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As evening fell, the winds howled through the valley of End, rustling the tall grass in every direction. The fierce gusts caused Akio's wide robe to billow wildly, its loose fabric flapping noisily in the wind.
Thousands of Senju clansmen stood assembled on the vast plains, their eyes fixed ahead with unwavering focus. Their clothing, unlike Akio's billowing robe, was tight-fitting battle armor designed for combat. The close-fitting design allowed for greater mobility in battle, a stark contrast to Akio's flowing, hooded robe.
Standing beside him, Tobirama sighed and pressed a hand against his forehead. "Granduncle, what are you doing? Can you even fight in that outfit?"
Akio cast him a sideways glance. "You don't understand. Your elder brother instructed me to blend in with the main Senju force. This robe is perfect for concealment."
Tobirama turned his gaze toward the formation, where three smaller figures, clad in identical robes, stood amidst the troops. His mouth twitched in irritation. "Only an idiot wouldn't notice that the four of you look suspiciously out of place." However, he knew there was no reasoning with his eccentric granduncle, so he merely shot a frustrated look at Hashirama, blaming him for this ill-conceived strategy.
Hashirama, unfazed, swept his eyes across the battlefield. The wild grass had grown tall, concealing the dark brown soil beneath.
Over a decade ago, the End Valley had been the site of a devastating war. The land had been left barren, soaked in the blood of countless fallen warriors. For years, not a single blade of grass had grown. Now, the vegetation had returned in full force, though perhaps nourished by the lingering essence of battle. The grass, unnaturally sharp, could cut exposed skin with the slightest touch.
Hashirama's expression turned pensive. "That war… it was when Father and Uchiha Tajima perished together."
Akio, seeing Hashirama lost in memory, also recalled the stories he had heard from that time. That battle had been one of the most significant conflicts of the Warring States Period, marking the end of the old generation and heralding the rise of a new era led by Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha.
Lost in thought, Akio pondered aloud, "Am I considered part of the old generation or the younger one? I'm a full ten years younger than the man calling me Granduncle…"
The newly appointed Second Elder of the Senju Clan, noticing the three of them immersed in an awkward silence, spoke up to break the tension. "Clan Leader, the Uchiha agreed to battle in three days. Since we've arrived two days early, should we allow our forces to rest and recover?"
Hashirama snapped back to the present and raised his voice. "All units, set up camp and rest!"
In past wars, shinobi would typically rest in the open, at most using a couple of tents for meetings or sheltering key individuals.
However, with the mass production of Akio's developed sealing scrolls, things were different now.
Half an hour later, Akio stared at the sea of tents covering the hillside, his mouth twitching. "Are we here to fight or to go on vacation?"
His concerns only deepened when Senju clansmen began pulling out all manner of meats and grilling equipment from their sealing scrolls. Akio murmured to himself, "I truly am a genius… now even on the battlefield, we can enjoy fresh meat."
Tobirama's expression darkened as he shot Hashirama an accusatory glare. "Elder Brother, I never authorized them to bring all this nonsense!"
Hashirama chuckled sheepishly. "Ah, the clansmen are quite resourceful, aren't they?" Then, raising his voice, he declared, "Since everyone has brought such an abundance of barbecue supplies, let's have a feast before the Uchiha arrive!"
A loud cheer erupted across the camp. "Long live the Clan Leader!"
Thus, in the very place that was soon to become a battlefield, an extravagant banquet unfolded. Fortunately, the Uchiha were true to their word, arriving precisely on the third day, leaving the Senju undisturbed in their revelry.
The next morning, Tobirama dragged Akio along to help him clean up the remnants of the feast, using simple Water and Earth Release techniques to erase any trace of their celebration. He seemed determined to ensure no one would ever know that the Senju had held a banquet on the battlefield.
With the camp cleaned, the commanders gathered to prepare defensive fortifications.
Arriving early wasn't just for resting—it was to gain the strategic advantage.
"Damn Wind Valley," Akio grumbled as he surveyed the terrain. "How is this even called a valley? It's just a flat plain!"
Originally, he had hoped to use his knowledge from military strategy books to impress Hashirama and Tobirama with some clever ambushes. But to his dismay, the so-called valley was nothing more than open terrain, leaving little room for traps or surprises.
"Granduncle," Tobirama explained, "this used to be an actual valley, but the battles over the years have reshaped the landscape."
Akio nodded in understanding. "In that case, it should be renamed. From now on, let's call it End Plains."
Tobirama rolled his eyes and walked off to assist Hashirama in organizing the defenses.
The fortifications were rudimentary at best. Lower-ranked shinobi dug trenches for cover and were supplied with explosive tags, their role being to harass the enemy rather than engage in direct combat. Such was the nature of Warring States-era conflicts.
With little else to do, Akio called over his three students for last-minute instructions.
Among them, the youngest, Izuko, was ironically the strongest, already possessing the combat ability of an average jĹŤnin. However, her timid nature meant she had never once beaten Jitou in a spar. Out of concern, Akio decided to assign her to the defensive structures, where she could fight from a distance rather than engage in direct combat.
"As for you two," he told Jitou and Nanako, "stay close to me during the battle. I'll arrange appropriate opponents for you to test your skills."
Jitou grinned excitedly and nodded, while Nanako sighed. "Sensei, maybe I should just stay back and guard Izuko…"
Akio shot her a sharp look. "We'll see who ends up protecting whom. I've taught you how to use sealing techniques in real combat. This battle will be your test."
With preparations complete, the Senju warriors retreated to their tents, awaiting the inevitable arrival of the Uchiha.
Just as the sun reached its zenith, Akio suddenly sensed a familiar chakra signature.
"This chakra… it's not from the Uchiha…" He narrowed his eyes. "It's Senju Tenyu!"
Sure enough, a lone figure raced toward them from the distance—Senju Tenyu, the clan's Great Elder, who was supposed to be stationed at the main stronghold.
Before Hashirama could ask, Tenyu called out urgently, "Clan Leader! We've spotted Madara Uchiha's tracks behind our stronghold!"
Tobirama's expression darkened. "Elder Brother, I was afraid of this…"
Hashirama raised a hand. "Only Madara?"
Tenyu nodded. "We've seen no others."
Hashirama exhaled. "Madara, are you challenging me to a one-on-one duel?" He turned to Tobirama. "You stay and prepare for battle. I'll handle this."
Then, after a moment's thought, he added, "Tenyu, come with me!"
With that, the two raced back toward the Senju stronghold.
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