At dawn, a figure darted through the dense forest bathed in the first light of spring. With swift, agile steps across the fresh green grass, he finally stopped by a winding riverbank.
"Whew~ I've missed this place."
More than a decade had passed. The boy had become a man, yet the flowing waters of the Nanga River remained unchanged, still babbling gently despite the years.
"Didn't expect the Senju to push the front line this far... Looks like Big Cousin and the others are having a hard time."
Squatting down, Gin dipped his hand into the cold stream and gazed toward the distant looming wooden statue, sighing with a tinge of melancholy in his eyes.
The Nanga River lay just over ten kilometers from the Uchiha stronghold. The shockwaves from the massive battles between Madara and Hashirama could be felt clearly even within the clan's territory. Ordinary residents lived in constant anxiety, while traveling merchants had long fled, leaving the Uchiha grounds desolate.
"Sigh~ I hope once this performance ends, I'll finally see the gates of Konoha."
Muttering to himself for encouragement, Gin stood up, stretched his limbs, and his usually lazy eyes turned serious. With a clap of his hands, a wooden branch detached from his body and transformed into a wood clone upon landing.
"Ugh~ Main body, can I play Uncle and just die immediately?"
The forcibly awakened clone instantly received the situation via memory. Lacking any benefits or protection, the clone voiced his fair protest at being used as a disposable actor, raising his hand to volunteer for the quick-death role of Tajima.
"No, I'm playing Uncle. You'll be playing the white-haired guy. I'm afraid if you get stabbed, the clone will dispel."
Gin shook his head with a serious tone. He couldn't risk anything going wrong in his final performance in the Warring States Era.
"Oh, so clones don't get basic rights now?"
The clone sneered at the explanation, clearly unimpressed.
"Quit whining."
"Fine, fine~"
With a roll of his eyes, the wood clone gave up. Forming a single hand seal, he activated a disguise technique. Wrapped in green wooden vines, the transformation completed with the leaves falling off—revealing the familiar white-haired Senju with crimson Sharingan and a sour expression.
"Yes, yes, that face! Very in character!"
Clapping with joy, Gin praised the clone's acting. He then transformed himself using the same disguise technique, turning into a weary-looking Tajima. With tiger-like eyes half-open, he radiated an intense pressure.
"Memorized your lines?"
Disguised as Uncle, Gin furrowed his brow and questioned the reluctant "Tobirama."
"Don't worry. I've got this. Just follow the script."
Setting aside his complaints, the clone nodded seriously for the sake of the bigger picture.
"Alright! Let's go~"
Everything was ready—only the wind remained. Gin looked toward the two collapsing giants in the distance and raised his hand with determination.
Time for the show to begin~
At the heart of the battlefield between Uchiha and Senju, both clans had stepped back, giving their respective leaders space for a duel. The area was devastated: crushed rocks, uprooted trees, and countless craters covered the landscape. Dust clouds from the shockwaves rose tens of meters high, as the two towering giants collapsed together.
"Hashirama!"
"Madara!"
Two sharp figures leapt from the heads of the giants—Madara, with his war fan, charged forward with excitement, while Hashirama raised his massive broadsword to meet his former friend head-on.
CLANG!
A deafening metallic clash erupted, sending out another shockwave that made the supporting troops retreat in fear.
"Fall back! This battle is beyond your league!"
A flash of golden light streaked across the Senju side. A blue-armored figure appeared, panting lightly with trembling arms—Tobirama had arrived via Flying Thunder God Technique. Turning back with a fierce gaze and red eyes, he warned his clansmen not to throw their lives away needlessly.
On the other side, Izuna arrived late. He glared hatefully at the one who had fled their duel—Tobirama—and then shouted to the Uchiha troops:
"Don't interfere with Big Brother's fight!"
Then, turning back to Tobirama, he sneered:
"You damn white-haired freak! Is running away the only thing your dead old man taught you!?"
"Damn you! Born evil, Uchiha scum!"
Still far from the composed man he would one day become, Tobirama clenched his jaw and drew his scarred sword with a painful glance, then vanished instantly.
"Hmph. Here to tickle me again?"
Izuna snorted, unimpressed. He activated his Mangekyō Sharingan and began scanning the area cautiously.
Then, in a blur, Tobirama appeared low and fast beneath Izuna's arm, thrusting his sword—charged with blue chakra—toward his underarm's weak point.
THUNK!
There was a heavy impact. Though Tobirama could feel the strike land, he frowned—the vitality radiating from Izuna was overwhelming, and the feedback made his own arm ache.
"Tch~ How many times has it been now? Still haven't learned your lesson."
Izuna's mocking voice rang out beside his ear. Alarmed, Tobirama instantly retreated with the Flying Thunder God, returning to his original position.
CRACK!
He suddenly heard a mournful sound from his weapon. Looking down, his beloved sword had split into several pieces and clattered to the ground.
"Damn it! Take off that ridiculous armor if you've got guts!"
Furious, Tobirama tossed aside the hilt and glared at his nemesis with blood-red eyes.
"Are you insane?"
Still clad in ridiculous armor, Izuna pointed to his own head.
"Phew~ One day I'll make a divine blade that can pierce anything! I swear I'll turn this turtle into a sieve!"
Rubbing his sore wrist, Tobirama gritted his teeth and made a vow in his heart.
"Hey, main body! Tobirama's here too—how are we supposed to act!?"
Not far from the battle, on a small hill, the disguised "Tobirama" lay watching with a pained look, messaging in the mind chat room.
"Tch! Who told that brat not to hold Tobirama off properly? And now he's here messing with the main event!"
Gin sighed. The plan had called for Izuna and Tobirama to be fighting elsewhere—far from the main battle. It wasn't unreasonable though. After getting bullied by turtle-shell Izuna, Tobirama had rushed over in concern when he saw the wooden statue collapse. Izuna had followed his scent right back.
"So now what? Call it off and grab lunch?"
The clone scratched his head, reluctant to waste the effort he'd put into preparing for his Oscar-worthy performance.
"No way. I'm going in. I'll lure Little Cousin away."
Gin couldn't let this go to waste. Clenching his jaw, he sprinted toward the battlefield.
"Hashirama!"
"Madara!"
Meanwhile, the two main actors remained fully engrossed in each other. Their duel had the elegance of dancers—epic and captivating.
"Blehhh~ Hey white hair, got the guts to come here!?"
Imitating Gin's taunting style, Izuna provocatively waved at Tobirama.
"You don't even have—Father!?"
Midway through another insult, Izuna paused. A familiar figure had appeared beside him. Looking at the stern face of Tajima, Izuna flinched with a hint of fear.
"Izuna, what are you doing here? How's the rear battlefield?"
"Um... Father, Tobirama ran off. I was worried he'd ambush Big Brother, so I came here."
Izuna's guilty voice placed the blame squarely on Tobirama.
"Don't make excuses. Return to the rear. Since when can the commander abandon their post?"
The fake Tajima's cold voice rebuked him, ordering Izuna to return.
"But Tobirama—"
"I'm here now. What are you worried about?"
Patting Izuna's shoulder, Gin (as Tajima) subtly massaged his red knuckles while speaking calmly.
"Relax. Once you leave, Tobirama will follow your tail right back."
(End of Chapter)
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