You can't blame Fugaku for being careless; it's just that Yakushi Kabuto's appearance was too deceptive.
Looking like a youth, wearing round-framed glasses, a face full of fake smiles, and also a medical ninja.
Even knowing he was a spy, there was a high probability of pegging him as a special talent in strategy.
However, Yakushi Kabuto, who appeared to be just a special talent in strategy, was actually an expert capable of matching Kakashi. He could hold off Kakashi and Might Guy together with Baki from the start of the Konoha Crush plan to its end. He could crush the Jonin Shizune in direct combat and briefly suppress Tsunade, one of the Sannin.
Even in a one-on-one fight, the outcome would be hard to say. Not to mention a one-on-two, where he even blatantly ignored his existence to attack Baki...
Forget Fugaku; even if a Kage did this, they would kick the bucket.
Well, the Third Raikage probably wouldn't.
Kabuto's Mystical Palm Jutsu probably wouldn't be able to break through the Lightning Release Chakra Mode, which provided all-around defense.
But Fugaku clearly didn't have this kind of defense, so he was forced into this desperate situation.
Looking at Baki and Kabuto closing in from both sides, Fugaku's brain worked madly, searching for an opportunity to counterattack.
That's right, you didn't hear wrong.
Not searching for survival, but searching for an opportunity to counterattack.
This situation, which meant certain death to ordinary people, wasn't necessarily the case in Fugaku's eyes.
Although these two were experts and could coordinate through superb combat awareness, they were ultimately lacking compared to partners who frequently fought together.
Ordinary people couldn't see where this slight gap lay, but in the eyes of Fugaku with his Sharingan, it was clear at a glance.
Closer, closer.
Under the dynamic vision of the Sharingan, the movements of the two fast-moving opponents slowed down. Fugaku calculated the exact moment they would charge in front of him.
"Buzz!"
Blue chakra surfaced on Yakushi Kabuto's hands, while Baki threw two wind blades mid-way.
Hidden in the dark, Hayate placed his right hand on the sword hilt behind his back. His eyes focused, and his bangs, soaked with sweat, clung tightly to his forehead.
If Fugaku showed any signs of being unable to handle this crisis, he would disregard the mission or whatever and save him first.
However, this situation was still manageable.
Fugaku tilted left and swayed right, easily dodging the two wind blades. At the same time, he held his kunai in a reverse grip, executing a backhand thrust towards Yakushi Kabuto.
He couldn't let the two surround him; he had to maintain brief one-on-one situations. Otherwise, with such a massive wound torn open on his back and shoulder, he would definitely be no match.
Yakushi Kabuto seemed to see through Fugaku's thoughts. He smiled lightly, turned sideways to dodge Fugaku's backhand thrust, and simultaneously, using his right hand as a blade infused with the Mystical Palm Jutsu, slashed down at Fugaku.
The Sharingan's dynamic vision had long perceived Yakushi Kabuto's action. Fugaku evaded the attack in advance while counterattacking.
But Kabuto was no pushover either. Facing an opponent who could predict his actions in advance, he was also using his brain to judge the opponent's next move.
The two exchanged several blows in a flash. Baki arrived from behind, launching an attack together with Yakushi Kabuto.
Fugaku seemed to have sensed it early on. With a jump, he easily dodged the synchronized pincer attack from the two, simultaneously kicking his legs out to both sides, kicking both of them in the chest.
"Thud, thud..."
The two felt pain in their chests and staggered backward.
Once they steadied themselves, they found Fugaku had jumped onto the dragon-head ornament on the roof.
"Trying to escape?"
The thought had just crossed their minds when they saw Fugaku forming seals with his hands.
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Jutsu."
Fierce flames spewed out, illuminating the darkness. A fireball four meters in diameter, carrying rolling heat waves, surged forward. Its path was so hot that even the air became distorted.
Without hesitation, the two jumped away left and right.
Just as they landed, before they even steadied themselves, Fugaku appeared in front of Kabuto, a deadly kunai glinting coldly as it thrust toward his eye.
Fugaku hadn't heard their previous conversation and suspected Kabuto was a Sunagakure spy. Worried he might have Sand Armor like Baki, he aimed his attack at a vulnerable spot like the eye.
He couldn't possibly wear armor on his eye, could he!
But in the rush, Kabuto backhanded Fugaku's wrist, deflecting the attack, only leaving a bloody scratch on his cheek.
Next, he tapped his feet rapidly, trying to retreat and open up the distance.
But before he could execute it, Fugaku kicked him in the chest, sending him flying fiercely.
Fugaku was just about to pursue when the wound on his back suddenly burst open. Blood spurted out like a spring, and the pain made his stepping foot tremble. He fell to one knee.
As an elite Jonin, Baki naturally wouldn't miss such a golden opportunity.
His hands formed seals, then raised them, and two giant wind blades flew out crosswise, slicing through the roof along the way as if cutting paper.
Fugaku wanted to get up to dodge, but the wound on his back burst open again, causing his movement to pause.
In the dark, Hayate drew his sword and charged out, wanting to rescue Fugaku.
However, judging from his position, distance, and speed, it was clearly out of reach.
"Damn it, this situation still happened."
Hayate blamed himself internally, his face full of anxiety.
He had worried about this happening from the moment Fugaku appeared, so he maintained a tense state at all times, ready to jump out and help immediately if Fugaku's battle took an unfavorable turn.
Unexpectedly, Fugaku, who had just gained a major upper hand one against two, suddenly collapsed due to his wound bursting.
Wanting to jump out and save him now was too late.
"Block it for me!"
Hayate threw the sword in his hand in front of Fugaku, hoping it could block the wind blades.
But just as the sword was about to reach Fugaku, a hand reached out and caught it firmly.
Yakushi Kabuto held the sword in one hand, pushed his glasses with the other, and a faint smile appeared on his face.
He had originally planned to lure Hayate out to kill him; how could he ignore this person hiding in the dark.
Seeing the sword intercepted, Fugaku sighed, accepting his fate.
And Hayate felt despair.
Seeing that Fugaku was about to be killed by the wind blades.
Suddenly, a tender shoot rose from the ground, growing into a towering tree in the blink of an eye.
"Thwack, thwack!"
The wind blades sliced into the large tree, leaving deep marks. But compared to the tree's volume, it was nothing more than a child peeling a pencil and breaking the skin.
The sudden turn of events surprised everyone.
After a brief moment of shock, Yakushi Kabuto used the Body Flicker Jutsu and ran. Seeing this, Baki also jumped off the roof and quickly vanished into the dark night.
"Hayate, go after them. I'll go call the on-duty Police Force."
Clutching his wound, Fugaku walked out supporting himself on the large tree.
Hayate hesitated for a moment, nodded, turned around, and was about to pursue.
At this time, a faint voice came from the treetops.
"Don't chase them."
The two looked up at the sound and saw a youth wearing a blue kimono inside and a black and white haori outside standing there.
The moonlight spilled down, revealing the youth's refreshing and delicate face.
It was none other than Jokichi.
Earlier, while testing the upgraded Garb of Heaven and Earth, his brief Sage Mode sensed the situation here.
However, he felt that Fugaku plus Hayate should be able to handle it, so he didn't rush over.
As a result, Fugaku was careless at the start and heavily injured. Hayate, due to his mission, didn't come out to help immediately, and they were almost wiped out.