Uchiha Izuna truly hadn't expected it—despite the overwhelming progress he had made, he still had to call upon Susanoo when facing Senju Tobirama.
Thinking back to the original history, even the monstrous power of Uchiha Madara had always been suppressed by Senju Hashirama. Could it be that in this world, the balance of fate was set in stone—that the Senju were destined to suppress the Uchiha?
But now was not the time to dwell on such questions. Since he had already revealed Susanoo, if he still failed to capture Senju Tobirama, Izuna felt he might as well take his own life.
The silver-white Susanoo had only manifested its ribcage and arms, yet in its palm, the black flames of Amaterasu roared. Not only that—the blue armor on Tobirama's right shoulder was also engulfed in those same inextinguishable black flames.
"Black flames? What is this jutsu?!"
Seeing the fire crawling dangerously close to his face, Tobirama hastily formed seals, summoning a raging Water Formation Wall to encircle him and douse his burning shoulder.
But as the torrent crashed over him, the black flames not only refused to die out—they blazed even fiercer. His armor had already been incinerated, and he could feel the searing pain biting into his flesh.
Without a moment to lose, Tobirama tore the sleeve clean off his left arm, barely preventing himself from losing the limb altogether.
"Have you shown an opening?"
Izuna's cold voice came from behind, chilling Tobirama to the core.
"Planning to use the Flying Thunder God again?"
The voice rang out once more. Gritting his teeth, Tobirama cursed inwardly: He's seen through me again?!
But whether seen through or not, there was only one path left to him!
Flying Thunder God Technique!
As Susanoo's chakra-forged blade came crashing down, the ground where Tobirama had stood erupted into fragments. But the man himself had already vanished, transported by the Flying Thunder God.
In less than an instant, another skeletal arm burst forth from Susanoo's ribcage. The cost was greater—draining more chakra and Mangekyō power—but the strength it brought was undeniable.
Whoosh!
In the new arm's palm, three magatama spun violently before launching outward.
At that exact moment—Tobirama reappeared.
The magatama streaked toward him in a sudden ambush. This time, the man hailed as the fastest shinobi in history was caught off guard.
In a desperate reflex, he swung his Flying Thunder God kunai across his chest as a makeshift guard.
Boom!
The impact was deafening. As expected, Tobirama's body was hurled skyward, flung more than twenty meters into the air before he crashed back down, gouging a crater into the ground.
"Gah!"
Coughing up blood, Tobirama struggled to focus, his mind racing even as pain wracked his body. "Damn it… to think Izuna has already reached this level. There's no helping it. I'll have to retreat… for now."
"Have you forgotten? This is still Uchiha territory."
Izuna's voice came from behind. No sooner had he spoken than several shadows flickered into view.
At their head was Uchiha Tatami, who had just finished securing the surviving clansmen. To his left and right stood two wounded but still battle-capable Uchiha jōnin.
"Seize him!"
Tatami barked, and the two jōnin lunged, each clamping down hard on one of Tobirama's arms.
Ignoring the blood tears flowing from his right eye, Izuna quickly gathered every Flying Thunder God kunai scattered across the field.
[Skill Points: 54]
Izuna arched a brow at the glowing text only he could see.
After exchanging for Wind Release: Rasengan earlier, he'd been left with 14 points. Which meant—defeating Tobirama had just earned him a staggering 40 points.
Even if Tobirama hadn't yet reached his true peak, that was no small reward. After all, the man was undeniably Kage-level.
But Izuna himself had unleashed Susanoo, Amaterasu—his greatest techniques—just to bring him down.
At this pace… would his eyes burn out before he even awakened the Eternal Mangekyō?
"Lord Izuna!"
Tatami strode up, his face alight with excitement. The two jōnin restraining Tobirama looked equally awestruck.
"Had you not come to our aid, we would surely have been wiped out. And now we've captured Senju Tobirama—he's one of the top five powerhouses of the Senju clan!" Tatami said eagerly.
"Don't celebrate just yet."
Izuna suddenly drove a fist into Tobirama's gut. His eyes bulged, and within two seconds he slumped unconscious.
Drawing his fist back, Izuna said calmly, "This man has mastered ninjutsu without hand seals. Never let your guard down, no matter the situation."
Tatami nodded, then asked, "Lord Izuna, how did you know this bastard was coming to ambush our camp at Mount Taihang?"
"That can wait until the war is over. For now, our priority is to bring him to the front lines—as a bargaining chip in negotiations with the Senju clan."
With that, Izuna took Tobirama from the two jōnin and ordered, "You three will remain here to guard the camp. I'll personally escort Tobirama back."
"Yes, sir!"
All three answered in unison.
Though Tatami's rank within the clan was not beneath Izuna's, in this moment his deference was absolute.
Such was the authority that came with true strength.