Konoha: The thirty-year-old Uchiha lacks motivation.

Chapter 202 Thank you for your special invitation to witness your love.

Just as Uchiha Gin was preparing his congratulatory gift, the intense battle on the battlefield was drawing to a close.

Since both sides had been notified in advance, they could not actually fight, so they could only engage in a war of words, which they were not very good at.

"Are you Senju clan members any good? You're so weak!"

A handsome Uchiha clansman swung his hand, deflecting the fists of a seemingly honest Senju clansman. His brows furrowed, and he spoke in a sarcastic tone, infuriating the man.

"You quick-witted fool! We Senju are known for our stamina, unlike you Uchiha who are all show and no substance!"

Even clay figures have a temper; the honest young man from the Thousand Hands clan racked his brains before coming up with a rebuttal.

"Hmph~ Whether it's useful or not, we'll find out soon enough!"

Behind the Senju clan's camp, inside a meticulously decorated tent, sat a tall figure with long black hair.

Dressed in a white kimono, Senju Momoka was filled with unease. Her two slender, white hands were nervously clasped together, and her slightly pale knuckles betrayed her anxious state of mind.

"Isn't this a bit too fast?"

Senju Momoka, who had become the clan chief's wife in a daze, was still reeling from the shock of her newfound status.

Two days ago, Senju Momoka, who was peacefully patrolling with her subordinates, was suddenly transferred to the clan chief's office by a special order.

The person who interviewed her was the cold-faced second-in-command, Tobirama Senju. Upon seeing him, she couldn't help but recall the shocking scene she had witnessed in the grove one day.

Terrified, Senju Momoka thought the other party had come to kill her to silence her, but to her surprise, Senju Tobirama simply looked her up and down.

After asking a few simple questions, he reluctantly nodded and said that he was entrusting her with an important task concerning the survival of the family.

With a furrowed brow, Tobirama Senju looked at the tall, beautiful, black-haired woman before him. Though somewhat reluctant, he nodded, recalled her background, and then asked,

"Senju Momoka, I remember you lived with our family for a while when you were little, right?"

"Yes, Lord Tobirama, my father was once the clan chief's personal guard, so I had the honor of staying at the clan chief's residence."

Not daring to look directly into the other person's oppressive crimson eyes, Senju Momoka lowered her head and replied very respectfully.

"So, what was your impression of us back then?"

Tobirama Senju asked Momoka Senju in a cold tone, wanting to see if his elder brother had left any good impression on this woman in the past.

"I'm really sorry, but at that time I was of low status and didn't have any interaction with you young clan leaders, however..."

Senju Momoka hadn't expected the other party to ask such an ancient question. After thinking for a moment, she answered truthfully.

But as her thoughts wandered, a short, lively figure appeared in her mind.

"But what?"

Seeing Senju Momoka hesitate, Senju Tobirama, with a long face, asked somewhat impatiently,

"But it's Itama-kun."

Recalling the little black-and-white-haired creature that always clung to her backside, a warm feeling rose in Senju Momoka's heart. She looked up, her eyes filled with nostalgia, and slowly replied...

But he was interrupted by a terrifying aura halfway through his sentence.

"Don't mention that name!"

With a bloodthirsty and hateful glint in his eyes, Tobirama Senju clenched his fists, his face contorted in a ferocious expression, and the oppressive aura emanating from him made Momoka Senju, who was only halfway through her speech, instantly gasp for breath.

Oh no, am I going to die?

Terrified by this aura, Senju Momoka's legs went weak. Her mind raced, her thoughts just beginning to rewind from her childhood, when she found the pressure around her came and went just as quickly.

Relieved, she was drenched in cold sweat, and her gaze toward Tobirama Senju was filled with awe.

"Phew~ Sorry, I got a little excited."

After calming down, Tobirama Senju, unusually, apologized to someone. He looked at Momoka Senju, who was trembling slightly, and reached out his hand to circle around her, gesturing for her to turn around.

Feeling somewhat bewildered by this action, Senju Momoka obediently complied, then straightened up and spun around a few times.

"Hmm~ Hmm~ Okay, it's a natural birth."

Yesterday, Tobirama Senju crammed on this subject, studied Momoka Senju from top to bottom, compared her with the descriptions in the books, and finally came to a perfect conclusion.

"Okay, you can go back and wait. Someone will come to your door in the next few days."

After ensuring his beloved elder brother's success, Tobirama Senju, weary, waved his hand and announced the news.

"ha?"

Although her mind was filled with questions, Momoka Senju, intimidated by Tobirama Senju's horrifying expression, slunk away. Just as she reached the gate, a tall figure approached.

"Greetings, Chieftain!"

Upon seeing Hashirama Senju, Momoka Senju immediately suppressed her questions and bowed respectfully to him.

"Haha, isn't this Tao Hua? Long time no see~"

Unaware that he had already been set up, Hashirama Senju was still cheerfully greeting Momoka Senju.

"I remember when we were little, Itama really liked you and always wanted to play with you."

Surprised that Hashirama Senju still remembered things from their childhood, Momoka Senju nodded repeatedly in agreement, feeling a surge of excitement.

"Well, there's nothing we can do about it. Compared to us roughnecks, Itama would definitely prefer to play with you, since you guys are all..."

A tenderness appeared in Hashirama Senju's eyes, but as he spoke, it quickly turned into melancholy, and an air of dejection emanated from him.

"Sigh, never mind, Tobirama needs to talk to me about something. Let's chat another time."

And so, completely bewildered, Senju Momoka obediently returned home and waited patiently for Tobirama Senju's so-called important mission.

"What? You want me to marry Tao Hua?"

In the clan chief's office, Hashirama Senju, his mouth agape enough to fit a watermelon, stared in disbelief at his most trusted younger brother, his eyes filled with the heartache of betrayal.

"I have screened all the eligible women in the clan, from their background, appearance, figure to their personality. After layers of selection, Thousand Hands Peach Blossom is the best candidate."

Ignoring his older brother's indifferent expression, Tobirama Senju turned around, took out a thick stack of documents from the drawer, and threw them in front of Hashirama Senju.

"Tobirama, surely not?"

Looking at the female profiles marked with various annotations, Hashirama Senju, though unwilling, muttered to himself,

"Although that wretched woman from the Uzumaki clan broke off the engagement, as the clan leader, elder brother, your marriage cannot be delayed."

First, the void cursed and swore at Mito Uzumaki, then Tobirama Senju turned his head, his bloodshot eyes filled with an unyielding intent, and coldly said,

"To prevent you from having any inappropriate thoughts outside the home, family constraints are absolutely necessary."

"Hey Tobirama, what are you saying? I don't understand."

Patting Tobirama Senju on the shoulder, a guilty Hashirama Senju forced a smile.

"You don't need to understand, you just need to obediently go and get married."

Knowing full well what his elder brother was thinking, Tobirama Senju immediately made the decision, stating that he was his only relative and it was his duty to care about his life's important matters.

"I don't want to"

"You want to!"

Seeing his younger brother's aggressive attitude, Hashirama Senju, knowing he couldn't possibly win against him, had no choice but to compromise.

"Phew~ Big brother, actually I'm doing this all for the sake of the clan. The battle with the Uchiha has reached its climax, but the clan members are all exhausted. Holding a celebration at this time will allow them to relax for a while, which will help adjust their mentality and make them better prepared for the battles to come."

"Huh, it has this function too?"

After listening to Tobirama Senju's rambling nonsense, Hashirama Senju scratched his head, his brows furrowed into a deep frown.

"Brother Bao~"

"So when do you plan to do it?"

Sighing at being forced into this situation, Hashirama Senju asked,

"In the next few days."

Delay could lead to unforeseen problems; this matter must be handled immediately.

"Huh? So urgent? But isn't there still a war going on over there in Madara?"

"Why do you care about him? Hmm, that's true. Big brother, you should go and inform him."

The mere mention of Uchiha Madara stirred a surge of anger in Tobirama Senju's heart, but then he thought that this matter would provoke that despicable Uchiha, and instantly his mind cleared. He sneered inwardly and, with a strange expression, gave the instructions.

"Okay~"

So the next day, Hashirama Senju, riding in his Buddha statue, excitedly found Madara Uchiha and smilingly handed him the wedding invitation.

"Are you getting married?"

A completely bewildered Madara Uchiha instinctively crushed the wedding invitation in his hand, creating a large hole. His crimson eyes were filled with disbelief.

"Yeah, it's tomorrow! Hahaha, I won again!"

Hashirama Senju smiled brightly, the smile in his eyes so intense that Madara Uchiha couldn't open his eyes.

"We're still at war!"

Madara Uchiha, breathless, brandished his fan, pointed at Hashirama Senju's nose, and loudly reminded him.

"I know, that's why I came to talk to you about it."

"We single folks have nothing to say to someone like you who's all about social life!"

Madara Uchiha, seething with anger, raised his head and replied in a strange tone.

"Hey~ I'm just making a deal: if we can fight without bloodshed tomorrow, I'll set up a table in the middle of the battlefield afterward and treat you two brothers to a drink."

Hashirama Senju rubbed his hands together, a rare pleading look in his eyes. Although the two clans had been fighting endlessly due to generations of feuds...

However, in his heart, Madara Uchiha was always his best friend, and how could he not have the blessing of his best friend for such a major life event as his marriage?

"Please, please!"

The wooden dummy beneath Hashirama Senju, following his words, twisted its massive body, took a few steps back, and assumed a classic dogeza (earth-body pose) on the ground. Its enormous head slammed heavily into the earth, causing the ground to tremble.

"How about I kowtow to you, alright?"

(End of this chapter)