The Uchiha Clan's Mass Defection

Uchiha Du Yang manipulated his Susanoo in its complete form, triggering massive explosions across several locations in Konoha. The village's high-ranking officials should have immediately organized personnel to conduct rescue operations.

He, however, had no time to concern himself with such matters.

The struggle for power is, more often than not, the most critical priority.

Currently, the situation in Konoha was dire to the extreme, essentially a state of having no leader to guide the masses.

The two men who held the most power in Konoha were the Hokage and Danzo.

The Hokage was dead, but before he perished, he had accused Danzo of colluding with the Uchiha Clan to ambush and assassinate him.

Because of this, any attempt by Danzo to order a pursuit of the fleeing Uchiha clansmen now felt like a guilty man trying to cover his tracks, plunging the majority of Konoha's ninja into confusion.

Furthermore, with the Hokage now dead, Danzo was not the Hokage, so by what authority did he have to issue commands?

Since Danzo's account contradicted the words of the late Hokage, why should anyone believe him?

Two opposing factions stood in a standoff, locked in an argument that showed no signs of resolution.

One side supported Danzo, consisting mostly of members of Root and ninja who idolized him.

The other side believed the words of the Hokage, convinced that Danzo had indeed colluded with the Uchiha Clan.

Konoha had descended into utter chaos.

In truth, Du Yang had correctly calculated that Tsunade and Jiraiya lacked the ability to control the situation, nor did they have the heart to do so.

At the edge of the Konoha barrier.

At the seventh backup drainage outlet in the southeast.

The final rearguard squad, led by an Uchiha elite jonin, watched the distance with tense expressions.

They had held their position for nearly an hour, repelling three scattered waves of scouting ninja.

The large-scale encirclement they had anticipated never materialized. The firelight in the distance grew brighter, and the faint sounds of panic reached them, making them realize what had happened.

Konoha had truly fallen into total chaos...

"Time is up."

The Uchiha glanced at the Ink Jade Talisman tucked inside his robes.

This was a communication tool left behind by the clan leader, Zhao. The fading of its light signified that all evacuation routes were now sealed, which also meant the clan leader had completed his mission.

The Uchiha Clan had successfully evacuated.

He suppressed the agitation in his heart and whispered:

"Follow the plan. Destroy all traces and withdraw."

The squad members moved swiftly, using explosive tags to create the illusion of a cave-in to block any pursuers.

After finishing, this Uchiha elite jonin took one last deep look at Konoha, the village where he had lived for decades, then resolutely turned away. He plunged into the dark, damp underground tunnel, sprinting toward the distant rendezvous point.

Deep down, he felt no attachment to Konoha.

The people here had long ago ceased to have any room for the Uchiha.

Fifteen miles west of the main gate of Konoha, in a secluded mountain hollow.

Dozens of Uchiha clansmen, who had successfully used forged documents to leave the village in batches, were waiting anxiously.

Most of them were scholars, craftsmen, and non-combatants of the clan.

Leading them was a composed Uchiha jonin.

In the distant sky, three massive mushroom clouds from the explosions slowly expanded; even here, they could feel the slight tremors of the earth.

Shortly after, the Ink Jade Talisman in their possession flickered and went dark one after another.

"The clan leader's signal. The passage is closed." The lead jonin's voice was somewhat hoarse, his face erupting with ecstatic joy. "We succeeded. Konoha didn't send anyone to pursue us."

After a brief silence, the sound of sobbing broke out—it was a mother clutching her young daughter tightly.

Immediately, the shoulders of many others began to shake, and tears streamed down their faces.

They could hardly believe they had actually succeeded.

"Did we... really make it out?"

"We're free... we're finally free!"

They embraced one another, patting each other's shoulders and checking to ensure their companions were safe and sound.

Sunlight pierced through the morning mist, spilling over them as if gilding this group of clansmen, who had just broken free from their cage, with a layer of newborn golden light.

"Pack your belongings and head to the first rendezvous point." The lead jonin wiped away his tears, his voice regaining its firm, powerful tone. "The clan leader and the rearguard must be waiting for us."

At the secret waterway exit downstream of the Naka River, several inconspicuous flat-bottomed boats carrying the final batch of clansmen who had evacuated via the water quietly slid into the wide river channel. They drifted downstream, rapidly distancing themselves from the borders of Konoha.

The ninja on the boats rowed with all their might, while the women and children huddled in the cabins, listening to the gurgling water and feeling the boat pick up speed.

When the Ink Jade Talisman flickered out, confirming that no pursuers had appeared on the riverbank, it was unclear who let out the first long sigh of relief.

That breath seemed to drain the last ounce of heaviness from everyone's bones.

"It's over, it's all over," an elderly Uchiha elder wept, tears streaming down his face. "We have finally left that place."

The young ninjas straightened their spines, gazing at the scenery rushing past on both banks, their eyes filled with hope.

They knew the road ahead would be arduous, but at the very least, for the first time, their fate was truly in their own hands.

"Pick up the pace, the Clan Head is waiting for us," the elite jonin in charge of the fleet commanded in a low voice, though his tone now carried a hint of lightness.

The skiffs shot forward like arrows, piercing the morning mist, sailing toward an unknown... yet hopeful shore.

When the sun rose fully, dispelling the last of the night, Konoha remained shrouded in grief, suspicion, fear, and bewilderment.

It was only then that the ninjas of Konoha realized.

The Uchiha Clan, who had once lived by the Naka River, had vanished as if they had evaporated into thin air.

The clan grounds they left behind appeared exceptionally empty and silent in the morning light.

Only the wind blew through the vacant streets and alleys, rustling the banners left hanging beneath the eaves.

Over a hundred miles away from Konoha at the designated rendezvous point, the successfully escaped Uchiha clansmen were gathering from all directions.

When these Uchiha saw the familiar faces of their kin, when they confirmed that their families were safe, and learned that the elite rearguard had also returned, smiles bloomed on every face.

Naturally, Uchiha Du Yang's parents, Uchiha Tenchi and Xia Hong, as well as his younger brother Izumi, were all safe and sound.

One of the gathering points happened to be near a mountain valley.

Deep within the valley, a natural cave had been cleverly expanded to form a temporary council chamber.

Uchiha Du Yang sat on a flat boulder, his face still somewhat pale.

Seated before him were several figures.

On the left were Itachi Uchiha and Uchiha Fugaku.

They were the only two ninjas in the Uchiha Clan, besides him, who had reached Kage-level combat strength.

On the right were three Uchiha elders: Elder Uchiha Fumihiko, who managed the clan's archives and history; Elder Uchiha Ryusuke, who had overseen some external supply channels and possessed a deep understanding of the geography and economy of the ninja world; and Elder Uchiha Toyo.

These three ninjas could barely be considered "weak Kage" level.

The atmosphere in the cave was solemn, with only the faint sound of a waterfall drifting in.

One Super-Kage, two Kage-level ninjas, and three weak Kage—while their top-tier combat strength was commendable, there was a massive gap below that.

With such strength, wanting to build a village was nothing short of a pipe dream.

But a goal was a goal, and survival was survival.

"The headcount is preliminarily complete," Uchiha Toyo spoke first. "Excluding the twenty-seven elderly and infirm who volunteered to stay behind to draw attention, and the nine Champions confirmed dead during the rearguard interception, the remaining two thousand one hundred and forty-three clansmen have all arrived safely at the three pre-set rendezvous points and are converging on this valley."

"The wounded have received initial treatment, and supplies are being tallied. While not abundant, they are sufficient to support a half-month migration."

The group nodded slightly; this was a success that far exceeded expectations.

Itachi Uchiha spoke next: "Konoha has fallen into severe internal strife. Hiruzen Sarutobi is dead, Shimura Danzō has been publicly accused and his reputation is in ruins, so they are unable to organize an effective pursuit in the short term."

"Jiraiya and Tsunade are emotionally unstable, and neither has the heart to serve as the new Hokage. The various clans and factions within Konoha are maintaining an ambiguous stance, and none dare to act rashly."

"But in the long run, Konoha will never let this go. Once their internal situation stabilizes, they will certainly hunt us down relentlessly."

"We need a new home," Uchiha Fugaku said, pointing to a rough map of the ninja world spread out among them. "The reach of Konoha's Anbu and Root is long. Ordinary small countries or border regions may not be safe, and we could easily be coerced by the powers of the Great Nations."

"Where this home should be is a question worth discussing."