The So-Called Independent Consciousness of a Shadow Clone

War was on the verge of breaking out, but the Shadow Clone did not immediately summon the original body. In his view, this would probably just be a minor skirmish.

A Shadow Clone's independent consciousness was tied to the caster's personality. This particular clone felt that this was nothing more than a one-sided act of revenge by the Senju.

"Hmph! The original body's talent has long surpassed Senju Tobirama's, and he's so busy already. Him coming here would just be a waste of time. Let them have their fun."

He then turned and returned to the office. More than two thousand ninja had been dispatched from the Clan Grounds at once, and many arrangements needed to be made again. The Shadow Clone sighed. Wasn't he a tool himself as well?

Night fell. Winter had only just passed, and the air in the darkness carried a lingering chill. The hibernating birds and beasts had yet to fully awaken. A quiet night like this was perfect for doing bad things.

The Shadow Clone yawned, stood up, and stretched his body. Looking out the window, he felt that things seemed a little too quiet.

"Someone!"

Whoosh!

The moment he spoke, an Uchiha ninja carrying a longsword used the Body Flicker Technique to appear in the room.

"My lord!"

"Go check what's going on with the sentries outside. Something is wrong in the Clan Grounds."

"Yes!"

It was not even eleven yet. The clan members' lives had gradually improved, and their nightlife had become increasingly lively. How could they all have gone to bed so early?

Screech—pop!

Hmm?! The sound of a signal flare?

The Shadow Clone's eyes widened, and he nearly roared:

"Level-one alert!!"

The Uchiha Clan Grounds, which had expanded several times over, instantly sounded the alarm. In less than a minute, the rooftops were packed with ninja. Everyone was fully equipped, without the slightest trace of panic from the sudden alert.

Uchiha Yuan's Shadow Clone stepped outside and looked toward the signal flare, utterly baffled. That location was still quite some distance from the Uchiha. What did it mean?

"Where are the clan members on outer perimeter watch?"

The people around him looked at one another, but not a single person stepped forward to answer.

"Split into fifteen-man squads and investigate everything within a hundred li! Do not overlook any potential threat!"

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!

Once those around him departed, the area instantly became empty. The Shadow Clone rested his chin on his hand, unable to understand what was happening tonight. Should he call the original body over now?

Elsewhere, over a hundred kilometers from the Uchiha Clan Grounds, Madara led around two thousand Uchiha ninja to the vicinity of the mineral vein. Yet the mine was left in complete disarray, and there was no need to say that all the ore stored inside had already been moved away.

"Investigate the area!"

Just as the surrounding clan members were about to move, four enormous energy pillars suddenly rose around them. In the blink of an eye, everyone was trapped within a square barrier.

"What?!"

Faced with this sudden situation, the formation immediately fell into disorder. Madara's brows furrowed uneasily. Something was wrong. He immediately activated his Mangekyō Sharingan and looked toward the tops of the surrounding mines.

"Madara! Today will be the day your Uchiha perish!"

Whoosh!

Torches blazed in a rolling sea, like a fire dragon lying across the mountain range. Countless ninja stretched out in an unbroken line.

Hashirama Senju and Tobirama slowly emerged atop the mountain. Many unfamiliar faces stood behind them, while Hashirama, at the front, desperately sent signals with his eyes as though he had been electrocuted.

"Senju!"

Madara's expression darkened. He quickly realized that he had fallen into an ambush, but where had the enemy found so many people?

The Uchiha's vision was unaffected by the darkness. By their clothing, they identified the origins of these people.

Izuna stood beside Madara, gripping the Blazing Fire Sword, eager for battle.

"Brother, aside from the Senju, I've also spotted people from the Sarutobi, Shimura, and Hyuga Clan."

"So this is their confidence?"

Madara stepped forward in his boots, his armor pressed tightly against his body. He slowly left the formation and stared at the faces of the ninja atop the mine. His gaze settled on Hashirama's twitching expression as he muttered to himself.

"Was I betrayed?"

He could not believe it. He had trusted him so deeply—Hashirama...

At that moment, Hashirama's face had practically gone numb from all the twitching. Madara still had not caught his hint, and seeing Madara's expression grow darker and darker, his heart ached as well.

"...I'm sorry, Madara."

"Brother, what are you saying? Why haven't you given the order to attack? They're still panicking. Delays could bring complications!"

Hashirama took a deep breath. Things had already come to this. All he could do was leave it to fate.

"Attack!"

The air fell silent for a brief instant, then roars tore through the sky, and cries of slaughter rose like thunder.

Ninja were not actually suited to large-scale group combat. Once there were too many people, many ninjutsu could no longer be used. A slight miscalculation could easily hit an ally, so melee weapons such as blades, swords, and kunai were most commonly used in mass fights.

Madara said nothing. In the darkness, the Uchiha seemed like a pack of evil ghosts crawling out of hell. Every one of them possessed two pairs of blood-red, sinister eyes, and merely looking at them was enough to make one tremble in terror.

"If that's how it is, then we can't let them look down on us. Follow me..."

"Kill!!"

Clang!

Long blades left their sheaths. Tonight was destined to be sleepless.

Meanwhile, at the rear of the Uchiha Clan Grounds, Uchiha Yuan's Shadow Clone likewise detected an approaching group of unfamiliar ninja. He immediately gathered another group of clan members and rushed over. Yet when he arrived, he discovered that the enemy was the Ino–Shika–Cho.

"What do you mean by this?!"

The two groups remained far apart, and the Ino–Shika–Cho party did not answer immediately.

"That man is Uchiha Yuan, the Uchiha's true clan head."

The pineapple-haired Nara Clan ninja recognized Uchiha Yuan at a glance and exchanged looks with the two beside him.

"Go!"

The Shadow Clone frowned, but he did not fear battle. He immediately clashed with them.

The battles on both sides were quite large in scale, and the explosions made it easy to determine their locations.

Madara casually sent a ninja flying with his war fan, then charged straight at Hashirama. Hashirama hesitated, trading blows with every Uchiha he encountered. Noticing Madara drawing closer and closer, he let out a dejected sigh and went to meet him.

"Madara!"

"Hashirama!!"

"Susanoo!"

"Wood Release! Wood Human Technique!"

Rumble!

Two giants rose from the earth. The center of the battle instantly became the most dangerous area. Other than the Senju and Uchiha ninja, who were already used to this and had fled their positions early, dozens from the other clans were buried underground in an instant.

Bang!

Susanoo wielded twin blades and slashed wildly, immediately suppressing the Wood Human by half a body length.

Wood chips flew from the Wood Human's arms, and before long, they broke into several pieces.

"Wood Dragon Technique!"

"Wood Release! Flower Tree World Advent!"

"Hashirama!"

Madara roared. His Mangekyō Sharingan spun, and a streak of bloody tears ran from the corner of his eye.

"Ah!! Don't think you're the only one getting stronger!"

Susanoo grew taller again. Wings appeared on its back, and the patterns on its armor seemed almost real.

With a single strike, the nearly two-hundred-meter-long greatsword sheared off a mountain peak. Hashirama darted through the Flower Tree World, knowing in his heart that Madara was truly enraged.

"Wood Release! World of Trees Advent!!"

He clapped his hands together, and several kilometers of land shook. On the battlefield, where slaughter cries shook the heavens, the fighting ninja suddenly felt uneasy.