"Then I'll find Uncle. He'll let me fight!" Unsurprised by the rejection, Uchiha Gin grabbed Light's hand and bolted from the institute. Yan, swamped, didn't pursue.
"Be careful!" he called.
The clan grounds blazed with light. Combat-ready Uchiha donned armor, brandishing heirloom weapons, eager to teach the brazen enemy a lesson.
"Clan Leader, the enemy's breached our three defensive lines. They're nearing the grounds," a black-clad Uchiha reported to Tajima, who was suiting up.
"How so fast? What happened to the patrols?" Tajima demanded, dressed.
"They knew our defenses. Sentries were ambushed before they could react," the ninja replied, head bowed.
"We take a brief rest, and they think we're weak? Daring to attack us openly? The Uchiha strike, not cower!" Tajima declared, waving a hand. "Let's see who's got the gall!"
His orders relayed, Yan led hundreds of Sharingan-wielding elites to the gates. Tajima arrived, scanned his clan, and roared, "Those who defy the Uchiha meet only death!"
"Those who defy the Uchiha meet only death!" The chant thundered, hundreds of crimson eyes glowing in the dark, a chilling killing intent radiating. Satisfied, Tajima commanded, "March! Engage them head-on!"
"Clan Leader, the enemy uses a kekkei genkai. Reports suggest it's the Kaguya, exiled to the Land of Water," Yan reported en route, his bulky frame keeping pace with Tajima effortlessly.
"Those maniacs? Coming all this way to raid us?" Tajima mused, recalling Kaguya intel.
"No idea," Yan admitted.
"No matter. We'll question them after we crush them," Tajima said, unworried. Only the Senju rivaled the Uchiha in centuries past.
Tajima's forces clashed with the Kaguya, the battlefield erupting in chaos.
Skilled in Fire Release and genjutsu, the Uchiha weren't weak in taijutsu—it was just overshadowed by their other strengths.
Flames roared, bones and blood flew. The frenzied Kaguya, trading blows recklessly, barely slowed the Uchiha. Watching their desperate tactics, Tajima sensed something amiss. "Elder Yan, seen their top fighters?"
"No. Enemies this weak shouldn't have breached so easily!" Yan, a combat veteran, also noticed the oddity.
"Damn!" Their faces paled, turning toward the clan grounds.
A blaze erupted from the silent grounds, its glow stark on Tajima's face.
Moments earlier, as Tajima led elites against the Kaguya, dozens of shadows slipped in from the grounds' opposite side.
Led by the square-jawed Kaguya Soisuke, with the Hyuga half-breed Takuya at his side, they moved stealthily.
"Hahaha, we slipped in so easily!" Soisuke laughed, eyeing the unguarded gate, turning to Takuya. "Your scouting made this possible. I'll report your merit to the clan leader."
"Thank you, Elder!" Takuya, often scorned for his mixed blood, relied on his variant Byakugan to earn this chance. Bypassing sentries secured his place.
"Why so late?" The mysterious figure emerged from the dark, as if waiting.
"Hmph, no time-wasting. Tell us the Uchiha's key locations and VIP hideouts," Soisuke demanded brusquely.
The figure produced a crude map, marked with red X's, and tossed it to Soisuke. "Hurry. I can't wait to see Tajima's agony."
Soisuke unfolded it. The X's marked granaries, armories, storage, and the institute, but the largest X was on the "Clan Leader's Residence."
"Hahaha, what did Tajima do to earn such hatred?" Soisuke asked, puzzled by the emphasis.
"None of your business," the figure said coldly, vanishing into the dark.
"Go, men! Let's wreak havoc!" Soisuke handed the map to Takuya, rallying his elite squad. Like wolves among sheep, they stormed the lightly guarded grounds, unleashing a slaughter.
In the shadows, the figure unmasked, eyes glinting darkly.
Watching the Kaguya's bloody rampage, Uchiha Yao drew a jar of liquid, holding faintly glowing red eyes. Stroking the glass, he whispered, "Kin, watch your killer face justice."
---
Two slender figures darted through the Uchiha's silent streets, usually aglow but now pitch-black.
"Gin, where are we going?" Light asked, disoriented from being dragged along.
"To Uncle's place. It's the safest spot," Gin said, knowing Tajima's residence would be guarded.
They reached a grand mansion, but before they could knock, shadowy figures blocked them.
"Clan Leader's orders: no entry," the lead black-clad Uchiha said, crimson eyes cold, hand hovering near his blade.
"It's me, Uchiha Gin! You know me!" Gin recognized the guard as one of Tajima's personal escorts, seen a few times.
"The Clan Leader's at the front," the guard said, scanning Gin.
"What? He's gone?" Gin smacked his head, then pushed Light forward. "Can my friend take shelter here?"
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