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

Chapter 246 Uchiha Gin's Negligence

Madara Uchiha, arms crossed, stood proudly atop the ferocious head of the Eight-Tails, watching Hashirama Senju fly towards him. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't suppress the smirk playing on his lips.

"Hassi Hot Mom, how many did you catch?"

Madara Uchiha raised his head, feigning ignorance.

He hadn't tasted this feeling of victory for many years, and this time he had to savor it.

When asked the question, Hashirama Senju wasn't annoyed. He scratched the back of his head and gave a憨厚 smile.

"I only caught three."

In his view, he had only captured the Five-Tails, Six-Tails, and Nine-Tails; as for the giant beetle, Hashirama Senju did not classify it as a Tailed Beast.

After all, it doesn't have a tail, right?

"Huh? Three?"

Uchiha Gin, who had rushed to the scene to watch the commotion, quietly became a bystander. Upon hearing Senju Hashirama's words, his hand, which was holding sunflower seeds, paused, and a hint of doubt appeared in his otherwise lifeless eyes.

He clearly sensed the presence of four tailed beasts behind Hashirama Senju, so how did it become three?

"So, this time, I won, right?"

Suppressing his inner joy, Madara Uchiha lowered his head, looked at the slightly disappointed Hashirama Senju, and asked in a loud voice,

"I lost."

Without refutation, Hashirama Senju generously admitted defeat. Throughout his life, he acted with integrity and courage, never stabbing others in the back.

Upon arriving at the scene, everyone was taken aback by Hashirama Senju's words, especially the members of the Shinobi Alliance, who began to consider how to cultivate a good relationship with the Uchiha clan.

Several pairs of eyes, almost simultaneously, turned to Uchiha Gin, whose brows were furrowed, as they plotted how to improve their relationship.

"We've all spent money on in-game purchases, which is a form of tribute to the Uchiha clan. They shouldn't make things difficult for us, right?"

Seeing that the Uchiha clan was about to gain power, Kenichi Shimura, feeling somewhat uneasy, couldn't help but quietly ask his friends.

"That's hard to say. Kenichi, your previous attitude was a bit..."

Sarutobi Sasuke stroked his chin. He had no conflict with Uchiha Gin; in fact, they had some kind of friendship. At least their Sarutobi clan shouldn't be harassed or suppressed.

"Ah~"

Kenjiro Shimura was utterly despondent. Had he known the Uchiha clan would rise to prominence, he wouldn't have had such a falling out with Gin Uchiha.

Now things are really messed up; their son's buttocks haven't even healed yet, and their entire family could face annihilation.

"Our mountain clan owes the Uchiha quite a bit of money~"

Compared to the tense Kenichi Shimura, Minako Yamayama seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, patted her full chest, lowered her head, and secretly glanced at Gin Uchiha's back with her beautiful blue eyes. In the shimmering light, it seemed that many unspeakable secrets were hidden.

Standing in the front row, Uchiha Gin frowned deeply, while Uchiha Izuna beside him, his face flushed, clenched his fists. Looking at Senju Hashirama bowing to his elder brother, Izuna felt an immense sense of satisfaction.

If even that white-haired Tobirama Senju bowed down to me, that feeling would be... wow!

"Big cousin, do we all have them now?!"

An excited Izuna Uchiha turned to ask the silent Gin Uchiha beside him,

I don't know if it's true or not, but it's true that some people are unhappy.

Knowing things weren't that simple, Uchiha Gin sighed softly and spoke gently to his younger cousin, who was caught in the power struggle.

Standing atop the Gyūki's head, Uchiha Madara's long black hair moved without wind. At this moment, he was extremely satisfied; the joy of defeating Senju Hashirama far outweighed the excitement of becoming Hokage.

"Mada, when we get back, I'll personally design the Hokage Rock for you, and I'll make sure it's beautifully sculpted!"

Feeling defeated, Hashirama Senju leaped onto Gyūki's head and looked at his best friend, genuinely happy for him.

"Hmph~ Remember to slim your face."

Madara Uchiha was even more satisfied now.

"etc!"

Just as everything was about to settle down, a blue figure descended like lightning. Senju Tobirama, his face grave, gritted his teeth and shouted to his elder brother,

"Brother! The position of Hokage is of paramount importance. The outcome is still uncertain; it's too early to discuss such matters!"

"Well, I lost~"

Looking at his younger brother, who was getting a little agitated, Hashirama Senju said apologetically,

"Yeah, yeah, three against four, my older brother definitely won!"

As a professional at criticizing white-haired characters, Uchiha Izuna jumped out immediately and loudly echoed his sentiments.

"Hmph! The competition isn't over yet, and there's still one tailed beast wandering around."

Tobirama Senju crossed his arms, glanced disdainfully at Izuna Uchiha, and then announced loudly,

"If Madara Uchiha captures that tailed beast, he will rightfully become Hokage. But if my older brother takes it down, then the standard of victory will change."

"That's just sophistry!"

Uchiha Izuna's eyes were slightly red, and a faint, bright yellow phantom appeared behind him, as if it were about to grab the eloquent white-haired man at any moment.

"Tobirama, isn't this a bit inappropriate?"

Hashirama Senju was somewhat embarrassed by his younger brother's interference, as if he were the one who couldn't take a joke.

"It's okay, I agree!"

As if victory was assured, Madara Uchiha lowered his head, looked at his resentful younger brother, and spoke.

"what?"

The crowd erupted in uproar. In their view, Madara Uchiha had already won and there was absolutely no need for him to participate in this unfair overtime match.

"Brother, the location of the Seven-Tails is clearly stated in the intelligence report. You must set off immediately. This time, we absolutely cannot let our guard down!"

Tobirama Senju breathed a sigh of relief, feeling that there was still room for maneuver. He flashed to the side of the silent Hashirama Senju and urged him on.

"Tobirama! I have already surrendered."

As the strongest man in the Land of Fire, Hashirama Senju possessed his own pride.

Even if he loses, he wants to lose gracefully.

Is this how a true man prolongs his life?

"Big brother!"

"Stop, don't say another word."

Purple chakra erupted from Hashirama Senju's body, generating a terrifying pressure that instantly drenched Tobirama Senju in sweat.

The words he had prepared were stuck in his throat, and he couldn't get them out no matter what.

Having stopped his younger brother's reckless actions with his imposing presence, Hashirama Senju turned to look at Madara Uchiha, whose expression remained unchanged. His tense face instantly relaxed, and he then explained.

"Madara, I apologize to you on behalf of Tobirama. He was too extreme. I will teach him a lesson when I get back."

"It's alright, I'm used to it."

Madara Uchiha, who was delighted, did not mind Tobirama Senju's behavior at all. In his eyes, it was nothing more than the raucous barking of a spineless dog.

"The Senju clan leader is truly a man of high moral character. Even if he were to become Hokage, wouldn't everyone have some objections?"

The Ninja Alliance, having witnessed all of this below, once again elevated their opinion of Hashirama Senju, saying with heartfelt admiration,

However, one man remained skeptical of all of this.

Uchiha Gin tilted his head, glancing at the four cages in the distance. Looking at the four tailed beasts fast asleep inside, he scratched his head, somewhat puzzled.

Hashirama Senju, you really faked the match? Such a huge tailed beast, and you insist there's no one there?

"Madara, do you remember when we were kids, catching beetles in the forest?"

Having let go of his obsession with becoming Hokage, Hashirama Senju began chatting casually with Madara Uchiha.

Tobirama Senju, standing to the side, glared angrily, plotting how to sabotage the whole affair.

Konoha was built thanks to the Senju clan's hard work, both in terms of manpower and money.

Now that the despicable Uchiha are about to steal the throne, he will absolutely not let Uchiha Madara sit on the Hokage's throne so easily.

"Haha, of course I remember, I always caught the fiercest beetles!"

Madara Uchiha smiled; he always fondly remembered those youthful days, no matter when he talked about them.

"Hehe, I happened to catch a super powerful beetle while I was out, and I was thinking of showing it off to you~"

Hashirama Senju scratched his face, giving an embarrassed smile.

How powerful is it?

The fact that Hasi, the hot mom, described him as "fierce" piqued Madara Uchiha's curiosity.

"childish!"

Tobirama Senju muttered to himself, thinking that two adults in their thirties who were obsessed with insects were likely doomed if Konoha were handed over to them.

"You're just as powerful as a tailed beast, perfect! I'll take this as a gift to congratulate you on becoming Hokage!"

Unable to describe the giant beetle captured from the Land of Waterfalls, Hashirama Senju could only point to the Eight-Tails beneath Madara Uchiha's legs before speaking.

"Then what are we waiting for? Take me to see it quickly!"

Men are boys until they die, and it's hard for them not to be attracted to insects covered in thick armor.

"Is this the tailed beast you captured?"

Madara Uchiha, following Hashirama Senju, looked at the enormous creatures in the four cages and raised an eyebrow in surprise.

Madara Uchiha's method for subduing tailed beasts was simple: a single glare from his Sharingan was enough to defeat them.

However, it is truly remarkable that Hashirama Senju was able to capture so many tailed beasts without powerful genjutsu.

"Sigh~ The main problem is that it's inconvenient to carry around. If I catch one, I have to rush back to lock it up, which is such a waste of time."

Shaking his head, Hashirama Senju sighed.

"???"

Upon hearing this, Madara Uchiha's pupils contracted, and he couldn't help but feel a sense of relief.

I never expected that the capture process of Hashirama Senju would be so complicated. Fortunately, I can control these tailed beasts, otherwise I might have really lost to him.

"Look, this is the big beetle, isn't it cool!"

Hashirama Senju leaped onto a wooden cage, pointed at the unconscious Chongming at his feet, and boasted with a smile.

"Excellent, truly excellent!"

The moment Madara Uchiha caught sight of the giant beetle, his heart skipped a beat. Its ferocious armor, its sturdy and thick horn, and its menacing mandibles made his eyes light up with envy.

Are you sure you want to give this to me?

"Wrapped up~"

So that's the Seven-Tails!

As the only man present who knew the truth, Uchiha Gin stared expressionlessly at the Seven-Tails, Jōmei, whose wings were tucked into a ball.

Surprisingly, among the nine tailed beasts, the smartest one was a caterpillar.

To actually disguise himself as a harmless giant beetle in an attempt to fool everyone is utterly despicable!

"Big brother! I told you to go capture a tailed beast, and you brought back this thing?"

Watching the two talking so confidently, Tobirama Senju was practically bursting with anger.

During such an important competition, Hashirama Senju wasted time grabbing something so useless, causing him to lose his position as Hokage. He was truly guilty of a heinous crime!

"Oh, I just grabbed him on the way!"

Sensing his younger brother's anger, Hashirama Senju shrank back and explained, looking aggrieved.

"Don't try to deny it. I shouldn't have trusted you so much!"

Previously, Tobirama Senju had offered to observe the capture process, but Hashirama Senju had firmly refused.

"Really, I swear, I found this beetle by chance when I was looking for the Seven-Tails in the Land of Waterfalls."

Raising his finger, Hashirama Senju spoke with absolute certainty.

"What about the Seven-Tailed Fox?"

"Couldn't find it, maybe it went out to play~"

Although it's a bit of a regret, let bygones be bygones.

"roar!!!"

Just as everyone was watching the spectacle, suddenly, a thunderous roar echoed from the ground, accompanied by a terrifying pressure that shook many present to their core. Those with weaker strength even felt dizzy.

"You despicable humans, let me go!"

Inside the wooden cage created by Hashirama Senju, a fiery red figure hunched over, its gaping, grotesque mouth emitting a foul stench, speaking in a voice filled with resentment.

"Ah! The tailed beasts can talk?"

Unaffected by the Nine-Tails' oppressive aura, Senju Itama, with a curious expression, tugged at Uchiha Gin's sleeve and asked,

"Even the Inuzuka family's dogs can talk, let alone tailed beasts! That's racism!"

Uchiha Gin, who had been dragged into this, rolled his eyes and offered an explanation.

Then he raised his head, looking at the energetic Nine-Tails, a hint of doubt flashing in his lifeless eyes.

Why did the Nine-Tails suddenly wake up?

"Roar! Shameless humans, let us go!"

"Hiss~ Where am I? I remember a big wooden figure."

The Five-Tails and Six-Tails also awoke one after another. Upon seeing that they were trapped, they instantly became agitated, but fearing the wooden cage's ability to absorb chakra, they could only bark helplessly there.

Chongming: I am a caterpillar~

Also awakened was the Seven-Tails, Chongming, but compared to the other three tailed beasts who were jumping up and down, it appeared quite calm.

Since he hadn't revealed his identity as a tailed beast, he would feign unconsciousness and wait for the right opportunity to escape.

After devising a perfect escape plan in his mind, Chongming lay down quite naturally, ignoring the roars of the three tailed beasts around him.

"Hot mom from Hasi, do you need my help?"

Having mastered the art of controlling the Tailed Beasts, Madara Uchiha, with his head held high and an air of arrogance, asked after seeing the three Tailed Beasts awaken in the wooden cage, "..."

"No need, they can't escape."

Although puzzled as to why the tailed beasts had awakened, Hashirama Senju, confident in his wooden cage, smiled and declined Madara Uchiha's offer.

"You bunch of idiots, wake up!"

After several tentative attempts to make contact, the nine-tailed foxes in their cages discovered with despair that the wooden cages holding them seemed to be their natural enemy.

Upon contact, it becomes powerless, its chakra is devoured, and it can only raise its massive beast head, staring intently at the four tailed beasts that appear to be free outside, and shouting loudly.

"Nine-Tailed Fox, look into their eyes!"

King Mu remained relatively calm. Although he was enveloped in scorching steam, his mind didn't go haywire. Looking at the four tailed beasts standing there dumbfounded, he frowned and reminded the Nine-Tailed Fox...

"Damn it, those two brothers, they can't even rest in peace after they're dead!"

Kurama, who also noticed this, cursed under his breath.

"Hassy Hot Mom, it's kind of annoying to be missing one. How about we go together and capture the other tailed beast that hasn't been caught yet?"

The cold-faced Madara Uchiha, his crimson eyes sweeping over the seven tailed beasts present, felt uneasy if even one was missing, as he was a man with obsessive-compulsive tendencies. Therefore, he spoke up,

"That's what I thought too, but I went to the Land of Waterfalls and didn't find that caterpillar~"

Hashirama Senju, who shared the same thought, helplessly spread his hands and said regretfully,

"It's alright, we can interrogate the tailed beasts; there seems to be some kind of connection between them."

Recalling the two aquatic creatures he had wiped out, he thought the two tailed beasts seemed to be talking about something.

So it seems possible that the tailed beasts might know each other.

"Really? That's great! Go ahead and ask!"

Hashirama Senju was overjoyed upon hearing this and quickly urged him on.

Uchiha dotted his forehead, then randomly fixed his gaze on a tailed beast beside him. His eyes narrowed, and a cold, ominous aura suddenly appeared.

"Tsk!"

This unpleasant aura made Tobirama Senju, who was standing nearby, purse his lips.

Discrimination against conjunctivitis starts with white-haired people.

"Where is the remaining tailed beast?"

The creature being asked was none other than Kame-kun Isobu, whom Senju Itama had been longing for. It stretched out its spiky head, its scarlet eyes filled with contemplation, before blankly replying...

"In the Land of Wind".

"They actually went to the Land of Wind?"

Not doubting the accuracy of the information, Madara Uchiha looked at Hashirama Senju with a puzzled expression and spoke up.

"The Land of Wind, how could you have gone to such a remote place?"

Hashirama Senju was equally puzzled.

"Ask again, do you have any more detailed information?"

"Where exactly is the remaining tailed beast located in the Land of Wind?"

"In a temple in the Land of Wind, accompanied by the ancient Buddha and the flickering lamp."

"Huh? Tailed beasts can become monks?"

Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha were both dumbfounded. What kind of temple is this? It can even influence a tailed beast.

"Shut up, you stupid turtle!"

The nine-tailed beast in the wooden cage, upon overhearing the conversation of the humans before it, angrily cursed, its yellow beastly eyes filled with resentment.

Although that stupid tanuki has a foul mouth, it's still one of the tailed beasts, how could it betray Houmi!

"You noisy beasts, we'll deal with you properly after we capture the Seven-Tails~"

The interrogation was interrupted by Kurama. Madara Uchiha, his face displeased, turned his head, his crimson eyes filled with coldness as he fearlessly stared into Kurama's beastly gaze. He then coldly pronounced the tragic fate of the tailed beasts.

"We'll chain you eight up and make you Konoha's watchdogs!"

"Damn humans! Take this!"

Upon hearing the human before him, exuding the aura of Indra, speak in such a contrary and contradictory manner, the Nine-Tails was so enraged that it seemed to explode with rage. Its fiery red fur stood on end, and a black orb of light began to form in its mouth.

"Wait a minute. You just said, capture the Seven-Tails?"

However, during the long loading screen, it realized what was happening. The Tailed Beast Ball at its mouth slowly dissipated, and the fox instantly quieted down. It sat upright in its cage, its bewildered beast eyes scanning its surroundings before landing on Chongming, who was feigning death. It smacked its lips and asked in confusion,

"Hmph~ That's right, all that's missing is that green caterpillar with seven tails~"

Off the field.

"Snapped!"

"Huh? Mr. Yin, why are you slapping your forehead?"

Uchiha Osamu, who was examining the tailed beast, noticed Uchiha Gin suddenly slapping his forehead and falling silent. Puzzled, he leaned closer and whispered, "..."

"It's nothing, I just overlooked a small thing."

With a deep sigh, Uchiha Gin helplessly shook his slightly numb hand, looked at the giant beetle that was pretending to be dead, and immediately understood.

When he sold the information about the Tailed Beasts to the two contestants, it seems he forgot to describe the Tailed Beasts' appearance on the documents.

So much so that both of them used the tailed beast dolls in their display cases at home as a reference when they were diligently trying to capture the tailed beasts.

The other ones are fine; they've looked exactly the same since they were little, with basically no changes.

However, only the seven-tailed caterpillar underwent a dramatic transformation in appearance.

The larval stage of the Seven-Tailed Creature is a green caterpillar, but as it matures, its seven tails merge into one, and the other six transform into insect wings.

It's no wonder that Hashirama Senju didn't recognize it after such a radical makeover.

"A green caterpillar?"

Inside the arena, upon hearing Madara Uchiha's words, the three tailed beasts, now fully conscious, instinctively turned their gazes towards the feigning dead Chōmei. Their mocking eyes were so clear that even from hundreds of meters away, Gin Uchiha could see them clearly.

"Cough cough cough"

Chongming, who was "in a coma," coughed a few times feigning ignorance.

Brothers, don't betray me!

"Humans, what are your plans for dealing with that massive insect?"

As the most intelligent of the tailed beasts, the Nine-Tails, having guessed Chongming's thoughts with remarkable accuracy, raised its massive head and asked the two standing atop the Seven-Tails' wooden cage, "..."

Why should I tell you?

When Madara Uchiha heard that a mere wild beast dared to ask him a question, he immediately turned cold.

"Phew~ If you tell me, I'll tell you the exact location of the Seven-Tails."

Suppressing her anger, Nine-Tails gritted her teeth and spoke.

"Cough cough cough"

Chongming started coughing again, his painful cries trying to evoke sympathy from the other tailed beasts.

"Is this beetle sick?"

Hearing the mournful cries of the beetles beneath his feet, Hashirama Senju scratched the back of his head and said uncertainly.

Keep in mind that when he found the beetle, it was still in its cocoon. His rough act of forcibly pulling it out might have damaged its vitality, leaving the large beetle in a half-dead state.

"It doesn't matter, I'll just throw it away if it gets sick."

Seeing Hashirama Senju's furrowed brow, Madara Uchiha waved his hand dismissively, indicating that he didn't care.

"Lost? Human, that thing is the Seven-Tailed Fox. Don't let its current appearance fool you, it used to be a green caterpillar!"

Unexpectedly, Madara Uchiha's unintentional remark instantly provoked a reaction from Kurama (the Nine-Tails). It extended its sharp claws, their tips gleaming coldly, and pointed at Chongming, who was still feigning death, loudly proclaiming...

"What?!"

"They can also testify!"

Nine-Tails looked at Five-Tails and Six-Tails beside it and spoke.

"That's right, that's right, that guy is the Seven-Tails! Such disgraceful behavior is a disgrace to all tailed beasts!"

The five-tailed and six-tailed creatures nodded repeatedly, saying, "If we're going to hang together, why should you get away unscathed?"

Chongming: I'll fuck your dam!

"Hahaha~"

The news elicited mixed reactions. Upon hearing Kurama's revelation, Tobirama Senju immediately used Flying Thunder God Technique to reach the top of the wooden cage. After surveying the crowd, he laughed and announced...

"Since both contestants have the same number of tailed beasts, let's move on to the next round."

(End of this chapter)