Chapter 184: Tajima Uchiha Experiences a Second Spring

"Swish~ swish~ swish~"

Just as Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha were gazing affectionately at each other, several rapidly spinning shuriken suddenly appeared, shooting in from outside the field at an extremely tricky angle.

"Cling~ clang~"

The target was Hashirama Senju, who wore a conflicted expression atop the wooden figure. Just as the sharp shuriken were about to strike, a white figure suddenly appeared. With a series of metallic clangs, the lethal shuriken were all blocked by the newcomer.

"As expected of the naturally evil Uchiha!"

The one who blocked the shuriken was Tobirama Senju, who had been standing guard on the sidelines. His white hair fluttered without wind, and his crimson eyes held a fierce, murderous intent. He pointed his blade at the person who had arrived from afar and said coldly.

"Despicable Senju, let go of my big brother!"

The person who arrived was none other than the late-coming Izuna Uchiha. At this moment, his eyes were scarlet, and his furrowed brows were tight enough to crush a bull. He stared fixedly at the hollowed-out Madara Uchiha, raised the long sword in his hand, and spoke with fury.

He had originally thought his big brother was just going over to play with Hashirama Senju as usual, and that he would return on his own once he had had his fill of fighting.

Why was it different this time?

With Izuna's pitiful brain capacity, he couldn't figure out even if he racked his brains why his big brother had been taken down in a single move.

Could it be that the other party wasn't satisfied with the play and wanted to kidnap his big brother to be his mountain bandit wife?

"Heh, are all the Uchiha clan this naive? Actually delusional enough to hope for an enemy's mercy."

Tobirama Senju shifted his gaze slightly, mocking him mercilessly. His eyes were fixed on Izuna Uchiha's punk-like, spiky hair, and he began to make silent comparisons in his heart.

As expected! All Uchiha with long, straight black hair are bad seeds.

"Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu!"

Easily provoked by Tobirama Senju, Izuna Uchiha immediately extended his hands to form seals. As the final Tiger seal was completed, scorching chakra brewed in his mouth.

As this chakra was compressed and refined, a ball of orange-red flame erupted from his mouth, aimed directly at the mocking Tobirama Senju.

"Hmph! Water Style: Water Dragon Bullet Jutsu."

Watching the menacing flames, Tobirama Senju curled his lips into a contemptuous smile. A mere Izuna Uchiha dared to show off his meager skills in front of him? Eat my Great Heavenly Dragon!

Tobirama Senju unhurriedly raised his hands and formed three simple seals. A thick layer of water vapor appeared around him. As his thoughts rose, the water vapor transformed into a stream, then morphed into the shape of a water dragon, rushing toward Izuna Uchiha's Great Fireball Jutsu.

"Boom~~~"

The scorching fireball collided with the rushing water dragon, instantly evaporating a large amount of water vapor, which shrouded the entire battlefield like a thick fog.

"Hoo~ where did that brat go?"

With his vision completely obscured by the water mist, Izuna Uchiha opened his Sharingan, vigilantly searching for Tobirama Senju's tracks.

Meanwhile, Tobirama Senju, who had taken the opportunity to hide, wore a thoughtful expression. He pulled a kunai inscribed with a spell from behind his back, considered it for a moment, and then put it away.

No, that technique is not yet perfect; if it fails, I might die.

The advantage is with me now!

The meticulous Tobirama Senju did not choose to take the risk. Madara Uchiha had already been captured; a mere Izuna Uchiha could not stir up any trouble.

"Swish, swish, swish~"

Having changed his mind, Tobirama Senju casually threw two kunai toward the wary Izuna Uchiha.

"Underestimating me?"

Izuna Uchiha flicked the two kunai away and frowned. This bit of visual obstruction was nothing in front of his invincible Sharingan.

"Prepare to die, Tobirama Senju!"

Because Tobirama Senju had exposed his location by throwing the kunai, Izuna Uchiha, concerned for his brother's safety, grabbed his sword and chased after the place where the other party was hiding.

"Clang!"

As the second-ranked sword god of the Senju clan, Tobirama Senju naturally did not fear Izuna Uchiha. He backhanded his own long sword and engaged the other in a scuffle, with the sound of clashing metal ringing out incessantly.

"Madara, admit defeat!"

Controlling the Arhat wooden figure and holding the weakened Madara Uchiha before him, Hashirama Senju looked at his former best friend with complex eyes. With a thousand words stifled in his heart, he could only struggle to spit out three words when they reached his lips.

"Dream on, Hashirama. I lost this time; kill me or carve me up, do as you please."

Drained of all but half a breath by the wooden figure, Madara Uchiha remained tough. Facing Hashirama Senju, who had taken him down in one move, he showed not a shred of cowardice.

"Madara, I am the clan head now."

Hashirama Senju thought of the mission he now bore and spoke up.

At this moment, Hashirama Senju wanted to tell Madara Uchiha that he could now make any decision for the Senju clan; even shaking hands and making peace with the Uchiha clan was not impossible.

"Hmph! What is there to brag about in being a clan head?"

Hearing that the other party had actually become the clan head, a flash of surprise crossed Madara Uchiha's eyes.

We agreed to grow old together, yet you secretly dyed your hair.

"If it weren't for the old man being so stubborn, I would have been the clan head long ago!"

Annoyed, Madara Uchiha turned his head away, leaving the other party with half the back of his head.

Tajima Uchiha: You brat! You brat!

"Uh, I didn't mean that, don't misunderstand."

Thinking the other party had misunderstood his words, Hashirama Senju hurriedly waved his hands, signaling for him to listen to his explanation.

"Hmph! I'm not listening, I'm not listening..."

Madara Uchiha simply closed his eyes. Seeing this guy now just made him furious. He ran over specifically to show off after becoming a clan head; he, Madara, was ashamed to be associated with him.

"Ah~ Madara, I..."

Flustered by Madara Uchiha's stubborn attitude, he had no choice but to pull the other party closer, attempting to clarify the misunderstanding.

"Swish~ swish~ swish!"

Just as the wooden figure was moving Madara Uchiha toward Hashirama Senju's mouth, a figure rushed into the scene at an extremely high speed. With a flash of golden light, the wooden figure's massive arm was sliced off by that dazzling golden streak.

"Thud!!!"

The arm of the wooden figure that was holding Madara Uchiha fell heavily to the ground, kicking up clouds of dust.

The figure that had suddenly appeared took the opportunity to grab the semi-conscious Madara Uchiha, flashed behind Izuna Uchiha, and spoke.

"Izuna, retreat!"

A familiar voice rang in Izuna Uchiha's ears. The person who had arrived was Tajima Uchiha, who happened to be patrolling the front lines.

"Tajima Uchiha!"

Seeing that it was Tajima Uchiha himself who had arrived, Tobirama Senju felt a tightness in his chest, and his swinging sword froze.

"Father???"

Deflecting the blade thrust by Tobirama Senju, Izuna Uchiha did not linger in the fight and retreated a few steps to his father's side.

Looking at Tajima Uchiha, whose aura was completely different from before, he wore a look of surprise. Since when did the old man become so fierce?

"Take Madara and go first; I will hold them off."

Looking at the imposing wooden figure, it was the first time Tajima Uchiha had encountered such a ninjutsu, and a trace of unease flickered in his heart.

He then handed the unconscious Madara Uchiha to Izuna and stood alone to face the menacing Senju clan.

"Uh~ Father, be careful."

Looking at his big brother, who was breathing his last, Izuna knew that staying behind would only be a burden, so he decisively carried Madara Uchiha on his back and ran toward the Uchiha camp.

"Big brother, did you see clearly?"

Tobirama Senju used a Body Flicker to arrive at Hashirama Senju's side, looking solemnly at the solitary Tajima Uchiha, and asked.

"No, I have never seen that escape technique before."

Hashirama Senju naturally knew what his younger brother was asking, but the incident had happened so suddenly that he had only seen a golden light descend from the sky, instantly severing the Arhat wooden figure's large hand; he had not identified the method Tajima Uchiha had used.

"Little brat of the Senju family, I didn't expect you to actually become the clan head."

Tajima Uchiha said in a cold tone, the scarlet in his eyes radiating a chill that made people tremble.

He stared fixedly at the wooden figure before him, watching it slowly grow a new arm, its momentum undiminished.

"And, it seems you are quite a bit stronger than your father."

Hashirama Senju was enveloped in nearly tangible chakra; even without activating his Sharingan, Tajima Uchiha could perceive it clearly.

This aura alone was more than a notch stronger than Butsuma Senju, whom he had fought many times in the past.

"No, I am still far from my father."

Extending his hands and clasping them before his chest, Hashirama Senju looked serious and spoke, watching Tajima Uchiha, who showed not a hint of panic.

"Tsk, what a hypocritical brat. But if Madara were like you, I could retire."

Tajima Uchiha shook his head, watching the aura rising from Hashirama Senju, and fiercely complained about his own good-for-nothing eldest son.

Comparing people only leads to anger; although Butsuma Senju died early, his son was quite promising.

"Big brother, be careful, that old Uchiha ghost is a bit strange."

From the very beginning, Tobirama Senju had been staring fixedly at the calm-faced Tajima Uchiha, trying to see some clues, only to find that the other party had no flaws at all.

"Mm."

Hashirama Senju's sensory ability was not weak; he could clearly perceive the cold and obscure aura on Tajima Uchiha.

Although he felt a bit uneasy, he could not lose his nerve because of it. He immediately refined chakra, and his clasped palms glowed with a brilliant green light.

Driven by the chakra, the giant wooden figure waved its hand and whipped out a ferocious wooden dragon, coiling toward the standing Tajima Uchiha.

"I wonder if Gin knows this technique?"

Seeing the giant mouth of the wooden dragon about to swallow him, Tajima Uchiha was thinking about something else in his mind.

If Gin also knew this technique, then the Uchiha would dominate the pinnacle of the Warring States period!

"It's a good thing my eyes have recovered; otherwise, I would really be at a loss against such a big guy."

Tajima Uchiha raised his head, his scarlet eyes filled with indifference; after all, he now had the qualifications for a giant battle.

"Not dodging? Is he trying to die?"

Tobirama Senju, watching the battle, did not take his eyes off the scene; seeing Tian Dao being carried away by the Wood Dragon, he said with some confusion,

"Then let me show you the great power of the Sharingan."

The three tomoe in Tian Dao's Sharingan began to spin and fuse, finally transforming into a shuriken pattern.

He lifted his eyes to glance at the Wood Dragon, and the golden light from before appeared once more; a golden blade descending from the heavens instantly annihilated the arrogant Wood Dragon.

"Little brats of the Senju clan, do you believe in light?"

(End of chapter)