Uchiha Madara didn't care in the slightest.
For years, Madara had long been preparing to leave Konoha behind. When the Uchiha Clan chose comfort over conviction—abandoning his vision for a so-called "peaceful life" within the village—he severed all ties.
From that moment onward, the Uchiha Clan ceased to exist in Madara's eyes.
> "I alone am the Uchiha Clan. The rest are nothing but trash."
---
"Cough… Fourth Mizukage, perhaps we can still—"
Hiruzen Sarutobi's tone was cautious as he faced the young Mizukage standing roughly a hundred meters away.
Before him was Yagura Karatachi—short in stature, pink-haired, bearing the cold eyes of someone far beyond his years.
Hiruzen sought diplomacy first; that was always his creed.
If a matter could be settled through negotiation, war was a last resort.
But unfortunately, the man standing before him wasn't truly Yagura Karatachi.
Under the control of Uchiha Madara's genjutsu, the Fourth Mizukage no longer possessed his own will. What Madara wanted wasn't words—it was to test how much of Tobirama Senju's might still lived on in Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Without a word, Yagura's fingers flashed through hand seals.
> "Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!"
"You—!"
Hiruzen's complaint was cut short.
> "Young man! Have you no martial ethics? I haven't even finished speaking, and you attack already?"
The only answer was a deafening roar as a massive water dragon surged toward him, its jaws wide, its body writhing violently across the surface of the water.
"Earth Release—Earth-Style Wall!"
Despite his age, the Third Hokage's reflexes hadn't dulled.
Four thick walls of earth rose up before him in rapid succession.
The dragon slammed into them—smashing through the first two, cracking the third, but breaking apart before the last.
Steam hissed into the air.
"Fourth Mizukage!" Hiruzen barked irritably. "Though you look young, must you fight like some hot-blooded Genin who knows nothing but charging forward?"
> "You talk too much nonsense."
Madara's tone came through Yagura's mouth—calm, sharp, merciless.
The Mizukage didn't waste time with words.
Leaping across the rippling water, he gripped his hooked staff-like weapon, propelling himself with incredible speed.
"You!"
Reckless—far too reckless!
Hiruzen barely had time to think before Yagura was upon him.
"Ninja Art—Summoning Jutsu!"
> Bang!
A cloud of white smoke exploded outward, and a hulking figure appeared before him—
Enma, the Monkey King.
"Hiruzen, what the hell is going—"
> CLANG!
Before Enma could finish, Yagura's weapon came down with crushing force.
"Get lost."
Despite his youthful appearance, Yagura's strength was monstrous. The blow sent shockwaves through the air, forcing Enma back several paces.
Even with his Adamantine Body, Enma was momentarily stunned.
"Hiruzen! What exactly is happening?"
"I'll explain later—Enma, transform!"
"Understood!"
With practiced efficiency, Enma's body twisted and elongated, transforming into Hiruzen's trademark weapon—the Adamantine Staff.
> Clang! Clang! Clang!
Steel and chakra-forged wood collided again and again, sparks flying with every impact.
Though Hiruzen's technique was still sharp, the years had dulled his physical edge. In pure taijutsu, Yagura held the upper hand.
"Damn it… I never heard the Fourth Mizukage was this powerful!"
Each clash drove Hiruzen back a step. His palms trembled slightly from the reverberations.
"It's been too long since I fought seriously… my strength's already declined this much?"
A bitter smile crossed his face.
Once, he had been known as The Professor, the Shinobi no Kami—the God of Shinobi. Now, age gnawed at that title.
Around them, the Mist Ninja watched intently.
"I always thought the Fourth Mizukage was calm, but he's gone wild today!"
"Yeah—he didn't even talk before attacking!"
"But the Third Hokage's strength… doesn't seem all that great."
It was obvious to all that, without Enma's superior durability, Hiruzen's taijutsu would have already failed against Yagura's relentless assault.
Not that anyone in Kirigakure minded.
"Should we move too?"
The deep, scarred voice came from Biwa Jūzō, wielder of the Executioner's Blade.
Beside him, Suikazan Fuguki grinned, gripping Samehada tightly. The other members of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen—the Blunt Sword, the Blast Sword, the Long Sword, and the Needle—were already laughing eagerly.
At their head, Hōzuki Gengetsu, the former Mizukage's kin and one of the oldest Mist commanders, raised his arm.
> "Follow the Fourth Mizukage! Charge!"
> "For the Hidden Mist Village!"
> "Defeat them all!"
The entire Kirigakure force surged forward like a tidal wave.
---
On the Konoha side, Uchiha Fugaku saw this and grimly drew his sword.
"Uchiha! Forward!"
> "For the glory of the Uchiha Clan—charge!"
Battle cries erupted as the two forces collided. The air filled with the clash of chakra, steel, and jutsu.
---
"Damn it!"
Hiruzen's face twisted. The Mist's numbers were overwhelming, and morale was high.
If things continued this way, Konoha's troops would crumble before the battle had even truly begun.
But before he could issue new orders, a chill ran up his spine.
> "You dare get distracted while fighting me?"
Yagura's voice came from right behind him.
> Not good!
Hiruzen's eyes widened—but too late.
> Bang!
The weapon slammed into him, sending the old Hokage flying dozens of meters backward, crashing into the shallows.
Yagura landed lightly on the water's surface, eyes cold and empty.
> "This is Senju Tobirama's disciple?" he said with disdain. "Pathetic."
The battlefield froze for an instant at his words.
And far away, beneath the genjutsu's shadow, Uchiha Madara smiled faintly.
> "Indeed… pathetic."
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