In a large-scale war, the greatest danger was finding yourself trapped in the enemy camp.
One careless mistake could easily leave you surrounded by multiple enemies.
Kyosuke, for instance, was in that very situation. Unless he possessed a jutsu on the level of an "absolute defense," he would struggle to withstand attacks from every direction.
"Die!"
Facing a strike that seemed certain to kill him, Kyosuke raised his hands and formed a few simple hand seals.
The next second, he vanished completely before everyone's eyes, leaving only a Special-Made Kunai to fall where he had stood.
"H-he disappeared?!" The man suddenly remembered the rumors he had heard earlier.
Some said that the Uchiha's Evil-Faced Rakshasa seemed to have mastered a mysterious Space-Time Ninjutsu.
He had even made a point of remembering it at first, yet when the critical moment arrived, he had forgotten all about it.
It was not that he was stupid. Space-time techniques were simply so rare that most people had no means of countering them.
"Damn it, just let me catch you..." As he spoke, something suddenly flashed before his eyes.
Kyosuke reappeared, holding a long blade crackling with lightning.
Chidori Blade!
With a wet squelch, the blade passed through the man's chest without resistance. The lightning's paralyzing effect robbed him of his last chance to fight back.
[System notification: Killed an Uzumaki Clan jonin. Gained 1,630 points.]
"Not even two thousand points. Guess he wasn't all that strong." Kyosuke shook his head, looking distinctly unimpressed.
Starting at the jonin level, the gaps in point rewards grew increasingly staggering. This nameless jonin was clearly a lightweight who had only recently reached that rank.
Even two of him together might not match a veteran jonin who had long since made a name for himself.
Checking his severely depleted chakra reserves, Kyosuke felt an overwhelming urge to curse. He felt he had taken a huge loss on this exchange.
Using Flying Thunder God required setting aside a considerable amount of chakra beforehand.
That was naturally no problem for a Kage-level fighter, but Kyosuke's chakra reserves had yet to reach even the jonin level.
A moment of carelessness could easily put him in danger.
With no other choice, he formed hand seals again and headed to an outpost two kilometers away to rest and recover.
This war would not end so easily.
Elsewhere, Madara Uchiha was also fighting with everything he had.
Unlike Kyosuke, his standard combat strength had already reached the jonin level, and he feared no direct clash with an opponent.
Right now, for instance, a veteran Uzumaki jonin stood before him.
In terms of points, the man would be worth at least around 3,500.
He was unquestionably powerful, with ample chakra reserves that allowed him to unleash devastating ninjutsu with the slightest movement.
Yet Madara did not retreat an inch before such a threat. With the Gunbai in hand, he had the confidence to face any ninjutsu specialist with ease.
A terrifying torrent surged toward him. Madara swung the Gunbai, absorbing the entire formidable water dragon.
"A foolish choice." A disdainful sneer spread across the young Madara's face. With a light swing, he sent the water dragon hurtling into the enemy ranks.
Uchiha Reflection!
Dense chakra gathered around his scythe. A horizontal sweep instantly dispatched several enemies pressing toward him.
"Good, just like that! Burn everything away and keep dancing!" A trace of madness filled Madara's eyes.
He was reveling in the slaughter.
Driving the Gunbai firmly into the ground, Madara formed hand seals with both hands as immensely powerful flames began to gather.
Fire Release: Majestic Destroyer Flame!
From his mouth, a mere B-rank Fire Release technique produced a terrifying effect approaching S-rank.
Shinobi of the Warring States Period placed greater emphasis on close combat. Fire Release was merely a means of disrupting the enemy's formation.
What truly let Madara fight to his heart's content was that waltz with death, with blades flashing right before his body.
He did not know how things were going on Kyosuke's side, but he understood their commanding officer's strength better than anyone.
The best way to prevent a mass rout on their side was to tear a breach through the enemy ranks.
His Sharingan sharpened its focus. A second later, Madara plunged into the enemy formation, his Gunbai and scythe dancing together amid a storm of blood.
"Uchiha scum, you're not leaving here alive today!" The ninjutsu specialist closed in on him again.
Only to plunge headfirst into the cloud of dust the young man spat out.
Fire Release: Dust Concealment Technique!
He expelled a cloud of scorching dust ahead of him, which spread in every direction after settling on the ground.
It not only obscured vision but also burned enemies with intense heat, then detonated on its own after a short time.
Boom!
Staggering out of the blast radius, the Uzumaki jonin realized the danger and immediately called several subordinates over.
The five formed a defensive formation and waited for their enemy to come to them.
As expected, the arrogant young Uchiha actually charged in alone.
His brazen attitude made it clear that he thought nothing of the five of them.
"Bastard!"
With that furious roar, all five launched themselves at their enemy.
Three minutes later...
Drenched in blood, Madara Uchiha stripped off his ruined armor and led the subordinates who had arrived in another charge into the enemy ranks.
Behind him, all five lay in pools of blood. The Uzumaki jonin had even been beheaded with a single stroke, his death a gruesome sight.
"You danced beautifully." Before leaving, the young Madara offered his enemies a word of praise.
Unfortunately, they could neither hear it nor take pride in it.
On the left, a torrent of Chidori swept all before it. Hearing its cry was like receiving an invitation from the Shinigami.
On the right, the Dance King advanced with ferocious speed. Everyone who stood in his way became another soul claimed by his blade, his destructive power all the more terrifying.
The Uchiha Duo unleashed their might together, punching clean through the enemy formation and forcing the Uzumaki to retreat again and again.
Seeing the situation turn against them, Uzumaki Ashina could finally sit still no longer.
Shoving aside the subordinate who tried to stop him, he personally led his men onto the battlefield. No one along the way could withstand even a single exchange with him.
Only when Hiroki Uchiha appeared did the enemy commander's advance stop, and the elder had to exert all his strength to hold him back.
The two clan leader-level fighters began a fierce battle, their clash shaking heaven and earth. No one dared approach within three kilometers.
Except for those two Uchiha madmen.
"If we join forces with the Army Commander and finish him quickly, we can win this war." Using Flying Thunder God, Kyosuke approached the battlefield without a sound.
"Only by killing him can our clan win." Without the slightest hesitation, Madara left his troops behind and headed alone toward the central battlefield.
On the Uzumaki Clan's side, someone noticed Madara Uchiha's movements and also guessed that Kyosuke, with his Flying Thunder God, might go to provide support.
Unfortunately, their clan leader's orders forbade anyone from approaching that area.
Uzumaki Ashina's intention was simple: use his own life as bait to lure in enemy figures of sufficient importance.
Then he could carry out a hostage exchange.
And bring his precious daughter safely home.
As for whether he might fail...
Hiroki Uchiha was not capable of defeating him. Perhaps Tajima Uchiha would have a thirty percent chance if he came in person.
Having achieved a major breakthrough in Sealing Jutsu, his strength was already far beyond what it had once been.
Even among those who likewise stood at the pinnacle of the Shinobi World, few now warranted his regard.
It had nothing to do with arrogance. This was the confidence his strength gave Uzumaki Ashina.
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