The clan members could not see clearly. They wanted to launch a coup, but the ones at fault were not the Uchiha Clan, but Konoha's higher-ups who did not trust the Uchiha Clan.
Although his resistance would destroy Konoha, the clan members could not be Sacrificial Lambs!
Absolutely not!
He was the Clan Head of the Uchiha Clan!
He had to protect not only his Younger Brother, but also the Uchiha Clan!
Uchiha Itachi looked at Uchiha Shisui's smile.
That smile was filled with sorrow. Knowing there was a tiger on the mountain, yet having no choice but to walk toward it.
He could not bear to look directly at that smile of someone heading to his death.
Just those two eyes were enough to make him unable to stay any longer.
He hurriedly got up and left.
Uchiha Clan Land.
The clan members looked at the prepared shuriken, Exploding Tags, and other items. Their hearts pounded, and they were incredibly nervous.
But they were also fired up.
Like a flood that had been blocked for ten years, they had finally seen hope of breaking through the high wall before them, and were filled with excitement.
The Sharingan in their eyes flickered with blood-red light. Bloodlust and hatred intertwined as they craved the taste of blood.
"Soon. Very soon..."
Late at night.
Naruto's House.
Six-year-old Naruto huddled in the corner.
He did not know what had happened.
Why had that little brother who kept his eyes closed stopped coming to see him?
Why had Grandpa Hokage stopped coming to play with him?
Why had Sasuke stopped talking to him?
He did not know anything.
In the whole world, only he was left.
He could not write the two words "loneliness," but he understood their meaning better than adults did.
"Hokage Grandpa, big brother, Sasuke..."
He felt so cold. So very cold.
Suddenly, the window was violently flung open.
A pitch-black figure rushed in. Without saying a word, its cold gaze met Uzumaki Naruto's.
"You..." Uzumaki Naruto stood up in panic, instinctively trying to run away.
But the moment he turned around—
The next second, pain shot through his neck.
The scene before his eyes rapidly darkened, and the ground rushed toward him.
Hokage Building.
The Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen; Hokage's assistant Shimura Danzō; Hokage Advisor Mitokado Homura; and Hokage Advisor Utatane Koharu—the four people of highest standing in Konoha—had gathered together. They all looked down at Uchiha Itachi, who wore Anbu attire and knelt on one knee.
Uchiha Itachi said, "The Uchiha Clan has decided to launch a revolution in Konoha!"
"What?" Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu were shocked.
Although the Uchiha Clan had acted like this before, they had merely been provoked. It could not truly be called a coup.
But now that Uchiha Itachi had reported it, things were different.
"You've already obtained the evidence, haven't you?" Shimura Danzō said.
Facing Shimura Danzō's question, Uchiha Itachi lowered his head. "Yes."
"Hiruzen." Shimura Danzō looked at Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Sarutobi Hiruzen shook his head.
"Shisui will not let this happen. There is still a chance. I will stop the Uchiha Clan's coup."
But just as Sarutobi Hiruzen finished speaking, an Anbu flashed into the room in a hurry, his movements full of urgency.
Seeing his appearance, Sarutobi Hiruzen's expression turned grave. Before he could speak, the Anbu immediately said, "Lord Hokage, Uzumaki Naruto has disappeared!"
"What?!" Sarutobi Hiruzen, Mitokado Homura, and Utatane Koharu slammed their hands onto the table with a bang, abruptly rising to their feet as the atmosphere grew tense.
Shimura Danzō remained seated, calm and composed. "The Uchiha Clan has long harbored designs on the Demon Fox. Their actions now are hardly unexpected."
As he spoke, he glanced at Sarutobi Hiruzen. Hidden beneath his calm gaze were a sneer and anticipation.
Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu, who had always tried to smooth things over, could no longer remain calm.
"Hiruzen! The Uchiha Clan must be dealt with!"
"The Uchiha Clan cannot be allowed to remain! They have made up their minds to launch a coup!"
Shimura Danzō also spoke. "This is the best, and also the last, opportunity. Once the Uchiha Clan gains control of that Demon Fox..."
Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu both recalled the Nine-Tailed Night six years ago. Their legs went weak and their heads spun in panic.
If the Nine-Tailed Night happened again...
Sarutobi Hiruzen's expression hardened. He gritted his teeth and made his decision, his face filled with sharp resolve as he swept out his hand.
"Gather every ninja in the village!"
"Yes!" The Anbu immediately sprang into action.
Everyone's faces were filled with cold solemnity and righteousness.
Today would be the day the Uchiha Clan was exterminated!
Uchiha Clan Land.
Jinghuo Uchiha's house.
[Quest name: You Know How to Scheme?][quest content: Kill Shimura Danzō!][quest reward: Eternal Mangekyo] [Quest name: So You're the One Who Understands?][quest content: Kill Uchiha Itachi!][quest reward: Lava Style Chakra Mode] [Quest name: So You Still Scheme Against Others?][quest content: Kill Jinghuo Uchiha!][quest reward...] [Quest name: So You Still Won't Let the Uchiha Clan Launch a Coup?][quest content: Kill Sarutobi Hiruzen!][quest reward...] [Quest name: So You All Insult the Uchiha Clan?][quest content: Kill Konoha Villagers!][...] [Quest name: So You All Still Want a Coup?][quest content...] [...] [...]
Jinghuo Uchiha: "..."
"Once I get the Mangekyo back, I'll sacrifice you sooner or later." Jinghuo Uchiha muttered quietly under his breath.
Then he became somewhat excited.
"It is finally starting!"
A trace of orange flames rose from his body.
The next second.
Boom—!
Like a Volcano Eruption, everything in the house was destroyed.
"What happened?!"
"What is going on?!"
"This is Jinghuo's house!"
"Where is Jinghuo?! He couldn't have..."
Countless clan members ran out. Looking at the enormous pillar of flames soaring into the sky and feeling the high temperature and scorching heat in the air, they could not help swallowing as they were stunned by the sight before them.
"What... is that..."
"Chakra... There is someone inside!"
"There is someone inside?!"
Countless Sharingan opened, casting eerie red light through the night.
More than a hundred pairs of Sharingan stared fixedly at the Orange Flame Pillar. Their expressions were tense, cold sweat running down their cheeks only to rapidly evaporate.
"What exactly is going on..."
All the clan members were extremely uneasy.
The center of the Uchiha Clan Land.
"Clan Head! This is bad! Jinghuo's house has been destroyed!" A Clan Member hurried over.
Uchiha Shisui's expression was exceptionally calm.
The Orange Flame Pillar shooting into the sky illuminated the surroundings with a bright, dazzling light. Like a gigantic torch, it seemed ready to light up the entire Uchiha Clan Land.
He had seen it long ago.
He had sensed it too.
That was... Jinghuo's Chakra.
He suddenly recalled two things Jinghuo Uchiha had said.
—"I hope you can stand behind me when the time comes."
—"It is only a Sharingan. Even without my eyes, I will still be strong."
"Still be strong..." Uchiha Shisui looked at the Orange Flame Pillar and revealed a smile.
Jinghuo was so strong that he could finally rest easy.
Before you continue