The two diametrically opposed views created a tense atmosphere in the meeting.
Just then, Izuna spoke up. "If we have the wounded risk their lives to cover our retreat, and that story gets back to the clan, what will the next generation think of us?"
His words were met with a collective silence. A peak-jonin who had advocated for the plan retorted, unwilling to back down, "But if we sacrifice our elite fighters, the Uchiha's situation will only worsen. We'll never be able to contend with the Senju again."
The Uchiha were already weaker than the Senju. In the original story, Madara was not only weaker than Hashirama, but his clan as a whole lagged behind theirs, which was why they were constantly getting beaten.
Izuna had a point, but so did the other man. The Uchiha truly could not afford any more sacrifices.
"I'll do it," Izuna said, stepping forward with his arms crossed, a hint of defiance in his posture.
"Izuna, are you sure?" Madara immediately grew worried. This was a suicide mission.
"Don't worry. Don't forget the new power we've acquired." Izuna shot Madara a meaningful glance.
The others exchanged uncertain looks, not paying much mind to Izuna's mention of a "new power." Right now, the impending Senju pursuit was the greater concern.
"Since Young Lord Izuna has volunteered, we should support him with an elite unit," a peak-jonin proposed.
With Izuna himself going into battle, they couldn't possibly send him with the old, weak, and crippled. He had to be given elite troops. Otherwise, even if Izuna agreed, Madara would be the first to start cutting people down.
After some discussion, it was decided that Izuna would lead two units, totaling about 140 men composed of jonin and a few chunin, to form the rearguard. Madara and the other high-ranking ninja would be responsible for evacuating the wounded and everyone else back to their territory.
*BOOM!*
Just as they finished their discussion, a deafening explosion ripped through the air outside. Izuna and the others rushed out of the tent. Madara frowned and yelled, "What happened?"
An Uchiha intelligence ninja appeared before Madara in a flicker. Kneeling, he reported, "Report! Senju Yuma is leading nearly five hundred men in an attack on the entrance to the Mount Congyun gorge."
Senju Yuma, a Kage-level master from the Senju clan nearly on par with Senju Butsuma, was the uncle of Hashirama and Tobirama. Just as Uchiha Gakugyo was Tajima's second-in-command, Yuma was the deputy head of the Senju clan. With Butsuma dead, he was arguably the strongest person in the clan at present.
Of course, this was only because the brothers Hashirama and Tobirama had not yet reached their peak. In this era, Yuma's authority still surpassed Hashirama's.
And he was leading an army of five hundred? That was an absurd number. This wasn't a pursuit; it was a full-blown annihilation.
"Izuna, the enemy is Senju Yuma. Your men might not be enough. Why don't I..." Madara's hidden brother complex flared up. This was not yet the Madara who would shake the world; he was still wary of facing an opponent of Kage-level strength.
"The one leading the attack is Senju Yuma?" Izuna couldn't help but frown.
This struck him as odd. He had been certain the attack would be led by Senju Tobirama, as surprise raids were his specialty.
Suddenly, an idea flashed in Izuna's mind. He turned to Madara. "Brother, what's the situation at the Taihang Mountain Road?"
The Taihang Mountain Road was a necessary pass on the route back to the Uchiha's territory.
"It's guarded by Uchiha Sen and the rear guard," Madara replied.
Izuna frowned in thought for a moment, then said, "Brother, change of plans. I'm heading to the Taihang Mountain Road immediately. You take your men and hold off Senju Yuma for as long as you can."
"Izuna, what's going on?" Not just Madara, but the other clan members were also completely baffled. It made no sense. Weren't they supposed to be retreating? Why were they now on the offensive?
"No time to explain! The goal is to stall them, not to win. And don't use that eye unless you absolutely have to. Remember that."
With that, Izuna vanished with a flicker, speeding toward the Taihang Mountain Road in the rear. He disappeared from their sight in an instant.
"Young Lord Madara, what do we do?" a middle-aged jonin asked for orders.
Madara didn't hesitate. "Do as Izuna said. Anyone who isn't injured, follow me to face Senju Yuma!"
"But... but..." Many of the clansmen were still hesitant. Izuna's sudden change of plans and bizarre suggestion left them confused about his true intentions.
Madara shot a cold glare at the wavering clansmen. "Do as I say!"
His Mangekyo Sharingan flared to life.
***
For an ordinary jonin traveling nonstop, the journey from the front lines to Taihang Mountain would take more than two days. But after the physical enhancement from the system last night, Izuna's stamina and endurance had increased by more than a level. He reached his destination that very night.
As he approached the mountain path, he heard the sounds of a fierce battle up ahead.
Izuna narrowed his eyes. His guess had been correct.
***
At the Uchiha encampment on Taihang Mountain, there were only about thirty clansmen stationed. The location was so close to the Uchiha's main territory that for hundreds of years, nothing had ever happened here. No clan had ever managed to strike at this "front tooth" of the Uchiha.
Not even the Senju.
Of course, the Uchiha had never managed to strike at the Senju's front tooth either.
In the encampment, Uchiha Sen—a veteran over fifty with the strength of a peak-jonin—was facing off against a ninja clad in deep blue armor.
Fallen Uchiha ninja lay all around them. Some were gravely wounded and unable to move; others were already dead.
The ninja facing Uchiha Sen was none other than the future Second Hokage of Konoha, Senju Tobirama.
Uchiha Sen was panting heavily, a trickle of blood leaking from the corner of his mouth. "Hah... haah... I really let my guard down. I never thought you could slip past so many sensor ninja to get here."
Senju Tobirama's voice was cold. "You are too arrogant, Uchiha clan. With this new technique I've developed, I will sever your last path of retreat."
As soon as he finished speaking, Tobirama vanished, reappearing in a flash behind Uchiha Sen next to a special kunai etched with a fuinjutsu formula on the ground. He snatched up the kunai and charged at Uchiha Sen's back.
Flying Thunder God Slash!
"Fire Release: Great Dragon Flame Song!"
Just as Tobirama was about to succeed, four draconic heads of flame shot down from above.
Caught off guard, Tobirama quickly changed direction, dodging the attack with a sideways leap. The spot where he'd been standing was instantly incinerated.
"You're as despicable as ever, Tobirama."
At the sound of the voice, both Tobirama and Uchiha Sen instinctively looked toward its source.
Izuna had appeared sometime on the lookout tower of the Uchiha encampment. His right hand maintained a hand seal, a faint smile playing on his lips as his gaze locked onto Tobirama. "Attacking where the enemy thinks an attack is impossible. That's just your style."
From his memories, Tobirama shouldn't have learned the Flying Thunder God technique at this point in time. But the move he had just displayed was undoubtedly it. Not only that, he had likely been holding onto this trump card, waiting for this very operation.
Tobirama clicked his tongue in annoyance, his voice icy. "The same could be said for you. To think you saw through my plan..."