Uchiha Yao's fingers reached for Itachi's eyes again.
"No... ngh..."
Squelch—
Without the slightest hesitation.
Uchiha Yao's fingers pierced precisely into Itachi's eye socket.
Then he gouged hard.
"Gahhhhh—!"
Another Mangekyō Sharingan was dug out by Uchiha Yao.
He placed the eye into a glass bottle, then sealed it away with a sealing scroll.
After finishing all that, Uchiha Yao kicked Itachi, whose eyes had become two hollow, bleeding pits, over beside Uchiha Fugaku.
"Keep an eye on your precious son."
Uchiha Fugaku's entire body trembled. Looking at the mangled, bloodied figure rolling to his feet, barely clinging to life, he could not tell whether he felt hatred or pain.
Uchiha Yao no longer paid attention to the drama between father and son.
He raised his head toward the pitch-black night sky, lifted a hand, and fired a red signal flare.
Whoosh—boom!
Red flames burst across the night sky.
Hokage's Office.
Hiruzen Sarutobi sat in his chair, unable to hide the anxiety deep in his eyes.
The tobacco in his pipe had long gone out. He unconsciously clenched the cold mouthpiece between his teeth.
Hiruzen Sarutobi was waiting for an outcome.
Swish.
A black figure wearing an animal mask appeared without warning and dropped to one knee in the center of the office.
Hiruzen Sarutobi's heart leaped into his throat.
"Report."
"Reporting to the Third Hokage."
The ANBU captain's voice trembled uncontrollably.
"The Root ninja stationed around the Uchiha Clan Compound have... all withdrawn."
Hiruzen Sarutobi's pupils contracted sharply.
The ANBU took a deep breath and continued his report.
"According to the infiltrating observers... the several rogue ninja who invaded the Uchiha Clan... have all been... repelled or killed."
"Uchiha Itachi has been confirmed... defeated and... captured alive."
Hiruzen Sarutobi found it difficult even to breathe.
"And... Uchiha Yao?"