"Darkness. When everything that you know and love is taken away from you so harshly. All you can think about is anger, hatred and even revenge. And no one can save you."
Orochimaru
For as long as he could remember he'd always been unique. His brother called him an idiot... Of course.
He looked at the world and wanted change-he desired change-peace more than anything. It led to numerous arguments with Tobirama when they were children after that day... When he wouldn't give up and throw it all away. They had come so far. Tobirama of course couldn't understand his sentiment or ideals instead viewing the Uchiha as his enemies and nothing less. He even believed they were "cursed" something that could lead them into heated arguments. It wasn't far off to how his father had been... Warmongering and vengeful.
How many times had he been punched for speaking his mind?
It didn't matter. No matter how hard it was, if he had claw and scratch his way to it. He'd see to it that it was done. He wouldn't give up on his dream. He refused to give up.
Now, he was the head of the Senju. He could bring peace, now it was his chance. Their chance. Now more than ever they needed to stop fighting, they needed to break the cycle of death and vengeance that consumed the world in hatred.
But, Madara turned it down, he didn't even consider it.
Mikito turned it down. Which he could understand.
But... Madara...
Why?
A part of him grew frustrated.
If Madara wouldn't consider it then he'd speak with him face to face and get through to him.
Unfortunately this meant managing to pin him down somehow.
Not exactly easy...
Sea of Trees was jutsu aimed towards complete offense like all of Mokuton jutsus they were of an enormous scale, Sea of Trees was unique. It was a concise attack of tangling branches geared towards entirely overwhelming his foe in a span of a few seconds, at the most a few minutes. It didn't consist of as many full grown trees like his other jutsu replacing sheer brute power for more 'precision' the branches were just as strong as any of his jutsus. Ocean of Trees was a jutsu that consisted of a literal ocean of trees, it was an enormous 'continuous' attack.
It can be said wood is weak against fire.
BOOOOOOOM!
Both fire and trees collided in a smothering coat of shearing hot gray smoke, the impact was tremendous rocking the whole landscape, it was as if the planet was struggling to hold itself together. The ferocious flames ate away at the massive field of coiling and twisting trees shattering and destroying the powerful trunks clearing a trench through the maze of branches snaking and sprouting through the entire area. The flames dispersed leaving a shower of red projectiles disintegrating in midair.
"Looks like you're skipping the warm up this time around." Madara mused staring directly at Hashirama. He bounded across and through the branches still screaming towards him, he twisted around slicing one with his sickle, tore through a series of them with a quick gust of wind exerted from his gunbai, he slid down a larger branch lunging up and looping around a vine that was making to snag his ankle.
Hashirama's chakra surged once more.
A low hiss escaped Madara the pain and annoyance of a branch binding both of his wrists made his blood boil. Using a fire jutsu was too risky from this trajectory the shock wave would smack him dead on as well as the flames easily towering thirty feet above from his current location. Another series of vines and branches shot out towards him, persistent and aggravating, two latched onto his ankles while a larger one wrapped its way around his stomach. "Madara!" Hashirama shouted, leaping towards him. "Why didn't you accept it!?"
Madara's blood boiled.
Madara's chakra rolled off in trembling waves. Three tomoes swirled together as his Mangekyo bled into existence. The familiar itching and burning sensation returned along with the exhilarating power.
He couldn't help but feel satisfied seeing the shock and alarm on Hashirama's expression as a blue body towered over him, two blue ethereal blades smashed through his bindings and the whole surrounding area forcing a shock wave to disperse around them, his Susano'o gave a mighty bellow. With a thought Madara leaped forward, floating to the center of his blue guardian, the blades ripped through the hasty barrier of trees sprouted from Hashirama sending the tan skin man flying back.
Hashirama easily rebounded and landed on the top of a tree that tore it way out of the sand. Susano'o?! He narrowed his eyes steadily watching Madara advance towards him hacking down anything that got in his way. His Mokuton jutsus were very powerful, but the Susano'o was a game changer and could be summed up as a berserk tank, one swing from those swords was enough to cut through more than half of the surrounding forest. Talking to Madara at this point wasn't going to do anything other than getting him killed. He's using the Mangekyo... In that case. Mokuton! Hotei no Jutsu! He clapped his hands together.
His body heaved, jerking sporadically as his chakra surged out around him. He braced himself against the sudden shake, through sheer will he forced four massive hands to tear out the ground, ten more with his chakra blistering and flaring brightly erupted out off of the ground throwing some shinobi off of their feet and skyward, they encircled the massive blue destroyer. The Susano'o leaped into the air, flexing its hand for several seconds and flung it forward unleashing a barrage of energy tomoes. They smashed into each other unforgiving and merciless energy tearing away at wood that fought to stay stable, a series of fireballs and one enormous sphere of wind destroyed the rest.
Madara landed, his Susano'o tearing a trench through the sand, the massive guardian halted finally, slowly turning along with his field of vision locking onto Sasuke. In the close distance he could see Souji and Haji speeding around each other in a whirlwind of lightning and sand, Izuna was battling Tobirama along with a few hundred others who seen it fit to interfere, and lastly his gaze flicked onto Mikito. She was battling Syrus in a whirl of blades and strikes, that was the only way he could think to describe it.
He turned his focus onto Sasuke
"Uchiha..." Sasuke spat.
"Monkey." Madara spat back.
Hashirama shifted his footing, warily taking a hold of the hilt of his sword. Dealing with Madara was hard enough, especially with his Susano'o... Dealing with Sasuke along with Madara that was asking for a death wish. He couldn't afford to hold back anymore at this point. The ground quaked under his strength as several of the branches surrounding him shattered. He shot forward.
Sasuke with a quick leap surged forward unflinching. Madara cleared himself a path with a bountiful lunge.
Hashirama forced the branches around him to react, one twisting and spiraling before thousands shot behind it. He couldn't afford to hold back. He shot forward bouncing across his field of green lashing out towards Sasuke. The leader of the Sarutobi slammed into Hashirama with bone cracking force, grinding his sword against the cleaver and shoving Hashirama away and off to the side. He flashed through two hands seals. Boar. Ram. Katon! Kasai bakudan!
Sasuke's chakra surged throughout him finally exploding out from his pores, a jet-stream of flames screaming towards the field of trees swallowing his vision. The flames parted at the very last second, each one growing more powerful and violent, and smashed through the Senju's attack sending flaming debris and chunks of giant branches slamming into the earth before finally being sliced by a giant energy sword.
Sasuke shifted his landing at the last second pointing his eyes towards Madara, a dark look coming over his face.
Hashirama landed swiftly a few feet from the two of them.
SHHRRRKKK!
The trio paused for a moment letting the destruction settle around them, turning their eye up towards Mikito and Syrus, both with their swords pressed against each other before Mikito broke the stalemate and dashed back sliding across the ground sliding one foot back stopping herself.
Syrus shifted his foot back, lunging up and onto a nearby branch glaring at Mikito once he landed, his glare snapped towards Madara observing him carefully. His eyes were different from the other Uchiha. And what could only be described as a blue humanoid with faces on both the front of and back of its head with jagged teeth towered over them with Madara floating in the center of it. At this rate the
He turned his gaze onto Syrus and Mikito noting that both of them were staring at him, sizing him up... Like a predator does with prey. He was elated that he got the four of them together, they actually reacted to his attack which was halfhearted at first at best... But, now... Well, all bets are off. However he couldn't get over their ghastly and pointed stares-he could see where the cannibal thing came from. "Well, I've got all four of you here, now I can do away with the whole lot of you."
"I'm going rip off your arm..." Syrus growled savagely.
"Mikito!" Hashirama tore Mikito away from making a retort to Sasuke, her eyes met his with a ghastly gaze. "I sent you a ceasefire. Why didn't you accept it?"
Mikito's gaze darkened. Her eyes started glinting. It was a piercing and unnerving stare. For some reason she could understand why Madara resented Hashirama-it seemed like he did in her eyes, and even if he didn't and it was just her looking too deep into things as usual it made sense. Hashirama sounded curious, but there was slight outrage in his tone-as if she was supposed to just agree to it without question. "You were too vague." She told him bluntly. It was one of the many reasons why she didn't even consider it-other than the fact Madara was particularly vexed about the whole thing.
What was it that Hashirama wanted to achieve?
Why was it so important that he'd send something to Madara and herself.
"What was the point in doing that?" She couldn't help but ask. For Hashirama to take such a leap of faith and send them both a ceasefire-nobody went around her clan. Period. They couldn't be found and if there was a chance someone did see them they never lived to tell about it. Hashirama must have known a bit about her clan, after all he allied with the Subatsu. But, that was besides the point, if Hashirama was willing to put aside their differences... But...
"I can't say it here." Hashirama admitted forlornly.
"That is very unfortunate..." Mikito said coldly. If it was going to be that sort of game then she had no interests in what he had to say, period. He didn't tell her in that ceasefire, and he's not telling her now either. Whether it was for his own reasons didn't matter, the fact was he wasn't. "Maybe this is just for your own convenience. That's what it seems like to me. You won't reign over me or my clan. Nor the Uchiha."
"Mikito you-"
"Misunderstand?" Mikito asked in the same cold tone, slowly shifting her weight on the balls of her feet. "No, I understand it perfectly."
Hashirama's neck muscles tensed. It wasn't a complete no... Like Madara... It was something he could work with.
But then again it wasn't a straight answer, not even a maybe.
Mikito looked furious. But, it was a cold fury not like Madara's hot rage.
"That's quite enough now..." Madara sneered with malice. He'd never stop going on about his dream, about the village. The village! The damn village, what made him think that would settle all of the fighting for good? People will always fight and squabble amongst each other. Hashirama was only trying to prolong the inevitable. It made him angry. Hashirama couldn't see beyond that, how foolish and shortsighted. More importantly, Sasuke and Syrus were both present and he had to pay Syrus back for taking out his unit of Uchiha near the Lightning country.
The ground shook. Once. Twice. The Susano'o heaved its mighty chest giving out another bellow.
"Well, I suppose the talking is done." Syrus said with an air of satisfaction. "I've never been one for long winded crap, let's get to it." He slipped his hands into the horse seal.
Sasuke slipped his hands into the boar seal.
Hashirama slipped his hands into the snake seal.
Mikito clenched her teeth her chakra bursting out around her in a wild inferno kicking up dunes of sand and sending them skyward and outward. If Hashirama wanted to play games then she wasn't going to oblige, she never played games especially when it came to her clan. Whatever Hashirama was scheming it couldn't be good. If he couldn't tell her then it had to be bad.
I'll kill him now! She snapped mentally parting her lips and focusing her chakra to a fine point forcing it to rotate coiling tighter and tighter. Her feet shifted under her as she adjusted on a dime, feeling the ground heave behind and under her as her continued to grow in size above her taking the shape of a sphere. Growing bigger. And bigger. And bigger. And bigger. And bigger.
And bigger.
And bigger.
And bigger.
And bigger.
Mikito seems... Not to be holding back... Madara observed with wariness, closing in on himself in preparation for the attack. After seeing... Hashirama she's become impatient... It seems...
At the rate that's growing she's going to wipe out everything! Hashirama realized with growing horror and trepidation that the sphere of wind was still growing, rotating, spinning, coiling, condensing, and compressing. Wind was one of the most powerful elements, it could slice through earth, amplify fire, nullify water, and nullify lightning, but it was also the most difficult element to learn and even more difficult to master. If that sphere struck the ground dead on, she'd not only wipe all of them out but the entire surrounding landscape... The magnitude of this jutsu was... Horrifying even to him. And, the amount of focus it must be taking Mikito to keep it compressed together had to be inhuman.
He could summon the Rashōmon, however the sphere easily dwarfed those, and even if they could manage to skew the sphere's trajectory when it did impact with them the first shock wave would be terrific, the following shock waves that followed once it impacted with the ground... He didn't even want to think of what would happen.
Which meant he'd need to use that technique.
"I'll back you up, Hashirama! We can't let that hit the ground at all!" Syrus shouted in hast flashing through two hand seals. Tiger. Horse. Tochiton! Shifuto chikyū! He surged his chakra around him kneading it rapidly and pushing it down through his legs, forcing huge slabs of earth to erupt from underground ripping the sand dunes apart with ease, and shifting rapidly multiplying rapidly and snaking out into a series of tangling tendrils and spirals.
Hashirama hastily flashed through two hands seals. Tiger. Snake. He forced his chakra to pulse, shaking the ground around him and bracing his feet against the foundation which he stood on. Mokuton! Jukai Kōtan! His chakra roared in a savage whirlwind chipping away at the foundation he stood on, forcing a multitude of branches and trees to tear themselves out of the sand around him and the layering branches with tremendous force all of them racing towards Mikito at inhuman speeds twisting and coiling in on themselves as they multiplied rapidly, sprouting great vibrant tops and extensions cloaked with Hashirama's overwhelming life force and chakra.
Mikito allowed a ghost of a smirk to appear on her face, locking eyes with the tanned skin Senju, and with a small tilt of her head unleashed the enormous sphere straight towards him, watching with great satisfaction as it neared the racing forest and coalition of tendrils.
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMM!
Hashirama grit his teeth down as hard as he could both hands gripping together as his body began to spasm against unearthly force forcing blood to drip down his nose and his gums to leak the same crimson substance. Wood, earth and wind collided, both smashing into each other in a whirlwind of leaves, gale blades, branches, and entire tree trunks. They were shredded and obliterated from the volatile force, the sphere barreled forward clearing mowing down the barrage of trees as it picked up speed and velocity propelling itself with each impact and shock wave it ripped through the tendrils and slabs sending a loud thunderclap roaring through the area along with hordes of mammoth projectiles. What a powerful attack! And for her not to use any hand seals at all... Hashirama's eyes were wide in genuine shock and fear-for this thing to mow down his whole attack and Syrus's... "HAAAAAAA!" He heaved with all of his strength, trying to encircle the sphere, failing miserably, but managed to clip it against the left edge.
Obliterating the rest of their combined jutsu the sphere shot upward moving easily over three hundred miles, skimmed at a sharp angle slowly starting to loop higher and higher until it shot above the clouds warping the natural white sheets. Mikito slammed her hands together in the snake seal. "Explode!" She commanded.
BRRRROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMM!
She had been thrown off of her feet and carried for several hundred feet along with everyone else around her. It was a wild and uncontrollable flight forcing screams out of her as she fought for control.
Something erupted that's the only thing that could describe this.
An explosion and shock wave somewhere close by rattled the entire landscape with horrible tremors. She narrowly avoided breaking her arm with a last minute adjustment to her wild tumble crashing into the sand and flipping uncontrollably. She caught a glimpse of something blue and massive as he tumbled and spilled in a tangle of limbs; it was close by swinging energy swords around leveling the forest that continued growing and sprouting around her incessantly.
She had no idea what that was and really didn't want to know. Whatever it was it was horribly powerful-and the chakra radiating from it was dark.
Yuko struggled against the pit growing within her stomach. It left her feeling hollow and vague, but more than anything unnerved. She had been in numerous battles, she fought her way into and out of the Water country a feat that even the most powerful and experienced shinobi or kunoichi came up short on, she had even been behind the enemy's lines as a prisoner with the lingering threat of getting her eyes ripped out from her skull, but this was a whole different thing entirely.
It was chaos and bloodshed.
There were thousands of people fighting. Uchiha. Domou. Subatsu. Sarutobi. Akimichi... And her most dreaded enemy the Senju clan. Where did it end and where did it begin? The landscape was starting to become spotted with the dying and wounded, vultures and insects flocked to the blood drenched remains of the bodies filling the air with obnoxious shrieks that entangled with the putrid and heavy odor of decay that hung over the air like a dark curtain. A haunting and constant reminder that death was just a second away if you didn't stay alert and aware.
Her mind froze, holding her body in place as the chaos and fighting continued with a fever pitch, where was she to even begin?
If she jumped out into the fray she'd be cut down if she wasn't careful. If she flared even the smallest degree of her chakra she'd have a horde of shinobi on her like a glove. It begged the question what was she to do? In a battle of this magnitude with the earth rumbling beneath her feet, debris flying thousands of feet above them crashing into the sand dunes like comets, and not to mention the clouds of shuriken and kunai that dissipated and appeared all in the span of a few minutes if she were to step out there she'd be killed.
A vulture would start plucking away at her innards and she desperately tried to keep them contained within her abdomen that would be slit or blown open, its ravenous shriek as it tasted blood for the first time would only punctuate the feeding frenzy and it'd go from plucking away to tearing into her and leaving a trail of gore as the rest of its kin flocked around her in a feeding frenzy. What a horrible way to die.
But, she was an Uchiha... This is what they lived for. What they were bred for. Battle. Bloodshed. The thrill of it all.
To back down would be an insult to part of her heritage.
Yuko jumped onto a nearby branch surveying the wide and long battlefield.
Steeling her resolve like a tempered flame she sprung forward into the wild frenzy immediately cutting through a Senju Shinobi's neck before he could stab her, there was blood and bits of his esophagus flying ten feet away from him and splattering above them like a demented shower. She paid no heed to the gore and charged in once more, struggling to find her place in the chaos.
Dodge. Slash. Jump. Stab. A quick fire jutsu. Dodge and keep on dodging. Keep on slashing. She was used to being surrounded so that didn't do her attackers any favors, she continued to evade their attempts of circling her like hungry sharks it didn't lessen their attempts however as they all swarmed around her eating the steel and collapsing in half paralyzed heaps.
This was ridiculous. When had the Sarutobi had the time to amass such vast numbers after their recent defeat by the hands of the Uchiha and Domou.. Three thousand was nothing to scoff at, in fact it was something to fear and dread when faced with the sheer vastness. It all made sense though, Sasuke was an arrogant, spiteful, and brazen man who knew no limits or boundaries. He probably set out during the night to avoid detection and also be able to traverse through the region without fear of the natural conditions.
Her body reacted on its own a cocktail of anticipation and fear. One hand hastily clawed in the coarse terrain struggling for purchase as another blast of terrific force-somehow louder than before rocked the landscape and sent wood scattering about in a symphony of acrobatics and destruction. She raced to her feet and reacted on instinct and anticipation felling a Sarutobi shinobi only to hastily battle back three Senju shinobi that swarmed her at once. She sliced through one's neck sprinting away from the next two only for a horde of Sarutobi to slam into them.
She spun sharply to evade something, she felt someone swiping towards her with a sword and bounded away swiftly sliding to a stop and clasping her sword with two hands. There was no telling who she'd be facing, at this rate it could be Tobirama himself... An unpleasant thought. However, who stood before was not Tobirama but in fact a short girl, even shorter than her with striking jade eyes, from her chakra and appearance she'd guess she was a Subatsu. Oh hey, who are you? Yuko thought sarcastically.
"If you leave, I won't kill you." The woman spoke.
Yuko frowned at that, she wasn't sure if this girl was that arrogant or if she was genuine. "Huh?"
"You're... Uchiha Yuko." The girl smiled slightly seeing shock flash across the red haired kunoichi's face. "I am Subatsu Usagi. You're quite famous you know, I've been hearing so much about a red haired kunoichi that is said to be an Uchiha." She shrugged her eyebrows, noting the confusion and question in her eyes. "My clan has great spies, there's not a place in this world that is off limits to us."
Being famous? She was famous?! Surely this girl has to be kidding about that. There was no way she could be famous when there were Uchiha like Aito and Hikaku, Madara and Izuna, even Yuto. "You'd let me go?" Yuko shifted uneasily staying ready for an attack or to attack. She was an Uchiha after all, and well it was better to kill them while the getting was good before they flipped it around and mowed everyone down. Maybe Usagi was just messing with her, psychological warfare at its best. But, there was something honest in her eyes. "No, you're just trying to deceive me."
"I have no need to do that."
"I don't believe you..."
Usagi considered what she said for a few more seconds before shrugging and shifting her stance. "You've made up your mind then. Therefore I won't hold back." She darted forward slashing upwards just as Yuko was going to form a seal, shock and surprise flashed across the young woman's face, Usagi stepped forward leading with a stab which Yuko dodged. She was on her again slashing and stabbing pushing and forcing Yuko back if she wasn't deflecting her stabs. She may be short, but that made her quicker and she had the center of gravity in her favor.
Her Sharingan saved her from the swift slash aimed for her neck. Right now she was anticipating Usagi's movements allowing her to keep with Usagi's pace despite her attacks being powerful and savage she just wasn't trying to defeat her-she was trying to cut her apart. She was trained extensively in kenjutsu, but it wasn't her specialty, keeping her distance at times and utilizing her fire jutsus was where she shined.
Half turning with terrific velocity she lashed out with a counter, her teeth grit as her wrists jarred and braced against the tremendous force digging her sandals into the sand. She heaved with a low grunt, pushing forward as hard and fast as she could trying to overwhelm her. Usagi shifted her footing, tearing away to the side at a sharp angle dragging Yuko's blade tip down by the barest inch, and she struck out.
The air pushed against her face splaying her bangs across her forehead, the urge to close her eyes against the biting was overwhelming, but she kept herself firmed and her eyes open peering around her tomoes rotating slowly. She turned sharply to her side locking eyes with Usagi. This girl was quick and her attacks were savage and precise; not everyone took the art of kenjutsu seriously, but it was clear that Usagi did. From their short clash that much was evident.
"Your Sharingan has saved you again." Usagi said.
Yuko shifted warily. She needed to find a way to distance herself away from this girl taking her on head to head wasn't a favorable option. If I could just put some distance between us... Yuko narrowed her eyes slowly widening her stance and lowering herself more, she would either need to goad Usagi or somehow get her to take the bluff, but the chances of that were slim at best. She couldn't stay here and fight a prolonged battle. Eventually she was going to lean or shift too much.
"Yuko-chan, go support Hikaku-san and Masa-san."
Usagi narrowed her eyes while Yuko turned around in slight shock seeing Ahiko's armor smeared in blood one hand clasping the shaft of her spear tightly.
Usagi's expression turned mysterious.
"Go, Yuko-chan." Ahiko repeated more firmly, moving herself in front of the redhead.
Yuko nodded and dashed away, she didn't particularly want to keep fighting Usagi. She felt like she was on a razor's edge the entire time, if she was lax for even a second Usagi would tear right through her.
"Usagi." Ahiko murmured twirling her spear elaborately for a moment before taking a low stance and setting the shaft behind her hand taking a wider grip.
"Ahiko." Usagi muttered the mysterious expression remaining on her face.
They collided.
Tobirama had been fully expecting a battle the second he crossed into the region. It was common knowledge that any time one crossed over borders that the chances of an ambush or attack was ninety percent. There were the natural hazards such as the terrain, predators, venomous insects, etc and so forth;then there was the shinobi clans and mercenary clans that inhabited the surrounding area who knew the terrain and the layout.
It made for interesting... Well, he wasn't sure if he could call it interesting but they were tense situations.
Knowing that the Uchiha and Domou were just some miles away didn't make him settle down any more than he had been-which was absolute zero. He wouldn't have been surprised if they launched an attack and invaded the Desert country completely, but evidently his assumptions had been wrong. It was Sasuke who launched two invasions with a force of over three thousand. It was beyond ridiculous.
Combined his force and the Subatsu's were roughly around twelve hundred.
The Uchiha's and Domou's was about the same maybe a little more or less.
It was chaos.
He sent multiple high level water jutsus towards his opponents shocking and surprising them a great deal as he conjured it out of thin air bracing against the hissing and shock waves as it extinguished fire and cut through thick slabs of earth.
He sped through the destruction and mayhem striking at anything that moved he was a gifted sensor and knew where he was at all times, who was near him, and who was coming towards him with in intent to lob his head for two hundred feet. Not to his surprise Izuna came right for his neck their battle spilling out over miles with several hundred others getting in their way. They were cut down of course, and their battle commenced once again, Tobirama's speed blistering and becoming very prominent against Izuna's swift movements and dexterity.
Red eyes clashed with ruby eyes. The familiar wave of force rattling through his wrists and up to his shoulders, without any reservation he pushed his chakra out around him struggling to push Izuna back. From experience he knew Izuna has tremendous strength and dexterity, he fought at close range letting the thrill of the fight take him over, and his kenjutsu was impeccable. Tobirama dashed back with a quick leap, breaking their stalemate to quickly fend off against more of his attackers.
Izuna growled in annoyance slashing and slicing through everyone who came his way, whether they were dead or severely wounded he didn't even care, they were in his way interfering, that's all that mattered and they would be dealt with accordingly. Six swings and four fire jutsus later he sped towards Tobirama, surging forward with a stab skewing it down a few inches, just like he anticipated the white haired man dodged at the very last second with a piercing glare. Izuna rebounded and dashed back towards him as he fell two shinobi. "Hrgghhh..." Izuna grunted, pushing against his blade his feet digging into the ground below him as he fought for supremacy.
Damn it. Tobirama hissed mentally breaking his stalemate once more as a horde of Akimichi swept towards him, another horde of Sarutobi flashing through a series of hand seals. He flicked his sharp eyes onto Izuna feeling the Uchiha's chakra flare and hang thickly in the air, the dark depths of a fire spewing free from his mouth morphing rapidly and twisting in on itself extending outwards with wings, claws, bellowing a roar as it completed its transformation into a dragon.
Suiton! Suishōha! He screamed mentally, slamming his hands together forcing the air around him to turn moist water to surge into existence, pushing and pushing until it swirled into a massive vortex spilling upward for hundreds of feet in a wild twister battering against the fire dragon with a deep, scorching hiss sending steam flying out around the entire area as it leveled out destroying the fireballs launched by the Sarutobi with ease. It continued spinning violently spilling out in every direction dampening the entire area.
Gathering himself, Tobirama waited poised and ready, his senses stretching out around him taking in everything despite the steam hanging thickly. Water was his specialty, where his brother used the Mokuton which aided him in sheer brute strength, he had to be extremely precise as well as using brute strength. It wasn't an easy task, if he gave too little or too much than it was going to have horrible results with more chakra being used than was necessary. Slowly, the steam dissipated revealing Izuna with a cold expression on his face with the Sarutobi looking at him with slight shock.
"He... Just..."
"Executed another high level Suiton jutsu..." Another Sarutobi shinobi finished.
"Impossible... In this environment..."
Izuna couldn't help but be amused at the evident shock and disbelief that was evident on the Sarutobi shinobi's faces... To execute such a high level suiton jutsu in this arid terrain was quite literally impossible, but Senju had a very powerful life forces and Tobirama could force water into existence conjuring and kneading it with extreme force-for Izuna he had seen it many times, so it wasn't anything new. Even if they were in the middle of a desert. Brother's already using that technique, at this rate... He furrowed his brows, keeping the Mangekyo active too long was going to lead to severe pain and bleeding.
With this in mind he quickly flashed through a series of hand seals spotting Sasuke doing the same a few feet away with Hashirama surging forward on his trees with Madara battering and bashing anything the Senju threw at him. Mikito and Syrus were several meters back caught up in a ferocious and intense battle. Izuna unleashed the ferocious flames with a great and mighty exhale pouring his chakra into the jutsu amplifying its speed and size, slowly the dragon roared into existence once more but easily twice as massive with glowing orange eyes.
"Die, Senju!" Sasuke roared unleashing his own powerful fire jutsu.
BOOOOOOOOOOMMMMM!
The combination of wood, water, fire, wind, lightning, earth, and sand was too much to be contained in just one explosion. The jutsus collided all at once shaking the landscape and tearing deep trenches in every direction as their forces dispersed combining into a series of erupting geysers of steam and streaking projectiles smashing into the sand dunes and splitting them in two leaving hundreds of tons of sand to shift and fly skyward. Slowly, the steam and smoke dissipated revealing the battered and obliterated trees and fires that still raged viciously refusing to be quelled or extinguished by the puddles of water clogging everything.
Finally the smoke cleared away with a sharp gust revealing the battered landscape and half stable trees that continued to collapse losing their strength and foundation. Madara hissed under his breath searching for any signs of life and more importantly for Hashirama, but he noted the place was particularly barren. The explosion had been massive and shook everything to its core, there wasn't time to think only to brace against the shock wave and avoid any projectiles at all costs.
"Tch, looks like he got away." Madara scoffed lightly, it only made sense after all since that explosion was meant to distract and divert. "Hngh..." He sighed wearily rubbing his cheeks. There was blood. With a small mental command he deactivated his Mangekyo letting it revert back to its three tomoe pattern. His guardian slowly dissipating in wisps.
Using Susano'o was particularly draining and painful. Forget the fact that activating the Mangekyo caused pain, the Susano'o ripped apart his cells and threatened to rip his entire body apart, it was for this reason other than the fact it caused mass destruction that he kept in reserve for fighting Hashirama... The drawbacks weren't worth it otherwise, like profuse bleeding which he was enduring at this moment.
"Brother!" Izuna raced towards him with concern evident in his features Mikito quickly bounding after him easily keeping with his pace. "Are you okay?" Izuna's attentive stare landed onto Madara's face twisting with apprehension and angst, there was blood flowing freely from his eye sockets, Madara swiped away every few seconds to get rid of it but more came to replace it.
"I'm fine." Madara shook his head struggling to get rid of the burning and persistent pain. It wasn't like suffering a blow or strike with a weapon, it was persistent and pulsing constantly reminding him that he may have pushed himself too far and kept the Mangekyo activated too long, it was a small price to pay. It didn't mean he wasn't fazed by the pain however. "How's everyone else?"
"No serious injuries and no deaths." Izuna replied. "I can't say the same for the Sarutobi though... I think that explosion was a diversion, evidently it's worked since they all pulled back even the Senju and Subatsu."
"I figured as much." Madara gave a small nod, righting himself. "Any survivors?"
"Nope." Izuna shook his head.
"We'll head back for now since there's nothing more we can do." Souji spoke up, looking at no one in particular. "The weather is getting pretty bad too at this point."
"Madara... Your eyes are bleeding." Mikito said warily striding towards him with quick steps. It wasn't normal for the eyes to bleed unless there was something seriously wrong with a person and at that point they were already on death's door most likely. Madara obviously wasn't on the verge of death... Izuna had mentioned that their Sharingan has side effects when it was used for an extended period of time-even if he didn't say this verbally it was implied like a few other things during their conversation last night. She could heal Madara, get the bleeding to stop, but that'd be a blow against his pride... But, at this point she didn't care about that his eyes were bleeding. "Let me heal you."
"I'm fine." Madara repeated a bit forcefully. Dully noting that Yuko and Ahiko were making their way towards them with Yuto, Hikaku, and Mitsuki following close behind.
"But..." Mikito pursed her lips. Was he going to be this hardheaded? Honestly? "Please, just let me heal you so they stop bleeding. It's the least I can do."
Knowing that she wasn't going to let it drop until he agreed he gave a soft grunt holding himself still as she moved closer to him. It's not that he didn't want to be healed, it would save him from the torture of his eyes burning and feeling like a million needles were being jammed into them as well as the profuse bleeding, but he couldn't allow himself to look so weak in front of everyone even if Mikito was just trying to help. But, he wouldn't gain anything from refusing her help except continuous pain. "Okay, go ahead."
The soft hum of glowing chakra reached his ears. He flinched as her chakra entered his body before slowly relaxing. It was so cold against the burning in his eyes, it was almost heavenly. Soothing every inch of them, quelling the burning and coaxing it to subside and lay dormant. He felt something 'shift' and slowly the bleeding stopped only leaving several dry smears and streaks on his face where he had tried wiping it off before. "Okay, that's enough." Madara pulled back as the humming stopped blinking a few times. No burning. No blood. There was a small throb but that was it.
Mikito only nodded silently giving him a worried look. This was now the second time she had seen his eyes bleeding. But, pestering Madara about it wasn't going to do anything other then annoy him and she really didn't want that at this moment in time. "Good work everyone!" She turned her attention from Madara onto her kinsmen and the Uchiha, all of them looking worse for wear, but they weren't glaring at each other which was a major improvement from a few hours ago. They all smirked or smiled at her, even the Uchiha while some gave affirmative nods. "They've pulled back their forces for the moment, so it is our victory. Be sure to get some rest once we return, but stay on guard we don't know what they're scheming. Expect an attack at anytime. Patrols will go as we've planned."
"Right!"
"Alright then, let's head back!" Izuna shouted pointing at the castle in the near distance. "Take Mikito's words to heart."
Syrus was starting to consider himself the opposite of Hashriama-not exactly a polar opposite but their differences were starting to become more and more prominent. He wanted to give a timely report to the damiyo, and in affect get the moron to order the evacuation, there were a few wounded men and women but it was nothing severe or life threatening. One reason he wanted to speak with the damiyo. Hashirama on the other hand not only started healing everyone with practical ease-a feat that was shocking since very very few could be proficient in medical ninjutsu, Hashirama had went above and beyond turning a whole room into a makeshift hospital.
Syrus couldn't really complain about his efforts, and seeing him heal everyone was an amazing sight. Who would think that Hashirama, a boisterous and jovial man who could be impulsive had such a talent for medical ninjutsu. It was an art that was obscurity, nobody wanted to put the time in or waste the time in learning it favoring the more destructive ninjutsu and taijutsu, bojutsu, etc.
The Senju were known to be prodigious in all the fields. But medical ninjutsu too. That put them above the wide majority of shinobi clans.
He was pleasantly surprised and left Hashirama to finish his work, it seemed that trying to get him to step away from it was going to be two migraines, and quite frankly he didn't want to deal with that stubborn streak. But, that was perfect. Hashirama could tend to the wounded and he would go and formulate the next strategy without him going against some of his suggestions persistently, oddly enough Tobirama joined him staying as silent as Haji as the two flanked him.
Being the tactician he was he wanted to tie up loose ends before shit hit the fan again.
The damiyo stood behind his desk up to his neck in paperwork, he didn't look the least bit flustered, but there were signs of annoyance written plainly across his features without a single doubt the fight that just took place was the cause of the upsurge of paperwork. He paused in his reading and flicked an eye onto the trio taking in their dirtied and bloodied visages keeping the grimace that wanted to make shiver down and back. "I've been informed..." His voice took on a grim not. "Thankfully nobody was hurt."
Syrus would have sneered in contempt if it were any other person. To be so naive and shortsighted as to not order the evacuation beforehand and then say 'thankfully nobody was hurt' had to be the most asinine thing he'd ever heard. The people wouldn't be harmed at all or even have a remote chance of being harmed if they were evacuated and situated correctly and when both he and Hashirama stressed to do so minutes before the attack had started. Typical of a damiyo... Make the wrong choice and be a pompous jackass and make some stupid retort. "How is the evacuation coming along?"
"I wanted to speak with you about that." The damiyo folded his arms behind his back, maintaining a composed and royal air about him. "I need your assistance."
"With all due respect, these are your people." Haji said dryly. They weren't here to play babysitter, there mission was cut and clear, and this wasn't a part of it. Evacuating people shouldn't be a difficult task, but civilians who didn't have any control over their emotions like he and any other shinobi did would panic and run around like chicken that lost their heads, it would prove to be aggravating at best and infuriating at the very worst. If Sasuke happened to attack again, or the Shimura moved with the Wind damiyo. It wasn't favorable. "We will only cause more fear and panic, people fear us."
Which was very true, shinobi weren't considered to be human. A lot of people thought of them as animals, slaughtering everything in their path that wasn't remotely related to them or of great interest. They were only tools to be used by the damiyos, hired for their services, like guard dogs used as a showing off item. And, so people called them as much. Killers. Heartless. Animals.
If they were to try and evacuate the people they may cause a riot or something even worse.
"Also... If there is another attack then we need to be able to react swiftly." Syrus said, shifting his shoulders slightly trying to keep his annoyance reigned in. For some reason he had been expecting something like this to happen, where theyhad to a task likethis one. "If we are evacuating the people and an attack is launched there will be more deaths due to our distractions. We are on the cusp of a war." Hopefully this was enough for the damiyo to get the point without him being too blunt on the matter.
"You make good points, but..." The damiyo rubbed his chin musingly.
"I could take care of it." Tobirama said with a light shrug, his baritone putting everyone to attention.
"Are you sure?" Syrus looked bemused. Why would Tobirama even consider doing this? It didn't seem like something he'd even entertain as an afterthought.
Tobirama just nodded. They didn't have time to waste, and if the damiyo was too incompetent to calm his own people then he'd just take care of the whole thing. The faster it was done the better, and he was fast. "I'll need your soldiers and guards to assist me, panic is sure to ensue and if that happens it will be impossible to make any headway.
"I can do that for you, as I will accompany you." The damiyo nodded, speaking in a rather pleasant tone. No doubt he was pleased with Tobirama's compliance to complete the task.
Syrus and Haji glanced at each other for a moment before exiting the room heading back towards Hashirama's location.
The bar was bustling with people of course, but they managed to find a spot in the back off in a corner where they could see everyone and everything coming and going secluded in the shadows away from any prying eyes. Not like anyone would pay them any mind for starters since everyone in this place was drunk to some extent-even if it wasn't the stumbling drunk.
Looking back on it Madara wasn't exactly sure when he started getting along with Mikito. It just sort of... Happened it was hard to put his finger on.
They had their usual arguments, which for him were more like verbal competitions. He actually looked forward to the time when she'd give him sass or object to something he said.
And, last night was well... Amazing and surprising. He'd never felt more refreshed.
So, one couldn't blame him for being so surprised when she agreed to patrol the village completely. He felt it was necessary in case someone less reputable let a shinobi clan stay in their inn-like in the Grass village. He didn't want a repeat of that, even if this damiyo was more prudent and kept up on his security shit happens as the saying goes.
They came to an agreement that their would be patrols in the morning, evening, and then night. It wasn't very likely something would happen during the first two, but as far as night was concerned that's when things would get started. They had 1250 people total between the two of them with Isami, Isamu, Hikaku, Masa, Mitsuki, Misaka, Chiasa, Shin, Yuto, and several others being standouts and would take the lead. Of course the Uchiha didn't have kunoichi, so any kunoichi save for Yuko that were present belonged to the Domou clan.
It was interesting to see how their clans differed to an extent. Madara has always taken measures in studying up on numerous clans. The Domou, and Subatsu by extension were hard to come by and only bits of information were available-they were both extremely reclusive. The Domou had a very big sense of equality and unity from his observations.
It was much different than the Uchiha which was separated in a sense. There were a lot of rules and regulations as well as rankings. It basically put everyone in a place, kept them in that place, and they couldn't move up or down from that place. The one way one could avoid this was with strength and nothing less.
One thing that Izuna had been pushing for was allowing the women to fight, if they wanted to. They should receive additional training other than the basics-there were the few that went above and beyond but that was a narrow few. The Council of course would hear nothing of it though.
"Madara." He turned towards the sound of her voice, staring at Mikito with his usual expressionless mask not quite scowling. "So, tell me what do you think of that?"
Madara blinked. He had zoned out in his train of thought, and was ashamed to say he forgot what it was they were talking about. It had to be important since Mikito was looking at him with that intense and observant stare that she would always get when she was serious. Of course, he couldn't admit this out loud because he was certain she'd be vexed with how flippant he was-not to mention Souji and Izuna were seated next to them on either side in the bustling bar. He couldn't stay silent forever that'd only cause Mikito to prod and he didn't make a response he was going to look like a moron. "Hn."
"Hn?" Mikito sighed in exasperation at the lack of a response. "What kind of an answer is that? I'm telling you that I'll give you a Sansetsukon and a Chain whip with some scrolls on various fighting styles that go along with it as well as how to construct it, and all you have to say to me is hn?" She couldn't help it and scoffed lightly. She sent him a harsh scowl completely bemused that he was being so flippant with this topic of discussion, unbelievable... Did he have to such a pig head? "That's so intelligible and sincere Madara. Have some more sake will you."
"Don't look at me like that." Madara groused. That's right they had been exchanging ideas on what to give to each other since they didn't agree on the kenjutsu scroll and ninjutsu scroll. It was a subject Madara was highly invested in since it'd help relations between their clans and hopefully there wouldn't be another glaring contest between them that hadn't been pleasant... And there was a part of him that was utterly and totally fascinated with weapons of all types-he was a shinobi after all and getting the chance to see a new weapon and its techniques, that was like candy to a kid. "I accept this and in return I will give you a ninjutsu scroll with some of our fire jutsus and the mechanics behind them."
Mikito fixed with him with a critical stare, crossing one leg over the other. "I am glad to hear that. Now, you can go back to your sake since we've finished this discussion."
"I was listening before!"
"You can't even say that with a straight face."
"I just did."
Mikito look at him dryly, not convinced in the least. "Mhm, well this is done with so..." She shrugged slightly taking a ginger sip of sake. "Anyways. Anything interesting you have to share with us Souji?" Madara could snap and swear up and down that he was listening, but she knew that he wasn't judging from the telltale signs the most prominent that narrow eyed gaze that he'd direct at nothing or anyone in particular-not focusing on her. But, she wasn't going to argue the point with him.
"You did say you found out a few things." Izuna chimed in.
Souji closed his eyes for a moment going through the topics. A couple weren't to be taken seriously, they were mere rumors, but a rumor always had a little bit of truth in it otherwise they wouldn't last as long as they did. He peered at his sister and the Uchiha brothers, flicking his eyes around them for a few moments making sure nobody was listening in or trying to. "Well, I've heard two things that have warranted my attention. The first being that they confronted the Two Tails and put it in rout away from the Fire village. People are calling him a "god of shinobi." He said with disdain, noting the disbelief in everyone's eyes, even his sister looked slightly surprised-after all the Tailed Beasts were monsters made of sinister chakra. "The second is that through some means... Hashirama convinced Tunoichi, Hajime, Saburo, and Kenzou to all sign a ceasefire."
"What?" Izuna leaned forward, narrowing his dark eyes. "That can't be possible, Tunoichi and Hajime hate each other." He didn't even comment on the Two Tails, that was beyond absurd.
"Well, it's Hashirama." Madara snorted sipping on his spicy sake. That man could talk anyone into doing anything, probably talk someone into jumping off of a bridge for that matter. But, it was hard to believe that he managed to get those four to agree to be in the same room, let alone sign a ceasefire thus ending their age long war with each other.
What really caught his attention was the fact he confronted the Two Tails. It was said that the Mokuton could suppress a Tailed Beast's chakra, but this was merely a thing of myths and tales used to make the Senju feel superior to the Uchiha. But, it definitely begged the question if it was true, and if it was indeed true than Hashirama would be more than just his primary focus... He'd be his only focus. However, the chances that Hashirama managed to perform such a feat was slim and exaggerated at best.
"How typical for people to say such a thing. Hashirama must be a smooth talker." Mikito noted with a hint of amusement in her tone. For Hashirama to get those four into the same room must have been a huge miracle, there's just no way they'd agree to something as foolish as signing a ceasefire. Even if it wasn't worth the paper it was on, it was just something she couldn't see or imagine no matter how much Hashirama prodded them to go through with it. Which meant there was an ulterior motive behind their agreements. "He's not a god, far from it in fact... What a gross exaggeration."
Izuna snorted. "Quite."
"What I'm concerned about is the signing of this ceasefire. I couldn't care less about that little moniker." Souji steered the conversation back on course. Hashirama was not a god, he was a mortal made of flesh, blood, and bone. His bones could be broken, he could die, he could bleed. "Those four clans wouldn't be caught dead with each other, and they all happen to come to a mutual agreement and go through with it without any complaints or rebellion." He shook his head stiffly, how foolish, believing they took on the Two Tails was easier than getting those four leaders to sit down together without a jutsu being expelled or swords gleaming at their necks.
"What are you getting at?" Madara asked, interested. He was still wrapping his mind around the entire thing and coming to his own conclusion, so he didn't have the time or mental energy to deduce what the four's objectives and motives were. That was anyone's guess. There was just no telling with the four of them put together in a confined space.
"Did they really agree to the ceasefire for peace, or..." Souji paused, crossing his arms over his chest. It was a foolish thought to think they did it for peace, but stranger things have happened. "Was it just a way to entrap the Senju and Subatsu." He laughed humorlessly. "I'd never thought Syrus would take such a risk." Syrus was always wary of things like this and Haji was right up there with him.
"I see your point." Izuna nodded slowly. A ceasefire was a great way to entrap a clan or clans, particularly if those clans were part of it and were obliged to no longer attack. The first one or couple of clans to spring the attack would win without any trouble, it'd lead to numerous deaths nothing short of a slaughter, so much for a ceasefire and peace. But, this couldn't be the only reasons why Souji was wary of the whole thing altogether.
"There's also the problem of Hashirama sending something to you both."
Madara bristled while Mikito tensed.
"I hope you both didn't agree to it..." Izuna's voice was unusually low and threatening. "I know you can be easily swayed at this, brother."
"Shut your mouth, Izuna. I didn't accept it." Madara grated out. He didn't want to deal with his brother when he got like this. "I'd never accept it. Don't start your shit..."
"I didn't accept it, he was too vague." Mikito replied easily waving her hand in a dismissive manner. It didn't seem like all that of a big deal, a bit puzzling but nothing that would warrant Izuna to have such a violent reaction, Souji too for that matter. But, she could understand Souji since he didn't like anyone but has a special disdain and hatred for the Senju.
"He's only trying to reign supreme! The peace that will follow isn't worth it if it's made with the Senju!" Souji snarled viciously, paying no mind to the shock in Madara's eyes and surprise in Izuna's. He really couldn't blame them for the reaction to his statement, normally he was quiet and retained a stony expression only speaking when it was necessary.
"I said I didn't accept it!" Mikito snapped right back at him.
"You sure as hell better not have!"
"Are you deaf!?"
"Okay... Let's all just calm down." Izuna felt himself sigh, tensing in trepidation. These two weren't about to start fighting right here and now. It was bad enough that him and Madara would come to blows, he didn't want these two going at it in addition. "Moving forward, you're wary of this ceasefire. What is that you're anticipating?" Izuna focused his gaze on Souji, hoping that this would be enough to steer the conversation away from the topic of Senju.
"It could be an attack." Madara shrugged stating one of the only and obvious answers..
"I think they intend to launch an attack soon... They may entrap the Senju and Subatsu thanks to Hashirama's folly, which will lead them here to us. The Shaningu have been hostile towards us since the incident at Maison-ya, they hardly need an excuse to shove their way into this." Souji slowly sipped away at his sake as he spoke.
"You're expecting them to come here with a full force." Mikito deduced.
"Pretty much." Souji nodded. "It's just a matter of when they decide to show up at this point."
Silence.
"Well, in that case we'll defeat them as well." Madara stated confidently. If the Shaningu hadn't learned their lesson from the last time they crossed paths, for certain this time they will learn their lesson and it will stick. He'd make sure of it. "At this point I wouldn't expect anything less than another clan sticking their nose where it doesn't belong, after all the Akimichi have been doing just that lately. Which means that it isn't a question or afterthought any longer."
"War is on the horizon..." Mikito finished with a whisper.
"Now, it's just a matter of how far we can go." Izuna muttered softly. "But, we know that we are comrades now and will be from here on out, so we must care for each other."
"I agree." Mikito said softly with a sincere smile. "Very well said, Izuna."
There was only silence as they nodded once again. No words needed to be spoken, the feeling was powerful enough. Whatever was thrown their way they'd overcome it together and they'd conquer it together. No questions asked.