"Hmph. Uchiha, you're nothing special."
After successfully ambushing his opponent, Kaketa sneered arrogently.
But the next moment, his smile froze on his face. Slowly, he lowered his gaze to stare in disbelief at his own chest.
Puh!
A kunai had pierced through his back and out his front, staining Kaketa's clothes with blood.
Standing behind Kaketa, Fugaku Uchiha grasped the end of the blade with one hand. His Sharingan eyes radiated a cold, ruthless light.
And near the door, there was no corpse belonging to Fugaku.
That was the power of the Sharingan's genjutsu.
Heiyan watched everything unfold clearly from the sidelines.
Earlier, the moment Fugaku pushed open the door and locked eyes with Kaketa, he had silently activated a genjutsu through the power of his Sharingan, ensnaring the latter.
At this point, Fugaku walked to stand directly in front of Kaketa. Once again, his Sharingan spun violently as its power surged outward.
He had clearly employed an interrogation genjutsu.
Kaketa's pupils immediately lost focus, and soon after, he spilled every detail of their plans without holding anything back.
It turned out they were a group of ninja from the Mist Village sent by the Third Mizukage to assassinate high-ranking officials of Uzugakure. After failing their mission, they became Rogue Ninja and fled to Konoha, eventually setting their sights on Heiyan recently.
Fugaku retrieved a forehead protector marked with Mist Village insignia from Kaketa. A slash mark across it confirmed the man's status as a Rogue Ninja.
"Who is your leader, and where is he now?"
Fugaku asked coldly.
Kaketa truthfully confessed that his superior was an Jonin named Kurokawa currently hiding inside a small cabin outside Konoha's outskirts, waiting for him to bring Heiyan there.
[Genjutsu: Release!]
After obtaining the desired information, Fugaku ceased the Sharingan's energy flow and dispelled the illusionary technique.
As for Kaketa, he had already passed away from massive blood loss and his fatal wound.
Swift and decisive, Fugaku grabbed the body and strode straight out of the residence until arriving before the police force headquarters on Ichiraku Street.
Thud!
He tossed Kaketa's corpse down in front of the guards and briefly explained what had occurred, then turned his gaze toward Heiyan.
"For your safety," he instructed, "please remain here at the police station temporarily. I will go outside the village to deal with this Kurokawa. That should complete this bodyguard mission."
"He's an Jonin from the Mist Village. Don't you need backup?" Heiyan asked.
"Just one Jonin? Not worth gathering backup for. I alone am more than enough."
With pride and confidence, Fugaku performed the Body Flicker Technique and vanished toward the village outskirts.
Watching Fugaku vanish into the distance, Heiyan furrowed his brow slightly and followed in silence.
Deep within the forest beyond Konoha.
The night sky displayed a full moon, its gentle glow illuminating the darkened earth and revealing shadowed corners.
Before a wooden hut, a middle-aged man stood hidden partially in shadows beneath the moonlight, exposing only half his face.
His arms were wrapped in bandages, his teeth sharpened into claw-like points—clearly not human—and his gaze mirrored that of a starving wolf. Clearly, this was a ninja who had emerged from seas of bloodshed, exuding danger from head to toe.
Someone was approaching.
"Did you bring him, Kaketa?" the man asked.
Shhh!
In response came a flying forehead protector belonging to a Rogue Ninja, landing right at his feet.
"Are you Kurokawa?"
Fugaku Uchiha stepped out from the woods, like a hunter emerging from darkness.
"So Kaketa failed."
Kurokawa sighed, clearly dissatisfied with his subordinate's performance.
Whoosh!
As Fugaku and Kurokawa faced off, a figure arrived — it was Heiyan.
"Oh?"
Fugaku looked surprised. He hadn't expected Heiyan to keep up with his speed.
Looks like all that daily physical training this young master put himself through wasn't for nothing.
"You had to see your enemy die with your own eyes before you could feel at peace, huh?"
Fugaku regarded Heiyan calmly, showing understanding of the younger man's mindset.
Heiyan nodded without denial, then focused most of his attention on Kurokawa.
"Young ninja from the Uchiha clan!"
Kurokawa directed his gaze toward Fugaku, saying coldly, "I have no desire to make enemies with the Uchiha clan. Hand him over to me, then leave immediately. I promise to let you live."
He pointed directly at Heiyan.
"Let me live?" Hearing this, Fugaku's lips curled upward into an arc.
"That's right. This is your last chance. Make your choice." Kurokawa looked down arrogantly, as if granting mercy.
"Hahahahaha!"
Fugaku laughed as if he'd heard the funniest joke in the world. He clutched his forehead and threw his head back, flashing a grin full of white teeth.
What arrogant drivel!
"Haven't you heard," Fugaku said coldly, his smile disappearing, "that when facing the Sharingan, one-on-one, the only escape route available is retreat?"
His hands flew through six hand seals — Snake, Ram, Monkey, Boar, Bird, Tiger — in a blur.
Hiss!
He inhaled deeply, gathering all his chakra in his throat, then suddenly exhaled forcefully.
Boom!
A ball of fire flew from Fugaku's mouth, rapidly expanding as it traveled until it became a massive fireball several meters in diameter.
Like a miniature sun blazing across the night sky, the fireball surged forward with searing intensity straight toward Kurokawa. As it passed over the ground, everything in its path turned charred black, demonstrating terrifying power.
This was the signature ninjutsu technique of the Uchiha clan — [Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique]!
The Great Fireball Technique could wipe out weaker foes outright. And even against stronger enemies, it could force them into a scramble, leaving them vulnerable.
"I see. So you've chosen death."
Kurokawa shook his head, unfazed by the approaching fireball. His hands quickly formed seals too.
[Water Release: Water Formation Wall]!
He spat out a torrent of water, creating a wall of water in front of him from bottom to top, directly colliding with the fireball.
Sssshhh!
Upon contact between water and fire, large amounts of steam filled the air, obscuring the figures of Fugaku, Kurokawa, and Heiyan.
"You're too slow. I'm behind you!"
At some point, Fugaku had appeared behind Kurokawa, holding a kunai and slashing toward the latter's neck.
"Hmph."
Kurokawa snorted coldly, rolled forward to dodge the attack, then drew his own kunai and counterattacked, engaging Fugaku in fierce combat.
Clang!
Ting! Ting!
Within a short time, the two combatants had exchanged dozens of blows. Their figures became indistinguishable, only sparks bursting forth each time their weapons clashed.
Standing aside, Heiyan watched the battle unfold.
It wasn't that he didn't want to help, but knowing Fugaku Uchiha's proud nature, he likely wouldn't allow any interference.
Moreover, this life-and-death duel between two Jonin-level ninja was also a rare opportunity for Heiyan to observe and learn valuable combat experience.
Suddenly, the situation shifted—the balance quickly tilting toward one side.
["Genjutsu: Unknown Fire!"]
Fugaku Uchiha seized the chance, activating Sharingan's genjutsu and ensnaring Kurokawa in its illusion.
"Ugh!"
Kurokawa stiffened, letting out a pained growl. The illusion engulfed him in searing flames.
Although his willpower was strong enough for him to bite through his lip and break free from the genjutsu, at this level of master-level duel, a single moment's mistake could prove fatal.
Pop!
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