Naraku led the team, and after several days of rapid travel, they finally arrived at the eastern stronghold of the Land of Fire.
Naraku's 1,000-man army was divided into three parts: front, centre, and rear. At the front, Uchiha Fugaku led the vanguard with 300 shinobi. In the rear, Elder Uchiha Shan commanded another 300. Naraku himself led the central force with 400 men.
The distances between the three units were close—only about 30 kilometres. If the vanguard encountered battle, Naraku could quickly provide reinforcements.
As for the left and right wings, they were secured by large forces under Akimichi Chōza and Hyūga Hizashi, so Naraku had little to worry about on those flanks.
In the centre, Naraku was well-guarded on all sides by loyal subordinates. Breaking through to him was no easy task.
Naraku, an expert in ninjutsu, was supremely confident that no one present could kill him. Still, he found it tedious to fight unknown or insignificant opponents.
He had already sent out spies to track the Seven Shinobi Swordsmen of the Mist. Naraku intended to eliminate them first to boost his reputation.
"Lord Naraku, the vanguard led by Uchiha Fugaku has breached the enemy base and engaged in battle. Should we go to support?"
An Uchiha ninja read the message delivered by a messenger hawk and promptly handed it to Naraku.
"Tell the guards to speed up!"
Naraku glanced at the message, ignited it with a small flame, and gave his order.
"Yes, sir!"
...
Fukushima Yuki had thought he was doomed—until the Konoha shinobi arrived. Watching waves of reinforcements pour in, he let out a breath of relief.
Uchiha Fugaku gripped his kunai tightly. After blocking a fatal sword strike, his scarlet Sharingan glared into the eyes of the Mist ninja, whose murderous gaze met his with equal intensity.
"Genjutsu: Sharingan!"
Fugaku activated his hypnotic jutsu. The Mist shinobi's expression froze into a blank daze.
Fugaku kicked him hard in the chest, launching him backwards. With practised speed, Fugaku then threw several shurikens, which pierced the shinobi midair.
The Mist shinobi's comrades were too entangled by other Uchiha warriors to intervene in time. They could only watch as their teammate fell to his death.
"Lord Uchiha, around 500 Mist shinobi are attacking the base! We must remain alert!" said Fukushima Yuki, eyes sharp as he recognized the fan crest and crimson glow of the Sharingan.
"It's alright. You rest now—leave the rest to us."
Fugaku's calm, cold demeanour and the wrinkles marking his experience gave off a steady, dependable aura.
"Understood!"
Fukushima nodded, relieved. His chakra depleted, he quickly took a soldier's pill and sat cross-legged to recover.
Despite their superior numbers, the 500 Mist shinobi were overwhelmed by the 300 Uchiha led by Fugaku. The tide of battle had shifted.
The Mist commander had initially thought they were close to victory. Now, he could only watch in horror as his forces were pushed back.
"That's the Uchiha Sharingan! Don't look into their eyes! Use the Hidden Mist Jutsu!"
He made a complex hand sign—one hand covering his eyes, the other raised overhead.
"Ninjutsu: Hidden Mist Jutsu" ×99
Fog surged into the battlefield, thickening until visibility dropped to near zero.
Konoha shinobi—masters of various chakra natures—fought to adapt.
"Wind Style: Great Breakthrough!" ×30
Though Wind Release was rare, the Konoha shinobi here utilized it well, unleashing gusts to disperse the fog. However, some miscalculated and staggered their allies in the chaos.
The fog thinned temporarily but was quickly replenished as Mist shinobi in the rear continually infused chakra to maintain it.
Though renowned for assassination in fog, the Mist shinobi here lacked mastery of the true Silent Killing Technique—a skill even in Kirigakure that few could learn.
Still, the thick fog severely weakened Fugaku's Sharingan and battlefield vision.
Clashes of metal rang throughout the mist, and the Konoha forces were forced to rely on sound and instinct.
"This won't do…"
Fugaku muttered, concern growing.
Nearby, Fukushima Yuki, now recovered, sprang into action.
"Konoha shinobi—take to the air!"
He rapidly wove through a series of twenty-hand seals.
"Wind Style: Tornado Hurricane!"
A powerful storm erupted from his position, tearing through the fog and clearing the battlefield.
Fugaku was surprised—he hadn't expected the garrison commander to be a Wind Style master.
Following orders, Konoha shinobi leapt into the air. The wind roared through the base, finally scattering the mist.
As they landed, the fog gone, the field revealed bodies—many of them Konoha. Fugaku's eyes narrowed with fury.
"Fugaku—behind you!"
His guards yelled, rushing forward.
Several Mist shinobi had also jumped upon hearing Fukushima's command but were picked off midair.
Two others disguised themselves in Konoha gear and waited.
One moved silently behind Fugaku, kunai in hand, aiming for a lethal strike. Though Fugaku was strong, his battlefield experience was lacking. Distracted by the loss of his clansmen, he failed to notice in time.
His guards hesitated—caught off-guard.
Thud!
Just as the kunai neared, Uchiha Dōji, Fugaku's childhood friend and loyal bodyguard, used the Body Flicker Jutsu to intercept the blow—taking the kunai to the heart.
"Dōji!"
Fugaku turned, eyes wide as his friend fell into a pool of blood, his body pierced fatally.
Tears fell—tinged with rage and sorrow.
And in that moment—Uchiha Fugaku's eyes changed.
The Mangekyō Sharingan awakened.