Shu~ Shu~ Shu~
Just as Hashirama and Madara were sharing an emotional gaze, several spinning shuriken suddenly shot in from the sidelines at a tricky angle.
Ding~ Ping~
They were aimed straight at Hashirama, who stood atop the wooden avatar with a complicated expression. Just as the deadly projectiles were about to hit, a white-haired figure suddenly flashed in.
Clang!
The shuriken were all deflected by the blade in his hand.
"No surprise—just like an Uchiha, inherently evil!"
It was Tobirama who had stepped in. His white hair danced without wind, and his scarlet eyes were filled with killing intent. He pointed his blade at the approaching figure and coldly declared.
"Shameless Senju, let go of my big brother!"
The one arriving late was none other than Uchiha Izuna. His scarlet Sharingan eyes flared with anger, eyebrows furrowed to the extreme, as he raised his longsword in fury.
He had thought his brother, as usual, had gone to "play" with Hashirama. But why was this time so different?
With his limited brain capacity, Izuna couldn't understand how Madara got taken down in a single move.
Could it be that Hashirama didn't just want to fight, but wanted to kidnap his brother as a… trophy spouse!?
"Heh, are all Uchiha this naive? Actually hoping for mercy from your enemies?"
Tobirama sneered, his eyes fixating on Izuna's tall spiky black hair, silently comparing. As expected: every black-haired Uchiha is a walking menace.
Katon: Gōkakyū no Jutsu! (Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique)
Easily triggered by Tobirama's insult, Izuna formed hand seals. As the final seal landed, searing chakra gathered at his lips and a giant fireball burst forth toward Tobirama.
Tobirama: Suiton: Suiryūdan no Jutsu! (Water Style: Water Dragon Bullet Technique)
Unfazed, Tobirama's lips curled into a mocking grin. Just a little Izuna dared challenge him?
Water vapor surged around Tobirama as he formed a few quick seals. The mist condensed into a raging water dragon, which crashed against the fireball.
Boom!
Steam exploded across the battlefield, turning it into a dense fog.
"Huff… where is he?"
Izuna, eyes wide open and Sharingan spinning, searched for Tobirama in the mist.
Meanwhile, hiding in the fog, Tobirama thoughtfully pulled out a kunai inscribed with seals—then put it back.
Not yet. The technique's still unfinished. If it failed… he might die.
I have the advantage now.
Knowing Madara was captured and Izuna posed no serious threat, he decided not to gamble.
Shu shu shu~
Tobirama casually flung two kunai toward the alert Izuna.
"Underestimating me?"
Izuna batted them away effortlessly. "This fog means nothing to the Sharingan!"
"Die, Tobirama!"
Having located Tobirama's position from the throw, Izuna charged at him.
Clang!
Tobirama, second only to his brother as the Senju's sword master, met him head-on. The clash of their blades rang out over and over.
"Madara, admit defeat!"
Hashirama, holding Madara aloft with the wooden avatar, looked at his once-best friend with a conflicted gaze. He could barely utter the words.
"Hmph. Hashirama, I've lost. Do what you will."
Madara, drained to the brink, still maintained his pride. Even though he'd been crushed in one move, he showed no fear.
"Madara… I'm the clan head now."
Hashirama tried to explain the responsibility he now bore. He could now make decisions for the entire Senju. Even peace with the Uchiha was on the table.
"Hmph! So what?"
Madara looked startled for a moment—he didn't expect Hashirama to become clan head before him.
We said we'd grow old together, and now you're already doing highlights?
"If that stubborn old man had kicked the bucket earlier, I'd have been clan head long ago!"
Frustrated, Madara turned away, offering only the back of his head.
Tajima: "Just be born already!"
"Wait, that's not what I meant!"
Hashirama panicked, trying to clarify.
"Hmph! Not listening!"
Madara shut his eyes, refusing to engage.
"Agh… Madara, I…"
Flustered, Hashirama pulled him closer, trying to explain.
Shua shua shua!
Just as the wooden avatar began pulling Madara closer to Hashirama's face, a flash of golden light cleaved off the giant wooden hand.
Boom!
The wooden limb holding Madara slammed to the ground, kicking up dust.
A figure dashed in, grabbing the unconscious Madara and landing behind Izuna.
"Izuna, retreat!"
The familiar voice belonged to none other than Uchiha Tajima, who had arrived at the frontlines for inspection.
"Tajima!"
Tobirama's eyes narrowed. He hesitated mid-swing.
"Father?!"
Izuna, breaking away from the fight, stepped back in shock. When had his father become this strong?
"Take Madara and go. I'll hold them off."
Facing the massive wooden avatar, Tajima felt unease for the first time.
He handed the unconscious Madara to Izuna and stood alone, facing the furious Senju army.
"Be careful, Father."
Izuna understood he would only be a burden, so he carried Madara and ran toward the Uchiha camp.
"Brother, did you see that?"
Tobirama appeared beside Hashirama, expression serious as he stared at Tajima.
"No… I've never seen that technique before."
Even Hashirama had only caught a glimpse of a golden flash that severed the wooden hand. He couldn't make out the jutsu.
"Tch. So the Senju brat's become clan head."
Tajima's voice was cold, his Sharingan glowing with an intimidating crimson light.
He watched the wooden avatar regrow its lost arm.
"And… it seems you're even stronger than your father."
Hashirama was wrapped in nearly tangible chakra. Even without using the Sharingan, Tajima could feel the power.
"No, I'm nowhere near my father's level."
Hashirama put his hands together in a solemn pose. Despite the threat, he remained calm.
"Tch. So fake. If only Madara were like you, I could finally retire."
Tajima sighed and cursed his useless son.
Hashirama's father died early, but at least his kid had turned out well.
"Brother, be careful. That old Uchiha seems off."
Tobirama's instincts screamed that Tajima wasn't showing his true strength.
"Mhm."
Hashirama could feel a cold, murky energy coming from Tajima's body.
Still, he didn't falter. His hands lit with green chakra.
The wooden avatar, reinvigorated, sent a massive wooden dragon crashing toward Tajima.
"I wonder if Gin can do this technique too?"
As the dragon's mouth descended, Tajima's mind drifted to something else.
If Gin could master this jutsu… the Uchiha could truly dominate the Warring States Era.
"Luckily, my eyes are restored. Otherwise, I'd be helpless against this kind of beast."
His Sharingan spun. In one eye, the three tomoe began to merge—transforming into a pinwheel pattern.
"Why isn't he dodging? Does he want to die?"
Tobirama squinted at Tajima, baffled.
"Let me show you… the power of the Sharingan."
Tajima's Mangekyō spun.
A golden blade descended from the heavens, slicing the mighty wooden dragon apart in an instant.
"Little Senju brats… do you believe in the light?"
(End of Chapter)
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