"So that was it. What a powerful ability."
Itachi nodded slightly, but his heart was already churning with shock.
Compared to Mingyou, he, who had been hailed as a genius since childhood, now seemed somewhat dim.
"Itachi, enough talk. Let's hurry and meet up with the others."
Mingyou reminded him.
"Mm."
"Susanoo!"
Itachi nodded slightly. Then his eyes sharpened, and a vast surge of Chakra energy appeared around his body, gathering into a gigantic skeletal armored hand.
The one-armed Susanoo had appeared.
That skeletal arm swung violently several times at the area above the tunnel entrance.
Rumble—
The once-solid stone wall at the tunnel entrance shattered under the blows, broken bricks and rubble raining down.
Before long, the entrance to the secret passage had been completely blocked off. The Root members outside could no longer detect what was happening within.
"Let's go."
Itachi urged him over his shoulder and sprinted deeper into the passage.
Brutal enough. Why didn't he use this method earlier?
Mingyou grumbled inwardly, but he did not delay either, quickly following behind Itachi.
This secret passage was not particularly spacious. It could even be described as exceedingly crude.
In many places along the edges, protruding rocks could be seen mixed into the walls.
Perhaps there had not been enough time to excavate or polish them away.
The entire passage sloped gently downward, as though it had been dug deeper and deeper into the earth.
However, an emergency oil lamp had been placed every five meters.
Though the lamps gave off only faint light, they still provided decent illumination in this pitch-black space.
"Great Elder, what do we do? It seems the Konoha ninja have blocked us in outside."
"Doesn't that mean we can only be trapped to death in this passage?"
After traveling for more than half an hour, the Mingyou brothers finally saw a narrow cave ahead.
The remaining Uchiha clansmen were all crammed into that tiny space, chattering anxiously among themselves.
At the very front of the cave stood a single-flight ladder resembling a sewer ladder.
At the top of the ladder was a half-person-high opening, with a faint bit of light filtering through.
That seemed to be the exit of this secret passage.
"Great Elder, what happened? Why have you all stopped here?"
Mingyou pushed through the crowded crowd and reached Uchiha Soki's side, his gaze filled with inquiry.
Uchiha Soki sighed. "Mingyou, you're finally back. Quite a few clan members climbed out earlier to scout the way, but Konoha's people killed them on the spot. We've been surrounded."
Mingyou frowned slightly and said angrily, "What? Konoha really went all out. They actually chased us all the way here!"
According to Shimura Danzō, all the Uchiha members stationed at the police force had already been killed.
Though he did not know how they had learned the location of this secret passage's exit,
Konoha's intentions were obvious: they wanted to wipe out the Uchiha completely.
"Mingyou, I hope you remember what you promised me—not to start a war with Konoha."
Itachi slowly stepped forward and stood beside Mingyou.
Elder Soki glared, shouting angrily, "Itachi, what time do you think this is? The clansmen are about to die here, and you still have the mood to bring that up?"
"What kind of nonsense did Konoha's higher-ups feed you to make you betray your own clan?"
Mingyou grabbed Soki's arm and urged, "Alright, old man. You're not young anymore, so don't get so angry. Be careful not to hurt yourself."
Then Mingyou looked toward Itachi, a trace of coldness in his eyes. "Itachi, I did promise you that I wouldn't wage war against Konoha, and I'll keep my word this time as well."
"But if Konoha goes too far, I'll still settle things with them in the future."
Even at a time like this, Itachi was still saying such things. Mingyou could not help but wonder whether this guy's thinking was simply too rigid.
There was indeed an irreconcilable divide between the Uchiha and Konoha, and the Uchiha had indeed harbored thoughts of rebellion.
But this time, the Uchiha only wanted to flee Konoha, yet they were still being hunted down. The same would likely happen in the future.
No matter where the Uchiha went, Konoha's pursuers would follow behind them.
The conflict between the two sides remained impossible to resolve.
By saying this now, Mingyou was also giving Itachi a warning in advance.
The Uchiha would not remain prey to be hunted forever. One day, Mingyou would lead the clansmen back to kill their way through once more.
"Big brothers, what's wrong with you two?"
Sasuke squeezed out from the crowd. Seeing Mingyou and Itachi confronting each other, he stood between them, unwilling to see any conflict arise between them.
"Sasuke, it's nothing. Don't worry."
Itachi lovingly rubbed Sasuke's head and pulled him in front of himself.
Mingyou had no mind to comfort Sasuke. Instead, he turned to the others.
"Everyone, listen to me. I have a way to get you out."
"In a moment, I'll take you into another space. I hope no one panics."
"Mom, go in first. Father is waiting for you inside." Mingyou turned toward Uchiha Mikoto.
Mikoto nodded slightly. She naturally trusted her son completely. "Alright, Mingyou. Go ahead."
Mingyou gently placed a hand on Mikoto's shoulder. As space twisted violently, Mikoto was drawn into the Kamui Dimension.
Next came the remaining two hundred or so people. Mingyou did the same, placing both hands on their shoulders amid their shocked gazes and activating Kamui to draw them into that space filled with crystal coffins.
Before long, only Mingyou and Itachi remained in the cave.
No matter what, Itachi refused to go in. He said he wanted to accompany Mingyou outside so they could keep each other safe.
But Mingyou knew perfectly well that this guy was afraid he would go outside alone and slaughter innocents, so he had found such an excuse.
Sometimes, Mingyou truly could not help wondering whether Itachi's loving heart was kindness or stubbornness.
Outside the cave entrance, more than two thousand Anbu members had sealed off the entire area so tightly that not even water could pass through.
The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, had already been waiting there in advance.
Dressed in battle gear and gripping the Adamantine Staff, he stood surrounded by elite Anbu guards, his cold gaze fixed on the tree hollow's exit.
"Third Hokage, all 2,362 Anbu members are present."
Kakashi Hatake flashed forward several times, bowed, and reported.
Hiruzen Sarutobi narrowed his eyes and waved his hand. "Barrier squad, move!"
Whoosh!!
Among the Anbu forces, all members of the barrier squad stepped forward.
Each of them unfurled a scroll in hand, their fingers moving rapidly as Chakra spread outward.
A faint circular Chakra barrier enveloped the entire area.
Before you continue