Watching the beautiful figure amidst the flying debris, Uchiha Isamu felt a trace of satisfaction in his heart.
"After all these years, I thought you wouldn't be able to complete this technique. Well done, Tsunade."
On the surface, however, his expression remained cold as he stared at her.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Rocks and thorns crashed down, kicking up clouds of dust. The twenty-meter stretch of thorn forest was completely erased, leaving behind a barren ruin.
As the dust settled, Uchiha Isamu and his ten subordinates appeared before everyone.
The surrounding Ninjas tightened their grips on their weapons, ready to strike at any moment.
Tsunade stared straight at Isamu. Today, he looked even more striking than before—dressed in dark red armor, his long black hair swaying in the wind, exuding an overwhelming aura of dominance.
But she had no heart to admire him.
Step by step, she walked toward him.
"Tsunade, don't go over there. Uchiha Isamu has changed—he's our enemy now," Jiraiya tried to stop her.
Orochimaru reached out and held him back, shaking his head.
"Jiraiya, let her go. If she doesn't understand the truth herself, she'll never be able to let it go."
"But what if he loses control and actually attacks her?"
"I don't think he will."
Orochimaru's gaze shifted toward Isamu, focusing on the nine dark red figures lying behind him—each radiating a terrifying aura, with tails swaying behind them.
What kind of monsters are those…?
---
Tsunade finally stopped five meters in front of Isamu.
Seeing this, Jiraiya and Orochimaru quickly moved to her side, while the rest of the Allied Ninjas advanced cautiously, keeping their distance.
"Uchiha Isamu, tell me—why did you defect from the Village? Why start this war? You were the one who loved peace the most! Tell me why! Tell me why!!!"
Tsunade's voice trembled with anger and pain.
"Hahaha… peace?" Isamu laughed coldly.
"Defection? As a member of the Uchiha Clan, I carry its revival on my shoulders. In Konoha, I could never restore the clan's glory."
"Only by leaving can the Uchiha truly rise again. Peace was just an excuse I used to fool all of you. I never cared about Konoha in the first place."
His expression was wild—almost deranged.
"Then what about me?" Tsunade stepped forward, her voice softening.
"What did you take me for? Isamu, I know you're just acting on impulse. Don't keep making mistakes. Come back… let's go back to how things were."
She reached out her hand toward him.
She refused to believe that the man she loved had truly become like this.
"Hmph… don't be naive, Tsunade," Isamu said coldly.
"You're from the Senju Clan. I'm from the Uchiha. We've been enemies for generations."
"Marrying you was just a way to paralyze Konoha. Did you really think I loved you?"
"From beginning to end—you were nothing more than a tool."
---
The moment those words left his mouth, Isamu felt a sharp pain in his chest.
Don't believe me… just hate me… that's better for you.
---
"No… that's not true… you're lying!" Tsunade shook her head violently.
"This isn't you! You can't be him! This has to be Genjutsu… it has to be!"
She refused to accept it, desperately clinging to denial.
"Hahaha! For the sake of the Uchiha, I would do anything!"
Isamu laughed maniacally, forcing himself not to look at her.
"This time, I will wipe out all of you and restore the clan's glory! I will become the next God of Shinobi!"
His laughter echoed across the battlefield.
---
"Uchiha Isamu, you bastard!" Jiraiya stepped forward, furious.
"Do you even hear yourself?! How could you say something like that?!"
"Heh… what would a mere commoner Ninja like you understand?" Isamu sneered.
"You and Orochimaru are nothing more than entertainment in my life. Your feelings mean nothing to me."
Orochimaru's eyes narrowed slightly.
Unlike the others, he caught the faint trace of hesitation hidden behind Isamu's madness.
So… it's all an act.
---
"Damn it! I'll knock some sense into you!" Jiraiya roared.
Chakra gathered in his palm, forming a spiraling sphere.
"Rasengan!"
He charged forward and slammed it toward Isamu.
Whoosh!
Isamu moved instantly, grabbing Jiraiya's wrist mid-attack.
"Using the Ninjutsu I taught you against me?" he said coldly.
"Jiraiya… you're even more naive than Tsunade."
"Get lost."
He released him and delivered a powerful kick.
Bang!
Jiraiya was sent flying.
"Jiraiya!" Tsunade snapped back to her senses.
Orochimaru cursed under his breath and used the Body Flicker Technique to catch him mid-air.
"You idiot. Don't rush in alone," he said coldly. "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine… I just couldn't hold back," Jiraiya muttered, brushing the dust off himself.
---
"Uchiha Isamu… you've changed," Tsunade said, clenching her fists.
"You're not the person I knew. Have you forgotten the Will of Fire?"
"The Will of Fire?" Isamu scoffed.
"That's just brainwashing from Konoha's higher-ups."
"I only believe in the will of the Uchiha."
He looked at the three of them, his voice turning colder.
"Tsunade. Jiraiya. Orochimaru."
"If you keep clinging to such naive ideals…"
"…you'll lose your lives here."
---
"Uchiha Isamu, I will bring you back myself," Tsunade said firmly.
"I'll make you tell me the truth with your own mouth."
"That's right!" Jiraiya stepped forward beside her.
"We'll beat you and drag you back if we have to!"
Orochimaru followed, his expression calm but serious.
"We're enemies now… and I won't hold back either."
The three stood side by side—
Their eyes locked onto Uchiha Isamu.