"I'll explain after the war. For now, we need to take him to the front lines as a bargaining chip for negotiations with the Senju." With that, Izuna took Tobirama from the two jonin. "You two continue to guard the camp. I'll take Tobirama back."
"Yes, sir!" the three responded in unison. Uchiha Sen's status in the clan was not below Izuna's, yet his attitude was that of a subordinate. This was the benefit of strength.
It was hard for Izuna not to feel a murderous intent toward Tobirama, the man who had killed him in the original story. But having inherited the original Izuna's memories, he also understood that he absolutely could not kill Tobirama right now. He was too important to the Senju clan. If he killed him, the Senju would undoubtedly launch an all-out, reckless assault. The Uchiha, in their current state, would not be able to withstand it.
Therefore, Tobirama could only be a bargaining chip. He could not be killed.
Grabbing Tobirama by the back of his collar like a rabbit, Izuna sped toward the Mount Congyun battlefield.
Before he was even a third of the way there, Tobirama woke up.
Seeing the trees blurring past him, Tobirama's pupils constricted. He glanced to his side, his eyelid twitched, and he bit out five words through clenched teeth, "Uchiha... I-zu-na!"
"Don't even think about using the Flying Thunder God to escape." Izuna maintained his grip on Tobirama, speeding through the forest canopy. His tone was indifferent. "I've already ordered my men to destroy those kunai."
"That new eye... is that your new power?" Tobirama knew he couldn't escape. He was nine-tenths certain to be used as a bargaining chip between the Uchiha and the Senju. Since he couldn't change the outcome, he might as well try to gather more intelligence.
"So much chatter. It's out of character for you," Izuna said unexpectedly.
"What?" Tobirama frowned, not understanding what he meant.
"Heh..." Izuna simply smirked and picked up his pace, heading toward Mount Congyun.
***
The Mount Congyun battlefield.
The Uchiha, with their fire-fan crest, and the Senju of the Forest, with their naturally powerful chakra.
The two strongest ninja clans of the Warring States period clashed once again, a scene that had repeated itself for hundreds of years.
Violent explosions sounded one after another as fire, water, and lightning jutsu of all kinds crisscrossed the battlefield, constantly adding to the number of wounded and dead.
Most areas were a chaotic melee, except for two places where duels were taking place. The reason was simple: the combatants in these two spots were on such a high level that no one else dared to approach, lest they be caught in the crossfire and killed instantly.
One battlefield featured Uchiha Madara and Senju Hashirama, the two who would later be known as the "Rivals of the Shinobi World."
The other featured the current top fighters of the Uchiha and Senju—Uchiha Gakugyo and Senju Yuma.
Uchiha Gakugyo was Madara and Izuna's clansman and uncle. Senju Yuma was Senju Butsuma's cousin; Hashirama and Tobirama had to call him "uncle." Both men were over forty and had reached their peak as shinobi, with no further room for growth.
"Hah!" Senju Hashirama, also in his early twenties, his right fist blazing with fiery blue chakra, leaped into the air and brought it down hard on Madara.
This was the prototype of Tsunade's monstrous strength. Hashirama's Wood Release was so overwhelmingly powerful in the future that it overshadowed the fact that his physical strength was equally terrifying.
Madara raised the gunbai fan from his back, holding it horizontally in front of him.
*CLANG!*
The explosive impact shattered the rock beneath Madara's feet, and his legs sank half a foot into the ground.
The three tomoe in his eyes spun wildly. With his left hand, Madara formed a single "Tiger" seal. "Fire Release: Great Dragon Flame Song!"
Four roaring dragon heads of fire struck Hashirama at point-blank range.
Faced with the surprise attack, Hashirama's eyes focused. He ignited chakra in his left hand and, with a powerful swing, shattered the A-rank fire jutsu.
Madara took the opportunity to retreat and put some distance between them.
"Madara, give it up. The outcome of this battle is already clear," Hashirama advised kindly.
"In your dreams!" Madara shot back coldly, his mind racing. *I don't want to admit it, but without my new eyes, I can't beat Hashirama. But...*
Izuna's words from before echoed in his mind: *"Brother, don't use the Mangekyo unless you absolutely have to."*
The current Madara was still unaware of the Mangekyo's side effects. Even if he knew, his personality would likely lead him to use it recklessly anyway. It was only because of the opinion of his beloved younger brother that he had kept this trump card hidden.
*Swoosh!* A dark figure flickered into view behind Madara. It was Uchiha Gakugyo.
"Madara, are you alright?" Uchiha Gakugyo squinted, positioning himself back-to-back with Madara.
A stream of blood trickled from his forehead, down the side of his face, to his jaw and neck.
***
Less than two seconds later, Senju Yuma caught up, coming to a halt beside Senju Hashirama.
"I'm fine," Madara replied, then lowered his voice. "Did you notice? Senju Tobirama isn't here."
Though Senju Tobirama had not yet reached the peak of his power, he was already, without a doubt, one of the top five strongest shinobi in the Senju clan. It made no sense for him to be absent from such a crucial battle.
Not far away, Senju Hashirama and Senju Yuma were discussing the very same thing.
"Uncle Yuma, something's strange. I don't see Uchiha Izuna on the battlefield," Senju Hashirama said with a frown.
"It is strange, but we don't have time to worry about it," Senju Yuma said, a hint of confidence in his voice. "The battle is in our favor. If Tobirama's surprise attack succeeds, we could even end the centuries of war between the Senju and the Uchiha."
Senju Yuma had complete faith in Senju Tobirama's plan. Tobirama was the most powerful sensory ninja the Senju clan had produced in centuries. He could determine the number of combatants on a battlefield just by standing on it. Combined with that terrifying new ninjutsu he had developed, the "Flying Thunder God," Yuma was certain Tobirama could move freely even within the Uchiha clan's most heavily guarded strongholds.
At the thought, Yuma's confidence grew, and he tightened his grip on his longsword. "Hashirama, let's push harder! We'll break through the Uchiha's front lines and coordinate with Tobirama's strike to deal them a devastating blow in this battle!"
"...Alright."
While Hashirama had a compassionate streak, he wasn't so foolish as to misunderstand the situation. At worst, he would simply refrain from killing any Uchiha who surrendered.
"Cough!"
Across from them, Uchiha Gakugyo let out a dry cough, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.
"Are you alright?" Madara asked, startled.
"It's nothing. An old wound from the last battle just reopened. But that bastard Senju Yuma isn't in much better shape," Uchiha Gakugyo said, wiping the blood from his lips.
Madara scanned the battlefield, his teeth clenched. *There's no other way... I'm sorry, Izuna!*
With that thought, the three tomoe in Madara's eyes began to spin rapidly, merging into a pattern of three interconnected, curved blades.
"What... what kind of eyes are those?!"
Senju Hashirama, who had been watching Madara closely, was the first to notice the change in his Sharingan. Even more unsettling was the sinister chakra emanating from Madara's eyes.
"Hashirama," Madara growled, his long hair whipping about as his chakra surged, "from this moment on, I'm going all out!" He was preparing to unleash the ultimate technique of the Mangekyo Sharingan: Susanoo.
But at that critical moment, a voice rang out that stunned everyone on the battlefield. "All Senju, stand down! If you don't want him to die!"
*Izuna's voice!*
The thought flashed through the minds of Madara and the others. They, along with the Senju, turned toward the source of the sound.
There, on top of a small stone crag about seven or eight meters high in the rear right of the battlefield, stood Izuna. In one hand, he held Senju Tobirama by the collar of his armor, displaying him for the hundreds of Uchiha and Senju ninja below.
"Senju ninja, cease your attack immediately, or I'll kill him right now!" Izuna repeated.