Blood Moon Descends

The last rays of the setting sun were swallowed by the horizon, and the deep purple veil of night slowly descended upon Konoha like a massive curtain. Tonight, there were no stars, only a pale, sickly moon hanging high in the sky, casting an ominous glow.

The Uchiha compound remained sparsely lit, appearing no different than any other night. Yet, beneath this superficial calm, tension and restlessness churned like subterranean fire. The radical faction's meeting had just concluded at Naka Shrine, leaving the air thick with arrogance and resolve, while the ordinary clansmen remained immersed in their daily routines, blissfully unaware of the impending catastrophe.

Uchiha Ling stood in his small courtyard, checking his gear one last time: kunai, shuriken, smoke bombs, and the crucial [Genjutsu: Haze Mirage Scroll] tucked against his chest. His gaze was calm and rippleless, as if he were facing a routine mission rather than a bloodbath.

Kimimaro stood silently behind him like the most loyal of shadow guards, his pale face devoid of expression, save for the concentrated, icy killing intent deep within his eyes.

"Let's go," Ling said softly, without turning back.

The next moment, he activated the Flying Thunder God Technique. Space distorted, and the two figures vanished from the courtyard, reappearing in a secluded woodland on the outskirts of Konoha. Haku and Zabuza were already waiting there.

"I thought you might have gotten cold feet, brat," Zabuza sneered, baring his jagged teeth as his Executioner's Blade glinted coldly in the moonlight.

Haku gripped his hands tightly, though his eyes remained resolute. "Lord Ling, we are prepared."

Ling nodded, his gaze sweeping over the three of them. "Remember your duties and maintain contact through the agreed signals. Once the operation begins, follow the plan. If you encounter extreme circumstances, prioritize your own survival."

He said no more, took a deep breath, and channeled his chakra into the scroll in his arms.

"Release!"

The scroll transformed into a streak of light that sank into the ground. Immediately, an invisible ripple spread rapidly from the heart of the Uchiha compound like water rings.

A thick, impenetrable gray-white mist surged into existence, rolling and billowing as it swiftly swallowed streets, buildings, and shrines. Visibility plummeted to less than five meters. Within the fog, countless distorted shadows seemed to sway, accompanied by faint, unsettling whispers and auditory hallucinations.

[Genjutsu: Haze Mirage] activated!

"Move!" Ling commanded in a low voice.

"Ice Style: Demonic Mirroring Ice Crystals!" Haku performed hand seals with lightning speed. The moisture in the air instantly condensed, and countless smooth ice mirrors manifested out of thin air within the fog, forming a complex and concealed network of passages. These mirrors not only further distorted light and perception but also served as vantage points for Haku to move and observe the battlefield.

"Hmph, time for us to shine!" Zabuza grinned, his figure merging into the dense fog as he lunged like a phantom toward the first radical jonin on their target list.

Kimimaro shot forward like an arrow released from a bow, heading straight for the depths of the compound to clear out the strongholds of the most stubborn dissenters.

Ling himself used the Flying Thunder God Technique to instantly appear outside a quiet residence on the edge of the Uchiha compound—the home of Uchiha Izumi. According to the plan, he would first ensure her safety before providing mobile support.

Just as he materialized, the door to the residence creaked open. Uchiha Izumi stepped out, looking uneasy as if startled by the sudden fog and the faint commotion in the distance. She froze when she saw Ling standing in the mist.

"Ling? Why are you here? And this fog..."

At that moment, the situation took a drastic turn!

The atmosphere beside Ling distorted into a vortex without warning. A figure wearing a spiral mask and a black cloak emerged as if rising from water, a single scarlet Sharingan eye observing Ling and Izumi with keen interest.

"Oh? It seems tonight's script has hit a few unexpected snags," Obito said, his voice dripping with mockery as his gaze locked onto Ling. "The little mouse using the Flying Thunder God... I've finally found you."

A terrifying pressure descended instantly! Obito didn't even need to intentionally release his killing intent; the cold aura stemming from his Mangekyo Sharingan and his long history on the battlefield made Uchiha Izumi feel as though she had fallen into an ice cellar. Her body stiffened, and even breathing became difficult.

Ling's heart sank. Obito had appeared, and he had come straight for him!

"Izumi, get back!" Ling shouted, pushing his chakra to its limit. He activated his single-tomoe Sharingan, staring fixedly at Obito. He could not let Obito harm Izumi here, nor could he allow him to disrupt the entire plan!

"It seems you are the one stirring up trouble tonight," Obito tilted his head, his tone light, yet the chill in his Sharingan deepened. "Let me see what you're actually capable of."

Before the words had even faded, Obito's figure vanished like a ghost. In the next instant, he appeared directly in front of Ling, his hand passing through the air like it was water as he reached for Ling's chest—Kamui!

Fast! Indescribably fast! It surpassed the very limits of visual perception!

At the critical moment, Ling's Flying Thunder God Technique triggered by instinct!

Whoosh!

Obito's hand passed through an afterimage. Ling reappeared ten meters away, a bead of cold sweat rolling down his temple. Had he been even a tenth of a second slower, he might have been sucked into the Kamui dimension!

"Oh? Not a bad reaction," Obito slowly retracted his hand, his tone still casual, but his interest piqued. "The Flying Thunder God is truly a troublesome technique. But how many times can you dodge?"

The battle escalated instantly, right at the start of the operation, with the intervention of the most dangerous opponent of all!

Meanwhile, deep within the fog-shrouded Uchiha compound, the shrill screams, the clash of blades, and the explosions of ninjutsu began to ring out—initially scattered, but rapidly growing in intensity. Uchiha Itachi had begun his "cleansing."

Under the blood-red moon, the night of slaughter had officially begun!