Under Attack

"You carry the load, I lead the horse, walking down a little country road..." Ever since they left the Uzumaki Clan, no one had spoken.

Seeing how awkward the atmosphere had become, Masahiko could not help humming a medley of songs. Somehow, that only made things even more awkward.

Tobirama interrupted him and stiffly changed the subject. "Uzumaki uncle, you should have the Uzumaki Clan's special sensing ability, right? Keep an eye on the surroundings. The Senju have many enemies. There might be an ambush."

"I'm Mito's Second Grandfather. By seniority, you should call me Second Grandfather too. What do you mean, uncle? Are you taking advantage of Mito?" Masahiko decisively took advantage of the situation.

Tobirama's mouth twitched. "Se... Second Grandfather, please pay attention."

"I feel like you emphasized the word 'second.' Fine, fine, I won't bicker with a junior like you. If anyone appears within a kilometer, I'll let you know," Masahiko replied.

I won't bicker with a junior like you. Those words echoed through Tobirama's mind. He stopped responding, and Masahiko had successfully killed the conversation...

Before long, Masahiko began humming again. "Look at the iron hooves, trampling across mountains and rivers for ten thousand miles, I really can live another five hundred years..."

Mito, sitting in the palanquin, could not help speaking up. "Second Grandfather, I feel like you're a little different from before today. Did something good happen?"

"I just sang about it, didn't I? I can live another five hundred years. Isn't that worth being happy about?" Aside from Masahiko, all seventeen others rolled their eyes. The conversation had died again...

The group fell back into an awkward silence. Forget those incomprehensible remarks—they should just hurry on their way.

Before they knew it, they had already covered half the journey. At this point, the group was passing through a valley.

"This place is perfect for an ambush. Tobirama, this place wouldn't happen to be called Wild Goose Slope, would it? Am I destined to be buried here?" Unable to endure the silence any longer, Masahiko took the initiative to make a bad joke.

Unfortunately, this was the Naruto World, and no one understood the reference. Tobirama even answered seriously, "In that case, Second Grandfather, please be extra careful." Masahiko was left speechless...

"There really is an ambush? Why didn't they attack us from both ends in the valley? They actually chose to lie in wait outside it." Just as they were about to leave the valley, Masahiko stopped Tobirama.

Tobirama immediately became alert. "Prepare for battle!" He knew that anyone daring to attack a group like theirs would not be ordinary foes.

"Wait, this Chakra..." Masahiko muttered. "You deal with them. I'll protect Mito." With that, he hid behind the palanquin.

Tobirama was momentarily speechless. He signaled for everyone to stay vigilant, then slowly led them out of the valley. Seven figures stood on the right side of the road, making no attempt to hide themselves. Two stood in front and five behind them. Then a familiar voice rang out. "It's been a long time, Tobirama."

"Uchiha Izuna, and... Madara!" Tobirama swept his gaze across them and discovered that, apart from Izuna and Madara, the other five were all Peak Jonin.

This is bad. Big Brother isn't here. None of us can stop Madara. Tobirama said, "Madara, why aren't you and your brother back in the clan celebrating the New Year? What are you doing in such a desolate place?"

"We came to congratulate Hashirama on his marriage," Madara replied.

Tobirama would believe that when pigs flew, but he did not know whether to fight or flee.

"Thank you for your congratulations, Madara." At that moment, a familiar voice came from behind the palanquin. Tobirama's eyes widened as he looked at the person who emerged. "Big Brother, why are you here?!"

"If I didn't follow along, how could I marry a rich, beautiful woman and reach the peak of life? My foolish little brother." "Hashirama" whispered to Tobirama.

Hearing that familiar tone, Tobirama nearly made his almost-paralyzed mouth twitch again...

"Impossible! You should be at the Senju Clan Compound preparing for the wedding. How could you be here?!" Izuna shouted. The Three-Tomoe Sharingan spun in his eyes as he tried to spot a flaw.

Madara also activated his Three-Tomoe Sharingan, but he could not find any flaw. Still, after being both friend and foe with Hashirama for so many years, he felt that something was off about the Hashirama before him.

With that thought, his hands rapidly formed seals. "Fire Style—Great Fire Annihilation!" A raging blaze surged toward Tobirama's side.

"Hashirama" formed hand seals as well. "Wood Style—Wooden Wall!" He blocked the roaring flames.

"Madara, thanks for the fireworks! Hahaha!"

"Since the congratulatory gift has been delivered, let's go, Izuna!" Madara slowly closed his eyes. When he opened them again, they had returned to normal.

"Yes, Big Brother!" Izuna replied, somewhat unwillingly.

After a while, the fake Hashirama changed back into Masahiko. "They've gone far away and left my sensing range."

"So it really was you, Big... Second Grandfather! How can you use Wood Style too?" Tobirama could not help asking.

"It wasn't Wood Style. I used Earth Style—Earth Flow Wall just now, except I applied the Transformation Technique to the earth wall. It's a little trick I only gained after reaching Level 10 in my Transformation Technique. Want to learn it? I can teach you. Not 998, just 9.8—take this little trick home today."

Tobirama fell silent again. Perhaps he had not understood either...

"Since the crisis has been resolved, let's continue our journey," Tobirama said after a while.

"Oh dear, oh dear, this is troublesome. Why have they come back again?" Masahiko muttered.

It was the same scene as before. In the same formation, those seven people silently stood in front of the group.

"I didn't think of it earlier. Hashirama, since you're here, let's fight. It's the perfect chance to test my new technique! Uh, where's Hashirama?" Madara said.

The atmosphere became unbearably awkward. After a long while, Masahiko spoke. "Thank you for congratulating us again, Madara."

Uchiha Madara experienced the most awkward moment of his life. He mechanically turned his head. "That was you just now? Old man! The Transformation Technique? It actually fooled my Sharingan?"

"This is what you should say now, Madara. Of all the opponents I've faced, your Transformation Technique is the strongest. No one surpasses you in the Transformation Technique. I, Madara, acknowledge you as the strongest!" Masahiko continued.

Madara felt that he had just experienced something even more awkward. He could not help losing patience and began forming hand seals. Yet from the corner of his eye, he caught a Shuriken flying toward him from a tricky angle. He had no choice but to stop forming seals and tilt his head aside to dodge it. When he looked up, he saw two more Shuriken—one aimed precisely at where he now stood, the other sealing off his retreat. He could only raise his arm and block them with his bracer.

"My Shuriken Throwing Technique has also reached the maximum Level 10," Masahiko said at that moment.

"Madara, basic techniques like the Three Body Jutsu and Shuriken Throwing Technique bring unexpected surprises when they reach maximum level. My Transformation Technique earlier could disguise Earth Style as Wood Style."

"So, what unexpected surprise do you think my Shuriken Throwing Technique has?"