The Uchiha Clan Takes the Blame

Evening.

Just like yesterday, Uzumaki Naruto followed a secluded path to the fake mountain.

"Hm!?"

Uzumaki Naruto frowned slightly as he looked at the sealed fake mountain.

"Why is the fake mountain sealed off!?"

Uzumaki Naruto felt a surge of annoyance.

Fire Release wasn't like other Ninjutsu; its light was very noticeable in the dark, and a single mistake could lead to detection.

It wouldn't matter if it were someone else.

But if he himself were caught red-handed, there would be no way to explain it.

"Since it's a cave, there might not be just one entrance..."

Uzumaki Naruto scanned his surroundings and quickly found another palm-sized opening. He threw a rock inside, but no echo came back for a long time.

"Found it."

"Fire Release: Great Fire Annihilation!!!"

"Fire Release: Ash Pile Burning!!!"

"Fire Release: Great Flame Eruption!!!"

"..."

At the same time.

Shimura Danzo, his face ashen and wrapped in bandages, endured the scorching pain as he slammed his hand on the table and roared:

"Those evil Uchiha, how dare they retaliate against this old man in such a manner? Do they think I'm made of mud!?"

"That level of Fire Release, it must be from at least an elite Jonin. Do they really think I know nothing?"

A Root ninja beside him asked, "Lord Danzo, Uchiha Clan ninjas might still come. Shouldn't we take some defensive measures?"

Shimura Danzo sneered, his voice grim. "No need. The Uchiha Clan just wants to give me a warning."

"How could they possibly dare to come again..."

"BOOM!!!"

A violent flame once again burst through the door.

Shimura Danzo's heart-wrenching roar echoed within the flames.

"Kill that bastard for me!!!"

"..."

"Hm!?"

"Footsteps!?"

Uzumaki Naruto's brow furrowed. He lowered his head and pressed his ear to the ground, carefully listening to the sounds coming from below.

"One, two, three... Damn, a whole group of people..."

Without another word, Uzumaki Naruto quickly formed hand signs, his cheeks puffing out as he forcefully exhaled a large cloud of highly superheated ash.

"Scorch Release: Ash Pile Burning!!!"

"BLAZE!!!"

The ultra-hot ash, like an overwhelming fiery sandstorm, swept towards the open ground in the distance.

The Root ninjas who were chasing them turned pale.

"That high-temperature flame from yesterday, we absolutely can't take it head-on. We'll be burned alive."

"This kind of Fire Release... Quick, use Water Release."

"That will create a lot of steam, making it easy for them to escape..."

"No time."

The next second.

The high-temperature ash enveloped the bodies of the Root ninjas, making them scream in agony within the dust.

Uzumaki Naruto's eyes turned cold as he heard their screams.

So it was Root down there. They really are a bunch of rats that can't stand the light.

"Serves them right!"

Uzumaki Naruto sneered; he had no liking for Root whatsoever.

During the Nine-Tails' attack, Konoha Village's ninjas were desperately trying to stop its rampage, but the Root ninjas were nowhere to be seen.

They completely used Minato Namikaze and Uzumaki Kushina as human shields.

Thinking even darker.

Maybe the location of Uzumaki Kushina's childbirth was leaked by Root, all to set up Minato Namikaze and his wife.

Uzumaki Naruto's eyes were cold as he unleashed several more fused Scorch Release and Fire Release techniques.

Then, he quietly slipped away under the cover of the firelight and night.

The next day.

Hokage Building.

"Bang!"

The office door was flung open.

Shimura Danzo, wrapped in bandages from head to toe, his hair singed black as if he'd crawled out of a coal pile, walked in.

"Danzo!?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen was startled.

Looking at Shimura Danzo's new appearance, Sarutobi Hiruzen quickly asked, "What happened?"

"You look like you fell into a furnace and got roasted!"

Hearing Sarutobi Hiruzen's words, Shimura Danzo's face grew even darker.

He slammed his hand hard on the table.

Shimura Danzo gritted his teeth and said, "It's those evil Uchiha! Yesterday, the day before, every single day, some bastard has been unleashing Fire Release at Root's air vents!"

"They're all B-rank Fire Release, but the temperature is terrifyingly high. Even Water Release can't put them out. Dozens of Root ninja are already severely injured."

"This is definitely retaliation from those Uchiha bastards."

Sarutobi Hiruzen's expression gradually turned serious. He stopped smoking and looked at Danzo, saying in a deep voice, "Are you sure?"

Shimura Danzo sneered, "Fire Release: Ash Pile Burning, Fire Release: Great Fire Annihilation—these are the Uchiha Clan's signature Fire Release techniques. How could an outsider possibly know these Ninjutsu!?"

"Besides, other than the Uchiha Clan, does Konoha even have any powerful Fire Release ninja?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen's face grew even more solemn.

Danzo was right. If you counted all of Konoha Village, the only powerful Fire Release ninja were from the Uchiha Clan.

And the Ninjutsu Shimura Danzo mentioned were all secret techniques passed down only within the Uchiha Clan.

Shimura Danzo stared grimly at Sarutobi Hiruzen, a glint of murderous intent in his eyes. He said coldly, "Sarutobi, let's advance our plan."

"We must deal with the Uchiha Clan sooner rather than later. We can't give them the chance to stage a coup."

"It's highly likely they've already caught onto our plan. Maybe these past two days of attacks are a warning."

Sarutobi Hiruzen frowned, completely perplexed. He furrowed his brows and said, "But… how would the Uchiha Clan know about our plan?"

Eliminating the Uchiha Clan!!!

This was Konoha's top secret.

Only a select few ninja knew the details of this plan.

Every single one of them was absolutely trustworthy.

Could it be… there's an insider?