Naruto: Uchiha Izuna with system

"You seem to be in good spirits, Izuna."

Early the next morning, Izuna and Madara met at the clan's gate, preparing to head to the Hatake and Kaguya clans to prevent them from allying with the Senju.

Hearing this, Izuna paused briefly before chuckling. "Is it that obvious?"

Madara shrugged—a rare gesture for him—and said, "Your face practically screams it."

Izuna didn't respond. After all, he had every reason to be happy. He had officially cemented his relationship with Mito, the woman he loved. Despite the looming responsibilities, this personal victory brought him joy.

Returning to the matter at hand, both Izuna and Madara led teams of ten ninja each. Keeping the groups small minimized the risk of detection, especially for Madara's team. To reach the Kaguya clan's island, they had to bypass the Senju clan and the highly perceptive Uzumaki.

Izuna, however, had an advantage. During his previous missions, he had left Flying Thunder God seals both in the Land of Whirlpools and near Kaguya's island. He considered assisting Madara covertly using his "Kite" identity but decided against it. Overusing this mysterious persona might raise suspicion.

Still, he knew one thing—Madara was stubborn. Convincing him to switch missions wasn't an option. Everything now depended on chance.

Izuna and Madara parted ways at the forest's edge. As Izuna advanced toward Hatake territory, one of his team members asked, "Deputy Chief, what's the plan when we arrive? Are we negotiating or attacking?"

"It depends," Izuna replied as he moved swiftly through the trees. "If we reach Hatake before Senju, diplomacy comes first. I'd prefer to avoid unnecessary bloodshed."

He paused briefly before continuing, his tone darkening. "But if Senju is already there and they've succeeded in swaying Hatake, we'll act. The world must understand the consequences of siding against the Uchiha."

"Understood!" his team responded in unison.

Hatake's territory was located in the northeastern coastal region of the Land of Fire, a strategic port town. Its geographical advantage meant fewer worries about land-based invasions, but it also limited their agricultural output. The Hatake clan survived primarily on fishing and trade rather than large-scale farming.

Izuna knew the current clan leader, Hatake Suiya, was not an ambitious man. Despite his Kage-level strength, he was a pragmatist, more focused on ensuring his clan's survival than pursuing power or dominance.

After two days of travel, Izuna's team reached the outskirts of the Hatake clan. There, they encountered an intelligence ninja from Uchiha's secret investigation department—seriously injured, his right arm wrapped in thick bandages.

Activating his Sharingan, Izuna assessed the injuries and noted the extent of the damage. "Senju Tobirama?" he asked, his tone calm but sharp.

The intelligence ninja nodded weakly. "Yes… Deputy Chief, Senju Tobirama has already arrived at Hatake territory."

The Uchiha jonin behind Izuna muttered anxiously.

"The fastest ninja among the Senju..."

"The deputy leader of the Senju clan himself?"

"What does this mean for us?"

Izuna raised a hand, silencing the chatter, and urged the injured ninja to continue.

"The Senju arrived yesterday evening," the spy explained, his voice strained. "Tobirama brought a small team with him. His perception ability is unparalleled—I was discovered almost instantly. I barely escaped his Flying Thunder God technique."

"Take him to rest," Izuna ordered.

Once the injured ninja was taken away, Izuna's expression darkened. Internally, he sighed. Madara, you're out of luck.

It was now clear. If Tobirama had come to Hatake, Hashirama must have gone to Kaguya. This made sense—Hashirama, being the stronger of the two brothers, would handle the more formidable Kaguya clan, leaving Tobirama to persuade Hatake.

Still, Izuna couldn't help but feel annoyed. He had hoped to avoid this exact situation.

"If Madara faces Hashirama, it won't end well," he thought grimly.

A Uchiha jonin interrupted his thoughts. "Deputy Chief, what should we do? The Senju have already arrived."

Izuna's tone was calm but decisive. "First, let's not jump to conclusions. Tobirama may not have succeeded in persuading Hatake yet."

While Tobirama was a skilled negotiator, his political acumen was no match for Hashirama's overwhelming charisma. Hatake's pragmatism might still prevent them from committing to an alliance with Senju.

"Here's the plan," Izuna continued. "You will remain outside Hatake's territory and wait for my signal. I'll infiltrate their compound alone to assess the situation."

"Alone?" one of the jonin asked, concerned.

Izuna nodded. "Tobirama's perception is too sharp. A larger group will only get detected. I'm the only one who can manage this undetected."

End of the Chapter.