Chapter 24: The Scorched Earth Chase
Akatsurugi soon discovered, however, that the route was blocked by a large contingent of Iwagakure shinobi. On reflection, it made sense. This area was close to both Iwa and Suna territories. It was the presence of Kiri shinobi here that was truly anomalous.
If the Hidden Mist wanted to attack Konoha, shouldn't they approach through the Land of Whirlpools or the Land of Hot Springs? Coming all the way to the Land of Rain was perplexing.
But that wasn't Akatsurugi's immediate concern. With the Iwa ninja blocking the direct border crossing, he had no choice but to detour.
The path through the Land of Grass was his only viable option.
He traveled cautiously, moving only under the cover of night. His prudence paid off; so far, he had remained undetected.
Uchiha Kagami, having nearly recovered his strength, also noted the increased Iwa presence and the sealed border. He arrived at the same conclusion as his student and turned towards the Land of Grass.
His luck, however, was far worse than Akatsurugi's. He was spotted by Iwagakure's Jōnin, Kitsuchi. A disciple of the First Tsuchikage and a contemporary of the Second, Kitsuchi was a formidable shinobi in his own right, an elite Jōnin with unparalleled mastery of Earth Release.
He mobilized a squad and gave chase.
Kitsuchi was surprised to have stumbled upon such a high-value target. Uchiha Kagami was a senior Konoha official, though his political power within the Leaf was known to be minimal. Still, the name "Uchiha" held a particular fascination—and obsession—for both the Second and Third Tsuchikage.
Kagami found himself harried by a relentless, scorched-earth pursuit. A one-on-one fight wouldn't have concerned him, but Kitsuchi had brought several other Iwa Jōnin. A direct confrontation would be even more perilous than his fight with the Swordsmen. More puzzling was why Iwa had suddenly locked down this region. Were they preparing for an offensive against Konoha?
He had no way of knowing the truth: the Second Tsuchikage was maneuvering to eliminate the Second Mizukage. The two Kage held a bitter grudge dating back to the Warring States Period. Intelligence indicated the Second Mizukage was operating covertly within the Land of Rain, and the Second Tsuchikage had mobilized a significant force to trap him there permanently.
Unbeknownst to both Iwa and Kiri, their respective leaders, the Second Tsuchikage and the Second Mizukage, had already killed each other in a separate, climactic battle.
Akatsurugi, navigating by night towards the Land of Grass, maintained his stealth. His caution had served him well so far.
Uchiha Kagami had no such luxury. He was hunted openly, his flight a constant struggle. Only his immense skill had allowed him to evade capture this long. Even so, he bore several wounds, and Kitsuchi's pursuit was dogged, intent on running him to ground.
"Lord Kitsuchi! Terrible news!" an Iwa ninja suddenly stammered, having just received a summons. "The Second Tsuchikage... has fallen!"
"What?!" Kitsuchi froze, his chase forgotten. He grabbed the messenger by his flak jacket. "Say that again!"
The Iwa ninja repeated the grim report. The Second's disciple, Ōnoki, had succeeded him as the Third Tsuchikage.
"Damn it! Who killed him?!" Kitsuchi roared.
The messenger shook his head helplessly. The summons contained only the barest facts; the circumstances of the Second's death were unknown.
Kitsuchi glared in the direction Uchiha Kagami had fled. With a frustrated snort, he made his decision. This was not the time. "Fall back!" he ordered his team, leading them in a swift retreat.
From a distance, Uchiha Kagami watched them leave and finally allowed himself to relax. If they had pressed on, he would have been forced to use his Mangekyō again.
I wonder how Akatsurugi is faring, he thought with a sigh. This mission had been fraught with too many variables, leaving him feeling powerless. He could only hope Akatsurugi had managed to reach the border.
As Akatsurugi neared the Land of Grass border, his luck ran out. Despite his caution, an Iwa patrol spotted him.
Just my luck! he cursed internally.
The situation was dire. Iwa ninja seemed to be everywhere. His only option was to run.
He was being pursued by an elite team led by a Jōnin—veteran, powerful, and coordinated. A single misstep meant death.
Knowing this was a battle for survival, Akatsurugi pushed his body to its limits. He moved like a wraith through the mountainous forests, his steps light and swift, blending with the shadows. But the pursuing team was equally adept. They closed the distance relentlessly, their familiarity with the terrain allowing them to anticipate his routes and cut off his avenues of escape.
As he ran, Akatsurugi's mind raced for a solution. He had to shake them off, or it was only a matter of time.
If caught, he would face a full squad: one Jōnin, three Special Jōnin, and six Chūnin. Against such a coordinated, conventional military unit, his chances were slim.
Suddenly, he detected movement ahead. His heart sank. Don't tell me my luck is this bad. Running into another Iwa squad now would be the end.
Then, in the gloom, he caught a flash of crimson.
"Sharingan?!" he blurted out. Was there another Uchiha on this battlefield?
A moment later, he recognized the figure. It was his teacher.
But the forces pursuing Uchiha Kagami were visibly more formidable than his own pursuers.
Akatsurugi's face twitched. He was about to veer away. Meeting up would only drag his teacher down into his own mess.
"Akatsurugi!"
Uchiha Kagami's voice cut through the night, calling him over.
Akatsurugi halted his turn and sprinted towards his teacher instead. If Sensei was calling him, he had a plan. Akatsurugi had to trust that.
The moment they converged, the three tomoe in Uchiha Kagami's eyes spun wildly, morphing into the distinct pinwheel pattern. A luminous, golden, half-formed skeleton erupted around them, encasing them both.
Akatsurugi's eyes widened. Holy shit! He really did awaken the Mangekyō!
The key question now was: could Susano'o save them? Even in its earliest, most skeletal stage, it was a power beyond most shinobi's comprehension.