"Great Elder, this is bad! Something terrible has happened!"
The Great Elder sighed in frustration at the panicked shouting from below. "Lower your voice—I can hear you just fine."
Standing below him were Uzumaki Hibiki and Uzumaki Masahiko, both responsible for guiding the Uchiha and Senju clans during their visit. However, they had lost track of the key figure of the event—Uzumaki Princess Mito.
Outside the hall, two teams stood waiting. The event was supposed to be a grand banquet, but now, the host herself was missing. Masahiko and Hibiki were in a state of panic. Everything had gone smoothly at first, but now they were about to offend the two most powerful clans of the Warring States period at the same time. Even with the Uzumaki clan's strength, they weren't foolish enough to make enemies of both.
Hashirama didn't seem to care much—he was simply here to go through the motions. However, Tobirama was restless, constantly nagging him, which only annoyed him further.
Meanwhile, Madara was unusually silent. Why hadn't he seen Su Xiuyu yet? With the protagonist missing, Madara had no one to vent his frustration on.
The Great Elder was growing increasingly irritated. Uzumaki Mito had clearly used a transformation technique to sneak out and play. But how could he possibly admit that? He couldn't just tell the two strongest clans that their little princess had run off for fun during such a crucial meeting. The fact that Mito had slipped away while both the Senju and Uchiha clans were present—without either clan even noticing—was bad enough.
He wasn't too worried about the Uchiha clan, as their relationship with the Uzumaki was already strained. But the Senju clan was their close ally. Letting them down in this manner could be disastrous.
Just then, a voice cut through the tension.
"Hello, everyone."
All eyes turned toward the entrance. Su Xiuyu had arrived—with Uzumaki Mito by his side.
A quarter of an hour earlier, Mito had suddenly remembered that the two clans were waiting for her. Panicking, she had rushed back with Su Xiuyu.
A heavy silence fell over the hall.
Tobirama's sharp gaze landed on his older brother. "Brother, why is Su Xiuyu with Uzumaki Mito? He got there first, and you're still standing around yawning?!" He was furious at Hashirama's lack of awareness. His supposed fiancée had almost run off with another man, yet he wasn't even paying attention.
Meanwhile, Madara secretly gave Su Xiuyu a thumbs-up. Now that's what I call an elite Uchiha! He had swooped in and won over the Uzumaki princess before anyone else could react. The Senju clan must be fuming.
Su Xiuyu, on the other hand, felt incredibly awkward under everyone's stares. Scratching his head, he shamelessly said, "What's with all the tension? The fireworks display was pretty great. You guys should've come to watch."
Tobirama ignored him and asked coldly, "What should I call you?"
Before Su Xiuyu could answer, Madara spoke up. "His name is Uchiha Xiuyu, from our Uchiha clan. Why do you ask, Senju Tobirama?"
Tobirama clenched his fists. "Why the hell is it always the Uchiha?!" He wanted to attack, but he restrained himself—it wouldn't be appropriate to fight on Uzumaki territory.
Su Xiuyu sighed. He wanted to clarify that his real name was Su Xiuyu, but with Madara standing his ground, it was pointless to argue. Not to mention, explaining his Sharingan would only make things more complicated.
Then Hashirama, who had been silently observing, suddenly spoke up. "Wait… When we first met, you introduced yourself as Su Xiuyu, right? You didn't even know Uchiha Madara at the time. So how come you're from the Uchiha clan now?"
Tobirama's eyes narrowed. That was an important detail. It was nearly impossible for an Uchiha to not recognize Madara, the son of their clan leader. There was something strange about this whole situation. But with limited information, Tobirama couldn't make any solid conclusions yet.
Su Xiuyu skillfully dodged the question. "Let's just see what arrangements the Uzumaki clan has planned."
Mito quickly stepped forward, addressing the Great Elder. "Grandfather, it's me, Mito. Masahiko told me you were looking for me."
The elder looked her over and sighed. "Shall we all go home?" He was too old for this kind of drama. The moment he turned away, he grabbed the unreliable Masahiko Uzumaki and dragged him off to be disciplined in confinement.
Tobirama, however, was not ready to let this go. "Elder Uzumaki, our Senju clan came all this way, and my brother has shown his sincerity. We can't just leave things unresolved like this, can we?"
Hashirama blinked. What sincerity?
Tobirama shot his brother a sharp glare. If they weren't in public, he would've smacked some sense into him.
Before Tobirama could press further, Madara smirked and cut in. "I don't see any problem here. Why don't we all just go home? The fireworks are over, and our Uchiha clan has certainly felt the warm hospitality of the Uzumaki elders. Right, Hashirama? Why don't you take your Senju and head back with me?"
Madara had noticed that Xiuyu and Mito seemed to know each other well. Since the Uchiha clan had come to back him up, and he had succeeded in charming the Uzumaki princess, there was no need for Madara to stay involved. It was clear the two of them had just returned from watching the fireworks together.
"Alright." Hashirama was more than ready to leave. He hadn't seen Uchiha Madara in a long time, and there was much he wanted to say. He also wanted to apologize for the death of Chisato, Madara's brother, during their last battle. More than anything, though, Hashirama wanted to discuss his dream of building a village—a dream that needed Uchiha's support.
Tobirama, however, was seething. Madara, that cold-faced bastard, was blatantly lying. What "warm hospitality"? The Uzumaki elders hadn't even served them tea! They had just been sitting around while the Great Elder dozed off. If he weren't so old, Tobirama might've shaken him awake himself.
And now they were just leaving like this? It was humiliating. The clan would blame Hashirama again, and their father would probably beat him for the hundredth time.
As Tobirama fumed, Uzumaki Mito prepared to speak up. She, too, wanted to reject the marriage proposal without offending the Senju clan. But before she could, Tobirama cut her off.
"Since things didn't go as planned, why don't we settle this another way?" His sharp gaze flickered toward Su Xiuyu. "Let's have a sparring match between the Senju and Uchiha, right here in the Uzumaki's training grounds."
He carefully avoided mentioning the marriage proposal outright, ensuring that no further complications arose. This way, he could protect the Senju clan's dignity while avoiding a direct confrontation with the Uzumaki.
Su Xiuyu immediately understood. Tobirama was out for blood. And after everything that had happened today, he couldn't really blame him.
---
"What Lord Tobirama said makes sense. How about we use the Uzumaki clan elders' training ground for our sparring session? This time, we will focus on combat training. On behalf of the Uchiha clan, I accept." Su Xiuyu knew he had to face this challenge sooner or later.
Uzumaki Mito became anxious upon hearing this, fearing that Su Xiuyu would suffer a loss. After all, both Hashirama and Tobirama—two of the strongest members of the Senju clan's younger generation—were present. If Su Xiuyu's strength was lacking, he would be at a disadvantage. Although she had not yet agreed to Su Xiuyu's request, she still felt concerned for him.
Su Xiuyu noticed that Mito was about to speak and quickly gestured for her to stay silent.
He understood that Tobirama wasn't personally targeting him. It was simply a matter of the Senju name—he had to fight for the clan's honor. If he backed down now, it would only invite doubt and uncertainty among the Senju members, especially when facing their longtime rivals, the Uchiha.
Besides, he needed an opportunity to make a name for himself. Mito was still the princess of the Uzumaki clan, and no matter how open-minded their elders were, the Warring States era was a chaotic time. Strength was everything, and he had to prove himself.
In his past life, Su Xiuyu had no experience with relationships. But in this life, fate had led him to meet Uzumaki Mito. Since he had decided to pursue this relationship seriously, he couldn't keep it hidden forever.
"What do you think, Lord Tobirama?" Su Xiuyu looked at the silver-haired Tobirama with a calm expression.
"Since Uchiha Xiuyu has agreed, do any of the other Uchiha have objections?" Tobirama glanced at Madara.
"No problem. Xiuyu will represent the Uchiha clan in this exchange. It's up to the Uzumaki elders now." Madara nodded at Tobirama, signaling his agreement with Su Xiuyu's decision.
Seeing that both clans had no objections, the Uzumaki elders finally sighed in relief. The conversation had successfully shifted back to the Senju and Uchiha clans, keeping their own clan out of unnecessary conflict. This was the best possible outcome for them.
"Since everything is settled, follow me to the training ground," one of the Uzumaki elders said.
The group made their way to the Uzumaki clan's training grounds.
"This area has been reinforced with our Sealing Barrier Technique. You can use it freely without worrying about collateral damage," said Uzumaki Masahiko, standing beside the clan elder. His tone carried a hint of pride.
"Xiuyu, don't embarrass the Uchiha name," Madara said casually. Though his words seemed indifferent, the underlying message was clear—this fight was important.
Su Xiuyu nodded and stepped into the barrier first.
"Tobirama, you go first. Don't hold back," Tobirama's younger brother urged him. He trusted his brother Hashirama abilities but knew his personality too well—Hashirama was the type to go easy on familiar Uchiha members.
"I'm not going. I have other matters to discuss with Madara," Hashirama replied dismissively.
Tobirama clenched his fists in frustration. If they weren't in public, he would have grabbed Hashirama and forced him into the fight. But since his brother was clearly unreliable, he had no choice but to step in himself.
Without hesitation, Tobirama entered the barrier.
"Uchiha Xiuyu, I'll be blunt. I'm not my naïve older brother—I don't show mercy. If you die here, don't blame me," Tobirama stated coldly.
"Senju Tobirama, don't hold back. Bring it on," Su Xiuyu waved his hand, his tone carrying a hint of provocation.
Unfortunately, Tobirama wasn't the type to fall for taunts. He simply frowned and thought to himself, He seems confident. He must have some tricks up his sleeve. I need to be cautious.
"Water Style: Water Rush Wave!"
Tobirama formed a seal, and in an instant, a massive surge of water spiraled upward like a tornado. The water expanded rapidly, crashing down toward Su Xiuyu like a raging waterfall.
The spectators, especially the Uzumaki clan members, murmured in awe.
"As expected of Tobirama, the second son of Butsuma Senju. His water-style techniques are unmatched!"
"To summon this much water in a place without a natural water source... Tobirama's mastery of Water Style is truly legendary!"
"Not to mention, he used only one seal to activate the technique. That level of skill is nearly unheard of among the younger generation!"
Despite the wide training area, the sealed barrier limited movement to some extent. Tobirama's water jutsu had already begun reshaping the terrain within the enclosed space. Now, everyone was watching to see how Su Xiuyu would respond.
Just as the massive waves threatened to drown him, Su Xiuyu lightly tapped the ground with his right foot.
In an instant, the ground beneath him surged upward, forming a massive stone platform that lifted him above the flooding battlefield. The waves crashed violently against the rock, sending echoes throughout the entire training ground.
A wave of shocked whispers erupted from the spectators.
"What kind of Earth Style technique is this? He didn't even form a seal!"
"Since when did the Uchiha specialize in Earth Style? Aren't they known for Fire Style?"
Even the Senju clan members were stunned. They had initially felt confident when Tobirama entered the fight. But now, seeing Su Xiuyu respond so effortlessly, using an unusual Earth Style technique without seals, they were completely caught off guard.
The only ones who remained unsurprised were the Uchiha. After all, they had already seen Su Xiuyu's abilities before. The first time they had witnessed it, they had been just as shocked as everyone else.
Tobirama narrowed his eyes. He's better than I expected. I can't afford to take this lightly.
Meanwhile, Su Xiuyu remained focused. The Uzumaki clan was watching—he had to make an impression.
"Water Style: Wave Rider Strike!"
Tobirama glided swiftly across the water's surface, propelled by the waves he had created.
"Water Style: Water Dragon Bullet!"
With just three seals, a massive water dragon emerged from the water beneath Tobirama and lunged toward Su Xiuyu with lifelike ferocity.
"Tobirama's Wave Rider Strike lets him move at high speed across the water while attacking!"
"And his Water Dragon Bullet—he reduced the seals to just three?! Damn, it still takes me 44 seals to cast that technique!"
The Uzumaki spectators were speechless. Both fighters were displaying astonishing skill.
Just then, a mass of earth and stone materialized beneath Su Xiuyu's feet, allowing him to glide across the battlefield with similar agility.
Earth Control Technique…
Su Xiuyu, being naturally lazy, had developed this technique to make movement effortless. Now, he waved his right hand, and an enormous earth dragon emerged to clash with Tobirama's water dragon.
Another wave of exclamations erupted from the audience.
"Another Earth Style technique with no seals?! This Uchiha Xiuyu is at least as skilled as Tobirama—maybe even better!"
"This battle is insane! The younger generation is nearly surpassing us!"
Su Xiuyu ignored the chatter, his eyes locked on the fight.
He was here to prove himself.
Uzumaki Mito, standing among the spectators, clenched her fists as she silently cheered him on.
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