New Strategy

Although he ordered a pursuit after the enemy retreated, Izuna had already issued secret orders before the battle began.

His command to "advance" was merely a bluff, putting on an act of being fearless. In reality, he began withdrawing his troops not long after the pursuit started.

This is to deceive Hagoromo Masashige and his group, making them misjudge the Uchiha's combat power.

"Damn it!"

Once Izuna confirmed no one was around, he placed his hand on his right eye and couldn't help but curse.

"Vice Clan Leader!"

Sora Uchiha was startled and shouted, "Medical ninja! Medical ninja!"

The Uchiha's few medical ninja rushed over and placed their hands on Izuna's right eye, using medical chakra to treat it.

However, this only served to alleviate the pain and was useless for mitigating the vision damage caused by the Mangekyo.

"Alright, no need to treat it anymore."

Izuna stood up and said, "Return to the city."

"This is the Vice Clan Leader's first time leading an army, and it's a great victory! Our clan's victory is within reach."

Ise Uchiha, a Jonin under Sora Uchiha, flattered him.

"Are you blind?"

Izuna said coldly, "That was just to fool them."

After the entire army had assembled, they quickly retreated towards Stone City. Izuna's expression was grim. "We must find a breakthrough as soon as possible. This state won't last long."

Ise Uchiha looked embarrassed, while Sora Uchiha gave the young man a hard pat on the shoulder. "Idiot kid, you tried to flatter him and ended up stepping on a rake! Be smarter next time!"

Ise Uchiha chuckled and shrugged, returning to the Stone City base with the main force. Along the way, he couldn't help but ask, "The Vice Clan Leader's new Sharingan is..."

Sora Uchiha also looked serious. "Yes... According to the Clan Leader, it has extremely strong side effects. It seems there are many limitations to using it."

Ise Uchiha sighed regretfully. "What a shame. If only it could be used without limit..."

Izuna's first battle as Vice Clan Leader thus concluded. For two days, the five allied clans, led by the Hagoromo clan, made no move.

This meant Izuna's deterrent goal had been achieved.

However, the exaggerated military strength deployed by the enemy also put Izuna under immense pressure.

Damn it, at least let me transmigrate after Konoha's founding!

Of course, complaining was just complaining. He still had to face what was in front of him.

Using the Sharingan of the reconnaissance unit, Ise Uchiha quickly brought back intelligence to Izuna.

Although Kōkawa Yokōichi was dead, the Kōkawa clan had not withdrawn from the allied forces. Instead, they appointed Kenji Kōkawa, Yokōichi's brother, as the new clan leader, continuing their preparations against the Uchiha.

At the same time, the total combat strength of the five-clan alliance had also been roughly determined.

A total of about 2,300 people were deployed in this war, and this was the result of investigations after the initial victory.

On Izuna's side, there were less than 500 people.

In a very simple room with only a bed and a desk.

Izuna sat at the desk, illuminated by the candlelight, quietly contemplating strategies.

Dispatching more forces from the clan was basically impossible.

The Senju to the east might attack at any time.

Although Izuna was confident that Hashirama Senju wouldn't make a move, he was currently only the Vice Clan Leader of the Senju.

The Clan Leader, Senju Takeuma, and his younger brother, Tobirama Senju, were not to be trifled with.

Now, the only way forward was to further improve his own strength.

With this thought, Izuna opened the system skill tree again.

A light screen flashed out:

[Player: Izuna Uchiha
Cultivation: Kage Level
Chakra Nature: Fire, Wind, Lightning
Kekkei Genkai: Mangekyo Sharingan
Skill Points: 72]

The skill points he had obtained were almost enough to exchange for an A-rank Ninjutsu, but obtaining the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan was impossible.

With 300 skill points required, he likely wouldn't even get them after the war with the five clans ended.

Distant water could not quench a nearby fire. Izuna had to make a choice quickly.

Suddenly, Izuna discovered a technique:

[Flying Thunder God Technique (B-rank): Unlocked, Skill Points 80] -> [Flying Thunder God Technique - Second Stage (A-rank): Unlocked, Skill Points ??] -> [Flying Thunder God Technique - Third Stage (S-rank): Unlocked, Skill Points ??]

The initial Flying Thunder God Technique, the one Tobirama Senju used to ambush Taihang Mountain, was B-rank.

It allowed instantaneous movement through a special jutsu inscribed on a custom kunai.

However, it was only capable of single-stage movement, making it rather simplistic to use.

The A-rank ninjutsu, Flying Thunder God Technique - Second Stage, allowed for multiple instantaneous movements at once, with a wider and more flexible range.

Minato Namikaze based his modifications on Tobirama Senju's Flying Thunder God Technique, earning him the title of "The Golden Flash."

The Flying Thunder God Technique - Third Stage could even deploy a barrier to redirect attacks within it.

Minato Namikaze and Tobirama Senju even used this technique to redirect attacks as devastating as Tailed Beast Bombs.

Although the initial Flying Thunder God Technique was only B-rank, its practicality far surpassed that of typical A-rank or even S-rank ninjutsu!

Seeing the Flying Thunder God Technique, Izuna couldn't help but think of Tobirama Senju.

That guy probably doesn't have the nickname "The Fastest Man in the Ninja World" yet.

If he himself possessed the Flying Thunder God Technique, wouldn't he be competing with Tobirama for that title?

Suddenly, an idea struck Izuna.

Wait, a technique similar to Tobirama Senju's...

After pondering for a while, Izuna suddenly stood up and laid out a map on his desk, marking the locations of the Five Allied Clans' encampments in red.

He had always felt that the situation of the Five Clans uniting to attack the Uchiha reminded him of the Sengoku period in his past life, where multiple states attacked Qin.

If that was the case, how did Qin break free from its predicament and unify the world?

It was simple, really: use a stratagem of sowing discord!

Alliances were strong only when united; once they were broken apart, there was nothing to fear.

"Someone, go fetch Minister Sora."

Izuna called out.

The guards stationed at the door immediately responded, "Yes, Deputy Clan Head."

Within a few minutes, Sora Uchiha arrived.

"Deputy Clan Head, is there something you need summoning me for so late at night?"

Sora Uchiha asked as he entered Izuna's room.

"Sit first."

Izuna gestured.

After they sat facing each other, Izuna asked Sora Uchiha, "I summoned you here late at night because I wanted to understand some things."

"Oh?"

Sora Uchiha frowned slightly. "I'm eager to hear it."

"Ten years ago, the Hagoromo clan and the Uchiha clan had a falling out, I know that. But do the other four clans have an ancient feud with our Uchiha?"

"Not exactly. That's why I was also very surprised when Masashige Hagoromo united the four clans to pressure us."

"So, the Fuma and the other four clans are purely acting out of self-interest."

Sora Uchiha nodded in agreement. "That's likely correct. Their clan lands are located in the southern western region, which is perpetually dry. They've likely been coveting our prosperous Uchiha lands for a long time."

After a pause, Sora Uchiha continued, "The Nara, Yamanaka, and Akimichi clans' territories are in the northern western region. While not as prosperous as the lands of the Uchiha or the Senju, they are still decent. Therefore, they weren't in a hurry to get involved in this matter. Of course, more importantly, they feared the power of our Uchiha."