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The water mist merged with the fog created by the Hidden Mist ninja, reducing visibility even further. Yet, despite their efforts, the Mist ninja couldn't find any trace of Fugaku—not even a body.
"Where is he!?"
"How is this possible!?"
Hiding one's presence in the mist before the Mist ninja was a direct challenge to their pride. Manipulating mist was their specialty; they couldn't allow anyone else to use it against them.
Enraged, the Mist ninja quickly searched for Fugaku.
Soon, they locked onto him.
"Over here."
Fugaku appeared in front of Shin, and with a brief exchange of glances, they confirmed each other's identity. The next moment, they stood back-to-back, scanning the dense fog around them.
Fugaku had managed to reunite with Shin, taking the opportunity to find him in the confusion.
"Did you see Yashiro?" Fugaku asked, his voice low.
He looked somewhat disheveled, with parts of his clothing torn and bloodstains visible on his shoulder. The earlier encounter had not been easy to handle.
Shin wasn't in much better condition, bearing several wounds as well.
"I haven't seen him," Shin replied, shaking his head.
Fugaku's heart sank slightly. Faced with so many Mist ninja, he wasn't confident in Yashiro's chances.
Shin then reminded him, "The enemy is the Hidden Mist assassination squad's Shikigami."
Their priority now was to find a way out.
Fugaku nodded. He had realized the danger after killing the female ninja, En Oni. That meant the White Oni was likely with Yashiro.
Suddenly, several figures charged out of the mist, revealing themselves. Fugaku and Shin simultaneously swung their swords, decapitating the attackers. But despite how easily they seemed to deal with the threat, Fugaku's face remained grim.
The decapitated bodies continued their assault, as if their heads were merely decorative.
Hidden within the mist, Shikigami maintained the seals with his hands.
"Corpse Manipulation! Water Fog Corpse Control Technique!"
The pervasive water mist was his medium for controlling the corpses. As for how he acquired those corpses…
Shikigami took a step back, standing beside a Hidden Mist ninja who was waiting for an opportunity to strike. Seeing Shikigami nearby, the ninja's expression turned to one of horror.
"No…"
The kunai pierced his throat.
The dead Mist ninja staggered to his feet, his movements becoming swift as he charged towards Fugaku and Shin.
The two Uchiha were in a tough spot. These Mist ninja corpses, though limited to taijutsu, were even more formidable in death.
They threw shuriken, which didn't hit anyone directly but instead collided and intertwined, creating a suspended web of shuriken in midair. If one looked closely, two nearly invisible strings could be seen.
"Fire Release: Karyūdan!" (Fire Dragon Bullet Technique)
Both of them unleashed a torrent of flames, which raced along the strings, transforming into a fire dragon that roared towards the corpses.
The corpses caught fire, but the sight only deepened Fugaku and Shin's concern.
The burning bodies continued their relentless attack, their fiery onslaught forcing the two Uchiha to dodge repeatedly.
"We need to take out the caster first," Shin said, his Sharingan scanning the mist. However, the Hidden Mist Technique was a signature move of the Mist ninja and not something the Sharingan could easily penetrate.
The thick moisture in the air began to extinguish the flames on the corpses.
Fugaku maneuvered between two attacking corpses, slicing through them, severing their limbs and bringing them to the ground.
Hidden in the shadows, Shikigami quickly formed seals.
"Corpse Manipulation! Exploding Corpse Technique!"
"Boom!"
The two fallen corpses exploded violently. Although the blast wasn't particularly powerful, the blood sprayed onto Fugaku's body.
Fugaku wiped his face, lifting his hand to see the purple blood rapidly evaporating.
"Poison!"
The next moment, the poison took effect, causing his body to tremble as he dropped to one knee.
The Mist ninja, like sharks scenting blood, lunged towards him.
Shin's pupils contracted as he swiftly moved to shield Fugaku, desperately deflecting the attacks with his sword. But he wasn't as strong as Fugaku and could barely hold his ground, accumulating more wounds as he fought.
"Quick, drink the antidote!" Shin urgently reminded him.
Fugaku reached into his pouch for the antidote, preparing to drink it.
At that moment, Shikigami appeared beside Fugaku, his hands wreathed in mist.
"Mist Technique! Human Control Technique!"
The surrounding mist surged with chakra, forming invisible hands that gripped Fugaku, rendering him immobile. His vision darkened, and his body refused to move.
He was in grave danger.
Shikigami raised his kunai, aiming it at Fugaku's head, ready to strike.
In that moment, Fugaku couldn't resist. His life flashed before his eyes like a series of fleeting memories.
From his childhood, entrusted with heavy responsibilities, to his growth within the clan, loved and respected. He had once dreamed of becoming Hokage. His eighteen years had been smooth and successful.
But it seemed it would all end here.
Perhaps this was fate.
What would become of the Uchiha clan in Jin's hands? Could someone with no attachment to the village truly lead the clan to glory? Or would they face the destruction that Elder Hokaku predicted?
It was a pity…
He would never know.
Fugaku closed his eyes.
Ninja battles are decided in an instant.
A splatter of blood.
But the expected pain never came. Instead, he felt a wetness on his face.
Fugaku opened his eyes in confusion.
In front of him, Shin was standing with his back to him, blood gushing from a wound in his chest, staining Fugaku's face.
Fugaku's lips trembled as he muttered, "Shin…"
"Antidote… now!" Shin roared, using his last ounce of strength to pull out all the explosive tags from his ninja pouch. Clutching them tightly, he lunged at Shikigami.
"Boom!!"
A powerful explosion rang out, extinguishing Shin's last hope of survival.
But Shikigami's body turned into a puddle of water.
Shin's final effort had been in vain.
Blood vessels burst in Fugaku's eyes as the three tomoe in his Sharingan spun rapidly.
He quickly drank the antidote and stood up.
Silhouettes moved within the mist.
Shikigami's voice echoed, "It seems your status in the Uchiha clan is quite high, to have a subordinate willing to die for you."
"But your struggle will only prolong your suffering."
"His body would have been useful against you, but it's a shame he had to blow himself up."
Shikigami wanted to push Fugaku over the edge.
But Fugaku simply closed his eyes.
The other Mist ninjas weren't going to give him any time to rest, charging at him all at once.
In that moment, Fugaku opened his eyes.
The three tomoe in his pupils merged into a single shape, spinning like a pinwheel.
"You… all deserve to die!!!"
Uchiha Fugaku, ten years ahead of time, had awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan!
(End of Chapter)