Chapter 34: Uchiha Madara Versus Four
While the other nations skirmished, the battle against the Land of Water was exceptionally fierce. Determined to keep the front line at their coast and prevent Konoha shinobi from setting foot on their territory, the forces of Kirigakure launched an aggressive, preemptive offensive.
This proved to be a grave miscalculation. Leading the Konoha forces was Senju Tobirama, a master of Water Release whose prowess was so overwhelming that it left the enemy shinobi wailing for their parents. His massive-scale techniques were so potent they almost began to suspect he was a defector from their own homeland.
For this campaign, Konoha had dispersed its clan-based units, re-forming them into improved squads. On the battlefield, the Hyūga handled reconnaissance with their Byakugan, the Kurama and Uchiha clans cast wide-area genjutsu to sow chaos, and the remaining shinobi provided a relentless barrage of ninjutsu. In an instant, the Land of Water's army suffered innumerable casualties.
On Konoha's side, losses were kept to a minimum. This was thanks to Senju Tobirama's foresight; over the years, he had produced and stockpiled a vast number of mass-healing scrolls. Wounded Konoha shinobi received immediate on-site treatment, drastically reducing the number of sacrifices.
The shinobi of the Land of Water could only retreat back into their country, relying on the sea to maintain a desperate stalemate with Konoha. It was clear to all that if Senju Tobirama were given enough time, a full-scale invasion would be inevitable.
As for the Land of Earth, the conflict was hardly worth mentioning. Senju Hashirama simply engaged in a few perfunctory, probing battles with the First Tsuchikage, keeping up appearances.
The true crucible of the war, however, was in the Land of Lightning, for Uchiha Madara was leading the charge personally.
The First Raikage was simply no match for Madara's overwhelming power. The front line was pushed back again and again until Kumogakure itself was nearly in sight. They could retreat no further.
When the forces of Konoha and Kumogakure next engaged, the Raikage did not shy away as Uchiha Madara stepped onto the battlefield. Instead, he took the initiative, stepping forward to face him.
Immediately after, three other figures appeared on the battlefield, their iconic Kage hats marking their status. The leaders of the other three great nations materialized, forming an encirclement that trapped Madara in the center.
"Second Hokage, why did you instigate this war?" the First Kazekage demanded, his voice sharp.
"The Warring States Period was a chaotic nightmare that lasted for years," the First Mizukage added, his tone heavy. "It was you and Senju Hashirama who led your clans to build a village in the Land of Fire, giving the rest of us the very concept of this new order. Do you now intend to destroy the hard-won peace with your own hands?"
Uchiha Madara stood at the heart of the encirclement, arms crossed over his chest, showing not a hint of alarm at being surrounded by the four most powerful men of their respective nations.
"Mere ants…" he scoffed, his voice dripping with disdain. "How could you possibly comprehend the true meaning of peace?"
In Madara's view, true peace could only be achieved through absolute unification. These complacent, pedantic fools, content to be locked away in their provincial villages, had no right to even speak of peace with him. They were nothing but obstacles hindering its progress.
Of course, Hashirama was the exception.
The Four Kage had originally intended to reason with Madara, but they hadn't expected him to be so utterly uncompromising, with no intention of negotiating whatsoever. They exchanged grim glances and began to weave hand signs in unison.
"Too slow." Madara struck first. "Fire Release: Great Fire Annihilation!"
As the words left his lips, a cataclysmic sea of fire erupted from him, spreading out in all directions like a tidal wave of pure destruction. In the next second, the four Kage unleashed their own techniques in response.
"Magnet Release: Iron Sand World Method!"
"Dust Release: Atomic Dismantling Jutsu!"
"Water Release: Great Torrential Wall!"
The ninjutsu collided with a deafening series of explosions, kicking up a colossal cloud of steam and debris that obscured everyone's vision.
The Kage of four great nations had attacked in concert. As the leaders of their villages, they were naturally the strongest shinobi their countries had to offer—a fact that was a source of immense pride.
But they were facing Uchiha Madara. During their last brief encounter, he had already taught them a harsh lesson in humility. Now that this was a formal battle, they dared not hold anything back, immediately bringing out their signature techniques.
Whether it was combat awareness, speed, strength, or sheer chakra reserves, Madara was in a league of his own. At this moment, he was in his absolute prime. Barring his stamina, which was inferior to the monstrous levels of Senju Hashirama, he was capable of crushing any other shinobi alive.
The Four Kage, however, were a different story. Not every village's first Kage was necessarily their strongest.
Unexpectedly, it was the First Kazekage, Reto, whose combat awareness proved to be the sharpest among the four. However, his use of Sand and Magnet Release was still mediocre; the styles were in their developmental stages, far from the mature and deadly forms they would take in the future. His Wind Release, on the other hand, was quite impressive.
As for the First Tsuchikage Ishikawa's Dust Release, in Madara's eyes, it was utterly pedestrian. In the original timeline, Dust Release would only become the seamless, terrifyingly efficient jutsu he knew after being passed down and refined by two generations—the Second Tsuchikage, Mū, and the old man of the Third, Ōnoki. The current version had a laughably long wind-up time, leaving it completely useless against a foe as swift as Uchiha Madara.
The First Mizukage, Byakuren, was indeed a battle-hardened veteran, but again, he was facing Uchiha Madara.
Just as a beam of Dust Release was about to connect, Madara casually raised his gunbai. With a flick of his wrist, he met the attack head-on.
"Uchiha Reflection!"
The legendary war fan absorbed the Dust Release, converting its chakra into pure wind nature. Madara then channeled his own fire into the fan, combining the energies into a composite technique. A superheated sea of flames, amplified by the stolen wind, surged back at the four Kage.
If it hadn't been for the Mizukage's timely Water Release defense, the First Tsuchikage would have already been grievously injured by his own reflected jutsu.
The battle between the five Kage-level shinobi was so intense that the regular shinobi on both sides couldn't even get close. Even the spectators were forced to retreat far into the distance. With no orders from their commanders, neither army made a move, merely holding their positions and remaining on guard against a surprise attack.
Far in the distance, hidden within the ranks of the Konoha shinobi, Senju Hashirama and Senju Tobirama stood disguised as two ordinary soldiers, their eyes constantly scanning the surroundings. Hashirama's incredible sensory abilities assured him that no other powerful shinobi were approaching.
With that concern addressed, he focused his full attention on the distant battle, occasionally letting out a shout of pure excitement.
"As expected of Madara! That Fire Release was used so exquisitely!"
"The four of them are fighting him at once. Will Madara be at a disadvantage? Should I join in now? But I still have to wait for that man in the black robe to show up, so I can't reveal myself. Ah, this is so frustrating!"
Listening to the stream of commentary, Tobirama felt a vein begin to pulse in his forehead. Whenever something involved Uchiha Madara, his elder brother devolved into… this. 'Could he please stop acting like a pining wife waiting on a cliffside?' he thought with deep exasperation.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the battlefield, Stelle, having rushed from the Land of Wind, used a Transformation Card to assume her 'Mie' persona.
Today's battle was against Uchiha Madara and Senju Hashirama, the two strongest individuals of this era. How could a mere clone's power possibly be enough? A clone was just a clone; even the special, purple-grade Shadow Clone rewarded by the system couldn't compare to her main body.
It would be a complete joke if the final BOSS, who had only appeared after she had orchestrated such a massive commotion, turned out to have mediocre combat power and was easily dispatched by Madara and Hashirama.
Therefore, she had to step onto the battlefield personally.
Besides, she was also intensely curious to see just how strong the techniques created by her 'Greatest Brain' ability could be, without relying on system-provided cheats like Wood Release or the Sharingan.
Fortunately, she had been working hard to grind experience, and with the purple-grade Shadow Clone reward, she could finally create a second one. At that moment, she dispatched this new clone to the Konoha army's camp.
'So, my role is to hide in a pocket dimension, wait for you to finish fighting, then pop out to take a finishing move and die?' the clone, Mie, grumbled from within the system space where Stelle had just sent her.
'Even though I'm a clone, why is my death so weirdly specific? Stupid original body.'
A moment later, the other clone, wearing Stelle's face, arrived at the Konoha camp.
Senju Tobirama, who was watching the battle, was startled by her sudden appearance.
"Weren't you in the Land of Wind? Why are you here?"
The alias of Stelle panted for effect, her expression urgent as she addressed him. "We didn't encounter the First Kazekage in the Land of Wind. I guessed they would pool the power of all Four Kage to deal with Master Madara together, so I came as fast as I could."
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