Chapter 113: Tailed Beast Ball
"Fugaku, you’re late. Why did you only arrive now?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen’s tone held a trace of blame as he struck the Nine-Tails’ massive claw with his staff.
Fugaku scoffed, launching a stream of Fire Style flames to keep the beast at bay.
"Ask your dear friend, that rabid dog Danzo. He blocked us at the edge of Uchiha territory, claiming we were planning a rebellion!"
To be honest, Fugaku had never thought highly of Hiruzen. In his eyes, Hiruzen and Danzo were cut from the same cloth—schemers hiding behind masks. The difference was that while Danzo made no effort to hide his ruthlessness, Hiruzen cloaked his intentions beneath a veil of so-called morality.
Hiruzen frowned. What is Danzo playing at now? Why target the Uchiha at a time like this?
He hadn’t yet learned that Danzo had already attacked Shisui and stolen his Mangekyō Sharingan.
"Fugaku," Hiruzen said, his voice more serious now, "what do you make of the Sharingan in the Nine-Tails’ eye?"
Fugaku shot him a sharp glare.
"Trying to pin this on us again? Do you really think we’d be stupid enough to launch an attack like this? If we were behind this, would I be standing here fighting the Nine-Tails with you under its claws?"
The two continued trading veiled barbs while doing their best to restrain the beast. Yet, despite their efforts, they were barely managing to hold the Nine-Tails at bay, let alone defeat it.