The Arrival of a New Era

Dodged!

Uchiha Gakugyo's sword strike, with power equivalent to an S-rank Ninjutsu, was dodged by Madara.

It's certainly powerful, but it's meaningless if it can't hit.

At this point, Izuna had figured out the abilities of Madara's Mangekyo.

The left eye was an auxiliary type that aided in Chakra fusion and conservation.

This ability helped Madara develop the Storm Release, a fusion of Lightning Release and Water Release, and even played a decisive role in awakening the Rinnegan.

As for the right eye, it possessed the same ability as Izuna's: brief Future Prediction.

This wasn't surprising. One commonality between the Mangekyo abilities of Itachi Uchiha and Sasuke Uchiha was that they both had Amaterasu.

Now that Izuna and Madara shared a Mangekyo ability, it wasn't strange.

Furthermore, Izuna knew why Madara hadn't used his Mangekyo abilities after being revived with Impure World Reincarnation.

It wasn't that he didn't use them; he just didn't reveal them.

Both abilities were the type that enemies wouldn't notice unless explained.

Uchiha Gakugyo, a Kage-level powerhouse skilled in swordsmanship and Ninjutsu, found himself completely outmatched under Madara's right eye, which possessed the same Future Prediction ability as Izuna's.

This ability was practically a nemesis to Taijutsu users!

"Secret Technique: Fire Style Wind Rotation!"

Madara had dodged several of Uchiha Gakugyo's ultimate moves, and he was finding it difficult to remain calm.

Madara's Mangekyo flared, and the future scene was clearly seen by his right eye--

Uchiha Gakugyo would swing his sword from his left side, but that was merely a feint. He would use a Wind Release Clone Technique as a decoy, hiding his left hand to launch a surprise kunai attack at his abdomen.

The next second, just as Madara's right eye had foreseen, Uchiha Gakugyo launched his attack from his left side.

A barely perceptible smile curved Madara's lips as he raised his scythe to block.

BOOM!!

The impact caused the training ground floor to collapse.

Fell for it, Madara!

Uchiha Gakugyo rejoiced inwardly. Using the Wind Release Clone as a smokescreen, his other hand wielded a kunai, thrusting it toward Madara's abdomen.

He wouldn't pierce Madara's stomach. As long as he drew blood, he could prove his strength was superior to Madara's and claim the position of clan head.

However, at this moment, Madara let out a distinct laugh.

This made the opponent, Uchiha Gakugyo, instinctively feel a sense of foreboding.

"Chidori!"

Madara uttered two words faintly.

Screeeech!!

From Madara's other hand, silver-white lightning erupted.

The lightning crackled like a rampaging beast, darting everywhere!

Uchiha Gakugyo's left hand, which was performing the surprise attack, felt a numbing sensation. Losing his balance, the kunai slipped from his grasp and fell to the ground.

"Another Ninjutsu invented by Izuna!"

Many Uchiha clan members were stunned.

Although Madara and Uchiha Gakugyo were fighting in the center of the battlefield, Izuna's presence was so strong that no one dared to ignore him.

Chidori was a technique Izuna had given Madara just a few days ago.

And the move Madara was now displaying looked more like Chidori Current.

Of course, it only looked like it.

At this moment, Madara was simply using his exaggerated Chakra to make the lightning of Chidori erupt completely, making it resemble Chidori Current.

In reality, using Chidori in this manner would also harm his own body.

Even so, it was enough!

Seizing the momentary opening Uchiha Gakugyo had presented.

Madara lifted his right foot and kicked the kunai that had slipped from Uchiha Gakugyo's hand, sending it flying like a soccer ball.

The sharp edge of the kunai grazed Uchiha Gakugyo's face, leaving a bloody gash.

"Fire Style..."

It wasn't over yet!

Even in this situation, Uchiha Gakugyo still wanted to form hand seals and counterattack.

However, Madara was faster!

After all, even though they were both hit by Chidori, it was their own Ninjutsu. Madara could at least control the severity of his injuries.

"Lightning Release: Gratitude Wave!"

Although it was Lightning Release, Madara had actually merged this technique with Water Release.

The paralyzing nature of Lightning Release, combined with the obstructive nature of Water Release, pushed this B-rank Ninjutsu's power close to that of an A-rank Ninjutsu.

THUD!!

Before Uchiha Gakugyo could unleash his technique, Gratitude Wave struck his abdominal armor.

Not only was it the impact of Water Release, but also the paralysis from Lightning Release, rendering him unable to move for a time.

Madara swung his scythe, the blade pressed against Uchiha Gakugyo's neck.

Feeling the coolness on his neck, Uchiha Gakugyo knelt on one knee, struggling to utter a sentence, "I... I lost..."

As Uchiha Gakugyo's father, Uchiha Kōshi, the Uchiha Great Elder, saw this, he sighed heavily.

Uchiha Kai announced loudly, "A new clan head has been born!"

The entire clan rejoiced. The power Madara displayed had even conquered the ninjas who had originally sided with Uchiha Gakugyo.

Izuna couldn't help but smile.

Although there were personal conflicts of interest, overall, everyone shared the "Uchiha" name and was, in the end, of one heart.

It wouldn't be like the scheming and infighting after Konoha was founded.

Although tiring, it was quite comforting.

Thus, Madara Uchiha becoming clan head and Uchiha Izuna becoming deputy clan head was an undeniable fact.

After a simple treatment for the minor injuries on both of them.

The high-ranking members returned from the training grounds to the meeting hall.

The succession ceremony was decided to be held on an auspicious day a week later.

There was a state of ceasefire now, so they could afford to be a little particular.

On the other side, in the Senju clan's territory.

Here, the Senju succession ceremony had already begun.

Senju Takeuma stood on the succession platform, with Hashirama Senju standing to his left in the position of deputy clan head, listening to the oath of Senju Takeuma in front of him and the cheers of the clan members below.

Tobirama Senju, a brother-complex, whispered, "Older Brother, if you wanted to compete, I don't think it would be a problem."

He had no dissatisfaction with Senju Takeuma succeeding as clan head, but as a brother-complex, he naturally wished for Hashirama Senju to succeed.

Hashirama Senju smiled at this and replied in a low voice, "I'm not the type of person who has to be a leader. Assisting from the side might suit me well too."

Tobirama Senju knew Hashirama Senju's personality well. If he continued to talk, it would only displease Hashirama Senju, so he stood silently to the side, thinking, 'On the Uchiha side, Uchiha Gakugyo should have succeeded, with Madara as deputy clan head... But why do I feel that Izuna is more dangerous than Madara...'

One must know that Tobirama Senju was a true politician, whose sharpness in Konoha's future politics even overshadowed his formidable strength.

If he felt that Uchiha Izuna was dangerous, then there was absolutely no mistake.

Regardless, the current state of both the Uchiha and Senju clans was:

Uchiha: Madara as clan head, Izuna as deputy clan head.

Senju: Senju Takeuma as clan head, Hashirama Senju as deputy clan head, Tobirama Senju's position unchanged (after all, his plan failed, causing the Senju to suffer a loss).

Madara had, for the first time in his life, managed to get ahead of Hashirama.

It was just unknown how long this advantage could last.