Pshhk!
Blood sprayed.
For a moment, the Uchiha clansmen present all froze.
Even their hands hesitated mid-motion, unsure whether they should keep fighting or stop.
"D-dead? He's… dead just like that?"
"That was Danzō! The Hokage's aide! The head of Root! And he just… died?"
"I must be dreaming… but this dream is way too real."
No one had expected that at the very instant the battle began, the enemy's leader would be taken out on the spot.
This—
was like the war between villages had just started, and the opposing Kage got sniped immediately.
Absurd, yet deliriously exhilarating.
By contrast, the reaction of the Root operatives was much faster.
One by one, they abruptly withdrew and turned back, forming a tight cordon around Danzō.
Like the most loyal of bodyguards.
A medical ninja pressed forward, blue-green chakra blooming in his palm as it quickly covered Danzō's head.
Immediately afterward, the Root members lifted Danzō and retreated at full speed.
They had arrived with overwhelming arrogance—
and now they fled in utter disarray.
"They're running! Chase them!"
Seeing this, the Second Elder grit his teeth and led people after them.
This kind of thing—
you either don't do it at all,
or once you do, you go straight for the throat.
If they were killing Danzō, then even his corpse should be ground to dust!
Behind them, Jin narrowed his eyes.
Seeing that the system gave no prompt at all, he understood at once.
"So the old bastard really is using Sharingan as extra lives."
He shook his head and followed after them.
The escape—
was intentional.
Otherwise, how could they expose Danzō's conspiracy in front of all the major clans?
Shhk shhk shhk!
Soon, more than three hundred Uchiha clansmen surged forward in pursuit, hot on Root's heels.
"Move! Head for the Hokage Building—seek the Hokage's protection!"
Seeing the situation turn dire, one of Root's squad leaders clenched his teeth and abruptly changed direction.
Right now, the only safe place left was the Hokage Building.
No matter how arrogant the Uchiha were, could they really dare to go wild in front of all of Konoha?
Clearly, even the emotionless Root operatives could assess the situation.
Ahead of them, Danzō—being carried at high speed—gave a faint, almost imperceptible nod.
He truly hadn't expected the "evil Uchiha brat" to be able to kill him in one strike.
But precisely because of that, a brilliant idea now surfaced in his mind—
divert the disaster eastward.
Given how crazed the Uchiha were right now, they would probably attack even the Hokage Building without hesitation!
When that happened, the Uchiha clan would have no way out whatsoever!
With that thought, Danzō immediately calmed himself.
He made himself look truly dead—
as if there were no difference at all.
Shhk shhk shhk.
Soon, the two groups—one fleeing, one chasing—flashed rapidly through the outskirts of Konoha.
More and more sentry ninja noticed the scene.
"Hmm? Root? Being chased like stray dogs? I want to see who—holy crap! The Uchiha?!"
"Damn it, have the Uchiha gone insane? They're chasing Root?!"
"Run, run! Something huge is about to happen!"
"Quick! Inform the clan heads— the Uchiha are hunting Root!"
…
Hokage Building.
Hiruzen Sarutobi stood by the window, his gaze sinking deeper into the night.
An ominous feeling had already taken shape in his heart.
"At this hour, Itachi still hasn't returned… I'm afraid—"
Just then, movement flickered at the edge of his vision.
"That is—Root?"
Seeing Root returning, a faint smile finally appeared on his aged face.
If Root was back, then the matter was settled.
The Uchiha clan—
had become history.
Whoosh!
In an instant, his once-hunched back straightened, becoming incomparably upright!
Tap tap tap.
He knocked lightly on the wall by the window and said softly,
"Everyone, it seems the matter… has already been resolved."
Thump.
The room jolted as one.
Especially Hiashi Hyūga.
Others might not see it clearly, but he could distinctly see the smile at the corner of the Third Hokage's mouth when he said those words.
"So… the Uchiha clan still lost after all?"
At the thought of a millennium-old great clan, on par with the Hyūga, vanishing just like that—
Hiashi felt an indescribable complexity in his heart.
His face showed not the slightest hint of joy.
In contrast, Akimichi Torifu and the others clearly let out a long breath.
"Finally… it's over!"
They exchanged looks, excitement and anticipation evident in each other's eyes.
Especially the two advisors.
Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado looked at one another, their eye bags trembling.
"Hahaha! It's finally over!"
"The Uchiha clan's assets must be distributed properly!"
Koharu's eyes shone with nothing but delight and anticipation.
Having served as a Hokage advisor for decades, what she loved most—
was people dying.
Or rather—
handling estates.
The assets left behind by ninjas without relatives had always been her favorite.
And now!
The thousand-year Uchiha clan!
How vast would its inheritance be?
Perhaps it could rival half of Konoha itself?!
For a moment, her breathing grew rapid.
She even impatiently pushed the door open and urged,
"Hiruzen, perhaps we should go down and confirm the details."
Her voice was hurried.
Her tone eager.
Just short of saying: Hurry up! I can't wait to start confiscating!
"Cough…"
Hiruzen put away his pipe.
Then he donned his cloak, placed his hat on his head, and slowly stepped outside.
Step.
Step.
Step.
Though his height had shrunk with age, the pressure he radiated had not diminished in the slightest.
As Hiruzen went out, the other major clan heads and advisors followed closely behind.
Outside the Hokage Building.
Shhk shhk shhk.
Root's footsteps drew nearer and nearer.
In the darkness, their figures were still indistinct.
Only when they came close did their appearance become clear.
"Danzō… could it be that you really—"
Hiruzen hesitated, then prepared to deliver his righteous, indignant, obligatory scolding.
Good work, but too dirty—still needs to be criticized.
But before he could finish his sentence, he sensed something was wrong.
Why—
was Danzō being carried?
And why were the auras of these Root members so chaotic?
At once, the skin under Hiruzen's eyes tightened.
An ominous feeling slowly crept up.
Could it be… something went wrong?
Thud.
The Root operative gently placed Danzō on the ground and said in a low voice,
"Hokage-sama, this is bad! The Uchiha clan has attacked!"
"…What?"
Hiruzen froze, the smile in his eyes completely stiffening.
Before he could speak again, he suddenly saw—
at the far end of his vision, dense shadows flickering into view!
In moments, they surrounded the Hokage Building.
Those figures—
each and every one bore the distinctive Uchiha fan crest!
Hiruzen drew in a deep breath, about to say something—
when a childish voice rang out clearly.
"Clear out the traitors beside the ruler! Execute the treacherous villains!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi: ?
The two advisors: ?
The many clan heads: ?!
Hiashi Hyūga: !!
The next instant, Jin's small figure streaked in atop the moonlight!
Behind him—
hundreds of crimson eyes snapped open at the same time!
All of them stared straight at the front of the Hokage Building.
Making one's blood run cold.
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