Explosions echoed relentlessly at the entrance of Kaguya Village, quickly drawing the attention of more Kaguya ninjas.
Nearby, the leader's home was engulfed in flames, and the women and children fled in terror, crying as they moved toward safety.
This was the brutal reality of the Warring States Period.
Madara stood at the center of his Susanoo, commanding the ten Uchiha jonin under him to unleash destruction upon everything their Sharingan could see. Though Madara longed for peace deep down, he showed no mercy when it came to ensuring his clan's survival.
"Ten Finger Drilling Bullets!"
Bone bullets shot forward with terrifying speed, striking one of Madara's jonin before he could react.
Madara quickly maneuvered Susanoo to catch the injured ninja's body.
"Thank you, Clan Leader... cough," the jonin said weakly before coughing up blood.
Madara nodded coldly, then turned his attention forward. He could feel a strong presence approaching.
They had arrived.
Kaguya Manro, the clan leader, and Kaguya Takeri, his second-in-command, appeared with a force of hundreds of Kaguya ninjas clad in white.
"Uchiha Madara, leader of the Uchiha clan, what is the meaning of this?" Kaguya Manro demanded, barely suppressing his rage as he surveyed the burning village.
"Oh, for those of you who've already allied with Senju, anything I do to you is justified in my eyes," Madara sneered. The Sage-like patterns around his eyes made his expression even more menacing.
However, in truth, Madara's vision had grown blurry, and he could barely make out Kaguya Manro's face.
"Only ten people dare attack my clan? Uchiha arrogance truly knows no bounds!" Kaguya Manro taunted, brandishing a massive bone spear in each hand. "If you're so confident, let's see if you can survive this!"
Madara's Susanoo, with its two heads and four arms, met Kaguya Manro's charge.
Boom!
The ground beneath Kaguya Manro shattered as he blocked Susanoo's sword. Though the impact shook the battlefield, Kaguya Manro stood firm.
Madara's Sharingan narrowed.
"You're far weaker than your brother Uchiha Izuna," Kaguya Manro sneered.
Madara's jaw tightened. His Sage Mode, obtained from the Jugo clan, could reduce the strain on his Mangekyo Sharingan but couldn't offset it entirely. His eyes were already nearing their limit.
Even activating his full Susanoo felt like walking a razor's edge. He knew that using it recklessly might cost him his eyesight permanently.
"Immortal Style: Fire Release - Great Fire Annihilation!" Madara roared, forming a single seal to unleash an inferno.
"Support the clan leader!" Kaguya Takeri ordered. Dozens of Kaguya ninjas slammed their hands into the ground, summoning massive bone walls to shield them from the flames.
"Tch!" Madara clicked his tongue in frustration.
Dozens of Kaguya ninjas used their Shikotsumyaku (Dead Bone Pulse) to travel through the bone structures, moving at high speeds as they flanked Madara's Susanoo.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Bone blades clashed against Susanoo, sparks flying.
"Focus your attacks on one point!" Kaguya Takeri shouted.
The concentrated strikes began to crack Susanoo's back.
Madara scowled. "Don't underestimate me!"
He formed seals with Susanoo's four arms.
"Immortal Style: Storm Release - Dragon Fang!"
Thin, glowing blue chakra threads shot out from Madara's mouth, cutting through the battlefield like a net of destruction.
"Dodge it!" Kaguya Takeri shouted, sensing the overwhelming danger.
The chakra threads swept across the battlefield, slicing through Kaguya ninjas who couldn't evade in time. Even those who attempted to shield themselves with their bone armor were cut through like paper.
"Such power…" Kaguya Takeri muttered, his earlier disdain replaced by caution.
Though Madara's power was undeniable, Kaguya's overwhelming numbers pressed on.
"Dance of the Maiden!"
"Dance of the Larch!"
"Dance of Heavy Bone Spears!"
Three Kaguya jonin coordinated their attacks, striking the same point on Susanoo's back.
Crack!
The combined strikes left visible fractures on Susanoo's armor.
"Clan Leader!!!" one of Madara's jonin shouted in alarm, only to be struck by a Kaguya ninja's bone spur, losing two fingers in the process.
The injured jonin gritted his teeth and fell back, his remaining hand forming a seal.
As Kaguya ninjas closed in, his body turned into nothingness—a desperate act of the Izanagi, Uchiha's forbidden jutsu.
Reappearing behind his attackers, the jonin unleashed a massive fire jutsu. "Fire Release: Great Fire Destruction!"
The flames engulfed his enemies, but the cost was great. The jonin's left eye had turned pale, the price of invoking Izanagi.
Meanwhile, Madara roared, unleashing a surge of chakra to repair Susanoo's fractures.
"Hmph, worthy of an Uchiha leader," Kaguya Takeri remarked. "But your chakra isn't infinite. Everyone, press the attack!"
End of the Chapter.