The Uchiha had made their move!
After waiting for three whole days, just as everyone thought the incident had come to an end, the Uchiha Clan's massive procession suddenly left the Uchiha Clan Compound.
To be honest,
Uchiha Fugaku had initially rejected Uchiha Jin's decision.
After all, even he and Elder Setsuna, two political idiots, knew what the village's current atmosphere was like. Shouldn't they make some more preparations first?
If they put that "ambush and Jade Shatter" plan on hold until this tense period passed, they could still consider carrying it out later...
However,
Uchiha Jin's reply was simple: he just wanted to treat his clansmen to a barbecue.
After all, as the chief referee of this tournament, Uchiha Jin had reluctantly collected thirty million in hosting fees. If he pocketed the champion's hefty prize money too, even if he had rightfully earned it, his conscience would bother him a little.
Uh... fair enough!
If Uchiha Jin hadn't grown so much stronger, and if he weren't likely to suffer ten consecutive "Groin Kicks" without activating his Mangekyo, Uchiha Fugaku would definitely have shown him what a clan leader's anger felt like.
But even after Uchiha Fugaku backed down, Uchiha Jin still refused to let him come along...
At the time, Uchiha Jin had seemed to look at him like he was an idiot as he helplessly described the scene of the clan leader leading the Uchiha in a charge against Konoha.
Right!
Uchiha Fugaku and Uchiha Setsuna had both gone home to sulk. Before leaving, they'd ordered the remaining elders to give the Chunin and Genin a thorough workout.
This is your clan leader and great elder showing you some love. Get your asses in gear!
And so,
The Uchiha Clan's massive procession left the compound, with Uchiha Shisui trailing behind them, weighed down by his worries.
Naturally, this large-scale operation was noticed by the Root members left behind at the Uchiha Clan Compound, and the news quickly spread.
When the Uchiha Clan's forces appeared in force on Northwest Pedestrian Street, word spread instantly to every corner of Konoha.
But...
"What on earth is that guy planning?"
When Danzo received the report from the field, he was practically delighted.
Uchiha Jin, who had always cowered inside the Uchiha Clan Compound, had finally left his turtle shell. This was the perfect opportunity to eliminate that "thorn in his side."
Danzo had no qualms whatsoever. As long as he could kill Uchiha Jin on the spot, there would be plenty of ways to handle the cleanup afterward.
At worst...
Well...
He could just push some Root member forward as a scapegoat. He, the Darkness of the Ninja World, had done that sort of thing before.
As for whether the Uchiha might rebel as a clan afterward, Danzo cared even less about that!
It would be even better if the Uchiha dared to rebel. Then he, the "Darkness of the Ninja World," could lead the troops in suppressing the rebellion and wipe out that wicked clan in one fell swoop. How much longer could it be before he became Hokage?
Sarutobi Hiruzen... I told you that you'd regret it!
Meanwhile, Sarutobi Hiruzen, who was far away in the Hokage Building, was also quite surprised. Based on his political understanding of the Uchiha Clan,
After making such a huge fuss, the Uchiha should have been keeping a low profile and waiting for the attention to die down. Why were they suddenly making another scene?
Had they gotten carried away with themselves?
Hmm!
Considering the Uchiha Clan's terrible temperament, Hiruzen felt that was certainly possible.
But if that really was the case, then the Uchiha weren't worth worrying about.
Hiruzen had already made all the necessary preparations. If anyone dared to attack the Hokage Building, he, the "Strongest Hokage," was confident he could handle everything.
Of course!
According to the reports from Anbu, the Uchiha Clan didn't seem to be heading toward the Hokage Building. The direction they were taking looked strangely familiar...
Sarutobi Hiruzen rubbed his deeply lined old face, and a peculiar yet familiar feeling rose in his heart.
If the Uchiha weren't targeting the Hokage Building, where else could they be headed?
That direction...
Could they be going to Danzo's Root headquarters?
"No way. Root's real headquarters has always been extremely secretive. Even I only managed to find it after using several spies..."
Hiruzen looked puzzled, but after glancing at the map, his tone grew uncertain.
"Could it really be?"
Hiruzen suddenly felt a little nervous, though not all that nervous.
He had already made all the preparations he needed to. Besides, according to the reports from Anbu, most of the Uchiha shinobi had stayed behind at the compound, and neither Uchiha Fugaku nor the old geezer Uchiha Setsuna had shown up.
Hmm... Let's wait and see.
It wasn't as if they were coming after him. Even if Danzo and the Uchiha really did clash, he could treat it as a way to gauge the Uchiha's strength and see what trump cards Danzo had been hiding all these years.
Hmm... Danzo had been getting a little too bold lately, too!
"The Uchiha Clan, Shimura Danzo..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen leaned quietly against the window, gazing proudly at the sky now turning orange-yellow. A confident smile appeared on his face.
"Nice weather!"
Led by Uchiha Jin, the Uchiha forces, their Flame Fan crests on their backs, marched in a great procession down the wide pedestrian street.
Normally, there would have been someone watching the gates and someone else guarding the street entrance to question them. After all, though Konoha was nominally just a village, in reality it was a militarily governed wartime institution.
On an ordinary day, even a crowd of a hundred people would draw questions. A gathering of more than ten people capable of using ninjutsu would be interrogated several times over.
Most of the people responsible for basic security were only Genin, but did anyone really dare cause trouble in Konoha? For the sake of the village, no one dared disobey.
But today...
Forget questioning them. Nobody even spared them a second glance.
They simply watched in silence as Uchiha Jin led the crowd away, quietly muttering to themselves that they hoped they wouldn't attract the Uchiha's attention.
Go up and question them?
You'd have to be an idiot to do that. These basic guards were merely "reinforcements" for the Police Force. In theory, everyone in front of them was their "superior," though they'd never had to communicate with them before.
Going up to make trouble now would be like Li Gui running into Li Kui—talk about a hostile encounter!
Even the pedestrians on the street made way when they saw the Uchiha, promptly clearing a wide path for them.
But this "harmony" clearly wouldn't last long...
At the far end of the pedestrian street, a dozen or so tall figures in black cloaks were standing guard, as if they'd been waiting there for some time.
"Anbu?"
Uchiha Jin strolled forward without a care. At a glance, he saw they were all wearing shinobi combat uniforms, with silver armor over their chests and animal-like masks on their faces.
"The Uchiha Clan will return to its compound. Uchiha Jin, you will stay behind and come with us to Anbu!"
The Cat-Masked Man at the head, who looked like an Anbu Captain, spoke impassively. His voice sounded mechanical, utterly devoid of emotion. His air of unquestioned authority made Uchiha Jin frown.
"You might not realize who you're talking to. Watch your step in the next life!"
A mocking smile appeared on Uchiha Jin's face. Then he turned abruptly and roared at the Uchiha behind him.
"Enemy spies have infiltrated the village disguised as Anbu! Everyone, listen up!"
In the horrified gaze of Uchiha Shisui, who was trailing the group with a dejected look, Uchiha Jin raised his hand and gave the order without hesitation.
"Kill them all!"
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