Chapter 89: Raizen's Assault on the Senju
"Do it!"
The command came from Uchiha Madara, who had arrived with the main Uchiha force. Seeing the Kaguya's final, suicidal gambit had crippled the Senju-Uzumaki alliance, he gave the order to attack. This was the moment they had engineered.
"Fire Release: Susano'o's Fury!" Madara roared. With his Mangekyō empowered and the enemy reeling, this was the perfect time for a large-scale assault. A cataclysmic wave of black flames, amplified by his rage and power, washed over the battlefield, incinerating the remnants of the bone forest and the disoriented shinobi within.
Hashirama, his guard down in the aftermath of the Kaguya's sacrifice and his mind reeling from the betrayal, had let his Wood Release defenses weaken. The enhanced black flames tore through the wooden barriers with ease.
"The Uchiha!" Hashirama's voice was a mix of grief and fury. "Everyone, brace yourselves! The true battle begins now!"
The sight of Madara's attack erased all doubt. This entire tragedy—the Kaguya's rampage, the destruction of their clan—had been orchestrated by the Uchiha. Even Hashirama, who had clung to the hope of a misunderstanding, could no longer deny the cold, calculating malice behind it all.
While chaos reigned on the main battlefield, Uchiha Raizen and his elite squad stood at the edge of the now-vulnerable Senju compound.
"Remember the objective of this raid," Raizen addressed his team, his voice cold and focused. "We are here to deliver a message the Senju will never forget. If Tobirama shows himself, leave him to me. The rest of you, cause as much havoc as possible."
"Elder Raizen," one of the jōnin cautioned, "Tobirama's power is approaching the Kage-level. Are you sure you can…?"
"Let's not put any more pressure on me than there already is, alright?" Raizen replied with a wry, humorless smile. "Now, move out! Lightning Release: False Darkness!"
He initiated the assault. Knowing the Senju's affinity for Water and Earth Release, he led with a powerful Lightning technique. The spear of crackling electricity shot forward, capable of piercing earth and conducting through water with devastating effect.
As Raizen acted, the rest of the Uchiba squad unleashed their own hell, flooding into the Senju streets with fire and steel.
"Raizen! I knew your clan was up to no good!" Senju Tobirama's voice cut through the chaos as he appeared, instantly taking command of the defense. "All units, engage at full strength! Signal the shadow teams outside the perimeter! Alert my brother that the clan lands are under attack!"
The next moment, a volley of flare signals lit up the sky above the Senju compound, their brilliant light a desperate cry for help.
Raizen grimaced. If Hashirama sees that and breaks away, Madara's force will be in trouble. But his own mission was clear. He had to complete his objective here and then rendezvous with Madara.
"Tobirama," Raizen called out, his Sharingan spinning to life. "I let you slip away last time. There will be no second chance. Fire Release: Great Fire Dragon Technique!"
But he didn't aim the massive fire dragon at Tobirama. Instead, he sent ten roaring pillars of fire high into the air above the village.
Tobirama was baffled. What is he doing? This is a waste of chakra. Unless… he has another goal.
"Water Release: Heavenly Rain!" Tobirama countered instantly, summoning a downpour to meet the fire dragons in the sky.
The two colossal techniques collided mid-air. Fire and water canceled each other out, but the massive release of energy superheated the atmosphere, creating a thick, heavy blanket of dark, swirling clouds and saturating the air with moisture.
Seeing the perfect conditions he had just helped create, a slow, triumphant smile spread across Uchiha Raizen's face.
"Hidden Mist Technique: Labyrinth!" he whispered.
In an instant, the entire Senju compound was swallowed by an impenetrable, chakra-infused fog. The trap was sprung. Tobirama had taken the bait, and now the Uchiha hunters had the perfect cover for their slaughter.