"The Uchiha will attack the Uzumaki from the west. Your Kaguya will attack from the east. In terms of timing, your side needs to move faster. When you're ready to strike, release a signal flare."
Izuna handed him a flare.
Wanlu took it, hesitated, then still asked uneasily, "Sir Yuan is targeting the Uzumaki so fiercely... do you also have a grudge against them?"
"You don't need to know that much. The last thing I'll tell you is this: the Uchiha will launch their attack in 2 days. You only get one chance."
Before leaving, Yuan dropped one final line. "In 2 days, early morning, I'll come one last time."
Then Yuan vanished again.
"Clan Head, that man is watertight. He won't leak a single thing."
Wuqu stepped out from a narrow alley nearby.
Wanlu narrowed his eyes and said heavily, "Wuqu, send an investigation team across the sea and have them rush to the Land of Fire as fast as possible. See whether the Uchiha truly make a move."
Never mind what Yuan's goal was. As long as the Uchiha were genuinely planning to participate, there was no problem.
As for Yuan himself... they'd deal with that later.
After returning to Uchiha territory, Izuna removed his black robe and mask.
Not even 5 minutes later, Madara walked in through the courtyard gate and chuckled. "For the sake of getting a wife, you've really gone all out, Izuna."
Izuna smiled as well. "Big brother, treat this mission as training for the new generation. We're not going to war."
Madara froze for 2 seconds, then nodded in agreement.
It was true the Uchiha would dispatch ninja—but not to wage war as Yuan had said. They were going to make a formal marriage proposal.
As for the 600 gathered, they were meant as a deterrent.
Even so, if only 500 Kaguya suddenly air-dropped to a position less than 10 li from Uzushiogakure, forget the Uzumaki—even the Senju or Uchiha would be scared stiff if enemies appeared less than 10 li from their own lair.
"Also, the one who'll use Flying Thunder God Technique won't be me. It'll be someone with an entirely new identity."
Izuna continued.
"You mean 'Yuan'?"
Madara immediately guessed what Izuna intended.
Over the past 2 days, Izuna had already told Madara most of the matter concerning Yuan.
Madara had been somewhat displeased at first that Izuna had kept so much from him.
But after learning how much Izuna had quietly done for the Uchiha, his joy outweighed his anger.
Izuna's thinking was simple: the secrecy of Flying Thunder God was still necessary.
If Flying Thunder God were displayed in front of 600 people, the future risk and unpredictability would become far too great.
Even if those people were clan members.
At present, the only ones who knew Izuna possessed Flying Thunder God were Madara, and the current young representatives among the clan's upper ranks—figures like Uchiha Enka and Uchiha Ise.
And as for Yuan as a cover identity, Madara was the only one who knew at all.
"Even from our own people?"
Madara frowned, rubbing his chin.
At this point, he was still full of hope for the Uchiha—far from the later era, when he would be brought back through Impure World Reincarnation and repeatedly judge the Uchiha as a 'decadent clan.'
"Even your own side can't be trusted completely, big brother."
Izuna reminded him earnestly.
2 days later, at dawn—before the sun climbed above the horizon.
On the sea between the Land of Whirlpools and the Land of Water, on the island where the Kaguya lived.
In Kaguya Village, Wuqu used the Body Flicker Technique to appear in Wanlu's room. He bowed his head. "Clan Head!"
"Mm!"
Wanlu went to meet him at once. "How did the investigation go?"
Wuqu replied, "Yes. According to our clan's sensory ninja, the Uchiha have indeed been moving troops recently."
Wanlu exhaled in relief. "As expected. They also received an invitation from 'Yuan.'"
"Clan Head, this Yuan... he's far too bold. He even dares use the Uchiha!"
Wuqu said with lingering fear.
Who were the Uchiha?
A ninja clan commanded by the brothers Uchiha Madara and Uchiha Izuna—so strong that even Uchiha Tajima couldn't compare.
And especially Uchiha Izuna, now hailed as the 'Pupil Emperor.'
Yet Yuan dared treat such a clan as a tool for his own unspeakable ends.
Wasn't he afraid that one day the Uchiha would turn their spear toward him?
"Mr. Wuqu, I've always been bold. I'm just not sure how well your clan has prepared."
A hoarse voice sounded from behind, and Wuqu broke out in gooseflesh.
He turned—
And there, at the doorway, stood that ominous figure in black robes and a spiral-faced mask, appearing from nowhere once again.
As a Kage-level powerhouse, Kaguya Taketori quickly recovered from his panic, regaining his composure.
"Please forgive us, Mr. Tobi. After all, we know neither your true face, your background, nor your specific objectives. It would be stranger if we didn't suspect you, wouldn't it?" Kaguya Taketori said, his eyes narrowing slightly.
"Suspicion is fine. The question is whether you still wish to act," Izuna said coldly. "The Uchiha are already on the march. They know the Kaguya clan intends to strike from the east while they flank from the west. If your clan backs out now, and the Uchiha find out... I wonder if their rage might be redirected toward the Kaguya."
By this point, the threat in his voice was palpable.
Both Kaguya Manro and Kaguya Taketori understood clearly that the arrow was already nocked on the bowstring; it had to be fired. Even if Kaguya Manro, as the Clan Head, wanted to withdraw, the Uchiha army was already in motion and aware of the Kaguya's participation. Pressured by the Uchiha, the Kaguya clan had no choice but to act.
And that was to say nothing of Kaguya Manro's long-held covetousness toward the Land of Whirlpools' territory and the Uzumaki clan's secret of longevity.
"Of course. My clan's five hundred ninja troops are assembled and ready. We are merely waiting for Mr. Tobi to perform his technique," Kaguya Manro replied.
"Good." Izuna nodded.
Shortly after, led by Kaguya Manro and Kaguya Taketori, the three arrived at the Kaguya ninja army's assembly plaza.
Below them stood rows of combatants, all dressed in gray-white brocade robes with their hair styled in traditional buns. They were entirely members of the Kaguya clan.
Among them, many were young yet already had heads full of gray hair. Some, like Kaguya Manro, suffered from accelerated physical deterioration and aging due to the heavy use of the Shikotsumyaku. Others were born with severe defects inherited from their parents, coming into the world with gray hair already present.
"Today, under the guidance of this Mr. Tobi, we will conquer the Land of Whirlpools! If we can obtain the Uzumaki clan's secret of longevity, our Kaguya line will never again suffer the torment of the bloodline disease! Do you have confidence in this battle?"
Kaguya Manro stood at the forefront, raising one hand high to boost morale.
"Yes!!!!"
The crowd first looked at Tobi with curiosity. They had heard there was a method to transport all five hundred of them to Uzushiogakure instantly, which naturally sparked both intrigue and skepticism.
However, hearing Kaguya Manro's declaration, they threw their hands up one by one, cheering fiercely.
If they could truly free their family from the curse of the bloodline disease, they would dare to storm not just the Uzumaki, but the Uchiha and Senju clans as well!
-----
Read up to 20 advanced chapters on my P@treon.
[email protected]/fanfictionsimp