Uchiha Takeyasu cradled Tachibana in one arm. He turned his gaze from the Konoha embassy to the compound ahead, its gate bearing the name Sarutobi. Then he waved a hand.
"This is the central district, packed with ninja clans. Everyone, move quickly. This operation to make an example of them has to be fast, ruthless, and precise!"
Behind Uchiha Takeyasu stood four squads, the Uchiha of the Security Department who had come out in full force, and the heads of six allied clans whom he had drawn in and firmly bound to the Uchiha war chariot.
The Security Department members immediately split up and began carrying out their duties in perfect coordination.
One squad of seventeen spread out around the area, forming four interlocking Large Four Violet Flames Formations that completely encircled the Sarutobi Clan Land and prevented the Sarutobi from escaping.
The remaining squad leaders and another squad kept watch around the perimeter. Together with the six allied clan heads and a Jonin from each clan, they stopped anyone outside the Uchiha Clan from approaching.
The last two squads followed Uchiha Takeyasu as he charged into the Sarutobi Clan Land.
At first, the moment the two sides met, the battle was completely one-sided.
The powerful Elite Jonin squad leaders and squad captains led the charge. Dozens of Sarutobi ninja were caught in genjutsu and collapsed to the ground.
Half of the Uchiha Chunin behind them swiftly bound the Sarutobi ninja together, hand to hand, with crude iron chains. The civilians, who weren't ninja, were controlled with genjutsu and lined up in rows.
It wasn't until the attackers reached the central courtyard that the Sarutobi, stunned by the sudden turn of events, were organized into orderly ranks by a Sarutobi elder with Elite Jonin strength.
But the battle remained one-sided. Two Uchiha on the verge of Kage Level, eight Uchiha Elite Jonin with Three Tomoe, and a varying number of Uchiha Jonin with Two Tomoe swept through them like autumn leaves.
(What absurd strength!)
(This is amazing!)
Uchiha Takeyasu strolled leisurely behind the others, stroking the cat in his arms as if out on a springtime picnic. He admired the plants and trees of the Sarutobi Clan Land, listening to the Sarutobi's furious curses and frightened pleas for mercy.
At times like this, Uchiha Takeyasu always took things especially seriously. Every misfortune in this world was caused by the inadequacies of the people involved.
He didn't want to end up among them. He wanted only to climb to the highest position, stepping on the corpses of the defeated.
Boom!
The great racket of colliding ninjutsu and the surge of Kage-level Chakra made Uchiha Takeyasu furrow his brow. The Mangekyo in his eyes silently bloomed.
With his thoughts flowing freely, his Spiritual Power and Dojutsu Power had grown further. Amenotokotachi could now monitor everything within an eight-hundred-meter radius—and, by extension, let him teleport anywhere within that range.
His talent for space-related abilities was also improving bit by bit.
"Damn Uchiha! What do you think you're doing?!"
Sarutobi Sasuke, with a goatee on his chin, was lean and long-limbed, like an ape. He'd just been mourning his excellent son, who had died young, but in the blink of an eye, he discovered that the Uchiha had nearly wiped out the entire Sarutobi Clan.
Shock, confusion, and then fury at the sheer disbelief of it all!
"Fire Release: Great Flame Technique!"
"Fire Style: Great Dragon Fire Technique!"
"Fire Style: Great Dragon Fire Technique!"
When they saw the Sarutobi Clan's only remaining Kage-level fighter appear, the East District Captain and South District Captain, Uchiha Rai and Uchiha Baru, charged to the front and spat out ferocious fire dragons, directly blocking Sarutobi Sasuke's torrent of flames.
Blazing fire swept through the surrounding area, setting nearby houses, plants, and flowers alight.
Amid the roaring flames, the Uchiha Chunin withdrew in unison while the Jonin launched a flanking assault, continuing to hunt down the Sarutobi. Their movements were inevitably a little rougher now.
Blood already flowed across the ground. Sarutobi Sasuke watched, eyes nearly bursting with rage, but eight Uchiha Elite Jonin and two squad captains had surrounded him. They blocked his swordsmanship, Taijutsu, ninjutsu, and genjutsu, one after another.
Sarutobi Sasuke was like an insect caught in a spiderweb, forced to watch himself approach the end of his life.
The sight came to Uchiha Takeyasu's mind, and a smile had just appeared at the corner of his mouth when the commotion outside the barrier put him in a bad mood again.
Still, Uchiha Takeyasu didn't hurry outside. As though he had an all-seeing eye, he watched both sides in silence. If either side fell into danger, he could teleport over at any moment.
After all, they were elite members of the Uchiha Clan, fighting right under his nose. They could get hurt, but they couldn't die. Otherwise, Uchiha Takeyasu would feel it reflected poorly on him as the Young Lord.
Besides, the Sarutobi Clan Land was nowhere near as vast as the Uchiha or Senju territories. It covered a radius of only about six hundred meters, and the clan numbered just over a hundred ninja, along with more than four hundred civilians.
Uchiha Takeyasu could keep an eye on all of it.
"Lord Takeyasu, this is the first time we've fought without having to do anything ourselves, meow."
Nestled in its owner's arms, Tachibana surveyed the Uchiha ninja moving around in orderly fashion. For the first time, she realized how quick and easy a battle could be—it was like they'd rehearsed it.
"Future battles will require me to get involved less and less."
Uchiha Takeyasu's gaze flickered. There was no way he'd stop using Ascension Points, but he also didn't want to spend the future chasing people all over the countryside. Once he became Hokage, he'd build a prison that covered the entire Land of Fire—and eventually, the whole Ninja World.
Every ninja sentenced to death would become part of a vast sea of prisoners.
(Still, doing everything myself is beneath me, and it's a hassle. Maybe I can start with the weapons.)
Keeping the thought in mind, Uchiha Takeyasu reached the battle inside the main house. He could now see Sarutobi Sasuke, whose arm Uchiha Rai had just severed with a single slash, before Uchiha Baru used Sealing Jutsu to leave him completely unable to fight back.
"Young Lord Takeyasu, why are you doing this?"
Sarutobi Sasuke knelt on the ground, as pale as a sheet and utterly wretched. He stared at Uchiha Takeyasu as he approached, full of confusion and bewilderment.
"This is the central district of Konoha! How dare you do this? What has my Sarutobi Clan done wrong?"
"And even if we had done something wrong, it should be the Anbu's job to handle it. You're abusing your authority!"
"Young Lord Takeyasu, aren't you afraid of provoking public outrage? The powerful in Konoha will rise up against you, and your clan will be wiped out along with you!"
Sarutobi Sasuke's wailing cries echoed through the clan compound, where the fighting had completely ended. The Uchiha ninja cleaning up the battlefield paid him no mind.
Uchiha Takeyasu also sent the extra manpower to help the West District Captain, Uchiha Naka, and the North District Captain, Uchiha Naori, outside.
"You make a good point, but I'm not listening!"
Uchiha Takeyasu spoke calmly. "As for why, do you really not know?"
"Allying with the Senju of the Forest? And..."
Sarutobi Sasuke grew even paler. It was as though all the energy had been drained from his body. His voice was dull and hoarse. "So it was you who killed Hiruzen and the others."
"Yes. Hiruzen Sarutobi died quickly. He passed without suffering."
"...Young Lord Takeyasu, you truly are a model Uchiha. They say there's no wrong name, only a wrong nickname. You certainly live up to the name Butcher of Humans."
Sarutobi Sasuke's lips moved several times. Rather than ranting and raving like a shrew, he spoke with weary sorrow.
"Did Young Lord Takeyasu also have a hand in what happened to the ape clan?"
"Those beasts didn't know when to shut their mouths. I took care of them while I was at it."
"What an undeserved calamity."
Looking up at Uchiha Takeyasu, who was gazing down at him, Sarutobi Sasuke understood. A carefree yet earnest smile crossed his face. "Young Lord Takeyasu hasn't killed me, and he's only captured the Sarutobi rather than killing them. I assume you need me to do something. So long as my clan can be spared, I'm willing to do anything."
"I like dealing with clever people."
Uchiha Takeyasu reached down and stopped Sarutobi Sasuke's bleeding. He fed him a pill for healing, then used Medical Ninjutsu to reattach the severed arm.
"The evidence that Hiruzen Sarutobi colluded with Kumogakure and caused Senju Tobirama's death is conclusive. The entire clan must be detained for questioning. That's more or less the gist of it, Sir Sasuke. I'm sure you understand?"
Without hesitation, Sarutobi Sasuke dropped to one knee and lowered his head and hands. "Your subordinate understands."
"I hope that in the future, Sir Sasuke's grandson and the many excellent members of his clan will help build Konoha's future."
"As you wish, Hokage-sama!"
"Hokage-sama?"
"Sir Sasuke is much more capable than those Kumogakure barbarians. People from Konoha really know how to talk."
"From now on, you'll be the first member of Konoha's Root!"
"Heh heh heh hahahahahaha!"
Uchiha Takeyasu strode out, laughing, with the loyal members of the Uchiha Security Department following close behind their Young Lord.
Sarutobi Sasuke led those left at the rear: the suspects accused of treason and colluding with the enemy.
Outside, blades were flashing just as fiercely!
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