Whoosh—
Susanoo surged forward, chasing after the fifty or sixty Ōtsutsuki puppets that carried Hyūga Hanabi away.
Whoosh—
Sensing the pursuit, several puppets turned back. This time, only thirty or so flew toward Susanoo, taking the initiative to block its path.
But these were different from the ones before. Their craftsmanship was finer, their features distinct—almost humanlike.
They scattered like swarms of insects, attacking from every angle.
Some arms morphed into needle launchers, firing volleys of poisoned darts. Others revealed hidden weapons from their forearms. Still others unleashed glowing yellow spheres, stronger and more numerous than before.
Thud, thud, thud—
The needles and energy orbs struck Susanoo harmlessly. Their power wasn't nearly enough to pierce its defenses.
Controlling Susanoo, Fugaku manifested massive black swords in each hand.
Crash!
With a sweeping strike, several puppets were cleaved in half. A backhanded slash shattered more into pieces.
Others tried climbing onto Susanoo's back. Its wings snapped once—
Snap!
The puppets exploded like insects caught in a jet turbine.
One managed to latch on, its arm transforming into a buzzing chainsaw. Sparks flew as it hacked against Susanoo's armor, but the blade could do nothing.
Fugaku dismissed one sword, seized the puppet in Susanoo's giant hand, and crushed it into fragments.
After a short but brutal fight, Susanoo destroyed all thirty. Fugaku pressed onward.
But the trail vanished. As Fugaku frowned in suspicion, Inuzuka Hana spoke up:
"They landed in the forest ahead."
Susanoo descended, trees splintering under its massive weight. Dispelling the avatar, Fugaku and Hana used Body Flicker to pursue on foot.
They soon found a cave. Hana sniffed the air and nodded."They went inside."
Activating his Sharingan, Fugaku saw dozens of footprints leading deeper. Clearly, the puppets had abandoned flight and gone underground.
"You stay out here," Fugaku instructed. "Use signal flares to coordinate with the other squads. I'll take it from here."
"Yes!" Hana replied.
Fugaku vanished inside.
The cave opened into a vast chamber. No puppets. No exits. Only a pool of eerie, glowing water.
"They're under the water!"
Fugaku dove in, swimming downward. Passing through a translucent barrier, he entered another chamber—only to be hit by a genjutsu barrier.
"Release!"
His tomoe spun, instantly dispelling the illusion. To him, it was crude and laughably weak.
The chamber was filled with giant glowing bubbles, each with its own pool. Diving again, Fugaku broke through another membrane and emerged into a new space—this time, he saw the puppets.
One carried an unconscious girl. Hanabi.
It leapt toward the next pool.
Whoosh!
Fugaku flickered forward to intercept—
Shhh! Shhh! Shhh!
The other puppets unleashed a storm of yellow spheres, blocking his path. The one with Hanabi slipped into the glowing water.
"Wind Release: Vacuum Blade!"
Chakra infused his kunai, shaping it into a long azure sword.
He carved through the barrage, slicing down puppet after puppet, until only one stood in his way.
Clang!
His blade was blocked.
This puppet was different. Larger. Clad in black robes, a crescent moon etched on its hat. Its chakra-forged weapon met Fugaku's sword head-on.
This was the one Hyūga Hiashi had warned of—the puppet rivaling his own strength.
No time to waste.
"Shikotsumyaku: Bone Armor!"
Dense white bones erupted from Fugaku's body, forming a full-body exoskeleton of armor. He lunged forward, fist like a cannonball.
Boom!
The puppet sprouted two more arms, wielding four chakra-forged blades. They clashed—
Crack!
Fugaku's strength shattered the weapons like rotten wood. His bone-clad fist struck the puppet's chest.
Splatter!
It exploded into fragments, reduced to scrap in an instant. A foe Hiashi couldn't defeat, crushed by a single punch.
Fugaku dashed toward the pool—
Whoosh!
A figure materialized in his way.
Pale skin. Blue-white hair. Eyes shut tight. Ōtsutsuki Toneri.
Fugaku slid back, wary. Even without Tenseigan, Toneri still wielded formidable power.
"The Sage of Six Paths' descendant… I've seen you before."
Toneri spoke softly.
"Is that so? What an honor," Fugaku smirked, though his eyes stayed sharp.
"The first time, years ago—you fought a powerful foe. The second, just days ago—you fought another."
"You sure you can see me with your eyes closed?" Fugaku mocked.
"I have no eyes, but I see far clearer than most. Your kind has surpassed the limits of shinobi. You are calamities to this world…" Toneri shook his head.
Fugaku's heart tightened. He's stalling.
In a flash, he struck Toneri—his fist passed through harmlessly.
A projection. Even the chakra signature was convincing enough to fool the Sharingan.
No time to waste. Fugaku dove into the pool, racing through chamber after chamber until—
He found it.
The puppet still clutching Hanabi, preparing to dive again.
Whoosh!
Before it could leap, Fugaku appeared. His hand clamped down, twisting the puppet's arm until it snapped. With the other, he pulled Hanabi free.
One kick sent the puppet shattering into debris.