Conditions for Awakening the Sharingan

The weather today was a beautiful, clear day, yet the atmosphere at this small spot by the Naka River was frigid. Watching the two sides confront each other with swords drawn, one could see the coldness in their eyes, a chill that seemed to seep into the very air.

Or rather, it was killing intent.

Although the atmosphere had eased slightly due to the sudden arrival of Senju Kyogawa, it changed nothing.

In fact, Izuna Uchiha's eyes remained fixed firmly on Senju Kyogawa, the whites of his eyes already slightly bloodshot. He looked furious, and Senju Kyogawa found himself with nowhere to hide.

To put it hyperbolically, Senju Kyogawa almost thought Izuna wanted to eat him alive.

Uchiha Tajima did not dwell too long on the topic of "Senju Butsuma having an obscure fifth son," as he did not consider Senju Kyogawa to be anyone of importance.

However, looking at the current situation, the Uchiha side was actually at a disadvantage. Although he did not know the extent of Senju Kyogawa's strength, it was four against three, and the Senju still held the upper hand.

Furthermore, Uchiha Tajima could sense that Izuna Uchiha, standing beside him, was currently in a state of mental instability—and a ninja must remain calm at all times, or they risk falling into a disadvantageous position.

Uchiha Madara and Senju Hashirama stood in front of their respective younger brothers.

Uchiha Madara still wore a look of lingering fear, his tone stiff and serious as he spoke:

"I will never forgive anyone who attempts to harm my brother!"

Senju Hashirama did not show weakness, retorting, "Neither will I."

His expression was rarely this serious; after all, his second brother, Senju Tobirama, had nearly died right before his eyes just moments ago.

While Senju Hashirama and Uchiha Madara stood at daggers drawn, Senju Tobirama looked at his older brother, Senju Hashirama, in astonishment, a warm current surging through his heart.

"Hashirama..." Uchiha Madara suddenly spoke up.

Senju Hashirama replied, "What is it?"

"Those silly, beautiful futures we talked about... in the end, we might never actually reach them..."

The wind suddenly picked up, sweeping away the fallen leaves on the ground and ruffling the water of the Naka River, as well as the hearts of these few young boys who longed for peace.

"Madara, you..." Senju Hashirama's expression was one of utter disbelief.

"Although the time was short, I was truly happy, Hashirama..." Uchiha Madara closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, they were filled with resolve.

What is this!

Was Uchiha Madara really going to break ties with Senju Hashirama just like that? Was he abandoning the ideal the three of them shared?

I don't know what Senju Hashirama was feeling, but Senju Kyogawa was currently feeling extremely annoyed—even though he knew this was likely just a tactical maneuver by Madara under the circumstances.

But at this moment, the mindset of a five-year-old child had overwhelmed Senju Kyogawa's adult reason. He interrupted Uchiha Madara and shouted:

"How is that possible—that kind of future—how could it be impossible to reach? Brother Madara, I don't believe you would just give up like this!"

As soon as Senju Kyogawa finished speaking, everyone present looked at him.

Uchiha Tajima's eyes held a look of contemplation, Senju Butsuma's eyes were filled with scrutiny, and Senju Tobirama's eyes were full of disbelief—it was clear he hadn't expected both his older and younger brothers to have such a connection with Uchiha Madara.

Uchiha Madara's expression softened, while Senju Hashirama gave Senju Kyogawa an appreciative thumbs-up, smiling to reveal a mouthful of white teeth that shone brilliantly in the sunlight.

So bright...

[Master, you're so brave~] The Ugly Monster secretly mocked Senju Kyogawa from within the flames.

Senju Kyogawa felt embarrassed now; those gazes felt almost tangible as they stared at him, piercing through him and making him feel as if he were sitting on pins and needles.

[Oh no... now I'm going to get punished too...] Senju Kyogawa began to regret his impulsiveness—perhaps it was a side effect of having been a child for so long.

"That's right! Madara—I won't forget our shared ideal either!" Senju Hashirama said to Madara with a smile.

"Three against four, Madara. Can we do it?" Uchiha Tajima ignored Senju Hashirama and asked Uchiha Madara directly.

Uchiha Madara lowered his eyelashes, his tone grave as he said:

"No, we can't..."

"Kyogawa is very strong... he is the child I told you about, the one I met in the Land of Lightning."

Uchiha Tajima's face clouded with difficulty upon hearing this; he hadn't expected that everything he had calculated would end in such a disappointing retreat.

"Let's go..." Uchiha Madara said, then turned and left.

Senju Hashirama was still unwilling to let it go. He bit his lip and called out to Uchiha Madara:

"Madara, you haven't actually given up, have you?"

"You have the same thoughts as me and Kyogawa..."

Uchiha Madara abruptly cut Senju Hashirama off: "You and Kyogawa are both of the Senju—"

"If only we could, I truly wish our thoughts were different."

"My brother was killed by the Senju clan, and your clansmen died at the hands of the Uchiha clan. Therefore, there is no need for us to be honest with each other... From now on, let us meet on the battlefield..."

Senju Kyogawa closed his eyes. The images of the departed Itama and Kawarama seemed to surface before him again—perhaps the hatred spanning the Senju and Uchiha clans was just that: the deaths of brothers. That alone was enough to keep the two clans in an endless cycle of blood.

It was a difficult problem to solve...

"Senju Hashirama, I am Uchiha Madara!" After saying this, Uchiha Madara whipped his head around, revealing his scarlet Sharingan, in which a single, ominous tomoe spun.

Senju Kyogawa's eyes widened in shock. Meanwhile, Uchiha Tajima and Izuna Uchiha were clearly overjoyed by the single-tomoe Sharingan Madara had suddenly awakened.

Although they hadn't killed Senju Butsuma's son, Uchiha Madara had awakened his eyes, and they had gathered intelligence on Senju Kyogawa. It was hard to say whether this "breaking up of the lovebirds" would ultimately be a blessing or a curse for the Senju clan.

Senju Kyogawa suddenly seemed to understand the conditions for awakening the Sharingan—

Just moments ago, what had been clearly visible in Uchiha Madara's eyes was immense agony; the agony of ideals clashing with reality, the agony of having to choose between a younger brother and a friend...

So, did the awakening of the Sharingan signify that a great tragedy was about to befall one?

Senju Kyogawa thought, feeling somewhat dazed.

The next second—

Izuna Uchiha, who had been about to leave with Uchiha Tajima and Uchiha Madara, suddenly stopped in his tracks. He spun around abruptly and shouted at Senju Kyogawa's retreating back:

"Kyogawa... no, Senju Kyogawa! You big liar—"

"The next time we meet, it will be on the battlefield."

"When that time comes, we shall have a fair and square fight!"

"I—Izuna Uchiha—will definitely defeat you—"

Those exposed eyes were no longer the beautiful, clear black-and-white eyes from before; within his eye sockets, they had transformed into the same Sharingan as Uchiha Madara's.