Senju Wakama, slippery as a loach, narrowly dodged the wind from Uchiha Madara's fist. 'Yuki is a girl,' he said, 'but she doesn't want your clan to know, so she's afraid she can't come out.'
Uchiha Yuki has been dressing as a man?
Uchiha Madara's eyes widened. 'To think...'
Uchiha Madara was actually a perceptive man, but he had his pride. Unless it was a matter that harmed the entire clan's interests, he wouldn't pry excessively into others' private affairs.
Perhaps it was because Tsukuyo was always using animals to spy on the Uchiha clan's private matters that Madara felt a deep aversion to it. He rejected such methods and naturally disdained doing such things himself.
Meanwhile, Uchiha Yuki had deliberately concealed it. Combined with genjutsu and makeup techniques, and her historically reclusive nature, the matter had remained a secret until now.
There was a reason she had never revealed her female identity.
Compared to other members of the Uchiha clan, Uchiha Yuki was exceptionally talented, having awakened her Sharingan at a very young age.
She possessed superior genetics within the Uchiha clan. Once her identity as a woman was known, the Uchiha clan would not easily let her leave.
It wasn't because they intended to raise her price and demand a larger betrothal gift, but because they couldn't bear to let her genes go. They would plan to have her 'absorbed' within the clan, perhaps even forcing her to marry Uchiha Madara.
This was an outcome that neither Uchiha Yuki, Senju Wakama, nor Uchiha Madara himself wanted to see.
Fortunately, they had held out until today.
'Ah... she can't live as a girl in the Uchiha clan, so I help her with her makeup and hair myself every time.' Senju Wakama sighed. 'I'm not afraid of you misunderstanding me, Brother Madara, nor am I afraid of your entire Uchiha clan misunderstanding me. But please, don't misunderstand her anymore.'
Uchiha Madara shot him a sideways glance. 'That doesn't change the fact that you're a menace.'
'Just tell me if you'll do it or not,' Senju Wakama pressed on. 'The major ninja clans have been getting restless lately. They can't figure out Tsukuyo's intentions, so they've found another way, haven't they? They've come looking for me.'
'Brother Madara, let's pick an auspicious day and merge our two clans. We've been staging these fake fights for so long, the nobles must be about at their limit.'
In reality, it wasn't the nobles who were at their limit, but the Senju clan.
The Senju clan's enterprises were growing larger and larger, and they were in desperate need of workhorses.
The newly joined ninja clans would be those workhorses. As long as Tsukuyo was there to oversee things, the future Konoha Ninja Village would be secure.
As for who would become Hokage, Senju Wakama wasn't worried at all.
One look was all it took to see that Uchiha Madara and Senju Hashirama were different.
Senju Hashirama was benevolent; Uchiha Madara was solitary.
There was a great difference in their personalities.
In the modern otherworld, Senju Wakama had seen many online discussions about how Uchiha Madara was too strong, and that only Senju Hashirama understood him, which was why he considered Hashirama his dearest friend.
As for everyone else...
Madara had no desire to compromise himself to accommodate others; getting along with people was too difficult.
But this world was different. Tsukuyo occupied Uchiha Madara's mind like a virus.
Senju Hashirama, by contrast, had become unimportant.
Seeing the ugly expression on Uchiha Madara's face, Senju Wakama couldn't help but smile. 'Brother Madara, let's merge the clans. If we don't, how will our two clans face the future? How will you face it?'
'In this world, the only one worthy of my sister is you...' Too bad she's a man...
That last sentence, as if possessing some magical power, caused the gloom on Uchiha Madara's somber face to dissipate.
Just as I thought...
Tsukuyo really is a menace, Senju Wakama lamented internally. His sister was a menace, and he, Senju Wakama, was a menace too.
All I can say is... I'm sorry, everyone...
Uchiha Madara was silent for a moment, then asked with an impassive face, 'What, did the Uzumaki clan not ask for your sister's hand during their visit? Would your father agree to the marriage because he wouldn't dare offend his relatives?'
He clearly cared a great deal but pretended not to.
Senju Wakama thought to himself, The Uchiha clan is truly prideful.
What was there to be embarrassed about asking such a question?
It was obvious he didn't care whether Senju Hashirama had suddenly found his relatives.
What Uchiha Madara cared about was whether anyone dared to marry that menace, Tsukuyo.
Senju Wakama scoffed. 'I'd like to see them try.'
Although Senju Wakama didn't answer directly, he had in fact responded to Uchiha Madara's question.
Uchiha Madara breathed a small sigh of relief, but still asked, not entirely reassured, 'Why wouldn't they dare? Within the Senju clan, she is second to none... '
'It's precisely because she sits firmly at the pinnacle of power that the Uzumaki clan wouldn't dare provoke her.' Senju Wakama looked at Uchiha Madara with deep meaning in his eyes. 'Others might not know, but how could you not, Brother Madara? Who could possibly force Tsukuyo to do anything?'
'Even if they succeeded in marrying her, they'd probably die an untimely death within a day.'
'Think about it. The Wood Release she awakened with my elder brother, that 'Great Tomb Grass' which is comparable to a plant from hell... what kind of person uses what kind of technique. That plant outside our clan's territory has already made the Uzumaki clan shrink back from my sister in fear.'
'In this world, only a fool like you, Brother Madara, would think she's good... '
Uchiha Madara grunted, not dwelling on the topic any longer. He had the answer he wanted. He spoke again, 'When do you plan to tell your sister about this?'
'In a few more days,' Senju Wakama chuckled lightly. 'It's an act, after all. It needs time to ferment. If there isn't enough time, the story won't sound plausible.'
As he spoke, Senju Wakama added, 'How about I bring hot pot here tomorrow? We can eat and talk.'
'Bring cold food. Don't start a fire.' Uchiha Madara looked at Senju Wakama coldly. He had agreed.
On this battlefield, their mock fighting was already drawing complaints from their financial backers. Fighting while also feasting on hot pot and drinking merrily would be going too far.
'Oh... you've really thought this through, Brother Madara. I'll have my sister make it herself.' Senju Wakama had a look of understanding on his face, then added, 'I remember you don't like sardines, right, Brother Madara? My sister's sardines are delicious. I'll bring some for you to try tomorrow. I guarantee you won't hate them anymore.'
Uchiha Madara's dislike of sardines was a detail written on some website.
It wasn't something Tsukuyo had said at all.
However, upon hearing this, Uchiha Madara was still surprised. 'She even told you that?'
Senju Wakama grinned. 'Believe me, among all us brothers, no one understands my sister better than I do. She's rarely so attentive to one person. I'm rooting for you, Brother Madara. I've said all I need to say. Are we fighting today?'
'You're too weak. I have no desire to.' Uchiha Madara shook his head.
'Hey, hey, Brother Madara, don't look down on me like that. How about giving me some pointers, then? Otherwise, just coming here to talk today feels a little off.' Senju Wakama didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
Uchiha Madara shot him a sideways glance, then turned and left without another word.
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