Chapter 43: Escape, Selflessness, and the Pinnacle of Perfection
Konoha Camp
Countless shinobi moved rapidly through the camp. Some were injured, while others had escaped the battlefield without a scratch.
Medical-nin hurried to treat the wounded as they were carried back.
"Report! We've received information that Munashi Jinpachi, one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, has disappeared from the battlefield. The Kirigakure shinobi accompanying him are also unaccounted for. The jōnin Kaguya Sei and Hōzuki Ōrō..."
Inside the main tent, Uchiha Fugaku had just finished assigning missions to his subordinates when an ANBU shinobi entered and delivered the report.
Fugaku frowned.
"Can you determine their location?"
"Based on the time and location of their disappearance, as well as information obtained from our spies in Kirigakure, there's a very high possibility that they've already entered our battlefield. Their target is likely..."
The ANBU hesitated.
"I'm worried they're targeting Uchiha Shisui, Uchiha Gōenji, and the others."
Fugaku's expression darkened.
"It seems Shisui and Gōenji have been appearing a little too often lately."
He paused before giving another order.
"Go. Bring Shisui here."
Gōenji had already been dispatched on another mission. Shisui was the only one remaining at the camp.
There was a high possibility that the enemy had sent people to intercept Gōenji.
Moreover, there were not many Konoha shinobi stationed near the area where Gōenji was carrying out his mission.
"Yes, Lord Fugaku."
...
Kirigakure — Council Hall
"Heh. We've finally found an opportunity."
Yagura Karatachi held a report in his hands and looked toward Ao.
"Ao, send troops to put pressure on them. We need to make those Uchiha geniuses disappear completely."
Excitement filled Ao's face.
"Yes, Mizukage-sama."
Just as expected.
The Mizukage had immediately identified the enemy's geniuses as the targets.
Those two Uchiha prodigies were going to disappear after all.
That green chakra and that deep crimson chakra still lingered in Ao's mind like a nightmare.
He had retreated as quickly as possible.
Yagura fell silent for a moment.
"Fugaku, the Uchiha really do have an abundance of talent. I hope Mei Terumi can lead her forces well enough to delay them."
He had absolute confidence in the assassination mission's success.
The four people he had sent were among Kirigakure's strongest combatants.
Each possessed either a unique ability or a kekkei genkai.
Even if their targets were members of the Uchiha clan, facing four such opponents without the support of a large force would leave both Uchiha Shisui and Uchiha Gōenji with only one possible outcome.
Death.
...
The frozen, snow-covered battlefield.
An ice bullet tore through the sky, flying straight toward Fūjin.
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"
A massive fireball suddenly appeared in the distance.
The blazing flames collided directly with the ice bullet, melting it before continuing toward Shirō Fubuki.
Under the scorching heat, the snow and ice began to melt.
Wherever the flames passed, fire spread across the frozen landscape.
Boom!
"Captain..."
Fūjin stared at the sudden appearance of the flames.
Feeling their warmth, her eyes grew moist.
She knew that her captain had broken away from his own battle specifically to save her.
Whoosh!
Gōenji descended from the sky, flames still pouring from his mouth.
"Your injuries are serious. You need treatment immediately."
His gaze settled on the frozen battlefield.
"That's some powerful Ice Release."
Boom!
At that moment, the enemy acted again.
A blizzard collided with Gōenji's flames.
On one side was a world of ice.
On the other was a sea of fire.
Ice and fire clashed violently.
After some time, both sides simultaneously stopped their techniques.
"The Uchiha clan's Fire Release truly lives up to its reputation."
Shirō Fubuki looked at Gōenji, who had suddenly appeared on the battlefield.
"I never expected someone to use Fire Release to fight my Ice Release to a standstill."
This was the first time he had encountered someone capable of matching his Ice Release with ordinary Fire Release.
What an impressive young man.
Ice Release was a kekkei genkai. Under normal circumstances, it should have had an inherent advantage over ordinary Fire Release.
For someone to cultivate Fire Release to this level was genuinely unexpected.
"You aren't bad yourself."
Gōenji's expression was solemn.
"That's some incredible Ice Release. Kirigakure really does have no shortage of talented shinobi."
His Sharingan remained fixed on Fubuki.
So this is Ice Release.
In the anime of his previous life, the only Ice Release users he remembered seeing were Haku, who served under Zabuza, and the characters from the Land of Snow arc.
That was about the extent of what he knew about Ice Release.
But seeing Shirō Fubuki now made Gōenji realize something.
Haku's Ice Release really had only been a manifestation of his kekkei genkai.
Considering that nobody had properly taught him, what he had accomplished was already quite impressive.
And Kirigakure still possessed established Ice Release techniques.
Just like the Uchiha clan, the village had clans with generations of accumulated knowledge.
Naturally, their mastery of Ice Release would be far superior to Haku's relatively unstructured techniques.
What a terrifying level of understanding.
Kirigakure had not yet entered the Bloody Mist era.
At this point, it truly deserved its position as one of the Five Great Shinobi Villages.
Experts specializing in kekkei genkai and secret techniques continued to emerge one after another.
Tiger.
Gōenji formed a seal with one hand and ignited flames with the other.
He pressed his burning palm directly against Fūjin's body.
The flames rapidly melted half the ice covering her.
"Fūjin, go. I'll hold him back."
"But..."
Fūjin still wanted to say something.
Gōenji cut her off firmly.
"Enough. You'll only hold me back."
"...Understood."
Fūjin felt her body becoming capable of moving again.
She knew he was right.
But knowing that didn't make her any more willing to leave him behind.
She endured the pain and took two steps.
Then she bit her lip and looked back at Gōenji several times.
Gōenji had already turned all his attention toward the enemy.
Whoosh!
Fūjin had come from Danzō's Root and had long since learned to suppress her emotions.
She forced down everything surging inside her and used the last of her strength to flee the battlefield.
Captain... You absolutely cannot die.
...
Shirō Fubuki watched her retreat but showed no concern.
"Your abilities are clearly far greater than this. Impressive."
He had already noticed the Shadow Clone occupying Jinpachi in the distance.
He also understood that Gōenji had already expended a considerable amount of chakra.
And that was after fighting another opponent.
Fubuki's expression gradually became serious.
As for Fūjin, he didn't care.
Their target was Uchiha Gōenji.
He formed a series of hand seals.
Ripples spread outward around Shirō Fubuki.
Ice mirrors emerged from the ground, rapidly forming a barrier around him.
...
Clang!
A blade collided with a bone blade, sending sparks flying.
Slash!
Kaguya Sei's chest was cut open.
The bone armor covering his body was torn apart, leaving a deep opening.
"Such incredible swordsmanship."
Sei stared at the damage to his strongest defense in disbelief.
"Are you from some famous swordsmanship family in Konoha?"
Even more shocking was his opponent's current state.
Ryōma had completely seized control of the battle.
"Dance of the Young Fern!"
The arrogance of the Kaguya clan drove Sei into a frenzy.
He abandoned defense entirely and rapidly formed hand seals.
He intended to eliminate this Konoha shinobi before the others finished off their opponents.
Ryōma's brows furrowed.
His attack did not hesitate for even an instant.
His blade followed the contours of Sei's body, cleaving through the bone armor and stabbing directly into his flesh.
But when Ryōma tried to pull the sword free, he discovered that it had been caught by another layer of bone that had extended from Sei's body.
He couldn't pull it out.
"Hahahaha!"
Sei laughed wildly.
"I'll show you the true power of the Kaguya clan! Die!"
His laughter rang through the forest, startling an eagle flying overhead.
"Selflessness: Perfect Pinnacle."
Ryōma released the sword hilt and rapidly retreated.
He unleashed his ultimate secret technique.
Chakra surged throughout his entire body.
Two sharp blades formed entirely from chakra appeared in his hands.