Huo Uchiha looked solemnly at the village below, where flames had erupted everywhere. There was not the slightest concern in his eyes over the Uchiha Clan's current predicament; instead, he seemed exceptionally excited.
"The clan has long been riddled with holes, and Fugaku Uchiha is far too indecisive. The clan's will has split in two. If this continues, I see no future for the clan."
"Although the clan head's approach is too risky, we of the Uchiha Clan have never feared battle. Now, you are the savior of the Uchiha Clan. I definitely haven't misjudged you."
"You're right. We of the Uchiha Clan have never feared battle. Only through constant fighting can the Uchiha Clan be reborn in blood."
Uchiha Kyu had not expected Huo Uchiha to see things so clearly. He had originally thought the man was merely a stubborn fence-sitter. It seemed he had misunderstood him.
Uchiha Itachi stood beside them and silently listened to their conversation, not daring to voice an opinion recklessly.
"Clan Head, people are coming this way. We've been discovered."
Uchiha Okamoto, who was on guard duty, pointed at the large group of shinobi rushing toward them from below Hokage Rock, his expression changing.
"Clan Head, leave quickly. We'll cover your retreat. As long as you return to the compound, even Konoha will not dare openly attack us out of fear of our strength."
Seeing that this formation clearly meant trouble, Huo Uchiha hurriedly drew his weapon and stood beside Uchiha Okamoto, intending for the two of them to buy time for the clan head to escape with their lives.
Uchiha Kyu watched the shinobi steadily climbing up from below, a pleased smile appearing on his handsome face. These people had finally arrived.
"Huo, since they're here, I never intended to leave."
"This fine show has only just begun."
"Clan Head, perhaps you do not understand the strength of Hiruzen Sarutobi and the others."
Huo Uchiha looked extremely anxious, afraid that the young and impetuous clan head would underestimate Hiruzen Sarutobi and the others.
Not to mention that the heads of those clans were also below, and their strength could not be underestimated.
"Clan Head, I'm here."
The first to arrive was not Konoha's upper brass, but Uchiha Haruto and his team, whom they had dispatched to carry out a mission.
Uchiha Haruto's mission had been to stir up chaos in the village and divert part of Konoha's attention.
The Sharingan could do many things. For example, using genjutsu to control large numbers of ordinary people or even shinobi, then using them to cause explosions and fires, was far too easy.
"I understand the strength of Konoha's upper brass better than anyone. Everything is within my plans."
Uchiha Kyu wore an expression that showed everything was under control, immediately calming the latter's panicked heart.
Uchiha Kyu wished there were more people like Huo Uchiha in the clan.
Without knowing how many hidden cards he possessed, Huo Uchiha had still been willing to protect him with his life. That alone was enough to prove his determination to stand by him.
"Did the mission go smoothly?"
Uchiha Kyu looked at Uchiha Haruto. Making such a huge commotion was not simply about baring his claws at Konoha's upper brass.
"Reporting to the Clan Head, there was a minor flaw along the way, but the mission has continued fairly smoothly."
At the thought of how this operation would bring earth-shaking changes to the clan's status, Uchiha Haruto's entire body trembled with excitement. The battle bloodline belonging to the Uchiha was boiling within him.
"Kyu, what exactly are you trying to do? Do you understand that this will drag the clan into an abyss beyond salvation?"
When Fugaku Uchiha, who had followed the Third Hokage up from below, saw Uchiha Kyu, the unease he had felt all the way here instantly plunged into the depths. His bad premonition had finally been confirmed. Seeing that Uchiha Kyu had even taken his son hostage filled him with fury.
Watching Fugaku Uchiha stand beside Hiruzen Sarutobi and question him, as though he were a loyal dog defending its master, Uchiha Kyu burst into laughter.
"The Uchiha Clan has never had a clan head who bowed and scraped. Fugaku Uchiha, you truly are the first."
"Kyu, order your people to stop immediately. This can still be salvaged."
Fugaku Uchiha's face was extremely gloomy, and his tone turned cold.
"Fugaku, do you still look like a clan head right now? Showing off your authority before outsiders against your own clansmen, treating outsiders even better than your own father."
Huo Uchiha looked at Fugaku Uchiha standing opposite him with utter disappointment.
Hiruzen Sarutobi stared thoughtfully at the young Uchiha standing at the edge of Hokage Rock.
Hiruzen Sarutobi had a basic understanding of nearly every member of the Uchiha Clan, and this young man had been on the key surveillance list.
Over the past year, the sudden growth of Uchiha Kyu's strength, even his awakening of the Three-Tomoe Sharingan, had not escaped the eyes of the Anbu.
However, the Three-Tomoe Sharingan was not enough to make Hiruzen Sarutobi secretly move against Uchiha Kyu.
Danzo, on the other hand, had tried to act several times during that period. Unfortunately, Uchiha Kyu rarely left the Uchiha Compound, and even when he did, quite a few Uchiha clansmen accompanied him, leaving Danzo unable to find an opening time and again.
Choza Akimichi stepped forward and shouted, "You damned Uchiha brat, is my clansman in your hands?"
"What person? Don't falsely accuse me without evidence."
Uchiha Kyu put on an exaggeratedly frightened expression. The Three-Tomoe Sharingan in his eyes looked even more bewitching beneath the night sky.
When fighting at night, Uchiha shinobi, aided by the Sharingan, possessed combat power far beyond that of shinobi of equal strength.
That was also one of the reasons Uchiha Kyu had chosen to act at night.
"As expected of the evil Uchiha Clan."
Shimura Danzō arrived at the scene belatedly, accompanied by numerous Root Organization shinobi.
"Third Hokage-sama, it seems everything was caused by this young Uchiha."
Shikaku Nara hid behind Hiruzen Sarutobi, his hands maintaining a hand seal as he secretly manipulated his shadow, prepared to strike at any moment.
"This young Uchiha may be impulsive, but with so many people supporting him, he cannot possibly have no backup plan."
Hiruzen Sarutobi secretly glanced at Fugaku Uchiha beside him. He had not expected Fugaku Uchiha's control over the Uchiha Clan to be so weak.
"Capture these rogue shinobi."
Seeing Hiruzen Sarutobi hesitate to act, Danzo snorted coldly. With a wave of his hand, the Root Organization shinobi obeyed and surged forward.
After seeing Danzo make his move, Hiruzen Sarutobi instinctively lowered his Hokage hat, concealing the triumphant smile on his face.
"All of you, stand down."
Uchiha Kyu stopped Huo Uchiha and the others, who were about to rush into battle. The Three-Tomoe Sharingan in his eyes spun wildly as he looked at the charging Root Organization shinobi, his gaze filled with cold killing intent.
In an instant, the Three-Tomoe Sharingan in Uchiha Kyu's eyes connected together, forming a strange and intricate pattern.
"Not good, those eyes are..."
The moment Hiruzen Sarutobi and the others noticed the change in Uchiha Kyu's Sharingan, their expressions changed drastically.
Thick, pure chakra surged wildly through Uchiha Kyu's body, converging at the source—the Sharingan that had transformed from the Three-Tomoe Sharingan into the Mangekyō Sharingan.
Cold, violent, unsettling Yin Release chakra emerged within those Mangekyō Sharingan.
A strange flash of red light suddenly appeared, especially conspicuous in the night.
The Root Organization shinobi charging toward Uchiha Kyu and the others, whether Chunin or Jonin, seemed to encounter an irresistible force at that moment. The space around them compressed their bodies.
The most fragile thing of all, the shinobi body, encountered terrifying spatial power at this moment.
"Space Crushing."
Uchiha Kyu's voice, cold with killing intent, rang in the ears of everyone present.
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