The battlefield wasn't as gory as expected, but it still sent chills down the spines of the arriving Senju clan members.
Before them, eighteen elite Senju shinobi lay neatly on the ground. Their bodies were cold, their clothing intact, no visible external wounds—only strange strangulation marks etched across their skin. Their shriveled faces were frozen in expressions of terror.
Crack~
One Senju leaned down to inspect a corpse and found it disturbingly brittle—like a fully dehydrated husk.
"Young Master, there are no signs of battle here. No injuries on the corpses either. It's as if they were all killed instantly, and…"
The clan's forensic specialist rushed over to report to Tobirama.
"And what?"
Tobirama remained eerily calm, standing before Kōji's corpse, whose eyes were still open in death.
Though Kōji had been strong in life, his cause of death was a gaping hole in his chest—classic hand-chop-style. Brutal and unmistakably his own signature move.
"All eighteen were drained of their chakra and life force, reduced to withered husks."
The specialist gulped as he cast a glance at Kōji's eerie expression, then continued his report.
"This method…"
Tobirama frowned deeply. The first image to flash through his mind was his older brother's bright, cheerful grin—but he quickly shook it off.
Impossible. His brother's kind of talent couldn't possibly exist twice in this world. It had to be some forbidden technique.
"Inspect Kōji's body."
Tobirama ordered the forensic shinobi to check the captain's remains.
"Yes, sir!"
The specialist quickly complied. After a short while, he stood and reported:
"Young Master, Captain Kōji died from a self-inflicted hand-chop directly crushing his heart."
"Genjutsu?"
The word alone made Tobirama's DNA vibrate.
"Yes. There are clear traces of illusionary chakra on his body. He was likely controlled and forced to commit suicide."
The specialist delivered his conclusion.
"Understood."
Now Tobirama had a headache. An unknown enemy capable of instantly killing eighteen skilled shinobi… and controlling a captain-level shinobi like Kōji with Genjutsu?
And from the scene, the enemy likely acted alone—or at most, was one person.
"Was it Uchiha Madara? Or did Tajima himself show up?"
Tobirama's mind raced. He could count on one hand the people capable of this.
"How's the situation?"
Arriving late, Mito's brows were furrowed with concern. She scanned the field, anxious to spot a familiar mess of curly hair… but only saw the bodies of dead Senju shinobi. Relieved, she turned to Tobirama.
"Hard to say. Help me scan the area. See if there are any remnants of Uchiha ocular chakra."
Tobirama no longer had the energy to bicker. Kōji's death was a clear warning—there were hidden players in this hunt for the Hagoromo clan.
Mito's heart skipped a beat when she heard him.
Crap! This white-haired punk suspects the Uchiha?!
In truth, Tobirama didn't know for sure. But with his built-in -100 affinity for the Uchiha, the first thought in his head was always:
"It was definitely the Uchiha!"
Mito said nothing more and extended her sensory chakra, carefully searching for that familiar presence. A while later, she looked up with a complicated expression.
"Did you find something?"
Tobirama narrowed his eyes. Had the killer masked their chakra?
"Uh… how do I put this? There's not a trace of Uchiha ocular power here."
Mito declared confidently—because it was the truth.
"Impossible! Other than the Sharingan, no Genjutsu could control someone like Kōji, whose willpower is renowned!"
Tobirama scowled. The lack of results made him even more frustrated. He even began to question Mito's credibility.
"Are you even reliable? Or is your 'Uzumaki Princess' title just for show?"
"HUH? You little white-haired punk, want a beating?!"
Damn it! I speak the truth and get insulted for it?! This brat seriously needs to feel my iron fist! And for the record, her nickname was not "Uzumaki Princess".
Mito rolled up her sleeves, ready to discipline him.
"Then if it wasn't ocular chakra, what was this overwhelming energy?"
Tobirama had no time to argue. He rubbed his temples. This had gotten too complicated.
"Tch… do you really want to know?"
Mito lowered her fists and gave Tobirama a strange look.
"Quit stalling."
"Well… I didn't find any Uchiha chakra, but your dear big brother's life-style chakra technique was all over the place."
Her words hit like a thunderclap—she'd just dropped a massive bomb on Hashirama's reputation.
"Impossible! Absolutely impossible!"
Tobirama entered instant denial mode.
"Face reality, kid."
Mito gave him a pitying look and spoke like a kindly older sister.
"Your brother's defected. Go home and take command while you can."
"…Kidding! Kidding."
Seeing Tobirama's murderous glare, Mito quickly backtracked. She knew full well that Hashirama was currently stationed at Senju HQ and couldn't possibly be involved here.
"Then someone… stole big bro's secret techniques?"
Out of excuses, Tobirama clung to that conclusion.
"Heh."
Mito gave a noncommittal response.
Regaining his composure, Tobirama focused again. If this mysterious force was helping the Hagoromo escape, then tracking them down would lead to the killer.
"Let's move! Continue the pursuit!"
Resolved, Tobirama made his decision and turned to Mito, speaking with rare sincerity.
"Please lead the way. We must find the culprit."
His brother's jutsu could not be allowed to leak outside the Senju clan.
Meeting Tobirama's intense gaze, Mito had no choice but to resume tracking. She sensed Gin's trail again and, after hesitating briefly, followed.
I'll just take a peek…
"Why are you so slow?"
Watching her move like a snail, Tobirama couldn't hold back anymore.
"The target's well-hidden. I need time to trace the chakra. Can you not distract me?"
Determined not to lead him straight there, Mito pulled out the perfect excuse.
"Fine… I leave it to you."
With no better option, Tobirama swallowed his pride and backed off.
As they closed in, Mito's heart beat wildly. Her mind raced with conflicting thoughts:
Will he still remember me after all these years?
I forgot to put on makeup—will that hurt my chances?
Is he married now? He looked pretty old back then…
Her cheeks flushed. Her pace quickened.
Before she realized it, she was just a few kilometers from Gin's location.
Her heart tensed. If she kept going and brought the Senju right to him… they'd be strangers forever.
She hit the brakes hard.
"What now?"
Tobirama frowned. This woman was so inconsistent.
Sensing his growing suspicion, Mito suppressed her temper. A moment later, she put on a bashful face.
"I really need to… go. Badly."
Without waiting for permission, she ducked into the trees.
The ancient technique… Pee-no-Jutsu.
Now alone, Mito's heart pounded at full speed. On one side: reunion. On the other: risking the Senju catching Gin. Torn between love and danger, she struggled.
Screw it! Just one peek and I'm gone!
Finally, emotion won. She bit her lip and sprinted toward Gin's chakra trail.
Soon, she spotted the caravan in the distance.
But that didn't matter. Her eyes scanned the group—until they landed on the figure she had longed to see.
Just as she was about to approach, rationality slammed the brakes.
No! Tobirama's right behind me. If I disappear too long, he'll grow suspicious.
So she stopped, watching from afar—so close, yet heartbreakingly distant.
Is he doing okay now?
Her chest ached with sourness.
Just one last look. Who knows when I'll get another chance…
She knew the truth: the Uzumaki and Senju were allies, and there would never be a seat at the table for the Uchiha. She and that man… were destined to meet fewer and fewer times.
One last look…
She stepped closer, hoping for a clearer view of the man who had left such a mark on her six years ago.
Then she saw it.
Blood pressure spiked. Her heart raced. Her body went stiff. Especially her fists — famously powerful — which clenched so tightly they cracked the air.
That man… was sliding his hand into the arms of a young girl, ignoring her helpless protests, while his other filthy hand reached down toward her sacred valley.
Crack!
The string called "rationality" finally snapped.
In the next instant, the red-haired girl became a bolt of crimson lightning, descending with a righteous fist upon the perverted kidnapper.
"I swear on the Uchiha ancestor's lower-half happiness! If I'm thinking of another woman, may lightning strike me from the sky!"
"DIE, YOU DAMN KIDNAPPER!!!"
(End of Chapter)
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