Trouble? Then Don't Bother

Sealing Jutsu: Fire Sealing Method!

With a casual wave, a barrier seal easily snuffed out the Fire Release the Uchiha relied on for survival.

Elder Hiroki could only feel helpless, silently cursing the absurdity of Sealing Jutsu.

He drew his long blade and gathered terrifying Wind Release Chakra.

If this strike landed, it would split someone in two as easily as slicing tofu.

"You never learn." Uzumaki Ashina made no special move. He simply raised his index finger and jabbed hard at the empty space before him.

In an instant, ripples seemed to spread across the entire world.

The fierce, domineering slash couldn't break through the sticky barrier. The closer it came, the more the force within its blade dwindled.

"What the hell is this move now? Can't you just fight me head-on like a normal person?!" Uchiha Hiroki was about ready to explode with rage.

Then a chain of Adamantine Sealing Chains appeared out of nowhere and sent him flying.

The Uchiha elder spat out a mouthful of blood and looked down at his abdomen, which had nearly been pierced through. His eyes flickered with uncertainty.

He realized that his enemy seemed even stronger than before.

Adamantine Sealing Chains was a powerful secret technique capable of suppressing even the Nine-Tails, and Uzumaki Ashina's proudest creation.

Had he used it at full strength, Uchiha Hiroki's body would have been pierced on the spot, leaving him crippled if not dead.

But Ashina hadn't made up his mind yet. He didn't want to completely alienate the Uchiha Clan.

As many people had said, Uzumaki Ashina was a rather indecisive clan head, lacking the drive to cast everything aside and strive for the greatest power.

If his daughter hadn't been captured, this fight probably wouldn't have started anytime soon.

Hiroki slowly got to his feet, his face grave as he considered how to deal with the enemy.

Suddenly, a glimmer of light flashed in the distance. A specially made Kunai whistled through the air, flying toward the enemy from behind, outside his field of vision.

"It won't work." Hiroki shook his head, knowing an attack like that couldn't succeed.

Ashina didn't even need to turn around. A golden chain automatically knocked the Kunai aside.

Just then, Kyosuke appeared out of thin air, his Chidori blade darting toward the enemy several meters away.

"Too far." He sighed inwardly, knowing the attack would most likely come to nothing.

Flying Thunder God hadn't advanced to its second stage, so he couldn't teleport by moving the coordinates.

In other words, where he appeared depended on where the enemy knocked the Kunai.

A few meters wasn't much, but it was enough for an enemy like Uzumaki Ashina to react.

"Space-Time Ninjutsu. Truly extraordinary." A chain swept across, and Kyosuke was sent flying in an instant.

The strength of an elite Jonin was useless against Uzumaki Ashina.

Using a chain to pick up the special Kunai from the ground, Ashina tried making a few hand seals, seemingly searching for a way to seal Space-Time Ninjutsu.

Kyosuke, of course, wasn't about to let such a good opportunity slip by.

Lightning Release Chakra coated his blade as he teleported straight beside the enemy, hoping to use his speed to land a killing blow.

Then he understood the helplessness Minato and Tobirama had felt when facing Six Paths Madara during the Fourth Shinobi World War.

That frustration of being right on the verge of a killing blow, yet unable to break through the enemy's defenses no matter what.

He tried several times, and every attempt ended with him being sent flying.

Even with Elder Hiroki attacking alongside him, they still couldn't break through the dense defense of chains.

You've got to be kidding me. Kyosuke sighed helplessly, realizing they wouldn't get anywhere today.

Uchiha Madara arrived late, but the outcome would have been the same with or without him.

After only a couple of brief exchanges, the Dance King understood just how troublesome their enemy was.

"This is tough," Madara murmured to the others.

"Then don't bother," Kyosuke replied, giving them both a meaningful look before walking up to Uzumaki Ashina alone. "Clan Head Uzumaki, it seems today's battle is destined to end without a result."

"Hand over Mito, and you may leave as you please." Uzumaki Ashina immediately laid out the terms of the deal.

Clearly, he didn't have much experience negotiating with people.

Kyosuke shook his head with a faint smile. "The Uzumaki princess is quite fond of the Uchiha way of treating guests. I'm afraid she won't be going back anytime soon."

Seeing that Ashina was about to attack, Kyosuke smiled and took something out.

It was an item from Uzumaki Ashina's tent. Its appearance in the young man's hand meant he had visited the Uzumaki camp recently.

After a long silence, Ashina's face darkened completely. "Are you threatening me?"

As he spoke, immense Chakra began to rise around his body. Only now did he finally reveal his full strength.

Unfortunately, the more he showed, the clearer it became that he was powerless.

If Kyosuke could sneak into the camp and take something, he could also assassinate anyone he wanted.

The brazen threat left Uzumaki Ashina afraid to make a single rash move.

On one side was his daughter; on the other, his clansmen. Already an indecisive man, he had no idea what to do.

What was more, the young man's Space-Time Ninjutsu was perfectly capable of teleporting the other two away.

Even if Ashina decided to attack, he couldn't keep all three of them there.

"What will it take for you to release her?" Uzumaki Ashina's tone softened.

"The Uzumaki Clan withdraws its forces," Elder Hiroki demanded, making an extremely unreasonable request.

As expected, Ashina flatly refused. There was no room for negotiation.

Madara's suggestion met the same response. In the end, Kyosuke came up with a relatively sensible proposal. "One year. No matter who wins, I guarantee Princess Mito will return safely in a year."

"Why should I believe you?"

"Unfortunately, you don't have much choice."

"Why wait a year?"

The other two were curious about that as well.

Kyosuke gave them a most unexpected answer.

"We need a year to figure out how to defeat you."

"One year." Uzumaki Ashina sighed, knowing he didn't have many options.

He hadn't wanted to side completely with the Senju. Being able to buy a year seemed like a decent option.

"Very well. I accept." Uzumaki Ashina's gaze swept over the three of them, sharp and piercing.

"If anything happens to Mito, my clan will devote the full strength of our country to annihilating the Uchiha Clan."

With that, Uzumaki Ashina turned and left without hesitation.

Whew. The three exchanged glances and finally let out a sigh of relief.

The pressure Uzumaki Ashina exerted was immense. Madara even suspected he might be stronger than his father.

Securing a year was certainly good, but how were they supposed to find a way to defeat him?

"Get outside help," Kyosuke answered without hesitation.

If the Senju could ally with the Uzumaki Clan, then the Uchiha could find allies too.

As for whatever nonsense people said about reputation, it meant nothing when weighed against real benefits.

There were no eternal enemies, only eternal interests.

Once you understood that, nothing was impossible.