One day, I'll make Konoha feel the pain!

"What was that?"

The Purple-haired Anbu stared at the distant sky, dumbfounded.

Everything over there had warped.

A massive vortex, like a gigantic monster, was crouched over the Hokage Building, thrashing its claws wildly.

"Space-Time Ninjutsu..."

Hiruzen was also somewhat shocked. With his experience, he could naturally recognize the nature of the technique. The problem was that he had only ever seen Space-Time Ninjutsu on this scale used by one person.

"Lord Third, are you all right?"

The Anbu Ninja on duty rushed over and surrounded him.

"I'm fine, Ka..."

Hiruzen shook his head. He'd instinctively wanted to find Kakashi, but only as the words reached his lips did he remember that Kakashi no longer had his Sharingan.

"Notify Shikaku and Hiashi. Have them maintain order in the village. Also, take Kakashi to the hospital. He needs treatment."

He quickly issued his orders, then reached up and tugged at his collar.

The next moment, his Hokage robes came off, revealing the combat uniform beneath.

"Lord Third..."

The Anbu around him looked astonished. It had been a very, very long time since they'd seen Lord Third take the field himself. In fact, many of them had never seen it happen in their lives.

"There's no time to talk. Get ready to launch an assault. I'll find the source of the technique."

The Hokage Building was a symbol of Konoha's authority. Nothing could be allowed to happen to it. A Space-Time Ninjutsu on this scale must have taken considerable preparation. Judging by the speed at which the vortex was twisting, he had about one minute. Find the caster, defeat him, and stop this crisis.

Hiruzen himself wasn't skilled in sensory ninjutsu. Although he was known as the Professor of Ninjutsu, even he had his areas of expertise.

Fortunately, he knew enough. He had learned a few techniques while serving under the Second Hokage, and with no more capable sensory ninja nearby, he had no choice but to do it himself.

He quickly formed Hand Seals, then crouched down, pressed two fingers to the ground, and closed his eyes to sense his surroundings.

The others didn't even dare breathe loudly, afraid of disturbing Hiruzen.

About ten seconds later,

"Found him! At Kage Rock!"

Hiruzen's eyes snapped open.

Almost at the same time, half the Anbu Ninja present vanished, racing toward their destination at top speed.

Atop Kage Rock, Uchiha Arashi's left eye was wide open, blood streaming down his cheek as if it cost him nothing.

But he was happy.

"Natural Energy really is useful!"

Natural Energy couldn't directly affect his ocular jutsu, since those ultimately relied on his eye power and his own chakra. But it could strengthen his body and increase his total chakra, indirectly bolstering his ocular jutsu.

"It's a shame I still can't enter Sage Mode. Otherwise, I could hold out longer and do something even bigger... Hm? Heh, looks like they've found me."

Natural Energy strengthened his body and, as a bonus, his sensory abilities. Combined with the Sharingan's already exceptional perception, the instant the Third identified Kage Rock as his target, Uchiha Arashi sensed him in return.

"Perfect. The technique's almost ready. You can be tonight's finest witnesses."

The smile on Uchiha Arashi's face grew increasingly wild as he pushed even more chakra into the technique.

Ninja moved incredibly fast. From the Third's position to Kage Rock, a Jonin going all out could reach the scene in less than half a minute.

Before long, more than a dozen figures appeared near Uchiha Arashi. They drew their swords and surrounded him.

They didn't attack in a hurry. The real target hadn't arrived yet.

"Who are you?"

Beneath the moonlight, the Third Hokage slowly appeared, dressed in a combat uniform.

He held the Enma Staff. Though his body was frail and small, it contained terrifying power and presence, enough to keep anyone who saw him from underestimating him based on his appearance.

"Does it matter who I am? Tell me, respected Lord Third, would you care about the identity of someone who should have died?"

Uchiha Arashi glanced sideways, his smile turning brazen.

"You're an Uchiha? I can't believe you survived. What exactly are you trying to do?"

Hiruzen asked coldly.

"Isn't it obvious? I'm going to destroy the Hokage Building, of course!"

Uchiha Arashi slowly spread his arms, as though he were embracing the night sky.

"Stop. I'll allow you to keep living..."

"No need! I don't need your permission to stay alive."

Uchiha Arashi cut Hiruzen off.

"In that case... attack!"

When it became clear that words wouldn't persuade him, Hiruzen finally gave the order to kill.

The surrounding Anbu Ninja sprang into action, reaching Uchiha Arashi in almost an instant.

Uchiha Arashi paid them no attention.

Instead, he burst into laughter.

"Ha ha ha ha! This is Konoha! This is the Hokage! You destroyed the Uchiha, so get ready to suffer the same fate! Today is just a little gift. Believe me, one day, I'll make Konoha feel true pain! Kamui!!!"

Uchiha Arashi had actually gathered enough power long ago. He'd deliberately slowed Kamui's activation, waiting for this very moment.

A vast amount of chakra surged into his eye, and his eye power flared to life.

The enormous vortex ahead suddenly began to spin and twist much faster. Everything rapidly contracted and collapsed.

The Hokage Building, already warped beyond recognition, finally shattered with a violent series of cracks. Amid countless shocked and horrified stares, an invisible force crushed it. Tiles and timber were pulverized, and the people who hadn't managed to escape vanished into thin air along with them.

At the same time, Uchiha Arashi used the last of Kamui's power to warp the space around himself.

Under Hiruzen's and the other Anbu's furious gazes, he slipped into the Kamui Dimension just before the attacks reached him, vanishing without a trace.

The night wind swept over Kage Rock.

Looking at the Hokage Building, now missing an entire floor as if it had vanished into thin air, Hiruzen clenched his teeth so hard they nearly shattered.

"Go to the Uchiha Compound. Find him, no matter what!"

"Cough, cough—"

Uchiha Arashi staggered out into Shadow Space, looking utterly ragged.

"Arashi, what happened to you?"

Izumi immediately set down what she was doing and ran over with her younger siblings.

When they saw Uchiha Arashi's blood-covered face and exhausted expression, they all looked tense and frightened.

"I'm fine. I just... just overdid it... How's the passage coming along? Have we reached the planned location?"

Uchiha Arashi asked between breaths.

"It's done. We've moved the supplies over, too."

"Good. Let's get ready to leave."

"You..."

"Don't ask. You'll know tomorrow. Help me up first. I still need to leave Konoha a second gift."

Uchiha Arashi said with a smile.