Do you think Sharingan grow on trees?

The evening breeze swept through the entire forest.

Beneath the towering cherry blossom tree, hazy white masses emerged among the grass.

It was mist formed by the sudden drop in temperature, looking like clusters of water molecules reflecting the lingering sunset.

Fear gripped Madara Uchiha's heart.

He felt every blood vessel in his body pulsing with his heartbeat, as though they might burst at any moment.

A trace of anxiety and unease crept into his stern expression.

Brilliant colors mingled with a strange fragrance, washing over him.

At that moment, Madara Uchiha felt he was too close to Yanbai.

Yanbai stood beside Madara Uchiha, his graceful figure perfectly still.

"Will doing this... really get us out of our current predicament?"

Madara Uchiha's breathing had grown so erratic that he was almost suffocating.

When Yanbai told him and Hashirama Senju his idea, Hashirama Senju immediately objected, earning himself a round of "correction."

For the sake of fairness, Madara Uchiha was dragged into it by Hashirama Senju and forced to undergo a round of "correction" as well.

Only then did Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha truly realize how terrifying Yanbai was-and he was clearly even more terrifying than before.

They couldn't beat him no matter what they did. Their only choice was to give in!

Yanbai lifted his eyes to Madara Uchiha, who was holding his hand.

With just one glance, Madara Uchiha felt a bone-piercing chill, as though it had seeped through his retinas and straight into his marrow.

Standing face-to-face, they seemed to be exchanging parting words.

They looked like lovers or friends reluctant to say goodbye.

The truth, however, was far removed from appearances.

Looking up at Madara Uchiha, Yanbai asked unhurriedly, "Your brothers all died at the hands of the Senju Clan. Do you hate me and my brother?"

Madara Uchiha was silent for several seconds before saying, "I've killed members of the Senju Clan too..."

"Clan members who can separate actions from individuals the way you do are rare, both in the Senju Clan and the Uchiha Clan. Hatred isn't easy to let go of, but refusing to let go only breeds more hatred." Yanbai continued, "Putting the hatred between our clans aside, how do you feel when you're with us?"

Madara Uchiha answered honestly, "It hasn't been long, but I really have been happy. But..."

"But we're from the Senju Clan." Yanbai watched Madara Uchiha without any change in expression. "You should understand that my older brother sincerely considers you a friend. But because of the hatred between our clans, the moment our surnames are revealed, you'll inevitably start doubting each other, won't you?"

Madara Uchiha remained silent.

Yanbai added, "If your clan finds out you're friends with us, they'll see you as a traitor. Your father would never allow something like that to happen. Neither would ours."

Madara Uchiha closed his eyes in anguish. "Yeah... I know."

"But I've never been an obedient child." Yanbai chuckled. "Madara, reconciliation is undoubtedly a difficult path, but it is possible. So let's start with the crisis right in front of us."

Madara Uchiha looked at Yanbai with a complicated expression. "Do we really... have to do what you suggested?"

Looking perfectly at ease, Yanbai said, "Compared to an unspeakable secret between the Senju Clan Heir and the Uchiha Clan Heir, a melodramatic first-love story involving a rebellious teenager is much safer, isn't it?"

Madara Uchiha's brows knitted together. He said in distress, "Yeah... that's true, but... we're far too young. That alone makes it unbelievable. They won't buy it, and I also..."

Besides, he didn't have Hashirama Senju's talent for acting.

It was a complete fabrication to begin with. It would be easy to give the game away.

Yet Yanbai smiled warmly. "What if we add the fact that I have an extraordinary gift for healing?"

Madara Uchiha gazed at Yanbai's beautiful, childish face. The longer he stared, the more chills ran down his back, and goosebumps gradually rose on his skin.

Madara Uchiha stared steadily at Yanbai, his voice trembling slightly. "That's too dangerous for you. I won't tell them."

Indeed, when the potential benefits were staggering enough, who would care about Yanbai's identity?

The benefits Yanbai's abilities could bring were already so immense that people would be willing to take the risk.

But Madara Uchiha didn't want to do something tantamount to betraying a friend, even if Yanbai himself had suggested it.

"I see." Yanbai considered it for a moment, then smiled. "Then just be the passive party. I'm the one pestering you, and you can't control what I think, right?"

"Actually, if you just cut ties with me, or simply killed me, none of this trouble would be necessary, would it?" Madara Uchiha said quietly. "Why go to such lengths?"

Yanbai's smile turned strange. "Because I want your dream and my older brother's dream to come true."

I've been touching Madara for so long, and I still haven't gotten the Uchiha bloodline or Indra from him. I can't let all that effort go to waste now.

Of course, Yanbai would never say that last part aloud, since it contained his true motive.

"Our dream..." Madara Uchiha froze.

"Yes, the dream of establishing a Shinobi Village, a haven where children can grow up in safety. Since you and he both have that idea, why not work toward it together?" A faintly beguiling note entered Yanbai's clear voice as he said:

"Get stronger as soon as you can, Madara, together with my older brother. Become the most respected people in your respective clans, then lead both clans in resolving their hatred and building that haven together."

Madara Uchiha gave a bitter smile. Easier said than done...

Yanbai said mercilessly, "Once you've worked hard to get stronger, just outlive your dad and mine. Then you and my older brother will be able to call the shots."

"When the time comes, if my older brother can't pull it off, you'll still have me. I'll find a way to lead the entire clan to you and offer our surrender and a ceasefire. If you refuse our surrender, or refuse to provide food and lodging, I'll beat you until you accept."

Madara Uchiha: "..."

Uchiha Tajima and Butsuma Senju would certainly never agree to shake hands and make peace.

Since there was no changing them, there was no point trying. They would die sooner or later.

By then, Madara Uchiha and Hashirama Senju would be capable of standing on their own.

As far as Yanbai was concerned, since he already knew how all that turmoil would end, he might as well encourage the two of them to unite from the start.

Without the confrontation involving their fathers and younger brothers, things wouldn't reach the point of a complete falling-out.

Perhaps they could even skip quite a few steps in founding the village.

The only problem was... Madara's Sharingan...

Yanbai suddenly said, "Madara, once this blows over, find a way to awaken your Sharingan."

Hearing that, Madara Uchiha snapped irritably, "Do you think Sharingan grow on trees? That I can awaken mine whenever I want?"

Yanbai raised an eyebrow and smiled with ill intent. "Trust me, it's pretty easy. Let me toy with you a few more times, and you'll awaken it."

Madara Uchiha felt his temples throbbing relentlessly. At that moment, he understood Hashirama Senju's despair.

Then something else seemed to occur to Madara Uchiha. He narrowed his eyes. "You actually know... how to make members of the Uchiha Clan awaken their Sharingan?"

Yanbai's ill-intentioned smile grew even brighter.