In the dense forest, more than ten figures were making their way through the terrain.
Their formation was a standard protective formation.
Two in the very front, three each on the left and right wings, and five at the rear—
Thirteen in total forming a tight protective circle around the person in the center.
The one being protected in the center was tall and slender none other than Shimura Daisuke, who had left the village to travel to the Daimyo's estate to attend the Harvest Festival.
"Please don't encounter them… absolutely don't encounter them…"
Though heavily guarded, an unease still gnawed at Shimura Daisuke's heart.
And that unease grew stronger the further they moved away from Konoha.
He remained alert to his surroundings, tensing at even the slightest rustle. Unconsciously, his back was soaked with cold sweat.
Rustle!
To the left, the leaves of a tree suddenly shook violently, as if something was hiding within the dense foliage.
His body tensed sharply, focusing his guard on the tree.
Whoosh!
A skilled Anbu from Root flicked his right hand, sending four shuriken flying into the thick leaves.
"Chirp—"
A monkey screeched as it fell from the tree, pierced by a shuriken.
It rolled on the ground a few times before falling still.
"It's just a monkey."
Relieved to confirm it was nothing but a monkey, Shimura Daisuke exhaled and waved for the group to continue moving.
After they left, a face slowly emerged from the bark of a nearby tree, appearing carved from wood itself.
It was an extremely pale face with gray-green hair and yellow, non-human eyes.
This was one of the many clones of White Zetsu.
"The fact that someone is impersonating me and destroyed a village really irritates Uchiha Obito in the Hidden Mist Village," Zetsu muttered silently. He urged the clones to quickly find the imposter.
Thus, Zetsu had dispatched even more investigation clones.
"Not sure if they will appear!" White Zetsu murmured.
According to speculation, the one impersonating Uchiha Obito was likely targeting the Konoha ninja who had left the village.
Because of this, Zetsu sent many White Zetsu clones to track the ninjas leaving the village.
He was one of those clones, assigned to tail Shimura Daisuke and his party.
"Kimimaro's Technique!"
Activating a jutsu that merged his body seamlessly with the earth and foliage, he moved silently but swiftly, chasing after Shimura Daisuke's group.
Several hours later, after a long period of intense focus while traveling, Shimura Daisuke and the others were growing fatigued.
"Let's take a break!"
Shimura Daisuke knew they could not keep pushing forward or else exhaustion would cause mental lapses and weaken their fighting ability.
Though reluctant to pause midway, he gave the order.
The group of over ten stopped in a relatively open area of the forest, drinking water, eating rations, and restoring their strength and stamina.
Snap—
Suddenly, the sound of a dry branch breaking echoed.
Everyone immediately tensed, their eyes turning toward the direction of the sound.
A few dense trees blocked their view; the noise had come from just beyond those trees.
Snap—
Another dry branch cracked, and faint footsteps could be heard.
Their keen hearing discerned the sounds as human footsteps, not those of an animal.
Beyond those trees was a person, not an animal.
"Who's there…?" Shimura Daisuke shouted loudly.
As if responding, a figure stepped out from behind a tree.
It was a figure clad in a black cloak adorned with red clouds, wearing a spiral mask that covered the face except for the right eye.
In that right eye, a faint red glow was visible but quickly faded.
"A Wood Release Kekkei Genkai ninja…"
Shock registered on Shimura Daisuke's face.
His breathing grew heavier, his heart raced, and his legs trembled slightly without his control.
The Shimura clan members guarding him felt similarly—some even worse off.
Only the Root ninja assigned to protect him, having endured rigorous, even brutal training, remained relatively composed despite the formidable foe.
"So many protecting you… you must be quite a big fish!"
Uchiha Fugaku, disguised as Uchiha Obito, cast a mocking glance at Shimura Daisuke and altered his voice.
"Among all the ninjas leaving the village, why… why do you single me out?"
Shimura Daisuke's face darkened with anger and frustration.
He had known the ninjas leaving the village might be targeted by the Wood Release Kekkei Genkai ninja and had planned to stay in the village recently.
But under pressure from Danzo, he had reluctantly left.
He never expected his luck to be this bad—to actually run into the enemy.
"…"
Uchiha Fugaku didn't answer, only emitting a cold, sinister laugh as he advanced step by step toward Shimura Daisuke.
The reason was obvious: Shimura Daisuke was the head of the Shimura clan, an enemy of the Uchiha family.
"Stop him!"
Seeing the Wood Release Kekkei Genkai ninja advancing with a cold smile, Shimura Daisuke knew they would never be spared.
He ordered his companions:
Since they had encountered the enemy, their only option was to escape.
The others must hold off the Wood Release Kekkei Genkai ninja and buy time for his retreat.
"Yes."
Hearing his command, the elite Root ninja sent to protect him—though aware of the opponent's strength—stepped forward to confront him.
The Shimura clan members following hesitated.
They knew if they did this, their chance of survival was slim.
"If I survive and escape, your families will be taken care of."
Seeing their hesitation, Shimura Daisuke hastily promised.
"Don't forget your lord's promise!"
At these words, the Shimura members gritted their teeth and charged toward the Wood Release Kekkei Genkai ninja.
Since survival was unlikely, they might as well fight to secure a better compensation for their families.
Whoosh!
With the others engaging the Wood Release Kekkei Genkai ninja, Shimura Daisuke turned and fled without hesitation, soon disappearing into the woods.
Uchiha Fugaku did not give chase, instead turning his gaze to the more than ten who had surrounded him with the determination to die.
"Opening the Sixth Gate, Keimon!"
Green chakra enveloped Uchiha Fugaku as green flames burst forth around him.
"Peacock Dance—"
Facing the ten attackers charging at him, he unleashed a rapid series of punches into the air.
Huff, huff, huff!
His super-fast fists sliced through the air, generating flames.
One fiery fist after another took shape, like a peacock fanning its feathers, striking the attackers.
"Ah! Ah! Ah—"
Several agonized screams rang out simultaneously as multiple people were caught off guard and hit by the flaming fists.
The impacted areas were burned black, and the victims were hurled backward like torn sacks.
Centered on the strike points, bones shattered and collapsed like rocks hammered by a mallet.
They spat out mouthfuls of blood, collapsed weakly to the ground, unable to move.