Susanoo!

Bakudo #81: Empty Break!

This was the highest-level Bakudo Yoru currently possessed, and also the second most valuable item he had obtained after opening who knew how many gift boxes.

[Bakudo #81: Empty Break: Forms a massive defensive wall capable of completely blocking all Hado below #89.]

Translated into terms of the ninja world, its exact defensive power still depended on how much Chakra Yoru used. But even under normal use, its defensive strength far surpassed Bakudo on the level of the Circular Gate Shield.

After all, this was Bakudo #81!

The invisible barrier blocked Uchiha Fugaku's attack, which was nearly as explosive as a volcanic eruption and comparable to the Fire Release of an entire squad.

Uchiha Fugaku's expression turned exceptionally grave. But before he could strike again, he vaguely heard an unfamiliar chant amid the explosions of flame.

"Twin lotuses carved upon the wall of blue fire, the distant heavens await the abyss of blazing flames."

"Hado #73: Twin Lotus Sokatsui!"

Two masses of explosive flames burst forth. The instant Empty Break vanished, an endless sea of fire completely engulfed the area where Fugaku stood. Other than the scorching heat, nothing could be sensed.

Yoru took a deep breath, but no system notification sounded in his mind.

Clearly, that attack had not killed Uchiha Fugaku. He prepared to retreat.

That man already possessed combat power at this level without even activating his Mangekyō. If he went all out, Yoru would inevitably be dragged into a bitter battle.

And if he waited until Jiraiya finished dealing with the Three Ninja Swords, he would be done for too!

Without the slightest hesitation, Yoru turned and ran.

"What a terrifying technique. Combined with Body Flicker Technique and swordsmanship of that caliber, no wonder Jiraiya regards you so highly."

But the instant Yoru moved—

A chilling voice came from his right. Yoru instinctively raised his Asauchi and slashed to the side, but the moment he lifted his arm, an irresistible and terrifying force erupted.

Under Yoru's disbelieving gaze, he and his sword were blasted away by that force, crashing heavily into the ground.

Through the dust, the first thing that entered his sight was a tangible sternum and rib cage formed from Yin Release Chakra, tightly protecting Uchiha Fugaku within. A massive skeletal arm extended from the side of the ribs, its hand clenched into a fist. Clearly, that terrifying strength which had sent Yoru flying had come from it.

Those crimson eyes were no longer ordinary Three-Tomoe Sharingan either, but bore an even more intricate pattern.

The legendary eyes of the Uchiha Clan!

"Mangekyō Sharingan..."

Yoru murmured, his gaze filled with gravity and shock.

Because he had pursued him alone, he could use this power without worrying about Jiraiya or anyone else in Konohagakure discovering it?

"So you really do know of the Mangekyō."

Uchiha Fugaku's cold voice rang out. Enveloped by the purple skeleton, he stared fixedly at Yoru—or rather, at Yoru's right eye, which was wrapped in bandages.

"How could I not know the name of the Mangekyō? In the past, Madara Uchiha, the Ninja Asura and one of Konohagakure's founders, slaughtered enemies throughout the Warring States Period with a pair of Mangekyō Sharingan before joining forces with the First Hokage to establish Konohagakure."

Yoru rose from the ground. "I never expected Lord Fugaku to possess a pair of Mangekyō Sharingan as well. Does the Third Hokage know about this power?"

A glint of cold light flashed through Uchiha Fugaku's eyes, but Yoru's voice continued.

"Judging by Lord Fugaku's expression, as well as the intelligence we possess, the Third Hokage probably doesn't know that you have a pair of Mangekyō. Otherwise, Lord Fugaku, you should have died an unexplained death just like White Fang did years ago."

"Hand over Shisui's eye!"

Uchiha Fugaku's expression darkened as he looked coldly at Yoru. Within those strange Mangekyō, there seemed to be a power capable of seeing through all things in the world.

A trace of confusion appeared in Yoru's eyes, but it vanished without a trace in an instant.

"Uchiha Shisui's eye?"

Yoru removed the bandage over his right eye, revealing a crimson Three-Tomoe spinning in its socket. "It is merely a Three-Tomoe. Is there really any need for Clan Head Fugaku to pursue me so relentlessly and even expose your Mangekyō?"

"Once this matter is over, if I reveal that Lord Fugaku possesses a Mangekyō, how do you think Konohagakure's higher-ups will treat you?"

"You will not have the chance to tell anyone."

Uchiha Fugaku muttered. His hands abruptly formed seals, and four walls of flame suddenly rose around them, completely enclosing Yoru and Fugaku.

Uchiha Fire Formation!

A special sealing formation of the Uchiha Clan?

Yoru narrowed his eyes. Uchiha Obito had used this technique in the original story while protecting the Ten-Tails. Its strength was exceptionally high; ordinary power was simply insufficient to break through it.

At the same time, Fugaku's Mangekyō spun continuously. The skeletal phantom gathered around him solidified in an instant. A point of light rose from Fugaku's center, and a skeletal upper body over ten meters tall fully took form, radiating a suffocatingly terrifying presence like that of a god or demon!

It drew a dark-purple longsword from its waist and brought it down viciously upon Yoru.

Yoru immediately deployed the Circular Gate Shield, but he still felt a terrifying force like a mountain crashing down upon him. Even his internal organs seemed to shift out of place.

"Hado #54: Wasted Flame!"

A blast of fire shot out and struck the Susanoo, only slightly burning away the Chakra on the surface of its skeleton. It could not break through Susanoo's defense at all.

Honestly, in this era when the Third Shinobi World War had yet to end, seeing an Uchiha piloting a Gundam was just absurd, alright? Everyone else was still playing around with kunai, shuriken, and small knives, and you were driving a Gundam? What the hell were you trying to do?!

"You overestimate yourself. Since you know of the Mangekyō, you should know this power as well!"

Within the Susanoo, Fugaku folded his arms, his tone icy. "This is the power with which our ancestor Madara Uchiha pacified the chaotic age—the ultimate ocular technique combining absolute defense and ultimate offense, true Divine Power!"

"Hand over Shisui's eye, and I can spare your life. Otherwise, you will experience true despair!"

"If you want the eye, why not just kill me and take it?"

Yoru took two deep breaths, then grinned at Uchiha Fugaku, who was piloting a Gundam before him. "Or are you afraid that, driven into a corner, I'll destroy this eye?"

"Lord Fugaku, I don't think an ordinary Three-Tomoe Sharingan is worth all this trouble. Even if it belonged to Body Flicker Shisui, doesn't your clan have spare eyes?"

"You're so obsessed with the eye I took that you even revealed your Mangekyō Sharingan. There can only be one reason for that."

Yoru grinned.

"This eye... probably has the potential to become a Mangekyō Sharingan too!"