"Is it that strange? Even Uchiha Shisui was able to awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan how could I, as the clan head, possibly be any weaker than him?"
Uchiha Fugaku chuckled lightly.
"Uchiha Fugaku, I truly underestimated you. I didn't expect you to hide so deeply," Danzo Shimura said, his voice low, suppressing the shock in his heart.
"If I didn't hide well enough, things would've ended poorly after all, there's no shortage of people watching the Uchiha Clan like a pack of hungry wolves," Fugaku replied with a mocking smile.
"If I had known this earlier, I would've eliminated you sooner."
Danzo's expression turned grim.
Back in the day especially on the battlefield he'd had numerous chances to take Fugaku out.
But he hadn't done so, because both he and the Third Hokage believed that Fugaku's perceived weakness was actually more beneficial in weakening the Uchiha Clan.
Now, it seemed that this "weakness" had all been an act. Both he and Hiruzen had been completely deceived.
"Eliminate me? Don't kid yourself, Danzo. You and your little Root division think you can take me out?"
Fugaku let out a scornful laugh, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.
"But there's one thing we agree on—we both want to eliminate the other."
"And since you've provided me with such a fine opportunity today, allow me to return the favor."
"Eliminate me? Fugaku, you think too highly of yourself."
Danzo sneered, glancing at Susanoo's body as it slowly regenerated.
"Susanoo's defense may be formidable, but it can't fully withstand coordinated composite jutsu from over a hundred shinobi."
"Not to mention, the chakra drain must be massive. I'll be the one to finish you today!"
Having recovered from his initial shock, Danzo had already begun to realize that Fugaku was stalling for time.
That could only mean one thing—Susanoo was indeed draining Fugaku heavily, and he needed time to recover.
"Keep casting composite jutsu—he's all bark and no bite!"
Following Danzo's command, the hundred Root shinobi surrounding Fugaku began launching another wave of attacks.
"Fire Style: Great Dragon Fire Technique!"
"Fire Style: Fire Dragon Bullet!"
"Fire Style: Blazing Meteor Shower!"
"Wind Style: Vacuum Sphere!"
"Wind Style: Vacuum Wave!"
Wind and fire combined into composite ninjutsu, forming a sweeping blaze that surged toward the massive black skeleton once more.
"He noticed I was stalling?"
Fugaku chuckled softly to himself.
He was stalling—but not because of Susanoo's chakra cost.
The true reason was simple: he was buying time for reinforcements from the Uchiha Clan.
Besides the team present on the surface, there was another hidden squad keeping its distance to avoid detection.
With his power, defeating Danzo and his Root forces wouldn't be difficult—what was difficult was making sure none of them escaped.
That's why he had to wait—for the Uchiha backup unit to arrive.
"It's been long enough since the initial explosion… They should be here soon. In that case, there's no need to hold back."
Fugaku increased his chakra output, and the damage on Susanoo's body was instantly repaired.
Not only that—Susanoo began to transform dramatically.
Muscle tissue and tendons began forming over its skeletal frame.
Weapons appeared in Susanoo's hands.
In its left: a massive white shield.
In its right: a long black spear, or perhaps more accurately, a lance.
Susanoo, without external buffs, had six stages: base form, first stage, second stage, third stage, fourth stage, and the complete form.
Previously, it had been in the first stage. Now, it had reached the second stage.
In this form, its body gained visible muscles and tendons, significantly enhancing its defense.
Even more importantly, it could now wield its signature weapons.
The white shield and black spear were exclusive to Fugaku's Susanoo.
A thunderous explosion rang out as the overwhelming wave of fire collided with Susanoo once more.
But this time, before the fire could even reach Susanoo, it struck the massive white shield first.
The white shield was flat and mirror-like, resembling a colossal sheet of frosted glass.
As the fire hit it, something strange occurred—just like light bouncing off a mirror, the flames were reflected straight back at the Root shinobi who had cast them.
Caught completely off guard, over a dozen Root shinobi were engulfed in their own Fire-Style jutsu before they could dodge.
They became human torches, screaming in agony before collapsing to the ground, lifeless.
But Fugaku's counterattack was far from over.
In Susanoo's right hand, the long black spear was hurled with terrifying speed and force, like a meteor streaking toward Danzo.
The white shield in its left hand could reflect incoming jutsu as long as their power didn't exceed a certain threshold.
And the black spear could be thrown as a long-range weapon to strike down enemies.
As the black spear shot toward him, Danzo's back was drenched in cold sweat.
It had been a long time since he'd felt danger. But now, that sense of imminent death returned and intensely so.
He had only felt it a few times in his life, and each time had nearly killed him.
"Wind Style: Great Vacuum Sphere—!"
He rapidly completed the hand signs, unleashing a compressed air projectile from his mouth like a cannon shell toward the incoming spear.
The black spear met the air bullet—and shredded right through it like paper. The spear kept going, still headed straight for Danzo.
"Wood Style: Bursting Tree Lance—!"
Knowing he couldn't stop it, Danzo immediately followed up. After releasing the wind jutsu, his right arm swelled, transforming into a giant tree that rose before him as a barrier.
He himself retreated rapidly.
The tree was skewered.
The black spear pierced through it and stabbed deep into the spot Danzo had just been standing.
With a thunderous explosion, the black spear detonated like a high-powered bomb, unleashing devastating force.
Earth and stone blasted in every direction, leaving a massive crater in its wake.
Nearby trees were torn apart into splinters by the blast.
Even more, over a dozen Root shinobi caught in the blast were flung away like ragdolls, their bodies falling still.
Danzo, despite his rapid retreat, was still caught in the shockwave.
He spat out a mouthful of blood and was sent flying by the force of the explosion.