Unsurprisingly, the numerous Sand ninja formed a tight encirclement around the Uchiha clan, clearly intending to annihilate them in a single sweep.
The disparity in strength was overwhelming.
Although every Uchiha present was at least jonin-level and individually formidable, facing a sustained human-wave assault meant their chakra reserves would inevitably be drained.
This confrontation held no suspense.
Under normal circumstances, the correct choice would have been to break through immediately and retreat back into the Land of Fire. Given the political situation, Manase could not openly dispatch troops across the border without risking the outbreak of another war.
That responsibility was not something he could bear.
However, the reality was grim.
All escape routes had already been severed, and they were deep within the Land of Rivers. Reinforcements were impossible. With no alternatives left, Uchiha Fugaku could only lead the remaining clansmen while fighting and retreating, desperately searching for a weakness in the encirclement.
But as the Sand ninja continued to converge, the net tightened further.
By the time they found temporary shelter, the original group of twenty had been reduced to twelve.
Inside a concealed cave in the Land of Rivers, Fugaku finally broke the silence.
"Can we still break out?" he asked quietly, his gaze sweeping over the exhausted faces around him.
No one answered.
Once an encirclement reached this stage, escaping was extraordinarily difficult. When the strength gap was this severe, the struggle of the trapped was little more than a delay before death.
Seeing the silence, Fugaku felt a wave of crushing self-blame.
If not for his stubborn insistence, they would never have fallen into this situation. His clansmen would not be standing in a place like this, waiting for their end.
Why had it come to this?
He did not know.
But suddenly, a figure surfaced in his thoughts.
Hayashi.
In the past, when facing him, Fugaku had followed his father's instructions and shown outward respect, yet inwardly he had always resisted.
How could he not?
He was only seventeen. Ambition and impatience were natural at that age.
After years of hearing comparisons to others, he had developed an unspoken defiance. Sometimes, Fugaku even believed that if their roles were reversed, he might not perform any worse than Hayashi.
He simply had not been given the opportunity.
His experiences at the Daimyo's residence had made him steadier and more cautious, but they had not quieted his unwillingness to remain ordinary. Instead, they had sharpened it.
He believed firmly that, given the chance, he could accomplish something extraordinary.
That belief was exactly why he had volunteered for this mission.
If Hayashi were here, Fugaku wondered, what choice would he make?
The answer came instinctively.
Hayashi would not hesitate. He would choose to sacrifice himself without a second thought.
As that realization settled, Fugaku's wavering finally ceased.
At that moment, Uchiha Hikari, the strongest among them, stood and spoke calmly.
"We will concentrate our strength on one point. No matter the cost, we must ensure the young clan head escapes."
The others either frowned or silently shook their heads, but none voiced opposition.
What alternative did they have?
If they abandoned Fugaku and fled together, even surviving would not spare them from punishment upon returning to the clan.
Fugaku straightened and stepped forward. He bowed deeply to everyone present.
"Please listen to me," he said solemnly. "This situation exists solely because of my impulsiveness as young clan head. I am still alive only because you protected me again and again."
"But I will not allow you to continue throwing away your lives for my sake."
He lifted his head, his eyes steady.
"From this moment on, everyone disperse and break out individually. Do not worry about me."
"Young clan head…"
Fugaku raised his hand, stopping them.
"I have thought this through. There is no need to persuade me."
He turned to Uchiha Hikari and bowed once more.
"Uncle Hikari. If I survive, then nothing more needs to be said. If I die, please tell my father that this was my decision alone. It has nothing to do with anyone else. He must not blame you."
Uchiha Hikari stared at him for a long moment before nodding heavily.
"I understand."
The others remained silent, yet inwardly, many felt a sense of release.
The Sand ninja were numerous, but their strength varied. Once the Uchiha scattered, the enemy would be forced to divide as well, greatly reducing the pressure on each individual.
At the very least, they would no longer face coordinated attacks from dozens at once.
As long as they focused on escape and avoided powerful opponents, survival was possible.
The cost, however, was clear.
Uchiha Fugaku would almost certainly die.
That was why no one had proposed this plan earlier.
Manase's true target had always been the young clan head.
As Sand ninja silhouettes appeared in the distance, Fugaku gave his final command.
"Prepare to break out. Disperse."
He moved deeper into the Land of Rivers while the others chose separate directions and vanished into the forest.
Not long after, a Sensor ninja knelt before Manase.
"Lord Manase, the enemy has split up."
"That choice surprises me," Manase replied with a faint smile. "Assign a small unit to pursue each one. If the opponent is too strong, disengage. Do not cross into the Land of Fire."
He paused briefly.
"The rest of you, come with me. We capture the Uchiha young clan head alive."
"Yes, sir!"
Five minutes later, Fugaku found himself completely surrounded.
He scanned the Sand ninja closing in, his expression turning grim as he tightened his grip on his kunai.
A Wind Release attack came screaming toward him.
He dodged, then flashed forward in a burst of speed, finally killing the ninja who had harassed him relentlessly.
But victory brought no relief.
Before dying, the enemy had carved a vicious wound into his leg.
Now, Fugaku bore two deep injuries, one across his back and another in his thigh. Blood dripped steadily onto the ground, each step sending sharp pain through his body.
Worse still, he had almost no chakra left.
He had deliberately avoided using ninjutsu to conserve energy, yet even so, his reserves were nearly exhausted.
Unwillingness flooded his chest.
He was only seventeen.
He had not married, had no children, and had not led the Uchiha to greatness.
Fear pierced him, raw and overwhelming.
Then, without warning, that fear twisted into something else.
Rage.
It surged violently from his heart, uncontrollable.
A sharp pain stabbed into his eyes. The Sharingan, which had been dormant, snapped open and began to spin violently.
When Fugaku looked again, the familiar two tomoe had transformed.
They had become three.