If it were a Senju ninja experienced in fighting Uchihas, they'd likely know about Izanagi, the forbidden technique that rewrites reality.
They'd be more cautious, checking Naori's body carefully.
Unfortunately, the First Raikage didn't know.
Or, even if he did, he wouldn't think a teenage Uchiha girl could master such a high-level forbidden technique.
Izanagi wasn't something just anyone could use. In the entire Uchiha clan, fewer than ten percent could master this forbidden technique.
But the First Raikage wasn't to be underestimated.
The moment Naori's kunai struck, he forcibly twisted his body, relying on speed and strength, so the kunai pierced beside his heart, not directly through it.
The human body is miraculous—fragile yet resilient.
A small injury to a vital organ can be fatal, but someone might survive eighteen stabs and still fight vigorously.
This was even truer for someone as strong as the First Raikage. As long as his heart and vital organs weren't hit, a kunai wound was no issue.
The injured First Raikage retaliated instantly.
He swung his sword backward, drawing a silver arc, and in an instant severed Naori's right arm.
But Naori didn't retreat. She drew a kunai with her left hand, aiming for the enemy's neck again.
This forced the First Raikage to back off to dodge, kicking Uchiha Naori in front of him, sending her flying.
The First Raikage touched the small wound on his neck, growing wary. If the kunai had pierced a few centimeters deeper, he might've died from a slashed throat.
'Damn it!'
'Is this person not afraid of death? Why's she so crazy?'
'Wait, wasn't she supposed to be dead?'
"What technique is this? Why aren't you dead?!?!"
"This doesn't make sense!"
"It's impossible!"
"Could the rumors be true…?"
The First Raikage had heard of Uchihas reviving after death on the battlefield.
But with their nations so far apart, verifying the truth was hard. He mostly dismissed it as a fairy tale, unaware of the forbidden technique Izanagi's name.
Like the Second Tsuchikage Mu and Onoki before, they'd heard Madara's name but didn't know how powerful Uchiha Madara truly was.
But now, seeing Naori revive after death, there was no doubt—the rumors were true!
The enemy truly mastered a powerful resurrection forbidden technique.
"Hahaha! That's Izanagi, the Uchiha clan's forbidden technique!"
"Darui, you're done!"
"Surrender, and you might still have a way out!"
'Princess Tobirama,' only able to move his mouth, grew smug, trying to further crush the First Raikage's fighting spirit with words.
Anyone facing an unkillable enemy would instinctively fear the unknown.
"Shut your mouth!"
"I won't lose!"
The First Raikage raised his hand, dislocating Tobirama's sharp-tongued jaw again, unwilling to hear his disruptions.
At the same time, he didn't panic. A veteran of over twenty years of battle, he wouldn't be scared by a single forbidden technique.
After careful analysis, he was certain the enemy's forbidden technique wasn't perfect.
If it were truly limitless, allowing infinite resurrections, the Uchiha clan would've long slaughtered the Senju and dominated the ninja world.
Thus, this forbidden technique must have limits and a steep cost!
Perhaps the number of resurrections was limited, or the duration was restricted.
A single forbidden technique couldn't defeat the First Raikage!
Stay calm, don't be fooled!
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
On the other side.
Naori, relying on Izanagi, quickly rewrote reality, restoring her severed arm.
Lacking Hashirama's cells, Naori's Izanagi couldn't last as long as Obito's, but as a pure Uchiha genius, one Sharingan eye was enough to maintain 'invincibility' for a few minutes.
She wouldn't waste it like Danzo.
As long as she could stall the enemy during this time, waiting for Izuna's aid, the First Raikage was doomed!
Of course, the condition was keeping him here, giving him no chance to escape…
Naori abandoned her cautious stance, dropping her 'kite' fighting style.
Instead, she charged at the First Raikage, opting for close combat.
In her invincible Izanagi state, unafraid of injury or death, this was ideal for close-range fighting.
Fighting with wounds, fighting with her life, was the best choice!
Though still outmatched by the First Raikage, she had a chance to injure him—or at least stall him.
The reckless fear the crazy, and the crazy fear those unafraid of death.
And Naori was now the most fearless of death!
"Release Tobirama-sama!"
"Damn Uchiha ninja!"
Both sides clashed fiercely in close combat.
The greatsword fell with a gust, the kunai spun to parry and deflect force, clanging and sparking simultaneously.
The First Raikage swung his sword again, sweeping all directions. Naori didn't dodge; the blade sliced her neck, beheading her. Her kunai seized the chance to leave a long gash on his body.
Moments later, Naori revived, attacking the target fearlessly again.
For a moment, sparks and cold flashes from the greatsword and kunai clashing were mesmerizing.
Each time Naori died and revived, she left light or heavy wounds on the First Raikage.
Though his overall strength far surpassed Naori's, he couldn't withstand this death-defying fighting style!
He wanted to escape but, blinded, couldn't.
He was tightly bound by Naori, unable to break free.
In just two minutes, Naori died over ten times, and the First Raikage bore over ten wounds from her kunai.
Though not fatal, they gradually weakened his condition and strength.
During this, the helpless, paralyzed Princess Tobirama could only watch Naori get killed repeatedly by the First Raikage, revive repeatedly, and fight desperately with her life…
His eyes filled with hatred, his rage overflowing, his eyes bloodshot with countless veins.
But with his jaw dislocated, Tobirama couldn't even curse.
Tobirama, whose life had always been smooth, had never faced such humiliation!
Even his future self, killed by Kinkaku and Ginkaku, wasn't a personal experience.
Nothing was as bad as this firsthand ordeal!
Too humiliating!
Too painful!
Tobirama never dreamed that in his weakest, most humiliated moment, an Uchiha girl would fight with everything to save him.
He regretted it!
He deeply regretted it!
Why did he seek stability? He should've asked his brother earlier to crush all these damned enemy villages!
Had he known this would happen, Tobirama would've swallowed his pride, asked Madara for help, and maybe already obliterated that damned Kumogakure!
Then he wouldn't be a clown like this, and Naori wouldn't need to risk her life to save him.
If given another chance, Tobirama swore to make the world know how fast Senju Tobirama was! Unreasonably fast!
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
The battle between Naori and the First Raikage lasted over three minutes, nearing the limit of a single Izanagi use.
Though the First Raikage was badly injured and bloodied, his chakra remained abundant, showing no signs of fatigue.
While he couldn't match the Third Raikage's record of fighting three days and nights, draining a peak First Raikage in minutes was too difficult…
'The First Raikage's condition is declining, but Naori's is worse!'
'Izanagi isn't perfect; its duration is limited, and each revival consumes chakra…'
'Damn it! If this continues, Naori will run out of strength first!'
'Uchiha Izuna, you bastard, why haven't you come?!?!'
'Is your Eternal Mangekyou Sharingan made of tofu?'
Tobirama grew increasingly anxious, screaming in his mind.
If delayed further, even if Naori had another Sharingan, she wouldn't have enough chakra to activate Izanagi again.
Then, he might not die.
But Naori surely would!
Tobirama swore he'd never hoped to see Izuna like this in his life!
Even his archenemy, Uchiha Madara, he now desperately wanted to see…
'Anyone, please save Naori!'
'Even if you don't save me, it's fine!'
Just as Tobirama hoped most for Izuna or Madara to appear, Izuna didn't disappoint.
*SHUA!*
In the distance behind, a powerful, spine-chilling chakra wave erupted.
Along with it, a faint but agonizing wail sounded.
No doubt, the First Mizukage, hiding all this time, was finally caught by Izuna!
Tobirama didn't know how Izuna would kill him, but it surely wasn't gentle.
More importantly, with the enemy dealt with, Izuna could come help here.
The First Raikage was doomed!
On the First Raikage's side, he didn't know the enraged Izuna had activated a complete Susano'o!
But even from tens of thousands of meters, he felt the terrifying chakra pressure, like an icy blade scraping his face, making the mighty First Raikage sweat profusely.
With the First Mizukage's wail, the outcome there was unquestionable.
'The old First Mizukage lost?'
'Trouble!'
'I can't linger!'
'If he catches up, attacked from front and back, I'm dead!'
The First Raikage instantly grasped the dire situation.
By his estimate, in less than half a minute, Izuna would arrive.
Then, forget taking hostage Tobirama—he might have to stay here forever!
But the death-defying Naori kept binding him, giving no chance to escape, like an unyielding thorn.
At this moment, the First Raikage finally understood why everyone called Uchiha ninjas crazy.
Because they were too insane!
An Uchiha ninja, fighting desperately to save Senju Tobirama? Was this reasonable? Was this normal?!?
But however crazy, it was the reality he faced.
Time was running out for the First Raikage.
He had to make a choice:
Either keep fighting Naori, betting he could break Izanagi before Izuna arrived!
Or release hostage Tobirama to break free from this mad Naori, saving his life!
The First Raikage hesitated only briefly before deciding firmly.
He chose to release Tobirama!
He couldn't die here! If he did, all of Kumogakure would surely fall.
Only by surviving and escaping could he have a chance to turn things around…
The First Raikage activated a technique, summoning a lightning clone to carry Tobirama and flee left, while his real body furiously attacked Naori, seizing the moment she revived to desperately escape right-forward.
Thus, Naori, reviving, had two choices.
Either chase his real body, and Tobirama would surely die!
Or chase the clone carrying Tobirama, giving his real body a high chance to escape Naori and flee!
The First Raikage wasn't certain what the crazy Uchiha would choose.
But he could only hope this insane Uchiha female ninja would choose to save the more important Tobirama…
As expected, Naori, reviving and seeing the First Raikage's real body and clone fleeing in opposite directions, didn't hesitate and chased the clone carrying Tobirama.
'Reclaiming Princess Tobirama' and thwarting the enemy's plan was most critical!
What about the First Raikage?
If he escaped today, could he evade the pursuit of the First Hokage and Madara?
After this, forget the ninja world—even if all of Kumogakure fled to the moon, Madara wouldn't let them go!
So the top priority now was saving Tobirama.
Defeating and killing the First Raikage's real body was tough for Naori. But his clone was different—a slight injury would make it burst, letting her save Tobirama!
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
The First Raikage's clone, carrying Tobirama, sped left, frantically burning chakra to unleash large-scale lightning techniques.
The clone couldn't see but used weaker large-scale lightning techniques to obstruct and slow Naori's pursuit, buying time for the real First Raikage to escape.
Meanwhile, Naori dodged the lightning techniques, accelerating her chase.
She didn't attack recklessly, avoiding provoking the clone to kill Tobirama instantly, which would waste her efforts.
She waited for the right moment to kill the clone in one strike.
Finally, after unleashing over ten lightning techniques, the clone was nearly out of chakra, its speed and reactions greatly reduced.
Now was the time!
Naori formed seals, instantly dispelling the genjutsu on the clone!
Blinding light flooded the clone's eyes. After minutes in total darkness, this sudden restoration was like a flashbang exploding in its face.
It temporarily blinded the clone, freezing its body and reactions, exposing a major weakness.
*SWISH!*
Naori threw with all her might, the kunai piercing the air faster than sound, timed perfectly with the 'flashbang' burst.
The clone sensed something wrong, wanting to kill Tobirama immediately.
Sadly, it was too late.
The kunai struck its heart, and the clone exploded violently, turning into a strong electric current.
Fortunately, with little chakra left, the final electric burst wasn't enough to kill Tobirama.
It only shocked him hard, giving him a charred, explosive hairstyle.
*BAM!*
Tobirama, with his exploded hair, fell to the ground pitifully, but his face was ecstatic.
Because he knew Naori won!
Naori truly defeated the First Raikage and saved him!
Though Izuna's threat played a big role, Naori's stellar performance was undeniable!
Amazing!
'Worthy of being my perfect assistant, Naori is incredible!'
"Tobirama-sama! Are you okay?"
Naori, dragging her exhausted body, rushed to Tobirama's side at top speed, checking on him.
Though he was a mess, Tobirama was truly alive.
That was enough!
"Uuuu~~~"
Tobirama opened his mouth, shouting at Naori before him, his eyes and face filled with joy at surviving and immense rage toward Kumogakure.
"Glad you're okay!"
Naori felt true relief, starting to treat Tobirama's injuries, reconnecting his dislocated arms and jaw.
"Uhh—!"
Tobirama grunted in embarrassment, turning his face away.
For the first time, he found the Uchiha girl before him so captivating! Though her face was smeared with mud and blood, her genuine kindness and sacrifice deeply moved Tobirama.
"Don't move! Let me fix your bones."
"Izuna-sama will probably arrive soon; we're safe—"
Naori forcibly turned Tobirama's head, calming him while preparing to fix his jaw.
But before she finished speaking.
*PU-CHI!*
A sharp wooden spike suddenly emerged from the ground, precisely piercing Tobirama's chest!
It stabbed through his heart, bursting it!