Backstabbed

"Where's Ning Qi?" Kakashi stood amid the ruins of the war-ravaged Uchiha District and asked with a frown.

"I don't know..."

"However, Ning Qi stole many Sharingan from us. Lord Yamanaka Fū even went after him, and their battle brought down that whole area. Unfortunately, Ning Qi still got away, and Lord Danzo was furious about it."

This wasn't some secret that couldn't be revealed. Or rather, finding fault with Ning Qi, that Root traitor, was something they all wanted to do.

"Where did they fight?" Kakashi hurriedly asked. If there were battle traces left behind, he could compare them with the sword marks outside the village.

"Over there, I think." He pointed toward a collapsed training ground.

"Kakashi, the siege against the Uchiha is more important," Asuma couldn't help saying. "If we don't get there soon, they'll break through."

"You go on ahead... Capturing Ning Qi is also part of the mission." After saying that, Kakashi dashed toward the training ground.

"Fine. We'll meet up afterward." Asuma didn't press him.

Kakashi had the Sharingan Obito had given him. The two had shared a deep bond, so it was understandable that he couldn't bear to kill the Uchiha.

Besides, although little Ning Qi was nowhere near as important as the siege against the Uchiha, plenty of people had already joined the operation. One more Kakashi made little difference, and one less Kakashi changed nothing.

But Kakashi was the only one investigating Ning Qi. This wasn't simply a matter of prioritizing the small over the great, but a reasonable allocation of ninja resources.

Kakashi still didn't know about the tragedy that had unfolded within the Hyuga clan head's residence.

Shikaku had kept the news tightly under control, but Kakashi had his own unique experiences. Remembering Fugaku's hint and Ning Qi's series of strange actions, the unease in his heart grew stronger.

He stepped into the wrecked training ground, lifted his forehead protector, and revealed his Sharingan.

This eye allowed him to see details that others would have difficulty noticing.

For example, beneath a pile of roof tiles, there were sword marks stained with blood.

From them, Kakashi could roughly reconstruct the course of the battle.

"So Yamanaka Fū had actually been at a disadvantage?"

There were far too few clues. He frowned and continued digging through the rubble at his feet.

It was as though he had noticed something.

Kakashi reached out and pulled a piece of clothing bearing a shattered clan crest from the debris.

Looking down, he saw half a corpse beneath the clothing.

—He froze.

Then, as if he had gone mad, Kakashi grabbed the Root ninja from earlier by the collar and shouted:

"Danzo... Where did Lord Danzo go?"

"I... I don't know..."

Kakashi's expression was more grave than ever. There wasn't a moment to lose.

Just as he was about to chase after them, he suddenly turned back and instructed the man, "Hurry and notify Lord Hokage. Tell him..."

It was as though he sensed something.

Fugaku slightly raised his head.

Whoosh!

Right before their eyes.

Ninja figures continuously appeared, surrounding every one of them.

It was no longer the previous rotating battles. This time, Konoha had finally sent out all its elites, preparing to end things in one decisive strike.

"So it wasn't the Hokage. Lord Danzo was in charge of this siege..." Fugaku watched the figure slowly emerge with a cane.

No wonder they were so despicable.

"I thought you had already foreseen this scene," Danzo said calmly as he watched Fugaku. "All of us underestimated you, Fugaku. You have a very fine pair of eyes."

"Unfortunately, you aren't the only one coveting these eyes." Fugaku's lips curled slightly.

Danzo said nothing. There were more than just Root members here, and saying they were "coveting" them would sound too ugly.

He didn't care what Fugaku meant by saying there was more than one person. In any case, Shisui's eyes could only be used once every dozen or so years.

Fugaku's eye, on the other hand, seemed to possess a rather wondrous ability. It would make an excellent supplement.

He was determined to get it.

"This Konoha traitor can no longer use that move. Do it. Take them down." Danzo waved his hand, and every ninja around him charged toward the Uchiha.

"Do you remember the battle plan I told you about?" Fugaku turned his head, his voice weak yet firm. "You leave first. I'll catch up right away."

"Clan Head!!" The clan members bid him farewell through their tears.

Ever since Fugaku had announced that Setsuna would become the next head of the Uchiha, many had already quietly sensed that this day would come. Fugaku's battle plan had also specified that, when the enemy launched a large-scale blockade, the clan head would stay behind to cover the retreat while everyone else fled.

No one knew how many Uchiha would remain after this breakout.

But as the clan head, Fugaku was willing to be the first to step forward and fight for even a sliver of hope for his clansmen.

—The practical reason was that Fugaku had already been targeted. If he didn't stay behind to hold them off, the others would have no chance of escaping at all!

This was already Konoha's outskirts, surrounded by dense vegetation and wide-open terrain. It was extremely difficult to seal off.

These Uchiha clansmen did not lack the discipline expected of ninja. After memorizing the faces of the enemies before them, they swiftly turned and fled in another direction.

"I wasn't a competent clan head, but I only hope that all of you can survive..." Fugaku smiled.

"Torune and Fū stay behind. Everyone else, continue the pursuit!" Danzo ordered.

He was unwilling to let even a single Sharingan slip through his fingers.

"Ha—" Fugaku grinned, his eyes filled with mockery. "All of you... stay here with me!!"

Susanoo descended once more.

From bones, to muscles, to armor, the ghostly blue demon that had left Konoha's forces helpless once again swung the magatama chains in its hands, blocking most of the ninja who were about to give chase.

This guy... Had the earlier collapse of Susanoo really been an act?

A trace of coldness appeared on Danzo's face as he asked:

"How long can you hold out?"

"As long as I can. That is... the responsibility of a clan head." Fugaku laughed even louder.

He had already resolved to die.

"Utterly foolish." Danzo sneered, tossing aside his cane and removing the metal clasp on his right arm.

He revealed his bandage-wrapped right arm, formed hand seals, and slammed his palm against the ground.

—Summoning Technique: Dream Tapir!

Roar!

A massive orange-red tapir monster descended.

The Dream Tapir opened its mouth and unleashed a tremendous suction force.

Huh?

Earth and stone crumbled apart, while trees were uprooted.

Fugaku's expression darkened beneath Susanoo's protection. He drove his feet into the earth and struggled against the Dream Tapir's pull.

I can't move...

The moment he lifted his feet, he would definitely be sucked over...

"What are you standing around for? Keep chasing!" Danzo frowned at the strange looks from the Konoha ninja around him and berated them.

"What are you still hesitating for? Ning Qi—" In his urgency, Fugaku suddenly shouted.

His voice carried far into the distance, but only the night wind rustling the branches answered him. As he watched the Konoha ninja leap past him one after another, Fugaku's face darkened.

Before long, only Danzo and his two assistants remained at the scene:

Aburame Torune and Yamanaka Fū.

Danzo narrowed his eyes and mocked, "Is he your support?"

"Ning Qi Hyuga... that traitor?"

"He even fought me for Sharingan during the earlier battle."

"He even falsely claimed he was following Sarutobi's orders."

"What a troublesome little brat..."

Though he called Ning Qi troublesome, Danzo actually wished he could summon Hiashi over right now and slaughter him alongside Ning Qi.

In his view, Ning Qi, bound by the Caged Bird, would only dare do such things because of Hiashi's orders.

There would be a reckoning... Danzo thought of the Hyuga clan.

The instant Fugaku's feet left the ground, Susanoo vanished.

Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!

Just as he was about to be swallowed by the Dream Tapir, a Great Fireball slammed into its mouth.

Awooo—

The Dream Tapir, wracked with pain, crashed heavily to the ground before dispersing into a cloud of white smoke.

Danzo paid no attention to the Dream Tapir's condition. He merely sneered at Fugaku, who was so weak he could barely stand.

"Pathetic."

"Fū, Torune, bring me his eyes."

As he spoke, he bent down to pick up the metal clasp from the ground, preparing to put it back on.

The very next second after he turned his back.

Squelch!

A long blade pierced through Danzo's chest.

Blood dripped from the tip of the blade.

"Cough... cough..."

Danzo trembled as he turned around.

Torune had somehow already collapsed on the ground, his condition unknown.

Danzo stared at the face behind him.

"When..."

"Long ago," Ning Qi changed back from Yamanaka Fū, his smile bright. "I was worried you'd see through me the whole time."