"Wind Release: Vacuum Wave!"
"Lightning Release: False Darkness!"
The Uchiha ninja who had scattered gritted their teeth. "He's using that strange wooden statue to release five different elemental jutsu at once!?"
Izuna's pupils constricted. He manipulated Susanoo's other hand to generate spinning Yasaka Magatama, enhanced with Amaterasu!
"Blaze Release: Yasaka Magatama!"
His gaze sharpened as he controlled the Susanoo to hurl the magatama. "What good are multiple elements? Let's settle this with raw power, Hashirama!"
Indeed, elemental variety was secondary—power was what mattered most. After all, a chunin skilled in Water Release couldn't defeat a jonin skilled in Fire Release.
But Hashirama's technique wasn't lacking in power either!
Hashirama's earlier warning had been correct. When the two attacks collided, the mere shockwave devastated everything around them like a force of nature.
The reason the two combatants in the center remained unharmed was because they were protected by Susanoo and Wood Release. Anyone else would have been blown to pieces.
"Let's go, Izuna!"
Hashirama clapped his hands together again. The hundred fists on the Kannon's back swelled and shot forward like a violent storm, assaulting the Susanoo.
This was a weakened version of Summit Enlightenment, wasn't it?
But to Izuna, it looked more like a certain rubber fruit user's technique.
Quickly banishing these stray thoughts, Izuna gripped the Amaterasu blade with both of Susanoo's hands and met the attack head-on.
The battle between Uchiha Izuna and Senju Hashirama at Mount Congyun shook heaven and earth.
The fight lasted a full day and night with no end in sight.
It finally concluded when Hashirama's chakra depleted first, forcing him to fall back and retreat.
But seeing that he couldn't capture Hashirama with complete certainty, Izuna didn't order a pursuit.
This battle marked the opening of a legend.
With the Uchiha, Senju, and the third clan—the Uzumaki—taking the lead, people began calling Uchiha Izuna and Senju Hashirama the "Twin Heroes."
After that battle, when the Senju and Uzumaki saw that Hashirama's combat power didn't differ much from Izuna's, they once again shifted from defensive to offensive strategy.
In just one month, Izuna clashed with Hashirama five times.
As time passed, the title gradually spread throughout the Warring States.
Through word of mouth among the various ninja clans, commoners, and samurai, the title "Twin Heroes" eventually expanded to become the "Twin Heroes of the Warring States."
When Izuna learned of this title, he couldn't help but grin strangely.
Wasn't this supposed to be Uchiha Madara and Senju Hashirama's title? How did it end up on my head?
And it's so homoerotic—wouldn't it suit Madara better?
Besides, Mito was still waiting for him back in distant Uzushiogakure.
When Madara heard about this title, his feelings were complicated.
How should he put it?
Madara himself didn't know what he was thinking. Was it frustration at losing to his younger brother, or the sense that his best friend had been stolen away?
Izuna didn't want to delve into these questions.
But after a month, Madara finally completed Sage Mode. He could minimize the drawbacks brought by the Mangekyo to their lowest point.
After fully mastering Sage Mode, Madara eagerly declared he wanted to join the battlefield—the Uchiha would take the offensive.
This battle maniac had been forced to hold back for half a year due to the Mangekyo's burden. He must have been dying to fight.
But Izuna still persuaded the battle-eager Madara to stand down—though this time not to stop him from entering the battlefield, but to discuss battle assignments.
"Big brother, though I hate to undermine your confidence, Senju Hashirama's current strength far exceeds yours. Even if you bring out the armored form of Susanoo, it's only a thirty-seventy split at best—him seventy, you thirty."
Hearing Izuna's counsel, Madara clenched his fists.
But surprisingly, he didn't argue.
Izuna continued, "Though Sage Mode has reduced the burden your Mangekyo Sharingan places on you, your eyes were already on the verge of blindness to begin with. There's still significant danger. We must stake everything on one decisive strike."
"Big brother, your first battle returning to the field will be the final battle that decides this war."
Madara looked up, meeting Izuna's gaze directly. "You already have a strategy, don't you, Izuna?"
"Correct."
Izuna nodded. "As my summoning beast and one of my trump cards, I haven't summoned the Two-Tails to fight for months now because Uzumaki Hiro'umi and Uzumaki Wakou, leading the Uzumaki clan, have seemingly avoided my battles with Hashirama while actually observing my actions from behind."
"During the battle at Shirotani Pass, they learned that their sealing techniques are the absolute nemesis of Tailed Beasts. They've been waiting for me to summon the Two-Tails so they can seal it. If that happened, not only would we fail to win, but we'd risk letting those Uzumaki take the Two-Tails."
Madara spoke up, "So the Uzumaki are mine then?"
"Though sealing techniques have a strong suppressive effect on Tailed Beasts, they don't work the same way on the Sharingan."
Izuna agreed.
Madara crossed his arms, revealing a knowing smile. "Haha! You fancy that Uzumaki girl, so it's awkward to fight your future in-laws, right? I'll play the bad guy—I don't mind!"
At this sudden cold joke from Madara, Izuna merely twitched the corner of his mouth without responding.
But in a way, it wasn't wrong.
Thinking carefully—himself, Madara, and on the opposing side, Senju Hashirama and Senju Tobirama.
The four people most active in the Warring States era and most remembered in history would finally all meet in this one war, wouldn't they?
In the original timeline, his own reputation couldn't compare to Uchiha Madara's. In the future, even many within the clan didn't know of him.
But now, the situation was completely different.
Especially since Izuna never expected he would be called the "Twin Heroes of the Warring States" alongside Senju Hashirama before Madara.
When Izuna gathered the high-ranking officers in the main camp and announced that Madara would also participate in the next battle, everyone's eyes focused on Madara.
"C-Clan Head, your eyes... are they all right now?" Uchiha Gakugyo asked hesitantly.
He remembered vividly—months ago, after Madara activated the armored form of Susanoo, the utterly twisted agony he displayed.
For someone of Madara's caliber to show such an expression—it was impossible to imagine what kind of pain he had endured.
"Who do you think I am!"
Madara declared proudly, "I'm the leader of the Uchiha clan, Uchiha Madara! This minor injury—Izuna already healed me. It's nothing!"
In an instant, everyone turned their gazes to Izuna, awaiting his answer.
Izuna mentally cursed Madara for being so damn prideful.
His eyes had already been on the verge of blindness, and now they were only temporarily alleviated, yet he spoke as if he were completely fine.
But since the words had been spoken, he could only back them up.
"The Clan Head is right. However, this war has dragged on too long. The next battle will be the Clan Head's comeback battle and the final battle that determines this year-long war!"
Izuna waved his hand.
"With the Clan Head and Vice-Clan Head fighting together, our Uchiha victory is within reach!"
"I, Watanabe Ryokai, shall serve as vanguard and clear the path for Clan Head Madara and Vice-Clan Head Izuna!"
"The Kikawa clan as well!"
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