Outside the canyon, in a shadowed corner of the battlefield, Fugaku Uchiha stood silently, his gaze fixed on the raging fire in the distance.
The flames illuminated the night sky, flickering violently like a beast refusing to die.
Beside him lay a corpse.
It was not a real human body, but a clone created through White Zetsu Spore Technique.
This type of clone was very different from ordinary shadow clones. Even if the original body died, these clones would not disappear. In many ways they existed as independent individuals, capable of acting on their own.
Earlier, it was this White Zetsu clone that had triggered the explosive tags inside the canyon.
At the time, Fugaku had been focused on defending himself against the violent chain reaction caused by the Mutually Multiplying Explosive Tags. When he finally turned back to observe the situation, the clone was already lying on the ground, completely lifeless.
Because of that, Fugaku no longer dared to enter the canyon personally. Instead, he sent another White Zetsu clone underground to investigate the aftermath.
Two minutes passed in silence.
Then the ground nearby began to ripple.
A pale figure slowly emerged from the earth.
It was White Zetsu.
The moment his upper body surfaced, he spoke to Fugaku.
"I checked the canyon. The explosive tags were definitely triggered, but something strange happened. The explosion was only an illusion. It produced no real damage."
"A phantom?" Fugaku frowned slightly.
For a moment, he could not imagine what kind of Dōjutsu could produce such an effect.
A trace of unwillingness surfaced in his heart.
Today's ambush had been meticulously planned.
First, the Yagura Karatachi, the Three-Tails Jinchuriki, was used to drain Hayashi's Sage chakra. Then the crisis involving Hyuga Himeji was carefully staged to force him forward step by step.
Everything had been arranged perfectly.
The trap led directly into the canyon.
At the end waited Fugaku's Mangekyo technique, Amaterasu.
Even if Amaterasu failed, the canyon was filled with enough explosive tags to obliterate anything trapped inside.
Logically speaking, survival should have been impossible.
And yet Hayashi had walked out of that canyon without a single injury, carrying Himeji on his back as if nothing had happened.
Fugaku felt an unusual sense of helplessness.
If even such a perfect ambush could not kill him, would there ever be another opportunity?
White Zetsu tilted his head slightly.
"Konoha's Lightning Flash should already be at his limit. Why not use this chance to finish him?"
Fugaku shook his head slowly.
"No."
He paused for a moment before continuing.
"Those eyes are too dangerous. Until we understand what kind of ability his Mangekyo Sharingan possesses, it would be foolish to attack him again."
A faint chill crawled across Fugaku's spine as he remembered the cold gaze Hayashi had given him while walking out of the canyon.
If he had been the one to trigger those explosive tags, Fugaku suspected the body lying on the ground would have been his.
The unknown was always the most terrifying factor.
In the end, even Fugaku had chosen caution.
White Zetsu clicked his tongue softly.
"In that case, we should leave soon. Such a huge disturbance will definitely attract Konoha's ninja."
Fugaku nodded slightly.
His gaze then shifted toward the unconscious body lying on the ground.
It was Yagura.
"Is he still alive?" Fugaku asked.
"Alive, but badly injured," White Zetsu replied casually. "He will not be able to fight again for quite some time."
Fugaku considered this for a moment.
"What about the Three-Tails?"
White Zetsu shrugged.
"It escaped. The beast realized it wasn't a match for Konoha's Lightning Flash. When the explosion happened, it used the chaos as cover and immediately dove into the sea."
Fugaku fell silent.
For a moment he did not know what to say.
A tailed beast was supposed to be wild and destructive, attacking anything that provoked it.
Yet the Isobu had chosen to flee.
It was unexpectedly cautious.
"Can you locate it?" Fugaku asked.
White Zetsu nodded.
"No problem. Other clones are already searching."
Fugaku's expression turned serious.
"We must move quickly. If the Three-Tails escapes the Land of Water, it will eventually become troublesome. Once its location is confirmed, inform me immediately. I will capture it personally."
White Zetsu looked slightly confused.
"Are you planning to seal it into the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path?"
Although the plan required tailed beasts to be sealed into the statue, the order was flexible as long as the Nine-Tails was sealed last.
Fugaku shook his head.
"Sealing a tailed beast into the statue requires too much time, and we lack the manpower right now. For the moment, we will seal it back inside Yagura."
He looked down at the unconscious Mizukage.
"In this war, Konoha will likely emerge victorious. I need Yagura to remain the Three-Tails Jinchuriki so he can help carry out my future plans."
White Zetsu nodded slowly.
"Understood. Then what about Hyuga Himeji's Byakugan?"
At the mention of those eyes, Fugaku became silent again.
To him personally, the Byakugan held little value.
With White Zetsu's intelligence network, very few secrets in the ninja world could remain hidden from him.
Moreover, the Uchiha clan had always viewed the Byakugan with quiet disdain, despite it being known as one of the Three Great Dōjutsu. This attitude was especially true for Fugaku, a man who possessed the Mangekyo Sharingan.
Still, useless to him did not mean useless altogether.
The Kirigakure, the Hidden Mist Village, was never meant to remain under his control forever.
Years ago, Yagura had attempted a coup against the Third Mizukage. Events like that would inevitably continue happening.
Fugaku had no interest in ruling the village permanently.
To him, Kirigakure was simply an amusing toy.
He manipulated it however he pleased.
But one day the toy would slip from his grasp.
And when that day came, the devastated Hidden Mist would desperately seek stability and allies. Among the Five Great Nations, the strongest ally would naturally be Konohagakure.
That was something Fugaku did not want to see.
He preferred a world where the Five Great Nations remained locked in endless hatred and conflict.
After a long moment of thought, a cold smile appeared beneath Fugaku's mask.
"Let the Hidden Mist benefit from this."
White Zetsu tilted his head.
"What do you mean?"
"Find a suitable ninja in the village," Fugaku said calmly. "Have them transplant Himeji's Byakugan."
White Zetsu understood immediately.
The Hidden Mist would gain tremendous strategic value from those eyes.
But the consequences would be severe.
For generations, thanks to the Caged Bird Seal, the Hyuga clan had never allowed their Byakugan to fall into enemy hands. Now the one who had lost her eyes was the young mistress of the clan.
How could the Hyuga accept such humiliation?
Even if Fugaku eventually lost control of the Hidden Mist, the village would never willingly return those eyes.
As long as those Byakugan remained in Kirigakure, a deep rift would exist between the Hidden Mist and Konoha.
Any alliance would become impossible.
If Konoha attempted to retrieve the eyes, conflict would follow. If the Hiruzen Sarutobi refused to act decisively, tension between the Hyuga clan and Konoha's leadership would grow.
Either outcome suited Fugaku perfectly.
After confirming that no flaws existed in his plan, Fugaku continued.
"How is the situation with Nagato?"
White Zetsu answered immediately.
"The Akatsuki organization continues to expand. Nagato himself is becoming stronger very quickly, but he still cannot fully control the power of the Rinnegan."
The true strength of the Rinnegan was not simply mastery over the six chakra natures.
Its true power lay in the Six Paths techniques and the abilities of the Outer Path.
However, Nagato could currently use those techniques only in the most desperate situations.
"Too slow," Fugaku muttered impatiently.
"Attack the Akatsuki organization a few more times. If necessary, make Hanzō of the Salamander notice them."
White Zetsu nodded.
He understood the meaning behind those words.
Fugaku then added one final order.
"Continue monitoring Hayashi. I want to know the exact abilities of his Mangekyo Sharingan."
Even now, the memory of that gaze made Fugaku's scalp tingle.
White Zetsu scratched his head in annoyance.
"Hayashi has already mastered Sage Mode. If I approach too closely, he will detect me immediately."
Fugaku remained silent for a moment before speaking softly.
"Then wait."
He was not in a hurry.
Hayashi did not possess the cells of the Hashirama Senju. Without them, the Mangekyo Sharingan would inevitably lead to blindness.
Sooner or later, those eyes would lose their light.
And when that day came, Fugaku would finally learn everything he needed to know.
In the distance, the sounds of approaching ninja forces echoed faintly through the night.
Fugaku lifted Yagura onto his shoulder.
Then his body slowly rose into the air.
Within seconds, he vanished into the darkness of the night sky.
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