Chapter 45

"Ninja from the Utatane Clan and the Mito Clan surrounded the Uchiha people and went in for the kill."

"If Shisui Uchiha hadn't arrived, those three would probably have been done for."

"The three Uchiha were badly hurt. They've already been sent to the infirmary."

"Everyone else has been detained by the Police Force. Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado didn't stop them."

The Anbu spoke at top speed, reporting the situation to Hiruzen Sarutobi in full detail.

Hiruzen Sarutobi had not shown his face from beginning to end precisely because he did not want to get himself dragged into the mess.

In any case, with the Anbu watching, no matter what happened, he would know at once. "Enough. Withdraw."

"Right, recall all Anbu near the Uchiha."

"There's no point in continuing to watch them."

After Hiruzen Sarutobi finished speaking, he lowered his head and continued reviewing documents, not the slightest ripple visible on his face.

At the same time, Danzo also received the news. "The Third... is he already starting to lose control of the situation?"

"He can even turn a blind eye to something like this?"

The corners of Danzo's mouth lifted slightly, and a trace of anticipation showed in his eyes.

He had waited far too long for this day.

Uchiha Sasuke chewed the last piece of watermelon he had taken from the fruit plate, his eyes sweeping over the two fellows standing in the courtyard.

Shisui and Itachi claimed they were discussing matters, yet they had run into his courtyard. To put it plainly, they were deliberately feeding the words right into his ears.

Sasuke understood perfectly.

He had just thought it through—those two old things, Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado, had really jumped out in a fit of hotheadedness this time. Whether Hiruzen Sarutobi had egged them on from behind the scenes or Danzo had stirred them up, now that the two of them were involved, no matter how the accounts were settled, they would not get any good fruit to eat.

He stood up and patted the crumbs from his pants. "Mr. Susanoo, it's about time you showed your face."

Once he said that, nothing moved in the shadow of the nearby tree, but Sasuke knew the person had already left.

Looking back to earlier—

When Danzo walked out of the shadows of the Hokage Tower, the expression on that half-bandaged face of his was so gloomy it seemed water could be wrung from it.

His original plan had been to push Orochimaru up and hold the strings himself from behind the scenes. Who would have thought that old undying Hiruzen Sarutobi would force Minato Namikaze into becoming the Fourth Hokage? The nice way to put it was that he "had more prestige," but to put it plainly, wasn't it just because Hiruzen did not want to let go of power? In the end, one Hokage seat in the village ended up with two people sitting in it.

That boy Minato took a shower every day before going home after work.

Why? The smell of smoke on him was too strong.

Back then, Kushina was pregnant, and Minato was afraid the smoke would choke her.

Danzo knew about this too.

That was why he dared to make his move later—Minato had only just connected with the Uchiha side, and someone in the village immediately started giving him attitude. On the night the Nine-Tails acted up, those Anbu all circled around Hiruzen Sarutobi, leaving Minato alone to bear the Nine-Tails and that masked man. "Since you can no longer get things done," Danzo lowered his voice as if speaking to himself, "then I, Danzo, will uphold the village's dignity."

After saying this, he turned and vanished.

The Anbu who had just come from the Hokage's office had finished reporting to him. "Tianyi, begin the mission."

Danzo stood beneath the shadows of the trees, his voice low and heavy. "This village, Konoha, and the entire Shinobi World, have been resting for too long."

"It's time to make them remember that ninja are not meant to farm at home."

As soon as he finished speaking, several dark figures shot out around him and scattered cleanly in the blink of an eye.

In truth, Danzo could originally have continued to endure.

Hiruzen Sarutobi held too many things in his hands—strength, connections, and those two old coffins, Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado. Although those two old things were usually just for show, they still occupied seats that carried weight in the village.

But this time, the Uchiha side had caused such a scene that, by sheer accident, it had helped him tear open a gap. A crack had already appeared between Hiruzen Sarutobi and those two old fellows.

What Danzo was best at was driving wedges into cracks.

Although this Uchiha move was not quite the same as the script he had originally written, it did no real harm. As long as things proceeded step by step, the Uchiha Clan would sooner or later be erased from Konoha's map. Once the Uchiha matter was dealt with—Danzo narrowed his one exposed eye—that Hokage chair would also be due for a new occupant.

Meanwhile, in the Uchiha Clan Compound.

When Shisui and Itachi returned to the clan compound, neither of their expressions looked very relaxed. "Brother Shisui," Itachi paused in his steps, "did we go a little too far this time?"

His mind was still on Uchiha Yasushi's injuries. Those wounds might well affect his future training. If they were not handled properly, his life could be as good as over. "If we end up gaining nothing in the end—"

"Leave your worries with the medical ninja." Shisui's tone was steady, and his steps did not stop. "The matters behind us are more urgent."

As he spoke, his gaze was even heavier than usual.

According to his years of mission experience, at this point in time, Danzo's people should already be on the road. "Understood."

Itachi's voice sank, and his gaze settled along with it.

The two of them had not been standing in the courtyard for long when Sasuke, seated under the corridor nearby, finished gnawing the last piece of melon, stood up, clapped his hands, and swept his gaze over them—

In truth, he understood everything.

These two had come over specifically to let him hear it.

Sasuke reached out and grabbed the magatama, the corner of his mouth lifting, his eyes full of teasing. "Looks like I probably won't get a chance to watch the show in person next. What a pity."

Chakra poured into the magatama all at once, and Susanoo instantly appeared. "Understood, Sasuke."

"Don't worry. This sort of thing is my specialty."

Susanoo took the specially made equipment Sasuke handed over and, in a few quick movements, put on a Root Organization outfit.

Next, it was time for him to take the stage.

In the Hokage's office, Hiruzen Sarutobi's hand was resting on a scroll.

He was calculating that after today, Danzo's forces would have a large chunk chopped off.

When the time came, letting the Police Force take over part of Root's work would follow naturally.

This arrangement was also meant to test the Uchiha.

To see whether they would be more obedient than Danzo. "Lord Hokage, a group of extremely strong ninja suddenly appeared in the village."

"They're causing destruction everywhere."

"Each of them has Sharingan... The Uchiha are trying to betray the village!"

An Anbu suddenly flashed in, his words spilling out like a machine gun.

Hiruzen Sarutobi froze.

Hadn't Uchiha Fugaku taken people out of the village to ambush Danzo's squad?

How could such a disturbance still break out inside the village?

"That is indeed the case."

"Lord Hokage, you should withdraw first. It isn't safe here."

"Those rebels are rushing toward the Hokage Tower."

"Their target is very clear. It's you!"

The Anbu was frantic.

If Hiruzen Sarutobi got caught up in the fighting, then the Anbu would have their hands full. "I understand..."

"Hiss!"

Just as Hiruzen Sarutobi stood up, a long sword pierced straight through his body.

The next moment, his body turned into earth and scattered across the floor. "Earth clone?"

"As expected of the Professor of Ninjutsu, Teacher Hiruzen Sarutobi."

The Anbu ninja straightened, his face covered in a playful smile. "Your voice?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi walked out from the side, staring at the Anbu before him, his face so dark it seemed it could drip water. "It seems Teacher hasn't forgotten me yet."

"But I don't have time to reminisce with you."

"This time, I only came over to show my face. The next time we meet, I'll have a proper chat with you."

After the Anbu ninja finished speaking, his fingers began forming seals, preparing to leave. "Orochimaru?"

"You're involved in this as well?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi felt stifled.

Orochimaru, one of the Legendary Sannin, had always been a knot in his heart.

Even now, he had not let it go. "It doesn't count as being involved. I just came to watch the excitement."

"Goodbye, Teacher."

"To be honest, your performance is still as disappointing as ever."

Orochimaru left those words behind, and his body rapidly collapsed and shrank, leaving behind a section of something as he disappeared from the spot.

Hiruzen Sarutobi let out a long sigh.

He could not figure out the meaning behind Orochimaru's words, nor did he want to bother guessing.

As for why he had not attacked—he knew very well that if Orochimaru wanted to leave, he alone could not stop him.

However, the message Orochimaru had brought just now should not be false.

Thinking of this, Hiruzen Sarutobi tore off his Hokage robe and changed into battle gear. "Bang!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi's fingers flew, forming a seal, and the Summoning Jutsu activated directly.

The Adamantine Monkey Demon was summoned, his enormous body landing and kicking up a ring of dust. "Let's go. We'll return to the village first and see the situation."

The old man leaped up and landed steadily on the Adamantine Monkey Demon's shoulder, his voice pressed very low. "You right now..."

"Enough. I know what I'm doing."

The Adamantine Monkey Demon said no more. Dropping to all fours, he suddenly exerted strength and carried Hiruzen Sarutobi straight out of the Hokage Tower.

Once he moved, the Anbu members hidden around also revealed themselves one after another and rushed out close behind.

The reason those Anbu had failed to discover Orochimaru's tracks was purely because Orochimaru was far too familiar with Konoha's security patterns.

With the intelligence Danzo had provided on top of that, given his ability, avoiding the Anbu's eyes was not difficult at all.

At the same time, Konoha Village had already descended into chaos. "Aren't they just a bunch of useless civilians? And they usually dare to point fingers at us?"

"I'm done putting up with it today. I'll chop them all up!"

A ninja whose eyes glowed red, his Sharingan spinning rapidly, gripped a blade and charged into the crowd like a madman.

The villagers were so frightened they scattered in every direction, fleeing for their lives. Several were cut down, collapsing to the ground and screaming. "In this world, whoever has the harder fist is right. Only those with strength are qualified to speak. You useless ordinary people—what right do you have to point fingers at us Uchiha?"

"Today I'll let you taste just how useless you are when you don't have power backing you up!"

"Go die, you bunch of trash asking to be dealt with!"

Another ninja who had also activated his Sharingan charged into the crowd from the other side of the village.

This sudden turn to violence left most people with no time to react at all.

Blades swept through, and people fell one after another.

But strangely, in this attack that looked as if it had completely gone out of control, many people were injured, yet not a single one died. "Quick! Save people first. Send people to block those lunatics!"

"Itachi, I'll leave the east side to you."

"I'll go block the people on the west side."

"Everyone in the Police Force who isn't rescuing people, go intercept them."

Even someone like Shisui, who had long been on guard against Danzo's methods, was still caught off guard by this sudden chaos.

He quickly issued arrangements while saving people and blocking the attackers. "Shisui Uchiha?"

"And here I thought you were a genius of the Uchiha Clan. You watched the clan get suppressed by the higher-ups and didn't even dare fart."

"You even helped them do their work!"

"Today, I'd like to see just how capable that name, Shisui of the Body Flicker, really is!"

Two ninja whose eyes were both lit with Three-Tomoe Sharingan charged straight at Shisui.

Itachi was a little worried, but he still did as Shisui said and hurried off to handle the chaos on the other side.

These two were roughly jonin level in strength.

With the Sharingan backing them up, their combat power truly was not weak.

But before Shisui Uchiha, that bit of ability from the two of them was nowhere near enough.

In just a few moves, Shisui pressed them down onto the ground, leaving them unable to move. "Lord Shisui Uchiha, are you planning to take them back and shield your own people?"

"Sure enough, in the end, you're from the same clan. You can't bring yourself to do it, can you?"

"We were nearly just..."

"Hiss—"

Before the surrounding people could finish speaking, the blade in Shisui's hand had already swung down fiercely.

Two heads fell on the spot, and fresh blood splashed all over the ground. "These two are not members of the Uchiha Clan."

"Their eyes were transplanted."

"If everyone does not believe me, the ** and eyes will remain here."

"Lord Hokage will give everyone a satisfactory explanation."

"There are still other villagers suffering in the village. I have to hurry over first."

"As for these two **, I'll have to trouble everyone to help watch them."

Shisui Uchiha bowed to those around him, and in a flicker, his figure vanished.

Once he left, the villagers who had originally still held doubts toward the Uchiha now completely let go of their wariness. "What are you trying to do?"

"No one is touching these two **!"

"That's right. Among the ones who were blindly stirring up trouble earlier, you seemed to be one of them, weren't you?"

"Hold him down. This guy is most likely connected to those people!"

As soon as Shisui left, someone sneaked up, trying to gouge the Sharingan out of the **.