The Whole Clan Mobilizes

"Danzo dug out Shisui's right eye. The first step is naturally to take Shisui's eye back! Time is tight. I don't have time to waste on you right now!"

Fugaku gave Zhengye a long look. He realized he might have underestimated this new-generation Mangekyō Sharingan wielder.

But Zhengye was right. Even a Three-Tomoe Sharingan could not be left exposed, much less Shisui's Mangekyō Sharingan!

Fugaku fell silent for several seconds, his gaze sweeping over Inabi, Tekka, Itachi, Shisui, Dongyou, and Junxia standing behind Zhengye.

Though there were only a handful of them, they represented the Uchiha's most elite fighting force.

He took a deep breath and spoke in a low voice.

"Since so many people support you, I grant you the position of Fourth Elder. Tonight, you have the authority to mobilize every combatant, myself included."

"As for stepping down... we'll discuss it after Shisui's eye has been recovered!"

Fugaku's meaning was obvious. It depended on whether Zhengye's actions tonight could win everyone over.

If he commanded well, then it did not matter whether Fugaku remained clan head.

This was Fugaku's final attempt to salvage some dignity after being utterly crushed by force.

Zhengye did not argue with Fugaku over any of that.

He directly ordered, "Everyone heard that. Members of the First through Sixth Squads, put on your gear and gather in the center of the clan grounds within three minutes!"

"The rest of the combatants should also put on their battle gear and prepare for tonight's fight."

The Uchiha were not the type to fuss endlessly.

Once Fugaku gave his authorization, no one asked further questions. They merely exchanged glances before using the Body Flicker Technique and vanishing from the shrine.

Yashiro walked up to Inabi, patted his shoulder approvingly, and swiftly left the shrine as well.

"Lord Fugaku, you're coming too."

Though Zhengye's form of address was somewhat polite, he showed no hesitation when issuing orders.

Shisui stepped before Fugaku and said softly, "Clan Head, don't worry. Zhengye is confident."

Fugaku kept a taut expression as he used the Body Flicker Technique and disappeared from the shrine.

The five of them were already dressed in battle gear, so they were in no hurry to leave.

Zhengye raised his hand and made a tactical gesture.

The others gathered around, and Zhengye first reassured Itachi and Shisui.

"Don't worry. I know exactly what I'm doing. I won't throw our clansmen's lives away fighting Sarutobi Hiruzen."

Itachi and Shisui both nodded. After learning that Zhengye could know things about the future,

they had come to trust him deeply.

"Now, I'll lay out tonight's battle plan..."

Zhengye raised a finger and lowered his voice.

"Today's core principle is Uchiha revenge against Danzo for stealing an Uchiha eye."

"We are the victims. Our cause is just!"

"We'll take the southern drainage channel and avoid the ANBU posts on the main roads as much as possible."

"Don't kill the ANBU if you don't have to. Kill Root if you can!"

"On the condition that we ensure the safety of our clansmen, those of us with Mangekyō Sharingan will carry out a decapitation strike."

"We'll take down Danzo as quickly as possible."

"We are the main force. The other clansmen are our reserves."

"Danzo has Sharingan implanted on his body, and he knows the forbidden technique Izanagi."

"We can't let him use that forbidden technique, or it will consume the Uchiha's most precious Sharingan."

"Do you understand?"

Everyone nodded.

The Uchiha's First through Sixth Squads were all elites who had awakened their Sharingan. Even the weakest among them were special jōnin.

Most were in their twenties, all in the prime of their lives.

Naturally, they equipped themselves very quickly.

In less than three minutes, everyone had assembled.

Fugaku and Yashiro had no intention of remaining in the clan grounds either. They had both put on their gear and stood beside the formation.

Zhengye stood before the group and spoke loudly.

"You should all know by now that Shisui's Mangekyō Sharingan was stolen by that old dog Danzo."

"No matter who the enemy is, if they dare covet the Uchiha Clan's Mangekyō Sharingan—"

"There is only one answer... Kill!"

The Uchiha clansmen were instantly fired up. They drew their blades and shouted, "Kill! Kill! Kill!"

Zhengye nodded in satisfaction. "Today's mission is to attack the Root Base. Every Root member is our enemy!"

"Lord Yashiro, stay in the clan grounds. If we fire a signal flare, bring the remaining people to support us."

Yashiro bowed and answered, "Go, Zhengye. I'll organize the clansmen who remain."

"Move!"

Zhengye gave a slight nod, waved his hand, and led every Uchiha elite charging toward the Root Base.

The Root Base was deep and silent.

From the dim shadows, a Root ninja hurriedly pushed open the door to Danzo's room.

"Sir! An entire squad searching for Shisui at the Naka River has been killed."

Danzo abruptly raised his head from before the candlelight.

"What!? When did it happen!?"

The man's expression tightened as he spoke in a low voice.

"We only went looking after they failed to report back at the scheduled time, but all their bodies had been burned black."

"Judging from the condition of the burned corpses, it was probably forty minutes ago."

Danzo rose to his feet with a grim expression.

An entire squad wiped out... anyone capable of killing twelve Root members was at least jōnin-level.

Shisui was injured. He could not possibly possess that kind of combat strength.

Unless—someone had come to meet him.

Before he could issue new orders, another person burst in frantically.

"Lord Danzo, this is bad! The entire Uchiha Clan has mobilized and is attacking us!"

Danzo's eyes narrowed, and he said viciously, "Good, good, good. I knew the Uchiha harbored wolfish ambitions. So it really is a rebellion!"

"All personnel, prepare for battle. Send a signal to Sarutobi Hiruzen immediately!"

"Today, I'll make sure the Uchiha never return!"

The Hokage's Office.

The Third Hokage, who had not been sleepy to begin with, still sat behind his desk.

The unreviewed orders lay to one side.

He smoked irritably.

Amid the curling smoke, he felt restless, as though something was about to happen.

Suddenly, hurried knocking sounded at the door.

Then an ANBU rushed in, his voice warped with panic.

"Lord Hokage, every Uchiha combatant has mobilized. They have already attacked the Root Base."

The Third Hokage shot to his feet, his face filled with shock.

Every combatant had mobilized!?

What had provoked Fugaku!?

For him to be this radical!?

"Gather our people immediately. Fire signal flares and notify the other ninja clans. Head to the Root Base at once."

"Yes!" The ANBU vanished in an instant.

The Third Hokage set down his pipe and clenched his fist, veins bulging along his arm.

Though he was getting on in years, he still had the strength to fight!

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

As signal flares shot into the sky, all of Konoha immediately erupted into commotion.

That was Konoha's highest-level emergency flare for an invasion!

After Itachi took out the ANBU at the tower, Konoha had no idea the Uchiha elite had mobilized.

Deep within the Root Base, by the time Danzo saw the signal flares rise, the Uchiha's main force had already broken through the first line of defense.

The Root Base was not close to central Konoha. By the time the Third Hokage saw the signal, gathered the ANBU, and notified the various ninja clans, Zhengye would already have more than enough time to reach Root's entrance.

Over a dozen gray-robed Root members had just formed a defensive formation.

"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"

Seven or eight fireballs flew from the Uchiha ranks at once, dyeing the night sky crimson.

The Root members scattered to evade them, only to be met by a storm of shuriken.

—The Uchiha Clan's Shuriken Throwing Technique never disappointed!

Zhengye stood at the front of the formation with his Mangekyō Sharingan activated, his gaze sweeping every corner of the battlefield as he remained ready to handle any sudden development.

But the Uchiha elites gave him no chance to act.

Without suffering a single casualty, they cleared out every Root ninja outside the Root Base.