Chapter 247 : Fugaku: My teeth are so uncomfortable!
Land of Fire, Eastern Front.
Ever since Uchiha Fugaku led a group of Clan Member to provide support, the Hidden Mist's offensive was quickly curbed, forcing them to entrench themselves in the already occupied treacherous terrain, waiting for an opportunity.
But even so, they were not idle, launching several probing attacks from time to time, like a poisonous snake lurking in the thick fog—sinister, cunning, and deadly… Eastern Front, Konoha Outpost.
Moist, cold air poured into the tent from the door flap, and even the papers on the table were wrinkled at the edges from the dampness.
Fugaku had just finished arranging for a small number of wounded and deceased Clan Member to return to the village, and he sat in his chair, sighing irritably.
The Uchiha were always best at Fire Release, and fighting against Kirigakure Ninja who were adept at Water Release Ninjutsu meant they couldn't exploit any elemental advantage.
Moreover, the Sharingan's penetrative ability was limited, and its ability to observe Chakra flow was far inferior to the Byakugan.
Once Kirigakure Ninja mixed a large amount of Chakra into Water Release: Hidden Mist Technique to create interference, even a Three-Tomoe Sharingan would find it difficult to detect the enemy's traces.
These disadvantages, combined, caused the Uchiha to be frequently constrained in battle.
Furthermore, whenever a battle occurred, the Clan Member always charged to the front, and over time, casualties became particularly severe.
If not for a sufficient supply of healing talismans, the number of casualties would likely have doubled.
Although the Inuzuka, Aburame, and Hyuga clans were willing to provide support and compensate for the Uchiha's lack of reconnaissance capabilities, their other battlefronts also desperately needed manpower, resulting in a very limited number of Ninja they could send.
For the current situation on the entire Eastern Front, it was merely a drop in the bucket.
Not to mention that the Eastern Front's Strategist Nara, Nara Shikaku, had long been forced to assign these Ninja with significant reconnaissance abilities to the most critical strongholds.
Including the Uchiha Clan, the vast majority of combat units could only rely on a small number of ordinary Sensing Ninja, and their own heroic and tenacious fighting spirit.
"Clan Leader!"
Uchiha Fūyō, responsible for security, rushed in to report: "Strategist Nara received news that two Konoha squads operating on Yunbai Mountain to the south were attacked by the Hidden Mist…"
Before Fūyō could finish, Fugaku instantly understood what the enemy intended, slamming his hand on the table and rising: "They are still trying to cut off our supply lines!"
As for how this line was exposed, he didn't have time to ponder for now; he grabbed his combat gear and headed out.
With manpower stretched thin, it was time for him, the Clan Leader, to join the fray.
It was then that Fūyō caught up and finished his sentence: "…Naraku is already on his way to Yunbai Mountain."
Hearing this, Fugaku paused, then turned to Fūyō, asking with a hint of confusion, "Isn't he still on another mission?"
Fūyō explained with a helpless expression: "When the news arrived, he had just finished reporting to Strategist Nara, so—"
"Sigh, never mind. You go to your post first."
"Yes, Clan Leader."
Putting down his gear, Fugaku walked back to the table and sat down in his chair again.
He wanted to look at the documents again, but he couldn't bring himself to focus.
The Eastern Front's fighting strength had always been stretched thin, and Nara Shikaku was someone who meticulously valued every bit of combat power.
Since someone capable of dealing with the Kirigakure Ninja had already gone, he would not allow Uchiha Fugaku to go into battle; he would certainly make the latter guard the outpost in case of an emergency.
Originally, Fugaku had thought that when Naraku returned this time, he would let him stay at the outpost to rest for a couple of days, so he wouldn't have to fight so intensely everywhere.
Who knew that plans couldn't keep up with changes? He hadn't even seen Naraku's face, and the boy had already rushed off to the battlefield again, completely disregarding how worried his old father was.
Even now, Fugaku still worried about Naraku's health, always fearing that the bloodline limit sickness might suddenly flare up at some point, taking the life of his beloved child.
If possible, he didn't even want to bring Naraku to the Eastern Front.
But why not?
Why could other Ninja face danger, but his child could not?
Why did ordinary Uchiha Clan Member have to fight on the front lines, while only his son could live a leisurely and stable life in the rear?
Who were the parents, siblings, or children of those Uchiha who died on the battlefield?
They could all face death unflinchingly for the clan and Konoha; as the Clan Leader's child, Naraku should even more so lead by example.
Furthermore, Naraku was the Uchiha's only Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan user, and his combat power ranked among the highest even among all Konoha Ninja.
So when Naraku first made this request, even with a myriad of reluctance in his heart, Fugaku still nodded in agreement.
But while Fugaku was anxious and uneasy about this, he also felt a sense of pride, marveling that Naraku was indeed of Uchiha blood.
—No matter what lies ahead, as an Uchiha, one must never yield!
This dignity and pride supported the clan, passed down from the war-torn Sengoku period of several centuries to the present, and helped him survive Danzo's extermination attempts.
Now, it has forged the glory belonging to the "Scarlet Hunter."
Those blood-red pupils that glowed brightly in the vast mist, the raging inferno capable of incinerating mountains, fields, and clouds, and the precise and ruthless hunting methods inherited from the white fang and the Uchiha… all brought an indelible terror to the Kirigakure Ninja who had crossed the sea.
Thus, they began to call Naraku "Scarlet Hunter," meaning "the Scarlet Hunter."
Almost everything about this title made Fugaku proud; his only dissatisfaction was that "Scarlet Hunter" seemed to correspond too closely to Hatake Kakashi's "sōgari."
For some reason, whenever he saw Naraku, and all he could think of was Kakashi, he would feel inexplicably annoyed.
He admitted that the son of the white fang indeed held an irreplaceable position in Naraku's growth, but it shouldn't be to this extent, should it?
The Uchiha's most precious Dōjutsu Power (Pupil Power) was shared without a second thought; the healing talismans specially made over many days and nights were given away.
He didn't even eat breakfast with him, his own father, insisting on going to find that brat… Fugaku muttered to himself unconsciously, angrily crumpling the document pages… Yunbai Mountain.
Thick, moist white mist enveloped the entire peak; every breath felt like cold water pouring into the lungs, making breathing difficult.
The mask not only failed to provide any protection but made breathing even harder as the fabric became soaked.
"How in the world did those Kirigakure guys find out about this line!?"
An Uchiha wearing a Konoha forehead protector dodged a barrage of water arrows, wiping away the blood scraped from his face.
Visibility was too low; relying solely on eyesight, he couldn't even tell which direction the enemy was in.
Out of desperation, he activated his One-Tomoe Sharingan to try and observe his surroundings, hoping to see something.
However, the Kirigakure Ninja, who had frequently clashed with the Uchiha recently, had already anticipated this; the mist was permeated with interfering Chakra, blocking the Sharingan's vision.
He cursed under his breath: "Damn it! It's still like this!"
"Save your energy," his teammate, who was leaning against a large tree with him and had activated Sensing Ninjutsu, grumbled, "It's been so long, why do you still have this naive hope that Kirigakure Ninja won't target you Uchiha?"
"Mind your own business! I was just trying, what's wrong with that—"
"Shh!" His companion suddenly motioned for him to be silent, "There's movement!"
Before he finished speaking, several piercing shrieks of water streams cut through the air from above.
Water Release: Water Fang Bullet!
Both quickly dodged to the side, narrowly escaping the attack range.
And the giant tree, which had just been a source of security, was instantly torn into a pile of fragments by the sharp spikes and swirling currents of the Water Fang Bullet.
⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯
Read Ahead & Support
Read up to 650 chapters ahead with daily updates at 02radnovel.com
Connect & Updates:
(Twitter) • x.com/02IsmetHQ
Instagram • instagram.com/02novelofficial
⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯