Space itself seemed to fall into a brief pause.
Then came the burst—like a mountain torrent breaking loose. Countless ninja were blown apart, flesh and corpses scattering through the air.
Even more terrifying was the chain of explosions. The central peak of Shirotani Pass was blasted out of existence.
Senju Yuma threw his arms across his chest. He didn't even know how far he'd been flung before he finally stopped.
Around him lay several Senju and a few Uzumaki ninja—dead or unconscious, he couldn't tell.
Looking ahead, the Two-Tails—once enormous—was now only palm-sized.
It had been blasted from one mountain to another!
That alone proved how monstrously tough Senju Yuma's Kage-level body was—and proved even more how horrifying that joint technique between Izuna and the Two-Tails had been.
"My Chakra is exhausted," the Two-Tails said.
"I know. Withdraw," Izuna said without turning around.
The Two-Tails didn't bother with courtesy. It turned and, despite its huge body, moved with agile speed across the ridgelines, vanishing in short order.
"How much combat power do we have left?" Senju Yuma forced himself to stand, ignoring the agony stabbing through his back.
Only two of the Senju and Uzumaki ninja near him managed to get back to their feet.
The others who were down—he couldn't tell if they were unconscious or dead.
"Not as good as a Wood Clone... but in this situation, it should still be enough," Izuna muttered on the opposite peak. He formed a cross-shaped hand seal.
Shadow Clone Jutsu!
In one breath, dozens of clones split off and scattered in all directions.
"Fire Release: Majestic Destroyer Flame!"
"Sage Art: Super Great Ball Rasengan!"
"Amaterasu!"
High-level techniques flew out one after another, without pause.
Even with Shadow Clone Jutsu, an ordinary ninja couldn't sustain this kind of output. Chakra consumption doubled; for most, using even two S-rank techniques was already the limit.
If they split into three shadow clones, it was impossible for each clone to fire one S-rank technique. Before it could even release it, the clone would dispel itself due to lack of Chakra—and the lost Chakra would still be deducted from the original body.
The reason Izuna's shadow clones could fling out high-level techniques like maniacs, one after another, was simple: the vast Chakra reserves in his main body.
The most famous example was Uzumaki Naruto, the man supposedly known for only three techniques.
During the Fourth Great Ninja War, that guy had flipped the battlefield with thousands of shadow clones.
Even if Izuna didn't have that kind of cheat, what he had was more than enough for this war.
"All clansmen and allied forces who can still move—retreat!" Seeing this, Senju Yuma already knew they couldn't keep fighting.
He didn't understand why Izuna—who had used Izanagi and lost an eye—was now displaying even stronger power.
But there was no time to think.
For now, they could only withdraw their remaining strength to Mount Congyun and wait for a later chance to counterattack.
"Everyone else can go. You don't get to."
Izuna controlled the humanoid Susanoo, its feet fully formed. In a few bounds, it vaulted over the ridgelines, charging straight toward Senju Yuma's peak.
"Quick! Protect the clan head!"
"Clan head, move first!"
Several Senju ninja in front of Senju Yuma threw themselves in the way, squeezing out their last traces of Chakra in a desperate attempt to halt Susanoo's advance.
"Get out of my way, you trash!"
Inside Susanoo, Izuna formed seals at speed. "Sage Art: Fire Release: Great Fire Annihilation!"
And that wasn't all. The tomoe of his right Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan spun rapidly.
Amaterasu!
A dual-flame onslaught—there might not have been a stronger Fire Release technique in this era.
"Block it with everything you've got!"
A Senju Jonin was nearly scared witless, barely controlling his bladder, but he summoned the last of his courage. With a roar, he slammed his hands onto the ground.
"Earth Release: Earth Flow River!"
Rumble!
A wall of muddy clay abruptly rose to a height of over 20 m, momentarily blocking the Sage Chakra-infused Amaterasu.
However, the respite lasted no more than three seconds before the flames broke through.
A second and third Senju ninja exhausted the last of their Chakra to maintain the defense.
"Summoning: Rashomon!"
"Earth Release: Heaven-Descending Clay!"
Using the few seconds bought with their lives and remaining Chakra, the group of Senju shouted to Senju Yuma, "Clan Head, run! Hurry!"
"I told you, didn't I? He isn't going anywhere."
Izuna's voice drifted through the defensive ninjutsu, followed immediately by the roar of a Susanoo.
The humanoid Susanoo was encased in a layer of heavy, thick armor.
"Blaze Release: Kagutsuchi: Sword of Amaterasu!"
Boom!
The armored Susanoo brought its sword down, rendering all defenses before it utterly useless.
With a single strike, everything was destroyed!
"This... this monster!"
Senju Yuma's body trembled as he shouted, "Everyone who can still move, retreat with me!"
Squinting, Izuna pulled a signal flare from the ninja tool pouch at his waist and pulled the ring.
The flare ascended 1,000 m into the sky before exploding into fireworks shaped like the Uchiha clan crest.
"A signal flare?"
In the midst of retreating, Uzumaki Hiro'umi glanced up at the fireworks overhead.
"Senju Yuma, don't make me say it a third time. You are not permitted to leave."
A Wind Release: Rasenshuriken began to rotate in Izuna's right hand, coated by the Amaterasu from his right eye.
It formed a wheel of black, spiraling wind.
Scorch Release: Halo Hurricane Jet Black Arrow Style Zero!
"Barrier: Space Separation!"
Displaying a proficiency with the Great Fireball technique comparable to the Uchiha, the Grand Elder Uzumaki Hiro'umi stepped in, forming a massive, transparent wall in front of Senju Yuma.
"How could a parlor trick like that possibly withstand this attack!?" Izuna shouted wildly.
Sure enough, the Scorch Release: Halo Hurricane Jet Black Arrow Style Zero pierced the defense in half a second, flying straight toward Senju Yuma.
Dozens of li away from Izuna's battlefield.
Continuous explosions and the smoke from high-level ninjutsu rose into the sky.
Uchiha Akichi swallowed hard, his voice trembling. "Is... is it still going on? The Vice-Clan Head... he's alright, isn't he?"
Just as he spoke, a streak of light trailing blue smoke shot up into the sky with a sharp whistle, followed by a loud pop!
It formed the pattern of an Uchiha fan high above.
"It's the Vice-Clan Head's request for backup!" Uchiha Akichi raised his hand and shouted, "All units, follow me to rescue the Vice-Clan Head!"
"Yes!"
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