Originally, only one day had passed since the Senju and Kaguya signed their alliance pact. Unlike when Izuna had launched his surprise attack on the Uzumaki, Senju Hashirama did not have Senju Tobirama's Flying Thunder God Technique to speed his return.
As a result, the force he was leading had not traveled far.
At present, they had only just set foot on the soil of the Land of Whirlpools and were preparing to continue their journey back to Senju territory.
As evening approached, Senju Hashirama decided to let his troops rest for the night in a small town not far ahead, then set out again at dawn.
After entering the town, he found an inn at random and, once certain there were no pursuers, was about to lie down and rest. But just then, urgent knocking came from outside his door, along with the voice of one of his subordinates.
"Clan Head! This is bad! Something's happened!"
Senju Hashirama, who had just lain down, quickly rose and strode over to open the door. "What is it?"
At that moment, Senju Hashirama noticed it wasn't just his subordinate outside—there was also a man dressed entirely in white with his hair bound in a topknot. That appearance marked him as a member of the Kaguya clan!
"This is..."
Senju Hashirama looked at the Kaguya shinobi in confusion.
"Clan Head Hashirama, I am a Special Jonin of the Kaguya clan, Kaguya Torimitsu. I've come specifically to seek your aid!"
This man called Kaguya Torimitsu explained rapidly.
Aid?
Senju Hashirama's brow furrowed. He quickly asked, "What happened?"
Kaguya Torimitsu swiftly recounted how, early that morning, Uchiha Madara had led a squad of ten Jonin in a surprise attack on Kaguya Village.
"What!?"
Senju Hashirama's expression changed drastically. "He dared attack Kaguya Village with only ten men?"
In the next second, Senju Hashirama shook his head with a wry smile. "No... if it's that Madara, it's entirely possible. No, he would definitely do that!"
If it were an ordinary shinobi, Senju Hashirama naturally wouldn't believe it.
But if it was that Madara, it was not only possible—he would definitely do it!
Senju Hashirama immediately guessed why Madara had acted this way.
And yet, it still sent a chill down his spine.
Even he wouldn't dare casually take ten men and attack the Kaguya.
They weren't some ordinary small clan—they were a powerful clan that, even after relocating to the Land of Fire, could rank among the top five in pure combat strength!
"Though I also don't believe Uchiha Madara can succeed, I still fear my Kaguya will suffer catastrophic losses. Please, Clan Head Hashirama, come to our aid!"
Kaguya Torimitsu pleaded urgently.
Though he didn't believe Uchiha Madara could destroy the Kaguya with ten men—
If the Kaguya, whose combat personnel were already scarce, lost hundreds just dealing with Uchiha Madara alone, then even if it wasn't total annihilation, it would be half annihilation!
Senju Hashirama nodded. "I understand. I'll move out immediately."
Another Senju shinobi quickly asked, "Clan Head, should I gather our men?"
"No. You won't be able to keep up with my speed."
Senju Hashirama immediately shook his head. "I need to reach Kaguya Village as fast as possible. You all follow behind."
The two also knew full well that their own strength was nowhere near Senju Hashirama's. They could only watch as Senju Hashirama swiftly vanished like a phantom, then gather the other Senju shinobi who had participated in this mission.
Once assembled, they set out for Kaguya Village.
Night had fallen, but the flames burning in Kaguya Village painted the island's sky red.
No matter who won or lost this battle, the village would have to be rebuilt.
At the thought, Kaguya Banro and the others felt their hearts bleed.
Splat!!!
At that moment, one Uchiha Jonin was pierced through the back by three Kaguya shinobi wielding bone blades.
His body collapsed heavily.
Both his eyes were blind—clearly, he had used Izanagi twice and had no more chances left.
Meanwhile, in the heart of the inferno, Madara's condition was abysmal.
Large portions of his armor had shattered. His hunched form, his dwindling Chakra reserves, and his aching eyes—which could barely make out anything beyond ten paces—left him unable to maintain either Sage Mode or Susanoo.
It felt as though he might collapse at any moment.
The battle had raged on for more than ten hours.
Kaguya Banro's white robes were now more than half-covered in blood. After coughing twice, he asked a nearby Kaguya shinobi in a low voice, "How many have we lost?"
The Kaguya shinobi replied through gritted teeth, "We can't calculate precisely right now, but... it's estimated to be over 200!"
The Kaguya were already a small clan with a total combat force of fewer than 800.
Against just Uchiha Madara and his ten Jonin, they had lost 200 men.
This was no longer losing a piece of flesh—it was having an entire arm severed!
"Uchiha Madara! Today, this old man will see you dead!!!"
Hearing that number, Kaguya Manro roared in furious rage.
Madara, hunched over, burst into wild laughter at his words. "Hahaha! Old fool, does that make your heart ache? Don't worry—you'll be joining them soon!"
In truth, Madara could no longer make out the expression on Kaguya Manro's face.
"Hmph! Bold words!"
Kaguya Taketo had already led the other squads over.
At the same time, three Uchiha jonin surrounded Madara. One of them had lost the color in his right eye—clearly the result of using Izanagi.
"Only three of you left?" Madara asked in a low voice.
Honestly, for just ten people to hold out for over ten hours under the siege of hundreds of Kaguya ninja who excelled in combat was already a miracle.
The Uchiha jonin who had lost an eye shouted, "Cover the Clan Head's retreat with everything you have! Even if all three of us die here, we must let the Clan Head escape!"
"Hmph! Do you think you can leave?!"
Kaguya Taketo swung both hands violently. Finger bones as fine as bullets came flying.
"Cover the Clan Head—quickly!!!"
Another man raised the tachi in his hand, shouting as he blocked the Ten-Finger Drilling Bullets fired by Kaguya Taketo.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The sound of steel colliding rang out, but two bullets still got through, piercing into his body.
"Cough, cough!"
Blood sprayed from his wounds and mouth. Seeing his chance, Kaguya Taketo waved his hand and shouted, "Surround them!!!"
Hundreds of Kaguya ninja surged from all sides, leaving no escape.
"Take the Clan Head away!"
The Uchiha jonin who had lost an eye shouted, forming hand seals with one hand.
The other two seized Madara's left and right arms and leaped upward with him.
The next moment, countless bone blades were hurled, falling like a torrential downpour.
All four in the center were pierced through like pincushions.
But in the next instant, their bodies turned to nothing.
Izanagi!
Bang!
The next moment, white smoke appeared in midair, and a ninja hawk burst through the haze.
At the center of the ground remained the Uchiha jonin whose eyes had both gone blind, having used Izanagi twice.
"If I die, I'm taking you with me."
His eyes could no longer see. In his final moments, he chose to unleash an indiscriminate attack.
"Chidori Current!!!"
-----
Read up to 20 advanced chapters on my P@treon.
[email protected]/fanfictionsimp