Chapter 47

The terrains of the Land of Grass and the Land of Rain are starkly different. The Land of Grass, characterized by its mountainous stones and colossal trees, provides ample hiding places for shinobi to conceal themselves.

Five individuals swiftly ventured into the woods, discovering a grand and majestic giant tree. Nestling amidst the lush foliage, they took refuge, remaining cautious to avoid proximity to their enemies.

For two consecutive days, these five individuals had traversed the Grass and Rain countries together. Although they hadn't encountered any battles thus far, there existed an unspoken understanding among the team members. After all, they were the elite shinobi of Konoha.

During their journey, Byakugan proved to be the most effective method of reconnaissance. Hyūga Tazumo, with his exceptional Byakugan abilities, observed all directions keenly. Ever since his previous mishap of falling into an enemy trap, Hyūga Tazumo had become especially focused on detecting any underground threats during his investigations.

It was well-known that the shinobi from Iwagakure excelled in Earth Release techniques, and concealing themselves underground to lay ambushes was a common tactic for them.

"Stop," Hyūga Tazumo furrowed his brows and stated, "There are numerous ambushes ahead."

The five individuals took their positions among the branches of a massive tree. Fugaku cast his gaze towards the woods ahead. Without activating his Sharingan, it was arduous to discern the enemy's traces. Suddenly, a figure emerged in the distance.

"I didn't anticipate that we would still be discovered," the Iwa shinobi's face turned gloomy as he glanced at the group, particularly fixing his gaze on Hyūga Tazumo while grinding his teeth. "Konoha's Hyūga Clan with their Byakugan. No wonder we were exposed."

The investigative capabilities of the Byakugan had been renowned since the era of the Warring States. The enemy was able to identify Hyūga Tazumo's identity with just a single glance, indicating their lack of thorough research on Konoha's data.

Behind the grass and amidst the towering trees, a series of silhouettes emerged among the Iwa shinobi. They numbered only twenty, and from his experience, Fugaku could discern that most of them were average shinobi, lacking true elite status.

While they might pose a threat to a regular shinobi squad, they were insufficient to challenge the five Konoha jōnin, each possessing a complete inheritance and enjoying an overwhelming advantage.

"Hey."

A piercing eagle cry resonated from the sky, eventually perching on the shoulder of the foremost Iwa shinobi, meticulously preening its feathers.

Fugaku understood that not only Konoha possessed shinobi with detection abilities, but other hidden villages also had their own methods. This time, they had overlooked surveillance from above, which allowed the enemy's ninja eagle to discover their presence.

It was quite common for shinobi to employ summoned beasts from the animal kingdom. After all, the number of shinobi capable of forming contracts with spiritual creatures from the Spirit Realm was limited. Thus, it was commonplace to compensate for their own shortcomings by utilizing summoned beasts.

"Be prepared and try not to prolong the encounter," Fugaku instructed. "After eliminating the opponents, we should retreat immediately."

They were already in close proximity to the Land of Stone, and Iwa shinobi reinforcements could appear at any moment.

As the recently formed elite squad of Konoha, engaging in battles against larger numbers would become the norm for them. If the Iwa shinobi couldn't handle such situations, it would be best to disband their team as soon as possible.

Body Flicker Jutsu.

Fugaku's actions acted as the signal, prompting the other four silhouettes to spring into action simultaneously, charging directly towards the twenty Iwa shinobi.

A dark blackness emanated from Uchiha Fugaku's hands. The edges of his blades, even the sides adjacent to the cutting edges, lacked any reflective sheen. These specialized blades were coated with the darkness by Fugaku to prevent the enemy from tracing his movements through reflections.

The Iwa shinobi in front of him glanced at the first Konohagakure shinobi who sensed something amiss. However, before he could react, Uchiha Fugaku, already in close proximity, thrust his blade towards the Iwa shinobi's heart.

In the eyes of the Iwa shinobi, the Konohagakure shinobi before him was merely a recently graduated youngster, with the strongest among them being a chūnin at best. Although he sensed something awry, he didn't take it too seriously.

Fugaku's eyes, initially black, instantly transformed into scarlet, with three swirling tomoe in his Sharingan. His eyes emitted an aura of murderous intent as the tomoe spun rapidly, initiating genjutsu instantaneously.

Within the genjutsu, the Iwa shinobi experienced the agony of being pierced in the heart by Fugaku's blade. He was about to display a smug smile, mocking his adversary's overconfidence. However, the illusion shattered, plunging him into a fragmented and painful reality. As his heart throbbed with pain, his strength dissipated like a receding tide.

Witnessing the revelation of the boy's Sharingan and feeling the blade pierce his heart, his vision gradually faded into darkness.

A message appeared in Fugaku's mind.

"Kill a jōnin and acquire a moderate amount of Pupil Strength."

"Shiyan."

A frenzied shout reverberated through the battlefield as a figure lunged at Uchiha Fugaku.

Seeking revenge for his comrade? Fugaku had witnessed this scenario too many times. The adversary's Sharingan alone couldn't transform grief into strength. Sharingan's insight allowed Fugaku to clearly perceive the opponent's offensive trajectory.

Effortlessly evading the incoming attack, Fugaku's black lightning bolt cut through the air, piercing the opponent's throat, abruptly ending the life of the tragic Iwa shinobi.

"Kill a chūnin and acquire a small amount of Pupil Strength."

Body Flicker Jutsu.

Fugaku materialized amidst the cluster of Iwa shinobi, catching them off guard. Many hadn't even reacted when the captain of their team met his demise at Fugaku's hands.

Swift as a black lightning bolt, Fugaku moved through the space, leaving behind trails of bloodshed as he harvested the lives of the Iwa shinobi.

In the dense forest, screams resounded continuously. Each cry represented the release of the fear of impending death from the Iwa shinobi before they were slain.

"Kill a chūnin and acquire a small amount of Pupil Strength."

"Kill a genin and acquire a small amount of Pupil Strength."

In the blink of an eye, Fugaku decapitated seven consecutive Iwa shinobi. Sharingan's abilities grew stronger with the absorption of Pupil Strength, constantly increasing with each passing moment. A single glance was often enough for Fugaku to immobilize the movements of the opponent's genin or even chūnin, leaving them vulnerable long enough for him to claim their lives.

"Mikazuki no Mai."

Hayate Aoga fragmented into three entities, his long knife relentlessly thrusting towards the Iwa shinobi from various unexpected angles. Each strike was lethal, capable of claiming lives with the slightest lapse in vigilance.

The clash of blades echoed incessantly as the opposing Iwa shinobi barely managed to withstand Hayate Aoga's relentless assaults.

Blood sprayed through the air as the long knife impaled an Iwa shinobi jōnin's shoulder, severely injuring him. Fugaku's silhouette materialized before the wounded Iwa shinobi.

Initiating Sharingan genjutsu, Fugaku insidiously pierced his opponent's throat, swiftly and without pain.

"Clang!"

A spark ignited as Fugaku's attack was intercepted by an unexpected arrival, defending the Iwa shinobi before him.

The Iwa shinobi stared at Fugaku and his comrades with determination, saying, "Konoha's Uchiha Clan and Hyūga Clan, I thought you would be easy prey, but I didn't expect such formidable opponents."

In another direction, Yamaki Aoga's summons, a multitude of crows, relentlessly harassed the Iwa shinobi. Under the cover of the crows, Hyūga Tazumo and Mitarashi Akami continuously eliminated the remaining members of the Iwa shinobi team.

"Let's not fight them head-on. They're an elite team from Konoha. Retreat!"

Smoke bombs rained down, generating dense clouds of smoke that engulfed the entire battlefield.

Fugaku's Sharingan continued to whirl. Despite the thick smoke, the shadows of retreating figures were discernible under the Genjutsu's influence. Fugaku swiftly targeted several escaping enemies and eliminated them in an instant.