"Patriarch!"
Izuna's shout cut through the lingering smoke of battle. He ran toward the middle-aged Uchiha, waving his hands frantically.
"Father! That kid caused the explosion earlier, and now he's about to—Big Brother might lose!"
Uchiha Tajima glanced upward. His eyes narrowed at the sight: a massive clay bird hovering above, Raizen perched atop, facing off against Madara.
This kid… actually forced Madara onto the defensive?
Tajima squinted. Raizen's posture was relaxed, his breath steady, though his shoulders betrayed a slight tension. Madara, on the other hand, huffed rapidly, clearly taxed from overexertion.
"Patriarch Tajima, my apologies!" Amamiya Gen exclaimed, stepping forward. "I didn't control my men properly!" He turned to Raizen, shouting:
"Raizen, don't come down just yet!"
Raizen smirked from the sky, guiding the giant clay bird toward him. Looks like this round isn't over, but maybe the theatrics can wait. With a practiced jump, he landed beside Amamiya Gen.
"You can't just go bullying people in Uchiha territory!" Gen scolded, though his eyes betrayed a mixture of pride and amusement.
Tajima waved his hand dismissively.
"Children fighting… it doesn't matter. Let them settle it themselves."
He studied Raizen carefully, eyes flicking to the clay bird. This kid can actually control a flying clay construct? He let out a soft laugh, then called to Madara:
"Madara! Your guest is formidable. Keep that in mind next time!"
Madara snorted, lips tight, eyes locked on Raizen.
"Next time, I will definitely defeat you!"
Raizen grinned, waving a hand.
"Ah? This one's a tie, right? My clay's all gone anyway."
Madara's sharp eyes softened slightly as he glanced at Raizen's empty ninja bag—an unspoken acknowledgment of his skill. Raizen felt a chill run down his spine. Madara sees the stakes, and trust me… I do not want to be on his bad side.
Uchiha Tajima, sensing the tension easing, gestured broadly to the surrounding clans.
"Treat these visiting ninja with respect. Show our guests the courtesy of the Uchiha."
The attendants of the Uchiha quickly guided the various ninja toward their quarters. Amamiya Gen followed with his clan, retreating under the watchful eyes of their hosts.
As Raizen passed Izuna, he tilted his head, flashing a cheeky grin.
"What are you so proud of? I'll make sure you regret this next time!" Izuna hissed.
"Shut it, both of you. Come with me." Tajima's voice cut through, stern and unyielding. Izuna's shoulders slumped as he followed his father back toward the Uchiha residence.
Raizen watched the retreating Amamiya and Uchiha clans, feeling the quiet weight of this encounter. Madara, eyes gleaming, whispered to himself:
"Next time… I will crush you, Amamiya Raizen. Uchiha Madara will always be the strongest."
Inside the wooden quarters of the Amamiya residence, Gen's expression turned serious.
"Raizen, you can't act so openly next time. Talent alone isn't enough. A genius who dies young… is no genius at all. Only a genius who grows up matters."
"Yes, understood." Raizen nodded. He knew he'd overexposed his abilities today. Flying on a clay bird in Uchiha territory? Too flashy. Too tempting a target.
Keep low, survive, grow stronger… simple enough.
Gen glanced at Raizen thoughtfully. "By the way… Tajima's orders mean something. We'll gather intelligence on Uchiha and Hyuga skirmishes. In three days, the Uchiha will send reinforcements to our front lines."
"Three days? On the battlefield?" Raizen's pulse quickened. Perfect. Achievements galore, if I can survive.
"Don't act alone. You'll be with us," Gen warned, a mixture of excitement and exasperation in his voice.
Raizen's grin returned, tinged with cynicism. He was far from invincible, but the battlefield was where his clay—and his cunning—would truly be tested.
Gen's sigh carried the weight of a family desperate to survive. The Amamiya Clan can't afford to lose its seeds now. If these kids don't grow strong, we'll vanish like dust in the wind.
Raizen clenched his fists, determination coiling beneath the sarcasm. Good. Let's see how much of this Warring States era I can wreck before the world notices me.