Chapter 45: It Wasn't Me Who Changed the Plot
The sun was gradually setting, and the battle was nearing its end.
The exchange of ninjutsu across the battlefield had ceased, gradually evolving into a confrontation of pure taijutsu.
Masahiko had no time to worry about the condition of his three students. Facing Madara's attacks, his own taijutsu cultivation was far from sufficient.
"Sigh... if only I had practiced taijutsu earlier..." Masahiko lamented inwardly.
The only reason he could barely hold on against Madara's taijutsu was thanks to taking Kento-kun as a disciple, and the fact that Madara wasn't in peak condition due to his failing eyesight.
Although he was in a crisis, Masahiko wasn't too panicked. The surrounding circumstances were gradually overlapping with the scene buried deep in his memory.
In the distance, Uchiha Izuna was being forced into a disadvantage by Tobirama. Tobirama was wielding the Sword of the Thunder God—the weapon Masahiko had forged for him—and he had snapped Izuna's blade in two with a single strike.
Helpless, Izuna used his overtaxed Sharingan to cast a genjutsu. Taking advantage of Tobirama's momentary daze, he kicked him away.
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"
Facing the incoming fireball, Tobirama formed seals. "Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!"
The collision of fire and water turned into a sky full of steam, acting like a Hidden Mist Jutsu and completely obscuring vision.
Tobirama seized the opportunity to throw several kunai, but under the gaze of the Sharingan, they were clearly seen.
Uchiha Izuna snorted softly. "Curse your fate for not having the Sharingan..." He dodged the kunai, only to realize the very last one bore strange markings.
"Flying Raijin Slash!" Tobirama's shout echoed across the entire battlefield.
"I was right. It really is this battle..." Masahiko muttered. "So, it's over..."
Opposite Masahiko, Madara couldn't care less about attacking again. He used a Body Flicker to catch the collapsing Izuna.
Seeing the plot finally return to the correct track, Masahiko disregarded his image and sat down heavily on the ground. He had no interest in whatever Madara and Izuna were saying to each other.
"Even before I was a Jonin, I never encountered a situation this dangerous. If this had gone on for another 10 minutes, I might have actually died a heroic death..."
Masahiko shook his head with a bitter smile. "In the past, when facing people stronger than me, I always relied on my sensory abilities to dodge in advance. This time..."
Just as he was thinking this, Masahiko was shocked to discover that in the distance, Madara had actually launched an attack at Tobirama.
"Right! Hashirama isn't here, so Madara won't stop!" Masahiko panicked and tried to get up to aid Tobirama.
At that moment, a familiar voice rang out across the battlefield. "Wood Release: Wood Locking Wall!"
"Whew... this time it's really over." Masahiko let his half-raised backside fall back to the ground. Hashirama's goofy voice sounded like the music of heaven to his ears.
Masahiko sat there on the battlefield, watching the Uchiha give up resistance, watching Hashirama and Tobirama argue, and watching Uchiha Madara support Izuna as they led the remnants of their forces away...
"As expected. Even with such a huge advantage, Hashirama still let Madara go. Now the plot is finally back on track..."
Masahiko thought carefully about where the plot change had originated to cause such a crisis for him.
"Was it just because Hashirama learned Sage Mode early?" Masahiko murmured. "I hope he can give me an explanation..." Masahiko looked at Senju Ten'yu, who was bound by Wood Release and unconscious behind Hashirama.
Hashirama and Tobirama finished their argument and appeared next to Masahiko with a Body Flicker.
"Great-Uncle, thanks to you... Tobirama said... are you alright?"
Masahiko shook his head and teased, "I'm fine. I won't die anytime soon..." He didn't bother explaining his youthful appearance and asked, "What happened with Senju Ten'yu?"
At this question, Hashirama looked confused. "Ten'yu... went crazy. He suddenly attacked me on the road, claiming he was from the Uchiha clan."
"But that's impossible. His parents were both Senju, and he hasn't shown any abnormalities all these years. I checked him, but I couldn't find any signs of him being under genjutsu."
Masahiko turned pale with shock. A jutsu that changes a person's will? "Kotoamatsukami?!"
Hashirama hurriedly asked, "What is Kotoamatsukami?"
"No, nothing. It can't be Kotoamatsukami." Masahiko replied, falling into thought. If anyone in the Uchiha clan could use Kotoamatsukami in this era, they would have used it on Hashirama once and the Warring States would be over. They wouldn't waste it on Senju Ten'yu.
Suddenly, Masahiko remembered something he had seen at the Daimyo's residence five years ago. Among the small clans attending the banquet, there was one that looked very much like the Kurama clan. Since the Kurama clan was an anime-original plotline, Masahiko had assumed he was seeing things.
"Hashirama, have you heard of the Kurama clan?"
Hashirama looked thoughtful. "The Kurama clan... I think I've heard of them. A small clan in the west of the Land of Fire. They live in seclusion and aren't generally very strong."
"I knew it." Masahiko sighed inwardly, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.
He had always thought he was the one changing the plot. Now he discovered that this hard-fought battle was completely unjust. "The Animation Original Team! Even you guys are screwing me over..."
Masahiko looked at Hashirama and explained, "This clan isn't strong, but they specialize in genjutsu. However, every few years, a clan member awakens a unique Kekkei Genkai capable of manipulating the opponent's five senses."
Hashirama realized what happened. "So Ten'yu was hit by this jutsu? Great-Uncle, do you know how to break it?"
Masahiko shook his head. "Only the caster can break this kind of bloodline genjutsu. You'll probably have to go there yourself. Anyone else would likely fall under their influence."
Hashirama nodded, understanding. At this point, Tobirama walked over and glared at his older brother.
"Brother, we lost over 500 clansmen this time. Around 1,000 suffered minor injuries, and dozens are critically wounded. I'm afraid they won't last until we return to the clan..."
As he spoke, he glanced at Masahiko. "Great-Uncle, your three disciples are fine. Just minor injuries. You can rest in peace..."
Masahiko breathed a sigh of relief, then paused. Why did Tobirama make it sound like he should rest in peace?
Masahiko stood up and bit his finger. "Summoning Jutsu!" A massive Katsuyu appeared.
"My chakra has recovered a little. Bring the critically wounded Senju here. I should be able to save them."
Tobirama looked moved, then glared at Hashirama again. "Brother, Great-Uncle acts more like the Senju Clan Head than you do!"
Hashirama laughed sheepishly. He was truly in the wrong this time, so he could only smile in the face of Tobirama's accusation.
The two went to arrange for the clansmen to carry the critically wounded to Masahiko. Masahiko scanned them and nodded to Katsuyu. The giant slug split into many smaller slugs, healing all the wounded simultaneously.
Five minutes later, Masahiko released the Summoning Jutsu with a weary face. This time, his chakra was truly exhausted.
He looked up to see Hashirama, Tobirama, and his three students surrounding him, their eyes filled with tears. Masahiko's mouth twitched. "Why does this look like a farewell ceremony for a corpse? Should I lie down?"
Just as he thought this, his vision went black, and he really did collapse. Before he lost consciousness, he heard a few final voices.
"Great-Uncle!" x2
"Sensei!" x3
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