Chapter:98

Uzumaki Mito didn't give Izuna a knee pillow, but she did give him a few firm punches for his audacity. Despite her frustration, after seeing the wounds on his shoulders and legs, she reluctantly used medical ninjutsu to heal him.

She placed her palms over Izuna's wounds, emitting chakra with a faint green glow.

The recovering Two-Tails nearby shifted, causing Mito to grow tense. She glanced nervously at the massive, cat-like beast next to her. "Is it okay?" she asked cautiously.

"It won't attack us," Izuna replied confidently, sitting on the ground while Mito treated him. "And even if it does, I can subdue it."

No hostile intent was coming from Matatabi, the Two-Tails. Even if the beast decided to attack, Izuna was ready to use his Mangekyō Sharingan to control it.

The tailed beast healed more quickly than anticipated. Soon, the Two-Tails rose once more, its cat-like pupils fixating on the pair below.

Mito's heartbeat quickened, and she subconsciously grabbed the corner of Izuna's clothing.

"Do you still want to fight?" Izuna asked, standing protectively in front of Mito, his Sharingan spinning and shifting into the distinct shape of his Mangekyō Sharingan. "Or have you finally made up your mind?"

After what seemed like an eternity of tense silence, the Two-Tails spoke. "My name is Matatabi," she said, her voice calm but firm. "You already know that, so call me by my name from now on."

The red glow in Izuna's eyes faded as his Mangekyō Sharingan returned to normal, a small smile forming on his face.

Matatabi's response was tantamount to submission.

"Don't worry," Izuna said, his tone more relaxed. "Apart from fighting, I won't summon you unnecessarily. In a few years, you'll realize how right your choice was."

Matatabi lay down again, seemingly disinterested, her massive body curling up in rest. However, she half-opened one eye, casting a doubtful glance toward the humans.

"Let's go," Izuna said, satisfied with the outcome. His mission was complete—not only had he secured the Two-Tails, but his mastery of senjutsu was also progressing well. And more importantly...

He glanced at Mito beside him, a mischievous grin crossing his face.

"What are you smiling about?" Mito asked, sensing the sly undertone in his expression. Her face flushed slightly, and she punched him lightly on the arm in playful irritation.

"Nothing," Izuna replied casually. Then, without warning, he bent down, grabbed her by the waist, and hoisted her onto his back.

"Ah! What are you doing!" Mito's face turned beet red as she hit his back in embarrassment and frustration.

"We're in a hurry. Your pace is too slow, and this way is faster," Izuna replied matter-of-factly, as if his actions were entirely professional.

Mito felt her strength dissipate. Though she was annoyed, Izuna's reasoning was sound, and she couldn't argue with him. However, she wasn't so naïve as to miss the underlying playfulness in his actions. Despite her sheltered upbringing in the Uzumaki Clan, under the protection of her grandfather, she understood his intentions.

Meanwhile, Uchiha Madara was growing increasingly frustrated.

The war between the Uchiha and Senju clans had escalated since he became the leader of the Uchiha. Despite the Senju's larger military strength, Madara had been confident from the start. By absorbing the resources of four allied clans after the death of Uchiha Hagoromo, the Uchiha had bolstered their power. Even without Izuna by his side, Madara's newly awakened Mangekyō Sharingan gave him a distinct edge over the Senju.

In the first two weeks of the war, Madara had fought successfully against the Senju. The opposing side was led by Senju Takema, a quasi-Kage level warrior, and Senju Tobirama, the younger brother of Senju Hashirama. Tobirama's Flying Thunder God Technique was tricky to deal with, but Madara had learned to predict Tobirama's movements using his Mangekyō Sharingan. In time, he felt confident he could defeat Tobirama without needing his full power.

His exceptional performance on the battlefield had solidified his leadership and earned him great respect among the Uchiha and their allied clans.

However, that was before Senju Hashirama arrived with five hundred Uzumaki reinforcements. The battle dynamics had shifted dramatically since.

Just yesterday, Madara and Hashirama had finally clashed on the battlefield for the first time since the war began.

Madara, eager to test his strength, had unleashed the full power of his Mangekyō Sharingan, intending to crush Hashirama. But Hashirama's response was beyond anything Madara could have expected. Using the powerful Wood Release technique, "Deep Forest Emergence," Hashirama reshaped the entire battlefield in an instant, leaving the Uchiha forces and their allies in shock.

After ten hours of intense fighting, Madara had no choice but to break his agreement with Izuna and use Susanoo to carve a path of retreat for his forces. The overwhelming display of power from Hashirama had struck fear even into Madara's men, who now viewed Hashirama's Wood Release as a monstrous ability.

"Clan leader, how do we handle Senju Hashirama?" Uchiha Zhan, one of Madara's most trusted commanders, asked, the concern evident in his voice.

Zhan had singled out Hashirama specifically, a testament to the fact that his power alone was equivalent to the entire Senju Clan's military might.

Madara's temper flared. He slammed his fist on the table as he stood up. "It's just Senju Hashirama! Are you saying that I, Uchiha Madara, am weaker than him?"

The men in the room immediately straightened up, hands raised in submission. "No, of course not, clan leader!" they replied in unison, fearful of further angering him.

Madara crossed his arms over his chest, his posture oozing confidence. "Hashirama's techniques are certainly troublesome, but the next time we face him, I will fight him one-on-one. All of you will focus on dealing with Senju Tobirama and the others."

Uchiha Inosuke, who had witnessed Izuna's power firsthand, eagerly added, "With the Mangekyō Sharingan, like the deputy clan leader's, you can definitely handle Senju Hashirama."

Madara's eyes narrowed slightly. While his Mangekyō Sharingan gave him extraordinary power, its strain on his body was a weakness he couldn't afford to reveal. Only a few among the Uchiha elite knew of the toll the technique took.

Still, to keep morale high, he kept his concerns hidden.

"Prepare for a protracted battle," Madara ordered. "Reinforce the barriers and be ready for their next attack. We're in for a long fight with the Senju."

After everyone had left the main tent, Madara sat down, hoping to regain some composure. He had just raised a teacup to his lips when Uchiha Sashu, another trusted aide, rushed in, kneeling before him.

"Clan leader! We've received urgent news from Sekinobu Shiratani in the north. During last night's battle, Senju Kawaragi led two hundred soldiers in a flank attack, causing heavy casualties among our forces. We need reinforcements immediately!"

Madara, teacup in hand, slammed it back onto the table, spilling its contents. His eyes flared with rage.

"What did you say!?"

(End of Chapter).

🖤Ye Qingtian| Patreon🖤

Visit our Patreon for more:

https://www.patreon.com/YeQingtian.

Extra Content Already Available.