In a dense forest, over a dozen figures moved swiftly through the trees. Their formation was a standard protective one, with two at the front, three on either side, and five at the rear, forming a secure perimeter around the figure in the middle.
The person they were protecting was tall and thin—none other than Shimura Daisuke, making his way to the Daimyo Prefecture to attend the Harvest Festival.
"Please, don't let me encounter him…" Shimura Daisuke muttered under his breath, feeling uneasy despite being heavily guarded. His anxiety grew stronger as they ventured farther from Konoha, and even the faintest rustle of leaves made him jump, his back damp with cold sweat.
On the left side, the leaves of a tree shook violently as if something were hidden within them. Shimura Daisuke's body tensed, his focus sharpening on the tree.
Swoosh!
One of the elite Root ninjas protecting him launched four shuriken into the dense leaves of the tree.
"Chichi—"
A monkey shrieked, tumbling from the tree with a shuriken embedded in its side. The animal hit the ground and lay motionless.
"Just a monkey."
Upon confirming the harmless disturbance, Shimura Daisuke exhaled in relief and motioned for the group to continue.
Once they had gone, a face emerged from the trunk of a nearby tree. It was ghostly pale with a greenish hue and yellow, inhuman eyes—one of White Zetsu's many clones.
Reports of a "masked man destroying villages" had enraged Uchiha Obito, who ordered Zetsu to investigate. As a result, White Zetsu had dispatched multiple clones to follow Konoha ninjas who left the village, with this clone assigned to track Shimura Daisuke's group.
"Wonder if he'll show up…" White Zetsu muttered before using the Mayfly Technique, merging with the earth and vegetation to pursue Shimura Daisuke's group swiftly and silently.
Hours later, Shimura Daisuke and his group, exhausted from the intense journey, had no choice but to pause for rest.
"Let's take a break," Daisuke ordered reluctantly. Though he disliked halting mid-journey, he knew that fatigue would weaken their defenses.
They stopped in a relatively open area within the forest, where they drank water, ate dry rations, and attempted to regain their energy.
Crack—
Suddenly, the snap of a branch cut through the air. The group tensed, their eyes darting in the direction of the sound. Dense trees blocked their view, but they could faintly hear footsteps coming closer.
"Who's there?" Shimura Daisuke called out, his voice shaky.
As if responding, a figure stepped out from behind a tree. Cloaked in a black robe adorned with red clouds, his face was hidden behind a spiral mask that exposed only his right eye. The visible eye glowed faintly red before fading back to black.
"Wood Release Kekkei Genkai Ninja…" Shimura Daisuke whispered, terror spreading across his face. His breathing grew heavy, his heart pounded wildly, and he felt his legs begin to shake. Behind him, the Shimura family members were equally frightened, some in worse shape than Daisuke himself.
Only the elite Root ninjas accompanying them retained their composure. Trained to suppress emotion, they showed little reaction despite the overwhelming threat before them.
"With so many guards, I must be looking at a big catch," Uchiha Fugaku, disguised as Uchiha Obito, said mockingly, altering his voice.
"There are so many Konoha shinobi leaving the village—why are you targeting me?" Daisuke spat, his expression twisted in anger and frustration. Knowing the danger, he'd initially refused to leave the village. But under Danzo's pressure, he was forced to attend the Harvest Festival. Now he was regretting it deeply.
Uchiha Fugaku didn't respond, only chuckling darkly as he advanced step by step toward Shimura Daisuke. The answer was simple—Daisuke was the head of the Shimura family, a known enemy of the Uchiha.
"Stop him!" Daisuke shouted desperately, commanding his guards to intercept the advancing figure. His only hope of survival was to escape while others delayed the Wood Release user.
"Yes, sir."
Following his command, the elite Root ninjas moved forward, bracing themselves to confront the powerful enemy. Meanwhile, the Shimura family members hesitated, their faces filled with dread. They knew that this confrontation would likely mean their deaths.
"If I make it back alive, I will make sure your families are taken care of!" Daisuke promised, hoping his words would motivate them.
"Very well, Head Shimura. Do not forget your promise!" one of them gritted out. They moved forward, prepared to risk their lives for the assurance that their families would be looked after.
Taking advantage of the distraction, Shimura Daisuke turned and sprinted into the forest, his figure quickly vanishing among the trees.
Uchiha Fugaku didn't bother to give chase, instead turning his attention to the dozen shinobi who were determined to hold him back.
"Open the sixth gate of the Eight Gates—Gate of View!"
A green aura enveloped Fugaku, igniting into green flames that flickered around his body.
"Morning Peacock!"
Fugaku unleashed a barrage of punches, so fast that each strike generated intense friction with the air, forming small flames. The fiery fists shot forward, resembling a peacock spreading its feathers.
"Ahhh!" Several agonized screams pierced the air as the shinobi tried to evade but were struck by the barrage of flaming punches. Wherever a fiery fist hit, it left a blackened mark, sending the targets flying like ragdolls.
Bones shattered under the assault, and several shinobi crashed to the ground, coughing up blood and unable to move.
(End of this chapter)
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