Joy and Sorrow

When Qin Mo and his party appeared on the horizon three miles from the Uchiha Clan Grounds, the sight before them made them all pause in slight surprise.

On both sides of the road, a dense sea of people stretched all the way to the clan gates!

Men and women, young and old—almost the entire Uchiha Clan had gathered here!

Their faces shone with excitement, admiration, and boundless pride!

At the very front of the crowd stood Uchiha Tajima, dressed in solemn clan-leader robes. Beside him stood Uchiha Miho, resplendent in formal attire, her face glowing.

Behind them were the third elder, fourth elder, fifth elder, and the rest of the core higher-ups!

"Welcome back in triumph, Young Master Madara, Young Master Izuna, Young Master Mo!!"

"Welcome back in triumph, esteemed elders and lords!!"

Deafening cheers swept over them like a tidal wave, and countless flower petals were tossed into the air, forming a dazzling rain of blossoms.

Qin Mo, Madara, Izuna, along with the great elder Lei Dou, the second elder Yan Yue, and everyone else, were all shaken by this grand welcoming ceremony.

Even someone as steady as Madara had a flicker of emotion in his eyes.

Qin Mo, too, showed a rare trace of surprise.

Uchiha Tajima strode forward with a great laugh and clapped his three sons hard on the shoulders. "Good! Good! Good! As expected of my sons, Uchiha Tajima's sons! Beautifully done!"

Then he turned to the clan members behind him and declared in a ringing voice, "Everyone! Just yesterday! Madara, Izuna, and Mo led our clan's elites and, without losing a single soldier, forced that old ghost Senju Butsuma to sign a ceasefire agreement!

"A one-year ceasefire! And he was made to cede three strategic fortresses in the northwest, due north, and northeast!

"This is a great victory such as the Uchiha have not seen in decades! It strengthens our clan's might and spreads our clan's name!"

"Strengthen our clan's might! Spread our clan's name!" The crowd once again erupted into thunderous shouts like mountains roaring and seas surging, their gazes toward Qin Mo and the other two filled with fervor.

Uchiha Miho also stepped forward, her eyes full of gratification and concern. "Children, you've worked hard.

"The clan has already prepared a victory banquet. Hurry back, wash up, rinse away the dust of the road, and you can take your seats."

Uchiha Tajima waved his hand grandly, high-spirited. "Come! Home!"

Amid the clan members' cheers and support lining the road, the triumphant procession was welcomed back into the clan grounds like heroes.

The jubilant atmosphere infected everyone. Even the ever-cold Jin and Yan seemed to have the corners of their mouths lift slightly beneath their bamboo hats.

The grand banquet was held in the central square of the clan grounds. Lamps blazed brightly, voices surged, and the fragrance of fine wine and delicacies filled the air.

At the main table, Uchiha Tajima sat in the center. To his left was Uchiha Miho, and to his right, in order, were Madara, Izuna, and Qin Mo.

As Qin Mo's personal guard, Crimson Snow had been specially arranged to sit at Qin Mo's right-hand side.

The elders sat to Uchiha Miho's left.

Once everyone was seated, Uchiha Tajima slowly rose and raised his cup.

The entire venue instantly fell silent, all eyes fixed on him.

"Today is a day of great joy for my Uchiha Clan!" Tajima's voice was resonant and powerful. "Here and now, this old man announces three joyous events!"

"First! My sons Madara, Izuna, and Mo did not disappoint. They successfully signed a ceasefire agreement with the Senju, winning one precious year for our clan, and even seized three strategic fortresses!

"This is an achievement of expanding our territory!"

"Second!" Tajima looked affectionately at Uchiha Miho beside him and took her hand. "This old man and Miho will formally wed in three days! May my Uchiha Clan prosper in numbers, and may our blessings endure!"

"Third!" Tajima's gaze became incomparably solemn as it fell on his eldest son, Madara. "By unanimous decision of the elders' council, and with report made to the spirits of our ancestors!

"From this day forth, Uchiha Madara is established as the young clan leader of my Uchiha Clan!"

"Boom—"

After a brief silence came even more deafening cheers and applause!

"Congratulations, clan leader! Congratulations, Madam Miho!"

"Congratulations to Young Master Madara on becoming young clan leader!"

"Heaven bless the Uchiha!"

The clan members shouted excitedly, raising their cups, their faces brimming with heartfelt joy and boundless hope for the future.

Izuna and Qin Mo also immediately stood, bowing to Tajima and Miho. "Congratulations, Father! Congratulations, Aunt Miho!"

Then they turned to Madara and said in unison, "Congratulations, elder brother, on becoming young clan leader!"

Madara slowly rose and bowed slightly to his father, Miho, and all the clan members. "Madara will not fail the trust placed in him."

The banquet officially began. Cups were pushed and exchanged, goblets clinked, and laughter and cheerful voices rang without end.

The festive atmosphere filled every corner of the Uchiha Clan Grounds.

In sharp contrast was the suffocating, oppressive atmosphere of the Senju Clan a thousand miles away.

Inside the council hall at the center of the Senju Clan Grounds, lamplight flickered, illuminating every face, each one dark as water.

When Senju Hashirama saw his younger brother Tobirama, covered in wounds, being helped inside by two clan members,

an indescribably violent chakra erupted from within him like a volcano gone out of control!

"Boom—"

The sturdy floor of the council hall instantly cracked into countless spiderweb-like fissures!

Dust from the roof rustled down!

Several elders standing nearby were even forced half a step back by that pure, furious pressure!

"Tobirama!!" Hashirama's eyes were bloodshot as he stepped in front of Tobirama and gripped his younger brother's shoulders with both hands. "Tell me! Who was it? Which Uchiha bastard injured you like this?"

Tobirama coughed weakly twice. "It was... Uchiha Mo! Uchiha Tajima's third son! That... despicable, shameless, evil brat!"

"Uchiha... Mo?" Hashirama felt as if he had been struck by lightning, instantly recalling Uzumaki Mito's grave warning—"Be careful of Uchiha Mo!"

So... it was him!

The person even Mito dreaded!

"Uchiha Mo..." Senju Butsuma sat in the main seat, his voice weary and heavy. "That boy... is extremely far from simple. Facing this old man's pressure, he was actually able to remain composed, even... faintly contend against it!

"He has very likely already awakened the Sharingan, perhaps even... the Three-Tomoe Sharingan!"

"Not just that!" Senju Kai stepped forward, his expression grave as he added, "Clan leader, there were also those mysterious people wearing bamboo hats!

"Although their faces could not be seen clearly, the aura they gave off... was unfathomable!

"The chakra of two among them gave me a... very familiar and dangerous feeling!"

Beside him, the great elder Senju Zhijian delivered even more despairing news. "We have just received confirmed intelligence... the Kaguya Clan, the Snow Clan, the Hyuga Branch Family, the Hozuki Clan... have all clearly sworn loyalty to the Uchiha."

Senju Butsuma slammed a heavy fist onto the desk, producing a muffled boom. "The Uchiha demanded this one-year ceasefire not for peace at all!

"They intend to use this year to integrate their newly subdued forces, then sweep away those neutral clans and leave us Senju utterly isolated!

"One year from now... my Senju Clan will be in danger!"