Presence was a very strange thing.
Jinghuo Uchiha's calm demeanor did not make the clan members worry.
Instead, it made them increasingly excited and impassioned.
Their pounding heartbeats sent hot blood surging through them, driving away the chill of the deep night and filling their bodies with wild fervor and lofty spirit.
Just as they were about to leave the clan compound, they ran into Sarutobi Hiruzen and his large group, who had come to wipe out the Uchiha Clan.
Sarutobi Hiruzen's wartime attire made every member of the Uchiha Clan tighten their grip on their weapons, filled with hostility and resolve.
Sarutobi Hiruzen's gaze was cold, as though he were looking at corpses.
However, he was careful not to look into Uchiha Shisui's eyes.
At that moment, a mass of orange flame erupted with searing heat, yet somehow gave off an oddly tranquil feeling.
He turned his head and noticed Jinghuo Uchiha, who had led the way.
Six-year-old Jinghuo Uchiha stood there at only four feet tall, but his presence was overwhelming. No one dared underestimate him.
The orange flame burning quietly around him gave off a blazing high temperature that left many shinobi parched and made their eyes tremble.
They recalled a form of Nintaijutsu from Kumogakure—the Lightning Style Chakra Mode.
Under that mode, the previous Third Raikage had been held back by ten thousand Iwagakure shinobi and fought for three days and three nights before dying.
The current Fourth Raikage was even more like a Humanoid Tailed Beast, having fought the Eight-Tails and won.
It was a technique terrifying beyond measure!
A forbidden technique powerful enough to let its user rival a tailed beast!
Thinking of this, they recalled the flames coiling around the terrifying Skeleton Giant that day.
That was it—this flame!
They suddenly felt a little cold.
Without anyone noticing, Sarutobi Hiruzen's side grew increasingly less imposing.
Their numbers clearly surpassed those of the Uchiha Clan several times over;
They had clearly surrounded the Uchiha Clan like dumplings in a wrapper;
Yet despite that, they trembled with inexplicable fear.
In contrast, the Uchiha Clan—
They knew they would die.
Yet when they saw Jinghuo Uchiha in Fire Style Chakra Mode and the calm Uchiha Shisui, the sense of security in their hearts nearly overflowed.
It was as though a voice in their hearts was laughing wildly: "Hahaha! So what if we die? Who's afraid of who!"
They grew more and more excited, and their hands gripping their weapons became stronger and stronger.
With such a contrast, Sarutobi Hiruzen quickly noticed the change.
Though he was old, he understood that presence was brought out by the leader.
He only needed to defeat the leader.
Looking at Jinghuo Uchiha's tightly shut eyes and the terrifying flames burning over his small body, he said in a deep voice, "I'll handle Jinghuo Uchiha."
"I'll take Shisui." Uchiha Itachi stepped out of the darkness and walked to Sarutobi Hiruzen's side, opposing the Uchiha Clan.
The clan members' eyes nearly split with rage at the sight.
"Itachi! What are you doing?!"
"You're a member of the Uchiha Clan!"
"Just as we thought, you're a traitor to the Uchiha!"
"We were right to suspect you!"
Compared to the clan members' fury, Uchiha Itachi cared more about Uchiha Shisui's reaction.
But Uchiha Shisui remained calm, just as calm as Jinghuo Uchiha.
At that moment, Jinghuo Uchiha turned toward Sarutobi Hiruzen with his eyes closed and spoke.
"Where is Danzo?"
The surroundings fell silent. Every shinobi in the village heard those words clearly.
They all looked toward Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Sarutobi Hiruzen's expression darkened. "Do you think I would tell you?!"
This time, he had chosen to strike first. Only then had he prevented Jinghuo Uchiha from reaching the Village Center again and avoided disaster.
As expected, the Uchiha Clan must be destroyed! Sarutobi Hiruzen's gaze grew colder and colder.
Otherwise, if the Uchiha Clan left their compound now, they would certainly cause enormous devastation. Who knew how many villagers would die?
"Heh."
Jinghuo Uchiha raised his chin and looked down on Sarutobi Hiruzen. "Danzo captured Uzumaki Naruto. With your brain, there's no way you failed to think of that. Even if you were muddled for a moment, you should have realized it when you went back to change into your battle clothes. So why are you still here?"
"Because... you think this is a good opportunity to wipe out the Uchiha Clan!"
Jinghuo Uchiha's words were like a demon exposing the malice within a person's heart, slowly voicing Sarutobi Hiruzen's thoughts for all to hear.
For a moment, Sarutobi Hiruzen's face turned livid as he roared, "Shut up!"
At first, the village shinobi had not thought much of Jinghuo Uchiha's words. But seeing Sarutobi Hiruzen's reaction, they found it strange.
A thought could not help but surface in their hearts: The Third Hokage really does seem to think that way...
Jinghuo Uchiha chuckled and continued, "Using the Uchiha coup as an excuse to wipe out the Uchiha Clan—that's quite clever. But why is a man in his sixties leading the team himself?"
"Yes, you're the Hokage."
"But where is your Hokage Advisor? Where are your two Hokage Advisors?"
"When a life-and-death crisis comes, not one of them can be seen."
Sarutobi Hiruzen opened his mouth, wanting to explain.
But Jinghuo Uchiha spoke for him first.
"You want to say they aren't strong enough?"
"I have to laugh. All four of you were chosen by the Second Hokage to serve as the Hokage's guards. You alone are capable, while the other three are all trash?"
"If they're trash, why are they still clinging to their positions instead of stepping down?!"
As soon as he finished, Jinghuo Uchiha shed his relaxed, casual manner and became cold and unyielding.
"Sarutobi Hiruzen!"
"The obstruction on Nine-Tailed Night!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen's pupils contracted as he recalled the order from that night forbidding the Uchiha Clan from coming to aid them, instead sending them to guard the streets.
"Your tacit approval of Danzo's proposal!" The Uchiha Clan had been moved from the Village Center to the village outskirts and placed under twenty-four-hour surveillance.
"The spread of rumors!" The Uchiha Clan could control the Nine-Tails.
"Danzo's rebellion!" Danzo had sent the First Hokage Experiment Body to assassinate them.
"Your indulgence of Orochimaru!" You let Orochimaru, who conducted human experiments, escape.
"Your promises during war!" The Uchiha Clan's War Merit had not been announced.
"The weakness of the Armistice Agreement!" To placate Kumogakure, you sacrificed the interests of Konoha's clans.
"And also... the arrangements for the Fourth's son!" Uzumaki Naruto...
Sarutobi Hiruzen's pupils shrank to pinpricks, as though Jinghuo Uchiha had touched something that must never be touched. Terror and savagery twisted his face, making him seem like an evil ghost from hell as he let out a shrieking roar.
"What do you know?!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen's ghostly appearance frightened countless people. Even the village shinobi could not help taking a step back, their faces filled with panic.
They had never seen the Third Hokage like this. Fear-stricken and flustered, they hunched their bodies inward.
Yet Jinghuo Uchiha showed no fear whatsoever before Sarutobi Hiruzen.
"I know everything!"
As he spoke, the orange flame around him blazed fiercely.
The immense orange flame seemed to burn away the savagery Sarutobi Hiruzen had gathered.
The terrifying blazing high temperature incinerated the moisture in the air, leaving the people nearby feeling as if their skin were painfully dry. They retreated several steps in succession before finally breathing easier.
Jinghuo Uchiha's eyes remained closed, but it was as though a pair of rage-filled eyes were staring at Sarutobi Hiruzen.
"Now, bring Root and Danzo to me!"
"Otherwise, today will be the day Konoha perishes!"
Before you continue