Tobirama's Advance

"Tobirama Senju!"

This name exploded in the heart of every Uchiha clansman like a thunderclap. The bone-deep hatred instantly overwhelmed the exhaustion of the just-concluded battle; everyone's eyes turned blood-red, and a killing intent so dense it felt tangible permeated the air, causing even the flames burning in the valley to falter.

Uchiha Sou's heart contracted violently, nearly leaping out of his chest. He stared fixedly at the silver figure rushing toward them, his mind a blank slate, save for one absurd and terrifying conjecture echoing wildly—was it really because of him?!

Izuna Uchiha reacted the fastest, and was the most enraged. His originally cold, stern face was twisted by extreme fury, and the Three-Tomoe Sharingan in his eyes spun frantically, nearly blurring into a solid ring.

"Defensive formation! Second and Third Squads, intercept! Everyone else, clear the remaining enemies and prepare for battle!" Izuna's voice was like shards of ice, piercing and sharp, instantly suppressing the brief chaos and demonstrating his superior command capability under fire.

The elite quality of the Uchiha clan was displayed to the fullest at this moment. Despite the sudden turn of events, the clansmen quickly executed the orders. The squads responsible for the flanks immediately turned, unleashing ninjutsu and shuriken like a torrential rain toward the incoming Senju squad, attempting to block their momentum. The others used faster, more ruthless methods to finish off the remaining Hagoromo ninjas nearby, quickly converging toward the core position where Izuna stood.

However, the force Tobirama Senju brought with him was also the elite of the Senju clan!

Facing the Uchiha's interception, Tobirama did not even slow down; he simply formed hand seals with lightning speed.

"Fire Style: Water Wall!"

Boom! A massive wall of water appeared out of thin air, blocking the majority of the long-range attacks. The collision of water and fire emitted a loud hissing sound, generating a vast amount of white steam that instantly obscured their vision.

"Scatter!" Tobirama commanded in a low voice.

The Senju ninjas behind him instantly dispersed, cutting into the Uchiha formation—now hindered by the steam—like precise surgical scalpels!

The battle escalated in an instant, becoming even more tragic and chaotic. Water and fire intertwined, and the flashes of blades and blood flew in tandem. The screams and roars became even more dense than before.

Uchiha Sou was swept into the melee. A Senju ninja swung a heavy short staff at him with immense force. Tsang barely managed to avoid the vital strike using the insight of his Sharingan, but his arm was left numb from the impact. He immediately counterattacked, using a scattering of fireballs from the Fire Style: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique to force the opponent back, while moving rapidly, not daring to stay in one place for even a moment.

His Sharingan spun frantically, capturing every detail around him: clansmen and Senju ninjas locked in mortal combat, Uncle Izuna rushing rapidly toward Tobirama's position, attempting to intercept the greatest threat. And Tobirama Senju...

Tsang's pupils contracted sharply.

Tobirama Senju's goal was extremely clear! He ignored the interceptions along the way, his figure flickering across the battlefield like a ghost. Utilizing the high-speed movement technique known as the "Body Flicker Technique," he skillfully avoided the main combat, heading straight in one direction—the location of the Hagoromo clan captive who had been captured by the Uchiha and was originally intended to be brought back for interrogation!

He was here to silence him! Or to prevent the leak of intelligence!

"Stop him!" An Uchiha ninja saw his intent and roared as he lunged forward.

But Tobirama's speed was too fast! His figure seemed to teleport, easily bypassing the interception, and a special kunai glinting with cold light appeared in his hand.

"Watch out!" Uchiha Sou couldn't help but shout a warning, but his voice was drowned out by the noise of the battlefield.

The two Uchiha chunin guarding the captive stood ready, their Sharingan locked onto Tobirama.

However, the next moment, Tobirama's figure suddenly became blurred, shimmering like a reflection in water.

Is it a genjutsu? No! Tsang's Sharingan captured an extremely subtle fluctuation of chakra; it wasn't a common genjutsu, but a visual deception created by high-speed movement and a Water Clone!

The real Tobirama had already appeared from an incredibly tricky angle!

"Water Style: Water Severing Wave!"

A thin, high-pressure line of water shot from his mouth, moving with astonishing speed like a ray of death, sweeping across in an instant!

Ssh! Ssh!

The bodies of the two Uchiha chunin standing guard stiffened abruptly. Before they could even change their defensive posture, their necks or chests had already been severed by the high-pressure water line. Blood sprayed out, and they slowly collapsed with looks of disbelief in their eyes.

Clean and efficient, a fatal blow!

Tobirama Senju's fighting style was efficient, cold, and filled with precise calculations, completely different from the Uchiha's wild and explosive style.

Having eliminated the guards, Tobirama did not hesitate; the kunai in his hand shot directly toward the two bound, terrified Hagoromo captives.

Puff! Puff!

The kunai sank precisely into their hearts, severing the final source of intelligence.

After doing all this, Tobirama didn't even spare the corpses a second glance. His cold gaze swept across the entire field, immediately locking onto Izuna Uchiha, who was rushing toward him in a frenzy.

"Tobirama Senju!" Izuna's roar was filled with monstrous hatred. The ninja blade in his hand ignited with scorching Fire Style chakra, like an angry firebird, and he slashed down!

"Izuna Uchiha." Tobirama's voice was equally cold, devoid of any ripples. He quickly drew the short blade from his back, and while parrying, his other hand was already forming seals.

"Water Style: Water Dragon Bullet!"

A massive water dragon soared into the sky, colliding fiercely with Izuna's fire ninjutsu!

BOOM!!!

A massive explosion erupted in the center of the valley, and the shockwave generated by the clash of water and fire sent several ninjas fighting nearby flying!

Uchiha Sou was also pushed into a stagger by the blast, barely managing to stand firm. He watched the clash between these two top-tier powerhouses of the Warring States period in shock; the power collision, far exceeding his current level, left his mind reeling.

But at the same time, a deeper chill rose from the bottom of his heart.

The timing of Tobirama Senju's appearance was too coincidental, and his purpose was too clear. He wasn't here to rescue the Hagoromo outpost; he was more like he was here to... ensure certain things happened, for instance, ensuring that the evidence (the living captives) of the collusion between the Hagoromo clan and the Senju was completely erased, or perhaps... to escalate the conflict?

If his own unintentional action had truly, through a twist of fate, "facilitated" this encounter... then what kind of role was he playing in this massive vortex of karma?

He had only wanted to throw a shuriken to protect himself, and perhaps... subconsciously, he had wanted to try and change a tiny bit of Uncle Izuna's fate?

But now, looking at Izuna, who was locked in a fierce battle with Tobirama with killing intent boiling over, and looking at the Uchiha and Senju clansmen falling one after another around him, he felt the weight of fate and the cruel absurdity of war with unprecedented clarity.

His tiny butterfly wings seemed to have truly stirred up an unexpected storm. And the final direction of this storm filled him with fear and confusion.

The battle continued, becoming increasingly white-hot. The figures of Izuna and Tobirama constantly collided and separated amidst the explosions and the clash of water and fire, every exchange fraught with danger.

Uchiha Sou forced himself to calm down, his Sharingan fixed tightly on the battlefield, especially on Tobirama's movements. He knew that his current strength was insignificant, but even if he could only capture a glimmer of an opportunity, perhaps he could...

At that very moment, after clashing head-on with Izuna and leaping backward using the momentum, Tobirama's gaze seemed to sweep vaguely in his direction.

That look was cold and sharp, as if it could pierce through everything.

Uchiha Sou felt a sudden chill shoot up his spine, as if he had been locked onto by some incredibly dangerous prehistoric beast.

The next instant, Tobirama's figure vanished once again.

He did not charge toward Izuna, but instead transformed into a streak of light, hurtling straight toward Uchiha Sou from an inconceivable angle!

That speed was far beyond what he had shown before!

"Tsang! Look out!" Izuna's startled cry came from not far away, laced with a trace of unprecedented shock and fury.

The shadow of death instantly enveloped Uchiha Sou completely!

Tobirama Senju, in the midst of a fierce battle with Izuna Uchiha, had actually chosen to prioritize attacking him, the "inconspicuous" one?!