Chapter 123: The Battle Between Uchiha and Hyuga!

Uchiha Fugaku had effortlessly subdued the three Hyuga guards and was preparing to stride into the Hyuga clan's territory when the sharp sound of projectiles cutting through the air pierced the night.

Three kunai flew out from the darkness, aimed at Fugaku's calf and thigh.

Reacting instantly, Fugaku reactivated his Sharingan at the sound. He swiftly reached into his ninja pouch, pulled out a single shuriken, and hurled it toward the incoming kunai. The spinning shuriken struck one of the kunai mid-air, deflecting it. The shuriken and kunai ricocheted in opposite directions, colliding with the remaining kunai in quick succession.

The clinking of metal echoed as all three kunai and Fugaku's shuriken clattered harmlessly to the ground. Fugaku stood still, his Sharingan gleaming as he fixed his gaze on the shadows ahead, alert for further threats.

"Konoha's No. 1 noble clan, Uchiha?" a voice sneered from the shadows. "I can't just let that go."

Two figures stepped into the light. One was the Hyuga ninja who had left earlier to report. The other bore an uncanny resemblance to Hiashi Hyuga, except for the green curse mark on his forehead, visible without a headband.

"Hiashi? No... you're Hizashi," Fugaku realized, narrowing his eyes. Recognizing the Caged Bird Seal on the man's forehead, Fugaku immediately identified him as Hiashi's twin brother.

"Hmph! Let's see if the Uchiha clan deserves its claim as Konoha's No. 1 noble clan!" Hizashi declared. Without hesitation, he unleashed a powerful air palm strike. The force, as strong as a Wind Release jutsu, surged toward Fugaku.

"Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!" Fugaku quickly formed hand signs and released a fireball, meeting Hizashi's air palm mid-air. The resulting explosion lit up the night, scattering embers in all directions.

Before the flames could fully dissipate, Hizashi burst through them, unharmed. His chakra-coated body deflected the remnants of the flames as he closed the distance to Fugaku in an instant. Hizashi's palm strike aimed directly for Fugaku's chest.

Fugaku, relying on his Sharingan, saw the attack coming and raised his arms to block. The two engaged in a ferocious close-quarters battle, exchanging strikes with incredible speed.

"So, he passed through the flames unscathed. Is it the chakra enveloping his body?" Uzumaki Raiden observed from a distance, Kagura's Mind Eye active. He noted the thin layer of chakra surrounding Hizashi, which absorbed and weakened Fugaku's attacks. This defensive technique allowed Hizashi to trade blows effectively, landing several strikes on Fugaku's body.

After a series of hits, Fugaku's chakra flow became disrupted, and his movements faltered. Hizashi's technique intrigued Raiden.

"Hizashi is approaching a rudimentary version of chakra armor," Raiden thought. "With further refinement and elemental nature transformations, it could rival the Cloud's Lightning Armor. Is this derived from a variation of Rotation, or a secret Hyuga jutsu?"

Realizing his disadvantage in close combat, Fugaku leaped back to create distance. He hurled a volley of shuriken toward Hizashi and immediately followed up with a jutsu.

"Fire Style: Flame Dragon Bullet!" Fugaku roared, forming hand signs. A massive, fiery dragon surged toward Hizashi, combining with the shuriken to create a devastating assault.

The fiery onslaught illuminated the battlefield, drawing the attention of nearby Hyuga clan members. Hizashi, however, remained unfazed. As the flames closed in, he muttered with disdain, "Is this all the Uchiha can do?"

When the fiery dragon and shuriken struck, Hizashi unleashed a powerful counter.

"Eight Trigrams Palm: Rotation!" he shouted. A rotating chakra barrier erupted around him, deflecting Fugaku's attack. The shurikens and flames dissipated harmlessly, leaving a scorched, circular crater around Hizashi.

"Impressive, Hyuga clan," Raiden said, clapping lightly as he stepped into view. "Your strength truly stands out."

Raiden addressed Hizashi with a calm smile. "You're Hiashi's brother, Hizashi. While this isn't our first meeting, allow me to introduce myself. I'm Uzumaki Raiden, a friend of Hiashi's. This is Uchiha Fugaku, and we're here on important business with your brother."

Raiden's sudden appearance startled both Fugaku and Hizashi. Neither had detected him approaching, despite their exceptional sensory abilities. Hizashi's Byakugan and Fugaku's Sharingan had completely missed Raiden's movements.

"This guy... how is he this fast?" both men thought simultaneously, silently acknowledging Raiden's prowess.

"Hiashi has already been informed. I'm here to escort you," Hizashi finally said, his tone less confrontational but still sharp. However, he cast a cold glare at Fugaku before turning away.

Fugaku clenched his fists, tempted to retaliate, but Raiden placed a firm hand on his shoulder.

"Enough. There's time for sparring later," Raiden said firmly. His chakra flared momentarily, cracking the ground beneath him. The sheer force silenced both Fugaku and the observing Hyuga clan members.

"Fine, Captain Raiden," Fugaku relented, shoving his hands into his pockets with a wry grin.

Hizashi led the way into the Hyuga estate, and Fugaku followed, dispelling the genjutsu on the three guards as they passed. The freed guards, though regaining their senses, remained visibly shaken.

(End of this chapter)