The battle continued under a somewhat bizarre atmosphere, because watching from behind was Uchiha Izuna, currently recognized as one of the two strongest individuals in the Warring States period.
He was like a ticking time bomb; no one knew when he would detonate, or who the explosion would affect.
Bang!
After his bone spurs crashed against the Adamantine Chains controlled by Uzumaki Hiro'umi, Kaguya Wanlü stumbled back a few steps.
Just as he prepared to launch the next round of attacks, Kaguya Wuqu, who was back-to-back with him, warned, "Clan Head, Senju Hashirama will definitely send heavy troops to reinforce them. It won't take two days to get here from the Senju clan lands. We must end this battle quickly. Right now, the best method is..."
Kaguya Wanlü's gaze narrowed slightly. "Join forces with the Uchiha?"
"Correct."
Kaguya Wuqu said without hesitation.
Although Uchiha Izuna had popped up suddenly saying that as long as they gave him Uzumaki Mito, he wouldn't attack and would even assist the Uzumaki in repelling the Kaguya.
However, that old stubborn mule Uzumaki Hiro'umi wouldn't agree to it so easily.
Coincidentally, this matter was actually a breakthrough point.
Thinking of this, Kaguya Wanlü nodded and shouted to Izuna, "Vice-Clan Head Izuna, in the end, you just want the woman Uzumaki Mito. But Mr. Izuna, why not consider this?"
"Wait until our two clans conquer Uzushiogakure. Uzumaki Mito will naturally belong to you. Furthermore, we will share half the spoils of conquering Uzushiogakure with the Uchiha. Isn't that the best of both worlds?"
The nearly one thousand ninja of the Uzumaki and Senju were startled. Leave aside Izuna; even they felt there was some logic to these words.
If Izuna's goal was merely Mito, then the matter was simple. Ally with the Kaguya, destroy Uzushiogakure, and then snatch Uzumaki Mito back. Wasn't it all the same?
"Oho."
Izuna feigned a realization, stroking his chin. That expression seemed to suggest he was about to agree to Kaguya Wanlü's conditions.
The ninja of the Senju and Uzumaki clans below naturally broke out in a cold sweat.
In reality, they didn't know that Izuna's expression was just a show for Uzumaki Hiro'umi and the others, solely to create psychological pressure.
How could Izuna be stupid enough not to think of the method Kaguya Wanlü mentioned?
The key was that taking Mito back using such a method would only get her body, not her heart.
It was even possible that this fierce-tempered woman might commit suicide.
So today, the Uzumaki could not fall!
However, Izuna's tempted expression truly frightened many people below, especially the Uzumaki ninja, out of their wits.
Immediately, an Uzumaki Jonin shouted to Uzumaki Hiro'umi, "Grand Elder! The situation is critical, let's just agree to Uchiha Izuna's conditions first!"
As soon as these words came out, a Senju Jonin next to him instantly flew into a rage. "Nonsense! Uzumaki Mito is our Clan Head Hashirama's fiancée. By doing this, is your Uzumaki clan trying to betray my Senju?"
"Yeah, yeah!"
"And after we've protected you for so many years!"
The ninja on the Senju side immediately became raucous.
However, facing the Senju's accusations, this Uzumaki Jonin, emboldened by who knows what, flushed red and retorted loudly, "Leave the Kaguya aside for now. If the Uchiha wanted to reach the Land of Whirlpools, they must pass through Senju territory. If it were just Uchiha Izuna alone, fine, but now so many Uchiha troops have arrived at Uzushiogakure unknowingly. Is that not your Senju clan's dereliction of duty!?"
"Well said!"
"If not for the Senju's poor supervision, how could the Uchiha army have reached a place so close to our village?"
"It's clearly a problem brought by the Senju, yet you dare accuse us Uzumaki of treachery? Laughable!"
"If Uzushiogakure ceases to exist, does it even matter who Princess Mito marries?!"
Once these words were spoken, other Uzumaki ninja also shouted in rebuttal, and there was even a trend toward internal strife.
Kaguya Wanlü watched the chaotic scene of the Senju and Uzumaki clans arguing opposite him and couldn't help but laugh. "This is the Senju and Uzumaki clan with their centuries-old alliance? It's nothing special."
Even the current Uzumaki Clan Head, Uzumaki Wakou, seeing this situation, couldn't help but shed a drop of cold sweat from his forehead.
"In this situation, we have no choice but to agree to Uchiha Izuna's conditions."
Uzumaki Wakou whispered to Uzumaki Hiro'umi.
If Izuna gave the signal and the Uchiha army really launched an attack on the village from the west, they absolutely would not be able to withstand it.
The wrinkles on Uzumaki Hiro'umi's face twisted together as he said in a deep voice, "Do you know that doing this will cause a rupture with the Senju?"
For centuries, the Uzumaki had been under the protection of the Senju.
So now they were actually going to marry the Uzumaki princess—who was about to be betrothed to the Senju Clan Head—to someone from the Uchiha, their mortal enemies.
Afterward, the Senju clan's fury would be beyond imagining.
Uzumaki Wakou gritted his teeth. "What some of our people said just now was right. This is a critical moment for the clan's survival. No matter how fast the Senju reinforcements are, they'll need more than a day to get here. If the Kaguya clan and the Uchiha strike together from the left, the war will be over in less than half a day."
"If the Uzumaki are wiped out by then, who Mito marries—what meaning does it even have?!"
In the end, Kaguya Manro shouted each word as if he were driving nails into the ground.
"If the Uzumaki are wiped out by then, who Mito marries—what meaning does it even have?!"
The words hit Uzumaki Hiro'umi like a sledgehammer to the skull.
Right. If the Uzumaki were gone, did it matter who Mito married?
In an instant, Uzumaki Hiro'umi seemed to age decades. He clenched his jaw, then said in a weak, low voice, "Enough. I agree... to Uchiha Izuna's demand."
Hearing that, Uzumaki Wakou hurriedly called out to Izuna, "Uchi... Vice-Clan Head Izuna! The Grand Elder has agreed to betroth Mito to you. Now please help us drive back the Kaguya clan!"
The hundred-plus Senju ninja present all startled, but no matter how furious they felt, they had no words to refute it.
In this situation, Uzumaki had no other choice but to accept Uchiha Izuna's conditions.
If the Senju were in Uzumaki's position, they would make the same choice.
Besides, the fact that the Uchiha army could appear above Uzushiogakure out of nowhere meant the Senju bore a great deal of responsibility.
Izuna's lips curled slightly. "Have your Grand Elder say it himself! In front of all four clans!"
"This...?!"
Uzumaki Wakou's heart lurched as he looked to Uzumaki Hiro'umi.
Hiro'umi's face was terrifyingly dark.
His fists were clenched so tight they trembled, as if he were forcing himself to endure something. A few seconds later, he finally roared, "I agree! As long as you help my clan drive back the Kaguya, Mito will be betrothed to you!"
The moment the words left his mouth, a dead silence swallowed the battlefield.
"HAHAHAHA!!"
A few seconds later, the first to break the silence was Izuna's unrestrained, manic laughter.
"People really are pathetic!"
With a feral grin, Izuna leaped down from the branch and landed between the Uzumaki and the Kaguya.
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