"Sakumo, what happened?"
"The Uchiha clan… has vanished!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi's frown deepened. "Vanished? What do you mean?"
"They're gone." Sakumo Hatake said grimly. "I just led a team to scour the Uchiha compound thoroughly; we didn't find a single Uchiha clan member."
"It's as if the entire clan disappeared into thin air, leaving no trace behind."
Hiruzen shot to his feet, slamming a palm on the desk. "Sakumo, you'd better not be joking!"
Sakumo gave a weary smile. "Lord Hokage, I wouldn't dare joke about something like this…"
Before he could finish, Hiruzen was already striding toward the door. "Explain on the way."
As they hurried to the Uchiha compound, Sakumo detailed everything that had happened the previous night—how every Uchiha had vanished without warning.
The more Hiruzen listened, the more alarmed he became.
This was impossible.
How could something like this happen?
Even if the Uchiha had developed a way to slip through the village barrier unnoticed, he had Anbu stationed around them twenty-four hours a day.
Even if their elite could evade surveillance—what about the elders, the women, the children?
It was absurd. They couldn't all have supernatural powers.
When Hiruzen arrived and saw the empty streets for himself, he was at a loss.
Finally, he muttered, "They must be hiding somewhere. Conduct another full search—leave nothing unchecked."
Sakumo relayed the order to the Anbu, then said quietly, "Lord Hokage, I doubt we'll find anyone. I even checked the secret chamber under Naka Shrine—empty. Every scroll, every supply, gone."
"This was a carefully planned operation."
Hiruzen's gaze sharpened.
"You were in charge of monitoring the Uchiha," he said coldly. "You're telling me you noticed nothing unusual?"
Sakumo stiffened, frustration in his voice. "None of us did, Lord Hokage. Every Anbu under me can testify—"
"Enough."
Hiruzen waved him off impatiently. "No one outside this room is to hear a word about this. Not a rumor, not a whisper."
"Let's return to the office first."
———
Hokage Tower.
Hokage's Office.
Danzō Shimura, Koharu Utatane, and Homura Mitokado rushed in, their expressions severe.
"Hiruzen," Homura demanded, "what's this we're hearing about the Uchiha clan?"
Hiruzen opened his mouth to respond, but Danzō cut him off. "Hiruzen, the Uchiha clan's disappearance is on you! You bear full responsibility!"
Rubbing his temples, Hiruzen ignored him and said evenly, "You've all heard the report from Anbu. I called you here to discuss our next steps."
Hearing this, Homura frowned. "Hiruzen, how do you think the Uchiha clan managed to disappear overnight?"
"I don't know." Hiruzen said simply.
Koharu stepped forward, thinking aloud. "Could they have used some kind of space-time ninjutsu?"
Hiruzen shook his head. "Unlikely. Even if they possessed such techniques, it's impossible that every member could use them. And forcibly transporting non-users would multiply the chakra cost to unimaginable levels."
"To move that many people at once… the chakra required would be absurd."
Danzō snorted. "If you ask me, there's only one explanation—they escaped through underground tunnels."
Homura frowned. "Tunnels? That would take years to build."
"Hmph! Maybe they started digging back when Konoha was founded."
Danzō's cold sneer twisted into a grin. "It doesn't matter. The Uchiha are gone, and good riddance. I've had enough of those uncontrollable fools."
At last, he could move openly against them—take their Sharingan for himself.
Koharu and Homura exchanged excited glances.
If the entire clan had abandoned the village, then their property was now unclaimed.
And the Uchiha, being one of the wealthiest clans in Konoha, had fortunes spread across the Fire Country.
If they acted quickly, they could seize everything before anyone else caught on.
They turned and barked orders to their subordinates outside. "Mobilize all elite units! Secure the Uchiha compound—protect every asset inside!"
Danzō whispered a few quiet words to the Root operatives beside him.
Hiruzen, meanwhile, didn't move.
He'd already had the Anbu inspect the area earlier—and there was nothing of value left to take.
The true treasures lay in the Uchiha's external holdings throughout the Land of Fire.
As Hiruzen watched the other councilors scramble like vultures, Sakumo's chest tightened with unease.
Shouldn't they be focused on why the Uchiha vanished? On where they went?
Not this petty greed.
He straightened. "Lord Hokage, I'll search outside the village perimeter. Maybe I can find a lead."
"Go ahead," Hiruzen said absently, waving him off as he turned back to his paperwork.
Sakumo said nothing more. He dashed from the office and disappeared into the forest beyond Konoha.
———
Daylight faded quickly, and under Hiruzen's strict information lockdown, few in the village noticed anything strange.
When night fell, Yuzuru Uchiha stood atop the Second Hokage's stone face, gazing down at the village below.
He watched as greedy shinobi swarmed into the abandoned Uchiha compound like cockroaches, and a cold smile curved his lips.
"Greedy parasites," he murmured. "This is my parting gift."
He clapped his hands together. A thunderous explosion ripped through the village.
In an instant, fire erupted across the Uchiha district.
The compound was obliterated—reduced to ash by the countless explosive tags buried beforehand.
The shinobi inside were vaporized where they stood.
Yuzuru exhaled through his nose, almost regretful. "Shame I haven't learned the Great Spiralling Ring yet—it'd have been perfect for this."
———
Outside the burning ruins, Koharu and Homura shrieked hysterically.
"Cursed Uchiha! you inherently evil clan! We will never rest until you are destroyed!"
Inside the inferno lay the corpses of their own elite troops.
Hiruzen looked at the two advisors, faint disgust on his face.
Such weak nerves. Pathetic.
They were a disgrace to the Hokage line.
Just as he was about to speak, an Anbu appeared before him, kneeling.
"Lord Hokage—bad news!"
Hiruzen turned sharply. "What now?"
"Uzumaki Kushina… is missing!"
Hiruzen swayed, the world spinning around him.
He didn't even need to think. It had to be the Uchiha's doing.
The clan's disappearance was one thing—perhaps even a relief.
But Kushina—she was the future Nine-Tails jinchūriki!
Without her, who would contain the Nine-Tails after Mito's death?
"Those accursed Uchiha," Hiruzen snarled under his breath. "Do you mean to destroy Konoha itself?"
T/n:
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