177 Thank you for showing up.
Knowing he couldn't face both the jinchuriki and the formidable Tsuchikage simultaneously, Fugaku was determined to test his luck by engaging the Tsuchikage in aerial combat.
His objective was clear: dismantle the enemy's strongest ninja and shatter their morale.
This audacious plan took root in his admiration for the recklessness of Luffy, a character from an anime he had avidly watched. Luffy, with his loyal crew, fearlessly confronted the most powerful adversaries, disregarding the odds.
The thrill of such boldness inspired Fugaku to adopt a similar approach, leaving the remaining foes for his companions to handle.
In contrast to Suna's limited number of notable ninjas, Iwa boasted a formidable lineup of elite Jonin Shinobi. With the ability to fly, the formidable Ōnoki proficient in dust release, and the enigmatic jinchuriki, Iwa presented a daunting challenge.
Shikaku, privy to Fugaku's daring solo infiltration plan, admired his courage and discreetly shared valuable intelligence on Iwa's forces.
Armed with the information, Fugaku spent the night studying the data until the first light of dawn.
With his wings unfurled, he took to the skies the next morning, steering towards Iwa. Opting to avoid a nighttime assault due to the potential vigilance of Iwa's forces and their summoning beast.
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Within the Iwa camp situated in the Land of Grass, the Third Tsuchikage, Ōnoki, sat contemplatively in his tent.
As he perused the report in his hand, a furrow formed on his brow. "How can a single man, Uchiha Fugaku, instill such a deep sense of fear in the Suna? Hmph, it's been a year since that war, yet the mere mention of his name continues to unnerve them."
Ōnoki had attempted to reach out to Suna upon learning about the Uchiha clan's conflict with Iwa, but their response had surprised him.
The notion that Uchiha Fugaku could potentially fly back to attack them seemed to irk him, and he couldn't help but feel irritated by what he perceived as cowardice on their part.
His burly son, a loyal companion, spoke respectfully, attempting to offer a different perspective. "Father, we can't entirely blame them. If we were to face him now, we too would have suffered greatly. However, armed with his information, we can handle him more effectively."
Taking a deep breath, Ōnoki contemplated their next move. "They mentioned sending representatives to observe the battle, didn't they?"
"Yes!!"
His son affirmed, and Ōnoki nodded. "Good. Let them stay here for a while. Perhaps witnessing our tactics firsthand will boost their fighting spirit."
Inwardly, Ōnoki hoped that by observing Iwa's strategies, the Suna ninja could gain valuable insights and, in turn, enhance their confidence.
Abruptly, a ninja burst into the tent, urgently proclaiming, "Tsuchikage-sama, we're under enemy attack!"
Ōnoki and his son, Kurotsuchi, exchanged shocked glances. "Enemy attack?"
The realization struck them simultaneously: there was only one individual audacious enough to challenge them at this crucial moment: Uchiha Fugaku.
Curiosity mingled with concern in Ōnoki's eyes. He had long desired to witness the strength of this legendary shinobi.
Without wasting a moment, he swiftly weaved hand signs, initiating the "Earth Release: Ultralight-Weight Rock Technique."
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Hovering at an altitude of two hundred meters above the ground, Fugaku surveyed the Iwa camp and noticed scattered iron rods, prompting a subtle frown.
The sight stirred a sense of being targeted, a departure from his familiar experiences of war. Approaching the enemy camp proved challenging, met with a relentless barrage of shuriken and kunai.
Their effective range extended only up to a hundred meters, highlighting the Iwa's strategic use of earth release techniques and hidden strikes from behind rocks.
Fugaku grappled with a dilemma: to engage, he needed to get close enough, but doing so left him vulnerable to their counterattacks.
In a moment of contemplation, his mind drifted to a middle schooler he once knew, a member of the notorious Akatsuki organization. The boy, a true terrorist in every sense, possessed a destructive nature that surpassed even Fugaku's capabilities.
Amidst his thoughts, Fugaku noticed a figure flying out of the Iwa camp. The man hovered at a safe distance of a hundred meters, hesitant to draw closer.
"Who are you? I don't waste my time on nameless foes!" Fugaku proclaimed, flapping his wings and fixing a stare at the man, a cheesy line borrowed from a TV show etched into his words.
Despite having glimpsed the Iwa camp from a distance, Ōnoki had eluded his sight. Drawing on his knowledge of anime characters, Fugaku harbored doubts about their prowess, dismissing the possibility that the man before him was Ōnoki.
The man in the air revealed himself to be Kurotsuchi, Ōnoki's son. As he gazed up at the man with flamboyant wings soaring higher, a sense of slight amazement crossed his expression.
The wings held an undeniable coolness, yet they aligned with the intelligence he possessed. Were they merely for show?
"Are you the leader of the Uchiha clan, Uchiha Fugaku? We have your information, and there is no point in attacking," Kurotsuchi inquired, attempting to dissuade a needless confrontation.
Fugaku, maintaining a faint smile, continued to flap his wings. "Hey, you're right. I think I remember you. You're Kurotsuchi, right? Ōnoki's son? That's what Shikaku's report said. Tell your old man to come out. You're too weak to be my opponent."
Kurotsuchi, detecting the contempt in Fugaku's voice, felt insulted, shaken by the arrogance of one who appeared younger. "What a jerk... He's so cocky!" he muttered under his breath.
"Why don't you come down and fight like a real ninja? What kind of ninja only flies?"
Fugaku goaded, listening to the response from the Iwa ninja below. A chuckle escaped him as he retorted, "If I come down, I might crush you under my feet. Hey, tell me, is your Tsuchikage hiding in his shell? I came here by myself, and he's too scared to face me."
Kurotsuchi, perched in the air, refused to yield ground, aware that his chances in aerial combat against Fugaku were slim. His sole objective was to stall for time, allowing his father to prepare.
Grounded in earth-release techniques unsuitable for airborne confrontations, Kurotsuchi remained firmly in his position.
Meanwhile, Fugaku hesitated to descend, cautious of potential attacks and uncertain about who else lurked in the Iwa camp. The prospect of facing both the jinchuriki and the tsuchikage simultaneously posed a formidable risk, eroding his confidence.
"Don't try to provoke me; I won't fall for it. You should come down and see for yourself!" Kurotsuchi declared defiantly, challenging Fugaku to abandon his aerial advantage.
Though Fugaku contemplated a retort, he recognized the futility of continuing the verbal sparring.
"Fine, I'll just have to make him come out!" Taking a deep breath.
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