Chapter 52

Sharingan scanned the surroundings continuously, capturing the presence of numerous Iwa Shinobi intercepting Fugaku's line of sight from the sides and front, attempting to enclose the group of five.

The persistent entanglement of Shinobi from behind greatly hindered the team's retreat, and the sight was filled with a barrage of hidden weapons, obscuring the sky and earth.

"Be cautious of the hidden weapons," Fugaku warned.

Flashes sparked one after another as hidden weapons struck four different spots. Fugaku's Sharingan was pushed to its limits as his hands swiftly manoeuvred.

A droplet of blood hovered before Fugaku's eyes, causing his heart to sink. His worst fear had materialized—someone was injured. Without the aid of Sharingan, it was challenging to detect all the hidden weapons with ordinary vision.

Turning around, Mitarashi Akami and Yamaki Aoga displayed signs of injury, particularly Yamaki Aoga. Fugaku could sense his weakening breath.

Sensing Fugaku's gaze, Yamaki Aoga spoke, "It's just a minor injury, nothing serious. Since the day I became a Jounin, I've been prepared to fight to the death. This is the destiny of a Shinobi."

"I brought you all here, and I will ensure your safe return," Fugaku declared. "Change formation and adopt a triangular arrangement. Protect Mitarashi Akami and Yamaki Aoga in the center while we continue our retreat."

By this time, the civilians in the capital had evacuated from the combat zone, and Fugaku estimated that the Iwa Shinobi would soon cast aside their inhibitions and attack with full force.

Explosive tags soared through the air, colliding and targeting the Iwa Shinobi on the second side. Fugaku, unhampered by civilian presence, had no reservations about deploying such tactics.

Explosions resonated in the sky, causing many Stone Country structures to crumble. Earth walls emerged from the ground, impeding the advance of the Iwa Shinobi and slowing their pace.

Leading the way, Fugaku encountered a team of Iwa Shinobi, blocking their path.

Using the Body Flicker Jutsu, Fugaku vanished from his position, reappearing behind the Iwa Shinobi. His swift movements and precise strikes indicated that these Iwa Shinobi were merely ordinary, lacking any formidable adversaries.

In a Hidden Village, true powerhouses were a rarity. The balance of power within both the battlefield and the Hidden Village had to be carefully maintained. The Land of Stone Country boasted at most two elite Jounin guarding the village.

As for the guards protecting the Daimyo, Uchiha Fugaku did not consider them. After all, their purpose was to ensure the Daimyo's safety.

Judging from the battle strength displayed during Asuma's departure from Konoha, it was likely that a group of Jounin was responsible for guarding the Land of Fire Daimyo. Given that both the Land of Stone and the Land of Fire were considered part of the five great nations, the chances of elite Jounin serving as guards were slim.

Furthermore, elite Jounin possessed considerable influence within any Hidden Village. Competing for the position of village leader, the title of Hokage, they were unlikely to offer extended protection to others.

Fugaku, representing the Uchiha clan, had thoroughly examined the information pertaining to the police guards. None of the figures appeared familiar to him.

"Don't hesitate, advance aggressively, and live on. Those who stay will perish," Fugaku ordered.

"As long as you're alive, you must do everything in your power to stall them. In two minutes, we will break through the encirclement and take them down."

As the five charged into the enemy ranks, Fugaku maximized his perception, skillfully deflecting attacks with swift movements while launching his own counterattacks.

Countless messages flooded Fugaku's mind.

A chilling aura refreshed his eyes continuously, and Fugaku keenly felt the changes occurring within them.

As a Jounin of the Hyuga clan, Hyuga Tazumo could effectively utilize both Kaiten and Juken in combination.

The other three struggled in the midst of the chaotic melee, particularly Yamaki Aoga, who was not adept at close-quarters combat. If it weren't for Fugaku's assistance, Yamaki Aoga would have perished multiple times.

With each passing moment, the number of Iwa Shinobi grew, and the situation became increasingly chaotic.

Shinobi only retreated when the power difference was overwhelming, as exemplified by Konoha's White Fang and Yellow Flash against their peak opponents.

In this close-quarters battle, the gap between the two sides was not significant. Only Fugaku possessed a notable advantage in strength. Others were more inclined toward defense than offense.

The five continued to sustain wounds of varying severity. Even Fugaku, aided by Sharingan, couldn't emerge unscathed. After all, he was merely fourteen years old and far from reaching his physical peak.

Yamaki Aoga, the most severely injured, grew paler due to excessive blood loss.

Once again, Fugaku withdrew Ku Wu from the chest of an Iwa Shinobi, his chest heaving rapidly. Sensing his eyes changing, Fugaku realized that Sharingan had absorbed an excessive amount of Pupil Strength, potentially triggering its transformation.

Surveying the surrounding Shinobi, Fugaku noted a significant number rapidly approaching from the rear.

Two smoke bombs materialized in his hand and were swiftly hurled to the ground, enveloping the battlefield in thick smoke.

Hyuga Tazumo and the others amplified their physical abilities and raced out of the city. This was their last chance; otherwise, they would be overwhelmed by the approaching Iwa Shinobi.

Fugaku did not immediately retreat. Sharingan had already memorized the positions of the Iwa Shinobi, and a dark resolve flickered within him.

Screams reverberated through the smoke. None could have anticipated that Fugaku would employ smoke bombs not to facilitate their escape but to eliminate the enemy.

Once again, a series of prompts resonated within Fugaku's mind.

Sharingan's transformation continued, and a gust of wind dispersed the smoke, revealing the battlefield.

Utilizing the Body Flicker Jutsu, Fugaku vanished instantly, reappearing behind Hyuga Tazumo and the others. The five individuals had made it outside the country, with a horde of Shinobi hot on their trail.

Fugaku could see that the four of them were at their limits, their continuous blood loss greatly diminishing their battle prowess.

"After I break through, the four of you must withdraw immediately. Yamaki Aoga, leave behind a crow to guide me," Fugaku instructed.

The four individuals attempted to voice their concerns, but Fugaku silenced them with a stern gaze. "If you still have half your life left, don't waste it by persisting after I break through. Retreat now."

The four fell silent, observing the change in Fugaku. He was no longer the same person they had initially encountered. From this moment on, the four team members had complete faith in Uchiha Fugaku.

They understood that after the breakthrough, it was their chance to live while Fugaku would face the possibility of death.

The Land of Stone was replete with rocky cliffs, and once they disappeared from sight, it would be arduous to track them unless a large number of Shinobi were dispatched.

Fugaku turned his gaze toward the Iwa Shinobi, who were closing in not far away. Engaging in a confrontation now would likely only result in his own survival. Fugaku's priority was for all five of them to return to Konoha alive.

Sharingan continued its transformation. The three tomoe whirled faster and faster, with a small black dot appearing in the middle pupil, connected to the three commas.

Two tears of blood streamed down from his eyes. This was the manifestation of the Mangekyo, a phenomenon experienced by most Uchiha clan members.

The Mangekyo appeared briefly before Fugaku closed it, reverting to the three-tomoe form.

Considering the present circumstances, the unveiling of Mangekyo would significantly elevate the Uchiha's status. It would also fuel the arrogance of many clan members. Without Mangekyo, numerous Uchiha had embraced their roles as Konoha's backbone, contributing to the village's power.

The introduction of Mangekyo would undoubtedly trigger thoughts of heaven among many clan members, fostering panic and jealousy among both Konoha and other clans.

Guns were easy to conceal, but hidden arrows were difficult to guard against.

The Uchiha Madara incident had transpired only twenty years ago, leaving behind numerous surviving Shinobi from that era.

And a pair of hidden Mangekyo eyes would make many things more convenient.

Each evolution of Sharingan marked a significant enhancement in strength, especially the leap from three tomoe to Mangekyo, which would result in a linear increase in power.

Fugaku keenly sensed the earth-shattering changes in his ocular prowess. If he were to liken his previous three tomoe genjutsu to a wooden sword, the current three tomoe genjutsu was an iron sword—a qualitative transformation had occurred.

With the awakening of Mangekyo, the chakra within his body began to surge rapidly.

Gazing at the approaching Iwa Shinobi, Fugaku's expression remained calm, and the awakening of Mangekyo marked his breakthrough.

In the distance, a figure captured Fugaku's attention, swiftly appearing before him.

With a single glance, they recognized each other. It was Ogan, an elite Jounin from Iwagakure, proficient in both earth and fire-release ninjutsu, as well as kenjutsu.

After sizing up Fugaku, Ogan remarked, "I didn't expect a mere Uchiha kid. Though you're courageous, your thinking is foolish. I alone am enough to hold back numerous Iwa Shinobi.

Leave this guy to me. The rest of you pursue the other four individuals. None of the Shinobi responsible for today's disturbance in our country shall survive."

Fugaku met his gaze calmly. Although he hadn't witnessed Ogan's true strength, he sensed the other's arrogance.