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Fighting on rugged terrain often leads to intense showdowns between strong and equally matched opponents, while weaker ninjas are left to face one another. The undulating landscape of hills and valleys makes it impossible to pull off massive, awe-inspiring jutsu—like Madara's Susanoo or Hashirama's Wood Release—to dominate an entire battlefield as seen in later wars.
Of course, if one has a complete Susanoo or a jutsu as powerful as Wood Release, they could reshape the terrain itself. But, setting that aside, in battles like these, individuals quickly lock onto their respective foes.
Only minutes after the battle began, Uchiha and Senju forces found themselves matched with their own rivals. Uchiha Retsu honed in on Senju Yunma, a top-ranking jōnin and senior member of Senju's decision-making group. Retsu saw this as a chance to redeem himself; by defeating a prominent Senju, he could potentially offset past mistakes and prove his worth to the clan.
Senju Yunma, however, had no intention of becoming a stepping stone. Seeing Retsu charge, he pulled the double-edged sword from his waist.
Clang!
Sparks flew as Retsu's blade clashed with Yunma's sword, the impact forcing both of them back several meters. Retsu's eyes narrowed as he formed a quick hand seal. "Fire Release: Dragon Flame Bullet!" he shouted, releasing blazing fire dragons toward Yunma.
Undeterred, Yunma swung his sword, slicing through two of the fire dragons before executing a one-handed seal. "Earth Release: Earth War Stick!"
The Senju, known for their vast chakra reserves rivaling even the Uzumaki, excelled in Earth Release. Yunma unleashed a series of Earth-based attacks, hurling rocks and debris at Retsu.
Retsu smirked, unfazed. "Earth Release, huh? You couldn't have chosen a better opponent."
Lightning crackled along Retsu's blade as he activated his Chidori Blade—a technique originally shared by Izuna with the entire Uchiha clan. Now, Retsu wielded it with deadly precision, the sword enveloped in silver-blue lightning.
Meanwhile, Izuna had his own target: Senju Kawaragi, the clan leader himself. Positioned atop the two towering Rashomon gates, Izuna's eyes focused intently on Kawaragi.
"Earth Release: Earth Flow River!" Kawaragi formed seals, transforming the rocky ground below into a thick, muddy swamp. With Rashomon gone, Izuna began to plummet, but he reacted instantly.
"Shadow Clone Jutsu!" Izuna formed a single clone mid-air, which immediately grabbed him and hurled him toward Kawaragi.
In his hand, a Rasengan formed, spinning and pulsing with power. Kawaragi quickly slammed his hands to the ground, raising a stone wall just in time. Izuna's Rasengan shattered the wall, but Kawaragi had already slipped away, striking at Izuna with a kunai aimed at his neck.
Thunk!
The kunai struck its mark, but Izuna's body flickered, dispersing into electricity that shot up Kawaragi's arm, numbing it. Kawaragi dropped the kunai, quickly pulling out another one to slash his palm and shake off the numbness.
Izuna, meanwhile, landed on the ground, activating a layer of Susanoo ribs to anchor himself on the quagmire's surface. He leapt back to solid ground, his gaze never wavering.
Kawaragi narrowed his eyes. "So, the Uchiha's deputy chief is as skilled in combat as he is in strategy," he commented, his tone somewhere between admiration and disdain.
Izuna smirked. "Old timers who can't keep up should step aside."
Kawaragi clenched his fists, his patience wearing thin. Though barely in his forties, being called "old" struck a nerve, especially as Izuna continually hinted at his need to "make way" for the younger generation.
"Water Release: Heavenly Weeping!" Kawaragi performed a seal and spat forth a barrage of water droplets that condensed into sharp senbon, raining down from above.
Izuna's Susanoo blocked the assault, the skeletal structure absorbing the impact. Senjutsu lines appeared around his eyes as he activated Sage Mode, making his Mangekyō Sharingan burn even brighter. Protected by Susanoo, Izuna felt no strain—a luxury usually unavailable to Mangekyō users. Now, he understood how a Rinnegan user like Obito could wield such power without suffering its costs.
Kawaragi's confidence seemed unshaken as he prepared his next move. "I've seen that defense enough times," he said, smirking as he slapped his hands to the ground. "Earth Release: Ground Split!"
The earth cracked open beneath Izuna, forcing him to leap into the air as the ground shifted and closed around him, momentarily exposing his Susanoo. Sensing the opportunity, Kawaragi gave the order.
"Now! Attack!"
Senju's numbers vastly outnumbered Uchiha's, and the moment Kawaragi's order echoed across the battlefield, countless Senju ninjas began forming seals.
"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet!"
"Wind Release: Vacuum Wave!"
"Earth Release: Rising Stone Spears!"
Seeing the onslaught coming, Uchiha Akechi shouted, "Deputy Chief, be careful!"
Izuna's Sharingan glowed intensely as he activated a potent Sage Art. "My strength isn't bound to the Sharingan alone. Did you think I was helpless without it?" he sneered, forming seals.
"Sage Art: Blaze Release – Inferno Control!"
(End of the Chapter).
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