"Lord Tobirama! How?!"
"Wasn't Lord Tobirama on a secret mission?"
"How did Uchiha Izuna capture him?"
The Senju ninja stared, mouths agape in disbelief.
On the Uchiha side, the shock was no less profound, but it was quickly followed by elation.
"So Lord Izuna went to capture Senju Tobirama!"
"Hahaha! This is great! The tide of battle has completely turned!"
"As expected of Lord Izuna!"
***
"Tobirama's been captured? How is that possible?" Senju Yuma, who had been so confident in Tobirama's plan just moments before, now had eyes filled with utter disbelief.
Tobirama's plan was so secret that not even most of the Senju knew about it, let alone the Uchiha. And with his masterful command of the Flying Thunder God technique, Yuma would have sworn that not even their late clan heads, Uchiha Tajima and Senju Butsuma, could have captured him so easily. While Uchiha Izuna had previously been on par with Tobirama in terms of strength, he should have been no match for a Tobirama who could now use the Flying Thunder God.
And yet... the reality was that Senju Tobirama had been captured by Uchiha Izuna.
Madara's eyes narrowed, and then a proud, faint smile touched his lips. *So you went to capture Senju Tobirama? Well done, Izuna. With this, the situation is reversed.*
"Izuna, release Tobirama! We can talk about anything!" Senju Hashirama, deeply devoted to his brother, shouted immediately.
Meanwhile, Senju Yuma, a Kage-level shinobi without question, vanished. In an instant, he reappeared directly above Izuna and Tobirama, his longsword aimed at Izuna's head. His Body Flicker Technique was likely on par with that of the future "Shisui of the Body Flicker."
However, he was not the only formidable ninja of this era.
Uchiha Gakugyo, who had been behind Madara, also vanished, reappearing in midair beside Senju Yuma. He threw a kunai infused with wind-style chakra at Yuma's sword.
Yuma swung his blade effortlessly.
*Clang!*
The kunai and sword clashed, sending sparks flying. The kunai was sent tumbling away, but a visible crack now marred the blade of the longsword.
In the next moment, the two Kage-level ninja landed on opposite sides of the rock where Izuna and Tobirama stood.
Izuna's expression hardened. He instantly drew a kunai and, without hesitation, plunged it into Senju Tobirama's shoulder.
*Squish!*
"Urk!"
Blood sprayed out, staining the blue armor on Tobirama's shoulder. Even he couldn't suppress a cry of pain.
"Lord Tobirama!" the Senju ninja cried out in alarm.
"Uchiha Izuna! What do you want?!" Senju Yuma's eyes were bloodshot with rage.
"That was just a warning," Izuna said with a wicked grin, lifting his chin defiantly at Yuma. "If you try anything else, the next part I cut off will ensure Senju Tobirama has no descendants."
*This feels amazing!*
"You bastard!" Hashirama roared.
"Everyone, lay down your weapons!"
As if infused with a king's command, Hashirama's sudden roar silenced the entire battlefield of hundreds of ninja, including those on the Uchiha side.
*As expected of the future God of Shinobi. He already has such presence,* Izuna thought, glancing at Hashirama. Even with his skill tree, he couldn't help but feel a flicker of apprehension. After all, this was the man who would dominate Uchiha Madara for his entire life.
"Izuna, state your terms," Hashirama said, his voice taut as he struggled to suppress his anger.
"It's simple," Izuna shouted. "For this battle, the Senju will compensate the Uchiha for all economic losses, withdraw from all territory west of the Mount Congyun border that you've occupied, and sign a treaty agreeing not to engage in battle with the Uchiha for five years!"
An uproar swept through the Senju ranks. Many ninja began to curse loudly.
"Uchiha Izuna, have you no shame?!"
"Young Lord Hashirama, don't listen to him!"
"Let's all attack and rescue Lord Tobirama!"
These conditions were tantamount to skinning the Senju alive. Even the captive Tobirama couldn't help but shoot Izuna a venomous glare. "You're making quite an outrageous demand, Uchiha Izuna."
"Does a man who resorts to sneak attacks have any right to talk?" Izuna retorted, pressing the kunai against Tobirama's neck. It was a clear warning to the Senju not to try anything foolish, a challenge to see whose hand was faster: his at slitting a throat, or theirs at a rescue.
"Alright! I agr—"
"Wait! Give us one night to discuss!" Hashirama, worried for his brother's safety, was about to agree on the spot. But Senju Yuma cut him off. "Until then, don't you dare harm Tobirama," he shouted. "Otherwise, the Senju will muster all its forces, and we will fight you Uchiha to the bitter end."
Faced with Senju Yuma's threat, Izuna didn't resort to stabbing Tobirama again to vent his anger. Instead, he calmly replied, "Fine. You have one night."
With that, Izuna exchanged a look with Madara.
Madara nodded in understanding and raised his voice. "All units, fall back to the camp!"
The great battle between the Uchiha and Senju was forced to a halt by the sudden appearance of Izuna with his hostage, Senju Tobirama. It was also the first official meeting of the four chosen sons of this era: Uchiha Izuna, Uchiha Madara, Senju Hashirama, and Senju Tobirama.
***
That night, in the Uchiha encampment on Mount Congyun.
To prevent Senju Tobirama from escaping, Izuna personally stood guard outside his cage. The two men, one inside and one out, remained silent.