Signal

A serious riot was erupting in Konoha—or rather, a one-sided suppression. The Konoha forces led by the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, had completely entered the Uchiha Clan's district and caused extensive damage within it.

Even so, Konoha's forces met with very little resistance.

It was as though the Uchiha rebellion was fake. They easily seized several key points.

"Where have you taken Naruto?"

A young Uchiha ninja was dragged before Ibiki Morino, captain of Konoha's Torture Division.

"I don't know anything about Naruto." The young Uchiha shook his head.

"Then where is your clan head, Uchiha Fugaku?"

"I don't know that either."

"What about the rest of your Uchiha clansmen?"

"I don't know anything. I only know that leading people into our Uchiha District is unquestionably against the rules, Lord Ibiki." He sneered.

Ibiki narrowed his eyes. "I don't want to discuss rules with you. These are Konoha's rules. And do you still consider yourselves Konoha people? You know perfectly well what you're plotting."

"Of course we're Konoha people. But whether you're Sarutobi's people or Konoha's people is another matter entirely."

"Besides, what are we plotting? Is that your reason for invading our home?" The Uchiha's manner was utterly arrogant as he mocked, "Passing judgment without facts, based only on what people might be thinking—worthy of Konoha's Torture Division captain. You're certainly skilled at making people confess."

"Given the chance, I'll let you experience the methods of our Torture Division." Ibiki spoke calmly.

The awkward part was that the Uchiha had yet to launch their rebellion when Konoha attacked them first.

As the party that had started the conflict, anything Konoha said now put them in the wrong. Even though they knew Naruto had been abducted by the Uchiha, without solid proof—such as catching Fugaku in the act—they still could not justify Konoha's invasion of the Uchiha District.

But if Fugaku released the Nine-Tails within Naruto, then it would be too late for anything.

That was why, even if they were temporarily in the wrong, they still had to proceed with the invasion. Of two evils, they had to choose the lesser. Konoha had no choice but to find Naruto before Fugaku succeeded.

The Uchiha clearly understood this as well. Most of the people in the district had already vanished, and even the Uchiha who remained rarely resisted Konoha's advance.

They had clearly received unified orders. They also knew very well that as long as they did not resist, Konoha would not kill them.

Other than the Lightning Water Dragon Bullet Sarutobi had unleashed in extreme fury at the beginning, which caused considerable Uchiha casualties, the clashes between Konoha and the Uchiha had otherwise remained relatively restrained. The Uchiha's few acts of resistance were all reasonable responses to Konoha's invasion.

Although Lord Hokage had transferred him from the Torture Division, Ibiki knew perfectly well that he would get almost nothing useful out of these people. Fugaku would never leave such an obvious loose end by telling these small fry where he was.

Konoha's heavy punch had landed on cotton. Before the Uchiha's treason was confirmed, they had no good way of dealing with these slippery, catfish-like Uchiha clansmen.

"Lock him up."

Ibiki could tell from the conversation alone that this man had no value for interrogation.

They were racing Fugaku for time. Before that, he did not want to waste time on anything useless.

"I'll kill you." The young Uchiha had clearly understood the humiliation.

Ibiki said nothing, merely casting him a contemptuous glance.

"Next."

Just as another Uchiha clansman was brought over—

Whoosh.

A signal flare tore through the sky and exploded in a striking red light.

[ ]

Hm?

Ibiki noticed that every Uchiha before him changed expression when they saw that red glow.

"So it failed..." The young Uchiha from before muttered, his expression dimming as though he had lost all fighting spirit in an instant.

What did that mean...? Ibiki frowned.

What did that signal flare represent?

"If the Nine-Tails appeared, it was the signal for us to act. If the Nine-Tails didn't appear, it was the signal for us to surrender." Another Uchiha sighed. "That's enough, Tekka."

"After all the clan has prepared for, how could it possibly... Fine, then!!" Uchiha Tekka suddenly roared.

The next second, the shackles on his body abruptly came undone.

Inabi leaped high into the air amid the stunned Konoha ninja.

He formed seals and drew in a breath.

Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!

The fireball swallowed several Chunin from the Torture Division who had no time to react.

Ibiki clicked his tongue. As he rapidly retreated, the Uchiha clansman who had urged Tekka to give up rushed at him with startling speed, gripping a kunai and thrusting straight at him.

Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall!

An ANBU ninja appeared and blocked the attack, then turned and shouted at Ibiki.

"Captain Ibiki, leave first! The Uchiha who were hiding in the dark are gathering here!"

"They've all gone mad!"

"Where do you think you're going?" Tekka's black pupils transformed into three tomoe, radiating savage menace. He grinned at Ibiki. "I told you, I'll definitely kill you!!"

Because of the Uchiha District's earlier weak resistance, Konoha's forces had lowered their guard. The instant that signal flare went off, they immediately came under unprecedented pressure.

The Uchiha clansmen who had activated their Sharingan were incredibly aggressive. Even among Chunin, they could often fight three opponents alone. With Danzo's Root still watching from the sidelines, Konoha's forces, which had nearly taken the entire Uchiha District, were almost instantly driven back out of it.

"That signal flare wasn't telling them to surrender. It was telling them to break through!" Listening to the reports pouring in, Shikaku's expression turned grave.

"Even after their coup failed, they never intended to remain in the village!"

"Uchiha hiding throughout Konoha are setting fires everywhere!"

"Where is Lord Hokage? Those Uchiha bastards are about to tear open the encirclement. We need reinforcements."

Shikaku gave a bitter smile and pointed out the window.

"If nothing unexpected happens, Lord Hokage is fighting over there."

Everyone looked up in shock and saw, not far away, a towering ghostly blue demon nearly ten meters tall. It gripped a weapon resembling a chain of magatama as it confronted several of their top fighters.

This was the key reason Konoha had suddenly been torn apart by the Uchiha.

Reinforcements?

Where could they find reinforcements?

They had all gone to besiege that demon-like Susanoo!

"Who found this Uchiha clan head?" Shikaku suddenly recalled what had sparked the incident.

For the rebellion to be launched when the Nine-Tails had not appeared, someone must have uncovered Fugaku's hiding place beforehand.

"It seemed to be Ning Qi of the Hyuga clan."

"What about the other Hyuga? Didn't Lord Hokage send them a request for aid long ago?" Shikaku frowned even more deeply. The Hyuga clan's absence had played a major role in allowing things to develop this far.

"I don't know." The ANBU responsible for relaying messages shook his head.

Without the Byakugan, Konoha could neither find the Uchiha hiding throughout the village nor immediately locate their clan head, Uchiha Fugaku. They also lacked sufficiently capable core forces to confront the Uchiha head-on.

This was the first time Konoha had felt the pain of losing the Hyuga clan.