If Izuna was still devising strategies at Shirotani Pass in the north, Madara's battle at the main front of Mount Congyun was much more straightforward.
Madara was the type who didn't care much for schemes, preferring to attack directly. Furthermore, the terrain at Mount Congyun was less steep and complex than Shirotani Pass.
Therefore, Madara's strategy was to lead his army in a relentless assault.
The Mangekyo Sharingan, combined with high-level ninjutsu gifted by Izuna and Madara's own terrifying strength, put immense pressure even on Senju Tobirama. In particular, the Mangekyo ability—identical to Izuna's—was practically the nemesis of his Flying Thunder God!
However, Senju Hashirama was there.
Madara's Mangekyo ability could counter Tobirama's Flying Thunder God, but it couldn't stop Hashirama's Wood Release. A single move could alter the entire geography of the battlefield, with an attack range exceeding even Susanoo.
More critically, due to the severe side effects of the Mangekyo, Madara couldn't fight prolonged battles. He didn't have the Sage Mode enhancement Izuna possessed to negate those side effects.
Of course, Izuna had informed Madara via secret letter that Sage arts could mitigate the Mangekyo's drawbacks. Madara had been delighted, as the side effects were truly exaggerated.
But for Madara to cultivate Sage arts, there were two obstacles.
First, he needed a high-level Uzumaki ninja to assist him.
Second, Uzumaki Mito was currently with Izuna.
No matter what, Izuna couldn't just say to Uzumaki Mito, "My brother wants to learn Sage arts too, mind helping out?"
Mito would never agree, and the matter couldn't be made public, or she would become a traitor known to her entire clan.
Regarding this, Izuna's suggestion was for Madara to delay as much as possible; Izuna would find a way to end the northern battle against Senju Yuma quickly and come to his aid.
As for Madara's Mangekyo issue, since Izuna couldn't ask Mito for help—he was already grateful enough she helped him learn Sage Mode and didn't want to force her further—he had to solve it another way.
After thinking for a long time, Izuna chose a compromise: have Mito teach him the sealing technique she used to assist his Sage Chakra training.
It was just like how, in the future, Uzumaki Kushina would teach the Dead Demon Consuming Seal to Namikaze Minato.
When he first asked, Mito naturally refused; it was a secret art of her clan. But under Izuna's persistent harassment, the sixteen-year-old girl, torn between her clan and her first love, eventually chose the latter.
Of course, the price Izuna paid was a lot of wasted breath and enduring another round of Mito's punches.
"Vice-Clan Head! The first defensive wall has been breached by the Senju! The... the leader is Uzumaki Hiro'umi!"
Uchiha Shin, responsible for the first line of defense, rushed back from the front, covered in dust and wounds.
"What? Uzumaki Hiro'umi?" Izuna's expression changed slightly.
"Yes. There are visibly two hundred Uzumaki ninja in this wave alone. The leader is the Uzumaki clan's First Elder, Uzumaki Hiro'umi. His details are in the Clan Head's intelligence reports."
Izuna's expression quickly returned to calm, though he thought to himself, He actually ran over from the main battlefield.
Thinking about it carefully, it wasn't strange for Uzumaki Hiro'umi to switch battlefields. His precious granddaughter had been kidnapped by Izuna in plain sight. Now that news of Izuna's presence at Shirotani Pass had likely reached the Senju, naturally, Uzumaki Hiro'umi would bring men to settle the score and rescue her.
Uchiha Shin asked urgently, "What should we do? Vice-Clan Head, the Senju numbers have increased again."
Although the terrain here mitigated the numerical disadvantage, it didn't mean the disadvantage disappeared entirely. People said terrain was vital in war, but could one hundred men defeat ten thousand just because they had the high ground?
"Don't panic. Mobilize all clansmen except the defensive unit. I will personally block Uzumaki Hiro'umi."
Izuna immediately led two hundred men toward the front lines.
His interactions with Mito had taught him just how troublesome Uzumaki ninja were. Just as one had to eliminate the medical ninja in a squad first, in a war involving the Uzumaki, you had to deal with the Uzumaki first.
When Izuna arrived at the battlefield, the Uchiha defenders were launching attacks against the group of red-haired Uzumaki ninja ahead.
Dozens of Uchiha clansmen used Fire Release simultaneously, creating a sea of flames that rolled toward the Uzumaki. Twenty seconds later, the fire faded, but the opposing Uzumaki army remained unharmed!
"How is this possible!?" The Uchiha clansmen were shocked.
Izuna activated his Sharingan and saw a near-transparent wall blocking the Uzumaki clan.
"Sealing Technique: Spatial Partition."
Izuna named the technique. Rather than a seal, it was more like a barrier, a defensive jutsu similar to the Senju's Rashomon.
"Wind Release: Verdant Gale!"
Intense wind pressure struck from the other side. A clansman on the right flank shouted, "Senju Yuma is here!"
Uchiha Shin immediately rushed to the front of the flank. "Fire Release: Great Fire Annihilation!"
Violent flames collided with the gale in mid-air. Fire and whirlwind danced chaotically for several seconds before canceling each other out.
Facing the Uzumaki in front and the Senju on the flank, the lack of combat power put immense pressure on the Uchiha clansmen.
"Uchiha Izuna! Hand over Mito and surrender! This old man guarantees he won't harm your Uchiha people!" a white-haired Uzumaki Hiro'umi shouted loudly.
Izuna placed his right hand over his heart and bowed to Uzumaki Hiro'umi in a noble etiquette he'd seen on TV in his past life. He replied loudly in a pleasant voice infused with chakra, "The noble princess enjoys the highest treatment in my camp. I fell for her at first sight, and we cherish each other. Why don't the Uzumaki and Uchiha become in-laws and join forces against the Senju right now?"
Senju Yuma froze upon hearing this, then sneered. This brat was certainly good at spouting nonsense.
Uzumaki Hiro'umi, however, blew his top immediately. Forming hand seals, he shouted, "You brat, you'll pay for those words!"
He naturally didn't believe Izuna. Like Senju Yuma, he treated it as gibberish meant to provoke them.
"Adamantine Sealing Chains!"
Countless chains radiating golden light erupted from the ground, striking toward the Uchiha.
Izuna's eyes narrowed. He recognized this move; it was the high-level sealing technique that had once bound his Susanoo. Once caught, even chakra flow would be forcibly halted. In the hands of a powerful ninja, it could even suppress the Nine-Tails!
"Summoning Technique!"
Facing an overwhelming numerical disadvantage, Izuna decisively summoned the Two-Tails and shifted his strategy.
The other Uchiha clansmen would handle the Uzumaki ninja, while he and the Two-Tails would deal with the nearly four hundred Senju ninja led by Senju Yuma.
It sounded like utter arrogance.
But aside from Izuna's confidence, there was a necessary reason for this. The Uzumaki clan's sealing techniques held absolute suppression over Tailed Beasts.
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