Just after Bai Ye had driven off Hiruzen Sarutobi.
On the other side, the Security Force members led by Uchiha En had also successfully defeated all the Anbu.
"Lord Byakuya, what should we do with these Anbu?"
Uchiha En looked at Byakuya with admiration.
During the fight with the Security Force just moments ago, he had also noticed Byakuya battling Hiruzen Sarutobi.
He had watched Byakuya unleash the power of his Mangekyō Sharingan, beat Hiruzen Sarutobi to a pulp, and drive him into retreat.
Uchiha En was thrilled.
See? This was the power of the Uchiha Clan—the power of the Mangekyō Sharingan, the power of Lord Byakuya.
The so-called strongest Hokage!?
The so-called Professor of Ninjutsu!?
In front of Lord Byakuya, he could only flee in disgrace.
"Hmm... These Anbu are all traitors..."
"By rights, they should all be executed..."
Byakuya looked at the Anbu who had been defeated by the Security Force and were now pinned to the ground.
At his words, all the Anbu began to panic.
"Uchiha Byakuya, you can't kill us! We're Konoha Ninja..."
"We haven't betrayed Konoha..."
"We were only following Lord Hokage's orders..."
"..."
The Anbu shouted one after another.
They had only attacked the Security Force on the Hokage's orders.
If you wanted to settle the score, shouldn't you go after the Hokage? Why kill us!?
If they'd known that joining the Anbu meant fighting members of the Uchiha Clan, they wouldn't have joined even if someone beat them to death!
"Shut up... Do you think you have the right to speak here!?"
"Lord Byakuya, you're right. All these traitors should be executed..."
Uchiha En planted his foot hard on an Anbu's head and gripped his Ninja Sword.
At a single command from Byakuya, he would bring it down without hesitation.
"But simply killing them would be letting them off too easily..."
"Uchiha En, take them to the Hokage. See if he's willing to pay to get these traitors back..."
Byakuya considered it for a moment before speaking.
"Understood! But what should we demand from Lord Hokage!?"
Uchiha En sheathed his Ninja Sword and asked.
"Anything you like—money, ninjutsu, secret techniques..."
"And don't forget to demand compensation from Hiruzen Sarutobi for the damage caused by his attack on the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki..."
Byakuya replied indifferently.
He wasn't short on money, ninjutsu, or secret techniques.
He was sending Uchiha En to the Hokage's office simply to rile Hiruzen up and make him furious.
As for Byakuya, he was going back to study Kushina, the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, properly.
He was intensely curious about the Nine-Tails inside Kushina.
"Yes... Lord Byakuya..."
"I promise I'll get it done..."
Uchiha En acknowledged him, then waved his hand.
"Everyone, escort the Anbu with me. We're going to the Hokage Building..."
"Yes..."
At Uchiha En's command, the Security Force escorted the Anbu in a massive procession toward the Hokage Building.
After escaping from Byakuya,
Hiruzen Sarutobi immediately summoned his old friends, Konoha's three elders.
Though they were puzzled by Hiruzen Sarutobi's summons, they came to the Hokage Building at once.
"Hiruzen, what happened!?"
"You're injured!?"
"Who did this!? How could anyone hurt you? Has an enemy invaded!?"
Seeing Hiruzen Sarutobi battered and wounded, Shimura Danzō, Utatane Koharu, and Mitokado Homura were all astonished.
As Hokage, how could Hiruzen Sarutobi have been injured!?
They hadn't heard anything about an enemy invading Konoha!
"It was Uchiha Byakuya!... Uchiha Byakuya wounded me..."
"And he took the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki..."
Hiruzen Sarutobi said, his expression grim.
"What!? Hiruzen, what did you say!?"
"The Nine-Tails Jinchuriki has fallen into the hands of the Uchiha Clan!?"
"Damn it, how could this happen!? This is a disaster..."
At Hiruzen Sarutobi's words, all three of them suddenly sprang to their feet.
They knew all too well what it would mean for the Uchiha Clan to obtain the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.
They were especially worried because Uchiha Madara had once controlled the Nine-Tails with his Sharingan.
If the Uchiha Clan gained control of the Nine-Tails' power, as Uchiha Madara once had, it would be a disaster for all of Konoha.
At the thought, they were all seized with fear.
"Hiruzen, I'll gather every member of the Root Organization at once!..."
"We'll attack the Uchiha Clan directly and take back the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki at all costs..."
Shimura Danzō said quickly, already moving to leave.
"Danzō, stop right there..."
"Do you think I don't want to take back the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki!?"
"My injuries were caused by Uchiha Byakuya. His Mangekyō Sharingan is incredibly powerful..."
Hiruzen Sarutobi immediately called Shimura Danzō back, afraid he would rush off and get himself killed by Byakuya.
They absolutely couldn't afford to lose any more fighting strength for nothing.
"How could this happen!?"
"Is Uchiha Byakuya really that powerful? He actually managed to wound you!?"
The other two stared at Hiruzen Sarutobi in astonishment.
After all, among the four of them, Hiruzen Sarutobi was undoubtedly the strongest in a fight.
Otherwise, why would he call himself the "strongest Hokage" without the other three objecting?
They had assumed Byakuya had stolen the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki through some underhanded scheme.
But they'd never expected that he had taken the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki directly from Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Even Shimura Danzō stopped in his tracks.
Shimura Danzō knew perfectly well that if Hiruzen Sarutobi had failed to take the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki back from Byakuya, he wouldn't fare any better.
"Are we just going to let this go!?"
"That's right! We absolutely can't let the Uchiha Clan control the power of the Nine-Tails..."
"The Uchiha Clan is truly despicable..."
The three of them lamented bitterly.
"Danzō, how's the Wood Release research coming along!?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi asked Danzō.
After witnessing the terrifying power of Byakuya's Mangekyō Sharingan, Hiruzen Sarutobi desperately needed the power of Wood Release.
Only Wood Release could stand against the Mangekyō Sharingan.
"Hiruzen, I've already begun researching the First Hokage's corpse..."
"But the First's cells are brimming with powerful vitality, and all my attempts to transplant them have failed..."
Shimura Danzō replied.
"You have to speed up the research. Whatever you need, I'll give you my full support..."
"I have a feeling the Uchiha are planning something big..."
"We need the power of Wood Release to fight them..."
Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke urgently.
"I understand. I'll accelerate my research into Wood Release..."
Shimura Danzō replied at once.
"Lord Hokage, something terrible has happened..."
"The Uchiha Clan's Security Force is here..."
At that moment, an urgent voice came from outside the room.
Before you continue