Tremble Beneath These Eyes

The hysterical laughter, mad to the extreme, struck terror into everyone present. A madman wielding such terrifying power was nothing less than a massive disaster to them.

"Move!"

Uchiha Okamoto knew the clan head's methods well. He immediately rescued Uchiha Itachi from the encirclement of three Chunin, and under the cover of Huo Uchiha and the others, the two retreated toward the rear.

Within a few breaths, Hiruzen Sarutobi and the others who were withdrawing discovered an inexplicable spatial pressure suddenly bearing down on them from every direction. It felt as though taking another step would crush their entire bodies to pieces.

Spatial vortices appeared out of thin air on all sides, continuously compressing the space in which they could move. Like droplets falling upon a still lake and stirring up ripples, they drove everyone together.

"The Mangekyō Sharingan's ability can actually reach this far. I really underestimated him."

Shimura Danzō surveyed his surroundings with a grim expression, trying to find a safe route out.

Unfortunately, Uchiha Kyu had no intention of giving them a chance to escape. The battlefield changed in an instant, and this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Even before setting his plan into motion, he had never expected such a perfect chance.

"Everyone who can use Earth Release, gather around me immediately!"

Seeing that things were going badly, Hiruzen Sarutobi hurriedly organized his forces to prepare a defense.

Space ninjutsu had always been mysterious and unpredictable. Even a ninja as powerful as Hiruzen Sarutobi did not dare to rashly charge through it.

The bloody, horrifying sight of instant death from just moments ago remained vivid in everyone's minds. Charging in recklessly would mean almost certain death.

Besides, Uchiha Kyu was using such a wide-ranging spatial ability. He definitely could not use it repeatedly. As long as they endured this, Uchiha Kyu would likely become a toothless tiger, helpless for others to handle as they pleased.

Seeing the Earth Release ninja gathered by Hiruzen Sarutobi attempting to resist, Uchiha Kyu curled his lips in a scornful smile.

If space ninjutsu could be defended against so easily, there would not be such a saying as space reigns supreme.

"You ignorant fools, tremble beneath these eyes."

"Hahaha... Space Crushing."

His cold, arrogant laughter seemed to sweep forth with boundless killing intent. At the same time, the surrounding spatial vortices responded to Uchiha Kyu and began to churn.

As the space-based ocular technique bloomed to its utmost limit through blood and tears, bloody tears streamed from his eyes, carving two horrifying streaks of blood down his face.

The terrifying power of this ocular technique brought Uchiha Kyu the ultimate thrill of battle, giving him the illusion that no one in the world could contend with him.

Amazing.

This felt incredible.

This was the Sharingan. This was a Kekkei Genkai, an unbridgeable gulf between ordinary people and bloodline-limit ninja.

Boom!!!

The earthen walls formed by Earth Release defenses were effortlessly ground to pieces like tofu beneath the Spatial Turbulence. No matter how desperately they poured in chakra, it was useless.

The overwhelming Spatial Turbulence swept toward Hiruzen Sarutobi and the others.

"It's over."

Danzo's face turned deathly pale as despair engulfed him. He frantically used defensive ninjutsu, trying to block it.

"Could it be that this old man's journey ends here?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi raised his head in despair.

How could ants possibly shake a great tree? This attack contained all the ocular power of a pair of Mangekyō Sharingan.

Fortunately, Uchiha Kyu's Mangekyō Sharingan differed from ordinary Mangekyō Sharingan. These eyes were equivalent to the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan, and their ocular power could slowly recover.

Hmm?

Uchiha Kyu suddenly sensed an unusual spatial fluctuation. Hiruzen Sarutobi and several others had actually vanished from where they stood.

The remaining people were not so fortunate. At least several hundred elite ninja were obliterated beneath Space Crushing.

There were no agonized cries or gruesome scenes at all. Under the power of Space Crushing, even ants had no time to struggle or suffer.

Only a vast cloud of thick blood mist remained in the area, vivid and brilliantly red. Its heavy stench instantly reached the noses of Uchiha Kyu and the others.

Uchiha Kyu stood where he was, breathing heavily. The chakra in his body was no longer enough for another battle.

"I didn't expect you to arrive on time this time, Fourth."

Uchiha Kyu let out a bone-chilling laugh.

"Third Lord, I'm sorry. I could only save this many people."

The blond young man, sunny and handsome in a Hokage robe, held a specially made Flying Thunder God kunai as he warily watched Uchiha Kyu laughing across from him.

"Fortunately, you weren't late. Otherwise, this would have been Konoha's greatest disaster."

Hiruzen Sarutobi still looked shaken. He was inwardly relieved that Minato had arrived in time. Otherwise, if all of them had died here, a Konoha weakened to the extreme would surely have faced a joint assault from the four great ninja villages.

As for those who had died, they could be trained again. But if they died, they would truly be dead.

"Everyone we brought is gone this time."

Shikaku Nara's heart ached. Quite a few of his clansmen had been among them. To die like this in a civil war was truly not worth it.

"Now isn't the time to talk about that. Minato, your Flying Thunder God Technique should be able to counter his ability, right?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi waved a hand, stopping Shikaku from saying anything more that would dampen morale, and looked solemnly at Minato.

"Uchiha Kyu must be weakened now. He can't possibly unleash another space ninjutsu with such a terrifying range."

"Leave it to me, Third Lord."

Minato Namikaze nodded gravely. If he had arrived one second later, Uchiha Clan might truly have succeeded.

Fugaku Uchiha sat collapsed on the ground, still unable to recover his senses. He had not expected Kyu to want to kill even him.

"Minato Namikaze, you missed an opportunity to seize complete control over Konoha's power."

Though they stood on opposing sides, Uchiha Kyu still rather admired Minato Namikaze's bright and sunny personality. At least he never had to worry about this man plotting against him at every turn.

"Uchiha Kyu, stop now. Blind slaughter cannot solve the problem. I know you want to resolve the Uchiha Clan's situation more than anyone, but you chose the wrong method."

"In your current state, you can't defeat me."

Minato Namikaze shouted at him with great confidence.

"Stop? Are you joking?"

Uchiha Kyu looked at him with utter disdain and gave a faint, cold laugh. "As you said, slaughter is not the best choice, but it is the fastest and most direct method."

"The victor becomes king, the loser becomes an outlaw."

"There are only two outcomes in this world: winners and losers."

"It seems there's nothing left for us to discuss."

Minato Namikaze frowned and prepared to act. As Hokage, he could never allow the other man to destroy the village's peace.

"Clan Head, we're here."

At that moment, Uchiha Kage, who had just parted ways with the Akatsuki, hurried over with his squad.

"How did it go?" Uchiha Kyu asked in a low voice.

"Reporting to the Clan Head, our plan succeeded. I had people safely escort the Akatsuki members out of the village."

A thrilled Uchiha Kage stepped closer and whispered softly.