Izuna's Mangekyo

"You're as despicable as ever, Tobirama."

At the sound of the voice, Tobirama Senju and Uchiha Sen instinctively looked toward where it had come from.

Izuna had appeared at some point on the watchtower overlooking the Uchiha camp at Mount Taihang. His right hand was held in a one-handed Hand Seal, the corner of his mouth lifted in the faintest smile. He stared straight at Tobirama. "Attacking an enemy where they think an attack is impossible—that's so like you."

From what he remembered, Tobirama Senju shouldn't have learned the Flying Thunder God Technique yet at this point in time.

But judging by the technique he'd just displayed, there was no doubt he'd already mastered the Flying Thunder God Technique.

And not only that—he'd very likely been keeping it in reserve, waiting to use it for this operation.

Tobirama clicked his tongue in annoyance and said coldly, "Likewise. You saw through my plan..."

Tobirama had developed the Flying Thunder God Technique several months ago, but had kept it hidden as a secret weapon, waiting for a chance to strike the Uchiha Clan where it hurt and kill them in one blow.

Mount Taihang had been an impenetrable barrier for the Uchiha Clan for hundreds of years.

But that had also made the Uchiha overconfident in the place. They had sent too much of their strength to the front lines, leaving Mount Taihang's defenses vulnerable.

No ordinary ninja—not even someone at Kage Level—could slip past so many people on the front lines and infiltrate Mount Taihang under the Uchiha Clan's watch.

But Tobirama could, thanks to the Flying Thunder God Technique and his abilities as a Sensory Type Ninja.

He was also naturally an exceptionally powerful sensory ninja, even surpassing Hashirama Senju in that regard. He could sense everything happening across an entire battlefield.

At his peak, he could even sense the precise number of enemies on the opposing battlefield in one go.

By launching a surprise attack on his own, he had miraculously broken through the Uchiha Clan's final line of defense, led by Uchiha Sen.

He'd been on the verge of taking this place, then joining the Senju Vice Clan Leader, Senju Takeuma, and his older brother, Hashirama Senju, to attack from both sides.

If they succeeded, the Uchiha might not be wiped out, but they would suffer a crippling blow and lose the ability to contend with the Senju.

But Izuna's sudden arrival had caught him completely off guard.

Uchiha Sen was also stunned to see Izuna. "Young Clan Head Izuna, weren't you on the front lines?"

"Uncle Sen, stand down for now. Give emergency treatment to the clan members who are still breathing."

Izuna said this as he jumped down from the watchtower.

Uchiha Sen was a contemporary of Tajima Uchiha, so Izuna naturally addressed him that way.

Wiping the blood running down his forehead, Uchiha Sen lifted two Uchiha Jonin who were still breathing. "Be careful. That kid's technique is downright unnatural."

Uchiha Sen's strength had originally been on par with Tobirama's, and he was even more experienced.

But the Flying Thunder God really was a technique on a whole other level. It could let its user kill opponents far above their weight class.

"Things didn't go quite as planned, but never mind."

Tobirama recovered from his surprise, his face settling back into its usual poker expression. He took out a fresh Flying Thunder God Kunai and said, "Once I capture you, you can serve as a bargaining chip in negotiations with the Uchiha."

They had fought many times, and Tobirama knew Izuna's strength. He was certain that, with the Flying Thunder God, he couldn't lose.

"Heh. Big talk."

Izuna replied coldly. The Three Tomoe in his eyes spun rapidly, transforming into a new shape with three vertical strokes, like the character for "person"!

"A Sharingan I've never seen before?!"

Tobirama was taken aback.

But he didn't let it rattle him. He formed a Hand Seal with one hand, and the next moment, a tsunami-like Water Release surged behind him, rising more than twenty meters high.

Water Release: Water Shockwave!

Ninja in the Warring States Period could be said to be far stronger than those of later eras. The Genin of this age were almost all stronger than the Chunin of Naruto's time.

"Fire Release: Great Fire Annihilation!"

Izuna brought his hands together, took a light breath, and unleashed a massive Fire Release from his mouth. Its area of effect was no smaller than Tobirama's Water Release.

RUMBLE!

As fire and water collided, the immense steam and shock wave sent tents in the Uchiha camp flying, along with the bodies of some of the clan members.

What a pity. Their eyes could still be recovered and used, but eye-transplant techniques didn't seem to be very advanced in this era...

Izuna thought to himself.

It was a dark practice, but in the Warring States Period, it was nothing unusual.

Suddenly, Tobirama's chakra vanished.

Less than a second later, he appeared about ten meters above Izuna.

The collision between their powerful Ninjutsu had sent the Flying Thunder God Kunai Tobirama had planted around the area flying into the air.

One of them had been swept above Izuna's head, and Tobirama had taken the opportunity to teleport there.

"I've got you!"

Tobirama shouted.

But he didn't know that the instant he vanished using the Flying Thunder God, the Mangekyo Sharingan beneath Izuna's bangs had begun spinning wildly. A scene like something from a film played out in his left eye—

In the vision, Tobirama vanished using the Flying Thunder God, then teleported above Izuna and attacked the crown of his head with the hand-seal-less Water Release Ninjutsu, Heavenly Weeping.

Just as predicted, the vision faded, and Tobirama, above Izuna, sprayed a torrent of water needles down at him like a sudden rainstorm.

"Water Release: Heavenly Weeping!"

Izuna pulled a scroll from the tool pouch strapped to his thigh and pressed his palm against it. Countless Kunai and Shuriken sprang out.

Nearly invisible threads were attached to them.

In an instant, Izuna held the threads in both hands and whipped them sharply overhead.

WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH!

The Kunai and water needles collided. After a fierce clash, they dissolved into sprays of water and Scrap Iron, scattering through the air.

"Uchiha Shurikenjutsu?"

Tobirama's pupils narrowed. But what shocked him even more was that Izuna had completely seen through the trajectory of his attack.

How was that possible?!

This should have been Izuna's first time seeing the Flying Thunder God!