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

Chapter 238 Black Zetsu's Ecstasy, Tailed Beast Capture Plan (Test Version)

With a hostage in hand, Tobirama Senju could only grit his teeth and lower his noble white hair to the curly-haired man before him.

Oh, did this person take the wrong medicine too?

This sudden turn of events made Uchiha Gin wonder if the white-haired man was someone else in disguise, having even learned to speak softly. So, he secretly activated his enhanced senses, scanning him up and down. After confirming it was Tobirama Honma, he immediately relaxed his brow and nodded in satisfaction.

"Hmph~ Since you're being so sincere, I'll tell you where these dolls came from."

Gin Uchiha glanced past Tobirama Senju, whose expression was strange, and pointed to eight dolls lined up in the display case, explaining them aloud.

"These are creatures called Tailed Beasts. Don't be fooled by how cute these dolls are; their actual size is hundreds of feet long."

As he spoke, Uchiha Gin took a round, chubby doll out of the cabinet and continued speaking to Senju Tobirama.

"For example, this tanuki, its name is Shukaku, and it should be in jail in the Land of Wind right now."

"Go to jail? What do you mean?"

The quick-witted Tobirama Senju, after hearing Gin Uchiha's introduction, glanced at the tan-colored tanuki in Gin's arms, imagining the scene of Shukaku rampaging a hundred meters tall, and couldn't help but ask a question.

"This kind of creature is essentially made of chakra and can be sealed. Unfortunately, Shukaku was sealed by the people of the Land of Wind."

Pinching the chubby face of the Shukaku doll in his hand, Uchiha Gin patiently explained to Senju Tobirama,

Chakra beings. Doesn't that mean they can be exploited?

Tobirama Senju, who had always been cunning, had a glint in his crimson eyes after hearing Gin Uchiha's explanation, and immediately began to plot against the tailed beasts.

What is unclaimed belongs to the capable.

"But how did you obtain such confidential information?"

While contemplating how to utilize the Tailed Beasts, Tobirama Senju suddenly realized something. How did Gin Uchiha, that good-for-nothing, know such classified information? It must be fake news, right?

"I don't have any other hobbies, I just like making friends. I happen to have a close friend in the Land of Wind, and he's the one who told me about this."

Uchiha Gin answered seriously, his expression suggesting he wasn't faking it.

"You still have friends from the Land of Wind?"

Tobirama Senju was extremely skeptical of Uchiha Gin's words. He didn't believe that this reclusive fellow would know people from other countries.

"My thick rice is found all over the world. No matter which country you go to in the future, as long as you mention my name, you will definitely get some delicious juice."

"Hmph~"

That's getting more and more outrageous. You think you can do that?

Do you have any information about the other tailed beasts?

Since One-Tailed Beast is sealed in the Land of Wind, let's skip it. Besides, this one-tailed tanuki doesn't seem very strong anyway. He then looked at the other tailed beasts in the display case and asked...

"I don't know about that, but these tailed beasts are huge and have distinctive features. With a little investigation, we can find some clues."

Although puzzled as to why Tobirama Senju suddenly became interested in the Tailed Beasts, Gin Uchiha still told him everything he knew and didn't know.

"Are there only these few Tailed Beasts?"

After counting the remaining seven tailed beasts, Tobirama Senju turned around and asked.

"There are nine in total, and I'm still missing one to complete the set."

Shaking his head regretfully, Uchiha Gin looked at the empty space behind the Ushioni doll; there should have been another Kurama there.

"Collect what?"

At this moment, Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha, having finished their heart-to-heart talk, were drawn to the conversation between Gin Uchiha and Madara Uchiha, and stepped forward to ask what they were discussing.

"Tailed Beasts, I'm still missing a Nine-Tails to complete the Tailed Beast Doll Bond."

Uchiha Gin put the Shukaku doll back, replying with a hint of regret.

Brother Zhou's health is deteriorating, and I wonder when my nine-tailed doll will arrive.

"Nine-tailed? Is it the nine-tailed fox spirit?"

Upon hearing Uchiha Gin's words, Senju Hashirama stroked his chin, pondered for a moment, then suddenly his eyes lit up, and he asked,

"Brother from the pillar between the eyebrows, how did you know?"

"Haha, I once heard my elders in the family say that in the Land of Fire there is a monstrous beast that wreaks havoc everywhere, called the Nine-Tailed Fox. It is a hundred feet tall, has a cruel nature, and has devoured countless people, especially children who don't sleep at night."

"Stop! What bedtime story? I've never heard my elders tell one before!"

The more he listened, the more something seemed amiss, and Tobirama Senju quickly interrupted.

"Because Tobirama, you always fall asleep as soon as your head hits the pillow, missing out on the best parts of the story."

Hashirama Senju, standing to the side, scratched his head, his face full of regret.

Tobirama, this is the childhood you lacked!

"Nine-Tailed Fox."

After confirming the existence of the Tailed Beasts, a glint flashed in Tobirama Senju's eyes, and a daring plan began to take shape in his mind.

"Big cousin, you're missing a nine-tailed fox. Do you want me to catch a real one for you and keep it in the backyard for fun?"

Seeing that Uchiha Gin really liked the Tailed Beast doll, Uchiha Madara immediately patted his chest and promised his older cousin,

Even a mere wild beast has to bow down and submit before the Uchiha clan.

"hehe."

Upon hearing this, Uchiha Gin did not respond immediately. Instead, he looked at his confident older cousin with a mocking expression, leaving the latter puzzled.

"Brother, the message has been delivered, we should head back now."

Having already formulated a new plan, Tobirama Senju didn't want to waste a moment. He immediately grabbed his elder brother and prepared to leave.

"Oh? So soon? The tea hasn't even been served yet?"

Somewhat reluctant to leave, Hashirama Senju cast a pleading glance at a figure standing outside the door, only to be met with a cold stare. He immediately became despondent.

"All right."

"I should be going now. Like I said, I'm determined to become Hokage. Just you wait and see, cousin!"

Seeing that Hashirama Senju was about to leave, Madara Uchiha lost interest in staying any longer. He immediately got up to say goodbye and followed his hot mom, Hashirama. Before leaving, he didn't forget to mention his dream of becoming Hokage.

"Go for it! I believe in you!"

After everyone had left, the Uchiha Gin family compound returned to its usual tranquility. Senju Itama, dressed in casual clothes, finally showed himself, humming a tune that was difficult to decipher, and methodically cleaned up the few remaining traces.

Judging from his expression, he wasn't as sad as Uchiha Gin had imagined.

"Aren't you ready to acknowledge your family yet? While the relationship between the two families is still in its honeymoon phase, why don't you go back and acknowledge your ancestors?"

Seeing that Senju Itama seemed to be in a good mood, Uchiha Gin raised an eyebrow and tentatively asked,

"Stop right there!"

"Okay, okay, whatever makes you happy~"

Seeing Senju Itama, who had been smiling, instantly transform into a furious female beast after he finished asking his question, glaring at him with extreme displeasure, Uchiha Gin immediately raised his hands in surrender.

"Hmph~ What do you want to eat for lunch?"

Senju Itama, his complexion now restored, glanced at the cowardly Uchiha Gin, and a slight smile played on his lips.

"Itama, I want to eat fish~"

Today is another leisurely day.

The next day.

"Thump!!!"

Madara Uchiha was organizing his official duties when his office door was suddenly pushed open. A figure rushed in, carrying something that looked like a notice.

"Izuna, how many times have I told you? You're almost thirty years old, don't be so impulsive."

In the entire Uchiha clan, only two people dared to push the door open like that. Uchiha Gin was probably still asleep at this hour, so that meant it was only his beloved younger brother.

"Big brother, take a look at this. It's a competition that Tobirama Senju organized."

"What?"

Madara Uchiha frowned upon hearing this. Anything related to Tobirama Senju was definitely up to no good.

"Let me check out 'The Tailed Beast Hunting Competition'? What kind of trouble is Tobirama Senju causing?"

Upon receiving the notice from Izuna, Madara Uchiha immediately noticed the large characters on it, then his gaze shifted downwards to the detailed rules.

"To decide the Hokage based on the number of Tailed Beasts captured? That's just too much."

Madara Uchiha's eyes shone brighter the more he looked, and he clicked his tongue in amazement.

"Exactly, it was too hasty."

Izuna shook his head, scoffing at Tobirama Senju's plan.

"That's so fair!"

"ha?"

"This Tobirama Senju has actually done something good for once. Now my Hokage position is practically guaranteed!"

At the same time, all the ninja clans in Konoha received the announcement, and cries of despair filled the air.

"Sasuke! Tobirama Senju is clearly playing us for fools!"

Enraged, Kenichi Shimura slammed the notice in his hand in front of his best friend and said angrily,

"Tailed beasts are notorious ferocious beasts, terrifying beings that can kill dozens of ninjas with a single blow. They are creatures that humans simply cannot contend with."

What do you all think?

Sarutobi Sasuke, who was also aware of the Tailed Beasts' fearsome reputation, ignored his boisterous friend and instead turned to ask the three people sitting opposite him.

"Haha, I wonder if the meat of a tailed beast tastes good?"

The chubby Shinji Akimichi patted his large belly, squinted his eyes, and smiled.

"I'm afraid I'll have to disappoint you. The announcement says that the tailed beasts are suspected to be aggregates of chakra and do not have any real flesh and blood."

The man with the pineapple-shaped haircut, sitting in the middle, carefully read the announcement in his hand, trying to deduce more information.

"Can we just give up? The Yamanaka clan isn't interested in Naruto or anything like that. All we want right now is to make money."

As the only woman present, Minako Yamamoto's beautiful face was marred by dark circles under her eyes, suggesting she hadn't slept well. She appeared somewhat uninterested in the discussion surrounding the tailed beasts.

After all, she still owes hundreds of millions, and the interest alone amounts to millions every day. How can she sleep!

"I understand. This is the Senju clan, trying to make us back down."

After analyzing for a while, the pineapple-headed man raised his head, looked at their leader Sarutobi Sasuke, and had a knowing look on his face.

"That's what I think too."

Sarutobi Sasuke nodded in agreement, then turned to the crowd around him and said loudly,

"Right now, Senju is too strong. It's best for us to keep a low profile and bide our time. One day, the Hokage position will be ours!"

As he spoke, a determined light shone in Sarutobi Sasuke's eyes. He believed that in the near future, his Sarutobi clan would surely produce a Hokage to lead the village.

"Hmph~ That's for sure!"

Kenichi Shimura, filled with lofty ambitions, was the first to rise up and respond to the call, believing that one of his descendants would definitely become Hokage.

"Haha, as long as we Akimichi clan members eat well and are full, we don't care who becomes Hokage~"

"Naruto, huh?"

The man with the pineapple-shaped haircut had a glint of wisdom in his eyes. As a member of the Nara clan, he always believed that force was not the most important quality for a leader; intellect was paramount.

"Make money, make money, make money!"

The scene shifts to a quiet, ancient courtyard. A weathered old man with white eyes holds a notice, his eyes seemingly lost in thought. After a long while, he raises his head, looks down at the respectful young men below, and slowly speaks…

"Tianyao, what do you think?"

"Father, if the entire Hyuga clan is mobilized, we have a very high chance of taking down a tailed beast, but it is simply a pipe dream to rely on just one person."

Facing his father, the usually arrogant Hyuga Tenyou was now as meek as a lamb, head bowed, his words filled with nothing but respect.

"Sigh, is Hashirama Senju trying to make us back down?"

The old man with the white eyes had a weary look in them. Approaching seventy, he had long lost the arrogance of his youth. Now, he had too many things to consider; these mundane matters had become shackles, like a caged bird caught in a family division.

Their clan, too, are like caged birds unable to spread their wings.

"Then we..."

Hinata Tenyou carefully raised his head, looked at his sighing father, and asked,

"Our Hyuga clan has given up competing for the Hokage position. You should also stop going to see that Uchiha clan. Now is the time to choose sides. Don't give the Senju clan anything to talk about."

I thought the Hokage position was given to the most capable person, but I never expected Tobirama Senju to pull this stunt. It's clearly meant to make us ninja clans back down, so that his brother can take over.

Hashirama Senju's reputation is known to everyone in the Land of Fire. With his strength, and with proper preparation, he should be able to take down a tailed beast, right?

"Mr. E'yin is a virtuous and good man. Given his character, he would never get involved in political disputes."

Upon hearing his father's words, Hyuga Tenyo rarely protested. As Uchiha Gin, who had once guided his secondary development, he always held him in the highest esteem.

"Things are unpredictable. Who told him to be surnamed Uchiha? Starting today, you will stay in the ancestral hall for a while and study the secrets left by our ancestors."

Unexpectedly, his usually obedient son would one day rebel. A hint of surprise flashed in the usually calm eyes of the old man with the Byakugan. He hadn't expected that the Uchiha's charisma was so terrifying. He then began to make arrangements.

".yes."

To put it nicely, he's going to the shrine to meditate; to put it bluntly, he's being confined. It seems Hyuga Tenyo will be locked up for a long time, and he won't be able to come out until the Hokage position is confirmed.

"Tobirama, what exactly are you trying to achieve with this announcement?"

In the Senju clan's temporary office, Hashirama Senju looked at a stack of "voluntary withdrawal commitment letters" with a headache. He had originally planned to mobilize all the ninja clans in Konoha to participate in the Hokage selection, to find some scapegoats for Madara Uchiha, so that even if he lost, he would at least save face. He never expected to be betrayed by his own younger brother. A "Tailed Beast Hunting Competition" announcement caused those ninja clans to withdraw right from the start.

"Withdrawing from the competition is understandable, but I have my reasons."

Faced with his brother's accusations, Tobirama Senju was actually somewhat satisfied with his work, and nodded as he explained,

"Brother, the plan I devised was not made without reason. After I returned yesterday, I specifically went through the ancient books and compiled the information on the tailed beasts. I discovered that these creatures are not only incredibly destructive, but also immortal beings."

As they spoke, Tobirama Senju placed a stack of neatly organized documents in front of his elder brother, gesturing for him to look through them.

"Tailed beasts... can actually be used as weapons of war?"

Hashirama Senju flipped through the documents with a puzzled look, his expression gradually shifting from relaxed to anxious. Looking at previous records about the Tailed Beasts, he frowned and asked...

"That's right. As a collection of chakra, the tailed beasts can be sealed and controlled. If used properly, they can be released into the enemy's territory and then the seal can be broken. The crazed tailed beasts will destroy everything that is alive in front of them, fighting to the death."

Nodding, Tobirama Senju explained how people had previously used the Tailed Beasts. Although it was a one-time use method, its destructive power was not to be underestimated.

"This creature is too dangerous."

The thought of a tailed beast being deliberately released into Konoha Village made Hashirama Senju's heart tighten. The destructive power of tailed beasts to ordinary people was no joke. Konoha was such a small place; a few rolls of a tailed beast would be enough to destroy it. With this thought in mind, he immediately listed it as the number one calamity.

"Therefore, we must keep the Tailed Beasts firmly in our hands to prevent villains from harming Konoha."

Seeing that his brother had become wary of the Tailed Beasts, Tobirama Senju immediately seized the opportunity and revealed his ultimate goal.

Under the guise of competing for the Hokage position, they collect the Tailed Beasts, and in the end, the Hokage position and the Tailed Beasts belong to their own family. Isn't that a brilliant plan to kill two birds with one stone?

"Tobirama, you're right!"

Whenever the safety of Konoha was at stake, Hashirama Senju seemed like a completely different person. His entire aura faltered, and a powerful pressure emanated from him, making Tobirama Senju feel suffocated.

"There's no time to lose, when do we set off?"

"Don't rush. Wait until the ninja clans have handed in their surrender documents before you set off. Take a look at the information on the tailed beasts first."

Tobirama Senju grabbed the impatient Hashirama Senju, explaining that a few ninja clans hadn't yet submitted their surrender documents. Only after all of them had surrendered could their elder brother legitimately set off.

"Has the One-Tailed Beast already been sealed away?"

"Yes, in the Land of Wind."

"Well, we need to be careful of the Wind Kingdom. Should I go and warn them?"

"Not for now. You arrest the others first. They'll be the ones hesitant to act against later."

While reviewing the documents, Hashirama Senju discovered that the first tailed beast had been captured. He immediately asked what was wrong. Upon learning that it was sealed by the Land of Wind, a strange look flashed in his eyes. He asked Tobirama if he should use force to intimidate the beast, but was refused.

After a while, Tobirama Senju, who had been receiving letters of withdrawal one after another, looked increasingly pleased. However, after checking the list for a long time, his expression turned sour again, which puzzled Hashirama Senju, who was reviewing the documents.

"What's wrong? What happened?"

"Good news, the entire ninja clan has given up."

Tobirama Senju looked at the document in his hand with a displeased expression and spoke slowly.

"Does this mean there's more bad news?"

"That's right, Madara Uchiha is asking when the match will start."

"Haha, I knew Mada wouldn't give up!"

Hashirama Senju, who had thought he would be fighting alone, smiled. He knew his dear friend wouldn't back down.

"Hmph~ Big brother, you can't go easy on us this time. This concerns the future of Konoha, so we can't be careless."

Worried that his elder brother would become obsessed with lust, Tobirama Senju began to give him a thorough dressing-down.

"Relax, relax, I can tell the difference between these things."

In high spirits, Hashirama Senju waved his hand with a smile in his eyes.

"But Tobirama, why are these pictures of the tailed beasts so cute?"

Hashirama Senju picked up the documents again, looking at the increasingly adorable tailed beasts listed, and asked in confusion,

"Cough cough cough, after all, time was short. This is a drawing of the tailed beast's appearance based on the tailed beast dolls in Uchiha Gin's house. It should be roughly the same."

With a strange expression, Tobirama Senju pointed to the information on the tailed beasts, each one more powerful than the last, and assured them with absolute certainty.

"I see~"

On the other side, Uchiha Gin looked at Uchiha Madara, who was holding his tailed beast doll, with a pained expression, and couldn't help but complain.

"Little cousin, you don't necessarily need to use a toy to look for them. The tailed beasts all look so distinctive, they should be easy to identify."

"Oh, that's true. It's my fault for being so reckless."

Madara Uchiha, who was about to run away with the doll, turned around somewhat embarrassedly after being stopped by a short-haired girl with a displeased expression.

"Besides, what's the difference between you and a headless fly? The ninja world is so big, are you going to search inch by inch?"

Seeing his excited older cousin, Uchiha Gin rubbed his forehead and spoke up to remind him.

"How could that be? I'm not an idiot."

Upon hearing this, Madara Uchiha was startled, but then, with a evasive look in his eyes, he stubbornly replied...

He originally planned to fly into the sky in Susanoo and patrol the ninja world.

"Of course I know you! Here, take this to Koneko-chan, she'll help you gather information about the tailed beasts' locations~"

Knowing his cousin's reckless nature, Uchiha Gin shook his head, rummaged in his backpack for a while, then pulled out a gleaming gold coin and tossed it into Uchiha Madara's hand.

"This is?"

Looking at the gold coin in his hand, Madara Uchiha raised an eyebrow. As he rubbed it, he noticed writing on the back. He flipped it over and saw a large character for "candy" written on it. He immediately asked, puzzled...

"I have some connection with Kitten-chan from the Sky Realm. Take my token there, and she'll help you."

"The Sky Realm... that's the supplier that specializes in providing weapons to the Uchiha clan. When did they start acting as information brokers?"

As the head of the Uchiha clan, Madara Uchiha had some understanding of the Sky Realm. In his mind, the other party was just a simple weapons dealer.

"You see, this is the importance of intelligence!"

Gin Uchiha shook his finger at the bewildered Madara Uchiha and said mysteriously,

"The person in charge of the Sky Realm right now is a staunch cat lover. Not long ago, they started keeping ninja cats as pets. You know, cats have a very wide circle of friends~"

I'll be joining the group in the next few days, and everyone is welcome to join the discussion then!

(End of this chapter)