With both Madara and Izuna entering battle, the Uchiha clan's morale naturally soared.
However, the words spoken by the subordinate Watanabe and Onikawa clans should be taken with a grain of salt.
With their capabilities as vanguards, they'd probably just get wiped out by one Wood Release from Senju Hashirama before they could do anything.
That would actually hurt morale instead.
By chance and circumstance, the Senju side was also holding a military council at this time.
"Vice-Clan Head Hashirama, do you know when you'll be able to break through again?" Uzumaki Hiro'umi asked Senju Hashirama.
This was what everyone in the camp wanted to know.
If Izuna were here, he'd curse Hashirama for being an absolute monster.
Not only had he awakened Wood Dragon Jutsu and the prototype techniques of Wood Golem Jutsu and Summit Enlightenment in such a short time, but he was about to break through again?
Fortunately, Hashirama's answer wasn't quite that exaggerated. "Elder Hiro'umi, just call me 'Hashirama.'"
"Very well. After all, once you marry Mito, you'll have to call me grandfather."
Uzumaki Hiro'umi chuckled lightly, stroking his beard. Then his eyes sharpened. "So, Hashirama, about my earlier question..."
Hashirama spread his hands. "Unfortunately, though I've been deeply researching the essence of Wood Release recently, I'm always one step short. It seems I won't be able to advance further in the near term."
While everyone felt somewhat disappointed, they weren't particularly surprised.
If Hashirama achieved a second breakthrough in such a short time, how could the rest of them even continue living?
"Everyone needn't worry too much," Senju Tobirama said. "Now that Uchiha Madara is bedridden with illness again, my big brother alone is enough to hold off Uchiha Izuna. Add to that the superior overall combat strength of our Senju-Uzumaki alliance over the Uchiha—one man, even Uchiha Izuna, can hardly..."
"Report!!!"
Suddenly, a red-haired Uzumaki sensory jonin burst into the tent, bowing his head to report to everyone inside. "Report! The Uchiha are leading fifteen hundred troops in an attack!"
"Hmm?" Senju Tobirama's eyes widened. He sneered coldly, "Uchiha Izuna is truly confident. He never misses an opportunity."
"N-no, Lord Tobirama."
The Uzumaki jonin said tremblingly, "L-leading the Uchiha army is... Uchiha Madara!"
"What!? ?"
In an instant, everyone in the tent was shocked.
Senju Tobirama's eyes widened like copper bells.
Just now he'd said Madara was bedridden, and now he was leading an army in attack?
"Hahaha! That guy Madara—after resting for half a year, he's finally recovered?" Senju Hashirama somehow seemed pleased, laughing heartily.
"Big brother, this isn't the time to laugh!" Senju Tobirama retorted.
"Sorry, sorry. I got excited and..." Hashirama immediately looked sheepish.
Tobirama shook his head and said to Uzumaki Hiro'umi, Senju Unkan, and the others, "Everyone, we counterattack!"
"That guy Madara!"
Izuna charged from a slightly rear position, watching the figure ahead bearing the Uchiha clan's ancestral flame gunbai, leading the charge. He couldn't help but curse inwardly.
Doesn't he know the condition of his eyes? Charging that fast—does he want to go blind!?
Izuna felt like he was the eunuch more anxious than the emperor. After cursing a few more times internally, he gave up caring about Madara.
"Finally here! Hashirama!!!"
Madara at the front suddenly roared. Even facing away, Izuna could guess what kind of wild grin was on Madara's face.
"Had enough rest, Madara!"
Senju Hashirama shouted back in response.
Izuna's thoughts: Damn these two lovebirds, stay the hell away from me.
"Hmph! Then let me show you what I mastered while resting!"
The ring-pattern Mangekyo Sharingan in Madara's left eye rotated slightly. His hands formed seals that no one in the Uchiha clan had ever seen before.
"Storm Release: Thunder Cloud Cavity Wave!"
This was perhaps the first time in ninja history that anyone had used Storm Release.
Combining Water Release with Lightning Release, it possessed water's flexibility and lightning's ferocity.
Instantly, dark clouds formed above the Senju-Uzumaki army. Within two seconds, what appeared to be water waves but crackled with purple-blue lightning fell from above!
"A new element—that guy Madara hasn't been idle during this time!"
Senju Hashirama looked up.
So fast!
Though he could escape with Flying Thunder God, the other Senju clansmen would...
"Wood Release: Strangling Thorn Technique!"
The Storm Release fell while vines burst from the ground, weaving together to form shields.
After a brief bombardment, countless Sharingan on the Uchiha side blossomed in their pupils.
"How many died?"
"Unfortunately, less than a hundred."
"As expected, Senju Hashirama's Wood Release is quite troublesome."
The Uchiha murmured amongst themselves.
"Hmph!"
At that moment, Madara let out a cold laugh. His hands formed with index and middle fingers raised, overlapping vertically, while tadpole-like markings appeared at the corners of his eyes.
"Is that... Izuna's?"
Hashirama and the others exclaimed in surprise.
"Take this, Hashirama!"
Madara's index fingers pointed upward, their tips touching, thumbs raised, the other three fingers overlapping in a hook—precisely the starting seal for Majestic Destroyer Flame!
"I'll handle it, big brother!"
Tobirama wasn't about to back down. He formed Water Release seals, preparing to counter.
He hadn't stopped Izuna's Fire Release last time, but he wouldn't lose to Madara's this time!
"Water Release: Clear Water Wave!"
One of Tobirama's most skilled Water Release techniques, nearly lost to future generations, instantly created towering water cyclones—even more powerful than the Water Formation Wall jointly used by dozens of Water Release ninja against the Impure World Reincarnation Madara in later times!
However, what Madara was using wasn't ordinary Majestic Destroyer Flame!
"Sage Art: Fire Release: Great Fire Annihilation!"
An even more violent sea of flames surged forth, directly meeting the opposing water cyclone.
The scorching steam carried intense heat, instantly scalding the skin of approaching ninja until it festered.
Ninja in the rear shouted, signaling them to fall back quickly.
Madara's pupils narrowed as he suddenly increased the firepower.
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