Naruto: Uchiha Izuna with system

"How can this be!?"

Among the Hyūga observers, someone finally broke the stunned silence. It was Hyūga Reuang, the leader of the team sent by Tenzō Hyūga to monitor the battle between Uchiha Izuna and Senju Hashirama.

Although the battle had concluded by the time they arrived, the devastation left in its wake was enough to render them speechless. The scene before them was almost incomprehensible.

After some time, as the initial shock subsided, one thought echoed among them—was this truly the power of mere humans?

"Lord Reuang, what should we do now?"

One of the Hyūga shinobi asked in a trembling voice. The destruction had shaken them all to their cores.

"...Let's retreat! We must report this to the clan leader immediately!"

Hyūga Reuang turned and led the team back toward the Hyūga compound.

"What!? Such a thing happened!?"

Tenzō Hyūga couldn't hide his disbelief as Reuang finished recounting the events.

"Lord Tenzō," Reuang continued gravely, "if these two are allowed to grow, the victor between them will undoubtedly rule over the Warring States Period. Their power transcends anything we've ever known."

The rest of the team nodded in silent agreement.

Tenzō furrowed his brow, his face grim. He couldn't ignore the implications of their testimony.

"Has it truly come to this?" Tenzō muttered. He paced back and forth in deep thought.

If what they said was true, the balance between Uchiha and Senju—maintained for generations—would soon be broken. The victor wouldn't just dominate their rival; they would reshape the entire era. For the Hyūga, this could mean subjugation under one clan or another.

Tenzō clenched his fists. As the Hyūga clan with the most affiliated clans and the largest population during the Warring States Period, he had always dreamed of elevating the Hyūga above the Uchiha and Senju. But now…

He sighed deeply. "This is troublesome—"

Before he could finish, a low, hoarse voice cut through the silence.

"Why so troubled, Lord Tenzō?"

Tenzō froze. The voice seemed to echo from all around him, impossible to pinpoint.

"Who's there!?"

Tenzō activated his Byakugan and scanned the room, his stance shifting into the opening form of Gentle Fist.

A shadowy figure, cloaked in what appeared to be a hay-like covering, phased through the wall and stepped into the room.

Tenzō's eyes narrowed.

"Who are you!?"

Even with his Byakugan, the figure appeared as nothing more than a chaotic mass of chakra. It was unlike anything Tenzō had ever encountered.

The shadow spoke again, its voice ghostly and calm.

"Relax, Lord Tenzō. I'm here to help."

"Help?" Tenzō's stance remained firm. "You trespass in my home, shrouded in mystery, and expect me to trust you?"

Without waiting for a response, Tenzō dashed forward.

"Eight Trigrams: Air Palm!"

With a sharp burst of chakra, Tenzō struck directly at the figure's core.

Whoosh!

The figure dissolved into thin air, reappearing several steps away.

"Rude, as expected of the Hyūga." The shadow's tone carried a hint of amusement. "But I'll forgive you. Soon, you'll see the power of Uchiha Izuna and Senju Hashirama for what it truly is. When the time comes, I'll return and offer you something even greater."

Tenzō's eyes narrowed further. "Something greater than their power? Who are you really?"

But before he could act again, the figure disappeared completely.

Tenzō stood motionless, staring at the empty space where the shadow had been.

For a long moment, Tenzō didn't move. He clenched his fists tightly, replaying the encounter in his mind.

His Byakugan hadn't been able to see through the figure's disguise. His strikes had no tangible impact. Whatever—or whoever—that was, it was no ordinary shinobi.

"More powerful than Uchiha Izuna and Senju Hashirama?" Tenzō muttered, skeptical but intrigued.

He tried tracking the figure's chakra signature, but it had vanished entirely. The encounter left him unsettled.

Tenzō finally sat down, exhaling deeply.

For now, he resolved to focus on the immediate danger. He couldn't afford distractions with Izuna and Hashirama's power looming over the Hyūga clan.

In the Uchiha camp at Congyun Mountain, Izuna debriefed his officers after the day's battle.

"Deputy Chief," Uchiha Yanhuo reported eagerly, "thanks to the defensive advantage of Baili Stone City, we suffered minimal casualties—less than 200. The Senju forces, however, lost more than twice that number. If this continues, victory is within reach!"

Izuna, sitting calmly, shook his head. "This battle isn't as simple as it seems. The outcome will determine the balance of power between Uchiha and Senju for decades to come."

Uchiha Zhan, another senior officer, stood and asked the question on everyone's minds.

"Deputy Chief, what was the result of your duel with Senju Hashirama?"

The room fell silent. Everyone leaned forward, eager for an answer.

Izuna's calm gaze swept over the group.

"I currently hold the advantage in strength."

A ripple of relief spread through the room, but Izuna quickly tempered their excitement.

"However, completely defeating Hashirama is no easy feat."

Izuna's honesty sobered the mood. Despite his advantage, the gap between him and Hashirama wasn't insurmountable. The war would not end quickly.

"Rest for now," Izuna instructed. "Tomorrow, we fight again."

As the officers filed out, Izuna opened the interface of his skill tree. His battle with Hashirama had earned him a significant number of points.

"It won't be long now," he muttered.

Once he unlocked the next stage of power, he would transfer a new pair of Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan to Madara. Together, they would solidify Uchiha's dominance over the Warring States Period.

"The Senju will have no chance," Izuna said to himself, his eyes glinting with determination.

End of the Chapter.