Susanoo shot straight into the sky. Fugaku had already sensed the Seven-Tails' location. Once he was out of Takigakure, he released Susanoo.
He sped through the forest toward a mountain not far from the village. Two markings had appeared around his eyes: he had entered Sage Mode.
To his Sage Mode senses, the Seven-Tails Jinchūriki stood out like a torch in the dark. No matter how well the man hid, it was useless.
In Sage Mode, Fugaku moved so fast he left afterimages behind. A hill came into view.
"You've hidden yourself well, but it's all for nothing."
Fugaku raced through the forest. A concealed weapon suddenly flew at him from the trees ahead.
He leaped lightly from the spot and vanished among the trees. Several Takigakure Ninja standing guard in the distance looked around, but they had lost sight of him.
Suddenly, a bloody line appeared across each of their throats. Every guard dropped dead, and Fugaku appeared beside them.
Just then, a figure sprang from a nearby tree and slashed at Fugaku with a Kunai.
A faint smile crossed Fugaku's face. His eyes changed into the Rinnegan. The Kunai was so close that he could even see the smug grin on his attacker's face.
"Shinra Tensei."
Fugaku extended his right hand and spoke the words softly. A powerful Repulsive Force burst outward from him.
Boom.
A deafening roar rang out. Trees were ripped up by the roots and torn to pieces by the force.
A vast stretch of earth was plowed over, sending stones flying. The attacker spat blood into the air as he was hurled backward, then crashed to the ground in the distance.
The attacker was Takigakure's Seven-Tails Jinchūriki. Fugaku had clearly seen the two small wings appear at the man's waist when he leaped from