Attack on Hiruzen Sarutobi

If that assassin really went through with it, he would simply be throwing his life away. The outcome was bound to be exactly that.

But if he gave up on this plan, all the preparations he had made these past few days would have been a waste of time. Hyuga Matsuba was determined to teach Danzo a lesson.

Danzo had begun keeping an eye on him in secret. No matter the reason, Hyuga Matsuba did not want to be watched.

Even though he was not weak now, he had yet to reach his peak. If he clashed with Danzo now, they would only tear each other apart and both come away worse for it.

"Just two Mangekyo Sharingan. They would be wasted in my hands anyway. It doesn't matter." Hyuga Matsuba let it go. There was no need to care too much about such trivial things.

"Matsuba, what's wrong?" Mikoto asked softly.

"Hm? Nothing. I'm fine!"

"What are you planning to do with that piece of trash?" Kushina glanced at the assassin. Having witnessed the eyeballs being dug out with her own eyes, the young girl had nearly vomited.

"I already have a plan. You don't need to worry about me." Hyuga Matsuba took both their hands and began walking toward the main road.

"Kushina, Mikoto, we're still young, but our shared dream for the future is the same. If we want to become strong, fighting and killing are things we have to experience." Hyuga Matsuba spoke slowly.

"Okay, I understand." Kushina pressed her lips together. She had long since encountered that painful reality. When her country had been destroyed, thousands upon thousands of people had died before her eyes. That scene had been truly horrifying.

Mikoto's lips curved upward. At first, witnessing something like that had made her feel sick, but now Hyuga Matsuba gave her a sense of security. She was no longer afraid.

Once they entered the house, Mikoto went to busy herself in the kitchen. Kushina also volunteered to help. It sounded nice, but the inexperienced Kushina only kept getting in the way.

Hyuga Matsuba closed the bedroom door and activated the Tenseigan to monitor Uchiha Ryo's movements. Uchiha Ryo's entire field of vision was transmitted to Hyuga Matsuba, just like a live broadcast.

Uchiha Ryo was the assassin who had followed the three of them earlier. When Hyuga Matsuba had controlled him, he had already obtained information from his mind.

Before leaving, Hyuga Matsuba had ordered him to raise his Chakra purity by any means necessary.

He was merely a puppet, disposable in the end. Naturally, Hyuga Matsuba had to make the most of him.

At the very least, he needed to mislead the village's leaders. His strength was not yet high enough, and Hyuga Matsuba did not like being watched and followed.

He had already sensed it over the past several days. Some people were secretly observing and tracking them. Even though Hyuga Matsuba hated it, there was nothing he could do.

Getting rid of the minor family lackeys in Konoha was no big deal, but killing Anbu members would definitely bring trouble upon himself.

Even if he found a way to get rid of them, he had to erase all traces of his involvement and find a scapegoat in advance.

Hyuga Matsuba ordered Uchiha Ryo to spare no effort in training and improving his strength. Once the plan to assassinate the Third Hokage was exposed, Danzo or someone from the Uchiha Clan would be made the scapegoat.

He also had to make the incident serious enough to cause a huge uproar and panic among the people. That way, no one would focus their attention on them.

As for what would happen to those two scapegoats, that would have nothing to do with Hyuga Matsuba.

After some time passed, the puppet carried out his orders and pushed himself beyond his limits to improve his abilities. At this point, however, it was already difficult for him to advance any further.

Hyuga Matsuba had also lost his patience. The people secretly watching and following them were truly irritating. Every time he went out, he could feel someone tailing him.

Moreover, the assassin had already reached his limit. Forcibly improving his abilities had greatly drained his stamina. He had been completely wrung dry and likely would not live much longer.

If Hyuga Matsuba continued making him carry out orders, he might lose his life at any moment.

The moon was especially full that night, its light filtering through the branches and casting mottled shadows across the ground.

The Hokage Building was still brightly lit. Though it was already late at night, Hiruzen Sarutobi remained busy. Perhaps that was what it meant for greater ability to bring greater responsibility.

Hiruzen Sarutobi carefully reviewed reports and pondered how to handle them when a loud crash suddenly rang out. Someone had broken in.

It was merely someone disguised as an Anbu member.

"Ahem. Why are you here? Is something the matter?" Hiruzen Sarutobi's gaze turned stern as he examined the uninvited guest before him.

"I'm here to take your life." The assassin's eyes were bloodshot. He raised his head and glared at Hiruzen Sarutobi, his body overflowing with killing intent. His Sharingan had long since been activated.

"I'm one of Danzo's famed subordinates. Today is the day you die. Take this! Fire Style: Great Fire Dragon Jutsu!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi frowned and raised a hand to counter, effortlessly blocking the technique.

Hearing the commotion, the guards outside immediately rushed in and surrounded the assassin layer upon layer in the blink of an eye.

"Tell me the truth. Who sent you?" Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression was grave. Though the assassin had just announced his affiliation, who would casually reveal their identity on a battlefield?

At any rate, Hiruzen Sarutobi truly did not dare believe him.

"Tch, you're about to die, yet you still have so much to say. Mangekyō Sharingan!"

The shape of the assassin's eyes began changing rapidly, and the patterns within them became different as well. The killing intent around him grew increasingly intense, frightening those protecting Hiruzen Sarutobi. Some even dropped their weapons.

"Mangekyo? You're actually this powerful?" Hiruzen Sarutobi could not believe it.

When he had been young, Mangekyo had appeared in story after story. He had also encountered the invincible Madara Uchiha before and understood just how powerful Mangekyo was.

"At all costs, take his life!" Hiruzen Sarutobi gave the order, then immediately used Ninjutsu.

The people beside him sprang into action as well, unleashing all manner of attacks.

In the past, this assassin would certainly have lost his life. But under these circumstances, Mangekyo was no ordinary thing. If he died just like that, it would truly disgrace the name of Mangekyo.

Uchiha Ryo waved his hand, and every technique vanished into nothingness. He remained completely unharmed.

This technique was called Susanoo. Though it was still only in its simple initial stage, it was more than enough to withstand attacks of this level.

The battle continued. As vast amounts of Chakra were used, it transformed into a skeletal form around Uchiha Ryo. Flesh gradually grew over the bones before eventually turning into armor. This was the third stage of the technique.

Susanoo was now enormous. The building could no longer contain it, and the structure burst apart one after another. Hiruzen Sarutobi had already leaped into the air.

Such a massive transformation could be clearly felt throughout the entire village. Many people were startled awake, and when they discovered it was such a Susanoo, they were too shocked to say a word.

"What's happening? Has another village come to attack us?"

"This is bad! That's the direction of the Hokage Building. Let's hurry over!"

Everyone ran toward the site of the explosion.