Rin: Do You Want That, Brother Shadian? The Hyuga Return, Hiashi's Shock

The raging flames burned fiercely, illuminating the entire sky. The searing heat made it impossible to approach.

"Brother Shadian, are the Third Grandpa and the others dead?" Rin Nohara asked softly from atop the Nine-Tails' head.

"They're not dead. He got away," Uchiha Shadian replied indifferently.

"Are we still going to hunt them down?" Rin Nohara asked.

Uchiha Shadian shook his head. "Chasing them is too troublesome. Let them gather more people and come attack me first, then I'll wipe them all out in one go."

"Brother Shadian, do you really intend to kill everyone in Konoha?" Rin Nohara continued.

Uchiha Shadian glanced at Rin Nohara and said coldly, "It's not that I want to kill them all. They want to kill me. At this point, there's no room left for reconciliation between Konoha and me. Either they die, or I live."

"After this inferno, Konoha's ninja forces have suffered devastating losses. To replenish their combat strength, Hiruzen Sarutobi will definitely recall the elite ninja stationed at the borders of the Land of Fire. Then I can kill all of Konoha's elites in one stroke and completely dismantle Konoha."

After speaking, Uchiha Shadian extended his hand.

Four dazzling flashes immediately burst forth from the flames.

Four streaks of light shot out of the fire and landed before Uchiha Shadian.

With a wave of his hand, Uchiha Shadian sent the four lights into the sword sheath at his waist.

"Brother Shadian, your swords can fly back on their own?" Rin Nohara asked in surprise.

"A sword has a spirit. When its master calls, it naturally returns," Uchiha Shadian said calmly.

"Enough. I've been tired all night. Let's soak in a hot spring first!"

Uchiha Shadian stretched lazily. He had been busy all night; it was time to rest properly.

"We're not fighting anymore?" Rin Nohara asked, somewhat surprised. She had not expected Uchiha Shadian to refrain from pressing the advantage and continuing to hunt down Konoha's ninja.

"We'll talk once they regroup," Uchiha Shadian said. Up to now, the only ones who had come out to fight him were those from the Hokage faction led by Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Utatane Koharu, Mitokado Homura, and Shimura Danzō, those three old schemers, were still hiding in the shadows! Those three treacherous bastards still controlled considerable forces, especially Shimura Danzō, whose strength was second only to Hiruzen Sarutobi's.

Uchiha Shadian did not believe they had died beneath the suction of the Hell Gate summoned by Cloud-Cluster Fang. They had surely taken their men and evacuated Konoha before it completely collapsed, hiding somewhere.

Shimura Danzō had certainly been lurking in the shadows, watching his battle with Hiruzen Sarutobi. He surely wanted to use Shadian's hand to eliminate Hiruzen Sarutobi, so he could seize Konoha's authority for himself.

Uchiha Shadian would not grant him that wish.

Since Hiruzen Sarutobi had escaped disaster, Shadian would spare him for now. Hiruzen would definitely seek out Shimura Danzō to settle accounts and demand to know why Root had not sent anyone to support him. For now, Shadian would let them tear each other apart.

In the end, those four old schemers would surely come to an agreement and join forces to eliminate him first.

And that was exactly what Uchiha Shadian wanted. Once they reached an agreement, he could wipe them all out in a single blow.

Uchiha Shadian jumped down from the Nine-Tails' head and said coldly, "Nine-Tails, you're too big and too conspicuous. Should I cut you down to size, or will you handle it yourself?"

The Nine-Tails immediately broke out in a cold sweat. This bastard had burned more than nine thousand Konoha ninja to death with a single fire. Chopping it up would be effortless. "I-I-I'll do it myself."

As it spoke, the Nine-Tails rapidly shrank, eventually becoming a small fox with nine tails. "Lord Shadian, how do I look like this?" the little Nine-Tails asked Uchiha Shadian with a fawning expression.

"Nine-Tails, you're so cute in this form!" Rin Nohara's eyes sparkled as she looked at the petite Nine-Tails. She picked her up and began petting her.

"Let's go. We'll soak in a hot spring and wash ourselves clean." Uchiha Shadian wrapped an arm around Rin Nohara's slender waist and used the Flying Thunder God Technique, vanishing instantly with Rin Nohara and the little Nine-Tails.

By the time Might Guy arrived, he searched back and forth for a long time but found no trace of Uchiha Shadian.

Obito Uchiha, who had also rushed over, captured a lone Konoha ninja and brought him into the Intangibility space for interrogation, but failed to obtain any useful information.

Just like that, Uchiha Shadian vanished from the battlefield, leaving everyone utterly bewildered.

"What? Uchiha Shadian can't be found?"

"The Nine-Tails is gone too?"

"What kind of scheme is that guy plotting now?"

When Might Guy returned and reported Uchiha Shadian's disappearance, Hiruzen Sarutobi could not help but furrow his brow. He had no idea what Uchiha Shadian was plotting with this sudden disappearance.

Upon receiving the news, Tsunade could not help but wonder whether Uchiha Shadian had deliberately avoided her because he did not want to confront her directly.

At that thought, Tsunade secretly felt a little pleased.

Sure enough, that brat still had her in his heart. He was unwilling to hurt her.

As Tsunade entertained those thoughts.

Inside a small hot spring inn somewhere in Shukuba Town.

Uchiha Shadian sat leisurely in the hot spring, enjoying a gentle massage from Rin Nohara's fair, tender hands.

"Brother Shadian, is this pressure all right?" Rin Nohara asked with a smile.

"It's fine," Uchiha Shadian said with a nod.

Blushing, Rin Nohara lowered her voice. "Brother Shadian, do you want it?"

Uchiha Shadian asked, "Want what?"

Rin Nohara shyly whispered, "That, you know."

Uchiha Shadian said, "That?"

Rin Nohara's face reddened all the way to her ears. "It's... it's that, you know!"

Uchiha Shadian asked, "What exactly is 'that'?"

Rin Nohara blushed down to her neck. "Brother Shadian, you're so mean. You're deliberately teasing me."

Uchiha Shadian pulled Rin Nohara's delicate body into his arms and lifted her pale chin. "Tell me, how am I teasing you?"

Blushing furiously, Rin Nohara murmured, "Y-you-you're just teasing me."

The corner of Uchiha Shadian's lips rose. "No, you should say playing with you!"

At the edge of the Konoha Ruins.

A group of people came to a stop, staring at the ruins before them with shocked expressions.

"What happened here?"

"How did our village become ruins?"

A member of the Hyuga Clan spoke with a stunned, bewildered expression.

Hyuga Hiashi's eyes were wide as he said in disbelief, "The village really is gone."

A cloaked figure spoke. "Big Brother, do you believe me now?"

"Lord Shadian has the power to destroy the entire village."

"The moment Konoha's higher-ups moved against the Uchiha Clan would be the moment Konoha was destroyed."

"Our Hyuga Clan and the Uchiha Clan share the same origins and bloodline. We should join forces and build glory together."

Hyuga Hiashi took a deep breath and prayed, "I still find it hard to believe. With so many outstanding ninja protecting Konoha, the Uchiha Clan actually reduced it to ruins with the strength of a single clan."

Hyuga Hiashi had believed that the overall strength of the Hyuga Clan was not far behind that of the Uchiha Clan. Yet only now did he suddenly realize that the Uchiha Clan had destroyed all of Konoha through the power of one clan alone. It was simply too unbelievable for him to accept.

He believed that even if the Hyuga Clan mobilized its entire strength, it could never contend against the whole village. Otherwise, back then, he would not have needed to let his younger brother sacrifice himself for him.