Arrival

At the outermost edge of the Uchiha compound.

A few minutes earlier.

A large group of ninja had gathered here. Watching the terrifying battle between the two giants in the distance, they were all deeply shaken.

"Th-this... could this be the legendary ultimate ocular technique that only the Mangekyō Sharingan can use—Susanoo?"

Hiashi Hyuga had activated his Byakugan. Looking at the two Susanoo fighting in the distance, he asked the Third Hokage beside him with a face full of shock.

Hiruzen Sarutobi wore a solemn expression as he said in a deep voice:

"That's right! This is the Uchiha clan's strongest ocular technique, Susanoo."

"But this!? Why are there two of them? Wasn't Itachi Uchiha the only one who awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan?"

Hiashi Hyuga's shocked expression was filled with confusion.

"If this old man's guess is correct, Fugaku must have awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan as well. The other Susanoo should have been summoned by him!"

"Fugaku?"

A complicated look appeared on Hiashi Hyuga's face. He had once believed that, as the heads of Konoha's two greatest clans, he and Fugaku stood on equal footing.

But as he watched the two Susanoo battling in the distance, he felt a trace of sorrow.

Their Hyuga clan had no means whatsoever to counter such terrifying giants.

It seemed the claim that the Hyuga and Uchiha were Konoha's two greatest clans was nothing more than a joke!

Then he sneered inwardly. So what if they possessed such terrifying power? Tonight, their entire clan would still be slaughtered.

After tonight, the Hyuga would truly become Konoha's greatest clan.

Seeing Hiashi Hyuga's ever-changing expression, Hiruzen Sarutobi knew what he was worried about and explained:

"We should be grateful. If we hadn't acted in advance tonight, we might have been the ones facing Susanoo."

"Now that Itachi Uchiha is leading the charge for us, they can wear each other down while we reap the benefits!"

"Besides, Danzo and his Root are at the front. My old friend has made thorough preparations for the Uchiha. We can trust him completely!"

"As for us, we only need to watch the situation unfold and prevent any Uchiha from escaping amid the chaos! There is no need to worry too much."

The Third Hokage smiled lightly, looking utterly calm and composed.

It gave off the feeling that, with a few casual words, the Uchiha clan would be reduced to ashes.

But to be honest, the Third Hokage was extremely relieved right now.

Who would have thought that Fugaku, with his honest-looking face and thick brows, had hidden himself so deeply? He had secretly awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan.

Fortunately, he had turned Itachi Uchiha and Shisui Uchiha to his side in advance. Otherwise, facing an Uchiha clan with three pairs of Mangekyō Sharingan—three Susanoo charging straight through the Hokage Building—was enough to make one shudder.

Of course, he thought this because he did not know that Shisui's death was the prerequisite for Itachi Uchiha to awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan.

In any case, the Third Hokage felt that his scheme was exceptionally brilliant.

Exterminating the Uchiha clan, which had three Kage-level powerhouses, was something he could brag about for the rest of his life.

Moving closer toward the Uchiha compound, another group of ninja had gathered here.

Every one of them wore a mask. They were clearly the Root ninja led by Danzo.

They watched the two red and purple giants that resembled demonic gods. In their terrifying battle, houses and buildings were like crumbling tofu—anything they touched shattered, anything struck collapsed.

Even from this distance, they could still feel the shockwaves stirred up by the battle.

"Th-this... is this the enemy we're supposed to deal with later? This isn't something ordinary ninjutsu can handle at all, is it?"

A Root ninja unconsciously swallowed, shifting his feet slightly backward as his lips trembled.

"Oh? Are you afraid? Do you wish to retreat?"

To his surprise, a cold and sinister voice suddenly sounded behind him.

Although he had kept his voice low just now, he had still been heard.

The Root ninja jolted in fright, hurriedly turned around, dropped to one knee, and said with a trembling voice:

"N-no, Lord Danzo, I was only..."

Before he could finish, he was coldly interrupted.

"Enough! Root has no need for trash!"

"If this had been any other day, this old man would have executed you on the spot for such behavior!"

"But today is an emergency, so I will give you a chance to redeem yourself. Go. Take the lead at the front! If you survive, this old man will overlook your cowardice!"

A cold gleam shone in Danzo's single eye. He showed no concern whatsoever for his subordinate's feelings.

In his eyes, Root ninja were merely tools in his hands. Tools had no need for emotions!

The Root ninja kneeling on the ground felt his heart turn cold. Danzo's meaning was clear: he was being sent out as cannon fodder, sent to die.

Looking at the terrifying battle between those two demonic gods in the distance, he did not believe that he, as the vanguard, could survive.

Though he was unwilling beyond measure, he had no choice. After helplessly answering, "Yes," he quickly moved to the very front of the group.

Branded with the Tongue Curse Root Seal, his life and death rested on Danzo's every whim. He did not even have the right to resist.

From beginning to end, the Root ninja around him remained silent. Like wooden stakes planted in place, they did not move at all, as though they had seen nothing.

Danzo was very satisfied with this. Root ninja should be like this. It was enough for them to serve as cold, emotionless tools!

However, that Root ninja's cowardice still left him dissatisfied.

It seemed Root's training methods needed further improvement. They had to become even more brutal, so these tools could cast aside their useless emotions...

Danzo secretly calculated in his heart, planning to devise an even crueler training regimen immediately after the Uchiha clan had been exterminated.

Then he turned his gaze toward the two Susanoo battling in the distance. Instead of fear, his eyes revealed wild delight.

What did the existence of two Susanoo mean?

It meant there were two pairs of Mangekyō Sharingan!

One pair should belong to that brat Itachi Uchiha. If his guess was correct, the other belonged to that treacherous bastard Fugaku.

Hmph!

Danzo snorted inwardly.

Fugaku had looked so honest and simple-minded, yet he had hidden the fact that he awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan. He must have harbored thoughts of rebellion long ago!

But it would benefit this old man. He would soon obtain two pairs of Mangekyō Sharingan. What an unexpected windfall!

Danzo excitedly licked his lips, greed blazing in his single eye.

At this moment, he was already considering how to successfully transplant all four Mangekyō Sharingan into his body.

Once he had successfully transplanted two pairs of Mangekyō Sharingan, he would slay gods in his path and kill Buddhas in his way. The position of Hokage would be his for the taking.

"Lord Danzo, those two giants have decided the victor. Should we attack now?"

His trusted ninja, B, spoke up to remind him, and Danzo instantly snapped out of his dream of becoming Hokage.

He looked ahead. Sure enough, the red and purple giants had disappeared. It seemed the victor had already been decided.

"Good!"

Excitement filled Danzo's face as he immediately crushed the small white snake hidden in his sleeve.

This was the messenger snake Orochimaru had given him. Crushing it meant sending a message to the other party, signaling that it was time to act.

Then he swept his gaze across the numerous Root ninja around him and shouted:

"Follow the battle plan and attack the Uchiha! Kill them all, regardless of gender or age! Leave no one alive!"

"Collect the Sharingan with all your strength, prioritizing three-tomoe ones! The more you collect, the greater this old man's reward!"

After a pause, he continued:

"Also, find that brat Uchiha Sasuke first. Capture him alive if possible. It does not matter if you break all four of his limbs, so long as he still has a breath left!"

"Remember, whoever finds that brat's trail must immediately send me a message!"

"Yes!"

The Root ninja responded in unison, vicious light flashing in every one of their eyes.

Raised through cruel methods, they thirsted for slaughter and blood.

In particular, slaughtering defenseless civilians stirred their killing desire even more.

Just as they were about to use the Body Flicker Technique to leave, a black shadow descended from the sky, smashing rapidly toward them.

"Hm? What is that?"

A Root ninja raised his head in confusion, watching the black shadow grow larger and larger in his vision.

The next moment,

BOOM!!!

Like a meteor crashing down, the earth trembled, shattered stones flew everywhere, and dust billowed into the air. Massive spiderweb-like cracks rapidly spread in every direction.

A huge crater suddenly appeared in the ground.

That lucky Root ninja was smashed into a bloody pulp on the spot!

The Root ninja nearby who had failed to dodge in time were blasted away by the shockwave, coughing up blood.

A deep, domineering voice rang out.

"I heard you were looking for me. No need to look anymore. I'm here!"

Sasuke rolled his neck and slowly walked out of the crater.