Patriarchs of Both Sides Perish Together

"His dream is far too ethereal; it is fundamentally impossible to achieve peace through mutual understanding between people."

Uchiha Yang saw the agitation in Uchiha Madara's expression and knew that this guy had never truly let go of the events of the past.

After all, this involved the entire plot of the Naruto world; if Uchiha Madara had let it go, there wouldn't be so much trouble in the future.

"I know," Uchiha Madara said, his voice turning somber.

"Fine, that's your business anyway. I just want to live a good life and enjoy myself now."

Uchiha Yang didn't care about any damn dreams; those were just empty promises people painted for themselves.

You can't finish eating them; you simply can't finish them at all.

Uchiha Madara still thought he was stuck in a rut, unable to move past the knot in his heart.

"I know you aren't a failure. As long as you step out of this, even if you become a samurai, you can still be a powerhouse. I believe you are no worse than me."

Before leaving, Uchiha Madara spoke the words he had wanted to say for a long time.

However, Uchiha Yang was like a dead pig unafraid of boiling water; there was no way he was going to "step out." In any case, he had no intention of tiring himself out in this life.

In his previous life, he had been fed all sorts of empty promises by his boss, which was exactly why he had died suddenly from overwork.

The reason he had become a "failure" back then was simply because he hadn't cultivated chakra at all, claiming to others that he couldn't master it.

That was how he had kept the title of "failure" until now.

Watching Uchiha Madara leave, he finished the rest of the roasted rabbit meat by himself.

"Uchiha Kage."

Uchiha Yang lay there quietly, and for some reason, he suddenly called out.

"Master."

Uchiha Kage's figure flashed instantly to his side, kneeling on one knee with extreme respect.

"Prepare a mask and a black robe that obscures my figure for me again."

"As you command."

"Remember, don't let anyone know. Keep it confidential."

"Your subordinate understands."

"Alright, you may go."

After Uchiha Kage retreated, Uchiha Yang picked up his fishing rod to continue his fishing life.

Cultivating one's character and calming the mind was the only way to live longer.

If you spend all day worrying about this and that, who knows when you might drop dead from exhaustion.

[Brain: Master, I think your way of thinking is very wrong. For your sake, I must prepare for a rainy day.]

[Sharingan: I am now a Mangekyou Sharingan, an invincible existence in the ninja world. Master, it is time to let the world witness the power of the Mangekyou Sharingan.]

[Hand: Your Mangekyou Sharingan has side effects; you'll go blind if you use it too much. Unlike me—with a blade in hand, I can easily harvest the lives of enemies.]

[Fire Affinity: I disagree with that. Killing people and burning corpses is essential for home and travel; how could you do without me?]

[Water Affinity: As far as I know, Fire Affinity has never actually killed anyone.]

[Fire Affinity: Water Affinity, today you and I shall settle this (•́へ•́╬).]

[Water Affinity: You have never killed anyone.]

[Fire Affinity: %￥@￥@...]

[Lightning Affinity: Fight! Fight! I love watching this.]

[Wind Affinity: Just asking quietly, which one is actually stronger, Water or Fire?]

[Earth Affinity: Wind Affinity, you certainly know how to fan the flames.]

As Uchiha Yang fished and listened to the clamor within his body, a faint, imperceptible smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.

This... this is life.

The battlefield for the Uchiha Clan and the Senju Clan this time was at Lixin Lake.

This was also the place where the Uchiha ancestor, Indra, and the Senju ancestor, Asura, had fought their final, decisive battle.

Lixin Lake had been carved out by the sheer force of their clash, and its name was born from the two of them.

"Kill!!!"

"Senju Butsuma, you snuck into our clan grounds! You are despicable and shameless; I will have you dead!"

"Uchiha Tajima, it's a pity I didn't manage to kill all your clansmen, hahaha!"

Behind the two men, countless clansmen charged forward one after another, their eyes filled with nothing but killing intent.

Killing the scum on the opposite side to avenge their fallen kin had become the only obsession keeping both sides going on the battlefield.

Upon learning that his clan grounds had been raided, Uchiha Tajima's fury instantly ignited the flames of rage in the hearts of the several clan elders beside him.

They fought tooth and nail on the battlefield, all for the sake of the peace of their clansmen in the rear.

And now, they had almost had their homes stolen from under them.

Uchiha Tajima immediately issued the order to fight the Senju scum to the death.

The entire Uchiha camp was like a pot of water boiled to its limit, erupting into total chaos.

They swore to fight the Senju scum to the very end.

Deep love breeds deep hatred; this was the deeply hidden love of the Uchiha clan.

Only those who have personally experienced the battlefield can truly understand how cruel its dangers are.

People die at any moment; you never know from where a sneak attack might come to claim your life.

Maintaining constant vigilance with nerves stretched to the breaking point—this was a living hell, where life and death were left to fate, not one's own control.

In this war that had lasted for three years, the Uchiha and Senju had lost a combined total of twenty jonin.

Any single jonin could support a small clan, so one could imagine the importance of such warriors.

They were the pillars of a clan, and now, both sides had lost no fewer than ten each.

The losses had reached their limit; if it continued, neither the Senju nor the Uchiha would be able to bear the cost.

When a whale falls, all things bloom.

Once the strength of a clan weakened to the point where other ninja clans began to stir, it wouldn't matter if you were Senju or Uchiha—you would be besieged and devoured.

Corpses floated one after another on the blood-stained Lixin Lake, belonging to both the Senju and the Uchiha.

"Follow me and slaughter the Uchiha scum!"

As the battle raged on, Senju Butsuma discovered that his side had gained a visible advantage, and the prospect of victory suddenly clouded his judgment.

Eager to secure a battlefield victory, Senju Butsuma did not want to let this rare opportunity slip by; as for whether there was a conspiracy, nothing could stop his urgent heart now.

Uchiha Tajima fought while retreating, a trace of long-held calmness hidden within his crazed Three-Tomoe Sharingan.

A long moment later, a deafening roar erupted, the massive explosion sweeping across the surroundings like a raging sea.

"Uchiha Tajima!"

Amidst the explosion, Senju Butsuma's pained, soul-shattering scream rang out clearly.

"I won, hahaha!"

Uchiha Tajima stumbled to his feet, blood still wet on the corners of his mouth, his Three-Tomoe Sharingan spinning in a frenzy.

"To lure you here, I paid quite a heavy price."

"You are truly ruthless, actually willing to perish with me."

Senju Butsuma stood up, his face full of pain, his eyes locked onto Uchiha Tajima.

Using himself as bait—this was something he had never expected.

The surrounding Senju ninjas had suffered heavy casualties, and even a Senju elder had perished in this explosion.

Even many members of the Uchiha clan had died in the blast; ruthless to the enemy, and even more ruthless to himself.

However, the Uchiha jonin, possessing the Three-Tomoe Sharingan, had been prepared; at the critical moment when death was unavoidable, he had used Izanagi.

At the cost of one Three-Tomoe Sharingan, he had preserved his life amidst the destructive energy of the explosion.

"Kill!"

Uchiha Tajima raised his blade and shouted his final order.

Under their clan leader's command, the Uchiha ninjas charged forward, disregarding their own lives.

Victory was right before their eyes, and countless Uchiha clansmen shouted in excitement.

"Clan leader, go! As long as you are safe, the clan will survive this crisis."

A Senju elder, having lost an arm in the explosion, stood in front of Senju Butsuma.

"Everyone, follow me and cover the clan leader's retreat!"

The Senju elder ordered the rest of his clansmen with a look of grim determination.

"No, you all go. Even if I die, I will take Uchiha Tajima with me."

Senju Butsuma's gaze was firm; in his heart, he was already prepared to perish together with Uchiha Tajima.

I have lost this war, but don't think you will win it so easily.