"Use this—specially made for you by the Keikou Trade Association."
First, Sasori cleared an area of trees using puppets, then took out a space capsule and directly summoned an anti-gravity airship.
"It can carry five hundred people. We'll depart once it's full. When will the rest arrive?"
Uchiha Hachida was stunned at the sudden appearance of the massive airship. What was this? How was it summoned? Did such a large sealing scroll exist?
"Hey, time's running short. Where are the next group of people?"
Sasori's shout snapped Uchiha Hachida out of his daze. Realizing it was time to evacuate the clan, he quickly replied, "We'll go fetch the next group now. Since we can't alert Konoha, we can only move this many at a time."
"You go ahead. I'll guard this place."
Sasori waved his hand dismissively and summoned twenty mechanical puppets. Even in the dim night, their metallic sheen glinted ominously, clearly indicating their formidable nature.
"With me here, even if all of Konoha's ANBU show up, not a single person will be harmed."
'A puppet master from the Sand Federation? But he seems different from the ones I've seen before...'
Uchiha Hachida silently noted the peculiarity but suppressed his curiosity. This man was their ally, after all.
"Then we'll leave it to you, friend from the Sand Federation."
With a bow of gratitude, Uchiha Hachida gathered the others and returned to the Uchiha district in Konoha to escort the next group.
He wasn't entirely trusting of Sasori, so among the civilians, he had hidden several Uchiha shinobi. If enemies appeared, they could handle them.
"Clan Head, Captain Tekka, a Root squad of twelve has been spotted southwest. They aren't approaching the district—likely just monitoring or setting up a barrier."
Another member of the Security Force reported the reconnaissance findings. The number of ANBU and Root operatives around the district was increasing. Some surveillance teams were no longer worth chasing away, so they only left a few clansmen to watch them in return.
But this Root squad had to be eliminated. Their position was too close to the evacuation route. If they noticed anything, the civilians would be in danger.
"Clan Head, let Captain Mikazuki take three squads and wipe out these rats."
Uchiha Tekka suggested to Fugaku. Whether for personal or public reasons, he didn't want to spare these Root members. After all, Sanmoku had been killed by Root assassins, and their location posed a direct threat to the civilians.
Uchiha Fugaku nodded in agreement. "Mikazuki, I leave it to you."
Uchiha Mikazuki gave a silent nod. Though reserved in nature, he was a reliable figure in the Security Force. Having awakened the Three Tomoe during the Third Shinobi World War, he was a powerful shinobi, though his lack of eloquence had kept him at the rank of squad leader.
With Mikazuki's departure, only forty members remained in the Security Force.
"Who goes there?!"
"Enemy attack!"
Suddenly, shouts of alarm erupted outside the Security Force headquarters. Fugaku, Tekka, and the others instantly shunshined through the open windows, followed by more clansmen.
Outside, they saw a masked, long-haired figure with only one eye visible standing before the Security Force gates.
Two guards lay dead at his feet. From the first shout to their arrival, barely ten seconds had passed, yet both guards had already been killed.
"Who are you? You don't seem like one of Konoha's."
Fugaku's voice was icy. The man's attire, mask, and weapons didn't match Konoha's shinobi.
"I'm just a nameless Uchiha ghost who remembers only vengeance. I was invited by Uchiha Itachi to help him exterminate this rotten clan. Though I see the Security Force still has some strength left—even after sending out so many squads."
Obito Uchiha's exposed Sharingan scanned the area. Over thirty Security Force members had gathered, likely drawn out by the commotion.
His gaze eventually settled on Fugaku. The only thing left to ascertain was his Mangekyo's ability. Three Tomoe posed little threat to him.
"Invited by Uchiha Itachi?!"
Tekka and the others paled at the masked man's words.
Fugaku's fury surged. "You dare try to sow discord? Do you think such a cheap trick will work?"
"Whether it's a trick or not, you've already made your judgment. In fact, he tasked me with dealing with the Security Force while he handles the civilians."
Obito swung the chain in his hand. In the silent night, the glow of distant fire jutsu painted the sky red. Yet the Security Force ignored everything else, dozens of Sharingan eyes locked onto Obito, demanding answers.
"Though the numbers are a bit high, I doubt ordinary civilians could stop Uchiha's so-called 'genius'..."
"What damn genius?!"
One enraged squad leader lunged at Obito, drawing a short sword that burst into flames mid-swing.
Some believed the masked man's words; others didn't. This impulsive clansman was among the former—and one of the dead gate guards had been his friend.
Whoosh!
The flaming blade passed harmlessly through Obito's body. The attacker froze—had he struck or not? There had been no resistance, as if slicing air.
"Impulse leads to death. Though your swordsmanship isn't bad..."
Obito's chain lashed out, looping around the man's neck. A sharp tug severed his head with a sickening crunch.
"Santai!!"
Another Security Force member, also a friend of the dead man, watched in horror. His two-tomoe Sharingan spun wildly, as if a third was about to form.
Obito flicked the blood off his chain. "Enough warm-up. Now, it's your turn..."
Kamui made him untouchable. With his own Mangekyo, only other Mangekyo-level genjutsu posed a threat.
This was why Obito dared to face the Security Force alone.
Thanks to the Security Force's warning, nearly all Uchiha civilians had received word of the potential evacuation.
None were asleep, instead waiting at home for further instructions.
Staying up late might delay tomorrow's work, but the Security Force's unusual seriousness unsettled them.
The elderly, drawing on decades of experience, sensed something amiss. Yet without connections to shinobi affairs, they had no way to uncover the truth.
In one home lived an elderly couple. Their son, a shinobi, had died in the war. The clan had helped the old man open a wagashi shop to support them.
The wife finished packing and scolded her husband, "Stop reading yesterday's paper and check if you've packed properly!"
The old man grumbled but set the paper aside. "No need to pack too much. Mikazuki said we'd be compensated for losses."
"Take as little as possible. Don't you know how much pressure the clan head is under? Go pack!"
Decades of marital dominance prevailed. With a sigh, the old man shuffled upstairs to gather more belongings.
Sighing, the wife went to the front room. Normally, she'd be open, serving snacks to patrolling clansmen. But lately...
Tap, tap...
Footsteps echoed in the silent night. She turned and smiled warmly.
"Itachi, still on duty this late? I have some dango left—"
Thunk!
A dagger pierced her heart. The old woman's face twisted in confusion before she collapsed, dead.
Thud.
The sound drew her husband downstairs. "What happened? Oh, Itachi, are you here for the Security For—"
Thunk!
The old couple died without understanding why.
"Next."
Itachi's expression remained blank as he moved to the next house—a fishmonger's family, then a florist's...
"All for the Uchiha. Our name must not be tainted by rebellion..."
(End of chapter.)
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