Betrayal

Uchiha Madara led ten elite jonin bursting out of the forest, their scarlet Sharingan especially striking beneath the sunlight.

"Senju Tobirama, today is the day you die!" Madara barked coldly, his hands forming seals in a blur. "Fire Style: Majestic Destroyer Flame!"

Towering flames swept in, forcing the Senju ninjas to scatter and dodge.

Several ninjas who reacted a little too slowly were swallowed by the fire, letting out shrill screams.

"Water Style: Water Formation Wall!" Tobirama quickly formed seals, and a wall of water rose from the ground, blocking most of the flames.

"Protect the medical ninjas and retreat!" Tobirama shouted to the aide beside him, drawing a kunai at the same time. "I'll hold them off!"

Just then, another commotion came from the woods to the west.

Another ten-man Uchiha squad suddenly flashed out.

Qin Mo, meanwhile, strolled leisurely up to Tobirama as if he were merely attending an ordinary gathering.

"Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Uchiha Mo!" Qin Mo's voice was gentle, yet filled with pressure.

"I never thought the Kaguya Clan would actually dare deceive us. How despicable!" Tobirama glared hatefully at the members of the Kaguya Clan and the others.

"Right back at you..." Qin Mo gave a cold laugh. "Tobirama, do you dare say you didn't deceive the Uzumaki Clan?"

"You..." Tobirama was instantly at a loss for words.

"Tobirama, what did you lie to us about?" Mito demanded.

Senju Tobirama's expression was now ugly to the extreme.

"Why don't I tell it, then!" Qin Mo picked up the thread. "Three days ago, the Kaguya Clan's grand elder sent a message to Senju Butsuma.

As long as Senju Butsuma agreed to have the Uzumaki Clan help treat the Shikotsumyaku bloodline disease of the Kaguya clansmen, the Kaguya Clan would stab my Uchiha Clan in the back at the critical moment."

Mito stared fixedly at Tobirama. "Senju Tobirama, is what he said... true?"

Tobirama replied grimly, "If we defeat the Uchiha, the war can end sooner, and fewer people will have to die..."

"So your Senju Clan chose to let us die?" Mito roared.

All the surrounding Uzumaki medical ninjas showed expressions of shock and anger.

Qin Mo added fuel to the fire at just the right moment. "And that isn't all, Miss Mito. After their Senju Clan defeated us Uchiha, they were also planning to swallow up the Uzumaki Clan."

"You're spouting nonsense!" Senju Tobirama shouted sharply.

Mito said furiously, "Senju Tobirama! The alliance between our Uzumaki Clan and your Senju ends here! From now on, the Uzumaki and the Senju have nothing more to do with each other!"

"Miss Mito, this is not the time for infighting!" Senju Tobirama looked urgently at the enemies closing in around them. "Let's break out first. Afterward, I will give you an explanation!"

"An explanation?" Mito gave a cold laugh, her hands forming seals rapidly. "Sealing Technique: Adamantine Sealing Chains!"

Several golden chains suddenly shot out from behind her, but they did not attack the enemy. Instead, they bound Senju Tobirama's hands directly.

"You...!" Tobirama's eyes widened in shock.

"This is the explanation I'm giving you." Mito said coldly, "Uchiha Mo, I will remember this favor. Now, please let us leave."

Qin Mo bowed elegantly. "Of course. Everyone of the Uzumaki Clan may leave at any time.

Kaguya Yu, take thirty people and escort them safely back to the Uzumaki Clan."

Kaguya Yu accepted the order and stepped forward, making an inviting gesture.

Uzumaki Mito cast one last cold glance at Senju Tobirama, then left with the medical team without looking back.

"What a splendid little drama of betrayal." Qin Mo chuckled as he turned toward the bound Tobirama. "Looks like you've lost an important ally, Tobirama."

Tobirama struggled to break free of the chains. "Uchiha Mo! You despicable bastard!"

"Despicable?" Qin Mo's smile suddenly vanished, and his gaze turned icy. "Compared to what your Senju Clan has done, this is nothing more than a justified counterattack."

By now, Madara had already dealt with the surrounding Senju ninjas and walked to Qin Mo's side. "Mo, finish this quickly. Senju reinforcements could arrive at any time."

"Understood." Qin Mo nodded, then suddenly body-flickered in front of Tobirama. His right hand was covered in eerie black chakra as he pressed it directly against Tobirama's abdomen. "Yin Seal: Chakra Imprisonment!"

"Ah!" Tobirama let out a scream, feeling the flow of chakra through his entire body completely sealed off.

"Take him away." Qin Mo waved for two Uchiha ninjas to step forward.

Watching Tobirama being escorted away, Madara looked thoughtful. "With this, Senju Butsuma is certain to take the field himself."

"That is exactly what I want." A hint of calculation flashed through Qin Mo's eyes. "Big brother, give me a few living Senju. I have a great use for them."

Madara gave a slight nod, then instructed the subordinates beside him.

A moment later, five Senju captives were brought over.

Although they were bound, unyielding fire still burned in their eyes.

"You all stand guard outside. Without my order, no one is to be let in," Madara ordered.

"Yes!" Several subordinates respectfully withdrew to the perimeter to keep watch.

Only then did Qin Mo slowly speak. "Brave warriors of the Senju Clan, I very much admire your backbone.

However, in order to reduce pointless sacrifice, I would like to give you a chance to abandon the darkness and join the light!"

"Ptui!" The leading Senju jonin glared at him furiously. "You Uchiha dog, don't even think about it!

We of the Senju Clan would rather die in battle than ever betray our family!"

The other four echoed him one after another, their eyes filled with determination.

Qin Mo smiled and clapped his hands. "Good, very good! As expected of ninjas of the Senju Clan.

It doesn't matter. I have plenty of ways to make you serve me willingly and wholeheartedly!"

As he spoke, Qin Mo took five pitch-black pills from his robes.

A trace of interest flashed through Madara's eyes. "These are the pills you used to control the Kaguya Clan?"

"Exactly." Qin Mo toyed with the pills. "I call them the 'Heart-Turning Pill.'

After taking one, within three days, it will gradually alter the taker's thought patterns, making them acknowledge their new master from the bottom of their heart."

"A devil's trick!" one Senju ninja roared.

Qin Mo gave a soft laugh. "You will soon understand that following me is the correct choice."

Then he suddenly moved, pinching that man's jaw and flicking the pill into his mouth.

The other four were also soon force-fed the pills.

Qin Mo watched the five Senju ninjas struggle in pain, the corners of his mouth curving into a meaningful smile.

"If Senju Butsuma learns that Senju Tobirama has been captured, he will definitely lead troops here personally to demand him back. When the time comes, we can pretend to yield to the pressure and agree to 'ransom' Tobirama and these five men back."

"Oh? You want them to become our inside agents?" Madara asked.

"Precisely." Qin Mo nodded slightly. "These five have already been controlled by the 'Heart-Turning Pill.' After they return to the Senju Clan, on the surface, they will still be loyal Senju ninjas. But in truth, they will become our eyes and ears."

Madara asked in confusion, "Why not have Senju Tobirama take the Heart-Turning Pill too?"

Qin Mo explained, "Senju Tobirama's status is rather special. If we control him, a certain someone might notice!"