"Can we tell whose side they're on?"
Kakashi halted his steps and lowered into a defensive stance, suppressing the urge to act immediately.
"The solitary figure's presence feels off—it's definitely not one of our allies. As for the other group, their identity is uncertain—possibly Amegakure ninja. Their positions are about to converge."
Using his Byakugan, the Hyūga ninja observed two approaching groups from opposite directions within a radius of about five li (approximately 2.5 kilometers), quietly informing his companion.
This detail was especially critical for the battle at hand.
Hearing his teammate's words, Kakashi fell silent, weighing his options in his mind.
The battle had already been uncertain to begin with, and now unexpected changes were occurring, making things even more complicated.
"One side has been confirmed as allied forces—they've already engaged in combat."
The Hyūga ninja spoke again quickly, and Kakashi's expression changed instantly.
"Attack!"
Now that one side was confirmed as allies, there would be no sense of isolation—there would never be a better moment than now to strike.
At the exact moment the Hyūga ninja identified the ally, the others also readied themselves accordingly.
After all, everyone had that much awareness.
Thus, as soon as Kakashi's low voice rang out, the other three sprang into action.
Shshsh—
Kakashi charged forward first, while the other three scattered behind him in a triangular formation.
At first, Sasori hesitated—those Konoha ninja seemed to have sensed something he wasn't aware of, which made them hesitate too.
So, he decided to take them down before they could act.
But before he could move, the enemy suddenly became decisive and struck first.
Kakaka—
A minor surprise, but Sasori still promptly manipulated the two puppets in front of him to retaliate.
Though this time he controlled two puppets simultaneously, he switched his method of manipulation without losing any precision.
In fact, by abandoning the traditional dual-hand operation technique, his movements appeared even more unpredictable.
[Ninja Tools — Myriad Worlds Unleashed!]
Facing the puppets, a Konoha ninja clamped two scrolls between his hands, then pushed off the ground with one foot, launching himself into the air.
His body spun rapidly, and the scrolls unfurled around him like twin dragons circling his form.
Shshsh—
Countless ninja tools manifested from the scrolls, materializing into reality.
From tiny kunai to massive maces as tall as a man...
All of these weapons flew toward Sasori, covering half the sky.
[Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!]
Another ninja formed hand seals with both hands and followed up right after his comrade, releasing a ninjutsu.
A fierce gust of wind erupted from his mouth, enveloping the previously thrown ninja tools.
As a result, under the force of the wind, those tools accelerated further, and even their movement patterns shifted slightly.
"Interesting. Using ninja tools right in front of a puppet master."
Sasori watched the dense array of ninja tools in the sky, narrowing his eyes slightly.
Before him, the human puppet Terumi Mei floated half a meter above the ground, extending its head forward and opening its mouth.
A faint yellowish gas with a strong, irritating odor faintly emanated from his mouth.
[Boil Release – Clever Mist Technique!]
...
"Didn't expect there'd still be leftovers. White Zetsu must've been slacking off. But since you ran into me, guess you're just out of luck."
Kakuzu instantly flashed onto a high branch several meters up. His eyes suddenly gleamed unusually as he stared at the group of Konoha ninja watching warily in the distance.
The enemy had actually detected him approaching and should have had time to escape.
But for some unknown reason, this squad of Konoha ninjas chose to stay put instead.
Confident in their own strength?
This generation of Konoha ninja really is overconfident. He was none other than *me*!
"Akatsuki member—prepare for battle!"
Uchiha Fugaku originally served as the overall commander of Konoha's Surprise Attack and Diversion Platoon. However, determined to emphasize the surprise attack concept, he boldly divided the entire force into dozens of smaller squads, each carrying clear threat potential.
Currently, he himself led one such small squad infiltrating into the Land of Rain, seeking an opportunity to strike.
At this moment, he looked at the enemy standing on the branch with a solemn expression.
"Hokuto of Akatsuki—the rogue ninja from Takigakure, Kakuzu."
"Uchiha Fugaku—the current Clan Leader of the Uchiha family, underground bounty: 80 million ryo!"
Fugaku locked eyes with Kakuzu and quickly retrieved every detail about him from his memory.
As for Kakuzu on the other side, initially assuming he encountered only a minor troop, he hadn't expected this to be a big fish—his heart slightly stirred with surprise.
Although due to particular circumstances at this time, bounties seemed useless now, as a bounty hunter, Kakuzu could name every well-known ninja on these lists.
So he knew exactly who he was facing.
"Clan Leader..."
One young ninja behind Fugaku took out a kunai. Swallowing repeatedly, he appeared visibly nervous.
He never imagined that just being in some random place could land them face-to-face with a real Akatsuki member. Was it fate—or misfortune?
But with Clan Leader Fugaku present, they probably had a chance to win?
Trusting in his leader's abilities, his immediate thought wasn't to flee.
As both sides' auras shifted, a flash of crimson also passed through his eyes, gradually revealing two ink-like tomoe within them.
It turned out he was an Uchiha ninja who already awakened the Twin Tomoe Sharingan—a strength approaching that of a quasi-jonin-level ninja.
Now that we've crossed paths, naturally I cannot let you go. I wonder whether the person worth 80 million ryo matches their reputation. Hope you can offer me some amusement.
Kakuzu said slowly while gazing at Fugaku, as if already pronouncing their death sentence.
The earlier Konoha ninja groups he encountered were all weaklings—not even provoking the slightest interest. Now finally came a squad seemingly capable and apparently quite confident.
Perfect for warming up before the major battle.
"Be careful. This enemy possesses 'Earth Grudge Fear,' the secret treasure dating back to Takigakure's foundation. That thing's ability is a real pain in the neck."
"When the Allied Ninja Forces were formed, all known information about Akatsuki members became public knowledge. This is no longer a secret."
"I understand."
The three men behind Fugaku responded solemnly, preparing themselves for battle.
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"
Scarlet flashed within his eyes as Fugaku launched his attack without hesitation.
On the other side, Kakuzu instantly pushed off from the tree branch, landing in a nearby clearing.
Boom—
The fireball engulfed the forest where Kakuzu had stood moments before, rising skyward as waves of heat spread through the area.
As the head of a clan renowned throughout the ninja world for their Sharingan and Fire Release techniques, Fugaku Uchiha naturally possessed extraordinary skill in Fire Release, making it one of his signature abilities.
Even a basic Fireball Technique carried power rivaling that of an average A-rank ninjutsu.
"Lightning Release: False Darkness!"
Dodging Fugaku's attack, Kakuzu immediately retaliated the moment he landed.
The fabric around his shoulder exploded outward, black threads supporting a mask protruding from his body. From its mouth shot a swift bolt of lightning.
Lightning Release followed a zigzag path and was undoubtedly the fastest among all elemental techniques.
In an instant, the attack arrived directly before Fugaku Uchiha.
"Earth Release: Earth Flow Wall!"
Beside Fugaku, a muscular ninja slammed both palms to the earth—a thick earthen wall erupted from beneath them.
The team sprang sideways to dodge the blast.
Although Lightning Release overcomes Earth Release, the wall still bought them valuable time to retreat.
Crack—
Upon contact, the wall shattered into rubble from Kakuzu's technique.
"It matches the intelligence reports—so that thing is Earth Grudge Fear!"
Fugaku swiftly adjusted his footing, mentally cross-referencing the gathered intel.
Kakuzu continued advancing after releasing his technique, closing in directly on Fugaku.
Yet the Sharingan had already predicted everything, so Fugaku countered with a quick stab using a kunai.
Clang—
The kunai pierced Kakuzu's arm, producing a crisp metallic sound and revealing to Fugaku why his opponent dared approach at close range.
"Amazing defense."
Fugaku pushed hard against the kunai's handle, yet it felt less like piercing flesh and more like striking solid stone.
Scratch—
He slid the kunai downward along Kakuzu's arm, creating sparks flying in all directions.
This level of attack couldn't even scratch the surface, let alone injure his opponent.
So, he pivoted his foot, attempting to create distance.
But what awaited him was Kakuzu's massive, pitch-black fist.
A seasoned veteran, Kakuzu had entered close combat specifically to end the battle swiftly, wielding overwhelming force. He wasn't outmatched by Fugaku's speed either—once Fugaku had thrown the kunai, Kakuzu had already clenched his fist for counterattack.
Covering his fist was a layer of dark stone. Swinging it unleashed a faint whistling sound, demonstrating overwhelming force.
He stared into Fugaku's eyes, meeting that unwavering gaze, but it wouldn't deter Kakuzu from finishing his strike.
[Secret Arts: Shadow Imitation Technique!]
Just as the fist was about to land on Fugaku, another ninja's voice suddenly called out from the side.
In response, Kakuzu's body abruptly went rigid. His extended punch came to a sudden halt midair, while the force of the strike continued forward, creating a depression in Fugaku's clothing.
"What is this?"
Kakuzu glanced sideways at his feet and noticed that, without him realizing when, a long, narrow shadow had stretched sideways and connected with his own.
This seemed to rob him of control over his body.
A Nara clan ninja?
Interesting!
He immediately recognized the jutsu and slightly curled the corner of his mouth upward.
"Die!"
Fugaku acted as if he had already anticipated his comrade's help.
Without missing a beat, he seized the kunai with both hands and stabbed it swiftly toward Kakuzu's throat.
Clang—
Sparks flew off the tip of the kunai. A trace of mockery appeared on Kakuzu's face, his eyes filled with deep contempt.
Even if I'm restrained, so what? You can't kill me unless you break through my defenses.
Besides, how long could this simple Shadow Imitation Technique really hold him anyway?
"Hah!"
With a sudden burst of force, Kakuzu snapped the shadow connection beneath his foot.
The sinister expression beneath his mask became visible.
"Cursed!"
The moment Fugaku realized he had failed to drive the kunai into the throat, he knew something was wrong.
Even with chakra flowing into the kunai, he still couldn't pierce through the enemy's defense—this was definitely bad news.
Without hesitation, he quickly retreated.
Continuing close combat against this enemy no longer seemed wise. It was time to try some ninjutsu.
Kakuzu, now freed from the restraint, refused to let Fugaku escape so easily.
Leaning forward, he closed the distance, reaching out with his left hand for the retreating Fugaku while throwing a right hook with full force.
Boom—
Fugaku blocked the punch with both arms across his chest. At the same time, he kicked out with his right leg, knocking aside the attacking arm, using the recoil to create space between them.
Shhhk—
Landing on the ground, he slid backward onto one knee beside one of his subordinates.
"That was one heavy punch!"
He glared at Kakuzu, slowly lowering his still-trembling hands.
Though mentally prepared, the sheer strength behind that punch still exceeded his expectations.
"If this is all Fugaku Uchiha is capable of, then I'm deeply disappointed."
Kakuzu gave a slight shake of his head, his neck popping with a few sharp cracks before he spoke coldly to Fugaku.
At the same time, he shot a sideways glance at the Nara clansman who had briefly restrained him moments ago.
If not for that brief hold, Fugaku wouldn't have escaped so easily.
Faced with Kakuzu's obvious provocation, Fugaku remained silent, using this brief moment to recover from the pain and numbness in his arms.
[Fire Release: Phoenix Fire Technique!]
[Wind Release: Gale Slash!]
[Fire Release: Grand Inferno Technique!]
As members of the same squad, their teamwork was spot-on.
Thus, the moment Kakuzu made even the slightest move, all three of them except the Nara clan ninja simultaneously activated their most skilled ninjutsu.
Fire and wind techniques complemented each other perfectly, sending a sky-darkening wave of flames rushing toward Kakuzu.
"Hmph!"
[Fire Release—Tokkotsu!] (Fire Release—Great Fire Annihilation)
[Wind Release—Yaihai!] (Wind Release—Small Fire)
Two masked figures rose from behind Kakuzu's back and simultaneously unleashed elemental techniques—one to the left and one to the right.
[Joint Ninjutsu Fusion Technique—Flame Wind Collision Barrage!]
This dual-element fusion jutsu was his special technique. Its power was immense, and in scale, it completely overwhelmed the combined attacks launched by Fugaku and his team almost as soon as it appeared.
Boom—
The flames clashed instantly, and Kakuzu's technique overwhelmingly crushed Fugaku's side, relentlessly pushing forward.
Whoosh whoosh whoosh—
As the searing heat approached, the three ninja releasing the techniques changed expressions.
They kept channeling chakra, constantly exhaling streams of fire and gusts of wind from their mouths, desperately resisting against Kakuzu's attack.
"Retreat!"
However, the flames drew closer—their strength seemingly incapable of stopping the enemy's advance.
Fugaku understood clearly that they were at a disadvantage this time and chose not to persist any longer. He gave his men a look telling them to pull back first, then inhaled deeply before forcefully exhaling forward.
The fire erupting from his mouth surged once more, actually halting Kakuzu's technique momentarily and stopping its advancement.
The others didn't hesitate either—they knew Fugaku was risking his life to buy them time. Immediately cutting off their chakra output, they quickly fled into the distance.
"No wonder they're members of the Akatsuki. Truly not someone to be underestimated."
The crimson red deep within Fugaku Uchiha's eyes became even more intense. Three tomoe swirled within his pupils, beginning to merge together.
Throughout Konoha, no one knew that the "Cruel-Eye Fugaku" had always concealed part of his true strength.
Due to certain internal conflicts within the village years prior, he had intentionally toned down his displayed power.
Even after Minato, the Yellow Flash, truly took over as Hokage, although there was no need for him to deliberately hide his abilities anymore, circumstances never allowed him to fully demonstrate his complete might.
Recently, during Pain's invasion of Konoha, he had already prepared to reveal his full power and eliminate the enemy, but ultimately the foe Pain withdrew unexpectedly, leaving the matter unresolved.
Now facing the formidable Kakuzu, the assault squad found themselves in serious trouble. Clearly, holding back was no longer an option.
Swish—
The tomoe converged together.
A powerful cooling sensation surged from his eyes into his mind, allowing Fugaku to remain calm even in this critical moment.
The world seemed to gradually slow down and become clearer.
He stared at the oncoming wall of flames. It felt like he could actually see through the technique itself, tracing the flow of chakra inside it.
Then, less than a second later, the hand seals he was forming completed.
Now that his long-hidden Mangekyo Sharingan was reactivated, he now possessed the confidence to confront Kakuzu directly.
The reason? Because the dojutsu in his eyes could boost the power of his ninjutsu.
[Water Release - Great Water Surge!]
The searing heat of the flames was already scorching his skin, but Fugaku remained rooted in place like a statue carved from stone.
He opened his mouth wide, chakra forming a powerful jet of water that he spewed straight forward into the oncoming flames.
Boom—
The torrent and fire crashed together, sending plumes of white steam rising into the air as sizzling sounds echoed all around.
As a renowned ninja with many years of experience, though Fire Release was his most mastered element, his skill in Water Release was still formidable.
And with the enhancement of his Mangekyō Sharingan, he had not only identified a weakness in Kakuzu's technique but also boosted his own jutsu's power using the amplification ability of his left eye's dojutsu.
"Huh?"
Kakuzu let out a surprised grunt, instinctively increasing his chakra output.
An enemy he had been overwhelming suddenly erupted in a last-ditch effort, resisting his technique while pushing back against him.
The mouths on the two masks covering his shoulders stretched wider, releasing surging blasts of Wind and Fire Releases.
Yet, the Water Release from his opponent continued to dominate, steadily advancing toward him.
"What's going on!"
Struggling to keep up, disbelief rose within him.
Boom—
The flames were finally overwhelmed, quickly scattered by the deluge.
Kakuzu promptly cut off his chakra and leapt backward, deftly dodging the incoming torrent.
"This is... unexpected. I didn't expect the Fugaku Clan Leader's Water Release to be this powerful?"
A younger ninja from the Uchiha Clan, named Taka, was astonished, his widened eyes unable to close for quite some time.
After retreating with his companion, he glanced back anxiously toward their clan leader.
This sight somewhat challenged his perception of the Uchiha Clan.
Had Water Release truly become the Uchiha Clan's ancestral forte?
How else could the clan leader wield Water Release so much more impressively than Fire Release?
The torrent spewing from Fugaku's mouth not only shattered Kakuzu's composite ninjutsu but also created a shallow pool across an area spanning nearly a hundred meters in all directions.
"Haaah!"
Fugaku slightly bent over, exhaling heavily through his mouth.
A slight soreness crept into his left eye, but he ignored it.
The power of the Mangekyō naturally came at the cost of heavy ocular chakra consumption, putting significant strain on his eyes.
Although in recent years he had rarely used the amplification ability of his left eye, he was still fully aware of what it required.
With his strength, brief and limited use generally caused little harm to his body.
As for his current condition, it was simply because he momentarily misjudged the intensity of the amplification, nearly losing control of his own jutsu and getting swept away himself.
If he really got sent flying backward by his own technique, Fugaku would feel genuinely ashamed.
Thud-thud-thud—three ninja hurried to Fugaku's side, eyes fixed warily on the enemy ahead.
"Clan Leader!"
"Captain!"
Their eyes flickered toward him, deeply concerned about Fugaku's current condition.
"I'm fine. I just exerted too much force for a moment. I'll be alright after a short rest."
Fugaku gave a slight smile.
"Clan Head Fugaku, what happened to your eyes?"
The Uchiha young man spotted the key point and voiced his question.
"This is a level beyond the Three-Tomoe Sharingan, called the Mangekyou."
Fugaku didn't hide anything, giving a brief explanation before fixing his gaze on Kakuzu across from him.
The Uchiha ninja suppressed his curiosity, understanding this wasn't the time to ask questions.
However, he firmly etched the word 'Mangekyou' into his mind.
"Your eyes, like Saitama Uchiha's, must give you unusual abilities as well, right? That sudden surge of ninjutsu power just now was your ability—enhancement ninjutsu? What an incredibly useful ability indeed!"
Kakuzu immediately let go upon noticing something was off, so Fugaku's jutsu hadn't caused him any harm at all—it merely neutralized his attack, leaving him somewhat disheveled.
He had also noticed the change in Fugaku's eyes, instantly linking them to Saitama Uchiha, thus forming a rough guess in his mind.
Fugaku remained silent, but the answer was obvious.
"All-out attack together!"
A few moments were more than enough for Fugaku to recover, so he dashed forward first, unwilling to waste any more time.
Although his dojutsu could boost his ninjutsu, it couldn't be sustained for long. He had to alternate between jutsu and taijutsu.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! In an instant, he raised his hand and hurled a volley of shuriken.
"Hehe, mere parlor tricks."
Facing Fugaku's shuriken-throwing technique, Kakuzu scoffed slightly.
Then, he stepped lightly on the water surface beneath his feet and moved sideways.
The shuriken dodged past him and continued flying behind.
Swish… Swish…
Watching Kakuzu effortlessly evade his ninja tool attack, Fugaku showed no surprise whatsoever.
Instead, he kept his arms stretched forward, then pulled them back through the air toward his chest.
The shuriken that had already flown behind Kakuzu halted midair and reversed course, guided back by an unseen force.
"Huh?"
Slightly surprised, Kakuzu found the shuriken already dangerously close behind him. Even though he reacted in time, dodging was extremely difficult.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
The shuriken pierced through his clothes and stabbed into his body.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
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