detect even the slightest problem, pay attention—if I reach for my blade, all of you strike down the nearest enemies immediately!"
The Uchiha clansmen, dressed in their formal robes, wore expressions of shock identical to those of the Senju.
Uchiha Madara let out a sigh, much like the young Hashirama. What kind of situation was this?
It could only be said that from beginning to end, Tobirama and Izunai's union was never going to be simple. With minds as deep and guarded as theirs, how could either possibly entrust themselves fully to the other?
This was not just a marriage—it was a contest of equals, a final life-and-death struggle.
"Let's move out, everyone!" Uchiha Izunai slid the short blade into her robe, adjusted its position, and drew a deep breath. Her heart was far less calm than she appeared on the surface.
'Senju Tobirama, you bastard… you had better not deceive me!'
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