Izanagi

Uchiha Xiao saw the expression on Uzumaki Mito's face and knew she had heard of it, but seeing Tsunade and Nawaki looking blankly confused, he shook his head.

"The Izanagi of the Uchiha clan is a forbidden technique. It was once all the rage within the clan, and during that time, the Uchiha were thrown into complete chaos," Uchiha Xiao murmured.

"Izanagi, also known as the technique that distorts reality, can alter a reality that has already occurred, allowing one to survive death." Having said this, Uchiha Xiao sighed.

Tsunade and Nawaki's eyes widened. Distorting reality? Reversing life and death—wasn't that a bit too absurd? If the Uchiha possessed such an ability, they would have become the number one ninja clan long ago!

"You don't believe it?" Uzumaki Mito looked at her grandson and granddaughter. "It is all true, though there are few records of it within our Uzumaki Clan. However, it seems that activating this technique requires a tremendous price, doesn't it?"

Uchiha Xiao nodded. "Lady Mito is correct; the price is indeed immense." As he finished speaking, his eyes instantly shifted from black to blood-red, with three tomoe spinning within them.

After Uchiha Xiao activated his Three-Tomoe Sharingan, Tsunade and Nawaki were stunned for a moment before a wave of oppressive pressure washed over them.

At this time, there was only one Mangekyo Sharingan in Konoha, and that was Uchiha Hirotomo, but he preferred to hide his true strength and also presented himself with the Three-Tomoe.

In the eyes of the Konoha villagers, the Three-Tomoe Sharingan was the strongest state of the Uchiha's eyes.

As a powerhouse at the semi-Kage level, Tsunade had seen many Three-Tomoe Sharingan, but this was the first time she had felt such pressure from one like Uchiha Xiao's.

While others' Three-Tomoe Sharingan were similar to Uchiha Xiao's, she just felt the sense of oppression was different.

It was no wonder Tsunade felt this way; Uchiha Xiao currently possessed Jonin-level chakra, and all of it was natural energy.

Natural energy stored within his body was constantly improving Uchiha Xiao's physique, and as one of his organs, the Sharingan was naturally strengthened as well.

In terms of ocular power, his current Three-Tomoe was enough to rival an ordinary Mangekyo, meaning it was at the Kage level.

Therefore, it was only natural that Tsunade felt suppressed.

Returning to the topic at hand.

"The price of Izanagi is one Sharingan," Uchiha Xiao said calmly. "After activating Izanagi, one can distort reality, returning oneself from a state of being killed back to one's initial prime state. At the same time, the pupil of one Sharingan vanishes, leaving only the white of the eye—it becomes a useless eye."

Tsunade and Nawaki gasped. Didn't that just mean having two extra lives?

"So, you mean Madara Uchiha was truly dead at that time? He calculated the timing and prepared to activate Izanagi in advance?" Uzumaki Mito asked with a grave expression.

"Yes, Madara Uchiha must have been gambling—gambling that Hashirama would not let anyone touch his corpse or take his eyes. Fortunately, he won that gamble," Uchiha Xiao chuckled.

"Madara Uchiha is still alive! Then what should we do?" Tsunade asked, worried.

Uchiha Xiao laughed. "What does it matter if he is alive? The outside world says he is dead, and he hasn't stepped out to clarify it, which means that although he is alive, his strength has significantly declined. We should just go about our business; he won't make a move."

Uzumaki Mito nodded slightly, signaling her agreement with Uchiha Xiao's words.

One must know that as the Asura of the Ninja World, Madara Uchiha's fearsome reputation was well-earned. Compared to the simple and kind-hearted Senju Hashirama, who was often called a "naive fool," Madara Uchiha was decisive and ruthless, a man who truly acted with lethal efficiency.

Thinking back to the first Five Kage Summit, Madara Uchiha had not yet left the village at that time. Back then, Senju Hashirama had actually intended to distribute the Tailed Beasts to various nations to maintain so-called peace.

However, upon hearing this proposal, Madara Uchiha had retorted bluntly on the spot: "Distribute them to them? Hashirama, you must be joking!"

Surprisingly, the Second Hokage Senju Tobirama, who always disagreed with Madara Uchiha, had rarely stood on his side regarding this matter.

It was a pity that Senju Hashirama was stubborn and insisted on pushing his plan forward despite everyone's opposition. In the end, he even performed a shocking act—bowing his head to the other four nations to beg them to listen to his suggestions.

If it had been the hot-tempered Madara Uchiha handling this matter, he surely would have roared with overwhelming dominance: "You all bow to me, and this matter will be settled!" How could he have swallowed his pride like Senju Hashirama?

Returning to the present, Uzumaki Mito sighed softly and shook her head helplessly. "It seems Madara knows Hashirama's temperament like the back of his hand."

Uchiha Xiao nodded thoughtfully in agreement and further speculated, "Madara inciting Nawaki to go to the front lines must be because Nawaki possesses something he is determined to obtain."

Tsunade shook her head vigorously, her face full of disbelief. "Nawaki is just a lowly Genin; how could he possibly attract the attention of someone like Madara?"

Clearly, Tsunade could not accept this explanation at all.

However, Uchiha Xiao only replied calmly, "Don't forget, he possesses the bloodline of Hashirama! In other words, that means Hashirama cells."

Upon hearing this, Uzumaki Mito's face turned ashen.

It was true; although Nawaki had not yet awakened the Wood Release, it was undeniable that the blood flowing in his veins was the closest to the First Hokage Senju Hashirama—even Tsunade, as his older sister, could not compare to him in this regard.

Seeing everyone fall into silence, Uchiha Xiao continued, "If it truly comes to that, once Nawaki encounters an unexpected situation while Madara's subordinates are lurking in the shadows, waiting for an opportunity... then I think I don't need to say what Nawaki's fate will be, do I?"

These words struck Tsunade's heart like a thunderbolt.

A terrifying image involuntarily surfaced in her mind—the scene of Nawaki being cruelly killed by the enemy. In an instant, Tsunade felt the world spinning and her vision darkening; her entire body began to sway.

She stumbled backward, her steps feeling unusually unsteady. In her panic, Tsunade reached out a hand to the table beside her, trying to steady herself.

But due to her extreme fear and anxiety, her arm refused to obey her, and it took a great deal of effort before she could barely support her body, which was on the verge of collapsing to the floor.

Tsunade's eyes reddened as she looked at Nawaki. "You brat, can you not go to the battlefield this time? Go tell Orochimaru that you aren't going out this time, please..."

Tsunade's voice trembled as she pleaded.