The giant waves created by Water Release swept in. Two Uchiha veteran met up with Uchiha Takuya. All three possessed top-tier movement skills. Facing waves massive enough to swallow ordinary people, they dodged the first impact with quick leaps, then landed on the calmer water surface.
The three were in good condition, but their complexions looked increasingly grim.
"How's the situation?"
Upon hearing the elder's question, team leader Uchiha Kuto also looked grim, gritting his teeth. "Too late to rescue them. These Senju were prepared. When we sensed them, they launched surprise attacks from underground. The brothers on guard duty have already been... wiped out."
Another Uchiha jonin glanced at the floodwaters covering the forest, voice somewhat bewildered. "Elder, what should we do now?"
Uchiha Takuya's expression shifted. A glint of light flashed in his crimson Sharingan. "Plan changed. Eliminate the attacking Senju ninjas and follow me in a surprise attack on the Senju clan's territory!"
The two Uchiha jonin exchanged glances, both seeing resolute determination in each other's Sharingan.
This was the center of Senju territory. Once discovered, it was practically a death sentence.
However, there was no point thinking about it further. The two immediately separated, unleashed their chakra, drew ninja swords, and charged forward along the gradually descending water surface to launch their counterattack.
Uchiha Takuya watched the two figures disappear into the distance, eyes filled with hesitation and uncertainty. In the end, he didn't follow the backup plan and take the opportunity to escape.
This mission was clandestine infiltration. There was absolutely no support.
Whether they could leave or not was still a question.
Moreover, the clan chief's mission wasn't yet complete. They absolutely couldn't die here meaninglessly.
The chakra refined by war and time erupted with a roar. Pale purple energy soared skyward, vaguely transforming into a giant's figure. It lasted less than a moment before dissipating, condensing into a mountain peak that stood majestically between sky and earth.
Uchiha Takuya enjoyed the exhilaration of unleashing his full chakra, feeling as if he'd returned to thirty years ago—to the day he first stepped onto the battlefield.
Simple and fearless.
Then he launched his attack!
A terrifyingly large amount of chakra erupted in the distance. Senju Yura's heart trembled. It was indeed clan leader-level combat power!
Two Uchiha veteran charging straight at him were already close enough that he had no time for anything else. He could only place hopes on Jordan's promise. Without turning back, he instructed his team. "I'll take the one in front. You guys hold off the other. Watch out for Sharingan genjutsu, and... don't die!"
"It's not like we're fighting Uchiha for the first time. Don't worry, Captain!"
"That's right, leave it to us."
"You better not die yourself!"
The relaxed voices of his teammates came from behind. Senju Yura grinned. His chakra condensed and compressed into monstrous strength. With left hand holding kunai in reverse grip, he instantly blocked the ninja sword Uchiha Kuto slashed down. His body spun in the air and suddenly exerted force. His right foot slammed down like a warhammer!
Uchiha Kuto knew Senju's monstrous strength couldn't be taken head-on. As his ninja sword was blocked, he dispersed the chakra attached to his feet and instantly vanished into the water. Senju Yura, determined to win, missed his kick, causing water to erupt everywhere.
When he reappeared, Uchiha Kuto had already completed hand seals. His chest bulged high. The next second, he suddenly spewed a scorching wave of fire from his mouth!
"Fire Release: Great Dragon Fire Technique!"
Three colossal fire dragons intertwined and soared skyward, then turned and crashed down toward Senju Yura. The latter seemed to have anticipated the Uchiha counterattack. In his highly activated state, he instantly dodged, kicking away an Uchiha veteran who was using Sharingan genjutsu to immobilize a Senju skilled combatant and prepare for decapitation. He let out a furious roar:
"There won't be a next time! Get the hell out of there!"
The Senju squad used chakra to help their comrade break free from Sharingan genjutsu control. The three simultaneously used Water Release: Wild Water Wave to replenish the gradually decreasing water volume, using the water flow's momentum to chase the distant enemy.
Senju Yura breathed a sigh of relief, completed hand seals, and pressed them into the water. A curtain of water rose from nowhere and collided with a pursuing fire dragon behind him, exploding into huge amounts of water vapor. The remaining two fire dragons, under Uchiha Kuto's control, raised their heads to dodge. The ferocious dragon heads suddenly accelerated and bit down!
"Ugh, what a hassle!"
The two sides exchanged blows rapidly, having already completed several combat rounds.
Uchiha Takuya, running forward, sensed changes in the battle situation. Stimulated by chakra, his battle-hardened body suddenly accelerated, preparing to cooperate with Uchiha Kuto to instantly kill the opposing Senju ninja!
Blinding white light mingled with sunlight and fell, sending a chill straight from the soles of his feet to the top of his head!
Surprised, Uchiha Takuya's crimson three-tomoe Sharingan was pushed almost to its limit. He finally made out a beam of intense light carrying electricity descending from the sky!
A faint electrical sound was almost drowned out by rushing water. The plasma submerged in water burst out with blinding light and exploded!
The intense explosion light instantly evaporated tons of water. The terrifying shockwave swept across the area, snapping and collapsing surrounding giant trees in the blink of an eye before they were completely engulfed by a towering, high-temperature mushroom cloud.
Realizing what was happening, Uchiha Takuya used materialized chakra erupting from his body to block the explosion's direct impact. At the last second, he slightly shifted his body to avoid the unknown attack and completed hand seals for Substitution Jutsu before fleeing far away.
When he reappeared, he'd arrived at the edge of the lake formed by the Water Release technique.
"W-What kind of ninjutsu is this? Hiss..."
The cataclysmic explosion left the battle-hardened Uchiha drenched in cold sweat. Suddenly, he caught a whiff of burning protein and felt dull ache in his left arm. Snapping out of shock, he glanced at the smell's source and realized—
Below the left shoulder, where the left hand used to be, there was now completely empty space.
The electrical signals from the severed arm had just reached his brain. A wave of excruciating pain surged through him. The sudden loss of his left arm disrupted his balance. Uchiha Takuya staggered and slid off the tree trunk, clutching his severed arm as he half-knelt on the damp earth.
"Sorry, I missed. I was aiming for the heart, which would've saved you the pain."
A single railgun shot gave the earth a burn scar. Jordan fell from the sky, apologetically delivering his villainous remarks to the red-eyed middle-aged ninja.
Listen, was this human talk?
That's how war was. Since he'd chosen to stand with the Senju, his hands were bound to be stained with Uchiha blood.
Moreover, the middle-aged ninja before him had been sent to deal with a pregnant woman. Jordan felt even less burdened making his move.
Despite excruciating pain from his severed arm, Uchiha Takuya endured the intense agony. Cold sweat streaming down his face as he gasped for breath. He felt as if the chakra of the stranger before him was an unfathomable ocean.
After a brief moment of shock, the intense pain actually made his mind clearer. He'd already devised a strategy to fight back.
His remaining hand flashed through seals.