Having made his decision, Uchiha Fugaku immediately arranged for the surgery.
Before long, Clone No. 3 of the Spore Body successfully received the Rinnegan transplant.
After a few days, the Rinnegan completely fused with the clone.
Unable to contain his eagerness, Fugaku brought Clone No. 3 through a dimensional exile and appeared on a remote island.
"Begin," Fugaku ordered, floating in midair.
"Yes."
The Spore Clone responded and looked down at the island below. Extending both hands toward it, he shouted:
"Shinra Tensei!"
An overwhelming invisible repulsive force descended in waves, hammering the island relentlessly.
Boom—!
It was as if a nuclear bomb had detonated; the terrifying power erupted across the island, unleashing catastrophic destruction.
Crack—crack—crack!
The once lush island was stripped bare in an instant.
Not only that, but enormous spiderweb-like fissures spread across its surface.
The surrounding seawater was driven back by the violent displacement of air, forming a deep depression before surging back in, stirring up towering waves.
"Asura Path—Mechanical Armor!"
Without stopping, a mechanical arm sprouted from the clone's shoulder. The arm unfolded, revealing a cannon barrel.
A dazzling white light gathered at its tip, then fired—
Pshh!
The beam pierced straight through the island, carving a massive, bottomless crater into the earth, dark as ink, like a hungry abyss.
Pshh! Pshh! Pshh!
The cannon fired multiple times, and one after another, gigantic holes appeared across the island.
Crack—!
Already weakened by the earlier Shinra Tensei, the island was like a cracked porcelain plate. Now, under this onslaught, it could no longer hold.
Fissures raced outward in all directions until the entire landmass shattered and collapsed like a pile of blocks, sinking into the sea and vanishing without a trace.
Only then did the Spore Clone stop.
"The Rinnegan's power is even greater than Nagato's," Fugaku remarked with satisfaction as he gazed down at the now-vanished island.
He had fought Nagato before and understood his strength well. The destructive power the clone just unleashed far exceeded Nagato's.
Just as he had predicted, the Spore Clone was a better match for the Rinnegan, able to draw out its full potential.
"Try using Limbo: Border Jail," Fugaku instructed.
The clone obeyed, activating the Rinnegan's hidden technique.
But nothing happened. After a moment, he shook his head.
"I can't use Limbo: Border Jail."
"As expected."
Fugaku wasn't disappointed. Nagato couldn't use Limbo either; only the Rinnegan's original owner, Uchiha Madara, ever could.
Though the Spore Clone's synchronization was better than Nagato's, it still wasn't at the level of the Sage of Six Paths—thus incapable of invoking Limbo.
"That's enough testing for now."
With a flicker of spatial energy, Fugaku took the clone and vanished.
A few hours later, a passing fishing boat came across the vanished island—and the crew looked on as if they had seen a ghost.
…
Later, Fugaku traveled to the moon to use the Ten-Tails' chakra and create more Spore Clones.
Their number soon exceeded ten thousand, and Fugaku stopped production. That was more than enough to monitor the entire ninja world—there was no need for more.
Back in the Hokage's office, Fugaku sat reviewing documents.
After knocking, Uzuki Yugao entered and reported,
"Lord Hokage, in the past few days, government officials in the Land of Fire have been repeatedly assassinated. So far, dozens have been killed."
"Dozens of officials in just a few days?"
Fugaku stopped reading and looked up, his expression turning serious.
This was no small matter.
Though most government officials were ordinary people, they were essential to the Land of Fire's administration. Without them, the country's affairs would fall into chaos.
If these assassinations triggered mass panic among officials, the entire nation's order could crumble.
"I recall that most officials are guarded by samurai, and higher-level ones have ninja bodyguards."
"Yes," Yugao confirmed.
"So, were the assassins stronger than the guards, or did the guards simply fail to detect them?" Fugaku asked.
"The samurai and ninja didn't notice the assassins' infiltration. By the time they found the bodies, the killers were already gone," Yugao replied.
"To evade detection by trained samurai and ninja—these assassins are no ordinary killers. Either their strength far surpasses that of their guards, or they specialize in infiltration."
"I believe it's the latter," Yugao said.
"Investigations show that before their deaths, more than a dozen of the assassinated officials had met with their trusted aides or family members."
"Those aides and relatives vanished right after the murders. We suspect the assassins disguised themselves as them—the real ones were likely killed and replaced."
"Even the ninja bodyguards couldn't see through the disguises, including a Hyuga branch jōnin with the Byakugan."
"A Hyuga jōnin couldn't see through it?"
Fugaku's eyes narrowed—he already knew the answer.
The only ones capable of fooling the Byakugan's perception were the White Zetsu clones.
Though Akatsuki's high-ranking members had been wiped out, many White Zetsu still lingered. Their assault on the Land of Fire's officials was clearly an act of revenge against Konoha—after all, most of Akatsuki's elite died at Konoha's hands.
He voiced his conclusion:
"The assassins are surviving White Zetsu from Akatsuki."
"White Zetsu? Lord Hokage, what makes you so sure?" Yugao asked.
"White Zetsu may not be powerful, but they possess a transformation technique called the Art of Impersonation. It perfectly mimics scent and chakra signatures—even the Byakugan and Sharingan can't see through it."
Yugao frowned. "Then how can we expose them?"
"In today's ninja world, only one person can detect that jutsu. Summon Lord Jiraiya," Fugaku ordered.
Though puzzled, Yugao obeyed and soon returned with Jiraiya.
After hearing the situation, Jiraiya frowned. "If it's truly as you say, then even Sage Mode's sensory abilities won't work. I can't help you there."
"I know," Fugaku replied calmly. "That's why I need you to summon Naruto back. As the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki, he's the only one capable of detecting them."
"Naruto can do that?" Jiraiya asked in surprise.
"The Nine-Tails has the ability to sense malice. As its host, Naruto can use that ability once he draws upon the fox's power."
"The Nine-Tails can sense malice?" Jiraiya murmured, realization dawning—but then concern followed.
"Even so, Naruto hasn't yet mastered the Nine-Tails' power."
"That won't be an issue," Fugaku said evenly. "I'll make sure the Nine-Tails cooperates."
"…Alright, I'll summon him then."
Jiraiya performed the summoning technique, calling forth Fukasaku, who in turn used reverse summoning—
Poof!
In a cloud of smoke, Uzumaki Naruto appeared.
He looked around in confusion. "Ero-sennin? Old man? Did I just get sent back to Konoha?"
"Yes, you're back," Jiraiya said. "We called you because we need your help."
"My help? With what?" Naruto asked.
"It's something only you can do—but before that, the one inside you needs to behave," Fugaku said.
As he spoke, his eyes transformed into six-tomoe Rinnegan, focusing on Naruto's abdomen.
Whoosh—
His consciousness entered the sealed space where a massive, nine-tailed fox loomed behind iron bars—Kurama, the Nine-Tails.
"Get out!"
Sensing the intrusion, Kurama roared in fury, unleashing a flood of malevolent chakra toward Fugaku.
"Hmph."
Fugaku merely glanced at him—
And that single look shattered the raging chakra. Kurama's eyes widened in shock.
As the mightiest of the Tailed Beasts, he was proud and defiant—but not fearless.
"Those eyes… the Rinnegan? You have the same eyes as the Sage of Six Paths. Who are you?"
Kurama could feel the same overwhelming aura—the power was nearly on par with the Sage himself.
"I am the Fifth Hokage," Fugaku said, his tone authoritative. "I need your cooperation."
"What… do you want?"
Though bristling at the commanding tone, Kurama dared not show defiance. No matter how strong he was, he couldn't match this man.
"I need to use your ability to sense malice. Cooperate with the boy outside—teach him to use that power."
"You've got to be kidding! You expect me to work with that brat—"
Kurama snarled, his pride wounded. Helping this man was one thing, but taking orders to assist a mere child? Unthinkable.
But when he met Fugaku's cold gaze, the words died in his throat.
"…Fine. It's not impossible," he muttered.
"I'll hold you to that," Fugaku said, giving him a final, piercing look before withdrawing his consciousness from the seal.
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