Heavy rain fell like spilled ink, hitting the uneven ground and sending countless ripples outward. On a tall black pine far away, a crow let out a piercing cry.
Inside the mansion, Fugaku slowed his steps. Repeatedly bypassing sentries and patrols, he took a winding, circuitous route that lasted five minutes, finally arriving at the core courtyard. This place was less than two hundred meters from Imu's bedroom.
Suddenly, over ten figures darted forward. Burly men clad in samurai attire, each wielding a long katana infused with chakra.
"Lightning Release: Lightning Current!" Fugaku formed the necessary hand seals, and surging currents of lightning, like serpents of electricity, struck the attacking samurai. Their screams filled the air as their encirclement shattered.
Some samurai were strong, but most were inexperienced. They knew only how to infuse chakra into weapons to sharpen them or into limbs to enhance strength and agility. Poor swordsmanship made them easier targets than ordinary ninja.
Screams rose and then fell silent. Empowered by the Lightning Release, Fugaku moved with blinding speed, striking before the samurai could even register his presence. The technique did not kill, but it rendered the struck unconscious.
Seeing their comrades felled by one person, the remaining samurai trembled in fear, their bodies shaking uncontrollably as they retreated. Fugaku seized the moment, smashed through a window, and entered the second-floor room.
Imu, startled awake by the earlier explosion, held a naked woman in his arms, trying to comfort her. The woman wept beautifully, evoking pity. Before Imu could react further, a shadow appeared at the head of the bed. Fugaku wasted no time, plunging a chilling kunai into Imu's forehead.
"Ah!" the woman shrieked in terror. Fugaku ignored her cries.
Hearing footsteps from the stairs, he turned just as chakra erupted from the adjacent room.
Boom! A Water Release technique tore through the wooden wall, striking directly at him.
"Fire Release: Flame Bullet!" Fugaku leaned back slightly, sending a three-meter flame surging toward the Water Release.
The two forces collided violently, filling the room with thick white mist. Taking advantage of the chaos, Fugaku stomped his foot, launched himself through the window, and moved like a dragonfly skimming the water. He leaped three times in succession before vanishing into the night.
A thin-faced middle-aged ninja emerged from the smoke, inspecting the scene. He did not pursue Fugaku. Instead, he looked at Imu's lifeless body and sighed. Two years ago, the Third Mizukage had assigned him to protect this merchant. Everything had gone smoothly until now—unexpectedly, the mission had failed.
Imu had secretly been supported by the Hidden Mist Village, mining minerals abroad and shipping them home covertly. Only a few knew of this operation.
"Lord Yamaki, what should we do?" a group of samurai asked, kneeling in the ruined room.
"It's fine. He won't escape. Gather everyone and seal the gates," Yamaki commanded.
Soon, chaos erupted across the camp. Firelight illuminated dark areas, and shouts filled the air. Yamaki cut his palm, forming hand seals, and pressed it to the ground. Cursed seal patterns spread outward.
"Summoning Jutsu: Mist Bird!"
White smoke dispersed as a red falcon appeared. It screeched and darted from the window—a summoned ninja beast with exceptional eyesight. Even from a thousand meters, it could spot hidden targets.
"No matter who you are, you won't escape," Yamaki said coldly, flicking a shuriken that pinned the crying woman to the bed.
Meanwhile, Fugaku raced along the predetermined route. Large groups of soldiers carrying torches flooded into the forest, reducing hiding spots. Forests were naturally good for concealment at night, but a large-scale search was underway.
Originally, Fugaku had planned to use Transformation Jutsu to hide among the soldiers during the chaos, but enemy Sensor Ninjas blocked the route entirely.
He used Body Flicker Technique again, appearing inside a dark warehouse behind the barracks. The warehouse, filled with supplies, had not yet been searched. He was temporarily safe.
Peering out the window, the forest was lit by firelight. He considered his escape.
A falcon's cry pierced the night. Fugaku looked up, spotting the summoned bird staring directly at him. Others might not recognize it, but as a member of a prominent clan, he immediately knew the threat.
He could not shoot down a flying summoned beast from that height.
"What now?" he muttered, forming hand seals once more. The explosive tag he had set earlier detonated, roaring loudly.
The noise drew the samurai and genin's attention, though it wouldn't distract the jonin-level opponents. It created an opening. Fugaku knew he could defeat or severely wound the enemy, making his escape much easier.
"In that case, don't blame me for being impolite," he murmured, vanishing into the shadows.
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