Don't Pretend You're Innocent

The long sword formed from the Black Light Barrier sliced through the surrounding walls in an instant, and the entire house collapsed.

Most of the ninja inside were killed or wounded. Many never even saw where the sword of black light had come from.

Several veteran Cloud shinobi fell into thought the moment they saw the Black Light Barrier rise.

"That's the Uchiha Mangekyo. Madara Uchiha once formed an enormous Light Barrier around his body. It was powerful in both attack and defense."

"Madara Uchiha has been dead for years. Who else has awakened the Uchiha Mangekyo?"

"Call for help, quickly! We're no match for a Uchiha who's awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan."

A bright Signal Flare shot into the sky and burst into brilliant fireworks. Fugaku glanced up at it.

He had been wondering how to find the second team of Cloud shinobi. They had just done the work for him.

His Mangekyo Sharingan slowly rotated as he looked toward the Kumogakure ninja fleeing on the other side. Black flames sprang up out of nowhere across their bodies.

The destructive power within the black flames ravaged their bodies, and searing pain tore through them.

The ninja caught by Amaterasu collapsed at once, rolling across the ground and screaming.

The Black Long Sword swept past and ended their lives. More than a dozen Cloud shinobi elites had met their end here.

Mangled corpses lay scattered around the collapsed house. Fugaku set up a simple chain of Explosive Traps, then hid in a corner to wait for any reinforcements.

Outside the city, five Kumogakure Elite Squads were stationed in the forest. They gathered the moment they saw the Signal Flare rise over the city.

"That's a request for help from our side."

"Our people are in danger inside the city. This could