Happy Madara

"My lord!"

"My lord!"

The sudden grand salute and form of address exploded beside Crimson Snow's ears like a thunderclap!

It completely surpassed everything she understood about her young master's relationship with these two clans!

Qin Mo acted as if he had not seen Crimson Snow's shock at all. He only said flatly to the two kneeling men, "Get up and speak."

"Yes, my lord!" Hozuki Dark Moon and Xue Tahai rose at once.

Qin Mo got straight to the point. "Hozuki Dark Moon, Xue Tahai. You two are to return to your clan grounds at once. Mobilize your elites skilled in infiltration and tracking, and keep the Senju Clan, Hatake Clan, Uzumaki Clan, Sarutobi Clan, and Shimura Clan under strict surveillance.

Remember, I mean the highest level of surveillance. I want to know the movements of their core figures, their troop deployments, their material reserves, and even the slightest hint of any major decisions within their clans!

Report any abnormal movement to me at the first opportunity through secret methods. No delays!"

"Understood, my lord! Your subordinates will do everything in our power and not fail your trust!" Hozuki Dark Moon and Xue Tahai bowed without the slightest hesitation and accepted the order.

"Good." Qin Mo nodded. With a turn of his wrist, four storage scrolls carved with profound runes appeared out of thin air in his palm.

"Each of these scrolls contains half a ton of Water of Life."

Hozuki Dark Moon and Xue Tahai both trembled, irrepressible excitement and wild joy bursting in their eyes.

Qin Mo handed two of the scrolls to them, one each. "Take these two back to your clans. Prioritize treating the core clansmen who are gravely wounded, on the brink of death, and unable to fight again."

The two accepted the scrolls with faintly trembling hands, carefully putting them away as if they were holding rare treasures. "Thank you for your generous gift, my lord! On behalf of our entire clans, your subordinates kowtow in gratitude for your grace!"

"As for these remaining two," Qin Mo said, picking up the final two scrolls, "Hozuki Dark Moon, make a trip to the Kaguya Clan personally. Deliver this scroll into Kaguya Feng's hands yourself. No mistakes."

"Xue Tahai, you are responsible for sending this scroll to the Hyuga Branch Family residence. You must hand it to Hyuga Tosei personally."

"Yes, my lord!" The two bowed again, firmly committing the tasks to memory.

"Go!" Qin Mo waved his hand.

"As you command!" Hozuki Dark Moon and Xue Tahai immediately turned into two blurred afterimages, swiftly vanishing into the depths of the dense woods.

Now, only Qin Mo and Crimson Snow remained in the forest.

Qin Mo turned around, his gaze falling on Crimson Snow, who still looked startled and uncertain, clearly wanting to speak but holding back. "What? You've got a stomach full of questions? Ask if you want to."

Crimson Snow took a deep breath and steadied her churning emotions. "Young master! The Water of Life is so precious! Our own Uchiha wounded also need it to recover their vitality and increase their strength.

You... you took out a full two tons all at once and gave it to the Hozuki, Snow, Kaguya, and Hyuga Branch Family?

Isn't that... a little too... too generous?

Wouldn't it be better to keep it for our own clansmen?"

When Qin Mo heard this, he chuckled softly. "Crimson Snow, look further ahead. I still have plenty of Water of Life here.

The Hozuki Clan, Snow Clan, Kaguya Clan, and Hyuga Branch Family—these forces will all be important pieces and aids for the Uchiha in the great war to come.

Letting the elites in their clans who lost their combat power because of severe injuries recover is the same as adding a powerful force for ourselves.

Exchanging their 'half-crippled bodies' for 'usable soldiers' is a very profitable deal.

Besides, this is a 'grace' bestowed by their 'lord.' It will deepen their dependence on and reverence for me even more."

A flash of realization crossed Crimson Snow's eyes, but then she thought of an even more crucial question. "Then just now... Hozuki Dark Moon and Xue Tahai... why did they perform such a grand salute to you?

They even addressed you as 'my lord'? That is absolutely not the courtesy of ordinary allies! Could it be..."

Qin Mo nodded openly. "Correct. I used the Heart-Turning Pill to control their life, death, and will.

Aside from the Hozuki Clan and the Snow Clan, the Kaguya Clan and the Hyuga Branch Family are also under my control."

Qin Mo looked at the trace of fear that swept through Crimson Snow's eyes and explained, "The human heart is fickle, especially in this cruel Warring States chaos.

Allies? Nothing but groups bound together by interest.

I don't want to waste energy gambling on their loyalty, and I certainly don't want to be stabbed in the back by so-called 'allies' at a critical moment in the future, or raise ungrateful wolves.

To keep them from wavering, or even defecting in battle, this is the most direct, most effective, and most trouble-free method."

Crimson Snow fell silent.

She understood Qin Mo's coldness and decisiveness.

In a struggle where the clan's survival hung in the balance, any kindness or trust could become a fatal weakness.

Qin Mo used this almost domineering method to firmly grasp potential allies and pieces in the palm of his hand.

Although the method seemed heartless, even somewhat dark, it was undoubtedly the best way to protect the Uchiha's interests.

She nodded hard. "Crimson Snow understands. Young master thinks far ahead. Everything you do is for the Uchiha!"

Just then, Qin Mo's brows suddenly stirred. His sharp gaze shot toward another direction in the forest, and at the same time, he gently waved his right hand.

"Buzz..."

The soundproof protective barrier covering the surroundings rippled like water, swiftly becoming transparent and thin before finally dispersing completely into nothingness.

"Someone's coming," Qin Mo said softly.

Almost at the same moment the barrier vanished, a figure brimming with indescribable joy strode over from that direction.

His entire person gave off a relaxed, cheerful sense that "the world is so beautiful," completely different from his usual cold and dignified image as young clan head.

Clearly, that meeting with Senju Hashirama, his "old flame," had put him in an excellent mood.

Looking at his eldest brother's foolish "fallen in love" expression, Qin Mo could not stop the corner of his mouth from twitching.

He could almost imagine how that "blockhead" Hashirama had used his whole theory of "understanding and peace" to coax this powerful yet unexpectedly innocent-in-love eldest brother of his until he was dizzy.

"Tch..." An almost inaudible click of the tongue slipped from Qin Mo's lips.

Madara soon spotted Qin Mo and Crimson Snow standing at the edge of the woods. The smile on his face grew even brighter, and in just a few steps, he arrived before them. "Mo! Crimson Snow!"

"Big brother!" Qin Mo quickly reined in his speechless expression and answered with a gentle smile.

"Young clan head!" Crimson Snow also immediately bowed respectfully.

"What are you two doing here?" Madara looked around curiously. This rear mountain forest was usually deserted.

Qin Mo answered naturally, "I drank a little too much last night and my head was still a bit muddled, so I asked Crimson Snow to accompany me here for some air and a walk to sober up."

"Oh!" Madara understood and did not probe further. He was in an excellent mood right now, and everything looked pleasing to his eyes.

He then asked, "What's the plan after this?"

Qin Mo already had a plan and said calmly, "Mm, there is a plan. But there's no rush.

Tonight, I'll call second brother and the elders over to meet Father together. We'll discuss the details then."

Madara nodded. "That works. This is an important matter. Father and everyone else really should decide it together."

He patted Qin Mo on the shoulder, that excitement still written all over him. "Then I'll see you tonight."

"Mm, see you tonight, big brother," Qin Mo replied with a smile.

Qin Mo and Crimson Snow watched him leave.

Crimson Snow looked at Madara's back, which seemed almost ready to float away, then glanced at the helpless expression on her young master's face that had not yet fully faded. She could not help smiling inwardly too.

Even someone as powerful as the young clan head had such a "cute" side.

Qin Mo shook his head and said to Crimson Snow, "Let's head back too and prepare for tonight's matters."

"Yes, young master," Crimson Snow replied.

The two also turned around, their figures disappearing into the forest path as they headed toward the Uchiha clan grounds.