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**Chapter 7**
The battlefield roared with the sounds of clashing blades and the ferocious cries of warriors. Adam observed the chaotic scene below with sharp eyes, his Rikugan allowing him to perceive every minute detail of the ongoing battle. As his gaze locked onto two figures in the center of the conflict, he could make out their features and movements with precise clarity.
The first fighter, a young man clad in blue armor adorned with the Senju clan symbol, had a sharp, focused look on his face. A white fur collar hung around his neck, fluttering slightly as he moved. His long, silvery-white hair, tied into a ponytail, contrasted against the dark battlefield. His face was marked with intensity, brows furrowed in concentration as he wielded his blade with deadly precision.
The other, an Uchiha with spiky black hair and two long bangs framing his face, exuded an aura of confidence and pride. His red armor shone dully under the overcast sky, and his eyes glowed with the menacing light of the Sharingan, their tomoe swirling as he analyzed his opponent. Izuna Uchiha's expression was one of calculated arrogance, a smirk playing at the corners of his lips as if he were already savoring victory.
As the two clashed, Adam noted how Izuna's eyes suddenly shifted, the tomoe merging into a new pattern. Adam's eyes narrowed as he assessed the change, noticing a surge of strange, potent chakra emanating from Izuna's eyes. *What's this new power?* he wondered, his instincts telling him that this development was dangerous.
The Uchiha, whom Adam identified as Izuna, seemed to radiate arrogance, but Adam could see through the facade. Every movement was calculated, every attack carefully measured. In contrast, the Senju—Tobirama—was all business, his expression a mask of focus and intent.
*Two sides of the same coin,* Adam thought, a slight smirk tugging at his lips. *They're both so similar, yet they'd never admit it.*
Suddenly, the air vibrated as the two warriors charged at each other, meeting in the middle with a thunderous clash of steel. Sparks flew as their blades collided, each trying to overpower the other. Izuna's eyes flared, and Adam could see the minute adjustments in his stance as he read Tobirama's moves, predicting his next strike. But Tobirama was no fool; he quickly adapted, pulling back just in time to avoid a lethal strike aimed at his neck.
Izuna sneered, his voice dripping with disdain. "What's wrong, Tobirama? I thought you Senju had more backbone. Or are you just another coward?"
Tobirama remained unfazed, his expression unreadable. "I didn't know you Uchiha enjoyed talking so much, Izuna. Perhaps if you spent more time fighting and less time taunting, you might actually be a challenge."
With a sudden burst of speed, Tobirama dashed forward, his blade aimed directly at Izuna's throat. But as the blade neared its target, Izuna's form flickered, replaced by an illusion. Tobirama's eyes widened in realization just as Izuna's real blade sliced through the air toward him. Instinctively, Tobirama flared his chakra, using the momentum to flip backward, narrowly avoiding a fatal strike.
*He got me in a genjutsu…* Tobirama cursed inwardly, acknowledging the danger Izuna posed. *These eyes are troublesome, but they must have a weakness.*
Izuna pressed the attack, thrusting his sword forward with deadly precision. As Tobirama's sword slashed from right to left to bat away the thrust, Izuna allowed the blade to pass just inches from his side, leaving Tobirama slightly open. Using the opportunity, Izuna closed the gap, his eyes locking onto Tobirama's just as their blades clashed again.
For a split second, Tobirama caught the reflection of Izuna's eyes in his blade—a reflection that seemed to warp and twist, pulling him into the genjutsu's grip. The world around Tobirama distorted, the battlefield fading as a new reality imposed itself upon his mind. A wave of disorientation washed over him, and his instincts screamed at him to close his eyes. But it was too late.
In that moment of vulnerability, Izuna struck. His knee drove into Tobirama's side with bone-crushing force, knocking the wind out of him. As Tobirama doubled over, Izuna followed up with a powerful right hook, his fist connecting with Tobirama's jaw. The impact sent Tobirama flying backward, his body tumbling across the ground until it crashed into a boulder, the momentum finally stopped.
Tobirama groaned, the pain radiating through his body, but there was no time to rest. Izuna was already forming hand seals for a fire jutsu. A stream of flames erupted from Izuna's mouth, hurtling toward Tobirama. With barely a second to react, Tobirama formed his own seals, condensing the moisture in the air to summon a massive water dragon. The two jutsu collided, creating a thick mist that blanketed the area.
Through the haze, Izuna's eyes detected a volley of kunai headed his way. *A blind attack?* he thought with a smirk. *How foolish.* But as he prepared to deflect them, Tobirama materialized in front of him, his blade aimed directly at Izuna's heart. The suddenness of the attack caught Izuna off guard, his body unable to react in time.
At that moment, Adam watching this battle felt a shift in the air. Time seemed to slow as the world drained of color, everything turning a dull grey. With a single step, shooting extricating pain through him— Adam appeared between the two fighters, his hand catching Tobirama's sword just as it was about to pierce Izuna's chest. The blade halted inches from its target, held in place by Adam's firm grip.
As time resumed its normal flow, Tobirama and Izuna blinked in shock. Both warriors stared at the newcomer, a boy their age with short, white-silver hair and misty blue eyes that seemed to pierce through them. Adam stood calmly between them, masking the burden this unkown ability caused by keeping his expression thoughtful but unreadable.
Izuna, still panting from the intensity of the battle, took a cautious step back, his eyes narrowing in suspicion. *What the hell just happened?* he thought. *This guy... he appeared out of nowhere and stopped Tobirama's attack like it was nothing.*
Tobirama, equally stunned, clenched his jaw as he analyzed the situation. *There was a spatial fluctuation when he appeared… but how?*
Adam's attention was suddenly drawn to two immense chakras approaching rapidly. He tensed, his Rikugan enhancing his senses as he prepared for what was to come. Two new figures appeared beside the warriors—one beside Izuna and the other beside Tobirama.
The first was an Uchiha with the same strange eye pattern as Izuna, his long, spiky hair and stern features giving him an imposing presence. His expression softened slightly as he checked on Izuna, clearly relieved to find him unharmed. The second was a tall man with long, silky black hair and dark eyes, clad in red plated armor. A cloth bearing the Senju clan symbol was tied around his forehead. The sheer amount of chakra these two radiated left Adam momentarily speechless. The Uchiha's chakra was vast, but the Senju's dwarfed it, making him the most dangerous presence on the battlefield.
*This is bad,* Adam thought, his mind racing as he searched for an escape route. *These two are monsters. That Senju is in a league of his own. I need to get out of here before things get worse.*
Madara crossed his arms, his stern gaze softening slightly as he addressed Adam. "I don't know who you are or where you came from, but as the leader of the Uchiha clan, I thank you for saving my brother."
Adam met Madara's gaze, his own expression bored but hiding a sharp alertness. "It's nothing," he replied coolly.
Hashirama, noticing the interaction, stepped forward with a smile. "Ah, so you Uchiha are already trying to recruit him, Madara? You can't just claim everyone strong as your own, you know!" He chuckled, earning a flat look from Tobirama.
Madara merely snorted. "Foolish as always, Hashirama."
Before the conversation could continue, Hashirama turned his attention to Adam, his tone curious but polite. "Young man, your skills are impressive, but I don't believe I've seen you before. Might I ask your name and affiliation?"
Adam simply shrugged, a small, cryptic smile playing on his lips. "Adam," he replied calmly, ignoring the part about his affiliation.
Tobirama, still recovering from the earlier exchange, looked to his brother, noting the tension that hung in the air. "There's more to this one than meets the eye, Hashirama. We should be cautious."
Izuna, on the other hand, was still reeling from the fact that Adam had stopped Tobirama's blade so effortlessly. His eyes narrowed as he tried to piece together how someone their age could have such power. *I'll figure you out, Adam…* Izuna thought, his pride unwilling to let go of the earlier humiliation.
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