Mission Complete, Hiruzen Sarutobi's Rage

Immediately afterward, Nara Shikaku's Shadow Imitation Technique spread over in an instant, tightly binding the feet of the other two Jonin. Yamanaka Inoichi's mental invasion struck at the same time, forcing the pair to hold their breath, focus their minds, and break the genjutsu.

The current generation of Ino–Shika–Cho had appeared together.

"Kurenai, get back." Shikaku's voice was calm without the slightest ripple. His hands maintained their seal, his shadow firmly locking down the enemy's movements, while his eyes were full of gravity.

He could clearly sense that the three Uchiha before him were all genuine Elite Jonin. Not one of them was easy to deal with.

Taoho steadied himself and looked at the three members of Ino–Shika–Cho standing before Yuhi Kurenai. The killing intent in his eyes deepened. Just as he was about to order a direct assault, a rapid series of footsteps suddenly came from the alley entrance.

Uchiha Yakumi arrived at the alley entrance with Yashiro, Yaoyu, and the others, immediately taking their places at Taoho's side. The numbers on both sides instantly evened out, and the tense atmosphere reached its peak.

The chakra in the alley was taut as a fully drawn bowstring. One spark was all it would take to set it off.

Shikaku's brow furrowed even more deeply. He had not expected a second group of Uchiha elites—and every one of their chakras was sharp enough to make his scalp prickle.

Just as both sides were about to clash, a black shadow silently landed atop the alley. Uchiha Kei's voice came from above, carrying an unquestionable command. "Everyone, stop! Withdraw immediately!"

Taoho abruptly looked up. At the sight of Kei's gesture, the killing intent in his eyes instantly receded.

He knew that since Kei had ordered a retreat, preparations at the Uchiha Clan District must already be complete. Continuing to tangle with them here would only delay the clan's greater plans.

He coldly swept his gaze over Shikaku's group, then waved a hand without hesitation. "Go!"

More than a dozen figures turned at once and became afterimages, racing toward the Uchiha Clan District under the cover of dust and smoke. Within only a few breaths, they vanished at the end of the alley.

Shikaku did not order a pursuit. He merely slowly lowered his hands from their seal and stared in the direction they had disappeared, his brows knotted tightly. He could feel it—if the enemy had truly attacked with all their strength just then, even if his side won, they would have paid a terrible price.

Yuhi Kurenai collapsed to the ground, staring at Gekko Hayate in the pool of blood. Her fingertips would not stop trembling, and a complicated sorrow flashed across her face.

No matter what, Hayate had been her classmate at the Ninja Academy.

Inoichi closed his eyes and sensed the area for a moment. Then he suddenly opened them, his face turning deathly pale as he looked at Shikaku. "This is bad! They're all heading toward the Uchiha Clan District! And the laboratory at the Root Base has been blown up!"

Shikaku's pupils suddenly contracted. His heart skipped a beat as he instantly understood.

This was not some simple theft, nor was it an Uchiha rebellion meant as a test.

Their objective had been terrifyingly clear from the very beginning.

And every one of them had been played for fools by that earthshaking explosion.

The flames that filled the sky dyed Konoha's night sky a murky blood-red.

Hiruzen Sarutobi led the remaining Anbu elites, charging toward the Uchiha Clan District as though mad, trampling over shattered stones and scalding puddles.

The hem of his Hokage robes was burned full of holes by sparks. His face was smeared with soot and blood. The Sea Willow Pipe he had held for half his life had long since vanished during the mad dash. The gentle smile that usually lingered in his eyes was gone, leaving only towering rage and a chill that pierced to the bone.

The Book of Seals had been stolen. The Hashirama Cells samples had been taken. Gekko Hayate's entire squad had been wiped out. Half of Konoha had been blasted into ruins... Each disaster was like a poison-dipped blade, viciously stabbing into his heart.

The Konoha he had guarded for his entire life had been toyed with by the Uchiha right under his nose.

The moment he rounded the street corner, the sight before him made him abruptly stop.

The entire Uchiha Clan District had already been completely enveloped by an enormous Feihong barrier.

Blazing flame patterns flowed across its surface. It was the Uchiha Clan's ultimate defensive formation, the Blazing Sun Formation.

Even from dozens of meters away, the scorching heat made their faces tighten. The air warped under the intense temperature. Several Root ninja, their eyes red with fury, tried to force their way through. The instant their fingertips touched the edge of the barrier, flames suddenly surged up and burned through their forehead protectors and ninja uniforms. They screamed and rolled across the ground, falling silent in an instant.

Shimura Danzō stood at the very front of the barrier, his lone eye beneath the bandages fixed on its interior. The vicious aura around him was nearly tangible.

When he saw Hiruzen Sarutobi arrive, he abruptly turned his head. His voice was filled with resentment and fury suppressed for decades. "Hiruzen! Open your eyes and take a good look! This is the Uchiha you protected your entire life! This is your so-called consideration for the bigger picture!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi ignored his roar. His eyes remained nailed to the Feihong barrier, his fingertips clenched until they turned white, his knuckles cracking.

He knew the power of the Blazing Sun Formation all too well. It was the Uchiha's final trump card against the calamity of clan extermination. Without immense chakra poured into it together, it could not possibly be activated.

At that moment, a figure silently landed beside the two men.

Uchiha Itachi removed his Anbu cat mask. His knuckles had gone white from force, and not a trace of color remained on his face.

He had rushed here from the sea of fire. The news he heard along the way struck his mind like successive thunderclaps, leaving it utterly blank—Hokage Rock had collapsed into rubble, the Book of Seals had been stolen, the Root Laboratory had been destroyed, and now this Blazing Sun Formation before him, which required the entire clan to work together to maintain.

He had always believed he held the key to balancing the clan and the village, believed he could protect everything while caught between them. But only at this moment did he see clearly that he had been completely kept in the dark from beginning to end.

His Feihong Three-Tomoe Sharingan emerged uncontrollably, his gaze fixed on the barrier as his fingertips trembled without stop.

At that moment, two figures within the barrier slowly walked to its edge. Separated by the surging flame patterns, they faced the people outside from afar.

The one in front was Uchiha Fugaku.

He had removed the plain-colored kimono he usually wore and changed into the formal black haori of the Uchiha clan head. The fan-shaped clan crest on his chest was a piercing red in the firelight.

The restraint and hesitation he once wore were gone from his face, replaced only by the resolve to stake everything on a single throw. His calm gaze swept over Hiruzen Sarutobi outside the barrier without the slightest evasion.

At his side stood eleven-year-old Uchiha Natsu.

The youth wore a light gray robe, his hands clasped behind his back. His Feihong Three-Tomoe Sharingan slowly turned in his eyes. His gaze first swept over the livid Hiruzen Sarutobi, then passed over Danzo, who radiated viciousness, before finally settling on the pale-faced Itachi. A completely undisguised sneer curled across his lips.