On the other side.
Countless shuriken flew out from within the mist.
Uchiha Fugaku's blade spun swiftly, deflecting the incoming shuriken.
With his other hand, he threw a few shuriken into the mist.
But there was no response at all.
The mist held nothing but the unknown.
Unable to see the enemy's figure, unable to confirm if his attack hit its mark.
It was the kind of fear that left the enemy utterly trapped in uncertainty, destined to die amidst the unknown.
This was the tactic of Kirigakure's assassination squad.
Yet, Uchiha Fugaku's face showed no sign of fear, even though this was his first encounter with such an ambush.
As the future head of the Uchiha clan, fear was not an option.
Weakness was not an option.
Sensing someone emerging from behind him, Fugaku had already formed a one-handed seal.
"Fire Style! Great Fireball Technique!"
He turned his head, unleashing a fierce fireball that collided with the approaching figure. In an instant, the silhouette turned into a pool of water, vanishing after using the Water Clone Technique.
The collision between fire and water only thickened the surrounding mist.
The sound of clashing weapons reverberated in the air.
Fugaku swung his blade, blocking two incoming kunai attacks.
One of the Kirigakure shinobi emerged from the mist, locking eyes with Fugaku.
In the crimson Sharingan, three tomoe spun.
In an instant, the enemy shinobi abandoned his defense, allowing three shuriken thrown by Fugaku to strike his forehead, throat, and heart. He collapsed, clearly beyond saving.
The other shinobi quickly retreated into the mist.
"You are no ordinary shinobi, are you?"
A woman's voice echoed through the dense fog.
The alluring voice carried an unusual charm, like a soft pair of hands caressing one's body, making one feel relaxed and even somewhat pleased.
The enticing sound caused Fugaku's eyes to waver, his movements to slow.
Hidden within the mist, the woman chuckled seductively, her laughter causing her entire body to sway, though the mist concealed it from view.
After all, her assets were quite prominent.
This woman, known as the Lust Ghost, was an illusion-type shinobi.
Her voice was her weapon, the signature trait of her genjutsu.
Most men couldn't resist it easily.
Hearing her voice meant imminent death.
Seeing Fugaku becoming increasingly dazed, she quickly made a hand gesture to kill him.
She did not stop her auditory assault either.
The alluring voice continued.
"It's rare to see someone from Konoha hold out against us for this long."
It was a fact.
The thick fog was full of deadly intent, yet this man had endured, even killing one of her comrades.
A mere ordinary Jonin from Konoha wouldn't have managed that.
Just as she was about to say more, a faint mosquito-like buzzing entered her ears, coalescing into a warning.
"Be careful!!"
Everything around her abruptly shifted.
"Demonic Illusion! Mirror Heaven and Earth Change!"
What was once Fugaku in the distance shattered like a reflection in a mirror, revealing him right before her.
She could clearly see the spinning Sharingan in Fugaku's eyes.
And his utterly expressionless face.
The blade was already close to her throat, and she could feel the sharp edge grazing her skin.
"Uchiha!!"
Just as her death seemed certain, a man suddenly appeared behind Fugaku, his hands rapidly forming seals.
If Fugaku followed through with the slash, he would not escape the jutsu this man was about to unleash.
In the next moment, time itself seemed to move again.
"Water Style! Water Dragon Fang!"
Water gathered in front of the ninja, transforming into a powerful stream aimed directly at Fugaku.
"Bang!"
Fugaku's figure turned into a log, absorbing the hit.
The woman finally had a chance to retreat into the thick mist.
Using the Hidden Mist Technique to conceal herself.
"This Uchiha... he's not easy to deal with."
She panted heavily, for a moment genuinely believing she was dead.
The shinobi who had unleashed the Water Style also melted back into the mist.
Before the woman could fully regain her senses, she felt a sharp, intense gaze. In her vision, the crimson Sharingan appeared, spinning with an enigmatic allure.
Her eyes widened.
A blade had already pierced through her back, exiting through her chest.
"Urgh."
The woman spat out a mouthful of blood.
"How... could this happen!?"
She couldn't understand. She was sure she had escaped; how could she be caught?
"In front of these eyes, there is no escape."
Fugaku stood behind her, stepping on her back as he forcefully withdrew his blade.
It had only been a matter of using genjutsu to hide himself.
The woman twitched on the ground a couple of times, her eyes wide open, as her life came to a reluctant end.
Fugaku turned his gaze to the dense mist.
The Kirigakure shinobi hidden within the mist felt a chill.
That was the Lust Ghost, one of the three Ghosts, the leader of the assassination squad—killed so easily.
In that moment, they understood.
Against this Uchiha, they had to treat him like an elite Jonin.
In the next moment, countless kunai and swords flew out from the mist, locking Fugaku in place, denying him any chance of escape.
Fugaku's blade moved swiftly, each strike precisely deflecting the incoming weapons—his speed a testament to his solitary years of training.
The sound of clashing weapons filled the air as Fugaku blocked the relentless assault.
Such a dense attack would be difficult for most shinobi to fend off.
Yet, these Kirigakure shinobi still struggled to land a blow on Fugaku.
Their next wave of attacks was already prepared.
The weapons abruptly vanished.
"Water Style! Water Dragon Bullet Technique!"
The Kirigakure shinobi shouted in unison.
A gigantic water dragon burst forth from the mist, surging towards Fugaku.
He had only enough time to lift his blade in defense before the enormous water dragon swept him up.
Glancing at the ground, Fugaku knew that if he was smashed into it by this dragon, he was done for.
One hand wielded his blade, holding back the water dragon, while the other rapidly formed seals.
"Fire Style! Great Flame Dragon Technique!"
Fugaku exhaled forcefully, unleashing a smaller but fierce flame dragon. It drilled into the water dragon, reaching its core and exploding instantly.
The water dragon burst into mist, enveloping everything.
For a moment, even the Kirigakure shinobi couldn't locate Fugaku's position.
In the fog.
A Kirigakure shinobi revealed himself, intending to serve as bait to lure Fugaku out.
In the next instant, Fugaku appeared behind him, just as anticipated.
But what the shinobi hadn't anticipated was this:
A blade slashed across his neck.
The Kirigakure shinobi's head dropped.
But their preparations were complete at that moment.
"Water Style! Water Dragon Bullet Technique!"
This time, not just one, but multiple smaller water dragons emerged from all directions.
Standing at the center, Fugaku's expression shifted. He hadn't expected Kirigakure to be able to unleash so many water dragons at once.
And that both attacks would come in such quick succession.
How could they have so much chakra?
His hands swiftly formed seals.
"Fire Style! Dragon Flame Armor Technique."
He exhaled, summoning a flame dragon that wrapped around him, offering 360-degree protection.
In an instant, the water dragons crashed down on him.
"Did we get him?"
The Kirigakure shinobi stared at the mingling fire and water, watching as the mist thickened.