Completely Taken In

Those tears glimmered silver under the moonlight, each drop seeming to strike their hearts.

"Mo..." Madara took a step forward, then stopped hesitantly. "I just..."

"You just what?" Qin Mo suddenly raised his voice. "You just think your little brother, who suddenly awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan, is suspicious?

"You're just worried I'll harm the Uchiha?"

Qin Mo's tears streamed down uncontrollably. "Every day, I watch our clansmen die! Every day, I try to find a way to avoid that terrible future!"

Izuna could not hold back any longer. He rushed forward in one stride and hugged Qin Mo tightly. "Enough! Stop talking!"

Madara stood where he was as memories surged over him like a tide.

That small figure who had always followed behind him when they were children, those stubborn eyes that refused to admit defeat even when covered in wounds during training, that smile as he ran over in excitement every time he saw Madara return safely...

"I'm sorry," Madara said, full of guilt. This proud Uchiha finally lowered his head. "Your big brother was wrong."

Qin Mo broke free from Izuna's embrace and staggered two steps back. "No, big brother didn't do anything wrong... being cautious is right..."

Qin Mo wiped away his tears and forced out a smile. "After all, I really did hide a lot of things."

Madara stood up and looked Qin Mo straight in the eye. "But your original intent has never changed, has it?"

"I swear." Qin Mo placed a hand over his heart. "In the name of the Uchiha, and by the bond between us three brothers, I will never do anything harmful to our clansmen."

A night breeze swept past, rolling up the fallen leaves on the ground.

Madara suddenly reached out and pulled both of his younger brothers into his arms.

The sudden embrace stunned both Izuna and Qin Mo.

"Remember this," Madara said in a low, firm voice. "No matter what happens, the three of us brothers will always stand together."

Izuna nodded heavily and placed his hands on their shoulders. "That's right!"

Qin Mo's tears welled up again, but this time, the corners of his mouth lifted in a genuine smile.

Since ancient times, deep feelings had never been enough to make someone stay; only a good routine could win people's hearts.

After Qin Mo unleashed this whole combination, he finally managed to fool Madara and Izuna completely.

Under the moonlight, the shadows of the three brothers merged into one, as if they had returned to the carefree days of their childhood.

A moment later, Madara let go, his eyes gleaming with anticipation. "Mo, can you tell us now how to awaken the Mangekyo Sharingan?"

Izuna also leaned in impatiently. "Yeah, what preparations do we need?"

But Qin Mo gently shook his head. "Not yet."

"Why?" Madara asked with a frown.

"Awakening the Mangekyo Sharingan requires a special trigger." Qin Mo looked toward the distant night sky. "And... the negotiations with the Senju Clan are imminent. We can't afford to be distracted right now."

Izuna grabbed Qin Mo's arm anxiously. "But one more pair of Mangekyo Sharingan means one more chance of winning!"

Qin Mo looked at the anxious expressions of his two elder brothers and sighed helplessly. "Big brother, second brother, right now, you only have the One-Tomoe Sharingan. Evolving directly from one tomoe to the Mangekyo Sharingan has never happened in Uchiha history."

Izuna asked, unconvinced, "Is there really no exception?"

"As far as I know..." A strange light flashed through Qin Mo's eyes. "There is indeed one person who did it. But it wasn't from one tomoe. It was from Two-Tomoe Sharingan."

Izuna asked curiously, "Who was it?"

"The most devoted man in the ninja world! A madman who would do anything for the woman he loved," Qin Mo said softly. "If we meet him in the future, I'll tell you then."

Madara keenly caught the key point in his words. "You mean... he isn't dead?"

"More or less!" Qin Mo replied flatly. "But... his path isn't suited to you, so don't ask."

"Then what should we do?" Izuna pressed anxiously.

Qin Mo held up two fingers. "Two steps. First, I'll help you raise your One-Tomoe Sharingan to Three-Tomoe Sharingan.

"Then, once you've mastered the power of the Three-Tomoe Sharingan, we'll look for a suitable trigger to challenge the Mangekyo Sharingan."

Madara looked thoughtful. "How exactly will we do that?"

Qin Mo smiled mysteriously. "You'll know when the time comes.

"Now, we should go back and rest. There are important things waiting for us tomorrow."

Madara and Izuna exchanged a look. Though their hearts were full of questions, they still nodded.

The three figures gradually receded under the moonlight, finally disappearing into the shadows of the Uchiha Clan Grounds.

At the same time, inside the Senju Clan's council hall, the atmosphere was so heavy it was almost suffocating.

"Father! Let me go save Tobirama!" Senju Hashirama slammed a fist onto the table, and several cracks instantly split across the wooden surface. "He's in Uchiha hands right now. His life could be in danger at any moment!"

Senju Butsuma stared coldly at Hashirama. "Sit down!"

"But—"

"I said sit down!" Butsuma suddenly slammed the table and rose, powerful chakra erupting in an instant and forcing Hashirama back several steps.

Hashirama gritted his teeth, but in the end, he sat back down.

Senju Butsuma swept his gaze over the Senju higher-ups present and said in a deep voice, "We just received word that the Uchiha Clan has proposed negotiations. They have arranged to meet at the northeastern border in three days."

"This must be a trap!" the first elder said sternly. "They captured our clansmen, and now they're pretending to negotiate?"

Senju Butsuma raised a hand, signaling for silence. "That old thief Tajima said in his letter that they are willing to return Tobirama and the five jonin intact. The condition is that we hand over three border fortresses, along with a one-year ceasefire agreement."

Hashirama abruptly raised his head. "Father, for Tobirama's sake, we can accept those terms!"

"Foolish!" Senju Butsuma snapped. "No matter which three fortresses we lose, a gap will appear in our defensive line. That would be equivalent to... willingly exposing our throat before the Uchiha!"

"But Tobirama—"

"Shut up!" Senju Butsuma cut Hashirama off. "Do you think I'm not worried about Tobirama? But as clan leader, I must consider the entire Senju Clan!"

Hashirama lowered his head, but the stubbornness in his eyes did not lessen in the slightest.

Senju Butsuma continued, "Besides, don't you find it strange? The Uchiha Clan could clearly seize this chance to launch a large-scale attack, yet they just had to propose negotiations..."

The third elder said thoughtfully, "Clan leader, are you saying... something may have gone wrong within their ranks?"

"Or..." Senju Butsuma's expression immediately became extremely grave. "They are plotting an even greater conspiracy."

Hashirama suddenly stood up. "Father, please allow me to lead a team to the negotiations!"

Senju Butsuma shook his head without hesitation. "No. This time, I will lead the team myself."

"Father!" Hashirama took an anxious step forward. "Let me go with you..."

"That is an order!" Senju Butsuma cut him off sternly, then turned toward the Senju higher-ups present. "If misfortune befalls me on this trip, Hashirama will immediately inherit the position of clan leader.

"Zhijian, Linjian, Wenjian, Lijian, when that time comes... I will have to trouble you four elders to assist him."