Loyalty!!!

"Eight Inner Gates—Open!!!"

"Release the Hokage!!!"

A rugged roar exploded across the battlefield!

The next second, a bolt of green lightning tore through the air, closing in at extreme speed!

--Might Guy, has arrived!

He struck with a flying kick like a gale, moving so fast he was almost impossible to track.

However--

Uchiha Yoru simply tilted his body slightly, and the kick missed, whistling past him!

BOOM--

Guy landed, his legs carving deep furrows into the ground as he steadied himself, staring intensely at Uchiha Yoru.

But Uchiha Yoru merely looked at him with indifference, paying him no mind.

He was not the kind of fool who would forget to finish the job!

Sarutobi Hiruzen was his target at this moment!

Without the slightest hesitation--

Uchiha Yoru first used his powerful spiritual energy to scour the memories from Sarutobi Hiruzen's mind, then tightened his grip, delivering a signature Orochi's Heart-Crushing Strike.

SPLAT--!

Blood sprayed everywhere.

The man known as the "Strongest Hokage in Konoha's history," the Professor of Ninjutsu, the master of the five elements, the man with countless titles—Sarutobi Hiruzen—

His heart was crushed to pieces by Uchiha Yoru's bare hand!

Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyes froze instantly.

He felt the excruciating pain of his heart being pulverized, his mouth opening slightly as if to say something, but only a faint wheeze escaped his throat.

"Cough... cough..."

Crimson blood spilled from the corners of his mouth, and his body twitched once, as if all strength had abandoned him.

THUD--!

Sarutobi Hiruzen's body fell limply to the ground, blood quickly staining the surrounding earth. The Third Hokage of Konoha... had perished completely!

At this moment, the entire battlefield fell into a deathly silence!

Countless ninja widened their eyes, staring at the scene in disbelief.

"The Hokage... Lord... is dead?!"

"This... how is this possible..."

Many trembled, their eyes filled with terror.

Uchiha Yoru slowly withdrew his hand, flicking the blood off his fingers as his gaze swept across everyone present like a blade.

"The era of Konoha is due for a change."

BOOM!!

The chakra of the Susanoo erupted violently, the berserk energy sweeping through the surroundings and making it nearly impossible to breathe.

Might Guy clenched his fists, his body trembling slightly, the flames of fury burning in his eyes!

"You bastard!!!"

Might Guy stomped his foot, his powerful chakra exploding instantly. Seventh Gate—Gate of Wonder—Open!

Violent air currents raged around him, his muscles expanded, his blood boiled, and he stood like a god of war descended!

"Daytime Tiger!!"

Might Guy slammed his palms together, the air compressing at high speed and condensing into a roaring white tiger, charging straight at Uchiha Yoru with the momentum to tear everything apart!

--But, speed does not mean accuracy.

Uchiha Yoru merely shifted his body, dodging the attack with effortless grace.

The terrifying shockwave slammed into the Susanoo behind him, yet it failed to stir even a single ripple!

"Nani?!"

Might Guy's pupils constricted as he stared at the scene in disbelief.

In the split second Guy was stunned, his gaze accidentally met those scarlet Sharingan.

"Not good!!"

Alarm bells rang in Might Guy's mind, and just as he prepared to bite his tongue to force himself out of the influence, it was already too late--

The genjutsu of Indra had already been silently carved into the depths of his spirit.

Even with the Eight Inner Gates burning his life force and breaking his limits, he could not completely avoid such a genjutsu!

The next second, Might Guy's body suddenly stiffened. The aura of the Seventh Gate, the Gate of Wonder, gradually dissipated, and his figure swayed before he collapsed to the ground with a thud, losing consciousness and kicking up a cloud of dust.

"Guy!!!"

Kakashi's voice was filled with anxiety. He lunged toward Might Guy and lifted him up, but the latter's eyes were tightly shut, trapped deep within the control of a genjutsu.

Kakashi gritted his teeth, alarm bells ringing in his heart—

This man... he was absurdly strong!

As expected... ordinary power is simply no match for him.

He slowly raised his hand and lifted his forehead protector, revealing that blood-red Mangekyou Sharingan!

Boom—!

A massive surge of chakra erupted instantly!

"Kamui!!"

Kakashi's gaze was sharp, his Sharingan spinning at high speed. Distorted space began to spread, attempting to suck a portion of Uchiha Yoru's body into another dimension!

But Uchiha Yoru merely offered a faint smile and vanished from where he stood.

"!!!"

Kakashi's pupils constricted. Was he caught in a genjutsu?

No... that's not it!!

Kakashi spun around violently, only to find Uchiha Yoru already standing behind him!

"Your eye... it is time to return it."

Before the words had even faded, Uchiha Yoru's hand struck out like lightning toward Kakashi's eye socket!

Squelch.

Uchiha Yoru seemed to be reenacting the methods of Uchiha Madara—he mercilessly tore Kakashi's Sharingan straight out of his eye socket.

Kakashi let out a heart-wrenching scream. Fresh blood quickly slid down from the corner of his eye as he clutched his face, his body trembling violently from the excruciating pain.

Uchiha Yoru felt a touch of boredom, then cast a genjutsu, plunging Kakashi and his friend into a deep slumber.

The remaining ninja were dumbfounded, staring at the scene in stunned silence.

In these few short minutes, the terrifying man before them had struck down almost every enemy who dared to challenge him.

"Who is next?"

Uchiha Yoru's voice was cold and biting, the blood-red Sharingan in his eyes gradually expanding as if it could swallow all the light in the surroundings.

His gaze swept over everyone present, the atmosphere so heavy it made it difficult to breathe.

The ninja on the battlefield lowered their heads one after another, not daring to meet his eyes.

Even the heads of the Aburame Clan and the Inuzuka Clan remained silent; they all understood the situation—this man was utterly invincible.

Uchiha Yoru nodded in satisfaction as he watched their silence.

"Very good."

His tone was flat, yet it could not mask the murderous intent.

"I, Uchiha Yoru, am a reasonable man."

"Konoha was founded jointly by the Uchiha Clan and the Senju Clan."

"The Konoha leadership began persecuting the Uchiha Clan starting with the First Hokage."

"Yet today, the Uchiha Clan has been reduced to this state under their guidance."

He paused, offering a cold sneer, his voice carrying endless chill and pressure: "Tonight, they have already paid the price for their atrocities."

Everyone could not help but think to themselves: The Konoha leadership had indeed paid the price; their clan was wiped out, their people killed, and the rebellion had succeeded... this should be called a successful revolution!

Uchiha Yoru's gaze suddenly turned fierce: "Then, next, what I want to see is your..."

"Loyalty!!!"

As soon as the words fell, with a clatter, a ninja dropped the kunai in his hand, knelt on one knee, and shouted in a low voice: "Lord Fifth Hokage!"

The next second, everyone on the battlefield dropped their weapons and knelt on one knee in unison.

"Lord Fifth Hokage!!!"