Chapter 178: Onoki Baited Fugaku
As Fugaku closed his eyes, Kurotsuchi, sensing something, looked away. After all, he was an Uchiha, and staring at the Sharingan could spell disaster.
But as soon as he averted his gaze, a distant voice echoed, breaking the tense moment: "Kurotsuchi, move!"
Perplexed, Kurotsuchi instinctively looked up, only to lock eyes with a dart-shaped crimson eye adorned with three small dots—the ominous Sharingan!
It was Fugaku hurtling towards him with astonishing speed. Could his flight speed match his father's? And using his fists?
While Kurotsuchi possessed the ability to fly through ninjutsu, his speed was no match for Fugaku's. Luckily, they had been roughly 100 meters apart, affording him a fleeting opportunity to escape to the ground.
As he swiftly descended, Kurotsuchi sensed an unsettling change. His flight speed seemed to be slowing down, and in the blink of an eye, Fugaku's fist closed in on him.
“Earth Style: Rock Fist!” Kurotsuchi shouted, bypassing the need for hand seals. His arm coated in thick rock, he retaliated with a powerful punch.
Fugaku, soaring at a rapid seventy meters above the ground, swiftly caught up with Kurotsuchi's attempted escape. Unleashing the same earth rock fist technique, the two fists collided, sending shockwaves reverberating through the air.
The impact injured him, prompting a groan from Kurotsuchi. Fugaku, having landed a hit, gracefully soared back to a hundred meters above ground.
At that moment, several kunai armed with explosive tags erupted in a fiery display.
“How dare you hurt my son!!” Onoki's furious voice echoed from the other side as he ascended into the air.
Without hesitation, Onoki made a hand sign. Before Kurotsuchi could descend, he hurtled towards Fugaku.
Summoning a Chidori, Fugaku, under the influence of his Sharingan, effortlessly smashed through the incoming attack. His Sharingan eyes, filled with surprise, observed Kurotsuchi, who had fallen.
Two flying Onokis? One is rescuing Kurotsuchi while the other attacks him. Was it an Earth clone? Fugaku couldn't discern the real one, prompting a slight frown as he flew back.
Aware that his previous punch hadn't struck Kurotsuchi's vital spot, Fugaku acknowledged the fleeting impact caused by his left eye's spatial confinement.
Yet, it barely slowed him down. In the aerial skirmish, Kurotsuchi deftly wrapped his fist in rock, using the falling momentum to minimize the impact.
A short, elderly man dressed in the Hidden Stone Village's distinct style, featuring a red cloth on his upper body and a separate green strip on his lower body, followed Fugaku closely.
With no time for contemplation, Fugaku's Sharingan focused on the flying Onoki. In an instant, lightning flashed in his right hand.
“Chidori: Sharp Spear!!” The sharp spear impaled the attacking Onoki, transforming him into a rock that plummeted to the ground.
At that moment, Fugaku spotted Onoki ascending and was immediately on high alert.
“Dust release: Particle Style!” Onoki declared, folding and slowly separating his hands, conjuring a cube of light between them. Simultaneously, a larger cube materialized at his location.
“Wow!! It’s so dangerous. If I get hit by that technique, I’m afraid I’ll be done for!!” Fugaku's Sharingan marveled at the swirling dust in his place.
Dust release is a rare and powerful nature transformation that combines earth, wind, and fire. It was created by the Second Tsuchikage, Mu, who taught it to his successor, Onoki, the Third Tsuchikage.
Dust Release allows the user to create a small object out of chakra that can disintegrate anything it touches on a molecular level. The shape and size of the object can be changed according to the user’s preference.
This formidable jutsu was considered one of the deadliest in the Naruto universe, capable even of breaking through Madara's Susanoo.
As Fugaku had known, encountering this technique seemed challenging. One way was to interrupt the caster before activation, and the other involved escaping with abilities like Kamui or Flying Thunder God, similar to Sasuke's rescue by Obito.
Onoki, not burdened by the back pain of later years, showcased his strength, surpassing even Rasa. He could fly, possessed formidable attack power, and held extensive battlefield experience dating back to the First Shinobi World War.
The only apparent advantage Fugaku had was in taijutsu, but their matched aerial speed prevented any close-quarters combat.
Increasing speed with Eight Gates was out of the question, as it relied on finding a foothold on the ground. It was a technique designed for terrestrial movement, not airborne combat.
As for genjutsu, Fugaku dismissed the notion. The fast-paced aerial engagement and the considerable distance made eye contact impossible. Moreover, attempting genjutsu on a seasoned Tsuchikage seemed futile.
It seemed that Fugaku had to enhance the spatial confinement with more force using his left eye. With a sigh, he closed his left eye while soaring through the air, preparing to engage Onoki with guerrilla tactics.
He understood the importance of keeping his trump cards hidden until the opportune moment. Revealing his secrets prematurely would diminish their effectiveness.
Yet, compared to the risk of exposing his techniques, the prospect of eliminating Onoki with his seal technique was deemed more valuable.
His decision to prioritize Onoki over Rasa stemmed from the inflexibility and stubbornness exhibited by the Kages of the Land of Earth and the Land of Lightning.
Convincing them to retreat was futile due to the contrasting mindsets between the younger generation and these seasoned leaders. There was a substantial communication gap.
Amid his thoughts, Fugaku noticed Onoki flying towards the ground, piquing his curiosity. However, he quickly grasped Onoki's strategy, realizing the older ninja was attempting to lure him in.
Did Onoki believe he would take the bait? Fugaku was not that naive. Furthermore, engaging in a direct confrontation with Onoki was unnecessary.
But leaving empty-handed after coming this far didn't sit well with Fugaku. Even if he chose not to chase Onoki, he wouldn't gain a significant advantage in an aerial battle. Determination surged within him, dispelling any fear.
Without hesitation, four shadow clones materialized, each equipped with wings, creating a spectacular sight.
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