Shinhiko Kōzuki's wishful thinking

The shuriken Madara Uchiha hurled at the Gray-Haired Ninja and the female ninja with the high ponytail were never meant to kill them. His real target was the elaborate net those two had laid for Shinhiko Kōzuki.

The two had circled Shinhiko Kōzuki to set traps with wire. Once their trap was complete and activated, countless wires capable of slicing through flesh and lethal shuriken would close in on Shinhiko Kōzuki from every direction.

Madara Uchiha had watched it all. At the last moment, just as they finished their trap, he swapped Shinhiko Kōzuki out of its range. At the same time, a single move from Madara Uchiha altered their entire setup.

The moment they confidently activated their trap was the moment they died.

In an instant, the two Root ninja, who had been certain of victory, were reduced to two heaps of dismembered flesh by their own setup.

After easily disposing of the pair, Madara Uchiha looked at Shinhiko Kōzuki. The old man was laughing wildly as he fought the Bear Mask ninja in a one-on-one clash between real men. Seeing that Shinhiko Kōzuki was in no immediate danger, Madara Uchiha sat down and began recovering his chakra.

By Madara Uchiha's estimate, he had already killed nearly all the powerful enemies, and this Bear Mask ninja was doomed as well. Still, the outcome of the fighting on Iwagakure's side remained unknown, and there was another particularly troublesome enemy to deal with. Being completely unable to use ninjutsu would certainly be a headache.

"Lord Shinhiko! Lord Shinhiko is over here! Hurry!"

Shinhiko Kōzuki and the Bear Mask ninja kept trading blows. As they fought, the Samurai who had been separated from Shinhiko Kōzuki began finding their way over.

The Bear Mask ninja knew all his teammates were dead. Seeing that