I Am Fugaku Uchiha

Fugaku, though not proud of his dominance over the five-tailed beast, reluctantly decided to retreat. He spread his wings, readying himself for takeoff, determined to put an end to the encounter.

"Five-Tail, I'm done playing with you!"

Onoki, having regrouped, prepared to strike, only to be left dumbfounded as he witnessed Fugaku's unexpected retreat. The move left both combatants at a loss for words, the battlefield frozen in a surreal moment.

Realization dawned on Fugaku; there was no point lingering any longer. He missed a decisive strike on Onoki, and even the formidable form of his Susano was not enough to guarantee victory.

As Fugaku soared into the sky, he sighed in contemplation. The need for a united team became evident; his solo might wasn't sufficient. His trump cards remained hidden, as revealing them served no purpose in this situation.

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No casualties marred this intense battle, yet the thrill lingered in the air, especially considering their Tsuchikage had come perilously close to losing his life.

The messengers from the Sand Village were left speechless by the unexpected turn of events, expecting the display of wit to boost their morale. Instead, it only heightened their apprehension.

The presence of a flying Kage-level ninja, accompanied by twelve elite Jonin and a formidable 5-tail Jinchuuriki, proved insufficient to thwart their opponent.

The Sand Ninjas, now faced with a challenge, found themselves at a loss. Their lack of a ninja capable of flight put them at a strategic disadvantage, prompting a need for a reevaluation of their approach.

Meanwhile, the Iwa ninjas diligently began the task of repairing the camp that had suffered destruction during the skirmish.

Tsuchikage Onoki's expression was solemn as he approached the thrown-away Jinchuuriki. Gazing at the man who had shed the cloak of the tailed beast, he inquired softly, "Han, are you alright?"

Han was a very tall man and heavily armored, wearing what is called steam armor with a furnace on the back that emits steam. He wore a white cloth, which also covered both sides of his face and the top of his head. Aside from his red armor, he also wore a red kasa (conical straw hat) over the white cloth, and it seems to be composed of the same material as his armor and furnace.

Han was recognized worldwide for his prowess with steam ninjutsu due to his war efforts and his speed in taijutsu.

Han's fighting style seemed to revolve around taijutsu. He covered his body in special armor with a furnace on his back that stores large amounts of steam, borrowed from Kokuō's Boil Release, the simultaneous mixture of fire and water-natured chakra, which boils Han's chakra to the highest temperature.

By regulating the amount and pressure of the steam, Han can severely magnify his physical strength and the force behind his physical attacks.

But just now he was actually punched away in Jinchūriki Transformations?

Despite his formidable strength, he admitted, "It's okay, but I didn't expect him to be stronger than me, and more importantly, I feel like he hasn't shown his cards yet!"

Han rose, brushing off the dust that clung to his body. Despite the slight swelling on his hooded face, it was gradually healing, a testament to the healing abilities granted by his status as a tailed beast.

Onoki, too, shared in the unease, expressing, "I'm glad you're here this time; it seems the war can only be prolonged."

Facing the overwhelming strength of Uchiha Fugaku, the Tsuchikage acknowledged the necessity of strategy to secure victory in this war.

Recognizing that no matter how strong one person may be, they are still alone, Han grappled with the reality that confronting Fugaku Solo was not an option.

The Five Tails Jinchuuriki, though unable to fully control the tailed beast, had strengthened their connection. In a pivotal moment, he had reached an understanding with the Tailed Beast, allowing it to take over temporarily.

However, the anticipated tailed-beast bomb was disrupted by an unexpected punch. Confused and battered, Han contemplated why the Five Tails within him hadn't dodged.

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As night slowly descended, a cold wind whispered past Fugaku's ears as he continued his flight. Despite the distance that now separated him from the battlefield, he couldn't shake off the lingering tension.

Fugaku let out a sigh of relief, questioning why he found it so challenging to handle an old man and a five-tailed. It didn't make sense to him.

Reflecting on his encounter, doubts crept into his mind. Why did it seem more formidable than facing Minato, who had defended against the Fourth Raikage and Killer B?

The perplexing nature of the struggle left Fugaku questioning whether it was the ability of the Flying Thunder God, Onoki's ability to fly, or perhaps a combination of both.

Bitterness filled Fugaku as he pondered the implications. If an old man and a Five-Tail could pose such a challenge, how would he fare against the formidable Otsutsuki clan in the future?

The prospect of them wreaking havoc on the world whenever they pleased weighed heavily on his thoughts. Were they truly the strongest beings with their unique physiques, eyes, and yin-yang powers?

Fugaku possessed the Mangekyo Sharingan, a formidable ability in its own right. Yet, as he flew through the darkening sky, doubts gnawed at him.

Despite his undeniable prowess, he couldn't shake the feeling that he fell short compared to the legendary strength of the first Hokage. It seemed almost ridiculous—with his exceptional eyes and physical abilities, he should theoretically be the strongest.

Contemplating the seemingly insurmountable strength of the first Hokage, who effortlessly dealt with Uchiha Madara and the Nine-Tails simultaneously, Fugaku couldn't help but feel a sense of discrepancy in his own abilities.

The missing piece of the puzzle became clear in his mind—sage mode. The first Hokage was a master of sage arts, a powerful technique that Fugaku had yet to tap into.

Recalling the diverse ninjutsu wielded by the first Hokage, such as the True Several Thousand Hands, the imposing Buddha Statue, and the ability to summon multiple Rashōmon gates, Fugaku recognized the pivotal role sage mode played in these techniques.

Sage mode was a transformative power that greatly enhanced one's strength, evident in the formidable abilities of Naruto and Jiraiya.

Fugaku, armed with wood release, delved into its intricacies during this period. He realized that wood release wasn't merely a bloodline limit resulting from the combination of earth and water; it also required yang energy.

His own physique had been shaped by yang energy, and he understood that chakra, a foreign energy, could fuse with sage mode, resulting in a qualitative change.

Contemplating his next move, Fugaku identified the three sacred places for learning sage mode: Shikkotsu Forest, Mount Myoboku, and Ryuchi Cave.

Although he had considered visiting one of them in the past, circumstances now compelled him to do so. Orochimaru, his enemy, left him little hope elsewhere, and Jiraiya had previously noted his lack of aptitude. Tsunade seemed to be his last option, but with the ongoing war, he had been unable to seek her assistance.

As Fugaku grappled with these thoughts, the elusive Tsunade loomed as a potential ally.

However, locating her proved to be a daunting task. With a growing headache, he returned to the camp, the midnight hour further cloaking the surroundings in darkness.

"Failed?" Shikaku's curiosity was piqued as he abandoned his precious rest time upon hearing the news of Fugaku's return.

Rushing to greet him, he observed Fugaku's expression with caution, prompting him to inquire about the outcome.

Fugaku settled down, accepting an offered glass of water before nodding helplessly. "This old geezer can not only fly by himself but also make his elite Jonin fly.

His strength is formidable, and with the added complication of a jinchuuriki aiding him, it became a bit tricky. Taking his head with a surprise attack wasn't as easy as I thought," he explained, his frustration evident.

"So, you've fought with them? Both the Tsuchikage and the 5-tails Jinchuuriki at the same time?" Shikaku questioned, his surprise evident in his expression.

The idea of facing both opponents simultaneously and returning unscathed left Shikaku astounded, even considering Fugaku's known strength.

Fugaku met Shikaku's gaze with a hint of amusement, aware of the disbelief. "Why do you look like that? What's so surprising about that? I'm ashamed to say it," he remarked, downplaying his achievements.