Naruto: Uchiha Izuna with system

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Located on a small island in the sea west of the Land of Whirlpools and east of the future Land of Water, the Kaguya clan's homeland was shrouded in mist.

The closer one traveled toward the Land of Water, the denser the fog became. However, the island itself, though not sunny, had clearer skies, suggesting it was closer to the Land of Whirlpools and the Land of Fire than the perpetually misty Land of Water.

While the Land of Whirlpools could still be called a "country," this island was no more than a "village." The sole inhabitants were the Kaguya clan, the ancestors of Kaguya Kimimaro.

The Kaguya clan boasted about 800 combat-ready ninjas—a moderate number for a shinobi clan. But their Shikotsumyaku (Dead Bone Pulse) bloodline limit, which allowed them to manipulate their bones in battle, placed them among the strongest clans.

However, this same bloodline was their curse. It came with a hereditary disease that significantly shortened their lifespans. The more powerful a ninja was, the shorter their life expectancy.

In the patriarch's chamber of the Kaguya clan, Kaguya Manro, a gray-haired man in his mid-thirties, coughed violently into his hand, leaving streaks of blood on his palm.

"Clan Leader, are you alright?" asked a younger man sitting across from him, his voice laced with concern.

The speaker, Kaguya Butori, was the clan deputy and a formidable shinobi in his late twenties. He possessed shadow-level strength, making him a critical asset to the clan.

A clan with two shadow-level fighters could already be considered a top-tier force. But for the Kaguya, this strength was tempered by the curse of their bloodline.

Wiping the blood from his lips, Kaguya Manro waved off Butori's concern. "I'll be fine… but I refuse to die without accomplishing something meaningful."

Manro's pale face was etched with frustration. Turning to Butori, his eyes burned with determination. "What did you learn from your investigation of the Uzumaki and Senju?"

Butori straightened and replied, "The Uzumaki allied with the Senju to fight the Uchiha. Though they were defeated and lost some of their forces, it wasn't enough to weaken their foundation significantly."

Manro scowled. "So, you're saying we still can't attack?"

For years, the Kaguya clan had coveted the Land of Whirlpools—a resource-rich territory home to the Uzumaki clan, famed for their sealing techniques and remarkable longevity.

Manro's ambition was twofold: to seize the Uzumaki's land and uncover the secret to their longevity, hoping it might cure the Kaguya's bloodline disease.

However, even crossing the sea to invade Uzushio Village was a daunting challenge, let alone facing the combined forces of the Uzumaki and Senju.

Butori added grimly, "There's also word that the new Senju clan leader, Senju Hashirama, is set to marry Uzumaki Mito, the granddaughter of the Uzumaki elder. The Senju have deployed forces to secure Uzushio Village. It's an impenetrable fortress now."

Manro clenched his fists, his frustration mounting. Was he destined to die with his ambitions unfulfilled?

At that moment, a cold voice echoed through the room. "I have a plan that might interest you. Are you willing to listen?"

Startled, Butori sprang to his feet, pulling a half-meter-long bone spur from his shoulder. He pointed it toward the door, where a figure in a black cloak and a spiral-patterned Uzumaki mask stood.

"Willow Dance!" Butori shouted, lunging forward with a series of rapid, deadly strikes.

Under the mask, Izuna's Mangekyō Sharingan spun, effortlessly tracking Butori's every move. He sidestepped each attack with minimal effort, avoiding the bone spur by the smallest of margins.

"What?!" Butori exclaimed, his eyes wide with shock. "It's as if he can see into my mind…"

Retreating half a step, Butori reached for his back and pulled out his entire spine, wielding it like a whip. "Let's see how you handle this!"

Before Butori could attack, Izuna raised his hands in a gesture of peace. "Calm down, Kaguya. I'm here to discuss cooperation, not to fight."

Manro placed a hand on Butori's shoulder, signaling him to stand down. His wary eyes locked onto Izuna. "What do you want?"

Izuna's chakra-modified voice resonated through the room. "The Kaguya clan has long desired the fertile lands and abundant resources of the Land of Whirlpools. The secret of the Uzumaki's longevity is well-known among the shinobi clans of the Warring States. But with the Senju protecting them, they've been out of your reach."

Manro's expression darkened at the mention of his clan's frustrations. "Get to the point," he snapped.

Izuna spread his hands. "The Senju have fortified Uzushio Village to ensure Hashirama and Mito's marriage goes smoothly. With the Uzumaki's sensory barrier and the Senju's defenses, attacking now would be suicide."

As Manro and Butori's scowls deepened, Izuna continued with a sly smile. "But what if I could help your army bypass all their defenses and suddenly appear on Uzu Village's doorstep? Even the combined might of the Senju and Uzumaki would struggle to react in time."

Manro and Butori exchanged skeptical glances before the latter sneered. "You're talking nonsense. Transporting an entire army? You must be insane."

Unfazed, Izuna replied, "The Kaguya clan leader is barely in his thirties, yet his hair is already gray. Is it not because of the bloodline disease caused by the Shikotsumyaku?"

Manro's eyes narrowed, his suspicion growing.

Izuna stepped forward. "If you doubt me, let me prove it. Surely a clan leader has the courage to take a calculated risk?"

"Clan Leader, don't listen to him!" Butori warned.

Ignoring his deputy, Manro gestured for Izuna to proceed.

Izuna crouched and began drawing complex seals on the ground, their meaning incomprehensible to the Kaguya leaders. He moved to another spot, repeating the process, and then again, creating four seals in a square formation about four square meters in area.

As the seals began to glow faintly, Izuna stood and turned back to the Kaguya leaders.

"Well, shall we test my claim?"

End of the Chapter.