The Uchiha Clan Compound.
Beneath the dim lights, blood had stained the streets crimson.
A breeze swept past, and the stench of blood in the air made their hearts tighten.
Uchiha Fugaku walked through his clansmen and came before River, his expression grave and solemn.
He glanced at the bodies on the ground. As his clansmen removed their masks, his face darkened.
These were all people he had seen before. Though some were unfamiliar, he had certainly encountered them often.
Now, when they met again, those people were dead-and they had died as enemies.
It was a strange experience that weighed heavily on everyone present.
"They're all from Root."
Shisui walked over and spoke quietly.
Uchiha Fugaku nodded, then looked ahead. "Sui, what should we do now?"
At this moment, even as the clan leader, he could not help feeling lost. How were they supposed to rebel?
Even if Konoha had attacked them first, what came next?
How were they supposed to launch a counterattack against Konoha?
Uchiha Fugaku felt like a headless fly, with no goal whatsoever.
"Wait."
"You don't think this is all Danzo and the Third Hokage have up their sleeves, do you?"
"The war has only just begun!"
River spoke.
After a pause, his gaze sharpened as he looked toward the dark street ahead.
Everything was eerily quiet. A silent, murderous chill spread toward them, making their bodies tense.
"We don't have much time, either. We only have tonight!"
"Konoha's great clans are all watching from the sidelines!"
"And people will only support the stronger side."
"Tonight's victor will be tomorrow's Hokage of Konoha, with the support of every faction in the village!"
Uchiha Fugaku's pupils contracted as realization struck him.
Tonight's fighting was primarily between the Uchiha Clan, the Namikaze Clan, the Third Hokage's faction,