Chapter 779: The Battle to Reclaim Princess Tobirama
As Izuna controlled Susano’o, preparing to pursue, he noticed his surroundings rapidly enveloped by thick white mist.
The mist was dense and vast, spreading quickly to cover a thousand-meter area, infused with chakra that disrupted Sharingan vision.
"What’s this?"
Izuna showed doubt. The Sharingan wasn’t the Byakugan; it couldn’t see through chakra-infused white mist.
Naori recognized the mist’s origin:
"A signature technique from the Land of Water: Kirigakure no Jutsu!"
"Kirigakure no Jutsu?"
"Trouble, Izuna-sama, we’ve definitely fallen into a trap!"
Naori realized a Kirigakure no Jutsu of this scale couldn’t be cast by an ordinary ninja.
A large force of Kirigakure ninjas hiding nearby was unlikely, as they wouldn’t escape Tobirama’s super-sensitive senses.
Thus, only the First Raikage, who recently founded Kirigakure in the Land of Water, could wield such power.
The First Raikage, plus the First Mizukage.
Two leaders of major ninja villages.
Their gathering here to attack them couldn’t possibly be a coincidence!
This was surely a long-planned ambush!
"A trap? Who’s the enemy? What’s their goal?"
"It’s unclear, but it’s definitely not simple!"
Compared to the First Raikage and First Mizukage collaborating, Naori believed someone was orchestrating this.
Otherwise, they couldn’t coordinate and strike so swiftly.
Gathering intel alone wasn’t easy.
Naori’s gut told her their every move was being watched by this entity—highly abnormal!
"Damn sewer rats, only good for hiding!"
Izuna grew furious, controlling Susano’o to slash four fierce sword strikes.
Chakra slashes shot out, cutting through the mist like a knife through butter, revealing four clear paths.
But within seconds, more mist filled the paths, obscuring vision again.
Clearly, the First Mizukage likely knew how powerful Izuna’s Eternal Mangekyou Sharingan was and didn’t dare face him directly, only using Kirigakure no Jutsu to delay and obstruct.
And Izuna, unable to activate a complete Susano’o or fly, was extremely passive in the thick mist.
If he dispelled Susano’o, there was no guarantee other hidden enemies wouldn’t seize the chance to attack.
For a moment, even Izuna felt pressured, never expecting Susano’o, a symbol of absolute power, to be hindered by such an unassuming trick.
The enemy seemed to understand the Uchiha clan’s Susano’o better than the Uchihas themselves...
"Izuna-sama, send me out—I can save Tobirama-sama!"
"You?"
"No time to hesitate! If the First Raikage and others escape far, saving Tobirama-sama will be tough!"
Instinct told Naori she couldn’t let the enemy’s plan succeed.
If they truly secured Tobirama, it might shake Konoha’s foundation, causing the Uchiha and Senju clans to clash again!
Even if there was a slim chance, such a disastrous outcome mustn’t happen!
Her seals were undone, and her strength restored.
If she could catch up to Tobirama and the others, there might be a chance!
At least, she could stall the enemy until Izuna arrived to help!
"Alright! I’ll escort you—be careful!"
"Even if you can’t save that bastard Tobirama, protect yourself!"
"I’ll finish the enemy here and catch up soon!"
Izuna was decisive, not hesitating. While advising, he acted.
He controlled Susano’o, condensing three Yasaka Magatama into a flying disc, placed Naori on it, and hurled it toward the First Raikage’s escape route.
The Yasaka Magatama was incredibly fast, carrying Naori through the thick mist, soaring across the sky, and vanishing into the distance.
Seeing Naori disappear, Izuna shifted his gaze, his eyes growing colder and more murderous.
’Good, very good!’
’Barely revived, and someone’s already toying with the Uchiha clan!’
’First Mizukage?’
’If I don’t skin you alive today, I, Uchiha Izuna, will become Tobirama’s mount!’
’And that damned Kirigakure village, you’ve chosen the path to death!’
Izuna was enraged, his chakra boiling fiercely, his sturdy complete Susano’o evolving toward its perfect form.
The terrifying chakra pressure felt like a tangible force field, shocking and trembling the First Mizukage hiding in the mist, even prompting retreat.
Sadly, it was too late to escape now!
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
Naori sat on the Yasaka Magatama flying disc, covering tens of thousands of meters in moments, leaving the vast mist behind.
She fully activated her Sharingan’s super dynamic vision, constantly scanning for the First Raikage below.
The First Raikage’s speed was remarkable, but lacking the lightning chakra mode developed by the Second Raikage, he was far from the ninja world’s fastest.
Moreover, running on two legs couldn’t match the Yasaka Magatama’s aerial speed.
In under twenty seconds, Naori caught up, locking onto his position.
Fortunately, he rushed to retreat without detours, or she might not have found him!
At that moment, the First Raikage on the ground carried the paralyzed Tobirama, speeding along.
With a broken spine, half of Tobirama’s body was paralyzed, his arms dislocated by the Raikage, leaving him nearly defenseless.
But Tobirama’s mouth remained sharp. He cursed the First Raikage relentlessly, his voice piercing and grating!
"Senju Tobirama, save your strength. It’s a long road—ready to curse for a day and night?"
The First Raikage ignored the insults, smiling and suggesting Tobirama conserve energy.
"Darui, you damn &%...%%..."
"Keep this up, and I’ll have to gag you!"
The dark-skinned First Raikage wasn’t soft-hearted. Someone who ended a nation’s chaos wasn’t simple, evident from his precise, ruthless strike that crippled Tobirama.
"Darui, aren’t you afraid of death? You attack me, my brother will crush you, then wipe out all of Kumogakure!"
Tobirama calmed slightly, less emotional, relying on his backup.
When in trouble, call big brother.
As long as his brother lived, he was the God of Ninjas in this world!
He wouldn’t use Hashirama’s name—should he use Madara’s?
"Your brother? Senju Hashirama?"
"What, scared now?"
"Hmph! Even if I didn’t attack you, would your brother and Konoha spare Kumogakure?" The First Raikage snorted, dismissive.
"What do you mean?"
Tobirama’s heart raced, sensing something off. Did they know his plan to unite the ninja world?
"Iwagakure and Sunagakure were destroyed by you. It won’t be long before it’s our turn; since war is inevitable, what’s there to discuss?"
"Iwagakure and Sunagakure? But Sunagakure was clearly destroyed by a Bijuu..."
"Quiet! Still lying? You think I don’t know Konoha controls the Bijuu and ordered them to destroy Sunagakure?"
"How do you know this?!?!"
"I know far more than you think..."
"Who told you?"
Tobirama was shocked, suspecting a traitor in the village leaking intel.
But on second thought, it didn’t add up.
Especially about the Bijuu—only a few in Konoha knew, and they wouldn’t betray the village.
Tobirama couldn’t imagine who the spy could be. Who would betray the village?
"None of your business. No matter what you say, it won’t stop Konoha’s ambition or the fact you have the power to destroy Kumogakure. If I don’t strike first, should I sit and wait for death?"
The First Raikage’s logic was clear.
He knew he likely couldn’t match Senju Hashirama or Uchiha Madara, nor fight nine Bijuu alone with one village’s strength.
Konoha was too powerful!
When Konoha had absolute power to dominate the world, it was a massive threat to other nations and villages.
With Iwagakure and Sunagakure already destroyed, a chain of suspicion had formed, unbreakable.
Learning the truth, to avoid his village’s destruction, the First Raikage had to strike first, sending Kinkaku and Ginkaku’s forces and acting himself.
His strength didn’t match Hashirama or Madara, but he could seize the chance to capture an exhausted Tobirama.
As for Izuna and Susano’o?
He seemed tough—leave him to the aging First Mizukage.
If he secured Tobirama, Hashirama’s beloved brother, Kumogakure would gain a chance to survive, a glimmer of hope against Hashirama and the nine Bijuu’s threat!
You can’t expect someone facing death to not fight desperately.
This was the First Raikage and First Mizukage’s choice now.
"You’ll kill many people!"
"No, I’m saving all of Kumogakure!"
"Release me, we can still negotiate!"
"Negotiate what? Think I’m a fool, easily tricked? Senju Tobirama, stop your nonsense!"
"..."
Tobirama fell silent. Talk no Jutsu was useless against ruthless figures like the First Kages.
But at that moment, Tobirama sharply sensed a familiar chakra aura flash across the sky!
*WHOOSH!*
The Yasaka Magatama flying disc streaked past the speeding First Raikage.
Simultaneously, a figure leaped from the disc.
"Katon: Goryuka no Jutsu!"
Naori descended from the sky, unleashing a massive fire dragon at the First Raikage, blocking him while cushioning her fall.
The First Raikage, holding Tobirama under his arm, formed hand seals, releasing a black lightning panther that clashed with the fire element.
Compared to the Yotsuki clan, focused on physical training, the First Raikage was undoubtedly more skilled in lightning techniques.
His lightning power naturally far surpassed young Naori’s, the panther tearing through the fire dragon with astonishing force.
He knew little about Susano’o and couldn’t fathom how this Uchiha female ninja caught up.
But her alone? She couldn’t stop him!
"Get out of here!"
"Naori, you’re no match for him!"
Tobirama shouted urgently.
He acknowledged Naori’s talent, rivaling his and Izuna’s, but she was too young, not yet 17.
Her potential was far from fully realized—how could she defeat the First Raikage at his peak?
Naori didn’t retreat. She wasn’t foolish; she had her own plan.
Upon landing, she formed hand seals again to activate a jutsu.
"Genjutsu: Kokuangyo no Jutsu!"
Admittedly, besides Kage Bunshin no Jutsu, this was Tobirama’s most effective and frequently used technique!
Though it seemed tailored for Uchiha ninjas, it worked on nearly all enemies!
Even the Third Hokage, the Ninja Professor Hiruzen Sarutobi, would lose vision if hit by this, unable to dispel it quickly.
That alone showed how powerful and effective it was.
*SHUA!*
The First Raikage was indeed hit by Kokuangyo no Jutsu, swiftly losing vision, plunging into darkness.
Of course, for a peak Kage like him, blindness was only a minor inconvenience.
At most, his strength dropped twenty to thirty percent, but he still held a massive power advantage over Naori.
"I can’t see? Another genjutsu?"
"I avoided her Sharingan—when did I get hit?"
The First Raikage analyzed, locking onto Naori’s position.
He drew the large sword from his back and charged at Naori with high speed.
With vision impaired, he had to close in, killing the target swiftly in close combat!
Otherwise, if she kept her distance and attacked with ranged techniques...
He couldn’t escape or defeat her.
The only right move was to kill Naori quickly, dispel the genjutsu, and leave!
Naori guessed the First Raikage’s intent, retreating while throwing curved kunai to disrupt, summoning shadow clones to mislead.
As long as he couldn’t find her real body, she could greatly limit his threat and buy enough time.
Sadly, the First Raikage wasn’t ordinary. Sensing multiple Naori, he realized the clone trick.
He formed hand seals, slamming the ground hard.
Instantly, he unleashed a super-wide-range lightning sensor attack, like a spider web.
The lightning wasn’t strong but covered a vast area.
It enveloped all Naori’s clones, destroying them one by one, even paralyzing her real body, letting the First Raikage lock her position.
"Naori, be careful!"
Moments later, the First Raikage was before Naori with his sword.
In terms of speed and raw strength, the gap between her and the First Raikage was too wide.
Naori swung her kunai to block the greatsword.
*DING!*
But the First Raikage’s strength was overwhelming, slicing through the kunai and Naori’s body in one swing!
Instantly, blood splattered, and the beauty fell.
"Naori! No—!"
Tobirama’s pupils shrank, his heart exploding, his mind reeling, only lacking Uchiha blood to awaken Sharingan.
"Tch, too young!"
"Truly overestimating herself!"
The First Raikage swung his bloodied sword, sneering.
Though blind, he was certain he’d cleaved the young Uchiha female ninja to death.
The real power gap wasn’t something tricky jutsu could bridge.
As he prepared to leave, he realized why the genjutsu blinding him hadn’t lifted.
Wasn’t the technique’s caster dead?
Wait, could it be...
*BUZZ!*
Izanagi activated. Naori, who had died, rewrote reality, materializing and reviving.
Seizing the moment, she plunged a kunai into the First Raikage’s back!