Chapter:126

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Dozens of miles away from the battlefield, continuous explosions and smoke from advanced ninjutsu rose into the sky. The scene was chaotic, a testament to the fierce battle that had unfolded.

Uchiha Akechi swallowed hard, his voice trembling. "Is it still going on? Is the deputy chief... okay?"

As if in response, a streak of light with a trail of green smoke shot into the sky with a sharp whoosh, followed by a pop. A pattern of the Uchiha clan's fan emblem formed in the air.

"It's the deputy chief's signal for help!" Akechi shouted, his voice urgent. "Everyone, follow me to rescue the deputy chief!"

"Yes!" came the resounding reply.

In unison, 400 Uchiha troops rushed out, their steps quick and determined as they raced toward the battlefield.

"Could he truly be in danger?" Uchiha Retsu asked, running alongside Akechi.

"But his ability to hold out this long proves his strength," Akechi replied, biting his lip so hard it bled. "It's all or nothing! Today, the battle at the mountain will come to an end!"

The elite Uchiha forces led by Akechi and Retsu reached the battlefield first. As they approached from ten miles away, the scene became grim. Corpses lay strewn along the road, and the smell of death lingered in the air.

Counting the fallen as they advanced, the Uchiha were shocked by the scale of destruction.

"There!" Akechi pointed to a lone figure atop a mountain.

Standing tall against the horizon, Izuna was still, the breeze carrying the pungent smell of blood and ash.

Akechi leaped to Izuna's side, kneeling on one knee. "Deputy Chief, what is the situation?"

"It's a pity," Izuna said, his voice calm but heavy. "I couldn't kill Senju Kawaragi."

Uchiha Retsu moved to support him, but Izuna raised a hand, refusing the assistance. "However," he continued, "after my final attack, he'll never step foot on the battlefield again."

The surrounding Uchiha jounin exchanged glances, their shock evident. Could it be true that the Senju and Uzumaki forces—five hundred strong—had been completely routed?

"Clear the battlefield within a fifty-mile radius," Izuna ordered. "Kill any survivors. Show no mercy."

Removing his battered armor, Izuna descended from the mountaintop, leaving his stunned comrades behind to execute his commands.

Back at the Uchiha camp, Izuna instructed his servants to prepare hot water. While waiting, he took a mirror to examine his newly awakened Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan.

"An inverted pattern compared to Madara's," he murmured. "But it will do."

Satisfied, Izuna slept deeply until noon the next day. After a simple lunch, he made his way to the tent where Mito had stayed during the past year. Memories of the war and their shared moments lingered, but he quickly turned his attention back to his responsibilities.

He summoned Uchiha Akechi, Uchiha Retsu, and ten other elite jounin to the main tent for a strategy meeting. Facing Izuna on the main seat, the jounin displayed a mix of awe and respect.

"How goes the cleanup operation?" Izuna asked, his tone authoritative.

Stepping forward, Akechi bowed deeply. "Deputy Chief, the battlefield has been cleared. All Senju and Uzumaki forces have either been killed or fled. We've confirmed that the mountain is completely under Uchiha control."

"Good," Izuna replied, nodding. "What about the condition of the terrain?"

Akechi hesitated before answering. "Due to your... extensive battle, the area has suffered significant damage. What was once a rugged mountain pass is now leveled terrain. It could serve as an easy route for future enemy invasions."

Izuna considered this and finally said, "After the war, I will propose to the clan that the mountain be fortified and permanently garrisoned. For now, ensure that temporary defenses are established immediately."

"Understood," Akechi replied.

"Before that," Izuna added, "prepare the reserves of wine and meat. Tonight, we celebrate this victory."

The announcement was met with joy, and the once-serious expressions of the jounin softened. The war at the mountain had lasted an entire year, testing their endurance and resolve. At long last, they could breathe a sigh of relief.

That evening, the Uchiha camp transformed. Bonfires blazed, and the typically reserved Uchiha celebrated with uncharacteristic exuberance. Warriors who had fought with stoic determination danced clumsily around the fires, their faces flushed with relief and victory.

"Do you think the deputy chief's strength is equal to the late Tajima-sama?" one jounin asked, his tone laced with awe.

"Equal?" another scoffed. "He's far surpassed him. No one else could achieve such a victory against those odds."

"Indeed," another chimed in. "This is a record that will echo in our clan's history forever."

The celebration continued late into the night, with the Uchiha reveling in their hard-earned triumph. By the next afternoon, it was time to return to work.

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Preparing for the Next Phase

The mountain was now secure, but Izuna knew this was only one battle in a much larger war. Gathering the five hundred Uchiha ninja stationed at the pass, he made his next move.

"Three hundred of you will return with me to reinforce the Yunshan battlefield," Izuna declared. "The remaining two hundred will stay here to fortify the mountain. Begin constructing military barriers. After the war, this area will be developed into a proper fortress."

The soldiers roared their agreement, their voices echoing through the valley. Izuna's leadership had earned their unwavering loyalty.

Before leaving, Izuna inquired about the ongoing conflict between the Hyuga and Sarutobi-Shimura clans. It had been nearly a year since he orchestrated their clash, and he was eager for an update.

"Neither side has committed their full strength," Uchiha Retsu reported. "The Hyuga are led by Hyuga Genmasa, while Shimura Keizo commands the Sarutobi forces. Hyuga's numbers are around 1,200, while the Sarutobi-Shimura alliance fields approximately 800."

Izuna smiled faintly. "It seems my plan is still bearing fruit."

With his troops prepared, Izuna led his forces toward the next battlefield, his mind already calculating his next move.

End of the Chapter.