After the Clan Extermination 2

"Someone... summon Uchiha Itachi to see me at once..."

Outside the window, the heavy rain continued to fall. Even though it was already morning, the sky remained a murky gray, bearing a striking resemblance to the darkness of the previous night.

An Anbu operative acknowledged the order and departed.

Less than ten minutes later, Uchiha Itachi appeared at the office door. His left arm was in a cast, suspended in a sling across his chest, and his forehead was wrapped in bandages. His face was deathly pale, drained of all color, yet his eyes remained calm—calm as a stagnant pool.

"Lord Hokage." Itachi walked in and knelt on one knee.

"Rise and speak." Sarutobi Hiruzen gestured toward the chair opposite him. "How are your injuries?"

"They are of no consequence." Itachi sat down, his back held perfectly straight.

Sarutobi Hiruzen glanced at him and sighed. "Itachi, I have some bad news to share."

Itachi's gaze flickered, but he said nothing.

"Your mother and brother... have gone missing."

Itachi's body stiffened visibly.

"Missing?" His voice was hoarse.

"When we were clearing the battlefield, we did not find their remains. We have also questioned the Anbu and the Root; since the moment we sealed off the Uchiha clan, no one has seen either of them." Sarutobi Hiruzen paused. "They may have escaped in the chaos, or they may have been taken by someone."

Itachi remained silent for a long time.

Outside, the rain drummed against the glass, and the office was so quiet that the faint crackle of tobacco burning in a pipe could be heard.

"Sasuke... is still alive." Itachi finally spoke, his tone carrying a hint of expectation he hadn't even realized himself.

"It is possible." Sarutobi Hiruzen did not rule it out. "We are still searching."

Itachi fell silent again. He knew what the words "it is possible" implied: he might be alive, or he might already be dead.

"Lord Hokage did not call me here just to tell me this, did you?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded. "Itachi, despite these unexpected events, your mission must continue. I will not designate your mother and brother as missing-nin; their status as Konoha shinobi will be preserved. You may focus on your mission, and I will have the Anbu handle the search for them."

"What is the mission?"

"As originally planned, infiltrate the organization of that masked man you mentioned."

Itachi's eyes flickered. "Infiltrate?"

"Yes." Sarutobi Hiruzen stood up and walked to the window, turning his back to Itachi. "Since that organization sent a powerhouse like the masked man to handle their affairs, it stands to reason that they possess many such individuals. Furthermore, I have recently received word that my student, Orochimaru, has joined that organization. I need you to go undercover and investigate what they are truly planning."

"I understand."

Sarutobi Hiruzen turned around to face Itachi. "The duration of this mission is indefinite. It could take years, perhaps over a decade. You must remain embedded in that organization, gather intelligence, and when necessary, coordinate with Konoha to strike against them."

"What about Sasuke?" Itachi asked.

"I said I would have people look for him."

"I want a promise from Lord Hokage." Itachi's voice was calm, but his gaze was resolute. "Guarantee Sasuke's safety."

Sarutobi Hiruzen looked into Itachi's eyes, remained silent for a few seconds, and then nodded. "I give you my word as Hokage: Konoha will protect Uchiha Sasuke. Whether he is found or not, as long as he is in Konoha, no one will touch him openly."

"Not in the shadows, either."

"...Not in the shadows, either." Sarutobi Hiruzen conceded.

Itachi stood up and bowed. "I will leave the village immediately."

"So soon? Your wounds have not yet healed."

"The wounds are of no consequence. The sooner I reach the Akatsuki, the sooner I complete the mission."

Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded. "The Anbu will escort you through a secret passage; no one will discover you."

Itachi turned to walk to the door, then suddenly stopped. With his back to Sarutobi Hiruzen, he asked, "Lord Hokage, are my mother and Sasuke... truly still alive?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen did not answer.

Itachi waited for a few seconds, then pushed the door open and left.

Outside the door, two Anbu operatives were already waiting. They flanked him and vanished into the end of the corridor.

Sarutobi Hiruzen sat back down in his chair. The tobacco in his pipe had long since gone out. He took out some fresh tobacco, refilled it, lit it, and took a deep drag.

"Mikoto, Sasuke..." he muttered to himself. "It would be better if you were truly dead. Being alive... only makes things troublesome."

One hour later, the Jonin meeting room.

The long table was filled with people—all of them Konoha Jonin.

Hyuga Hiashi, Nara Shikaku, Yamanaka Inoichi, Akimichi Choza, Inuzuka Tsume, Aburame Shikuroo, Yuhi Kurenai, Sarutobi Asuma, Hatake Kakashi... everyone who could come had arrived. The attendance was even higher than during wartime deployments.

The expression on every face was different—some grim, some bewildered, some furious, some indifferent—but one thing remained the same: no one spoke.

Sarutobi Hiruzen walked into the meeting room, followed by Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura.

Danzo was not present. It was not appropriate for him to appear before everyone right now, not only because the Wood Release and Sharingan on his arm would surely provoke certain clans, but also because he was the one who had carried out the events of last night...

"Everyone is here." Sarutobi Hiruzen sat at the head of the table and scanned the room. "Let us begin."

No one answered.

Sarutobi Hiruzen coughed once and began, "I believe you are all aware of what happened last night. Some... events occurred within the Uchiha clan grounds. I have summoned you all today to provide an official report on the matter."

Hyuga Hiashi looked up at Sarutobi Hiruzen, his expression unnervingly calm; Nara Shikaku sat with his hands clasped on the table, head bowed, lost in thought.

"Under the influence of spies from other villages, the Uchiha clan chose to betray Konoha. They prepared a military coup to overthrow the peace of the village and seize the position of Hokage," Sarutobi Hiruzen said, his voice steady, as if he were reading a routine report.

"After the Konoha Root division uncovered this plot, they reported it to me. I immediately dispatched Hokage Advisor Shimura Danzo to the Uchiha clan to negotiate with their clan head and elders, hoping for a peaceful resolution. However, the sentiment of betrayal within the Uchiha was overwhelming; their upper-echelon ninja were radical and refused peace, insisting on launching a coup."

He paused, then continued, "During this process, Uchiha Itachi—the eldest son of Uchiha Fugaku—disagreed with the clan's leadership. Influenced by his Mangekyo Sharingan, he lost control of his emotions and slaughtered the Uchiha clan."

A deathly silence filled the conference room.

Not a single person present believed these words, yet no one dared to voice their disbelief.

The Uchiha had co-founded Konoha with the Senju clan and had sent their elite to the front lines in every war the village had fought. To claim they wanted to betray the village—even the commoners who had long resented the Uchiha due to their management of the Military Police Force could not swallow such a reason, let alone the Jonin present.

But no one spoke up to refute him.

"To provide closure for the Uchiha clan and to maintain the stability of Konoha, it has been decided: Uchiha Itachi is hereby classified as an S-rank missing-nin. From this moment on, anyone who encounters him is authorized to kill him on sight."

Might Guy could not help but speak up: "Lord Hokage, Uchiha Itachi wiped out the entire clan by himself? Including those Jonin in the Military Police Force?"

"The power of the Mangekyo Sharingan is beyond what we can imagine," Sarutobi Hiruzen replied in an icy tone.

Might Guy wanted to say more, but Hatake Kakashi tugged on his sleeve, and he fell silent.

"Then, is there any evidence of the Uchiha clan's coup?" Sarutobi Asuma still could not bear to watch his father lie through his teeth like this. He felt that the Sarutobi Hiruzen before him was a completely different person from the father he had known in his youth.

"We have reliable intelligence sources," Utatane Koharu interjected, answering in Sarutobi Hiruzen's stead. "The specific details involve Root secrets and cannot be disclosed."

Sarutobi Asuma looked up at Sarutobi Hiruzen, then finally nodded and asked no more.

Sarutobi Hiruzen knew they didn't believe him, but it didn't matter—

The official narrative was set; believe it or not, that was up to them.

"Furthermore, regarding the Fourth Hokage and the Nine-Tails Incident," Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at the group, "last night, rumors were spread claiming that the Fourth Hokage was sabotaged by Konoha's leadership, and that we mistreated the Fourth's orphan."

"These are nothing but absolute lies."

He took a deep breath: "The Nine-Tails Incident was a conspiracy by the Uchiha clan. They controlled the Nine-Tails and attacked Konoha. The Fourth Hokage sacrificed himself to seal the beast. We have already verified this."

"Then why wasn't it made public?" a Jonin asked involuntarily.

"Because the Uchiha clan was still in the village at the time, and without conclusive evidence, we could not make such accusations lightly," Sarutobi Hiruzen said. "Moreover, the Fourth Hokage's orphan—Uzumaki Naruto—is the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki. We kept his identity hidden not only to prevent the Fourth's enemies from finding him but also to protect the status of the Jinchuriki."

"And living in such poor conditions, eating such meager food—is that protection?" Yuhi Kurenai could not help but speak out. She had always admired the Fourth Hokage, Namikaze Minato, and had never paid much attention to Uzumaki Naruto before. Having learned of this only last night, she had secretly investigated his living situation that morning.

"That was his own request," Sarutobi Hiruzen replied without changing his expression, addressing the woman his son was fond of. "Naruto is a stubborn child and refuses to accept charity. We offered him better housing, but he refused."

Yuhi Kurenai opened her mouth to retort, but was stopped by a look from Sarutobi Asuma. She turned her head away, unwilling to look at him.

Hyuga Hiashi had remained silent throughout. He watched Sarutobi Hiruzen as if looking at a stranger—no, not a stranger, but a man who had grown old, fearful, and changed.

"Next, regarding the reorganization of the Konoha Military Police Force," Sarutobi Hiruzen continued. "The Uchiha clan... is no longer here, and the force requires restructuring. From today, the Military Police Force will merge with the Anbu and fall under the direct jurisdiction of the Hokage. All Konoha ninja, regardless of their origin, may apply to join."

That, at least, was good news.

Previously, the Military Police Force had been the Uchiha's exclusive domain; others could not enter, and the Hokage had not allowed it, fearing it would improve relations with the Uchiha.

Now, everyone had a chance.

But no one felt happy.

Because everyone knew this reorganization was built upon hundreds of corpses.

"Finally, I must emphasize one point," Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at them sternly. "What happened last night is top-secret Konoha intelligence. No one is to leak it or discuss it in private. Violators will be treated as traitors to the village."

Another silence descended upon the conference room.

"Dismissed."

Sarutobi Hiruzen stood up and turned to leave. Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura followed behind him without looking back.

"Power."

The word surfaced in the minds of everyone in the room. They shook their heads, stood up slowly, and left in twos and threes.

Hyuga Hiashi walked in the lead, his face ashen.

Nara Shikaku, Yamanaka Inoichi, and Akimichi Choza walked together, none of them speaking.

Not until they were far from the conference room did Yamanaka Inoichi whisper, "Shikaku, do you think..."

Nara Shikaku stopped him from continuing. Even outside the room, some things could never be spoken aloud. "Follow the Hokage's orders. Remember to tell your children at home not to talk nonsense..."

"Also, increase the training load for all clan members, whether they are active ninja or those still in the academy..."

"You mean..." Yamanaka Inoichi had known Nara Shikaku for many years and immediately understood his meaning. "It's only been a few years since the last one ended, and it's going to happen again?!"

"It certainly will," Nara Shikaku said with a bitter smile. He didn't want it either—his own child had only just started school—but some things would not fail to happen just because some people didn't want them to. "Look at the massive cracks in the ground; they are on the verge of becoming lakes. As long as the other villages aren't blind, how could they miss this opportunity?"

Yamanaka Inoichi looked up at the gloomy sky, where the torrential rain had yet to cease. "This rain is heavier than what we experienced in the Land of Rain back then. I wonder how long it will last this time."

Akimichi Choza patted him on the shoulder. "Let's go. Go back and brief your clan. Stop restricting their access to ninjutsu; let them learn more. It might give them a better chance of survival. After all, staying alive is what matters most..."

The three parted ways, each returning to their own homes.

On the other side, Inuzuka Tsume and Aburame Shikuroo walked together.

"Shikuroo, your insects must have sensed something last night, right?" Inuzuka Tsume asked.

Aburame Shikuroo was silent for a moment before saying, "I sensed it."

"Then do you believe..."

"I said, I sensed it."

Inuzuka Tsume understood what he meant.

What was sensed was... different from what the Third Hokage had said.

But she said nothing, turned around, and left.

Hyuga Hiashi returned home to find the clan elders waiting for him. Ever since the events involving the Uchiha clan last night, everyone had been discussing their future situation and their way out.

In recent years, the Hyuga clan had not produced any geniuses. The members of the Main House did not need to go to the battlefield, so they had long lost their combat awareness; meanwhile, the members of the Branch House bore the Caged Bird seal and had lost the heart to strive for improvement.

They were all thinking of just muddling through. Seeing Hyuga Hiashi return from the Hokage Building, they hurriedly asked him about the results of the meeting.

After recounting the events of the Jonin meeting to the elders, the high-ranking members of the Hyuga clan in the room fell silent. They had roughly guessed some of the outcomes, but now that their assumptions had truly come to pass, they acted like ostriches, burying their heads in the sand, wanting to think of nothing and manage nothing.

Hyuga Hiashi was silent for a long time before saying, "From today on, all members of the Main House of the Hyuga clan must strengthen their security, and at the same time, try not to leave the house if possible."

"Is it that serious?" the Third Elder of the Main House couldn't help but ask. Although he didn't go out much himself, his grandson liked to play in the village.

"Because the Uchiha are gone. Just as Uchiha Setsuna said, we might be next..."

The Third Elder's face turned pale, and he dared not ask further.

"Additionally, select some Branch House members with decent strength and pass down the Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms." Seeing that everyone was silent, Hyuga Hiashi voiced a decision he had made on the way back, "If something truly happens, our Hyuga clan cannot just sit and wait for death."

"Aside from Rotation, the Twin Lion Fists, and the One Hundred Twenty-Eight Palms, we should also select some other Main House ninjutsu to pass on to loyal Branch House members. Rather than letting them benefit others later, it is better to cultivate our own clansmen..." Hyuga Tendou, the Great Elder of the Hyuga Main House, pondered Hyuga Hiashi's decision for a while, understood his intent, and added.

"Many thanks to the Clan Head and the Elder..." Upon hearing the decision of the two, the elders of the Hyuga Branch House stood up one after another, bowing to thank them.

Hyuga Hiashi nodded, signaling for the elders to rise, "The task of selecting the Branch House members is left to you, the Branch House elders. Once they are chosen, hand them over to the Great Elder to arrange for Main House ninjas to teach them. Everything is for the survival of the Hyuga."

"For the survival of the Hyuga..." The many elders nodded one after another, silently reciting Hyuga Hiashi's goal.

Meanwhile, outside Konoha.

The rain was still falling; even after leaving Konoha, the rain overhead had not diminished in the slightest.

Uchiha Naro stood on the Hokage Rock of Konoha, looking at the village in the curtain of rain.

Behind him followed three people: one woman and two youths, wearing black cloaks, quietly accompanying Uchiha Naro as he watched the Konoha that had abandoned them.

The youth holding the umbrella for Uchiha Naro was none other than Uchiha Shisui, who had already transformed into an evil spirit.

His face and body were covered in black markings, from which pain and hatred constantly radiated—these were the grievances of the Uchiha clan, repeatedly and cyclically experiencing the process of their deaths. They could not forget their pain, nor could they forget their hatred.

Uchiha Shisui had to feel these pains and hatreds every moment, and only when those grievances were completely laid to rest would his black markings disappear.

Originally, this should have been borne by the murderer, Uchiha Itachi, but Uchiha Shisui chose to bear it himself because he was the first to trust the Third Hokage and Shimura Danzō. It was he who influenced Uchiha Itachi to trust them; he was the fuse for everything that had happened. He wanted to atone; he wanted to bear all the sins.

In Uchiha Shisui, Uchiha Naro saw those stubborn Buddhist cultivators he had seen in the World of Kalpa's End.

Those people were the same, thinking they could bear the consequences of all mistakes, single-mindedly forgiving and pardoning others, only to cause an even greater catastrophe in the end.

In the words of Zhang Hongchen's world, such people were mindless saints.

Though he did not understand it, he supported it. After all, with Uchiha Shisui's saintly heart, all the side effects of the Nether Bone Banner were borne by him, allowing him to better utilize the power of the Nether Bone Banner.

As for the other two...

"Master, where are we going?" the woman asked, her voice hollow.

"The Capital." Uchiha Naro pointed in the direction of the Capital of the Land of Fire, "Let's go deliver another grand gift to Konoha."

"Master, do we not need to kill that traitor to the clan?" The other youth looked with eyes full of hatred at the figure quietly leaving Konoha.

"I will not make a move." Uchiha Naro shook his head, "His affairs are not for me to handle, but for you, the last clansman of the Uchiha, to deal with. Let's go."