"There are Akatsuki ninjas ahead. Stay alert."
Ōnoki watched as Fugaku and his n skillfully avoided a few Akatsuki patrolling the border, then gave a quiet warning.
"Yes."
The Iwa-nin following behind him imdiately softened their steps, using the trees to conceal their presence.
Once the Akatsuki ninjas moved on, they continued forward.
After just a few steps, one of the Iwa-nin suddenly felt the ground beneath him give way as his foot crushed a rotting tree branch.
Had he not reacted in ti, he would have fallen straight down from the tree.
"What happened? Be more careful!"
Ōnoki frowned, clearly displeased.
This was happening to soone he had personally chosen—unacceptable.
"Apologies, I stepped on a rotten branch."
"I'll be more careful."
The Iwa-nin lowered his head in sha, quickly stabilizing his chakra beneath his feet.
"Hmph."
Ōnoki snorted but said nothing more. However, he didn't realize that this small mishap had already caught Fugaku's attention.
"Soone is following us."
Fugaku had keenly sensed the brief fluctuation in the Iwa-nin's chakra.
He didn't slow his pace or change course, simply informing the two trusted subordinates at his sides.
"Most likely Iwa-nin."
"Clan Head, should we change course?"
The two Uchiha shinobi didn't even glance back, acting as if nothing had happened.
"The Four-Tails Jinchūriki shouldn't be far now."
"Changing course would just waste ti."
"We'll shake them off and create a ti gap."
After a brief mont of thought, Fugaku made his decision. He was confident that dealing with Rōshi wouldn't take long.
Once Rōshi was eliminated, even if the Iwa-nin caught up, it would already be too late.
"Yes."
His subordinates nodded without hesitation, fully trusting his judgnt.
The three of them maintained a steady pace, and as they passed an unusually thick tree, they suddenly vanished from the Iwa-nin's sight.
"My line of sight is blocked!"
Ōnoki's heart tensed, and he instinctively quickened his pace.
Losing them now, at such a critical mont, was a mistake he couldn't afford.
As they neared the large tree, Fugaku and his team reappeared in view.
"Good. It was just a visual obstruction."
Ōnoki exhaled in relief, slowing his pace once more.
"We're keeping a good distance. The chance of them detecting us is low."
One of the Iwa-nin muttered to himself, thinking Ōnoki was being overly cautious.
"Better safe than sorry."
"Stay quiet."
Ōnoki didn't bother explaining further.
Their group quickly followed Fugaku and his n past the thick tree.
As the Iwa-nin disappeared into the distance, three figures silently erged from the very tree they had just passed.
It was Fugaku and his two most trusted subordinates.
"So, Ōnoki actually ca in person."
Fugaku smirked as he watched the Iwa-nin disappear into the distance.
"Well, that's because you tricked him."
Though it sounded like flattery, Fugaku found the remark quite pleasing.
"You're getting better at talking."
"Let's move."
A distinct smirk tugged at the corners of Fugaku's lips. Without wasting another mont, he led his team in the opposite direction.
Ōnoki and his n had unknowingly been chasing nothing more than three of Fugaku's shadow clones.
anwhile, Ōnoki pressed forward, oblivious to the fact that he was getting farther and farther from Rōshi.
...
Minute by minute, ti slipped away.
At last, Fugaku arrived at the location where the Hyūga clan shinobi had been monitoring Rōshi.
"Where is he?"
As Fugaku approached the Hyūga clan mber, he took the initiative to ask.
"By the small waterfall ahead."
The Hyūga ninja looked pale from prolonged Byakugan use.
"Rest for a bit. I'll take over from here."
Fugaku patted the Hyūga ninja on the shoulder. Though he couldn't see for himself, he had absolute trust in the Byakugan's accuracy.
"Yes, Lord Fugaku."
Upon hearing this, the Hyūga ninja imdiately deactivated his Byakugan, pulled out a ration pill from his pouch, and swallowed it.
Monts later, the two Uchiha shinobi and the Hyūga ninja dispersed, each focusing on their surroundings, alert for any movent.
Fugaku no longer bothered to conceal his presence and calmly walked toward the small waterfall.
As the distance closed, Rōshi finally sensed sothing was off.
"Who's there?!"
He shot up from the ground, his face filled with wariness as he stared in the direction Fugaku was approaching from.
"Soone here to kill you."
Fugaku's voice reached Rōshi's ears just as his figure appeared in his line of sight.
"It's you?!"
Rōshi's pupils constricted. How could he not recognize the man who had been trying to take his life?
"That's right."
"It's ti we settled our grudge."
Fugaku didn't stop walking, and as he advanced, his black pupils transford into three-tomoe Sharingan.
"Heh, then let's see if you've improved."
Rōshi knew that the hatred between them wasn't sothing that could be resolved with words.
A deep blood feud could only be repaid in blood.
He still rembered the black flas that had nearly killed him years ago. His words were tough, but deep down, he felt a heavy pressure.
His gaze grew more serious as he locked onto Fugaku.
"I should be the one saying that."
"If you haven't improved, don't bla for being ruthless."
"Oh wait—"
"Even if you have improved, you're still dying here today."
Fugaku's mocking tone completely ignited Rōshi's fury, and that infuriating smirk made it even worse.
This man wasn't taking him seriously at all!
"You're asking for death!"
With a furious roar, an imnse surge of chakra erupted from his body, enveloping him in a cloak of Tailed Beast chakra.
In an instant, he entered his Partial Tailed Beast Transformation.
Despite his rage, he still retained so clarity of mind, making a conscious effort to avoid direct eye contact with Fugaku.
He had heard all about the terrifying power of the Sharingan's Genjutsu.
With a powerful burst of force, the ground beneath him shattered as Rōshi launched himself at Fugaku with incredible speed.
"You're still too slow."
Fugaku remained composed, shaking his head in mild disappointnt.
Effortlessly, he evaded the flurry of attacks with minimal movent.
With the insight granted by his three-tomoe Sharingan, every strike from Rōshi was predicted in advance, making his attacks completely ineffective.
"So this is the power of the Sharingan... one of the Three Great Dōjutsu?"
Stopping his offensive, Rōshi locked eyes with Fugaku from a short distance away.
Yet, there wasn't a trace of discouragent in his expression.
"You've only seen the tip of the iceberg."
"My turn."
Calmly, Fugaku unsealed his wrist guards, gripping both his fla fan and scythe.
The legendary weapons passed down through the Uchiha clan were about to display their true might.
As soon as the words left his mouth, he charged straight at Rōshi.
"You think I'm afraid of you?!"
Rōshi didn't hesitate. Without flinching, he threw himself forward to et Fugaku's assault head-on.
In Fugaku's eyes, his Sharingan spun wildly, the crimson glow flickering like dancing flas.
Reviews
All reviews (0)