"No entry. Clan Leader's orders," the black-clad Uchiha said, unyielding even to the Sage of the Six Paths.
"Come on!" Uchiha Gin pleaded. With chaos outside, he couldn't leave Light alone at the institute.
"Persist, and I'll follow protocol," the guard warned, slowly drawing his blade.
"Let them in!" The mansion door swung open, revealing Tajima's weary wife.
"Auntie!" Gin darted over, grinning, then called to Light, "Come meet Auntie!"
Modern social savvy kicked in—he knew how to work a room.
Light approached the unfamiliar woman nervously. "Good evening, Clan Leader's wife."
"You're the Light Gin always talks about! No need for formalities—call me Auntie, like him," Tajima's wife said warmly, easily guessing their bond.
"Auntie, I won't stay," Gin said, declining her invitation inside after entrusting Light to her. "I'm heading to the front. I can help Uncle."
Before she could protest, he flashed Light a reassuring gesture and vanished into the night.
Hope I'm not too late. Sprinting through the streets, Gin prayed, his steps quickening, racing toward the clan gates.
A chilling killing intent halted him. His eyes locked on a corner ahead—danger lurked.
As expected, several blood-smeared strangers emerged, their faces twisted with bloodlust, not fear.
"Who are you?" Gin demanded, noting their odd appearance. Not Uchiha, they were enemies at this hour.
He gathered chakra, nerves taut, eyes turning crimson. Despite his institute life, Tajima's rigorous training kept his combat skills sharp.
"Haha, a kid!" The leader laughed, and the group closed in, fists raised.
"No mercy for enemies," Gin said coolly. His Sharingan gauged their strength—comparable to squad leaders, no pushovers.
Smiling brightly, he provoked their charge. Massive fists swung with crushing force toward the trapped boy.
"Kill him!" But inches from impact, their fists froze.
The leader's face flushed, straining, but his arm wouldn't budge.
Genjutsu: Sharingan.
Their bodies locked like lead. Gin cast another Sharingan genjutsu, knocking out all but the leader, then hypnotized him with pupil power.
The man stood dazed, awaiting orders.
"Who are you?" Gin asked.
"Kaguya clan ninjas," the man replied instantly.
Kaguya? Weren't they exiled to the Land of Water? Why attack here?
Gin smelled a plot.
"Your goal?"
"Seize the Uchiha grounds, capture key members," the man answered.
They aimed to overrun the base and take hostages. Gin's calm shattered.
"How many of you? Who's leading?" With most Uchiha forces lured away, the grounds were vulnerable. A successful raid could be catastrophic.
"Eighty infiltrated, led by Elder Kaguya Soisuke."
Eighty elite Kaguya—formidable for a stealth mission.
"Where'd they go?" Gin pressed.
"Granary, armory, storage, institute, and clan leader's residence."
The list hit like a chill. Those were the Uchiha's lifelines, especially the residence.
"No! Light's there!" Realizing he'd left Light at the residence, Gin's heart clenched.
No more questions. He flung shuriken, ending the intruders' lives.
So this is killing? Watching the Kaguya slump lifelessly, a heavy unease lingered.
I need to adapt to this era…
Finding Tajima was too late. He hoped Tajima would spot the Kaguya's scheme soon.
His only thought was to race back to the residence to protect Auntie and Light.
He dashed through the streets, no longer serene. Ordinary Uchiha lay in blood, their fates unclear.
The gore overwhelmed Gin, the stench of blood nauseating. Pushing through, he reached the residence.
Outside, battle cries rang. Kaguya Soisuke, confident, directed his men against the black-clad Uchiha's dwindling guards.
By the time Gin arrived, the guard team was nearly wiped out. The lead black-clad Uchiha, battered and bloodied, held on with crimson eyes.
Seeing Gin instead of reinforcements, a moment's shock exposed a fatal opening. A Kaguya's strange white weapon sent him crashing, unconscious.
"Hahaha, this brat's your reinforcement?" Soisuke mocked, spotting Gin.
Gin scanned the scene, relieved the Kaguya hadn't breached the residence. His gaze hardened. Soisuke's aura marked him as a tough foe.
Not underestimating, Gin channeled chakra fully. His tomoe spun, a chilling chakra aura spreading, noticeable even to the less perceptive Kaguya.
"This kid's trouble. Attack!" Soisuke ordered, sensing danger.
The Kaguya charged, but before they reached Gin, black flames erupted on the frontrunners, unquenchable.
Amaterasu.
The flames consumed them to ash. With no fuel, the black fire burned on, casting an eerie glow.
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