Tsukuyomi, the Seal, and the Returning Lion Cub

The appearance of Uchiha Itachi instantly altered the landscape of the battlefield.

He stood between Ling and Obito, his blood-stained longsword pointed diagonally at the ground. Within his Mangekyo Sharingan, complex and icy patterns rotated, locking firmly onto Obito. In that gaze, there was no panic, no hesitation—only the decisiveness of one fulfilling a transaction, and deep within his eyes, a bone-deep hatred for the "masked man" before him.

"Itachi," Obito's voice lost its playfulness for the first time, turning low and grave. "Are you going to break our agreement?"

"Agreement?" Itachi's voice was terrifyingly serene, as if he were stating a situation unrelated to himself. "The agreement was to purge the Uchiha and maintain the stability of Konoha. Your existence, and your actions at this moment, are destroying that stability. This person (he gestured toward Ling), and those he saved, are part of my plan—necessary weights to maintain the 'balance'."

He cleverly incorporated Ling's actions into his own grand cause of "protecting Konoha," fulfilling his promise to Ling without completely burning bridges with Obito.

Obito remained silent for a moment, his scarlet Sharingan scanning between Itachi and Ling. He did not entirely believe Itachi's rhetoric, but he could sense the resolve in him. Engaging in a death match with a fully prepared Itachi at this moment was not a wise move. His primary objective was to observe Uchiha Ling.

"Hmph, an interesting explanation." Obito finally let out a cold snort. "I hope you won't regret your choice, Itachi."

His body began to slowly turn intangible, merging into the vortex of Kamui. "We will meet again, boy of the Flying Thunder God. And you, Itachi—enjoy the path you have chosen."

As his words faded, Obito's figure vanished completely, and the suffocating pressure dissipated along with him.

Ling let out a long breath, his tightly wound nerves finally relaxing, and a wave of intense weakness washed over him. His brief skirmish with Obito had consumed a vast amount of his mental energy and chakra.

"He is gone." Itachi did not turn back, his voice remaining cold. "According to the plan, Fugaku and the core elders have been eradicated. What is the status of the non-combatant relocation?"

"It is proceeding in an orderly fashion." Ling forced himself to perk up. "Haku and Kimimaro are in charge of guiding them, and Zabuza is clearing out the remaining resistance. Izumi is already safe."

Itachi gave an almost imperceptible nod. He looked up toward the depths of the clan grounds, the direction of his parents' residence. A flash of extreme agony crossed his eyes, but it was quickly swallowed by a deeper, more profound darkness.

"Go do what you must." Itachi's voice carried a trace of imperceptible exhaustion. "Leave this to me."

Ling understood what he meant. Itachi needed to face his final "mission" alone—to settle things with his parents and leave the deepest, most painful scar upon the returning Sasuke.

Ling said nothing more; he activated the Flying Thunder God and vanished. When he reappeared, he was on a secluded hillside on the outskirts of the clan grounds. This was the pre-designated final assembly point.

Dozens of shaken Uchiha clansmen had already gathered on the hillside, mostly women, children, and a few non-combatants. They huddled together, their faces filled with fear, sorrow, and bewilderment. Haku was busy using Ice Release to create temporary barriers and draw water, soothing everyone's emotions. Kimimaro and Zabuza stood guard on the perimeter, keeping a vigilant watch on the surroundings.

Seeing Ling appear, Haku immediately hurried over. "Lord Ling! Most of the non-combatants we could find are here. Miss Izumi is over there as well." He pointed to a corner of the crowd, where Izumi sat on the ground with her knees pulled to her chest, her eyes vacant, clearly still reeling from the massive shock.

"Well done, Haku." Ling nodded in approval, then his expression turned solemn. "There isn't much time left. Begin the final step immediately."

He walked to the center of the assembly point and rapidly formed hand seals. This time, the seals were complex and ancient, carrying the distinct chakra fluctuations of sealing arts.

"Sealing Technique: Camouflage Stealth Barrier!"

This was a large-scale barrier technique he had prepared in advance, combining system knowledge with the principles of the Uzumaki Clan's sealing arts. As he injected his chakra, a translucent light shield flowing with runes expanded rapidly from him, enveloping all dozens of people at the assembly point.

The moment the barrier was completed, the scene on the hillside underwent a subtle shift. From the outside, it appeared to be nothing more than an ordinary, empty patch of woodland; all presence, sound, and chakra fluctuations were perfectly concealed. This was the "hidden sanctuary" Ling had prepared for these survivors, where they would hide temporarily until the heat died down, before being secretly relocated to a safer location.

Having finished all this, Ling felt a sense of collapse. The continuous use of the Flying Thunder God, maintaining high-intensity combat, and finally casting a large-scale barrier had nearly drained him dry.

Just then—

"Brother!!!"

A shrill, heart-wrenching cry belonging to a child erupted from the direction of the Uchiha clan grounds, tearing through the silent night sky and slamming into the hearts of every survivor on the hillside.

It was Sasuke! He had returned!

Ling cast his gaze toward the clan grounds. He could imagine that hellish scene, and the inner torment Itachi must be feeling as he faced his younger brother alone.

"It's over," Ling whispered to himself, carrying a trace of heaviness, but also a sense of relief.

The night of the massacre had drawn to a close in a way that was partially similar to the original history, yet fundamentally different. The core of the Uchiha had been purged, but the seeds of hope had been silently preserved by Ling under the name of "Dawn Wind."

On the hillside, within the barrier, the surviving Uchiha wept in silence. And below the slope, Konoha remained asleep, knowing little of what had transpired this night.

Only that pale, sickly moon watched coldly over this land soaked in blood and tears.