"Kage-level!"
The fact that the second spore clone could perform an Ice Release of that magnitude meant its kekkei genkai had reached Kage-level strength, nearly on par with his own.
And with the ability to wield Ice Release at that level, the clone's overall power had likewise surged.
In one leap, it had risen from Elite Jōnin to the level of a Kage.
In other words—he had just created a spore clone with true Kage-level power.
Unlike the first spore clone, whose Kage-class strength came from the transplanted Mangekyō Sharingan, this second clone had achieved it through its own innate abilities.
"With a second Kage-level clone, I finally have both a left arm and a right arm," Uchiha Fugaku thought with satisfaction.
If the first spore clone was his left arm, then the second—utterly loyal as well—was his right arm. Together, his trusted blades were complete.
In a dim underground chamber, a massive figure stretched out its ten fingers. Upon each finger stood a silhouette formed of shifting light.
They were the true members of the Akatsuki.
The weakest among them possessed at least Elite Jōnin strength, the strongest reaching Kage-level, and some even exceeding that.
"Iwagakure has posted a five-hundred-million bounty on the Fifth Hokage, Uchiha Fugaku. I intend to take it," one voice said, its owner marked by rippling rings in his eyes.
It was Nagato, bearer of the Rinnegan.
"Assassinate Uchiha Fugaku? His strength is not trivial. Even two Kage-level members working together might fail to bring him down," another sneered—a man with earrings shaped like magatama.
Orochimaru. He had joined Akatsuki with the hidden ambition of seizing the Rinnegan. He had already clashed with Fugaku once… and had been defeated, captured even.
Yes, Fugaku's Sharingan was a natural nemesis against someone like him, whose soul was fragile. But that only underscored how overwhelming Fugaku's strength truly was.
"To be praised as strong even by the great Orochimaru—Uchiha Fugaku must indeed be formidable," said another, shark-faced and carrying a bandaged greatsword on his back.
This was Hoshigaki Kisame, the newest recruit to the Akatsuki.
"His Mangekyō Sharingan restrains me too severely. Any mission involving him—I will not accept," Orochimaru said at last, unease flickering in his tone. Fugaku was far too dangerous. During their previous fight, Orochimaru had even suspected Fugaku hadn't used his full power.
This time, he would refuse outright.
"Hmph. To lose once and be left without even the courage to fight again… The famed Orochimaru is nothing more than this?" a hunched, elderly voice mocked.
It was Sasori of the Red Sand, the S-rank rogue of Sunagakure.
Orochimaru's gaze turned on him, sharp and poisonous. Then, with a cold smile, he replied:
"If you're so confident, why don't you take the mission?"
"I planned to. I'm crafting a new puppet, after all. Fugaku's corpse would be perfect material," Sasori sneered.
"No. This time I'll be the one to act," Nagato cut in, shaking his head. "Once he's dead, I'll bring you his body."
From the intelligence he'd gathered, Fugaku was exceptionally dangerous. Even "Uchiha Madara" had once suffered a loss at his hands.
Nagato would not risk failure. To be safe, he would strike personally.
"Pain?" Konan, the flower-haired woman at his side, looked at him with both surprise and worry. She too knew of Fugaku's victory over "Madara."
"Don't worry, Konan. I am invincible," Nagato said, brimming with godlike confidence. With the legendary Rinnegan—the eyes of the Sage of Six Paths—he believed no one could oppose him.
Days later, deep within the Land of Fire, at a hidden Akatsuki outpost.
Konan wheeled Nagato forward—her blue-violet hair pinned with a light flower, her lips marked with a piercing. His body was thin and frail, red hair framing the rippling Rinnegan in his eyes, black rods jutting from his limbs.
Behind him followed six figures, each bearing Rinnegan and the same black receivers. They were the Six Paths of Pain.
Nagato had come here because distance limited his control over the Paths. From Ame, he could not direct them deep into the Land of Fire.
"Begin."
Nagato's voice was cold.
At once, the Six Paths vanished, speeding toward Konohagakure.
It would have been ideal to ambush Fugaku outside the village. But as Hokage, Fugaku rarely left. Waiting for another chance could take forever.
And Nagato, secure in his own godhood, decided to strike Konoha directly and take Fugaku's life there.
In the Hokage's office in Konoha.
"Any movements from Iwagakure recently?" Fugaku asked a shinobi of the Intelligence Division.
Ever since returning, he had ordered them to monitor Iwagakure closely. After all, the village had lost a Jinchūriki and over a thousand soldiers at its border stronghold. Surely they would not stay silent.
"None. Iwagakure has made no moves," the shinobi reported.
"No moves at all?!" Fugaku frowned, unsettled.
By all logic, they should not simply swallow such losses. And yet it was as though the death of the Five-Tails' host and the destruction of their forces had never happened.
"…Strange," he muttered, dismissing the shinobi.
The office door closed—only to swing open again. This time it was not the same ninja, but Fugaku's first spore clone, disguised as Uchiha Shisui, whom Fugaku had installed as ANBU Commander.
"One clone has confirmed it—Nagato's Six Paths have appeared within the Land of Fire. They're moving toward Konoha."
Fugaku's eyes sharpened.
Nagato. Few in the shinobi world knew his true power. But Fugaku did. Nagato had reached a level beyond Kage—super-Kage.
That his Six Paths were now marching on Konoha was a grave crisis.
"Toward Konoha? Could it be for the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki?" he wondered.
"No… Uzumaki Naruto isn't here. With Akatsuki's intelligence, they can't not know that."
So why attack now?
Then, suddenly, it clicked. Iwagakure. Their deep ties with Akatsuki. Their silence after losing the Five-Tails. Could it be they had commissioned this strike?
Perhaps they had paid a heavy price to hire Nagato—targeting Konoha, or perhaps him personally.
The more he thought about it, the more sense it made.
"So the day has come sooner than expected…"
Fugaku's expression hardened. Long ago, he had foreseen this inevitable clash with Nagato. Their paths could only end in battle.
He just hadn't expected it to come so quickly.
"…But now I possess the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan. I will not face him without power."
Rinnegan or not, Nagato could not wield them at full potential—they were not truly his. Fugaku's Eternal Mangekyō, though of a lesser tier, was his own, and he could draw out every ounce of its might.
In terms of strength, he was not convinced he stood beneath Nagato.
"Still… the battlefield cannot be within Konoha. If I and Nagato fight here, the destruction will surpass even a rampaging tailed beast. The village would be devastated."
"No. I must intercept him before he arrives."
Fugaku rose, summoning an ANBU shinobi.
"From this moment, raise the village to Level-One alert. Evacuate all civilians into the underground shelters. Every shinobi must prepare for battle."
The ANBU stared, stunned at the sudden order.
"Reliable intelligence confirms a powerful enemy is approaching. Inform the clans immediately," Fugaku said, cutting off questions. Time was too short for explanations.