"Madara Uchiha, to appear so brazenly before us within the Senju clan's own compound—are you overly confident, or simply a fool?"
Bang~ Bang~ Bang~ Bang~ Bang~
With Tobirama's words, every shinobi of the other clans present—including those from the Hyūga—suddenly dissolved into clouds of smoke under the astonished gaze of the Uchiha. They had all been shadow clones.
"This is… the Multi Shadow Clone Technique?"
Madara Uchiha frowned deeply at the sight. Even his Sharingan couldn't distinguish the clones from the real ones. A sharp sense of danger surged within him, and he instinctively barked an order.
"Scatter!"
"As if I'd let you escape so easily."
Led by the Senju brothers, dozens of Senju shinobi instantly engaged the Uchiha.
Battle erupted in an instant.
"Out of my way!"
Madara formed hand seals with both hands and roared, "Fire Release: Great Fire Annihilation!"
Boom…
A raging inferno surged forth, its scale vastly surpassing that of any ordinary Fire Release technique, sweeping toward the Senju forces like a sea of fire.
"Water Release: Water Formation Wall!"
Yet Tobirama Senju's Water Release was by no means inferior. Even without a water source nearby, he effortlessly conjured a massive torrent. Spiraling streams of water clashed against the incoming firestorm, filling the battlefield with dense steam and choking smoke.
Among the combatants, Uzumaki Mito immediately retreated under the protection of Ashina Uzumaki.
"Princess, leave this place to me. Head east—someone will rendezvous with you there."
Though not skilled in scheming, Mito was far from foolish. She instantly understood that this was an ambush—a trap set for the Uchiha.
With a nod, she swiftly withdrew from the battlefield.
Meanwhile, Hashirama Senju clasped his hands together and unleashed his signature technique.
"Wood Release Secret Technique: Birth of the Trees!"
In an instant, countless massive trees erupted from the earth, surrounding both Uchiha and Senju shinobi alike in a dense forest.
"So this is Wood Release…"
For years, the Uchiha had prioritized gathering intelligence on Hashirama's Wood Release. They knew it was far from harmless despite its tranquil appearance.
Without pause, Hashirama once again formed seals, his immense chakra radiating through the ground.
"Wood Release: All Creation!"
His chakra surged into the soil, and the surrounding trees began to grow even more violently. From their trunks burst countless wooden hands that lunged toward the Uchiha shinobi trapped within.
However, every Uchiha Madara had brought was an elite.
More importantly, each possessed a fully matured three-tomoe Sharingan.
Even amidst the swirling smoke, their eyes could still clearly perceive the chakra flow around them—reading the direction of the Wood Release assaults.
The elite Uchiha formed a back-to-back defensive circle, simultaneously hurling shuriken in all directions before weaving hand seals in unison.
"Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique!"
The flames from their mouths ignited the thrown shuriken, turning them into blazing wheels of fire that spun outward, cutting through branches and burning the encroaching wood.
Meanwhile, other Uchiha used their agility and Sharingan insight to dodge and counterattack, narrowly evading the forest's grasp.
The "All Creation" proved ineffective.
The fiercest fighter among them was undoubtedly Madara Uchiha himself, who alone held off five Senju—including both Hashirama and Tobirama.
Even in disadvantageous terrain, the Uchiha maintained coordination and resistance.
Hashirama was strong—but not yet at his peak. With only two Wood Release techniques, he couldn't hope to subdue over ten Uchiha jonin at once. Whether he was also holding back, no one could say.
Tobirama, on the other hand, was far more ruthless. After a brief exchange of sword strikes with one Uchiha, he seized an opening, forming a quick seal.
"Water Release: Water Severing Wave!"
A thin, high-pressure stream of water shot from his mouth like a blade, slicing toward the Uchiha before him.
But—
Swish~
A sharp gust split the air!
Madara Uchiha's figure stood tall amidst the torrent of power, the overwhelming force of his presence cutting through the roaring sound of Tobirama's Water Severing Wave. At that moment, he brought the great fan on his back—Gunbai—to his front.
He met Tobirama's high-pressure water stream head-on, and the Gunbai held firm. A faint white radiance pulsed across its surface as it absorbed the chakra within the water technique.
"What…?!"
Tobirama's eyes widened in disbelief, but he didn't cease his jutsu.
"Hmph!"
Madara let out a cold snort. The Gunbai's surface suddenly flared with an immense surge of wind-natured chakra.
With pure physical might, Madara countered Tobirama's Water Release directly, activating the Gunbai's secret ability.
"Uchiha NICE! (Uchiha Return!)"
Rumble—
A colossal gust exploded forward—an unstoppable gale compressed under wind chakra control. Rather than dispersing outward, it condensed into a focused blast and rushed straight toward Tobirama.
Clearly, Tobirama's earlier strike had enraged him.
Boom…
But Hashirama Senju arrived at once, his body bursting with vibrant violet chakra. Channeling it with precise control, he focused all of it into his right arm.
"AAAHHHHH!"
With a thunderous roar, Hashirama swung a monstrous punch that shattered the oncoming Wind Release attack midair.
Yet Madara's assault did not stop there. Having reflected Tobirama's Water Release, he immediately wove hand seals again.
"Fire Release: Hiding in Ash and Dust Technique!"
He exhaled a cloud of superheated ash into the air. As if synchronized, the surrounding Uchiha shinobi disengaged from their opponents and regrouped behind Madara.
In perfect unison, they all performed hand seals: "Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!" ×10.
The heated ash spread outward, and as dozens of Great Fireballs ignited it, a chain reaction of fiery detonations erupted. Empowered by both wind chakra and the volatile ash, the explosion's intensity multiplied severalfold.
Madara swung the massive Gunbai once more.
A titanic vortex of flame—an explosive fire tornado—howled forward, devouring everything in its path toward the Senju.
From the perimeter, Butsuma Senju's eyes widened in alarm. "Damn it—everyone, move!"
Too late. The firestorm was too fast.
Caught within its reach, Hashirama barely had time to form seals, summoning the Rashomon gates in a desperate attempt to block it.
But someone moved faster.
Ranzuki Ōtsutsuki.
Her body radiated with a brilliant blue aura as she stepped forward, one hand thrusting out.
The flow of air abruptly reversed—an unseen, immense repulsive force rippling outward. Under its influence, the massive fiery tornado folded back on itself, surging toward the Uchiha instead.
"What—?!"
Madara's eyes widened in shock before the world around him was consumed by fire and sound.
In that critical instant, his Sharingan spun rapidly, morphing into the Mangekyō. Intense blue chakra erupted from his body as a colossal skeletal frame formed around him, shielding the nearby Uchiha within its grasp.
Faced with no alternative, Madara had been forced to unleash his trump card—Susanoo—to protect his clan.
Boom! Boom! Boom!!
The chain of explosions annihilated the surrounding forest, uprooting trees and tearing apart the earth. The resulting shockwaves forced even the Senju shinobi to retreat for safety.
"To develop such a powerful composite ninjutsu… the Uchiha clan truly is terrifying," murmured Ashina Uzumaki from the far edge of the battlefield. His hands were mid-seal as he watched the central explosion from afar. In that blinding chaos—where even Hashirama and Tobirama had been forced back—the only figure still standing at the front… was none other than the woman who had spoken to him earlier: Ranzuki Ōtsutsuki.
"But this Ranzuki Ōtsutsuki… she might be far stronger than the rumors say."
As the dust settled, the sight at the heart of the explosion was revealed—beneath the massive blue skeletal frame of Susanoo stood a group of disheveled Uchiha shinobi.
They looked battered, but largely unharmed.
"Oh? That's quite the ability," Ranzuki Ōtsutsuki remarked with a hint of appreciation. "Fast activation, impressive defensive capability."
At the center of it all, Madara Uchiha stood solemnly within his Susanoo's ribcage.
"'Azure Sky Dragon,' Ranzuki Ōtsutsuki," he said gravely. "Do you intend to interfere in our battle against the Senju clan?"
"Strictly speaking, this isn't interference," Ranzuki replied calmly. "Your purpose here wasn't to pay respects to the Senju dead, was it?"
At those words, Madara immediately realized—this was a trap, deliberately set for him.
He just hadn't expected her to appear in person.
"What's the Hyūga clan to you?" he demanded.
"Oh?" Ranzuki tilted her head, smiling faintly instead of answering. "To possess such power and sharp intuition at your age… I'll admit, I'm tempted to let you live—to see how much stronger you'd become in ten years."
Her smile faded, her tone turning serious. "But today, I'll let you experience what defeat feels like ahead of time."
...
"Ranzuki's grown quite a bit."
From the Uchiha compound's inn, Satsuki watched the battle at the Senju stronghold unfold as clearly as if reading lines on her palm—her vision projected through the immense Tenseigan.
"Host, surely you can relax now," came system's voice. "That little one from back then can now handle herself quite well."
"Her power has indeed become more stable," Satsuki replied with a small, satisfied smile. "But what pleases me most is her growth in mindset."
She nodded approvingly, then shifted the Tenseigan's vision toward the third floor of the Uchiha Police Headquarters.
"Well then," she murmured, "it's about time for Shirakumaru to make his move."
As expected, at that very moment, a member of the Hagoromo clan arrived at the Uchiha compound, rushing to report the situation to Izuna Uchiha.
"What?! Even the 'Azure Sky Dragon' is involved?!"
At the mention of that name, Izuna's expression turned pale.
The Uchiha clan had gathered intelligence on all the top-tier figures in the shinobi world, and among them, Ranzuki Ōtsutsuki—one of the few female shinobi to reach such a terrifying height—was of particular interest.
Her rise had been meteoric. Her very first battle had ended with the defeat of the veteran Kage-level shinobi, Suzuki Kaguya.
Within a few short years, she had cut down nearly every top-tier warrior across the shinobi world.
And these were not weaklings—they were elite fighters, all well-known names, all listed as S-class or even super S-class criminals.
Even more alarming was her age. When she achieved these feats, Ranzuki had still been very young—far from her prime. Which meant her potential for growth was immeasurable.
And then, there was her signature technique—Storm of the Gods.
"An immense tempest of thunder and wind, forming a dragon that tears through the heavens. Wherever its roar passes, destruction is absolute."
Such was how the jutsu was described—and from it, her epithet, Azure Sky Dragon, was born.
Though years had passed since her last public appearance, there was no doubt her strength had only grown since then.
"We must send reinforcements immediately!" Izuna ordered.
A person's name carries weight, just as in later ages, the mere mention of Madara Uchiha would plunge the entire shinobi world into chaos.
Ranzuki's name had not yet reached such heights, but her reputation already inspired genuine fear.
Within moments, the entire Uchiha compound was mobilized. Hawks bearing confidential messages took flight, each carrying encoded orders to Uchiha operatives across the region.
The Uchiha clan's efficiency was unmatched. Within a short span, a full force had gathered within the compound. After leaving behind a small defensive contingent, Izuna Uchiha personally led a large group toward the Senju territory.
"The time is right, my lady," Shirakumaru's voice said.
"Indeed," Satsuki replied softly. "Then Shirakumaru should act as well."
Her perception spread throughout the Uchiha compound—she could sense every movement within it.
"Host, aren't you going to assist Shirakumaru?"
"There's no need," Satsuki said calmly. "If he fails, he'll simply learn from it and try again next time."
Satsuki poured herself a cup of tea. "Compared to so-called Uchiha artifacts, I'm far more interested in their personal growth."
"Then, Host, doesn't that mean you're… slacking off?"
"Slacking off?" Satsuki cast a sidelong glance at the glowing system sphere in her mind and replied lazily, "You're not wrong. I am slacking off. After all, murky waters are best for fishing, aren't they?"
...
Meanwhile, the battle between Ranzuki Ōtsutsuki and the Uchiha raged on with unrelenting intensity.
Madara Uchiha had fully activated his Mangekyō Sharingan and unleashed his Susanoo. Wielding the mighty Gunbai fan, his power now far surpassed that of an ordinary Kage-level shinobi, even if he wasn't yet fighting at full strength.
And yet, despite all his might, the longer he fought against Ranzuki, the more shaken he became.
Taijutsu— she was faster, stronger, and even his vaunted perception through the Sharingan couldn't keep up.
Ninjutsu— her Wind Release overwhelmed his Fire Release completely, defying all logic. Her chakra reserves were like an endless ocean; even his Uchiha Return technique was effortlessly neutralized with a mere gesture.
Genjutsu— she had locked eyes with his Mangekyō multiple times, yet his illusions failed to affect her at all. On the contrary, each time his subordinates met her gaze, their chakra flows turned chaotic, and they were swiftly seized by wooden hands.
Impossible!
It was as though this woman had been born solely to counter him—outmatching him in every conceivable way.
And now, even retreat was impossible.
For as soon as Ranzuki had entered the battlefield, a massive Four Purple Flame Formation had risen around them, trapping both her and the Uchiha inside.
At each corner of the barrier stood four figures: Butsuma Senju, Ashina Uzumaki, Tenjin Hyūga—and another Ranzuki Ōtsutsuki.
When Madara saw this, his expression faltered briefly, but inwardly, he was shaken to his core.
She's been maintaining a clone this entire time while fighting me?!
Ranzuki landed lightly atop a tree branch after a brief exchange, her calm eyes gazing down at the exhausted Madara below.
All around them, the elite Uchiha had fallen—strewn among the branches, ensnared by countless wooden hands that drained their chakra unceasingly.
"How about surrender?" Ranzuki said lightly. "To stand against even my clone for this long—you've done remarkably well."
"This… this level of strength is only a clone?"
For the first time, Madara felt a force utterly beyond his comprehension. Her power crushed him completely.
But surrender? That word had never existed in his dictionary.
Once again, Madara forced his body past its limits, pushing his Mangekyō's power to its utmost.
Blood trickled from his eyes as his ocular power surged violently. Around him, the skeletal Susanoo began to transform—its frame thickening, growing muscle, and finally wrapping itself in layers of glowing blue chakra armor.
"The Uchiha clan is the strongest in the shinobi world! Surrender will never be our choice!"
From within the colossal blue figure, chakra surged madly as its arms extended outward. Two enormous blades of condensed chakra formed in its hands.
"Susanoo—the incarnation of destruction! Even if you are the Azure Sky Dragon herself, today I will cut you down!"
Crossing its massive blades in the air, the towering Susanoo unleashed two devastating arcs of energy that split the heavens apart.
"Susanoo: Twin Blade Dance!"