*This kid... he actually...*
In the blink of an eye, two Senju Jonin had fallen at Izuna's hands, making even Senju Yuma wary. He had thought the boy's ability to win against overwhelming odds on the northwestern front was just a stroke of luck, but it seemed he had real power.
"Clan Head, what now...?"
"Take him down!" Senju Yuma replied without hesitation.
Though Izuna's strength had exceeded his expectations, Yuma was twice the boy's age and a veteran Kage-level ninja himself. He wouldn't be frightened into inaction by a mere Susanoo.
"Wind Release: Cyclone Fist!"
"Senju Style: Crushing Fist!"
"Water Release: Fanged Bite Explosion!"
Three elite Jonin attacked simultaneously from the front and back, their techniques slamming into the Susanoo's frame. A series of dull thuds echoed as the Susanoo was forced back two steps, but its defense remained unbroken.
The three Senju froze. They were veteran powerhouses of their clan and had never encountered such a resilient defense. It was completely unscathed after being battered by three consecutive B-rank ninjutsu.
"Get lost!"
Izuna's Mangekyo Sharingan swept over them. He controlled the Susanoo to swipe the water jutsu aside, forming a rapidly spinning magatama in its palm that shot toward the three men.
Yasaka Magatama!
*So fast!*
The three tried to dodge, but it was too late.
"Senju Style Secret Art: Cloud-Piercing Slash!"
Suddenly, a dark figure dashed in from the side, striking the airborne magatama from the right. For a brief moment, space itself seemed to freeze. Through his Mangekyo Sharingan, Izuna saw the shadow's true form: Senju Yuma, wielding his longsword.
The Senju, like the Uzumaki, possessed immense chakra reserves and excelled at Yang Release and all five chakra natures. But for some unknown reason, they completely vanished from the stage of history in later generations, leaving the world with little knowledge of them beyond the First Hokage, Senju Hashirama, and the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama. In truth, they were also masters of swordsmanship. Combined with the Yang Release from their Asura lineage, their physical prowess was unmatched by any clan in the Warring States period.
And Senju Yuma's "Cloud-Piercing" strike was powerful enough to rival Kakashi's Raikiri—perhaps even surpass it.
*BOOM!*
The Yasaka Magatama was shattered into fine chakra fragments, but Senju Yuma's sword also disintegrated into filings. The powerful impact sent him flying backward, where he crashed through the trunk of a large tree.
"Clan Head!"
The three rescued Jonin were shocked and rushed forward to check on his injuries.
"You three idiots, stay back!" Senju Yuma shouted, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.
"Too late!"
Izuna's expression was vicious. The Susanoo raised its blade and swung it at the backs of the three men. "Go repent for your foolishness in the next world. What kind of ninja dares to turn his back on the enemy?"
The massive chakra blade descended, poised to slice the three in half at the waist. However, when it was less than a meter away, Izuna found the Susanoo frozen in place. He looked down and saw an unfamiliar formation on the ground, from which golden chains had sprung, binding the Susanoo's limbs and rendering it immobile.
*This is...*
Izuna turned his head. Amidst a group of redheads, a single white-haired elder stood with his hands clasped together, his voice deep. "Secret Art: Adamantine Sealing Chains!"
*A sealing jutsu from the Uzumaki clan?* Izuna thought, his eyes wide.
"Elder Hiro'umi! My deepest thanks!" Senju Yuma wiped the blood from his mouth and pushed himself to his feet.
"It is nothing. The Senju and Uzumaki are allies, after all—Urk!"
Before he could finish, Uzumaki Hiro'umi's expression changed. The bound Susanoo began to struggle violently, and one of the chains had already snapped.
"Elder, let me assist you!" another Uzumaki Jonin beside him quickly formed hand seals. His chakra, rivaling that of the Senju, descendants of Asura, surged. "Sealing Technique: Heavy Storm!"
A circular sealing formation appeared above the Susanoo's head, unleashing a storm from within. It felt less like wind and more like the weight of a mountain, pressing the Susanoo nearly to the ground.
"The Uzumaki clan's sealing jutsu truly live up to their reputation," Senju Toha couldn't help but praise, seeing the Susanoo suppressed. The very same Susanoo that had almost killed them in an instant was now completely immobilized by the Uzumaki's sealing techniques.
Another Senju Jonin twirled the longsword in his hand. "This is our chance! Let's capture Uchiha Izuna with the help of the Uzumaki!"
The Uzumaki clan had the same idea. Uzumaki Hiro'umi glanced at his granddaughter. "Mito, can you use your sealing jutsu to put Uchiha Izuna to sleep?"
Uzumaki Mito pursed her lips. "I'm not sure if it will be effective through the shell of that chakra giant, but I can tr—"
"You think this is enough to stop me?" Before Mito could finish, Izuna's cold voice echoed from within the Susanoo.
In the next second, Izuna clasped his hands together. The Susanoo, pinned by gravity and unable to move, mirrored the motion, stacking its hands one above the other to form the Ram seal.
*That chakra giant is forming hand seals!?*
Uzumaki Mito's eyes widened in astonishment, while Izuna flashed a crazed smile. "It'll drain my visual prowess, but..."
In that instant, Senju Yuma, Senju Toha, and the other two Senju ninja in Izuna's line of sight felt themselves torn from the jungle and thrown into a chaotic, empty space.
*A genjutsu?*
That was their first thought, but they immediately dismissed it. *That's impossible! We never even looked at his eyes!*
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