Sealing Jutsu: Fire-Sealing Method Seal!
With a casually deployed barrier seal, he easily extinguished the Fire Release the Uchiha relied on.
Elder Hiroki could only curse the absurd power of Sealing Jutsu inwardly in utter frustration.
He drew his long sword and gathered terrifying wind-style chakra around it.
If this slash landed, it would cleave his opponent in two as easily as slicing tofu.
"You never learn." Uzumaki Ashina made no special move. He merely raised his index finger and jabbed hard at the empty air before him.
In an instant, ripples seemed to spread through the entire world.
The ferocious slash could not break through the clinging restraint. The closer the blade came to him, the weaker the power within it became.
"What the fuck kind of move is this now? Can't you just fight me head-on?!" Hiroki Uchiha nearly exploded with rage.
Then... Adamantine Sealing Chains suddenly appeared and sent him flying.
He spat out a mouthful of blood. The Uchiha elder lowered his head and looked at his nearly pierced abdomen, uncertainty flickering in his eyes.
He realized his enemy seemed to have grown even stronger.
The Adamantine Sealing Chains were a powerful Secret Technique capable of suppressing even the Nine-Tails, and Uzumaki Ashina's proudest creation.
Had he unleashed their full power, Hiroki Uchiha's body would have been pierced on the spot. Even if he survived, he would have been crippled.
But Ashina had yet to make up his mind. He did not want to turn the Uchiha Clan into a sworn enemy.
As many people had said, Uzumaki Ashina was a rather indecisive clan leader, lacking the drive to cast everything aside in pursuit of supremacy.
If his daughter had not been captured, this battle probably would not have begun anytime soon.
Elder Hiroki silently rose from the ground, his expression grave as he kept searching for a way to counter his opponent.
Suddenly, a light seemed to flash in the distance. A Special-Made Kunai tore through the air, shooting toward the enemy's back from his blind spot.
"That won't work." Hiroki shook his head, knowing an attack like that would achieve nothing.
Clang!
Without Uzumaki Ashina even turning around, a golden chain automatically knocked the kunai down.
Just then, Kyosuke appeared out of thin air, his Chidori Blade slashing swiftly toward the enemy several meters away.
Too far away. He sighed inwardly, knowing the attack would most likely come to nothing.
His Flying Thunder God had not advanced to its second stage, so he could not teleport to a moving marker.
In other words, where he appeared depended on where the enemy knocked the kunai down.
A few meters might have been a short distance, but it was enough for an enemy like Uzumaki Ashina to react.
"Space-Time Ninjutsu? Impressive indeed." A chain swept across, and Kyosuke was instantly sent flying.
His supposedly Jonin-level combat strength was utterly useless against Uzumaki Ashina.
Picking up the Special-Made Kunai from the ground with a chain, Uzumaki Ashina tried forming several hand seals, seemingly searching for a way to seal space-time.
Naturally, Kyosuke refused to let such a fine opportunity slip away.
Coating his blade in Lightning Release chakra, he teleported directly beside the enemy, attempting to use his speed to land a killing blow.
Then he experienced the helplessness Minato and Tobirama had felt when facing Six Paths Madara during the Fourth Great Ninja War.
It was the frustration of being well within killing range, yet unable to break through the enemy's defenses no matter what he did.
He tried several times, and every attempt ended with him being knocked away.
Even with Elder Hiroki attacking alongside him, they still could not break through the dense defense of chains.
You've got to be kidding me... Kyosuke sighed helplessly, knowing they would accomplish nothing today.
In the distance, Madara Uchiha finally arrived, but the outcome would have been the same with or without him.
After just two brief exchanges, the Dance King understood what made their enemy so troublesome.
"This is going to be tough," Madara murmured to the others.
"Then forget it." Kyosuke gave the two a meaningful look, then walked up to Uzumaki Ashina alone. "Uzumaki clan leader, it seems today's battle is destined to end without a victor."
"Hand over Mito, and you may leave freely." Uzumaki Ashina immediately laid out his bottom line.
Clearly, he had little experience negotiating with others.
Kyosuke shook his head with a faint smile. "The Uzumaki princess is quite fond of the Uchiha's hospitality. I'm afraid she won't be coming home anytime soon."
Seeing that his opponent was about to attack, Kyosuke smiled and took out an object.
It was an item from Uzumaki Ashina's tent. Its presence in the boy's hand proved that he had recently visited the Uzumaki camp.
After a long silence, Uzumaki Ashina's expression finally turned utterly dark. "Are you threatening me?"
As he spoke, enormous amounts of chakra gradually surfaced around his body. Only now did he finally reveal his full power.
Unfortunately, the more he did so, the more it exposed his helplessness.
If Kyosuke could sneak into the camp to take something, he could also assassinate any target he wished to kill.
The blatant threat forced Uzumaki Ashina to refrain from any rash action.
His daughter was on one side, his clansmen on the other. Already somewhat indecisive, he was now even more at a loss over what to do.
Besides, the boy's Space-Time Ninjutsu was fully capable of teleporting the other two away.
Even if he chose to attack, he would not be able to keep the three of them here.
"What will it take for you to release her?" Uzumaki Ashina's tone softened.
"The Uzumaki Clan must withdraw its forces." Elder Hiroki made an exceedingly unreasonable demand.
The result was predictable. His opponent rejected it outright, leaving no room for negotiation.
Madara's proposal met the same fate. In the end, Kyosuke offered a relatively reasonable suggestion. "One year. After one year, regardless of who wins or loses, I guarantee Princess Mito will return safely."
"Why should I believe you?"
"Unfortunately, I'm afraid you have no choice."
"Why wait a year?"
The other two were curious about that as well.
Kyosuke gave an answer that took them completely by surprise.
"We need a year to figure out how to defeat you."
"One year..." Uzumaki Ashina sighed, knowing he had few options.
He had never wanted to commit himself entirely to the Senju's side. Delaying things for a year now seemed like a decent choice.
"Very well. I agree." Uzumaki Ashina's gaze swept over the three in turn, his eyes filled with a piercing intensity.
"If anything happens to Mito, my clan will muster the strength of an entire nation to wipe out the Uchiha."
With that, Uzumaki Ashina turned and left without hesitation.
The three exchanged glances and let out relieved breaths.
Uzumaki Ashina's presence was overwhelmingly oppressive. Madara even suspected that the man's strength might surpass his father's.
Securing a year was certainly good, but how were they supposed to find a way to defeat him?
"With outside help," Kyosuke answered clearly.
If the Senju could ally with the Uzumaki Clan, then the Uchiha could naturally seek allies too.
As for their damned reputation, it meant nothing in the face of tangible benefits.
There were no eternal enemies, only eternal interests.
Once they understood that, nothing was impossible.
Before you continue