"I know, and I'm not a Hyuga ninja."
Hyuga Mirai lifted the rescued Uchiha boy and examined him. The boy had awakened his Sharingan due to the emotional shock of witnessing his mother's death—his left eye bore a single tomoe, while his right had two. However, as he hadn't attended the academy or learned to condense chakra, he fainted immediately after activating his eyes.
"The Uchiha's talent is truly unreasonable. A child who hasn't even trained in chakra can awaken a two-tomoe Sharingan. Don't you think he should thank you, Itachi?"
Mirai smirked as he asked, "If he enrolls in the academy, he might surpass even you as a genius—all thanks to your 'help'." If killing his mother counted as help.
Uchiha Itachi's expression darkened. Recalling classified ANBU documents, he coldly demanded, "Hyuga Mirai, why are you in the Uchiha compound?"
"I was commissioned by the Keikou Trade Association to protect and evacuate Uchiha survivors. Unfortunately, I arrived too late—you'd already slaughtered so many."
Using his Byakugan, Mirai saw that Itachi had killed over a hundred Uchiha in this area alone. Among the dead bodies in another battlefield lay members of the police force, including Uchiha Yashiro, whom Mirai knew well.
"Enough. Your 'noble work' ends here!"
In an instant, Mirai gathered chakra in his left palm and unleashed a devastating strike toward Itachi. The sheer force felt like a collapsing mountain, leaving Itachi no time to react, much less use his Crow Clone Technique.
"Susanoo!"
Itachi hastily activated his Mangekyo Sharingan's third ability, barely forming a skeletal ribcage and arm before the shockwave struck.
BOOM!
The impact obliterated Itachi and the building beneath him, sending debris flying as the deafening explosion echoed across half the Uchiha district.
Mirai's Sage Mode-enhanced Vacuum Palm could flatten a mountain. He had checked with his Byakugan—no living souls were in the blast radius.
For dealing with insanity, fists worked better than words.
"Shadow Clone Jutsu."
Two clones appeared beside him. One took the unconscious Uchiha boy, while the other organized rescue efforts for the surviving non-combatant Uchiha.
"Impressive. Surviving my Vacuum Palm puts you in a league of your own in Konoha."
Mirai clapped mockingly as his Byakugan spotted Itachi crawling from the rubble.
Pushing aside debris with his Susanoo, Itachi coughed blood before standing. His expression turned grave as he reassessed Mirai.
Classified ANBU files had never mentioned such monstrous strength.
'This traitor allied with the Uchiha would become a dire threat to Konoha. He must die here.'
Itachi's confidence stemmed from his Mangekyo's ultimate genjutsu and fire jutsu. His tomoe spun rapidly—black flames erupted where Mirai stood, only for him to vanish.
"Body Flicker? Impossible—!"
Even the Sharingan barely tracked Mirai's movement. Before Itachi could react, Mirai closed the distance.
'Susanoo won't form in time!'
Blood trickled from Itachi's overused eyes. Just as Mirai's strike neared, a hand grasped Itachi's shoulder.
BOOM!
The ground shattered into a crater dozens of meters wide, flattening nearby houses.
"Space-Time Ninjutsu? Perfect timing."
Mirai dusted his hands and smirked at the masked Obito. This man was a blessing—had he not interfered, Mirai's reputation would have suffered.
Obito's disguised voice asked, "As a Hyuga traitor, what brings you back to Konoha?"
"None of your concern, fellow Uchiha traitors."
Mirai formed hand signs. Under Sage chakra, inorganic matter beneath Obito and Itachi morphed into razor-sharp spikes.
Yet the spikes phased through Obito harmlessly.
"Space-Time Ninjutsu is such a nuisance—you and Minato both."
Mirai sighed. Obito's intangibility required five minutes of sustained attack (ten if he still had both Sharingan).
Obito released Itachi from Kamui.
"I'm in no condition to fight. Your intel failed to mention 'two' Mangekyo in the police force. Call reinforcements or I'm extracting you."
Though Obito's injuries spoke for themselves, Itachi noted the revelation about the second Mangekyo user.
"Half the police force and civilians survived. Tonight's operation failed."
"No. The Uchiha problem must end tonight, or Konoha will drown in war."
Obito's exposed eye narrowed. 'Just another pawn, like Nagato.'
"What's your plan then? I'll extract you if things go south."
"Root and ANBU."
Itachi launched a signal flare—the call for full mobilization.
He'd never intended to use it, but tonight's variables—an extra Mangekyo user and Mirai's overwhelming power—forced his hand.
At the flare, Root and ANBU at the Uchiha outskirts withdrew—not retreating, but regrouping.
The police hesitated. "A trap?"
"Unclear. We hold position."
A messenger arrived. "Captain, the clan head orders all available units back to the compound."
Meanwhile, in the Hokage's office, Koharu, Homura, and Danzo received ANBU's report.
Homura sighed. "So ANBU and Root must intervene."
Koharu agreed. "Even a genius can't solo the Uchiha Police. Not even Shisui could've managed it."
Homura turned to Danzo. "Handle this. We'll rally other clans if needed."
Danzo nodded and left with two Root operatives. Outside, he asked, "Where's the Nine-Tails jinchūriki?"
"Training ground behind the academy, Lord Danzo."
"Bring him. Something's amiss. The Nine-Tails may be necessary."
Shocked, the operative protested, "Unleashing the Nine-Tails is too dangerous! Kushina is nearby—"
Danzo cut him off. "I have full control. If Kushina interferes, eliminate her. Darkness nurtures true shinobi. Without Root, Konoha is but a rotting tree."
(End of Chapter)
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