A Nighttime Visit to the Ruins

In the afternoon at Konoha, sunlight was sliced into fragments by the dense canopy and scattered across the training ground. Their daily practice had just ended, and the air still carried the smell of sweat and youthful energy. Chiba Akimichi—Chocho's younger sister, a girl with the same healthy tan skin and cheerful personality—suddenly clapped her hands, her eyes gleaming with excitement and a reckless streak.

"Hey, everyone! I heard that lately, strange shadows have been drifting around deep in the old woods near the Naka River at night!" she whispered, deliberately creating a mysterious, spooky atmosphere.

The children who were packing up their ninja tools immediately turned their attention to her.

"Strange shadows? Are they ghosts?" Kazamatsuri Yamanaka, Ino's younger brother, asked, a little scared but unable to hide his curiosity.

"Even more exciting than ghosts!" Chiba announced her daring plan with her hands on her hips. "I propose that after school today, we go explore the legendary former home of the Uchiha Clan!"

"The Uchiha...?" A civilian student sucked in a sharp breath. "The clan that was wiped out...? Didn't they say the place was sealed off as a restricted area and had been abandoned for years? I heard it's full of vengeful spirits!"

"That's what makes it fun!" Chiba's adventurous spirit blazed. "So, Himawari, Luye, are you coming? And... what about you Hatakes?" She looked over at Shuoyue and Lian, who were about to leave.

Himawari Uzumaki was taken aback. A flicker of hesitation crossed her blue eyes, but it was quickly overtaken by intense curiosity. The Uchiha name, steeped in both legend and tragedy in Konoha's history, felt distant to her, yet held an inexplicable allure. She instinctively glanced at Shuoyue and Lian.

Shikano Nara yawned lazily. "What a pain... That place is probably full of cobwebs and dust, and it'd break the school rules..."

But before he could finish, Chiba and several other classmates swept him up in their excitement and cut him off. In the end, five or six children decided to go, including Himawari, Chiba, Kazamatsuri, and two other curious boys. Luye watched the group buzzing with excitement and sighed. In the end, he reluctantly followed, muttering, "What a pain."

Shuoyue's expression had darkened the instant Chiba said "Uchiha." He grabbed Lian, who seemed tempted to go as well, and stopped him with a stern look.

Then he hurried over to Himawari, who was about to join the group, and blocked her path.

"Don't go." His voice was low and unwavering, carrying a hint of... urgency?

"Huh? Why not, Shuoyue?" Himawari looked at him, confused. "It should be fine if we all go together, right? We're just going to have a look..."

"That place is dangerous." Shuoyue cut her off, his deep purple eyes fixed on her as he tried to make her understand how serious this was. "Not because of ghosts or anything like that. It's genuinely dangerous. The lockdown isn't a joke."

He couldn't explain any more. He couldn't tell her what those ruins meant to him and Lian, how much bloodshed and how many restless souls lay buried there, or that there might even be eyes watching them—eyes that wished them harm.

Himawari saw how unusually serious he was and wavered, but the excited urging of her friends and the thrill of adventure ultimately won out. She smiled reassuringly. "It's okay, Shuoyue. We'll just look around the outskirts and come right back! Besides, we'll all be together!"

With that, she went around Shuoyue and jogged to catch up with the group.

Shuoyue stood frozen, watching the group of reckless children recede into the distance. His hands clenched at his sides, his knuckles whitening with the force of it. The air around him turned instantly cold as ice.

"Lian..." Lian called softly, worry in his voice. His face had paled, too. Just hearing the name of that place made his heart pound.

Shuoyue didn't answer. He spun around, his voice as cold as tempered steel. "Follow them. Stay hidden. Don't let them notice us."

The outskirts of the Uchiha Clan Compound.

The closer they got to the area, the colder and quieter the air seemed to become. The bustling village of Konoha fell far behind them, replaced by increasingly dense, overgrown woods. Moss covered the ancient stone steps, and a dilapidated torii gate leaned beside the path, a sign that the place had long been abandoned.

The excitement Chiba and the others had felt at first gradually gave way to an invisible sense of oppression, and their chatter grew quieter and quieter.

"Hey... this place really feels creepy..." Kazamatsuri said in a low voice, rubbing his arms.

"What are you scared of!" Chiba said, trying to encourage herself, though her voice had grown much quieter. "Look! I think the entrance is just ahead!"

A rusted wooden fence, wrapped in old iron chains, stood in their path. Beyond it lay even deeper woods and the faint outlines of ruined buildings.

And in the shadow of the fence, three figures appeared without a sound, like filthy water seeping up from underground.

They all wore animal masks and the standard uniforms of the Root organization, which Konoha had long since abolished. Their presence was cold, lifeless, and devoid of emotion. Like venomous snakes that had lain in wait for years, they had finally found their prey.

The one in front wore a Fox Mask. His voice was hoarse and grating, like rusty gears grinding together. "This area is off-limits. Anyone without business here must leave at once."

A powerful, murderous chakra spread like a cold tide, instantly squeezing the breath from every child!

"Ah!" Chiba and Kazamatsuri cried out in fright, stumbling backward. The other boys turned deathly pale, their legs trembling. Even Luye's lazy expression vanished. His eyes grew grave, and cold sweat trickled from his temple. That oppressive presence... It belonged to real ninja who had seen bloodshed!

Himawari's heart raced at the sudden, terrifying pressure, but she forced down her fear and stepped forward, trying to explain. "W-We're terribly sorry! We're students from the Konoha Ninja Academy. We didn't know this place..."

"Leave, or..." another Root member, wearing a Wildcat Mask, interrupted coldly. His fingers slowly settled on the hilt of the short sword on his back. "...Die."

The final word fell, and the tangible killing intent nearly froze the air solid!

At that very moment!

Whoosh! Whoosh!

Two sharp whistles split the suspended silence!

They weren't aimed at the Root members, but landed with pinpoint accuracy on the open ground to either side of the children!

Thunk! Thunk!

Two shuriken embedded themselves deep in the earth, their tails quivering violently! At the same time, two figures dropped from above like wraiths and landed steadily between the children and the Root members, shielding everyone behind them!

It was Shuoyue and Hatake Lian!

Shuoyue crouched with one hand against the ground to steady his landing, a kunai gripped in reverse in his other hand. His eyes were like ancient ice as he fixed them on the three Root members. Lian stood just behind him, also taking up a defensive stance. His face was pale, but his gaze was unusually resolute.

"Hatake...?" Luye's pupils contracted. He understood at once. The two hadn't appeared by chance! They had been following the group all along!

"Get back," Shuoyue said without turning around. His voice was cold and urgent as he spoke to his classmates. "Find cover. This isn't a fight you can take part in."

His mind raced as he assessed their desperate situation:

· Enemies: Three former Root members. Their experience, strength, and teamwork far surpassed that of Genin. They were ruthless, and their motives were unclear.

· Allies: A group of children without any combat experience, his younger brother Lian, and himself.

· Main objectives: First, make sure everyone survived. Second, protect the secret of their Uchiha bloodline as much as possible. Third, drive off or hold back the enemies if possible.

"Two more brats here to die." The Root member wearing the Fox Mask scoffed, apparently not taking Shuoyue and Lian seriously at all. "Move. Eliminate all witnesses."

At the command, the Wildcat Mask and another Root member wearing a Boar Mask moved at once! They were as fast as lightning, without a single wasted motion. They lunged straight at Shuoyue and Lian, their short swords flashing with deadly light!

"Lian! Left flank!" Shuoyue barked. His body shot forward like a drawn bow, meeting the Wildcat Mask head-on without the slightest hesitation!

Clang!

The kunai and short sword collided violently, spraying sparks!

The tremendous force numbed Shuoyue's arm, but he used the impact to glide backward as if weightless. At the same time, his other hand flashed out, hurling three shuriken toward his opponent's upper, middle, and lower body, precisely cutting off every avenue of pursuit!

The Wildcat Mask clearly hadn't expected such seasoned Taijutsu and shuriken skills from a boy. He was forced to block and evade, and his attack stalled.

Shuoyue formed Hand Seals rapidly with his right hand, opened his mouth, and sent a huge fireball flying—

Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!

On the other side, Lian faced the Boar Mask. His movements were more nimble, like a fluttering butterfly. He narrowly dodged the other man's powerful slashes, using the trees for cover as he kept moving around him. The shuriken he occasionally threw were dangerous enough to prevent his opponent from closing in easily. His Sharingan had yet to awaken, but his dynamic vision was already far beyond an ordinary person's.

But the Root members were seasoned killers, after all. After a few exchanges, the Wildcat Mask noticed a "pattern" in Shuoyue's fighting: he kept instinctively shielding the group of children behind him, especially the girl with whisker-like markings on her cheeks!

"Target the black-haired girl on the right!" the Wildcat Mask rasped.

The Boar Mask immediately feinted, forcing Lian back, then charged at Himawari, who was hiding behind a boulder!

"Damn it!" Shuoyue's pupils shrank! He tried to turn back and help, but the Wildcat Mask's relentless attacks crashed down like a storm, binding him in place!

"Himawari!" Chiba screamed in terror.

The Boar Mask's blade was about to pierce Himawari, who couldn't dodge in time!

At that very moment!

A figure rushed forward at superhuman speed!

It was Lian! He abandoned nearly all defense and slammed his body into the Boar Mask's arm!

Squelch!

The short sword missed Himawari, but slashed viciously across Lian's arm, spraying blood!

"Lian!" Shuoyue's eyes nearly bulged with rage!

A long gash had been carved into Lian's arm. Blood streamed down slowly, winding like a snake...

Almost at the same moment, the Fox Mask leader, who had remained motionless until then, appeared behind Himawari like a wraith. A withered hand silently struck toward her back! The chakra in his palm was sinister and powerful. If it connected, the consequences would be unthinkable!

"Himawari! Behind you!" Luye finally reacted and shouted a warning in terror, but he had no time to do anything!

One crisis after another, his brother wounded, his friends in danger... Every scene burned into Shuoyue's retinas like a branding iron. Terror and towering fury erupted in his chest like a volcano!

An icy, violent power smashed through a shackle that had always been there!

Buzz—

The world changed before his eyes!

Colors grew more vivid, and his enemies' movements seemed to slow. The slightest quiver of their muscles, the paths of their flowing chakra... Everything was reflected in his eyes with absolute clarity!

Beneath the deep purple contacts in his eyes, three black tomoe suddenly appeared against a scarlet background and began to spin rapidly!

Uchiha Style: Gale Sword!

Shuoyue's body seemed to become a black whirlwind! His kunai deflected the Wildcat Mask's killing blow at an incredible angle, so precise it seemed impossible. Sparks flew as he used his opponent's force to spin like a top, and a shuriken he had pulled from his ninja tool pouch shot from his other hand!

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!

This time, the shuriken followed an unpredictable trajectory, almost as if they were alive. They collided in midair and changed direction, swarming toward the Fox Mask and the Boar Mask like a cloud of bees! The two were forced to turn back and defend themselves!

Shuoyue used the tiny opening this created and unleashed the Body Flicker Technique!

Swish!

He appeared in front of Himawari as if he had teleported, taking the edge of the Fox Mask's palm strike on his back!

"Urgh!" Shuoyue's throat turned sweet, and a thread of blood escaped the corner of his mouth, but he seemed not to feel it!

He wrapped his left arm around the stunned Himawari and shoved her behind him. The kunai in his right hand traced a cold arc, stabbing toward the Fox Mask's wrist! His opponent was forced to withdraw. But the impact had cracked the fragile contacts in Shuoyue's eyes, revealing the three black tomoe beneath.

"Your eyes...!" The Fox Mask stared at the three tomoe turning in Shuoyue's eyes, his voice full of disbelief. "The Sharingan?! Impossible! The Uchiha should have..."

Before he could finish, another cry of surprise rang out!

It was the Boar Mask! Lian, whose Sharingan had awakened and whose speed and ability to predict his opponent's movements had greatly improved, had struck him in the abdomen with a clever side kick. He staggered back several steps! Two slowly rotating black tomoe had appeared in Lian's eyes as well!

The battle came to a brief standstill.

The three Root members stared in shock at the two boys who had suddenly unleashed their power, and at the unmistakable Kekkei Genkai in their eyes—the Sharingan!

Shuoyue panted heavily, his Three-Tomoe Sharingan sweeping over the three enemies as his mind calculated frantically.

They were exposed! Their greatest secret was now in the hands of these Root remnants!

Although he and Lian had awakened the Sharingan and their strength had surged, they had only just opened their eyes. Lian still couldn't use genjutsu skillfully. Their opponents were three experienced veteran ninja, possibly even Jōnin-level fighters. They might not necessarily lose, but they couldn't guarantee the safety of all their classmates.

There was no way to kill the Root members safely here. Shuoyue's eyes narrowed as he recalled what Obito had told him about Root. He quickly came up with a strategy: use Root's complicated feelings toward Konoha and its orders to negotiate.

He took a deep breath, forcing down his churning blood and murderous intent. His voice was hoarse with injury and anger, but carried a cold, penetrating force:

"You recognize these eyes." He pointed at his brother, whose blood wouldn't stop flowing, then at the injured, terrified classmates behind him. "You know who we are, and who you're supposed to protect. You know exactly what it would mean to kill us or take us away."

He stared at the Fox Mask in front and spoke one word at a time. "The Sixth Hokage, the Seventh Hokage, and every member of Konoha's Anbu will hunt you to the ends of the earth. Root is already history. Are you sure you want to stake everything, including your own lives, on the 'legacy' of an organization that no longer exists, just to claim the last of the Uchiha bloodline?"

The Fox Mask fell silent. His gaze shifted wildly beneath the mask. He knew exactly what this meant. This was no longer a simple matter of eliminating witnesses; it touched on a taboo involving Konoha's highest leadership! Kakashi, Naruto... They were forces Root could not openly resist. If they continued, win or lose, they would become enemies of all Konoha and never know peace again.

Shuoyue saw the other man hesitate and pressed his advantage, while also offering him a way out. "What happened today can be treated as if it never did. You haven't seen us, and we haven't seen you. The Uchiha are long gone. There are only Shuoyue Hatake and Lian Hatake in this world. That's the best outcome for everyone."

A long silence followed. Only the wind's mournful wail through the abandoned compound could be heard, along with the children's stifled breathing and sobs.

At last, the Fox Mask slowly lowered his weapon. He gave one long look at the Sharingan in Shuoyue and Lian's eyes. His expression was difficult to read—there was shock, and greed, but in the end, both were suppressed by reason and careful calculation.

"...Let's go." He rasped to his two companions. "Today, we saw nothing."

With that, the three Root members melted silently into the shadows, just as they had appeared, and vanished completely.

Only after the suffocating killing intent had disappeared did Shuoyue finally relax. He dropped to one knee and coughed violently, spitting out another bit of blood. His Sharingan slowly turned, then came to rest with its tomoe arranged in a triangular pattern.

"Brother!" Lian ignored the wound on his own arm and rushed over to support him.

"Shuoyue! Lian!" Himawari ran over too, tears streaming down her face, her expression filled with worry and guilt. "I'm sorry! I'm so sorry! This is all because of me..."

Luye, Chiba, Kazamatsuri, and the other children also gathered around. They stared at the wounded brothers, their eyes filled with shock, lingering fear, and an indescribable mixture of gratitude and awe. They had witnessed a battle far beyond their understanding, seen those legendary eyes, and realized that the Hatake brothers had been hiding something—and just how close they had come to death.

"What happened today..." Shuoyue endured the pain as his intricately patterned eyes swept over each classmate in turn. His voice was weak, yet carried an unquestionable authority. "Our eyes, everything that happened here... It must remain a secret forever. Otherwise, dangers like the one we just faced—or even worse—will come again. It won't just be us who suffer; your families could be dragged into it, too. Can you swear?"

The children looked at one another, then all turned to Luye.

Luye took a deep breath. Usually, he was always complaining about how troublesome things were, but now his expression was unusually serious. He held out his hand first. "On the honor of the Nara Clan, I swear I'll never reveal what happened today."

"I swear on the honor of the Yamanaka Clan!"

"I swear on the honor of the Akimichi Clan!"

"I swear!"

"I... I swear, too!"

One by one, the children held out their hands and stacked them together, making a solemn promise. Finally, Himawari added her hand on top. Tears still brimmed in her eyes, but her gaze was unwavering. "I swear on the name of the Uzumaki Clan! I absolutely, absolutely won't tell anyone! Shuoyue and Lian are our friends!"