"Let's make this clear first, Second Hokage," said the Second Raikage, crossing his arms and looking arrogantly at Tobirama Senju. "What happens if you lose?"
"If we lose," Tobirama replied calmly, "we will withdraw from the Land of Iron and return to the Land of Fire. Hostilities will cease."
The Second Raikage sneered.
"That's meaningless, Second Hokage. If I win this campaign and gain nothing, do you think that's acceptable?"
"Then what do you want?" Tobirama asked.
Standing nearby, Isamu kept shaking his head.
Tobirama's anxiety is clouding his judgment, he thought.
He's so eager for a truce that he's already revealed all his bargaining chips.
Isn't he just asking the Raikage to fleece him?
The Second Raikage smiled darkly.
"If you lose, you will cover the military expenses of our expedition… and cede part of the Land of Fire's territory to us."
"Ceding territory is absolutely impossible," Tobirama said firmly. "At most, we can cover the military expenses."
The Second Raikage's smile widened.
"Deal."
---
Hiruzen could hardly watch anymore.
Just as Hiruzen Sarutobi was about to warn his teacher, Tobirama had already agreed.
Too late.
Walking up to him quietly, Hiruzen whispered,
"Teacher… you were tricked."
"He deliberately raised the price so you would negotiate it down. You probably just agreed to give him more than he originally wanted."
Tobirama's face darkened instantly.
Damn it.
That bastard actually played me.
Meanwhile, the Second Raikage was secretly delighted.
So Tobirama really wants a quick truce.
He actually agreed to those terms.
And they say he's a negotiation expert? What a joke.
---
Watching Tobirama's expression from the side, Isamu nearly burst out laughing.
Hahaha.
Who said every Raikage is a simple-minded brute?
This Second Raikage just ran circles around Tobirama.
He's clearly a cunning old fox.
Although Tobirama realized he had been tricked, he couldn't take back his words.
Suppressing his anger, he said coldly,
"And if Kumogakure loses?"
"Retreat," the Raikage replied casually. "We declared war, after all."
"If you don't agree, we can simply continue the war."
"No," Tobirama said firmly. "If you lose, you must also cover Konoha's military expenses."
The Raikage turned around immediately.
"Then there's nothing to discuss. We'll continue the war."
Seeing him about to leave, Tobirama clenched his teeth.
"Fine!"
"I agree."
He had already lost the initiative. The Second Raikage held all the leverage now, and Tobirama had no choice but to swallow the humiliation.
---
At this point, Isamu no longer cared about the negotiation terms.
He was thinking about something else entirely.
Although the original story never mentioned this battle…
Konoha and Kumogakure eventually signed a peace treaty as equals.
Which means this duel must end in a draw.
In that case…
I should win one match first before stepping down.
That way I won't interfere with the overall outcome.
They'll still end in a draw and sign the treaty.
And Tobirama will still meet his destined end.
---
"Good."
The Second Raikage pointed at a young man beside him.
"A, you go first."
"Show them the true spirit of Kumogakure!"
"Yes!"
The young man stepped forward and walked directly to the center of the field.
Isamu's eyes widened.
A.
In the Hidden Cloud Village, every Raikage inherited the name A.
That meant this young man was—
The future Third Raikage.
The father of the Fourth Raikage.
The legendary warrior known for possessing the strongest spear and strongest shield, the man who once fought against ten thousand ninja alone.
Damn.
How did I miss him earlier?
Isamu quickly scanned the Raikage's subordinates again.
And then he saw them.
Kinkaku.
Ginkaku.
What the hell?!
They're here too?!
Can this really end in a draw?
---
"Isamu, what are you standing there thinking about?" Tobirama snapped.
"Hurry up and enter the arena!"
"If you lose, see how I deal with you when we return."
Isamu rolled his eyes and walked into the field.
Both sides retreated to the sidelines to watch.
---
"So you inherited the name A," Isamu said calmly, looking at his opponent.
"It seems your village is grooming you to become the next Kage."
Ay looked surprised.
"Oh? You actually know our village's tradition?"
The Second Raikage was also surprised.
Turning to Tobirama, he asked,
"Second Hokage… you didn't send a spy into our village, did you?"
Tobirama snorted.
"I'm not so bored that I would send spies to investigate such trivial matters."
Although he didn't fully understand the significance of the name "A," facing a future Raikage meant this battle would likely be difficult.
Isamu… don't be careless, Hiruzen thought worriedly.
Nearby, Kagami Uchiha remained completely silent.
As always, he was like a shadow—barely noticeable unless he spoke.
---
"I know more than that," Isamu said calmly.
"I also know that you're very strong."
A smirked.
"If you know that, you'd better surrender now."
"Save yourself the embarrassment of losing badly."
"Lose?" Isamu laughed lightly.
"That's not certain."
"Let's see what you're really capable of."
He suddenly delivered a powerful side kick.
BANG!
The kick struck A squarely.
Yet A didn't move an inch.
"Not bad strength," A said calmly. "But unfortunately, it's not enough to break my defense."
He grabbed Isamu's leg and hurled him away.
BOOM!
Isamu slammed into the snow, leaving a deep crater as snow scattered everywhere.
After a moment, he calmly climbed out.
What terrifying defense…
No wonder he could fight the Eight-Tails one-on-one.
He's truly no ordinary opponent.
---
A's body suddenly erupted with lightning.
Lightning-style chakra wrapped around him, forming a chakra cloak.
Then—
He vanished.
"What incredible speed!" Tobirama, Danzo, and the others gasped.
Hiruzen's heart sank.
"I can't even track that speed…"
"Isamu won't be able to dodge it."
---
In the blink of an eye, A appeared directly in front of Isamu.
Isamu knew immediately—
I can't dodge this.
Without hesitation, he activated the Mangekyō Sharingan.
Using Kamui's intangibility, he shifted the attacked part of his body into the Kamui dimension.
"Got you," A said with a confident grin.
But the moment his fist struck—
It passed straight through Isamu's body.
Inertia carried him forward, and he stumbled through Isamu entirely.
---
"...What?!"
The Second Raikage stared in shock.
Hiruzen, Danzo, and the others were equally stunned.
Only Tobirama noticed something different.
Isamu's eyes had changed.
That strange pupil pattern…
Combined with that eerie ability…
There was no mistake.
It was the Mangekyō Sharingan.
The same power once possessed by Madara Uchiha.
Tobirama's expression became complicated.
After Madara… the second person to awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan…
is actually his son. (A/N. I thought Madara's brother was the second?)
Memories of being dominated by Madara's Mangekyō resurfaced in his mind.
Looking at Isamu, his eyes darkened.
No wonder he dared insult Danzo in front of me that day.
So he had awakened the Mangekyō.
If today's opponent hadn't been so powerful…
You probably wouldn't have exposed it.
Uchiha Isamu…
You've been hiding your strength very well.