"My Susanoo…"
Uchiha Fugaku's eyes widened in disbelief as the colossal form of his Susanoo crumbled beneath him, collapsing into shards of dissipating chakra.
"Susanoo…"
Even Uchiha Itachi wore an expression of shock.
He had never imagined that Senju Haruto, using nothing more than Wood Release in combination with Lightning Release, could destroy his father's Susanoo so easily.
And from start to finish, Haruto had moved with calm composure—no signs of strain, no tension of facing a deadly enemy.
"When did Haruto master such terrifying Lightning Release?" Itachi thought, looking up at the man above. He clearly remembered that when Haruto fought Danzō, he hadn't used Lightning Release a single time.
Even the ninjutsu he had displayed then were all basic C-rank techniques—only amplified to absurd scales by his overwhelming chakra reserves.
"Just how many trump cards are you hiding, Haruto?"
Itachi's brows furrowed. The more he saw, the deeper and more unfathomable Haruto became in his eyes.
But the fight between Haruto and Fugaku wasn't over yet.
The power of Haruto's Zanpakutō had merely shattered Fugaku's Susanoo.
Bang!
A thunderous crack erupted under Haruto's feet. The shoulder of his wooden giant shattered into splinters from the force, but Haruto's body shot forward like a bolt of lightning.
Before Fugaku could react, an immense pressure gripped his throat.
Only then did Fugaku's Mangekyō catch sight of Haruto's hand, fingers locked tightly around his neck.
Though the Mangekyō Sharingan was formidable, it was not omnipotent—faced with such blinding speed, even its vision could fail to track an opponent.
The wooden giant collapsed in a deafening crash. The victor was decided; Haruto no longer needed to waste chakra maintaining it.
"Not good!"
Below, Itachi cursed under his breath and instantly summoned his own Susanoo, its armored arms shielding him from the rain of Wood Release debris.
Meanwhile, Haruto gripped Fugaku and slammed him toward the ground.
BOOM!
The impact exploded across the battlefield, sending clouds of dust billowing upward.
Invisible shockwaves rippled outward, hurling the shattered remains of the wooden construct in all directions.
Fugaku's back smashed into the earth, gouging a massive crater.
Agonizing pain surged through every nerve—he felt as though every bone in his body had splintered. Standing up, let alone fighting Haruto again, was impossible.
"Huuh…"
Haruto exhaled slowly, releasing Fugaku's throat, his gaze sweeping over the ruin of Wood Release around them.
Thump. Thump.
Itachi's Susanoo smashed aside debris, opening a path as he rushed to his father's side.
"Father!"
Dispelling the spectral warrior, Itachi knelt, checking Fugaku's injuries.
"Even you… You truly are my son…" Fugaku rasped, forcing the words past broken breath.
Among the Uchiha, most couldn't even awaken the Mangekyō, let alone manifest Susanoo. Seeing his son wield it freely filled Fugaku with deep, if pained, pride.
"Promise me something…"
Summoning what strength remained, Fugaku turned his head toward Itachi, a faint, gentle smile on his lips.
"Father…"
Itachi leaned closer, half-kneeling, as if hearing a final request.
"Promise me… take care of Sasuke…" Fugaku's trembling hand reached for Itachi's face, but fell short.
"Kh–khm."
Just then, Haruto cleared his throat. While father and son spoke, he had already used his Byakugan to scan Fugaku's condition: six broken ribs, fractures in the right arm and left leg, and varying degrees of internal injury.
Severe, but far from fatal.
And in this state, Fugaku was in no shape to stage a coup.
In fact, even reaching Naka Shrine on his own would be impossible.
"You're not going to die," Haruto said evenly. "But you'll need treatment at the hospital."
To his surprise, Fugaku gave a faint shake of his head.
He gazed up at the darkening sky, where the first stars glimmered into view.
"This is enough…" Fugaku's voice was firm.
Even now, he couldn't let go of his clan to stand wholly with the village. And with his true strength now exposed, he knew Konoha's leadership would never let him be.
Death would be his release.
"Sasuke… and Mikoto… I leave them to you," Fugaku told Itachi, then turned his eyes to Haruto. "Kill me, and this coup ends."
"The Uchiha may have lost their way, but they haven't lost all reason. Without the clan's strongest to lead them, they won't dare move recklessly."
"Take my body… to Naka Shrine…"
"Uzumaki Naruto is there as well…"
His breathing grew rapid, his body weaker by the second. This, he believed, was the only way left.
"How interesting," Haruto murmured, shaking his head.
He crouched, bringing two fingers together, and jabbed several precise points on Fugaku's body.
Itachi moved to intervene—only for Haruto to cut him off.
"He's not dead. I've sealed several of his tenketsu."
Straightening, Haruto continued, "I will stop this coup. And I will dismantle the village's long-standing mistrust and exclusion of the Uchiha, so that your clan can regain its place here."
"But I need a list—every name involved in this coup."
His tone darkened. "Call it a deal, or call it an order—it makes no difference. The Senju and the Uchiha built this village together. There's no need to end that legacy like this."
With that, Haruto flicked a kunai into the dirt beside Fugaku's left hand.
Because of the tenketsu strike, Fugaku's hand was regaining movement—he could end himself if he wished.
This was as far as Haruto would go. He could force Fugaku to live, but in truth, his value was less than Itachi's.
If Fugaku still chose death after hearing him out, Haruto would not stop him.
"Father…"
Itachi's gaze flicked to the kunai, his chest tightening.
He knew—this was Haruto's test.
Would Fugaku choose the village… or the clan?
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