The next day, Uchiha Fugaku and his two companions departed from the daimyō's residence, setting off on their return to Konoha.
News of their departure brought a collective sigh of relief from the Twelve Guardian Ninja tasked with protecting the daimyō—now reduced to eleven.
"That dangerous man is finally gone! "
Kazuma, a headband-wearing man and one of the strongest among the Twelve, exhaled deeply.
Even for someone of his rank, the knowledge that Fugaku—rumored to have awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan—had been in the daimyō's court was unnerving.
At his level, much that was secret to others was no secret to him, including the legends of the Uchiha's Mangekyō.
Uchiha Madara had once fought the First Hokage, the God of Shinobi, to a standstill with it.Fugaku, wielding the same power, might not rival Madara himself, but he was undeniably formidable—perhaps beyond even the combined might of the Twelve Guardian Ninja.
"It seems the rumors were wrong. He had no intention of harming the daimyō," said Saido, a clean-shaven man with slightly long hair, also easing a breath.
At that, Azuma hesitated before asking, "Do you think Fugaku might have been the one who killed Asuma? "
Silence fell.
Many of them had wondered the same.In the entire daimyō's palace, only someone like Fugaku—suspected to wield the Mangekyō—could have slain Asuma without a sound.
But out of caution, none had voiced it aloud.
After a pause, Dairiku finally spoke."It's possible. But we can't rule out the chance that another powerful shinobi infiltrated the palace and caught Asuma off guard."
He had searched Asuma's chambers himself, hoping to find proof, but found nothing definitive.
"Asuma was one of us. We can't just let this go. We must find the killer! "Hokuko, one of the Four Lightning-Style Guards, growled through clenched teeth.
"I disagree," Kazuma said immediately.
"Whoever killed Asuma did so without making a sound. Their strength must be overwhelming—even if all eleven of us fought together, victory is not guaranteed.
We exist to protect the daimyō. If we die seeking vengeance, we fail in our duty."
"You—!"
Hokuko glared at him, fury in his eyes."You and Asuma never got along, but I didn't think you were so cold-blooded that you'd ignore his death! "
"This isn't cold-blooded—it's rational," Kazuma retorted coldly."And you? Letting your hot-headedness drive you to reckless revenge? Would you have the rest of us die alongside Asuma? "
In truth, his reluctance came not just from animosity toward Asuma but from fear.Whoever could kill Asuma so silently could just as easily kill him. He had no desire to cross such an enemy.
"That's enough. Vengeance can wait until we know for certain who killed Asuma," Dairiku interjected, frowning.
Deep down, he wanted revenge.But first, they needed certainty that Fugaku truly was the killer.Second, if the enemy was as terrifying as suspected, even all eleven might not stand a chance.
"Fine," Hokuko grumbled, choking down his anger.
Kazuma only gave a cold snort, his eyes glinting.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!Fugaku, Uchiha Mei, and Uchiha Hiro raced through a vast forest on their way back to Konoha.
Suddenly, Fugaku frowned."We've been tailed since leaving the daimyō's residence… looks like someone's got their eye on me."
His senses picked up a faint chakra signature lurking underground, trailing them.He recognized it instantly—it was the same chakra as the White Zetsu clones he'd destroyed before.
Clearly, Akatsuki had taken an interest in him, dispatching a clone to shadow his movements.
"Well, I'll just have to take this gift," Fugaku said, a cold smile on his lips.
He turned his gaze to a patch of leaf-covered earth.The patterns in his Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan spun as he unleashed his True Illusion Technique.
Even through layers of soil, without direct eye contact, the genjutsu dragged the White Zetsu clone into its illusionary space.
Damn! He's found me!The clone, startled, bolted in retreat—but after only a short distance, a figure materialized before him, moving freely through the ground as he did.
It wasn't an illusion. Fugaku could genuinely teleport within his genjutsu's domain.
Shlick!
Before the White Zetsu could react, Fugaku's kunai pierced its chest, ending it instantly.Once trapped in his True Illusion, the outcome had been sealed.
"Clan leader, what happened? "Mei and Hiro? they asked, startled by his sudden action.
"Just a little rat. It's taken care of," Fugaku replied calmly.
In a blur, he reappeared at the clone's resting place.A massive black skeletal hand of Susanoo tore open the earth, pulling out the corpse.
He sealed it into a scroll. Though a single clone offered little toward his mastery of Wood Release, each one contributed.
Once, he hadn't been able to perform even basic Wood Style techniques—now he could.
"Was that the same technique he used against Shisui? ""Doesn't it seem like the clan leader has grown even stronger? "
Mei and Hiro were astonished.They hadn't even sensed the white creature before Fugaku had destroyed it.
Compared to his battle with Shisui, Fugaku's power had clearly advanced.