*Chapter 22: Susanoo!*

"Hado #81: Danku!"

This is the highest-level Bakudō technique that Yoru has mastered so far, and it took countless attempts opening random reward boxes to finally obtain this second most valuable ability.

*[Hado #81: Danku – A massive defensive barrier capable of fully blocking Hado techniques below #89.]*

In the world of ninjas, the defensive power of this technique depends on how much chakra Yoru puts into it. Even in normal use, its strength far surpasses techniques like Enkosen.

After all, this is Bakudō #81!

The invisible barrier blocked Uchiha Fugaku’s Fire Style attack, which resembled a volcanic eruption and could easily have wiped out an entire squad.

Fugaku’s face was deeply serious. However, before he could attack again, amidst the explosion of flames, he faintly heard a mysterious chant:

“Two lotus flames, wall of azure fire, chasm of the great inferno.”

“Hado #73: Twin Lotus Blue Fire, Crash Down!”

Two enormous bursts of flame erupted, and just as Danku dissipated, an ocean of fire instantly engulfed Fugaku’s entire area, leaving only an overwhelming heat in its wake.

Yoru took a deep breath. No system alert sounded in his mind.

Clearly, this attack hadn’t finished off Fugaku, so Yoru prepared to retreat.

This guy hadn’t even activated his Mangekyō Sharingan Yet, and already possessed this level of power. If he went all out, Yoru would be in for a tough fight.

And if Jiraiya finished his battle with the three Ninja Blades before Yoru escaped, things could end badly for him!

Without hesitation, Yoru turned to flee.

"What a terrifying technique. Combined with that level of speed and swordsmanship, it’s no wonder Jiraiya takes you so seriously."

But just as Yoru moved, a cold voice came from his right. Instinctively, Yoru raised his sword and slashed to his right, but before he could react, an overwhelming force exploded, sending him and his sword flying. He crashed heavily into the ground.

Through the smoke, the first thing that came into view was the sight of Fugaku protected by an enormous ribcage formed from Yin Release chakra. A giant skeletal arm clenched into a fist, revealing the source of the immense power that had just struck Yoru.

Fugaku's blood-red eyes had evolved beyond the standard three-tomoe Sharingan, forming a far more complex pattern.

The legendary eyes of the Uchiha clan!

“The Mangekyō Sharingan...”

Yoru muttered, his expression heavy with shock.

Since Fugaku had pursued him alone, he could use this power without worrying about being seen by Jiraiya or the other Konoha shinobi.

“So you know about the Mangekyō, huh?” Fugaku’s icy voice resonated from within the purple skeletal figure, his gaze fixed on Yoru—specifically, on Yoru’s bandaged right eye.

“How could I not know about the Mangekyō?” Yoru rose to his feet. “Uchiha Madara, the founder of Konoha and the scourge of the Warring States Era, used the Mangekyō Sharingan to slaughter his enemies and helped establish Konoha alongside the First Hokage.”

He dusted himself off. “I never expected that Lord Fugaku would possess a pair of Mangekyō Sharingan. Does the Third Hokage know about this power?”

A cold glint flashed in Fugaku’s eyes Yoru continued. “Judging by your expression and the intel we have, it seems the Third Hokage doesn’t know you have the Mangekyō. Otherwise, you might have met the same fate as White Fang a few year back—dying under mysterious circumstances.”

“Hand over Shisui’s eye!” Fugaku’s voice turned low and dangerous, his Mangekyō Sharingan seeming to pierce through all of Yoru's defenses.

Yoru’s expression flickered with confusion, but only for a moment before he regained focus.

“Uchiha Shisui’s eye, huh?” Yoru removed the bandage from his right eye, revealing a spinning three-tomoe Sharingan. “It’s just a regular three-tomoe Sharingan. Is it really worth chasing me down and exposing your Mangekyō?”

“If I were to leak the fact that Lord Fugaku possesses the Mangekyō after this, what do you think Konoha’s leadership would do to you?”

“You won’t have the chance to say anything,” Fugaku murmured coldly. His hands formed seals, and the air around them erupted into walls of flame, trapping both Yoru and Fugaku within.

*Uchiha Flame Formation!*

A special Uchiha sealing technique. Yoru’s eyes narrowed. This technique was used by Uchiha Obito in the original story to protect the Ten-Tails. Its defensive power is extremely high, and normal attacks are useless against it.

At the same time, Fugaku’s Mangekyō Sharingan spun, and the skeletal figure around him began to solidify. A glowing light rose from the center of his body, and the half-formed skeletal structure quickly took shape, growing to a towering height. The oppressive aura it exuded was suffocating, like that of a god or demon.

A deep purple blade was drawn from the skeleton’s waist, and it slashed down at Yoru with immense force.

Yoru immediately activated Enkosen, but it still felt as though a mountain was crashing down on him, leaving him winded and disoriented.

“Hado #54: Haien!”

A burst of flames shot out, hitting the skeleton. It only managed to scorch the surface chakra slightly, failing to penetrate Susanoo's defense.

Honestly, in this era where the Third Ninja War is still ongoing, seeing an Uchiha bring out a giant robot-like Susanoo is just absurd. While everyone else is still throwing kunai and shuriken, this guy's busting out a gundam—what are we even doing here?

"How foolish. Since you know about the Mangekyō, you must also be aware of this power." From within Susanoo, Fugaku crossed his arms and spoke coldly. "This is the power that my ancestor, Uchiha Madara, used to bring peace to the chaos. The ultimate ocular power that combines absolute defense and devastating offense—the true power of a god!"

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

"If you want the eye, you’ll have to kill me to take it," Yoru replied, taking deep breaths as he grinned at the mecha-like Susanoo in front of him. "Or are you afraid that I’ll destroy this eye out of desperation?"

"Lord Fugaku, I doubt a mere three-tomoe Sharingan is worth all this trouble for you. Even if it belonged to Shisui of the Body Flicker, doesn’t your clan have plenty of spare eyes?"

"You’re so obsessed with the eye I took that you’re willing to expose your Mangekyō. There can only be one reason for that."

Yoru smiled knowingly.

"This eye... also has the potential to become a Mangekyō, doesn’t it?"

(End of Chapter)