“This is youth! Konoha Dynamic Entry!” A green blur suddenly burst out of the ground, spinning like a top, aiming directly at Fugaku’s back.
However, Fugaku seemed to have eyes on the back of his head as he swiftly ducked, dodging Guy’s surprise attack.
“Foolish!” Fugaku growled.
“Fire Style: Phoenix Flower Jutsu!”
“Water Style: Water Dragon Jutsu!” A water dragon emerged, engulfing all the flames.
Fugaku wiped the blood from the corner of his eye, his expression growing colder as he faced the others.
“Are you alright?” Kakashi asked.
“I’m fine…” Guy responded, still feeling uncertain.
Two more Anbu had been killed during this time. Kakashi’s Sharingan observed Fugaku’s movements, contemplating something. Suddenly, lightning flickered in his hand.
The next moment, a kunai stabbed into the chest of an Anbu member. Fugaku, panting, turned and gave Kakashi a complex look.
“Kakashi, did you notice too?” Asuma asked, frowning.
“Yes, I’ve confirmed it,” Kakashi said, retracting his lightning. “This Uchiha clan leader seems to have the ability to foresee the future…”
No wonder they hadn’t been able to capture him despite their coordinated efforts.
Guy’s ambush had been a carefully laid trap, yet Fugaku evaded it as if he had a sixth sense. This ability to foresee attacks had occurred several times during their battle.
Initially, they attributed Fugaku’s uncanny evasion to his formidable battle intuition. If not for their teamwork, their casualties would have been much higher.
But soon, Kakashi realized that Fugaku’s intuition was beyond extraordinary.
Moreover, Fugaku chose the battlefield itself. Instead of breaking through to regroup with the Uchiha, he had moved towards a shelter housing over a thousand civilians, severely limiting Konoha’s tactics.
Kakashi’s move confirmed Fugaku’s precognition ability.
“The Sharingan detected an opening, and Raikiri could have hit, but Fugaku turned at the last second,” Kakashi explained.
“You, an outsider, using our Uchiha eyes against us?” Fugaku said coldly, staring at Kakashi.
“This eye was a gift from my friend Obito,” Kakashi replied. “If he were here, he wouldn’t want to see his clan leader fighting a doomed battle.”
“Doomed?” Infuriated by the word, Fugaku summoned Susanoo and attacked Kakashi.
“You understand nothing, brat!”
“If Uchiha loses, do you think you will win?”
“Return the Sharingan!”
Susanoo was both strong and durable. They had no effective means to counter it, especially since Fugaku could foresee their attacks, nullifying their traps and ambushes.
Nara clan members extended their shadows but couldn’t halt Fugaku’s advance.
“Earth Style: Earth Wall!” Kakashi slapped the ground.
But Susanoo’s long, spiked chains instantly shattered the stone wall, then lashed toward Kakashi.
Boom!
Kakashi’s clone dispersed. The real Kakashi appeared at Fugaku’s side.
“Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu.” As if foreseeing it, Fugaku dispelled Susanoo, launching a fireball at Kakashi when he appeared.
“Water Style: Water Wall!” Knowing Fugaku’s ability, Kakashi anticipated his move.
Steam rose as fire met water, drenching Kakashi’s hair.
Water dripped down as Kakashi advised, “Stop, Lord Fugaku. With your ability to foresee the future, you must know that the Uchiha have already lost with the Nine-Tails gone.”
The news of the Nine-Tails’ disappearance had spread, boosting Konoha’s morale. However, Fugaku remained unperturbed, likely having foreseen this outcome with his ability.
“If you know I can foresee the future, guess why I won’t surrender?” Fugaku wiped blood from his eyes, glancing meaningfully at Kakashi. “Think carefully.”
The next moment, he dashed in a certain direction.
Everyone realized it at once!
“Not good! He’s going to regroup with the Uchiha!”
Fugaku’s attack on Kakashi was merely a diversion to break through their defenses and escape!
“Go, Kakashi! We can’t let him succeed!” Guy urged.
“Right…” Kakashi nodded, still contemplating Fugaku’s words.
If Fugaku could foresee the future yet refused to surrender, did that mean he would see a worse outcome if he did?
Kakashi couldn’t know how far into the future Fugaku could see and thus couldn’t understand what might stop Fugaku from surrendering.
He stored this doubt in his heart.
Just as he was about to pursue, an Anbu appeared:
“Captain Kakashi, Lord Shikaku has a message…”
Hearing the new mission, Kakashi was momentarily stunned.
Bring back Neji, even if it’s his corpse?
Neji, more dangerous than Fugaku?
“I understand…”
Kakashi noted the mission, but Fugaku’s words echoed in his mind.
“Think carefully.”
What did he want me to think about?
Kakashi recalled the mission.
His eyes widened in realization.
Wait.
Could it be… Neji?
…
He remembered.
During the strategy meeting for the Uchiha rebellion.
As he was leaving, he heard the Hokage holding a note, saying:
“Neji discovered the branch family’s murderer is…”
“Madara Uchiha.”
That was the intel from the missing Neji. Everyone, including the Hokage, believed Madara was aiding the Uchiha, forming a special task force against him.
…
He remembered.
Madara’s cold mockery when they met outside.
“Fools, manipulated without knowing.”
…
He remembered.
The sharp sword marks around the forest where Neji left clues, and they encountered Madara.
He had wondered why there were sword marks when Madara didn’t wield a sword.
…
So.
Though Neji was a Hyuga.
Was he more skilled with a sword?
…
Did the swordsmanship match the wounds on the dead branch family members?
…
Madara Uchiha was a red herring orchestrated by Neji. Confirming Neji’s guilt suggested he might be the true culprit behind the branch family murders, and Madara was merely a diversion.
Kakashi frowned.
Was this Fugaku’s concern?
Not surrendering, not staying in Konoha… because of Neji?
Had Neji done something?
…or was he about to do something?
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