"Split and flee!"
Knowing that the three of them would never be able to defeat the Wood Release Kekkei Genkai ninja, Aburame Shiwei and the other two quickly separated and fled in different directions. As for the five teenagers they had captured, they abandoned them without a second thought.
Whoosh!
Uchiha Fugaku blurred forward and appeared dozens of meters away, cutting off the escape path of one of the Aburame clan's jonin.
"I'll fight you!"
Seeing Uchiha Fugaku blocking his path, the jonin's face turned pale with despair.
"Secret Technique: Parasitic Bugs!"
Buzz, buzz, buzz!
A large swarm of black insects flew out from the jar on his back, darkening the sky as they swarmed towards Uchiha Fugaku like a black cloud.
"Fire Style: Great Fire Annihilation!"
Without needing to form any hand seals, Uchiha Fugaku unleashed a vast wave of fire, intense and searing, rolling forward like a tidal wave. The black insects disintegrated into charred remains as they were incinerated, filling the air with a burnt stench as their remains rained down.
Neither Uchiha Fugaku nor the Aburame jonin had any intention of admiring the display.
"Insect Clone!"
The Aburame jonin attempted to use the Insect Clone Technique to distract Uchiha Fugaku and buy himself time to hide, but before he could complete the jutsu, Fugaku was upon him, wielding a sharp branch in his right hand.
"Puff—"
The branch impaled the jonin's body, and more branches grew outward, creating bloody holes all across his body. His limp form fell from the tree and hit the ground with a thud. But Uchiha Fugaku had already vanished, in pursuit of the other two.
"How…how are you in front of me?"
The second Aburame jonin fled desperately through the trees, leaping from branch to branch, only to freeze in shock when Uchiha Fugaku suddenly appeared before him, eye gleaming beneath the mask.
The ninja swore he could see a glimmer of mockery in that exposed right eye, as though Fugaku found his struggle amusing.
"Secret Technique: Poisonous Insects!"
Buzz, buzz, buzz!
A swarm of toxic insects poured out from his jar, flying toward Uchiha Fugaku. These insects carried deadly venom, enough to immobilize even a skilled jonin.
But the Aburame ninja knew these insects would likely have little effect; he was facing a shadow-level opponent. Without a second thought, he turned and ran in the opposite direction.
After only a few steps, a sharp pain erupted in his back, as if pierced by something solid. Pain radiated from his chest, abdomen, waist, and other parts of his body. He stopped and turned his head, dread settling over him.
Uchiha Fugaku had not been delayed by the poisonous insects; he had already appeared behind him.
This was the last sight the jonin would see.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!
Aburame Shiwei fled at full speed, his face pale, glancing back frequently to check if anyone was pursuing him. Seeing no one behind him, he allowed himself a sliver of relief.
Though he knew that the Wood Release Kekkei Genkai ninja must have gone after his two companions—and that their chances of survival were slim—he couldn't help feeling glad. His own odds of survival had clearly increased.
Buzz—
Suddenly, the space before him twisted, and a Wood Release ninja appeared out of thin air.
"Space Ninjutsu!"
A chill ran down his spine, his pupils contracting violently beneath his sunglasses as any trace of relief evaporated.
The Wood Release user also wielded Space Ninjutsu—an escape was impossible.
"Secret Technique: Insect Jade!"
A massive swarm of insects, finely attuned to chakra, burst out of his jar, hurtling toward Uchiha Fugaku like a dark wave.
"Secret Technique: Parasitic Insects, Insect Eating!"
More insects emerged from Shiwei's own body, these a specially cultivated breed designed to infiltrate an opponent's body, feed on their flesh and chakra, and rapidly grow until they burst their victim from within. Blending in with the chakra-sensitive insects, they approached Uchiha Fugaku in stealth.
"Fire Style: Fire Dragon Flame Bullet!"
A stream of flames shot from Uchiha Fugaku's mouth, moving in tandem with the sway of his head, leaving no chance for the insects to come close. All were incinerated mid-air, reduced to ash that fell to the ground.
Whoosh!
With a single leap, Uchiha Fugaku closed the remaining distance between himself and Aburame Shiwei, a sharp branch extending from his hand aimed straight at his target.
"Puff—"
Shiwei's body was pierced by the branch. But, instead of reacting in pain, the Aburame ninja reached forward and latched onto Fugaku, clinging to him tightly.
Then, his body disintegrated into a swarm of insects that crawled across Fugaku's body.
The clone was filled with poisonous insects, chakra-absorbing insects, and flesh-eating insects that began covering Fugaku from head to toe.
Sizzle—
But then, the Uchiha Fugaku they clung to disappeared in a cloud of smoke.
"It was a Shadow Clone!"
A short distance away, Aburame Shiwei, who had been hiding in wait after casting his Insect Clone, was stunned.
So, where was the real Uchiha Fugaku?
A surge of dread filled him as he realized the mistake. Instinctively, he leaped up to move from his hiding spot.
"Puff—"
A flash of green shot toward him, swift and unstoppable. Before he could dodge, it pierced his body—a sharp branch held firmly in Uchiha Fugaku's hand.
The Sharingan's powerful insight made Shiwei's Insect Clone easy for Fugaku to see through. After recognizing it as a clone, Fugaku had used his own Shadow Clone to fight the Insect Clone while he sought out Shiwei's real body.
"Lord Aburame, you have fought against the Uchiha Clan for years. Did you ever think this day would come?"
Uchiha Fugaku removed his mask, revealing his face as he looked down at the critically injured Aburame Shiwei with a cold, mocking smile.
"It's… you!"
Blood trickled from his chest as Aburame Shiwei stared in horror at Fugaku, who was now unmasked. The elusive Wood Release Kekkei Genkai ninja who had caused so much damage to the village was none other than Uchiha Fugaku himself.
How could this be possible?
(End of Chapter)
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