Chapter 156: Mangekyō Sharingan

Rōshi slammed his feet into the ground, leaving behind two molten footprints seared into the earth by lava.

In the next instant, he was in front of the Uchiha Clan Head.

"So fast," the Clan Head muttered, his expression grave. His Three Tomoe Sharingan spun rapidly as he assessed the threat.

Knowing he couldn't confront Rōshi head-on in his Half-Tailed Beast form, the Clan Head focused on dodging.

"Uncle!" Fugaku shouted, charging toward Rōshi to provide support.

Meanwhile, the Konoha and Iwa Ninjas were locked in a fierce battle.

In terms of quality, the Konoha army, bolstered by a significant number of Uchiha clan members, maintained a slight advantage. Ōnoki's forces were stretched thin, leaving Rōshi without sufficient elite support.

With the Uchiha's Sharingan in play, the Iwa Ninjas struggled. Not only did they have trouble landing hits on their opponents, but they were also vulnerable to falling into Genjutsu traps.

Despite his overwhelming strength, Rōshi's fists couldn't connect with the Uchiha Clan Head. The constant dodging, coupled with Fugaku's well-timed sneak attacks, began to frustrate him.

What Rōshi failed to notice was the growing strain on the Uchiha Clan Head. The Sharingan's power demanded a significant amount of chakra, and under the pressure of Rōshi's relentless attacks, his reserves were rapidly depleting.

The Clan Head's movements became increasingly taxing. He could see through Rōshi's Lava Release but had no means to counter it effectively.

"What a troublesome ability," Rōshi muttered hoarsely, his voice muffled by the crimson chakra enveloping his face.

Pausing after another missed strike, he took a moment to survey the battlefield. Iwa's casualties were mounting, and Konoha's forces continued to press their advantage.

"There's no time to waste," Rōshi growled.

Bang!

He landed a heavy punch, sending Fugaku flying to the side. As Rōshi prepared to escalate, his Tailed Beast cloak faded, and his body became fully enveloped in molten lava.

Lava Release Chakra Mode!

"Flame Assault!"

Covered in lava, Rōshi lunged at the Uchiha Clan Head with incredible speed.

The Clan Head immediately noticed Rōshi's enhanced speed. Though still within the range of his Sharingan's vision, each movement required far more effort to avoid.

He narrowly dodged the first punch, but the lava-coated fist grazed his sleeve, igniting it instantly. There wasn't even time to extinguish the flames.

Rōshi smirked, wasting no time as he launched a second assault.

This strike was even faster. The Clan Head managed to evade it once more, but not without cost—his right cheek was scorched, leaving a deep, searing red mark.

"Why is it getting faster and faster?"

The Uchiha Clan Head could already sense that something was wrong. His body was nearing its limit.

Is this the power of a Tailed Beast? Even holding it back is so difficult. I can't imagine how Lord Madara controlled the Nine-Tails. What kind of power is that, to make it bend to his will?

"Uncle, quickly dodge!"

Fugaku's eyes widened in fear as he watched Rōshi's third assault. The terrifying increase in speed turned Rōshi into a blur in his vision.

He moved to help, hoping to block the attack alongside his uncle.

"Don't come over!" the Uchiha Clan Head shouted. There was no way he could evade the third punch.

Summoning the last of his chakra, he condensed it into his arms, crossing them in front of his body to brace for impact.

Crack!

The sound of bone breaking echoed in the air. Rōshi's punch sent the Uchiha Clan Head flying.

His body bent painfully, resembling a shrimp, as he coughed up a violent mouthful of blood mid-air.

Bang!

He crashed into the iron wall, rebounding off it before collapsing to the ground. He lay there motionless, unable to rise.

"Do you want to be buried with him?" Rōshi asked, turning his gaze toward Fugaku, who was rushing toward him. A trace of blood glistened at the corner of Rōshi's mouth, but his eyes radiated cold contempt.

"Die," Fugaku had lost control. Tears mixed with blood streamed down his face as he lunged at Rōshi, throwing a punch aimed at his head.

"You're overestimating yourself." Rōshi didn't flinch, countering with an equally unadorned punch.

Bang!

Fugaku was sent flying backward.

Attempting to match a Tailed Beast's raw strength was futile, and the outcome was exactly as expected.

Despite the impact, Fugaku clawed his way back to his feet. His right fist was scorched and dripping blood, but it seemed he couldn't feel the pain.

Without hesitation, he turned and ran toward his fallen uncle.

"Uncle,"

Fugaku Uchiha crouched down to lift his uncle, feeling his faint breathing. Tears began to stream down his face as he sobbed uncontrollably.

"Go... go quickly," the Uchiha Clan Head rasped, forcing the words from his throat with urgency.

"Lava Release: Flower–Fruit Mountain!"

Rōshi showed no regard for their grief. He slammed his hands onto the ground, and golden-red lava erupted, surging toward Fugaku at terrifying speed.

"Die, all of you," Rōshi declared coldly.

The Uchiha Clan Head's eyes widened as he took in the sight of the lava advancing toward them.

"Go!!!"

Using the last of his strength, he pushed Fugaku out of harm's way.

Boom!!!

The lava reached the Uchiha Clan Head's position and exploded, engulfing him in a fiery eruption of molten gold and red.

"Uncle!!!"

Fugaku's voice cracked as he watched his uncle disappear into the searing inferno. His body was reduced to ashes before his eyes.

Fugaku's emotions collapsed entirely. The scarlet Three Tomoe Sharingan in his eyes began to spin violently, each tomoe deforming as they elongated and connected.

The intense pain coursing through his head forced him to shut his eyes tightly. Blood and tears streamed down his cheeks, mixing as they fell.

When the pain subsided, a chilling sensation emerged from his eyes. Fugaku opened them abruptly, revealing a new power.

Within his scarlet pupils, the original Three Tomoe Sharingan had transformed into a pair of Mangekyō Sharingan. The tomoe had shifted into a boomerang shape, surrounded by three additional tomoe.

Fugaku had awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan, but it came at a price he never wanted to pay.

He stared deeply into the still-raging lava where his uncle had vanished. Then, his transformed gaze shifted toward Rōshi.

The ferocity in Fugaku's new eyes made Rōshi shudder.

"That, that..."

Son Gokū's voice echoed within Rōshi, filled with unease. This wasn't what he remembered.

That man, the one who once released him, had dismissed him as weak but another had captured him, trapping him in a human host and beginning his tormented existence.

"What's what?" Rōshi impatiently interrupted Son Gokū's thoughts.

"Amaterasu!" Fugaku's left eye flared with power as a surge of chakra poured into it. In the next instant, Rōshi was engulfed in black flames.

It seems all three generations of the Uchiha Clan could wield Amaterasu, making it a signature family technique.

"Ahhh...!"

Rōshi screamed in agony as the black flames consumed him. Even his Lava Release armor offered no protection against the relentless fire.

Son Gokū roared in shared pain from within the seal.

As Rōshi collapsed to the ground, the black flames intensified, feeding on the chakra emanating from his body.

Meanwhile, blood streamed from Fugaku's left eye, and overwhelming dizziness took hold of him. He staggered, his vision failing, before his body gave out completely. His eyes closed as he fell unconscious to the ground.

"Young Clan Head!"

"Young Clan Head!"

Both the Iwa Ninjas and Konoha Ninjas turned their attention to the fierce battle.

The Uchiha clan members quickly rushed to Fugaku, lifting his unconscious body and retreating from the battlefield.

One Iwa Ninja, attempting to extinguish the black flames consuming Rōshi, was immediately incinerated.

Finally, an Iwa Ninja adept in sealing techniques stepped forward. With great effort, they managed to seal the black flames, leaving Rōshi unconscious and severely injured on the ground.