Ambush

Hyuga Hoshishaku felt a bitter taste in his mouth as he rode the bird away.

He knew exactly how events would unfold, yet he lacked the power to intervene or change anything.

If he possessed sufficient strength, he could simply drag Black Zetsu out into the open, expose the deception carved into the stone tablet at the Uchiha shrine right in front of Uchiha Madara, and wouldn't the turmoil of the coming decades be resolved just like that?

But he dared not.

If even Six Paths Madara from the original story couldn't escape Black Zetsu's sneak attack, what could he possibly use to dismantle Black Zetsu's conspiracy?

Therefore, he could only sit by and watch as the seeds of disaster were sown.

The only consolation was his intimate knowledge of the plot to come.

Thinking this, he steered the bird back along the path he had traveled.

The night was exceptionally thick this evening.

With the two "giants" no longer providing a source of light, the earth was pitch black, revealing nothing.

To prevent any accidents and to observe the scars left upon the land by the two powerhouses, Hoshishaku activated his Byakugan and flew back along his original route.

In the world of the Byakugan, chakra coated the scars on the earth with a faint glow.

Hoshishaku could hardly imagine that the battlefield of two ninjas, each with chakra levels exceeding a million, would still retain such a massive residue of energy.

On the back of the bird, Hyuga Hoshishaku looked down at the catastrophic wounds carved into the earth, his shock gradually giving way to numbness.

He just wanted to get back quickly now.

He truly could not stand the atmosphere left in the wake of such a disaster.

Just as his gaze swept over the lake where the battle had begun, a humanoid figure with an intensely violent chakra signature appeared in his vision.

"What is this?"

A flicker of curiosity rose within him instinctively.

Who would appear at the very spot where two powerhouses had just clashed?

Was it a ninja sent from the village to investigate?

In the moment of his curiosity, chakra surged into his Byakugan, enhancing its observational capabilities.

With this boost, the visual range of his Byakugan extended even further.

Hoshishaku focused his gaze, and upon seeing who it was, he felt as if the top of his skull had been ripped off; a sensation of scalp-tingling terror and full-body tremors swept through him!

That familiar figure in red armor was none other than Uchiha Madara!

Hoshishaku instinctively steered the bird to gain altitude.

He hoped the man hadn't noticed him.

But reality rarely conforms to one's wishes.

A point of deep blue light ignited.

Hoshishaku looked through his Byakugan and saw that Uchiha Madara had manifested a pair of wings using his Susanoo, rapidly closing the distance toward them.

Suppressing his inner panic, he cast a System Inspection.

[Name: Uchiha Madara (Shadow Clone)]
[Vitality: 1]
[Mental Power: 1]
[Chakra: 95,000]
[Jutsu: Fire Style series, Sealing Technique series, Genjutsu series, Taijutsu series...]
[Special Ability: Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan (False)]

Although this Uchiha Madara was a Shadow Clone, it still possessed nearly 100,000 units of chakra and most of the original's abilities.

Hoshishaku quickly considered how to deal with his opponent.

Madara leaving a Shadow Clone here clearly meant he had some scheme in motion.

Since he had used his Byakugan to peer into the man's presence, he might have disrupted those plans, and the clone would certainly not let him go.

As for Senju Yuto, Uchiha Madara would surely not make things difficult for him; after all, he was the son of his good brother.

After a brief moment of thought, he created a Shadow Clone, manifested another bird, and placed Yuto on it, instructing the clone to take him back.

He himself remained hovering in the air on the dark bird, beginning to prepare a secret ninjutsu.

(If you can't find the book by its title, try searching for the author; perhaps the name has simply been changed!)

(In response to the requests of our readers, we have now launched a VIP membership feature that removes advertisements.)

(Click to view)

As Uchiha Madara's Shadow Clone approached Hyuga Hoshishaku, he saw clearly that the two in the sky were not his targets.

He was also very familiar with the one who had just flown away; it was Hashirama's youngest son, Senju Yuto.

It seems his old ailment has flared up again; he faints the moment night falls.

I truly don't know how someone as robust as Senju Hashirama could produce such a sickly weakling, Uchiha Madara thought to himself.

Leaving just like this was not his style.

And so, he flew forward, looking down from above at the brat from the Hyuga Clan.

"You have courage, staying behind to face me while sending your companion away."

He spoke thus.

Upon hearing this, Hyuga Hoshishaku managed a strained smile and replied:

"Lord Uchiha Madara, thank you for the compliment. That is my best friend; I had no other choice."

"However, I am only seven years old this year. As the strongest in the Ninja World, you surely wouldn't bully a child, would you?"

Uchiha Madara nodded slightly, seemingly satisfied with the title of the strongest in the Ninja World, and replied with a tone of disdain and contempt:

"Hmph, the mission of this shadow clone is merely to kill that wicked brat Senju Tobirama. Not just any stray dog catches my eye—get lost, quickly."

Uchiha Madara's words caused Hoshishaku, who had originally intended to flee, to freeze in place.

"Are you saying that you intend to kill Senju Tobirama?"

He suddenly asked in a calm tone.

Uchiha Madara narrowed his eyes, staring into those of Hyuga Hoshishaku, and replied:

"That is correct, brat of the Hyuga. What, do you intend to go and tip him off?"

Hoshishaku shook his head, denying it:

"Of course not. I only wish to know, since you did not kill him before, why do you intend to kill him today?"

"After all, you are currently battling Lord Senju Hashirama. Why would you be distracted enough to lie in ambush for Senju Tobirama here?"

"Hahahaha, that eyesore of a fellow, to think he would dare appear here. It was here, it was right here that Izuna..."

Uchiha Madara suddenly began to mutter to himself, his emotions highly unstable; one moment he was laughing wildly, the next he seemed trapped in a trance.

At this moment, Hoshishaku suddenly spoke up: "I know that Teacher Tobirama killed your younger brother, but were Teacher Tobirama's younger brothers—the several brothers of Lord Hashirama—not all tortured to death by members of the Uchiha Clan using genjutsu?"

These words were like a sharp blade, piercing into Uchiha Madara's heart.

For a moment, the image of his brother's face and the face of his dear friend Hashirama surfaced in his mind.

Just as he prepared to retort, a giant tiger of exaggerated size suddenly appeared, bit down on him, and dragged him toward the sealing scroll on the back of a flying bird.

Possessing formidable combat instincts, Uchiha Madara reacted in that very instant.

But this shadow clone of his lacked too much of the original body's power, especially his resistance to sealing techniques, which was nearly zero.

Thus, he only had time to roar in anger while simultaneously forming the hand seals for a Fire Style jutsu.

"Brat, you dare show off such tricks before me!"

"Fire Style: Majestic Destroyer Flame!"

At this moment, Hoshishaku maintained the Sealing Technique: Tiger Staring Down.

With his other hand, he pulled out a stock sealing paper.

Sealing Technique: Fire Sealing Method!

With both sealing techniques activated simultaneously, Hoshishaku's chakra was rapidly drained away.

The moment Uchiha Madara's shadow clone was dragged into the sealing scroll, it transformed into a puff of mist and dissipated.

The briefly appearing flames were also absorbed into the Fire Sealing Method.

This brief confrontation—or rather, sneak attack—against the Asura of the Ninja World: Hyuga Hoshishaku wins!

By occupying the advantage of pre-set sealing techniques.

By occupying the advantage of the opponent's contempt.

By occupying the advantage of the opponent's distraction.

By occupying the advantage of the opponent being a shadow clone; under these multiple premises.

Hyuga Hoshishaku, possessing the strength of a jonin, won a highly perilous victory!