Choosing How to End the Battle

Choosing How to End the Battle

Without facing Uchiha Madara's terrifying burst of power head-on, merely feeling the heat of the Fire Release and the might of Susanoo from afar, Tobirama Senju had begun to worry that his older brother, Senju Hashirama, might not be Uchiha Madara's match. But no amount of worry would help. When Clan Leader Tier ninjas fought, outsiders could not easily intervene.

This battle could almost be called a defeat for the Senju Clan. Their casualties were twice those of the Uchiha Clan.

As for the ninja clans that had sided with the Senju Clan, nearly all of them were on the verge of extinction.

Against Uchiha Jonin with Three-Tomoe Sharingan, it often took two ninjas of equal caliber working together just to contend with one Uchiha Jonin. Otherwise, in a one-on-one fight, they could easily be forcibly killed by the Uchiha Jonin.

Ever since Uchiha Jobu had proposed the rank divisions of Genin, Chunin, and Jonin, many had accepted this classification. But above Jonin, there was another rank: Clan Leader Tier.

Covered in white bones, he charged recklessly through the battlefield. He could even forcibly kill Chunin. If Izuna Uchiha had not been injured and required him to come rescue him, Uchiha Jobu would still have been farming treasure chests right now.

Killing an enemy allowed him to open a treasure chest. Chests dropped by Genin were wooden, and mostly contained Kunai or ninjutsu skill fragments. Chunin chests were iron-grade, and could contain ninjutsu skill fragments or Kekkei Genkai fragments.

The corpses of Jonin were of higher quality, producing bronze-grade chests that could directly yield complete ninjutsu skills or complete Kekkei Genkai.

As for ninjas at the Clan Leader Tier, even if Uchiha Jobu wanted to kill one, he did not yet have the strength. Even with all his Kekkei Genkai and Uchiha Style Ninjutsu, he still could not fight Clan Leader Tier ninjas like Uchiha Madara and Senju Hashirama.

Unless his body grew a few more years, allowing his strength and chakra reserves to increase greatly. Then, with Shikotsumyaku and the utterly useless Rust Release, he might have a chance to try fighting an Elite Jonin.

The leaders of most ninja clans were Elite Jonin. Compared to the Kage of the ninja villages of the five great nations in the future, there was still quite a gap in strength.

"Jobu, how is the battle going? Can my brother defeat Senju Hashirama?"

Izuna Uchiha pressed a hand tightly over his eye socket, trying to use pain to ease the agony of losing his Sharingan. But it was almost useless. Blood continued to seep through his fingers, and it was clear that he was in terrible pain.

Having lost one Sharingan, Izuna Uchiha likely had no chance of ever advancing to the Mangekyō Sharingan.

However.

Uchiha Jobu frowned slightly and said, "Don't think too much right now. You don't need to worry about the battle. Madara Uchiha can't lose."

"I knew my brother was the strongest!"

Uchiha Jobu handed Izuna Uchiha over to the clan's medical ninjas so they could stop the bleeding first and prevent him from falling into danger from excessive blood loss.

Uchiha Jobu withdrew the bones extending from his body and merely used his Sharingan to watch the two terrifying figures clash.

"Madara Uchiha and Hashirama are not far apart in strength. Madara Uchiha looks slightly stronger, but his chakra reserves are nowhere near Senju Hashirama's. If this continues, it will be disadvantageous for Madara Uchiha..."

"Besides, he awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan only because he personally witnessed Izuna having his Sharingan dug out, and the extreme rage stimulated him. He forced himself to use Susanoo the very first time he awakened it. Even if Madara Uchiha now possesses Clan Leader Tier strength, the burden on his body is too great."

"This battle cannot continue. There is no need to rush when dealing with the Senju Clan. There will be plenty of time in the future. End this battle first, then talk about what comes next."

Uchiha Jobu leaped out, drawing as close to the edge of the battle as he could, and shouted, "Madara Uchiha! Stop fighting! We don't have much of an advantage, and if we keep going, our losses will only grow worse. Izuna's injuries are the most important thing right now, not wiping out the Senju Clan!"

The waves of fire rushing toward him were scorching, as though he had been thrown into a blaze. As expected of Uchiha Madara. His strength really is terrifying.

Senju Hashirama suddenly brought his hands together, and massive trees rose one after another from the ground, forming a barrier against the flames.

"Izuna!"

"Madara Uchiha! We can't keep fighting. Just as Jobu said, if the two of us continue, the Senju Clan and the Uchiha Clan will gain nothing but greater losses!"

"Shut up! If I can't kill Tobirama, I will never stop!"

"Listen to me. I can make Tobirama return Izuna's Sharingan, and I will make him apologize too. Will you stop then?"

Senju Hashirama only wanted to end this battle, no matter what method it took.

But upon hearing his older brother say that, Tobirama Senju could hardly believe it. He had only just managed to dig out a Sharingan and severely wound an important member of the Uchiha Clan.

Uchiha Jobu hurriedly shouted, "Madara Uchiha, get the Sharingan back first. We can heal Izuna afterward. There will be plenty of opportunities and time to deal with the Senju Clan in the future. Don't let Izuna lose the light for the sake of the hatred before you!"