Chapter:120

Early the Next Morning

As Izuna gradually woke from his slumber, he realized the warmth of the person he had held the night before was no longer by his side. Opening his eyes, he found Mito sitting before a cabinet mirror, adjusting her hair and dressed in the same Uchiha kunoichi uniform she had worn during their raid on a Senju stronghold.

"You're awake?" she asked, turning her head at the sound of movement behind her. With a soft smile, Mito approached, carrying Izuna's neatly folded robes. "Here, let me help you dress."

Izuna opened his mouth to speak but ultimately said nothing. The words he wanted to say lodged in his throat. He wanted to ask her to stay, to wake up like this every day, but he knew it was impossible.

Mito, with her serene demeanor, helped him tie his belt, her fingers as steady as her resolve. When she handed him his white kimono—a clear sign of what was to come—Izuna's heart sank.

"Can't we postpone this? See you off tomorrow instead?" he asked, his tone almost childlike.

Mito froze for a moment, her expression shifting between surprise and amusement before she let out a light laugh. Standing on her tiptoes, she pressed a kiss to his lips before shaking her head.

Izuna's Proposal

Izuna eventually relented, though reluctantly. He sent Uchiha Retsu as an envoy, accompanied by three jounin. They carried with them Mito's white kimono, carefully wrapped, along with a handwritten letter from Izuna addressed to Uzumaki Hiroyuki in the Senju camp.

In the Senju camp, Senju Kawaragi and his advisors were in the midst of discussing their defensive strategy when a chūnin entered the tent to report. "Clan leader, Elder Guanghai, the Uchiha envoy has arrived with a delivery for Elder Guanghai."

"A delivery?" Uzumaki Guanghai frowned. The Senju and Uzumaki leaders exchanged questioning glances before kawaragi nodded. "Bring them in."

In the world of shinobi, the rule was clear: envoys were not to be harmed during wartime. Soon, the chūnin returned, carrying a small, neatly wrapped package, which he placed on the table before kawaragi.

"This is it, clan leader," the chūnin said.

"Understood," kawaragi replied, gesturing for him to leave. Uzumaki Guanghai and the other senior members of the camp gathered around the package, their curiosity piqued.

Using a kunai, kawaragi carefully cut through the wrapping, exposing the contents. Inside was a pristine white kimono, its fabric of extraordinary quality. It was immediately recognizable as the work of a master artisan.

The Senju members looked at the garment with mild curiosity, but the Uzumaki clan members reacted with shock. Guanghai's expression darkened as he recognized the kimono at a glance—it belonged to his granddaughter, Uzumaki Mito.

"There's a letter," kawaragi announced, extracting a folded piece of parchment tucked into the folds of the kimono. He handed it to Guanghai.

Guanghai tore open the envelope, his hands trembling as he scanned its contents. His entire body shook with fury as he read the letter, and he nearly tore it apart in his anger. Instead, he slammed his foot into the ground, his chakra flaring. "Uchiha Izuna! That little brat dares to mock me!"

"What does it say?" kawaragi asked, taking the letter. As he read it, his expression hardened.

---

The Letter from Izuna

The letter was written in Izuna's confident hand:

> "Elder Guanghai,

Your noble princess has been treated with the utmost respect as a distinguished guest in our camp. However, as the conflict between our armies persists, our resources are strained, and I fear the princess may face undue hardship in the future.

To avoid such a situation, I propose a decisive battle between our forces to determine the fate of Mountain Pass. As a gesture of good faith, I am willing to return Princess Mito to you should you agree.

Handwritten by Uchiha Izuna."

Senju Kawaragi set the letter down, a cold snort escaping him. "This Uchiha Izuna is shameless, using Princess Mito as leverage."

One of the senior Senju jounin spoke up. "Clan leader, this is obviously a trap. Izuna is trying to lure us into a confrontation. We must not fall for it."

Before kawaragi could respond, an Uzumaki ninja retorted angrily, "Are you suggesting we abandon Princess Mito? Is her safety meaningless to you?"

"That's not what I meant—"

"Then what did you mean?" the Uzumaki ninja pressed, his voice rising. "The Uzumaki clan came here to aid the Senju, and now, when our princess is in danger, you suggest we do nothing? Don't forget, Princess Mito is engaged to your deputy chief!"

Tempers flared as the two sides began to argue, but Kawaragi's voice cut through the tension like a blade. "Enough!"

The camp fell silent. Kawaragi, as the leader of the Senju clan, carried an authority that demanded obedience. The temperature in the tent seemed to drop as his cold gaze swept over the gathered shinobi.

Hiroyuki spoke, his tone measured but resolute. "Izuna's intent is clear—he wishes to force our hand. I understand the risks, but as Mito's grandfather, I cannot stand idly by. If the Senju refuse to act, then the Uzumaki will take matters into our own hands."

Kawaragi raised a hand to stop him. "Elder Guanghai, we cannot let Uchiha Izuna manipulate us into internal conflict. The Senju will not ignore Princess Mito's plight."

After a brief pause, kawaragi added, "But we must ensure Izuna doesn't use this as a ploy to escape without returning her. What do you propose?"

Guanghai thought for a moment before responding. "Send a reply. Agree to meet on the battlefield with both armies present. Insist that Izuna personally deliver Mito before the confrontation begins. If he truly wants a one-on-one fight, he won't object."

Kawaragi's eyes lit up at the suggestion. It was a sound strategy—one that would guarantee Mito's safety while forcing Izuna into a precarious position.

Kawaragi nodded in approval. "This is an excellent plan. Once Mito is safely returned, we'll overwhelm Izuna with the full might of our combined forces."

The senior jounin around the table murmured their agreement. Although they respected Izuna's strength, the odds were firmly in their favor. Their combined forces numbered over 500 shinobi, including two Kage-level leaders. Even with the two-tailed beast on his side, Izuna stood little chance against such overwhelming numbers.

Guanghai allowed himself a small smile. "This time, Izuna will face the consequences of his arrogance."

Though the room seemed confident, kawaragi silently acknowledged the cunning behind Izuna's strategy. Forcing such a confrontation was a bold move, but one misstep could cost him everything.

"This ends now," kawaragi declared, his voice resolute. "Prepare the troops. We'll send our response immediately."

As the Senju and Uzumaki leaders finalized their plans, the resolve in the room solidified. Izuna had issued the challenge, and now they would ensure he regretted it.