"Big brother, I can't—my chakra's almost gone too."
Senju Tobirama crouched down, clutching his Dantian.
The two brothers were currently positioned in the waters between the Senju lands and the Land of Whirlpools.
Upon learning that Uzushiogakure was facing a pincer attack from both the Uchiha and Kaguya clans from east and west,
Senju Hashirama had first ordered the entire clan to mobilize their forces and advance toward Uzushiogakure ahead of schedule,
while he himself, with Senju Tobirama's help, used the Flying Thunder God to rush to Uzushiogakure at maximum speed.
But after covering most of the journey, Senju Tobirama's chakra was nearly depleted.
His chakra reserves were already far inferior to Senju Hashirama's and Izuna's, and his Flying Thunder God was only single-stage, nowhere near Izuna's level of triple-stage Flying Thunder God.
This was already his limit.
"You've done well, Tobirama. Leave the rest to me."
Senju Hashirama patted his brother's shoulder, then prepared to rush to the Land of Whirlpools alone.
"Big brother, be careful. Your opponent is that Uchiha Izuna."
Senju Tobirama said worriedly.
"Don't worry, I'm confident."
After leaving those final words, Senju Hashirama rushed toward Uzushiogakure at maximum speed.
Several hours later, Senju Hashirama finally set foot on the Land of Whirlpools, an island nation.
The shinobi from both clans guarding the border zone had almost entirely withdrawn. It seemed a war had indeed broken out, and the guards had all rushed toward Uzushiogakure.
With this thought, Senju Hashirama pushed his speed to the absolute limit.
The closer he got, the more clearly he could hear the roar of ninjutsu bombardment and the clash of bladed weapons colliding.
Since Hashirama had approached from the west side, he naturally understood he would encounter the Uchiha first.
"I hope things haven't deteriorated beyond repair."
Praying silently, Senju Hashirama finally neared Uzushiogakure.
However, when he caught sight of Uzushiogakure's outline, the translucent golden hemispherical barrier enclosing the entire village made him pause.
"Is that...
also a barrier?"
Senju Hashirama hesitated.
Chirp chirp chirp!!!
The piercing screech of lightning rang out, followed by teenage voices roaring, "Chidori!!!"
"They've already started fighting!"
Swiftly moving through the forest, Senju Hashirama finally reached where the Uchiha were engaged in fierce combat with shinobi from both the Uzumaki and a small portion of the Senju.
Led by mostly adult Uchiha shinobi and some teenage shinobi only twelve or thirteen years old, they were locked in intense battle with the two clans.
When Senju Hashirama arrived, Uchiha Quanye's left hand crackled with lightning as he charged toward an Uzumaki Chunin, the Chidori striking the opponent's shoulder.
"The Uchiha...
truly abound with talent."
Senju Hashirama's heart tightened, then he leapt to the center of the battlefield and shouted, "Stop!!!"
Both sides of the fierce battle turned to look. The shinobi from the Uzumaki and Senju immediately revealed expressions of wild joy. "Clan Head!"
Excellent!
Their side already held overwhelming numerical superiority, and now with Senju Hashirama's arrival, their victory was all but assured.
In contrast, the Uchiha side's faces instantly darkened.
Damn it, how did he get here so fast?
"You all held out longer than I expected."
Senju Hashirama remarked with some admiration.
He had thought that under the pincer attack from both the Uchiha and Kaguya from east and west, they would have already breached Uzumaki's village.
"Yes!
It's all thanks to our village's barrier."
An Uzumaki Jonin spoke up.
"Everyone, don't be afraid!"
At that moment, Uchiha Quanye shouted, "Though Senju Hashirama has come, we have our Vice-Clan Head!
Hold on until the Vice-Clan Head emerges!"
With one sentence, Uchiha Quanye rallied the Uchiha shinobi's spirits, which had momentarily flagged.
"Worthy of being the Uchiha clan bred for battle, I suppose?"
Seeing a boy of only thirteen or fourteen with such courage, Senju Hashirama felt a measure of admiration in his heart.
But what followed was a sense of melancholy.
Just like himself as a child—children so young already forced onto the battlefield. Could they never create an era where all shinobi could live in harmony?
"Where is Izuna?"
Senju Hashirama also noticed that all the Uchiha forces were here, but why wasn't their leader Izuna present?
"Clan Head, Uchiha Izuna has been trapped by the Grand Elder inside a barrier."
A Senju shinobi stepped forward.
Senju Hashirama turned his gaze toward the area enclosed by the Konpira Barrier and frowned. "Inside there?"
What on earth was going on?
Why would the leader Izuna be alone inside a barrier while everyone else remained outside?
Having just arrived, Senju Hashirama's preliminary understanding of the situation left him with a host of questions he couldn't answer.
The Senju shinobi who had been explaining continued, "Clan Head, please give the order!
Let's take down all the Uchiha here first, then surround and attack Uchiha Izuna together!"
Instantly, every Uchiha's expression changed drastically, and they quickly raised their weapons.
They had heard of Senju Hashirama's strength.
Glancing at the new generation led by Uchiha Quanye, Uchiha Soren, and others, Senju Hashirama sighed inwardly and called out, "Everyone, listen to my command!"
Just when all the Uzumaki and Senju thought Hashirama was about to order the Uchiha's annihilation, he unexpectedly said, "Guard the Uchiha shinobi. I'm going into the village to see what's really happened."
"Clan Head!
How can you..."
The Senju shinobi were shocked, but Senju Hashirama raised his hand first, stopping those who wanted to speak. "Obey my command!"
As he spoke, Senju Hashirama released the immense chakra he had displayed during the Impure World Reincarnation period when he had warned Senju Tobirama.
Instantly, all the shinobi from the three clans were badly shaken.
"Un-understood."
Once his subordinates agreed, Senju Hashirama set off for the village with peace of mind.
Upon reaching the entrance to Uzushiogakure, Senju Hashirama placed his palm against the barrier, sensing the chakra emanating from it, and murmured to himself, "Such powerful chakra. It's not something Grand Elder Hiro'umi could accomplish alone. Somewhere, there must be someone maintaining the barrier, with Grand Elder Hiro'umi's chakra serving only as the key to activate it."
Boom—
Just as he was muttering to himself, a thunderous explosion came from inside the barrier.
With just one strike, from Senju Hashirama's position he could see several buildings instantly reduced to dust.
"Izuna!"
Senju Hashirama cried out in alarm.
Because of the distance, he could only make out a silhouette, but it was unmistakably Izuna's Susanoo.
I need to get in there quickly!
But what about this barrier?
Should I forcibly break through it with power?
Just as Senju Hashirama hesitated over what to do, suddenly an Uzumaki shinobi inside the barrier spotted him and ran over joyfully. "Clan Head Hashirama!
You've arrived!?"
"Can this barrier be opened?"
Senju Hashirama quickly asked.
"That...
Only the Grand Elder or members of the highest decision-making council know how to open the barrier."
The Uzumaki shinobi answered hesitantly.
"Can you call them over?
Hurry!"
Senju Hashirama urged urgently.
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