Chapter 25 Five Years Later

When Yan Sheng returned, the scene was chaotic.

—Kaori had already been rushed to the medical clinic by the other clansmen who had heard the news. All that remained at the scene were the glaring bloodstains, the broken medicine bowl, and Masahiko, who was being held down and was vehemently defending himself.

"It wasn't me! It really wasn't me! I don't know anything!" Jiang Yan saw Yan Sheng return and seemed to grasp a glimmer of hope. "Young Master Yan Sheng! You know it wasn't me, right!"

Yan Sheng's icy gaze swept over him, and that look made Jiang Yan feel as if he had fallen into an ice cave, and his words of explanation came to an abrupt halt.

Yan Sheng ignored him, his gaze falling on Madara and Izuna, whose expressions were grim. The two elder brothers were like volcanoes about to erupt, their eyes blazing with boundless fury.

"Where is Mother?" Yan Sheng asked in a low voice.

“The medical clinic.” Ban’s voice was low, suppressing his anger. “Yan Sheng, were you there just now?” He stared at his younger brother, not missing a single subtle expression.

Yan Sheng paused for a moment.

“When I arrived,” he began slowly, choosing his words carefully, “I only saw Uncle Jiang Yan standing there, and Mother was already injured. Then… I felt a very fast, very subtle chakra disappear in that direction.” He pointed in a direction that roughly corresponded to the direction Black Zetsu had fled.

“But when I chased after him, I found nothing,” he added, his tone revealing the frustration and confusion appropriate for his age.

Yan Sheng selectively concealed some of the truth—the parts that, if revealed, would cause him considerable trouble. Yes, the kind that would create significant problems, because it would involve many things he would need to explain.

Madara and Izuna exchanged a glance, their anger still burning, but now tinged with a hint of surprise and uncertainty.

Extremely fast, concealed chakra? A third party?

"Put Yan in solitary confinement and keep him under strict guard! No one is allowed to touch him without my order!" Ban finally gave the order in a deep voice, each word sounding as if it had been pulled from an ice cellar, carrying a chilling coldness.

His gaze was fixed on the dejected Jiang Yan as if it were a physical object, surging with uncontrollable anger and a deeper sense of defeat.

He had been keeping a close watch on Jiang Yan for several days and nights without daring to relax for a moment, but today—just when he was busy with complicated matters after the war and his mind had to be slightly distracted—it was the perfect time for him to finally focus on Jiang Yan.

The mastermind lurking in the shadows possessed an ruthless grasp of timing, giving him no chance whatsoever. And choosing the same person repeatedly—was it intentional? A provocation? Or is Jiang Yan something special?

Ban took a deep breath, forcing himself to suppress the anger and grief that were almost destroying his reason. At this moment, losing control would not solve anything; he needed absolute calm to sort out this chaotic fog and find that one flaw.

After temporarily arranging things for Masahiko, Madara, Izuna, and Yansheng went to the medical center to visit their mother.

Yan Sheng wasn't too worried. He had already checked on his mother; although her injuries were severe, with the (ninja) medical technology of this world, there was no problem saving her life.

As the three of them approached the entrance of the medical clinic, they saw Uchiha Tajima standing there with a somber expression.

"Madara, come with me." Tajima's tone left no room for argument as he directly summoned his eldest son, Uchiha Madara. Clearly, he needed to discuss such a serious matter as his wife's attack with his heir.

Izuna and Michikatsu, who were left behind, exchanged a glance and silently walked into the ward.

They arrived just in time; the doctor had just finished treatment. In fact, this doctor was an acquaintance of Yan Sheng: Uchiha Hisashi.

He was once designated by Uchiha Tajima as Kokushiro's personal physician. Of course, this "personal" status did not mean that he would not treat others, but rather that Kokushiro was frail and sickly as a child and his condition was critical. In case of emergency, Tajima specifically ordered Hisashi to move next door to Kokushiro so that he could take care of him at any time.

Now that Yan Sheng's health has stabilized somewhat, Jiu Si has moved back to his original place, but he is still responsible for preparing the herbal medicine that Yan Sheng uses to regulate his body. The two can be considered "old acquaintances".

Izuna stepped forward urgently, her voice filled with barely suppressed worry: "Uncle Hisashi, my mother..."

"Don't worry," Uchiha Hisashi comforted him. "Your life is not in danger. The wound was treated promptly, but you lost a lot of blood and need to rest for a while."

Izuna's tense shoulders instantly relaxed, and he let out a long sigh of relief: "Thank you for your hard work."

"It's my duty." Hisashi shook his head, tidying up the medical equipment. His gaze inadvertently swept over Yan Sheng, who was standing quietly at the foot of the bed, and he nodded slightly in acknowledgment.

Yan Sheng did not respond; his gaze fell on Jia Zhi on the sickbed. The woman had fallen into a deep sleep, but even in her sleep, her brows were tightly furrowed, and her face was deathly pale, clearly indicating that she was in pain.

Looking at the face haggard from the pain, Yan Sheng's thoughts drifted away, and he thought of his birth mother from his previous life.

He couldn't remember what the other person looked like, since that mother rarely took care of him personally—he had a younger brother named Yoriichi, and they were twins. In that ignorant era, twins were considered "children of demons," an ominous sign.

He was the firstborn, the eldest brother. His father only wanted to save him and was prepared to kill Yoriichi, who was born later. It was his mother, that frail woman, who desperately stopped his father.

From then on, the mother lived alone with her younger brother in a secluded little courtyard. Perhaps out of guilt towards Yoriichi, the mother poured all her love into her younger brother.

Yan Sheng was initially unaware that he had a younger brother. Until one day, he accidentally wandered into that small courtyard and saw a thin, small child sitting quietly on the porch. The child heard the door open and turned around.

With just one glance, Yan Sheng understood their relationship.

The reason is simple: they look too alike. Except for the peculiar flame mark on Yoriichi's forehead, their appearances are almost identical. Of course, their temperaments are quite different, and those close to them can easily tell them apart.

My younger brother was saved by my mother at the cost of her life, but my father disliked him, so he naturally didn't receive much care or resources. Perhaps because of this, my younger brother was exceptionally short; although they were twins, he was a whole head taller than his brother.

At that moment, a strong sense of pity overwhelmed Yan Sheng. He didn't dislike his younger brother; in fact, he felt affection for him.

However, when he saw the exquisite sun-shaped flower earring on his younger brother's ear and learned that it was a gift from their mother, who had never given him anything and rarely cared about him, her heart was entirely devoted to her younger brother, a trace of indescribable sadness welled up in young Yan Sheng's heart.

But he thought, his younger brother only has their mother left. So, he didn't resent it.

later......

My mother died of illness. That delicate woman, who conformed to all the gentle standards of that era, passed away prematurely, whether due to illness caused by childbirth or due to accumulated depression.

In his previous life, Yan Sheng had not truly experienced much maternal love. In this life, perhaps because his body was too frail and could die at any moment, his mother poured all her worries and love into him, taking care of him meticulously.

At first he wasn't used to it, but gradually he accepted it.

Just as no one truly hates kindness, those who mock good deeds are merely ridiculing the "foolishness" of those who do good without regard for their own interests, but they would never wish for the world to be devoid of kindness.

Although Yan Sheng believed he had abandoned humanity, he was not entirely unmoved when someone genuinely treated him well—especially when he was at his most vulnerable and unable to resist.

He abandoned the weaknesses and constraints of human nature, not the ability to perceive emotions.

The thought that the dark figure had reached out to harm my mother and almost succeeded... if only my mother's life hadn't been spared...

Yan Sheng's aura turned imperceptibly cold for a moment, and the intense killing intent he had buried deep in his heart for Hei Jue surged out almost uncontrollably.

Izuna seemed to vaguely sense the fleeting, unusual aura emanating from Yan Sheng. After all, he was a Uchiha with keen senses, and he had always paid special attention to his younger brother.

However, the feeling was too faint and fleeting, and Izuna eventually just shook his head, thinking that he was probably just imagining things.

His younger brother had been frail and sickly since birth, had never stepped onto the battlefield, and had never even seen blood. How could he possibly exude such a cold... murderous aura? It must be that the shock of his mother's serious injury was too great, making him somewhat unsettled.

On the other side, outside the locked room.

Uchiha Tajima and his son Uchiha Madara stood facing each other, the air thick with tension, as if frozen in place.

"You suspected Masahiko of having problems before, but you kept it a secret!" Tajima's voice suppressed thunderous rage, his gaze sharp as a blade as he slashed at his eldest son. "Now, he even dared to poison your mother! And you're still defending him? Madara, if you weren't my own son, whom I watched grow up and who shares my blood, I would suspect that you might also be involved with that mole!"

Facing his father's rage, Ban remained composed and said, "Father, I have never concluded that he is the mole, but I believe he is highly suspicious. He is very likely a pawn being manipulated! My subsequent investigations also point in this direction..."

"Manipulated by someone?" Tajima interrupted sharply, his tone filled with distrust and disappointment. "If he's been manipulated, he's no different from a useless child! Why didn't you deal with him directly back then? If you had been more decisive then, this disaster wouldn't have happened!"

Ban remained unyielding, his voice as cold and hard as iron: "So what if we killed Jiang Yan? If the mastermind can control him, they can control a second and a third! Keeping him alive might be the only clue to follow the trail and find the real culprit! If we don't nip it in the bud, today's events will only repeat themselves!"

Their gazes clashed fiercely in the air, neither willing to yield, and a heavy pressure filled the corridor.

Uchiha Tajima stared intently at his eldest son, his chest heaving slightly with anger. Madara's words, "If you don't nip the problem in the bud, it will only repeat itself," seemed to be an accusation against him for not being decisive enough in his decisions as clan leader.

"A clue?" Tajima's voice was forced out through clenched teeth, laced with cold mockery. "What have you found? Nothing but your guesses and that good-for-nothing's blank memory! Madara, you've disappointed me greatly! Your indecisiveness will only bring greater disaster to the clan!"

He abruptly flicked his sleeves, turned his back to Ban, and said in an unquestionable tone: "This matter ends here! Jiang Yan must pay the price for attacking the clan chief's wife! He will be publicly executed tomorrow morning! This will serve as a warning to others and stabilize public sentiment! As for that elusive mastermind... I will investigate in my own way!"

Having said that, Tajima gave Madara no chance to argue and strode away, his footsteps echoing in the empty corridor, each step seeming to tread on the sudden rift between father and son.

Ban stood frozen in place, watching his father's departing figure, his clenched fists turning white at the knuckles. He understood his father's choice—using swift and decisive action to execute the "murderer" to intimidate the clan and unite its members was the most direct and effective approach for the clan leader.

But he firmly believed he was right. Executing Jiang Yan was simple, but it would be tantamount to severing the only remaining thread that might point to the real culprit. He was unwilling to accept it!

A moment later, a resolute glint flashed in Madara's eyes. He could not disobey his father's orders, but he also had his own principles.

He summoned a trusted confidant who was absolutely loyal to him and whispered a secret order: "Take Jiang Yan to my safe house in a moment. You know where it is. Also, mobilize all available personnel and, with the highest priority, secretly investigate all records and rumors related to 'mind manipulation' and 'memory erasure.' Don't overlook any clues! Focus on investigating all personnel within the clan who have recently come into contact with special ancient books or carried out related missions!"

He must find evidence to prove his theory before the execution date set by his father, or... find the real mastermind!

***

As expected, despite his best efforts, Madara Uchiha ultimately gained nothing. The mastermind seemed to have completely disappeared into the shadows, leaving no substantial clues for investigation, and all investigations had reached a dead end.

His act of secretly "detaining" Masahiko in an attempt to delay his execution thoroughly enraged Uchiha Tajima. In Tajima's view, this was not only disobeying orders, but also challenging his authority as the clan head, especially at a time when the clan had suffered such a heavy blow and desperately needed to stabilize morale.

In a fit of rage, Tajima ordered Madara to be confined to his room, forbidden from leaving without permission. This was both punishment and a form of protection and isolation, to prevent him from engaging in any further "irrational" behavior.

The night was deep, and the tribe's territory was completely silent.

Worried about his brother, Izuna took advantage of the darkness to approach Madara's door. He hesitated for a moment, then gently knocked on the door.

Inside the room, Ban was sitting in the dark. Hearing the knock on the door, he suddenly looked up.

A low, worried voice came from outside the door: "Brother... are you alright?"

Then, the door was gently pushed open a crack, and Izuna slipped inside before quickly closing the door again.

There were no lights in the room, only the cold moonlight filtering through the window lattice, outlining Ban's cold, hard profile as he sat by the window, like a stone sculpture. The aura surrounding him was oppressive and icy.

"I'm fine." Ban's voice was hoarse, revealing no emotion.

Izuna walked to his side, and in the moonlight he could see his brother's tightly pursed lips and taut jawline. He knew his brother couldn't possibly be "okay."

“Father…” Izuna began, but was interrupted by Madara.

“Father has his reasons.” Ban’s tone was unreadable. “Maintaining stability within the clan and his authority is the most important thing right now.” There was a hint of barely perceptible sarcasm in his words.

Izuna paused for a moment, then said in a low voice, "Brother, I believe you. Mother's matter... could never have been Uncle Jiang Yan's intention. There must be something we don't know..." Although he was angry, he still retained his rationality.

Ban finally turned his eyes, his dark pupils looking at his younger brother: "I know. But knowing is useless, we need evidence." His fingers unconsciously tightened, his knuckles making a slight cracking sound. "And right now, we don't even know who the enemy is or where they are."

This feeling of powerlessness made him feel more frustrated and angry than his father's punishment.

"What can I do?" Izuna asked in a low voice. He didn't want to see his brother bear all of this alone.

Ban took a deep breath, suppressing his turbulent emotions: "Keep an eye on the clan. Father forbade me to act, but not you. Pay attention to anything unusual, and remember, don't alert them, and don't trust anyone."

"Anyone?" Izuna was taken aback.

“Yes, anyone.” Ban’s gaze returned to the darkness outside the window. “Until we figure out exactly how many people the other side can control, don’t completely trust a second person. Including me.”

Izuna's heart skipped a beat, sensing the seriousness of the situation and his brother's resolute decision. He nodded heavily: "I understand."

The two brothers spoke in hushed tones for a long time under the cold moonlight, devising a secret investigation plan. Izuna became Madara's eyes and arms after he was confined to his quarters.

Unbeknownst to them, deep within the shadows of the eaves above them, an almost imperceptible dark substance was slowly writhing, "listening" to every word of their conversation.

Black Zetsu: Tsk, how come this has only fueled the determination of the Indra (chakra) reincarnation to find the mastermind? Oh well, if that's the case, then let Madara be too busy to deal with this.

—It made him do something unnecessary.

It is worth mentioning that, although the three brothers are related by blood, Madara and Izuna live next to each other, which makes it convenient for them to look after each other and discuss clan affairs. Kokukatsu's residence is located on the other side of the clan's territory.

Because Yan Sheng was frail and sickly from childhood, his residence was closer to the clan's medical clinic, so he could receive treatment as quickly as possible in case of an emergency.

Because of this physical distance, Yan Sheng failed to notice that Hei Jue had returned, and therefore had no way to intervene.

However, even if he hadn't "missed" this time, the result would have been the same.

With his current frail body at only five years old, and his power far from recovered, he could not capture or capture Black Zetsu even if he faced him face to face.

As for telling his two older brothers the truth.

To reiterate: Yan Sheng never considered this a viable option. To him, it would be tantamount to asking for trouble.

Because explaining this matter would inevitably uncover too many unspeakable secrets.

Rather than expending energy weaving a flawed lie to deal with endless questioning and scrutiny, which might even invite unnecessary suspicion, he preferred to solve the problem himself.

***

Uchiha Masahiko, who was secretly placed in a safe house by Madara, died.

The body was discovered by Ban's confidant during his routine meal delivery.

The fatal wound was clearly visible; the technique was clean, swift, precise, and ruthless, displaying a unique style that was both expansive and efficient.

At a glance, one can tell it's the work of the Senju clan.

Don't ask why I'm so sure.

The Uchiha and Senju clans have been enemies for generations, clashing for countless years, and are intimately familiar with each other to the core. They study each other's tactics, habits, and even the meaning behind every tiny movement more thoroughly than they understand their own family, lovers, or even themselves.

Madara's confidant was greatly shocked and immediately wanted to rush back to report this horrifying change to Madara. However, as soon as he turned around, he suddenly froze on the spot.

Uchiha Tajima, with an expression as cold as iron, was standing behind him at some point, staring indifferently at him and the cold corpse behind him.

Although his confidant was Madara's trusted aide, the true highest authority in the clan at this moment remained Uchiha Tajima. Moreover, under the absolute power and pressure of the Sharingan, any attempt to conceal anything was futile.

Soon, Tajima learned everything. Then, he personally stepped forward, knelt down, and carefully examined Masahiko's body. The more he examined it, the colder his eyes became.

There's no mistake. The force, the angle, the feeling of residual chakra... it's definitely the Thousand Hands.

"As expected—the mastermind behind it all is Senju!"

This conclusion coincided perfectly with his deepest suspicions. His long-held doubts and anger seemed to finally find a definitive outlet. The extreme anger and the overwhelming sense of confirmation that "it was just as he thought" overwhelmed any possibility of rational examination.

Tajima had no doubts and didn't even consider whether it was too much of a coincidence.

***

The resurgence of the war between the Senju and Uchiha clans is an inevitable outcome.

Ultimately, the two ninja clans are either fighting each other every year or on their way to fighting each other. The blood feud is deeply rooted in their blood and is difficult to resolve.

Madara Uchiha's investigation into the true culprit has reached a complete standstill. His only possible clue—Masahiko Uchiha—is now a corpse.

It is said that he died at the hands of a thousand hands.

However, deep down, Ban couldn't quite believe it. It was too much of a coincidence, too much like a carefully orchestrated cover-up. But what could he do if he didn't believe it? He couldn't produce any evidence to refute this "ironclad proof."

—That day, after Tajima returned from the safe house, he and Madara locked themselves in their room and conducted a two-hour secret investigation, the contents of which remained unknown to anyone. However, since then, Madara has no longer publicly pursued the mastermind he imagined.

The Uchiha clan's focus shifted back to the confrontation with the Senju.

The conflict between the two groups escalated rapidly, becoming more frequent and intense, to the point where there were small-scale skirmishes almost every seven days and a large-scale battle every month.

Hashirama Senju never pressed Madara for further details about the investigation. Perhaps he didn't want to put pressure on his friend, or perhaps... he already had the answer in his heart: just as he had told Madara that day, it was perhaps the work of someone within the Uchiha clan who harbored extreme hatred.

The relationship between the two tribes has long been entangled in an intractable knot. Both sides have the blood of the other's people on their hands, and it's impossible to determine who owes whom more.

Even Madara and Hashirama, who recognized each other as close friends, never showed mercy on the battlefield.

Hashirama once left a gruesome, penetrating wound on Madara's chest, requiring over seventy stitches upon Madara's return. Madara also nearly severed Hashirama's neck with a single strike, the wound reaching a quarter of the cervical bone; a slight deviation would have severed his throat. Such severe injuries would have been fatal for an ordinary person, and only Hashirama's monstrous, unparalleled physique, unmatched by any other member of the Senju clan, could have withstood them.

Five years have passed in the blink of an eye.

The boy of yesteryear has grown into a young man. Uchiha Madara is now twenty years old, his authority growing daily, and he has become an indispensable and powerful force and decision-making core in the clan; Uchiha Izuna is eighteen years old this year, his Sharingan has improved remarkably, and he has become his brother's most capable assistant and sharpest fang.

Yan Sheng was now ten years old. His health had improved considerably since childhood, but his constitution was still weak, and he remained sickly. He would still cough from time to time, and occasionally cough up a few drops of bright red blood.

Regarding this, Uchiha Hisashi, who had been taking care of him, said it was no problem: "It's just a little bit of congestion in the lungs, coughing it out will actually make things easier. It looks scary, but it's actually good for your health." However, this statement was half reassuring and half true.

Vomiting blood is never a good thing, no matter how you look at it.

However, these slight improvements are not the result of the body healing itself.

Over the years, Yan Sheng has never slacked off in his training. To outsiders, he either sits quietly reading or rests on the veranda, his expression always calm yet slightly weary. But the truth is, he is constantly practicing a unique training method that combines breathing techniques with chakra.

The breathing and energy circulation had long become as instinctive to him as breathing and drinking water. It was this arduous training, day after day without interruption, that barely maintained and slightly improved his congenitally deficient body; otherwise, he would not have been able to live to this day.

During this time, Yan Sheng no longer sensed that cold and evil aura.

And indeed, that was the case. The seeds of Black Zetsu's conspiracy had successfully taken root and sprouted, and the vines of hatred were growing and entangled wildly along the path he had envisioned. He no longer needed to risk coming forward to "water and fertilize" the seeds; now was the time for it to remain hidden behind the scenes, patiently waiting for the fruits of hatred to fully ripen and fall.

***

The cold wind at the end of the year seemed to carry a chilling atmosphere.

At the end of that year, Uchiha Tajima and Senju Butsuma, two lifelong rivals, perished together in an extremely fierce battle.

What followed was a change of power. At the young age of twenty, Madara Uchiha and Hashirama Senju, who was the same age, almost simultaneously became the new heads of the Uchiha and Senju clans, respectively, burdened with heavy destiny and the expectations of their clans.

Yan Sheng felt little emotional about the death of his adoptive father.

A mourning hall was set up in the clan chief's mansion, with plain white curtains hanging down and the air filled with the scent of incense and sorrow.

The clan's collective mourning had ended, and now only Uchiha Tajima's immediate family remained in the empty hall: his wife and three sons.

The enormous coffin sat silently and coldly in the center of the hall.

Yan Sheng's gaze swept over the coffin, finally settling on his mother Jia Zhi's pale face, still streaked with tears. She struggled to hold back a sob, her shoulders trembling slightly, lost in grief over her husband's passing.

In the oppressive silence, Yan Sheng's clear and calm voice broke the silence of grief:

“Mother,” he began, his tone so calm it was almost inhuman, “if you feel unbearably lonely, you may consider… finding another husband.”

Upon hearing this, the air in the mourning hall seemed to freeze instantly.

Madara and Izuna abruptly turned to look at him, their eyes filled with disbelief. To utter such words before their father, the Spirit Sealing, was simply...

Kaori was also stunned. She raised her tearful eyes and stared blankly at her youngest son, who had just made such a shocking statement.

In the end, the three of them took it as just the child's ignorant and unrestrained words, scolded him for talking nonsense, and then let the matter drop.

But Yan Sheng was serious.

Although he had little affection for his father, Uchiha Tajima, he did have affection for his mother, Kaori.

Yan Sheng was actually somewhat chauvinistic at heart, believing in the feudal customs of the husband being the head of the wife and women being chaste and virtuous.

But people are prone to double standards. When this rule was applied to his mother, it became, "If the mother needs it, it's okay to change husbands."

So he actually started looking for someone for his mother to remarry.

He meticulously selected eligible single men in the clan who were of decent character and ability, and then sought an opportunity to conduct a "test" (such as asking about their future plans and subtly inquiring about their attitudes toward marriage and offspring—especially emphasizing the harsh condition of "not having children," which he believed could prevent his mother from suffering again).

After secretly selecting a few candidates he deemed "qualified," he solemnly proposed the idea to his mother.

When Jiazhi heard about her youngest son's "plan," she was first taken aback, then she was both amused and exasperated. Looking at Yan Sheng's serious and serious expression, she felt a mix of emotions.

When Yan Sheng brought his "carefully selected" list to her for the third time, Jia Zhi sighed softly and gently but firmly took his hand: "Yan Sheng, your mother will not remarry. For the rest of my life, I only wish to live peacefully with you three brothers. If you truly have this wish, why not wait until you brothers marry and have children, so that your mother can enjoy the company of her grandchildren? That would be the greatest comfort."

Yan Sheng: "".

He remained noncommittal about the first part of his mother's statement, but regarding the second part—"marrying and having children"—he himself had absolutely no intention of doing so. He had no interest in romantic relationships, nor any desire to carry on the family line. In fact, in his previous life as a demon, he could mercilessly slaughter even his own bloodline descendants.

Seeing that his mother's expression had calmed down and that she seemed to have emerged from the initial gloom of losing her husband, Yan Sheng stopped dwelling on it.

***

A fierce argument broke out between Madara and Izuna, which even alarmed some of the clan elders, making the atmosphere within the clan somewhat delicate for a time.

Yan Sheng was originally indifferent to this. The family's decisions and his brother's ideological differences were far less important to him than his own cultivation.

But Uchiha Izuna took the initiative to come to him.

That day, Izuna entered Yansheng's room with a solemn expression and sat down opposite him. Sunlight streamed through the eaves, illuminating Izuna's furrowed brow and the undisguised anxiety and dissatisfaction in his eyes.

“Yan Sheng.” Izuna’s voice was serious. “I have tried to persuade Madara many times, but he is unusually stubborn this time and will not listen to me at all.”

He took a deep breath, as if to expel all the pent-up frustration in his chest, and his tone became agitated: "He's been bewitched by that damned Hashirama Senju! He's actually considering forming an alliance, saying he wants to join forces to build... a village where we can live in peace?! And it's not just our two clans, he wants to absorb other ninja clans—how is that possible?"

Izuna clenched his fist, his knuckles turning white: "Putting everything else aside, the relationship between us and the Senju is a blood feud spanning generations, an irreconcilable one! How many friends and relatives have died at their hands? Can this hatred be easily erased?"

Yan Sheng calmly picked up the kettle and poured a glass of water for the agitated Izuna.

Izuna took the water glass, tilted his head back without looking, and downed it in one gulp, as if trying to extinguish the anger in his chest. Then he slammed the empty glass down and said decisively, "In short, I absolutely cannot agree to this! There is no room for negotiation!"

For the next hour and a half, Izuna seemed to have found a reliable confidant, pouring out all his worries, dissatisfaction, and resentment towards Senju.

Yan Sheng sat quietly opposite, mostly listening, only occasionally offering a concise and insightful question or a calm observation during Izuna's pauses. This made Izuna feel that although his younger brother was young, he seemed to understand his worries, so he spoke with even more enthusiasm.

Finally, having vented all the frustration in her heart, Izuna felt a little better and got up to leave.

After seeing his second brother off, Yan Sheng closed his eyes again.

He wasn't entirely listening to Izuna's complaints; he was multitasking, maintaining his breathing technique and chakra circulation while analyzing the information revealed in Izuna's words.

January passed in the blink of an eye.

Conflict erupted again between the two tribes. The fighting was still brutal, and both sides paid the price with their lives.

But the atmosphere after this war was completely different from the past, with a more suffocating heaviness and sorrow permeating the air.

During the solemn occasion of collecting the remains of the fallen and holding a mass funeral, Madara and Izuna quietly left midway through.

After attending the ceremony, Yan Sheng was preparing to return to his residence when, as he turned a corner in a secluded corridor, he heard Izuna's suppressed yet barely concealed anger:

"Sister Gu Kui is dead! Her child is only two years old! Brother, even now, you still want to form an alliance with those Senju?!"

Uchiha Aoi was the daughter of their father's brother, making her their cousin.

Yan Sheng was not familiar with this cousin, only knowing that she had skillful hands, especially skilled in weaving, and the dolls she made were lifelike.

The handmade (ugly) dolls that Izuna had given him before were made by his cousin, who taught him how to make them. Unfortunately, despite her best efforts, Izuna's talent in this area was simply limited.

Yan Sheng paused slightly, about to turn around and take another route, when he saw Quan Nai suddenly turn to the side as he got excited—

In an instant, what clearly appeared in Izuna's eyes was no longer the two tomoe of the past, but three slowly rotating tomoe.

Um?

Yan Sheng's gaze sharpened. Izuna's Sharingan had advanced?

It seems that the death of his cousin Gu Kui in battle had a significant impact on him.

Izuna's voice, filled with pain and self-reproach, came again, answering Michikatsu's question: "Aoi-nee died to save me! She took that fatal blow for me!"

Yan Sheng understood.

I see.

Izuna was so furious that his beloved cousin died tragically while trying to save him, and his eyes even leveled up.

Izuna poured out all his pent-up resentment, confusion, and heart-wrenching pain, but Madara just stood there silently, like a cold stone statue, without any response.

Madara's almost tacit silence extinguished the last glimmer of hope in Izuna's heart.

"Brother! Why, you—" Izuna's question was almost a roar, filled with grief, anger and disappointment.

But his words were cut short as if he had been choked.

Izuna stared wide-eyed at Madara in astonishment.

At some point, Madara's Sharingan, which originally had three tomoe, began to connect and transform, outlining a magnificent and eerie pattern.

The pattern was as deep as a swirling abyss, containing a chilling power.

It's the Mangekyou Sharingan.

—Under the weight of extreme grief, his brother's doubts, and his own ideals, Madara Uchiha's eye power broke through its final limit at this moment, reaching the legendary realm.

Yan Sheng's gaze suddenly froze, fixed on the magnificent yet eerie pattern in Ban's eyes. In an instant, he felt his heart race uncontrollably, and an indescribable tremor welled up from the depths of his heart.

Kaleidoscope Sharingan.

According to the clan's records, this power has not appeared in the world for nearly a hundred years, and has almost become a legendary existence.

Prior to this, neither the single-tomoe, double-tomoe, nor triple-tomoe Sharingan had truly piqued Yan Sheng's interest. In his view, these were merely enhancements to perception and genjutsu, offering little benefit to what he sought. Therefore, he maintained an almost indifferent attitude towards awakening his Sharingan, showing no sign of urgency whatsoever.

Until this moment.

He witnessed those eyes with his own eyes. It wasn't just a change in form, but a qualitative leap in power! The deep, swirling pattern emanated a chilling, powerful fluctuation, like the workings of a rule.

What incredible power!

An unprecedented, burning thought arose in Yan Sheng's mind:

Possessing such eyes...would it be possible...would it be possible to glimpse the "transparent world" reflected in the eyes of that son of God?!

Yan Sheng's breathing quickened uncontrollably for a moment.

This subtle change in aura instantly alerted Madara Uchiha and Izuna Uchiha.

"Who's there?!" Madara's voice was cold and oppressive. His newly formed Mangekyou Sharingan suddenly turned to the shadowy corner, its eerie light swirling, carrying an all-seeing pressure.

Izuna immediately looked over warily, and the three tomoe appeared simultaneously.

Yan Sheng snapped out of his daze. He silently took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the excitement and palpitations surging in his chest, and resealed all his emotions under that calm and expressionless mask. Then he slowly stepped out from the shadows in the corner, lowered his eyes, and softly called out, "Brother Ban, Brother Quanna."

Upon seeing that the newcomer was his younger brother, Madara's sharp, scrutinizing gaze softened slightly, and the kaleidoscope pattern disappeared. However, the powerful aura emanating from his body, still unabated after his breakthrough, was still awe-inspiring.

Izuna breathed a sigh of relief and lowered his guard, but his brows were still slightly furrowed, as if he was wondering why his younger brother had appeared here so quietly without him noticing.

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