The Akatsuki's Counterattack

After the Five Kage Summit concluded, Uchiha Xingye returned to Konoha and began the work of organizing the Shinobi Allied Forces.

Although the various ninja villages had reached an alliance agreement, it would still take time to truly put it into action.

The Akatsuki would certainly not sit idly by and wait for their demise.

They had already realized that Uchiha Xingye was their greatest threat.

Uchiha Xingye had to be eliminated as soon as possible.

Akatsuki Base

Rain Village, underground base.

Obito stood before a genjutsu projection, watching Uchiha Xingye's performance at the Five Kage Summit, a flicker of malice crossing his eyes.

"Uchiha Xingye," Obito muttered to himself, "you are truly challenging my bottom line."

Black Zetsu emerged from behind Obito: "Obito, Uchiha Xingye has already subdued Kisame and Sasori."

"If we don't act now, the Akatsuki will collapse from within."

Obito nodded: "I know."

"I will take action personally to finish off Uchiha Xingye."

Black Zetsu sneered: "Obito, do you really think you can defeat Uchiha Xingye?"

"He has already obtained the Rinnegan Prototype; his strength even surpasses that of Madara in his prime."

Obito remained silent for a moment: "Then what do you suggest?"

Black Zetsu said: "We don't need to fight one-on-one; we should utilize our numerical advantage."

"The Akatsuki still has eight members. We will split up and launch simultaneous attacks on Konoha, Kumogakure, Sunagakure, and Iwagakure."

"We will force Uchiha Xingye to spread himself too thin, and then we will launch a fatal strike at his weakest point."

A glimmer of light flashed in Obito's eyes: "Fine, we will do as you say."

"We will disperse our actions so that Uchiha Xingye cannot concentrate his power."

Konoha, Uchiha Clan Grounds

Uchiha Xingye stood on a high platform in the Uchiha clan grounds, his Byakugan scanning everything in a 360-degree radius.

"Brother," Itachi walked to Uchiha Xingye's side, "the system's predictions indicate that the Akatsuki is about to launch an attack."

Uchiha Xingye nodded: "I know."

"They will not sit by and watch the Five Kage alliance be established; they will certainly attempt to sabotage it."

Itachi pondered for a moment: "Brother, who will be their target?"

Uchiha Xingye said: "They will launch scattered attacks to force me to spread myself thin."

"But the most dangerous target is not Konoha; it is Sasuke."

Itachi's pupils constricted: "Sasuke?"

Uchiha Xingye nodded: "The Akatsuki knows how important Sasuke is to me."

"They will attack the Ninja Academy and kidnap Sasuke to force me to appear."

Itachi's expression changed: "Then we must protect Sasuke."

Uchiha Xingye said: "Itachi, you stay at the Ninja Academy and protect Sasuke."

"I will go to intercept the other members of the Akatsuki."

Itachi nodded solemnly: "Understood, brother."

Uchiha Xingye turned around and saw Fugaku approaching as well.

"Uchiha Xingye," Fugaku said, "I have already gathered the elite of the Uchiha clan."

"We are ready for battle at any time."

Uchiha Xingye nodded: "Father Fugaku, you are responsible for protecting the residents of Konoha."

"The Uchiha Guard Corps is to enter a state of high alert, ready to respond to an Akatsuki attack at any moment."

Fugaku nodded: "Understood."

Just then, an alarm sounded.

The night sky of Konoha was illuminated by red warning lights, and the entire village entered a state of emergency.

"The Akatsuki is here." A cold glint flashed in Uchiha Xingye's eyes.

Ninja Academy

Sasuke was in class when he suddenly heard the alarm outside.

The teacher said nervously: "Students, there is an emergency. Please stay in the classroom and do not go out."

But Sasuke did not listen; he rushed to the window and looked outside.

At the entrance of the Ninja Academy, two figures were fighting against Konoha chunin.

On the left, a person clad in a red cloud-patterned robe, their body composed of chakra; on the right, a person in a white cloud-patterned robe, holding a massive fan in their hand.

Hidan and Kakuzu, members of the Akatsuki.

"Uchiha Sasuke," Hidan shouted with a wild laugh, "come out and die!"

"I will offer your blood to Lord Jashin!"

Uchiha Sasuke clenched his fists, preparing to charge out.

But just then, the figure of Itachi appeared behind Hidan.

"If you want to touch Uchiha Sasuke, you must get past me first," Itachi said coldly.

Hidan turned around, saw Itachi, and laughed: "Another Uchiha?"

"Perfect, Lord Jashin needs more Uchiha blood!"

Hidan drew his scythe and charged at Itachi.

Kakuzu also made his move, the mass of threads in his hands releasing countless chakra strings, attempting to bind Itachi.

Itachi activated his Mangekyo Sharingan: Amaterasu!

Black flames surged from Itachi's eyes, surrounding Hidan and Kakuzu.

Hidan screamed: "What is this fire? Why can't it be extinguished?"

Kakuzu's expression changed: "Amaterasu? The world-ending black flames of the Uchiha?"

Itachi did not waste words, continuing to unleash Amaterasu to completely engulf Hidan and Kakuzu.

At the same time, an Itachi shadow clone rushed into the classroom and said to Uchiha Sasuke: "Uchiha Sasuke, come with me."

"I will take you away from here."

Uchiha Sasuke looked at Itachi, a flash of doubt in his eyes: "Brother Itachi?"

Itachi nodded: "Yes, Uchiha Sasuke."

"The Akatsuki target is you; I must protect you."

Uchiha Sasuke nodded: "I understand, Brother Itachi."

Itachi took Uchiha Sasuke and left the Ninja Academy, heading toward the Uchiha clan grounds.

Hidan and Kakuzu were trapped by Amaterasu, unable to pursue.

At the gates of Konoha Village.

Uchiha Xingye stood at the entrance, watching the three figures ahead.

On the left was a masked person carrying a massive scroll; in the middle was a woman with long red hair holding a paper fan; on the right was a person completely wrapped in a black robe, their face obscured.

Deidara was dead; these three were not members of the Akatsuki.

Uchiha Xingye used his Byakugan to scan 360 degrees, instantly seeing through their true identities.

The one on the left was a reanimated ninja, the one in the middle was Konan, and the one on the right... was a clone of Madara Uchiha?

No, that wasn't right.

Uchiha Xingye's pupils constricted.

The person on the right possessed the chakra of Black Zetsu.

"Who are you?" Uchiha Xingye asked coldly.

The voice from beneath the mask had been processed by a voice changer: "I am Madara Uchiha."

Uchiha Xingye sneered: "Madara? Stop the act."

"I know your true identity is Obito."

The body behind the mask stiffened slightly.

Uchiha Xingye continued: "And that person beside you is not a clone of Madara."

"It is a clone of Black Zetsu, isn't it?"

The expressions of Konan and the Black Zetsu clone both shifted.

Uchiha Xingye said: "Black Zetsu, you have finally shown yourself."

"The true mastermind behind the Eye of the Moon Plan, the son of Kaguya Otsutsuki."

The Black Zetsu clone did not speak, but a flicker of malice crossed its eyes.

"Uchiha Xingye," Black Zetsu said, "you know too much."

"Today, you must die."

Uchiha Xingye sneered: "That remains to be seen, if you have the ability to do so."

Konan suddenly launched an attack, her Paper Style transforming into countless paper butterflies that surged toward Uchiha Xingye.

"Paper Style: Paper Clone Jutsu!"

Hundreds of paper clones surrounded Uchiha Xingye from all directions, each paper butterfly imbued with chakra.

Uchiha Xingye activated his Mangekyo Sharingan, Susanoo Second Form!

Orange chakra armor enveloped Uchiha Xingye, blocking all the paper butterflies outside.

Konan's pupils constricted: "Susanoo?"

Uchiha Xingye sneered: "Konan, your Paper Style is strong, but it is useless before me."

"Today, I will let you witness true power."

The pattern of Uchiha Xingye's Mangekyo Sharingan shifted.

Kotoamatsukami!

A mental shock struck Konan's mind, instantly rewriting her will.

Konan's eyes turned vacant, as if she had entered a state of genjutsu.

"Attack Black Zetsu," Uchiha Xingye commanded coldly.

Konan did not hesitate; her Paper Style transformed into sharp blades, thrusting toward the Black Zetsu clone.

The Black Zetsu clone sneered, his body instantly turning into black liquid and dissipating into the air.

"A pity, it was only a clone," Uchiha Xingye muttered to himself.

But at that moment, Obito's figure suddenly appeared behind Uchiha Xingye. Kamui!

Space twisted, and Uchiha Xingye's body began to be sucked into the other dimension.

However, Uchiha Xingye was prepared, and the power of the Rinnegan Prototype was released instantly.

Shinra Tensei!

An invisible repulsive force erupted from Uchiha Xingye, forcibly shattering the spatial distortion of Kamui.

Obito was shocked: "What? You can resist Kamui?"

Uchiha Xingye sneered: "Kamui is a space-time ninjutsu, but my Rinnegan Prototype can manipulate repulsion and attraction."

"Your Kamui is ineffective against me."

Obito's expression changed; it was the first time he had encountered an opponent capable of resisting Kamui.

"Uchiha Xingye," Obito said, "you are even stronger than I imagined."

"But today, you will still die."

Obito formed hand seals. Wood Style: Wood Dragon Technique!

A massive wooden dragon surged from the ground, coiling around Uchiha Xingye.

Uchiha Xingye did not struggle; instead, he sneered: "A wood dragon? Then let me see how strong your Wood Style truly is."

The Mangekyo Sharingan activated once more. Susanoo Complete Body!

A colossal chakra war god rose from the ground, snapping the wooden dragon apart.

Uchiha Xingye wielded a chakra blade and slashed toward Obito.

Obito dodged rapidly, but the range of the Susanoo attack was too vast; he could not evade it completely.

Clang!

The Susanoo chakra blade struck Obito's left arm.

Obito let out a miserable cry as his left arm was severed.

But the next second, the light of Izanagi erupted from the stump, and Obito's wound began to heal.

"Izanagi?" Uchiha Xingye sneered, "You have learned this technique as well?"

Obito did not answer, instead retreating rapidly, preparing to flee.

"Want to run?" Uchiha Xingye sneered, "You must die today."

Uchiha Xingye's Mangekyo Sharingan activated again. Amaterasu!

Black flames surged toward Obito, surrounding him completely.

Obito hid within the other dimension of Kamui, but the flames of Amaterasu pierced through space, pursuing him.

"Damn it!" Obito cursed, "What exactly is Amaterasu?"

Obito had no choice but to abandon his escape for the moment, using Kamui to isolate the Amaterasu flames within the other dimension.

Uchiha Xingye watched Obito, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

"Obito, your Kamui is indeed strong."

"But you cannot escape today."

Uchiha Xingye released the full power of the Rinnegan Prototype.

Chibaku Tensei!

Dozens of black spheres appeared in the sky, forming a massive sealing formation.

Obito's expression changed drastically: "Chibaku Tensei? You actually know this technique?"

Xingye said, "This is the Sealing Technique of the Sage of Six Paths, specifically designed to deal with threats like you."

The black sphere flew rapidly toward Obito, completely surrounding him.

Obito attempted to escape using Kamui, but the spatial lockdown of the Chibaku Tensei rendered his Kamui unusable.

"Damn you, Uchiha!" Obito roared in fury.

Xingye ignored Obito's curses, formed hand seals, and increased the chakra output for the Chibaku Tensei.

Massive rocks surged from the ground, sealing Obito away completely.

Obito struggled within the seal, but the lockdown of the Chibaku Tensei grew stronger until he was finally unable to move.

"It is done." Xingye retracted the Chibaku Tensei and looked at the sealed Obito.

[System Notification: Successfully sealed Obito]

[Obtained Traits: Kamui (Red), Izanagi (Red), Wood Style (Purple), Political Maneuvering (Blue)]

[Obito has been sealed; it will take three years for the seal to break]

Xingye felt a surge of joy; Kamui and Izanagi were both red-tier traits, worth a fortune.

Wood Style was even rarer, significantly enhancing Xingye's ninjutsu capabilities.

"The threat of the Akatsuki," Xingye muttered to himself, "has been half resolved."

Xingye turned around and saw Itachi arriving with Sasuke.

"Brother," Itachi said, "Sasuke is safe."

Xingye nodded. "Very good."

"The counterattack from the Akatsuki has been repelled by us."

"From here on out, we are the ones on the offensive."

Sasuke looked at Xingye, his eyes shimmering with admiration.

"Brother Xingye, you are truly too strong."

Xingye patted Sasuke on the head. "Sasuke, I will teach you ninjutsu from now on."

"I will make you a powerhouse capable of protecting yourself."

Sasuke nodded solemnly. "I will certainly not let Brother Xingye's expectations down."

The system notification chime rang out.

[System Notification: Volume Three has officially concluded]

[Congratulations to the host for successfully preventing the Night of the Uchiha Massacre, reviving the Uchiha clan, and defeating the Akatsuki vanguard]

[Rewards: Rinnegan (Complete), Otsutsuki Divinity (Gold), Supreme of the Ninja World (Mythical)]

[Opening Volume Four: A New Era of the Ninja World]

Xingye was ecstatic; the Rinnegan (Complete) and Otsutsuki Divinity (Gold) were both extremely rare traits, and Supreme of the Ninja World was a mythical-tier trait, marking Xingye's ascension as the strongest in the ninja world.