Ninjasteel Mine

Hashirama and Madara were both geniuses of their generation. The commotion from their clash rivaled that of clan heads; with every gesture, mountains crumbled and the earth split, their might terrifying.

"Kill!"

"Fire Release: Dragon Flame Technique!"

The clansmen on both sides began fighting as well. The Uchiha excelled at Fire Release, while the Senju Clan possessed monstrous strength, each punch capable of shattering massive boulders. Both sides gave it everything they had.

"Are they fighting over a Ninjasteel Mine?"

Watching secretly from the shadows, Shusen fell into thought. By eavesdropping on Hashirama and Madara's conversation, he had roughly figured out what had sparked the battle between the two clans.

Ninjasteel was different from ordinary iron ore. It had nearly perfect chakra conductivity, which made ninja tools forged from it far more powerful than ordinary weapons. It was an exceedingly scarce and invaluable resource for war.

The Warring States Period lacked everything. The Uzumaki Clan and Kaguya Clan could fight until their heads bled over an ordinary iron mine, let alone a Ninjasteel Mine worth dozens of times more. No wonder Madara had refused to give Hashirama any room to negotiate.

"Let's see where this Ninjasteel Mine is."

Shusen scanned the area with his Demon Eye and quickly discovered a huge pile of iron ore in a valley near the battlefield. He quietly made his way over.

Ninjasteel looked no different from ordinary iron on the surface. At least, Shusen could not tell them apart with his eyesight.

He picked up a piece of Ninjasteel as thick as his arm and tried channeling chakra through it. The result was an incredibly smooth sensation.

The Ninjasteel felt like an extension of his arm. Chakra flowed through it smoothly and comfortably, with none of the sluggish resistance and discomfort of ordinary metal.

"What a treasure!"

Shusen's eyes gleamed. He planned to forge himself a set of ninja tools from Ninjasteel, which would undoubtedly improve his combat strength.

Just as he considered how to get the Uzumaki Clan involved and claim a share of the spoils—

"Ninja Art: Multiple Shadow Clone Technique!"

Ashina's voice suddenly exploded across the battlefield.

Shusen looked toward the sound and saw Mito and Ashina leading a large group of clansmen into the battlefield, joining the Senju Clan in surrounding the Uchiha.

"Did Sis sense Hashirama's chakra too?"

Shusen was not surprised. He understood that the commotion from Hashirama and Madara's decisive battle had likely drawn Mito here. Mito could use the Mind's Eye of the Kagura as well.

"Not good, the Uzumaki Clan is here!"

The Uchiha clansmen were horrified. The Multiple Shadow Clone Technique was simply too frightening. At first glance, several thousand Uzumaki clansmen seemed to be charging at them in a dense mass, an overwhelmingly intimidating sight that scared them out of their wits.

"Mito!"

Madara's expression changed drastically when he spotted an old acquaintance among the Uzumaki clansmen.

If ordinary Uzumaki clansmen had merely come to reinforce the enemy, he would not have been afraid. But Mito was an existence on his level. If she joined forces with Hashirama, there was no way he could win this battle.

"Hashirama, count yourself lucky this time!"

Madara was deeply unwilling to accept it, gritting out each word.

"But don't get cocky. I will return!"

With that, he flashed backward and shouted, "All units, retreat!"

"Don't let them get away! Chase them!"

The Senju clansmen pursued relentlessly, intending to join forces with the Uzumaki Clan and wipe out the enemy.

"Fire Release: Great Fire Annihilation!"

Madara formed hand seals and unleashed his ultimate technique, opening his mouth to spew a massive fireball at the Senju clansmen.

"Deep Forest Emergence."

Hashirama used Wood Release, and countless trees burst from the earth. The fireball struck the trees and instantly spread, forming a fiercely burning sea of flames that blocked the Senju Clan's pursuit.

"Young Lord Hashirama, should we keep chasing them?"

A clansman asked for instructions.

Hashirama watched Madara's retreating figure, then shook his head with a sigh. "No need."

He then turned toward Mito, who was walking toward him. His body instantly stiffened, and his face flushed without his realizing it. He stammered, "Th-thank you for helping, Second Sister."

Mito smiled faintly, but before she could speak, Ashina beside her asked in surprise, "Second Sister? Are you Big Brother Hashirama?"

Hashirama froze. "Yes, it's me."

"That's great!" Ashina said excitedly. "I'm Uzumaki Ashina. I'd heard long ago that you swore brotherhood with my eldest sister and second brother at the Fire Country imperial palace. I've always wanted to meet you."

"So you're Ashina. I've heard much about you!" Hashirama hurriedly gave him a solemn salute.

"Big Brother Hashirama, you're really amazing. You created an entire forest in an instant," Ashina said with a grin. He truly admired Hashirama; Hashirama's Wood Release had left him awestruck.

"No wonder my eldest sister and second brother swore brotherhood with you. How about I swear brotherhood with you too?"

Hashirama was somewhat unaccustomed to Ashina's enthusiasm. "S-sure..."

"Then let's do it right now!"

Ashina immediately pulled out a kunai and was about to cut himself.

"Don't fool around on the battlefield."

Mito grabbed her younger brother and stopped his childish behavior. She then said to Hashirama, "Uchiha Madara won't let this go. He'll likely gather other Uchiha clansmen, so you'd better rendezvous with your own people too."

"I already sent people to ask my younger brothers and the elders for reinforcements. They should arrive around dusk," Hashirama said.

Mito understood from his words that the Senju Clan seemed prepared for a decisive battle against the Uchiha. She nodded. "That's good."

"Second Sister... you should stay and help us too." Every time Hashirama addressed her as "Second Sister," his heart pounded so fiercely that he nearly felt suffocated.

Mito shook her head. "We need to escort the wounded back to the village. We can't delay."

"But if you need reinforcements, I can ask my father and the others to come help."

"Then I'll have to trouble you to deliver the message, Second Sister."

Hashirama did not stand on ceremony. He explained, "When we fought the Uchiha today, the aftershocks of the battle collapsed a valley. We accidentally discovered a large Ninjasteel Mine buried beneath it, and our battle became a dispute over ownership of the mine."

"Madara is determined to obtain the Ninjasteel Mine. Besides gathering the Uchiha clansmen, he'll definitely seek aid from the Kaguya Clan. Our Senju Clan alone will have difficulty dealing with both clans."

Mito's expression immediately turned grave upon hearing this. She had not expected the battle to involve a Ninjasteel Mine.

The importance of Ninjasteel went without saying. It absolutely could not fall into the hands of the Kaguya Clan and Uchiha.

"Can you take me to see the Ninjasteel Mine?" Mito asked.

"Of course."

Hashirama led Mito and the others toward the valley. Before they arrived, Shusen had already slipped away with several pieces of Ninjasteel in his arms.

"So much Ninjasteel."

Looking at the pile of metal stacked like a small mountain before her, Mito was deeply astonished. She casually picked up a piece of Ninjasteel to test its chakra conductivity.

"If the Kaguya Clan and Uchiha get this Ninjasteel, we'll be in serious trouble!" Even Ashina realized the severity of the situation.

Hashirama hesitated, as though he wanted to say something. For some reason, he suddenly sighed in melancholy.

If the Senju Clan and Uchiha could coexist peacefully, what would it matter if he gave the entire Ninjasteel Mine to Madara?

But he had to consider his clansmen. He could only stand opposed to Madara.

"Big Brother Hashirama, I'll go ask my father and the others to send reinforcements immediately," Mito said seriously.

"Ashina, you and the clansmen will continue escorting the wounded back to the village."