Whenever the Two-Tails released a large-scale, high-power technique, the Senju would withdraw and let the Uzumaki—experts in defense, sealing techniques, and barriers—take the front. One attacked, one defended, and their teamwork was flawless.
They were already very familiar with the Izuna–Two-Tails combination.
"Damn it... then I'll use a Tailed Beast Bomb!" the Two-Tails snarled.
To be fair, the Two-Tails' temperament really wasn't bad.
If it had been Manda, after failing to break through for so long, it would've stopped caring whether its contract ninja lived or died and fled back to the Summoning Realm.
"Sorry. I'm finally recovered!" Izuna growled low and stood up atop the Two-Tails.
"Finally?" The Two-Tails' pupils shifted upward as it shot him a glance. "Izuna, use that one?"
"Matatabi, use that move," Izuna ordered.
"I know."
The Two-Tails lifted its head. Azure flames rose from its skin and formed an enormous blue fireball in midair.
Izuna kept his left eye shut and fixed his right eye on the gigantic fireball the Two-Tails had created.
Amaterasu!
Inextinguishable black flames spread over the azure fire, and two utterly different fires fused into one.
"Uraaah!!!"
With a simultaneous roar from Izuna and the Two-Tails, the massive fireball—blue-black intertwined—hurtled toward the Uzumaki barrier.
Amaterasu plus Mouse Flame Orb!
The instant it struck, the Uzumaki ninja maintaining the barrier felt crushing pressure. Seconds later, the barrier was smashed open.
Even weakened, the fusion technique still retained terrifying power beyond most of the era's strongest techniques, and it continued surging forward.
"That's inextinguishable flame—Water Release won't suppress it! Use Earth Release to block!" Senju Yuma had seen Amaterasu too many times. He slammed both hands onto the ground. "Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall!"
One Senju after another followed with Earth Release.
This was something the Senju and Sarutobi clans had in common: because of their bloodline, their ninja often awakened multiple elemental Chakra natures with ease. They always seemed able to produce techniques that countered the opponent's element.
Boom!
Just when everyone thought the flames had been stopped, a Chakra stabbing sword tore through multiple earthen walls like paper, carving all the way to a distant peak.
"So it's Susanoo this time?" Uzumaki Hiro'umi said.
No sooner had he spoken than another Chakra stabbing sword split through the earth wall and cleaved it cleanly in half.
A beast with half its body covered in Susanoo armor charged into close range, roaring. Even more shocking—its two tails moved like hands, each gripping a Susanoo-enhanced Chakra stabbing sword.
"Spending even more ocular power to use Susanoo?" Senju Yuma blurted, stunned, as he rapidly ordered his clansmen to scatter.
Over the past year of fighting, Izuna had never unleashed Susanoo in such a suicidal way.
What was going on today?
Was he betting everything on this one battle?
Was it really that simple?
Of course Senju Yuma and the others didn't understand.
Izuna was burning ocular power like his life depended on it because his Skill Points were already enough to exchange for the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan.
If he could kill or seriously injure a Kage-level ninja in this battle, he couldОбменять it mid-fight.
And if he could exchange for the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan, then there was no reason to conserve anything.
Everything hinged on this battle!
"Seal the Two-Tails' movements together!" Uzumaki Hiro'umi barked, and several hundred ninja who had spread out attacked at once.
"Earth Release: Heaven-Descending Clay!"
A cloud of murky color formed above the Two-Tails. The next moment, what fell wasn't rain—but sticky sludge.
"Sealing Technique: Adamantine Sealing Chains!"
Sludge from above, Uzumaki sealing from below.
"Nice coordination. Too bad neither of your clans ends well in the future," Izuna said coldly, flicking his hand. "Matatabi!"
"Rrraaaah!!!"
The two tails—longer than its body—spun like a drill, the Susanoo stabbing swords whirling so fast they cut apart every attack, whether it came from the sky or from the ground.
"Don't think you can sleep easy just because you have one beast, Uchiha Izuna!"
Senju Yuma suddenly leapt, appearing directly above Izuna. A kunai was gripped in his right hand, and the entire arm—including the kunai—was wrapped in surging water, forming a triangular cone.
"Water Release: Whirlpool Water Blade!"
Izuna's pupils tightened. He sprang up from the Two-Tails' head. "And you—do you think numbers mean you can sleep easy?"
Chakra spun and condensed in the center of his right palm like a cyclone, forming a ball the size of a basketball.
"Great Ball Rasengan!"
Two A-rank high-level techniques collided in midair. The shockwave of wind and water was sharper than blades, slicing their skin and drawing blood.
Genjutsu·Mangekyo Sharingan!
Izuna's left eye released invisible ocular power. At this distance, even Kage-level opponents found it hard to avoid Mangekyo genjutsu.
Senju Yuma's gaze went unfocused for a heartbeat—but the next instant he snapped back, drove a kick into the armor over Izuna's abdomen, and sent him flying back onto the Two-Tails' back.
Behind Senju Yuma stood two Senju jonin: Senju Toha, and the Near-Kage level Senju Buken!
This was the advantage of numbers.
Even if the clan head got hit, people below would notice and rush in to help break it.
When Izuna was knocked from the air back onto the Two-Tails, the ninja of both clans on the scene burst into cheers.
In midair, Senju Toha pumped his fist, exhilarated. "Good! Now, everyone attack—finish Uchiha Izuna once and for—"
His words cut off. The excitement froze on his face.
He looked down and saw a tachi piercing out from his left chest.
"Celebrating a little too early, aren't you?"
Izuna's voice sounded like a reaper's summons in the ears of Senju Yuma, Senju Buken, and Senju Toha alike.
Senju Buken's eyes went wide. He snapped his gaze backward—and saw Izuna, for some reason, standing behind the three of them.
After seeing him, Buken couldn't help glancing down.
The Izuna who had just been kicked away by the three of them was fading into a phantom and disappearing.
Buken looked back at Izuna again. Izuna's left eye was already losing focus and luster.
"This is... the Uchiha forbidden technique, Izanagi!" Senju Yuma said hoarsely, shocked beyond belief. He never imagined Izuna would actually use Izanagi.
That was a forbidden technique that cost an eye's light forever—so taboo that even within the Uchiha, it wasn't allowed to be used casually!
"Die."
Izuna, having lost his left eye, smiled coldly. Bone ribs rapidly formed around his body, wrapping him in a skeletal shell.
He kicked Senju Toha—whose heart he'd pierced—sending the man flying. Then, from beside the Susanoo ribs, an arm formed and seized a Chakra stabbing sword, sweeping it across.
"Clan head, watch out!" Senju Buken cried, horrified. The attack came far too suddenly.
In this situation there wasn't time to form hand seals. He could only raise his blade vertically and block across the front of Susanoo.
Susanoo's sword slammed into Senju Buken's tachi. In less than 2 seconds, the tachi shattered violently.
"Die!" Izuna roared, and the Susanoo blade cut Senju Buken in two.
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