"Fire Release: Great Fire Wall Technique!"
In the blink of an eye, Uchiha Setsuna formed the necessary hand signs with fluid precision, and a towering wall of flames erupted around him. The flames twisted and coiled into a solid barrier, almost like molten iron, shielding him from incoming attacks. This Fire Release Ninjutsu was primarily defensive, designed not to attack but to absorb and mitigate incoming force. Its defensive power wasn't invincible, but it provided Setsuna with just enough buffer to prepare his next move.
"Bang!"
The Adamantine Staff slammed against the fire wall with thunderous force. Sparks and molten fragments of flame scattered in every direction. The wall let out a sharp, cracking sound as the impact passed through, and Setsuna was thrown backward with violent momentum. Dust and embers swirled around him as he rolled to regain his footing, already wiping a streak of blood from the corner of his mouth. Despite the pain, a savage grin curled across his lips.
"I really shouldn't have underestimated you," Setsuna muttered under his breath. "I was a little careless this time, but that ends now."
"Never be careless against any opponent," Sarutobi Sasuke said in a deep, heavy voice, his tone calm yet filled with weight. "It's not entirely your fault. It's a flaw common among the Uchiha. Every Uchiha I've met seems to carry the same arrogance—always looking down on others, assuming superiority."
Setsuna's eyes, crimson with the glow of the Sharingan, narrowed. "Alright. Playtime is over."
In a blink, he closed the distance between them, Kunai swinging in a blur of afterimages. Every movement was precise, fluid, and deadly. He had to engage Sasuke in close-quarters combat because the other man's mastery of Ninjutsu was terrifying. Sasuke's sheer versatility gave him the ability to counter almost any technique, leaving Setsuna no margin for error. Only in close range could he exploit weaknesses and strike before Sasuke could react.
Sasuke attempted to retreat, but Setsuna pressed in like a predator. His movements were relentless, unyielding, as though he had fused with the shadows themselves. No matter how fast Sasuke tried to create distance, Setsuna clung to him, slipping between attacks and closing any opening. The pressure was suffocating.
Sasuke's mind raced. With mastery over all five chakra natures, he could theoretically manipulate the battlefield and slowly wear down any opponent—but Setsuna's speed prevented him from even opening a gap. Every jutsu, every strategy was rendered useless. He was forced into reactive combat, unable to dictate the pace.
Then, a small distraction—a misstep, barely perceptible—was all Setsuna needed. With a swift, fluid motion, a Kunai slashed across Sasuke's chest, leaving a deep, bleeding wound.
"Do you look down on me that much?" Setsuna sneered. "You actually dared to get distracted while fighting me!"
The rhythm of battle shifted. Setsuna's movements grew more effortless, each strike flowing into the next like a deadly dance. Sasuke's defenses began to strain under the relentless assault, his reaction time stretched to the limit. Despite his legendary skill, every inch of ground was contested.
Sasuke did not speak. His only hope now was to endure, to wait for Konoha's reinforcements. If he could just hold out ten more minutes, the tide of battle might turn. But another wound tore across his side, making even that short wait seem insurmountable. Can I really survive this long? he thought grimly, blood blurring his vision.
Meanwhile, Nara Ryusei observed the battlefield from a nearby ridge. His mind worked frantically, analyzing Uchiha Hikari's movements, which had always seemed abnormal, calculating the intent behind every strike and every pause.
"You're trying to plant a spy near Sasuke, aren't you?" Ryusei muttered grimly, a bitter laugh escaping his lips. "By the time Konoha realizes what's happening, the Eastern Army will be completely exposed. Every secret, every tactical plan—gone. They'll be wiped out."
Ryusei's analysis was painfully accurate. To Uchiha Hikari, he was just a mouse, a small obstacle in her amusement. She toyed with him, stretching out her attacks and observing reactions, not striking lethally just yet. The moment she lost interest would be the end for him.
"People of the Nara Clan are indeed clever," Hikari said softly, her voice calm yet edged with amusement. "Whether in the Warring States Period or now, your minds are always sharp. Intelligence without action, though, is meaningless."
Ryusei's deductions had exceeded her expectations, but she had anticipated his cleverness. He had seen through the plan, as any Nara would. Yet knowing the truth didn't make him any stronger; in combat, knowledge without power is meaningless.
"It seems your story ends here," Hikari continued, her voice quiet and merciless. "What a pity. Smart people without strength rarely live long."
Ryusei tried to send a signal to Konoha, a last-ditch warning, but it was already too late. Uchiha Hikari's eyes flared, igniting her Mangekyo Sharingan.
"Amaterasu!"
Without warning, black flames engulfed Ryusei's body. His agility and reflexes were meaningless against this inescapable fire. Within moments, even his brilliant mind could no longer process the situation. He struggled, tried to resist, but the flames consumed him entirely. Ash drifted into the air, leaving nothing behind.
Hikari stood silently, her crimson eyes fixed on the battlefield. Her gaze shifted toward Sarutobi Sasuke, who had fled to regroup.
"Is Setsuna still not done?" she muttered, brow furrowing slightly. "What a useless waste of time…"
Back on the battlefield, Setsuna and Sarutobi Sasuke's duel reached its climax.
Sasuke's body was battered, blood streaming from multiple wounds, his vision spinning. Every breath was ragged. He could feel the lifeblood leaving him, weakening his focus and clouding his judgment.
"Let me out, or you'll be worn to death," Enma's anxious voice called from the Adamantine Staff, which had been his constant support.
Sasuke's mind wavered. Even a loyal and formidable ally like Enma was being rendered ineffective by the Tailed Beast Chakra bolstering Setsuna.
"Let me help…" Sasuke muttered, barely coherent, just as Enma tried to spring into action.
In an instant, the Tailed Beast tail behind Setsuna lashed out, striking Enma with corrosive acid. Even the adamantine body could not withstand the attack. The staff disintegrated into smoke, only to be recalled.
Sasuke felt trapped, stifled, and physically weakened from the immense blood loss. In the end, he could fight no longer. He collapsed onto the battlefield, unconscious, his body nearly broken.
Setsuna exhaled. The fight had lasted longer than expected. Though he had once belonged to Konoha, he had minimal intelligence on Sasuke's abilities beyond his position as the supreme commander of the Eastern Army. Sasuke had been notoriously low-key, even within the village.
With the battlefield secure, Setsuna retrieved a Signal Flare and fired it skyward. The dim clouds above erupted into a brilliant, guiding light—the prearranged signal to Uchiha Hikari, indicating that the operation had succeeded.
Without hesitation, Setsuna activated the Transformation Technique, reverting to the seemingly flighty Nishikawa Ōzora. The disguise was flawless. His excuse of scouting for the Shimoi Squad had taken just enough time to avoid suspicion, ensuring no one would notice anything amiss.
Cradling the unconscious Sarutobi Sasuke on his back, Setsuna sprinted toward the squad's position. His voice rang out, urgent and commanding: "Captain Shimoi! I found Lord Sarutobi!"
Soon, he came across Shimoi Miki and the squad.
"What happened to Lord Sarutobi? Quickly, get him to the Village for treatment!" Shimoi Miki exclaimed, horror flashing across her face as she saw the extent of his injuries.
Setsuna efficiently relayed the pre-prepared story, concise and believable. Without wasting a moment, the squad mobilized, lifting Sasuke carefully and rushing toward Konoha. Every second counted.
The plan had succeeded. The Eastern Army's field commander was incapacitated, Konoha's forces had been destabilized, and Uchiha Su's strategy had been executed to perfection.
Setsuna allowed himself a momentary sigh of relief. The battlefield, once chaotic and unpredictable, was now under control. Every move had gone according to plan.
Hikari would soon arrive to coordinate the next phase. With intelligence secured, key targets neutralized, and reinforcements temporarily delayed, the Hidden Mist's objectives were now within reach.
From the shadows, Uchiha Setsuna's crimson eyes glinted. Every detail had been calculated, every risk accounted for. The war had not ended—but the first decisive victory was complete.
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)