Chapter:121

The Uchiha Camp in Chaos

"Deputy Chief, this is far too dangerous!"

"Uzumaki Guanghai, that cunning old man!"

"How can we agree to such terms?"

The Uchiha camp at Mountain Pass was in an uproar. The reply letter from Uzumaki Guanghai had caused widespread outrage among the Uchiha clan. In the letter, Uzumaki Guanghai stated that he was willing to agree to Izuna's conditions for a decisive battle. However, there was a stipulation: Izuna must bring Uzumaki Mito, unaccompanied, to the central line of Shiratani Pass for the exchange. No other Uchiha was allowed to accompany him—failure to meet these conditions would nullify the agreement.

The implication was clear: it was a trap designed to ensure Izuna's death.

The camp erupted into protests, with clan members voicing their indignation and urging Izuna to reject the conditions outright. After all, the Uchiha could hold their defensive position indefinitely if needed.

"Everyone, calm down!" Izuna's sharp voice cut through the commotion. Raising his hand, he quieted the crowd before continuing coldly, "We may have time to waste, but what about the frontal battlefield at Mountain Camp? Can they afford to wait?"

The mention of Mountain Pass silenced the crowd. On the frontlines, Uchiha forces had transitioned from offense to defense, and with Kage-level ninjas like Uchiha Madara and Uchiha Ishiki injured, the situation had grown dire. On the opposing side, Senju Kawaragi and his elite forces pressed harder with each passing day.

Izuna rose to his feet, his tone decisive. "I intended to handle this myself from the beginning."

A Dangerous Plan

"Deputy Chief, you can't possibly…" Uchiha Akechi's words faltered as disbelief swept through the camp.

The idea of one person facing five hundred Senju and Uzumaki shinobi was unthinkable. These were not ordinary foes—they were led by Kage-level masters like Senju Kawaragi and Uzumaki Guanghai, with countless skilled jōnin under their command.

Izuna smirked, a confident gleam in his eyes. "Now that Senju Hashirama has claimed the title of the strongest Senju, it's time for me to fulfill my promise—to make Kawaragi step aside and clear the way for others."

The season had turned to winter, and a biting cold wind swept across the bare mountain ranges that had borne witness to months of relentless warfare.

Preparing for the Decisive Encounter

"Deputy Chief, the Intelligence Department reports that approximately five hundred Senju-Uzumaki allied shinobi, led by Senju Kawaragi and Uzumaki Guanghai, have gathered at the mountain's summit," Uchiha Retsu informed Izuna.

Izuna stood atop a massive rock, surveying the landscape. Beside him was Uzumaki Mito, her hands bound behind her with a rope designed to suppress ninja movement. Despite her prisoner's garb, there was an air of calm dignity about her.

"Deputy Chief, what if we launch a surprise attack from the rear once the battle begins?" Uchiha Akechi suggested.

"Stop spouting nonsense," Izuna snapped. "The Uzumaki's sensory abilities are on par with the Hyuga's Byakugan. You think they wouldn't notice?"

Gripping Mito's bound hands, Izuna turned toward the trail ahead. "I'll handle this alone."

Akechi and Retsu exchanged worried glances. Finally, Retsu spoke, "Deputy Chief, if anything goes wrong, please don't hesitate to send a signal flare. We'll come to your aid immediately."

The Uchiha forces watched as Izuna and Mito descended the path. Under Akechi's command, the camp entered a state of heightened alert. If Izuna's signal flare was launched, the entire army would mobilize to rescue him.

---

The Allied Forces' Response

At the forefront of the five-hundred-strong Senju-Uzumaki alliance, a sensor ninja reported to Uzumaki Guanghai, "Great Elder, I sense two distinct chakra signatures approaching—one belongs to Uchiha Izuna, and the other to Princess Mito."

"Only two?" Guanghai's brows furrowed in surprise. He hadn't expected Izuna to actually come alone. He had even prepared contingencies to rescue Mito, anticipating treachery.

"Yes, Elder," the sensor ninja confirmed. "Within a twenty-mile radius, there are no other chakra signatures."

Senju Kawaragi's lips curled into a sly grin. "If Uchiha Izuna is so eager to meet his end, we'd be remiss not to oblige him."

"Do as you will," Guanghai said, his tone grim. "But no one is to act until Mito is safe. Understood?"

"Yes, sir!" came the unanimous response from the gathered shinobi.

---

The Meeting

More than ten miles away, Izuna untied the ropes binding Mito's hands. The two walked toward the meeting point at an unhurried pace.

"After this, we may never meet again," Mito said softly, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear.

"That's impossible to say," Izuna replied, crossing his arms casually.

Mito smiled faintly. "Still as stubborn as ever, I see. That's just like you."

They walked in silence for the next stretch, the tension between them unspoken but palpable. As they neared the perimeter of the Uzumaki's sensory range, Mito extended her hands. "Alright, tie me up again. After all, we're supposed to be enemies."

Izuna didn't respond immediately. Instead, he hooked a finger under Mito's chin, tilting her face up. Before she could react, he kissed her. Mito froze in surprise for a moment before leaning into the kiss, returning it with equal fervor.

It was a moment of defiance—an intimate act performed mere miles away from their waiting enemies, where no one could see but the two of them.

---

Confrontation

Twenty minutes later, a gust of cold wind carried yellowed leaves across the battlefield as Uzumaki Guanghai and Senju Kawaragi spotted two figures approaching. The tension was palpable as the gathered shinobi watched the infamous Uchiha Izuna stride forward, his demeanor calm and unshaken. Beside him walked Mito, her hands loosely bound.

"Uchiha Izuna, release Mito at once!" Guanghai's voice was hoarse with emotion, his eyes glistening as he saw his granddaughter after so long.

Izuna smirked, tilting his head. "Now, now, Elder Guanghai. There's no need to be so hostile. We may very well become family someday."

As if to provoke further, Izuna lightly brushed his fingers across Mito's cheek. The gesture sent Guanghai's blood boiling, but he bit down his anger for Mito's sake.

"Don't worry," Izuna said, his tone mocking. "I wouldn't dream of disrespecting a lady."

With that, Izuna untied Mito's ropes, and she quickly disappeared into the Uzumaki ranks. The allied shinobi immediately surrounded her protectively.

Izuna's Sharingan spun into the Mangekyō form as he stood alone before the five hundred shinobi. Sage pattern markings etched themselves along the sides of his face as he brought his hands together in a seal.

"Let's begin, shall we?" he said, his voice calm yet commanding.

"Sage Art: Fire Release—Fire Annihilation!"

A torrent of blazing flames erupted from Izuna, scorching the battlefield and marking the start of the decisive confrontation.