Uchiha... is finished!

"Uchiha Siming, do you even know what you're doing?!"

The leading Root Ninja's face twisted in shock:

"Killing fellow villagers—is the Uchiha Clan trying to betray Konoha?!"

[Ding! A ninja from the village dared to ambush Lord Hashirama. As the First Hokage, this is absolutely unacceptable. Mission issued: Throw all the ambushers into prison!]

[Mission reward: Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!]

Hashirama Senju's Wood Release was formed by the fusion of water and earth chakra, so it wasn't strange for him to master Water Release—he just rarely used it.

"Throw them into prison?"

Uchiha Siming let out a scornful laugh: "The punishment won't be that light."

Then, he swept his gaze over the Root Ninja, looking down on them with mocking eyes: "You Root scum think you represent Konoha? You're nothing but dogs hiding in the village's darkness!"

"How dare you insult Lord Danzo—you're asking for death!"

The leading Root Ninja's face turned purple as a pig's liver. They were Danzo's blades; insulting Danzo meant insulting them!

At that moment.

He suddenly spotted Uchiha Shisui and Itachi arriving, then snorted coldly, his voice low and sinister: "Heh, Shisui, Itachi. Uchiha Siming has killed Root ninja today. Kill him with me, or I'll report this to the Third Lord!"

"Then you two will be his accomplices!"

"Three Uchiha killing fellow villagers—this means the Uchiha are rebelling!"

His eyes gleamed with smugness, as if he already had them cornered.

"You Root ninja were the ones trying to ambush Siming—when did we ever harbor rebellious intent!"

Uchiha Shisui's face shifted, panic creeping into his voice.

The friction between the Uchiha and the village was already daily. If this got reported, even if the Hokage could suppress it, the other elders weren't pushovers either.

"Heh, that's none of my business."

The leading Root Ninja sneered, satisfied with Shisui's anxiety: "Like I said, Shisui, Itachi—kill Uchiha Siming, and I'll pretend nothing happened today."

"Otherwise—"

The several Root Ninja behind him drew their short swords in unison, cold light glinting sharply!

"No. Siming did nothing wrong. You were the ones who tried to harm him first!"

Shisui's expression hardened.

"I'll report this to the Hokage as well. Whatever punishment comes, I, Uchiha Shisui, will bear it without complaint!"

He had already decided: if someone had to die, he'd trade his life for peace!

"Blah blah blah, Shisui, what the hell are you rambling about?"

Uchiha Siming took one look and knew Shisui was planning to sacrifice himself for the greater good. He said flatly: "Itachi."

Uchiha Itachi was a sly one.

He immediately knew what Siming was planning.

"Siming, don't interfere—leave this to me—"

Before Shisui could finish, he saw Siming and Itachi vanish in an instant, like dancers in the dark. Fierce blade light erupted, and several Anbu ninja fell dead in a flash.

Siming and Itachi stood among the corpses, their crimson Sharingan gleaming with eerie light.

They flicked their swords in unison, blood splattering, then sheathed them.

"Blah blah blah, what's all the yapping for?"

Siming said in dissatisfaction: "Nameless NPCs should know their place. What's with all this nonsense?"

[Ding! Lord Hashirama didn't just throw them in prison—he killed them outright, fully enforcing that anyone who threatens Konoha's peace is Konoha's enemy!]

[Congratulations, Lord Hashirama, on completing the mission!]

[Mission reward: Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!]

Tch.

Uchiha Siming clicked his tongue in disgust. This counted as completing the mission? System, are you that desperate or what?

"Ah!"

Shisui let out a sharp shriek: "Siming, Itachi, you killed people! It's over, it's over—this can't be resolved peacefully anymore. Root will come knocking, and then the Uchiha and Konoha will go to war."

"The whole village will be plunged into chaos."

"Other ninja villages will take advantage, and Konoha will be attacked from all sides."

"The entire village will be destroyed. Konoha... it's over!"

Shisui's face was ashen, as if he could already see the day Konoha fell.

Tch.

The corner of Siming's mouth twitched, and he couldn't help but sigh: "Shisui, no wonder you kept the peace for so many years and ended up with nothing. Don't worry, Danzo's own hands aren't clean either. On this matter, there's no way he can make a move against us. Rest assured."

"Ah? Why?"

Shisui didn't quite understand.

"Shisui, Danzo ordering Root to assassinate Siming has no solid ground to stand on, so he won't make a big deal out of it."

Itachi's expression was calm.

Then he and Shisui's faces showed slight shock as they watched Uchiha Siming clap his hands together. In an instant, several Root ninjas turned into crooked trees. Forget corpses—those men didn't even leave ashes behind.

It was so swift and practiced.

As if he'd done it a thousand times before.

Shisui and Itachi exchanged glances, realizing that the Siming they thought was "ordinary" seemed anything but.

"Holy shit! No way, this is Wood Release!"

Shisui jolted, snapping out of it. This wasn't just about being skilled at killing and disposing of bodies—Siming was using Wood Release!

"Siming, you... how do you know Wood Release?"

He stammered, unable to believe it.

An Uchiha who hung around the Senju Clan every day was one thing, but awakening Wood Release too? That was just too absurd!

"Shisui, you forgot—Siming's mother is from the Senju Clan."

Itachi couldn't help but marvel.

A hint of submission crept into his eyes.

An Elite Jonin with only a Two-Tomoe Sharingan wasn't enough to earn his loyalty, but a Two-Tomoe Sharingan wielder who mastered Wood Release was. Possessing the same Wood Release as the First Hokage, Siming's very existence took on a completely different meaning.

Maybe, following him...

Could truly change the fate of the Uchiha and Konoha!

Many things clicked into place. No wonder Siming had skipped clan meetings before—he'd been training Wood Release, preparing for this day, for this opportunity!

To save the Uchiha from their doomed fate!

Itachi's gaze toward Siming shifted from submission to reverence!

—Siming was a man who had risen above petty interests, willing to sacrifice over a decade of his life for the peace of the Uchiha and Konoha!

"Siming, from now on, just give me orders for anything!"

Uchiha Itachi's words were firm and sincere.

"Ah, of course."

Siming replied casually, though he felt a bit baffled. Why was Itachi suddenly pledging loyalty?

Whatever.

Uchiha were always prone to overthinking. Who knew what bizarre logic was running through this guy's head.

Tsk.

How strange. He'd only meant to string Shisui along, but now Itachi was turning out to be way more useful than Shisui.

"Alright, let's all head back."

Uchiha Siming waved his hand: "Let's pretend nothing happened today. Root was never here, and we never saw any Root ninja."

Without evidence...

For the Uchiha, it meant it never happened.

No matter who came knocking.