Chapter 7: Fugaku Fights the Third!
Hiruzen Sarutobi stood atop the high platform, looking at the faces of those Conservative Faction members, and fell into a state of utter bewilderment.
Even Uchiha Fugaku shouldn't have led people and appeared here!
Shouldn't the ones appearing here be those Radicals from the Uchiha?
Moreover, with Uchiha Fugaku here, just who was the one controlling the Nine-Tails?!
Had their Uchiha produced yet another pair of Mangekyō Sharingan?
Thinking of this, Hiruzen Sarutobi felt a chill run down his back.
Since Uchiha Fugaku dared to lead people here, it meant...
That other fellow controlling the Nine-Tails was even stronger than Uchiha Fugaku!
"Uchiha Fugaku, are you Uchiha really going to rebel!?"
At that moment, Hiruzen Sarutobi still clung to a shred of hope that he could persuade Uchiha Fugaku.
After all, as long as he persuaded Uchiha Fugaku, the pressure he had to face would be reduced by at least half!
Furthermore, with the Mangekyō of both Uchiha Fugaku and Uchiha Itachi to counter that Nine-Tails-controlling fellow from the Uchiha, dealing with the rest of the Uchiha afterward would be somewhat more manageable.
"Fire Release: Exploding Dragon Flame Bullet!"
Uchiha Fugaku directly answered Hiruzen Sarutobi with a Fire Release.
This was because Uchiha Fugaku knew that Uchiha Kazama's perception was definitely fixed upon him right now.
As long as Uchiha Fugaku made the slightest abnormal move, Uchiha Kazama would likely strike at Mikoto and Sasuke directly.
Itachi's whereabouts were still unknown, and Itachi's stance was unclear as well.
However, Uchiha Fugaku had already decided to trust Uchiha Kazama's words for now, if only to keep his wife and younger son safe.
Standing here, Uchiha Fugaku also realized just how abnormal Uchiha Itachi's previous actions had been.
"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi also responded to Uchiha Fugaku with a powerful Water Release in the very first instant.
Right now, he had no way to deal with the Nine-Tails' rampage.
Sending those Anbu Ninja over would only be sending them to their deaths.
Since the Uchiha Clan had already launched a coup, the Uchiha would surely gather at his current location.
Therefore, Hiruzen Sarutobi did not need to rush to find the Jinchūriki controlling the beast over there right now.
The Uchiha were not fools.
They would definitely not inflict massive destruction on the village.
Meeting changes with steadfastness-this was the decision Hiruzen Sarutobi had made.
Based on that premise, the most pressing matter now was to take care of the Uchiha Fugaku before him!
As long as he took care of Uchiha Fugaku, the subsequent pressure would be much smaller.
After all, even he, Hiruzen Sarutobi, couldn't handle two pairs of Mangekyō Sharingan plus the Nine-Tails all at once!
"Boom!"
Just as Hiruzen Sarutobi was thinking, Uchiha Fugaku's fire dragon directly burned his water dragon dry.
Then, still carrying formidable momentum, it surged toward Hiruzen Sarutobi!
"How is that possible!?"
Feeling the sudden, terrifying impact, Hiruzen Sarutobi hastily formed Hand Seals.
"Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall!"
Along with the hand seals, a tall earthen wall emerged, blocking Uchiha Fugaku's Fire Release.
"Enma!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi hoisted the Adamantine Staff, making it rapidly lengthen.
He leaped straight over the earthen wall and stood upon the high barrier.
Looking at the scene before him, Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression grew even darker.
What on earth was Danzo playing at?!
Why, when Danzo had promised to resolve the Uchiha problem, had the Uchiha instead erupted in a coup?!
They had even charged all the way to the Hokage Building.
Yet that fellow Danzo still hadn't shown his face.
Not even a single ninja from Root could be seen.
This guy...
Thinking of this, Hiruzen Sarutobi even grew suspicious of Danzo.
"Uchiha Fugaku, if you stop right now, I'll properly listen to your opinions!"
"Tell me, what on earth do you want?!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi took a deep breath.
If all his guesses were true, then that old dog Danzo was definitely hiding in the shadows waiting for an opportunity right now.
Therefore, he could not just charge up there and fight head-on.
"We don't want anything. Since the higher-ups feel that we of the Uchiha should vanish, then we don't plan on vanishing without a sound like this!"
"Did you never think there would be an end like this on the day that decision was made!?"
After Uchiha Fugaku finished speaking, the Mangekyō Sharingan instantly appeared.
"Fire Release: Exploding Blazing Flame Bullet!"
As one massive flaming combo bullet after another was shot out.
They instantly grew several times larger in mid-air.
This was the ability of Uchiha Fugaku's left eye, the Power of the Heavenly Gods.
It could enhance his own ninjutsu by severalfold.
The degree of amplification was related to the pupillary power he released.
Hiruzen Sarutobi had originally wanted to persuade him, but Uchiha Fugaku had already made things so clear.
It seemed someone had leaked Danzo's decision to the Uchiha Clan.
No matter how much forbearance these fellows usually showed.
Yet, under circumstances like this, they simply couldn't hold back!
"Damn it!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi finished speaking and rapidly dodged these fireballs.
Immediately after, he charged toward Uchiha Fugaku.
Engaging in ranged combat with Uchiha Fugaku, who possessed the Mangekyō Sharingan, was basically asking for death.
Right now, he had to quickly clear out the Uchiha here.
He absolutely could not let that Uchiha who controlled the Nine-Tails come over as well.
At the same time, the ANBU ninjas also launched attacks against the surrounding Uchiha ninjas.
Don't look at how high and mighty they usually acted in front of the Uchiha.
Yet when it came to a real, serious fight, they had grossly underestimated the strength of the Sharingan.
These people who had been able to follow Uchiha Fugaku here basically possessed Jōnin-level strength.
There were even a few elite jōnin.
The ANBU were used to being arrogant.
Suddenly encountering such a fierce attack, they were caught off guard.
Merely after a few clashes, over a dozen men had already been lost!
You had to know that these were all ANBU!
For Hiruzen Sarutobi, every single one that died was a heavy loss.
"Bang!"
At this moment, the Adamantine Staff in Hiruzen Sarutobi's hand collided with the longsword in Uchiha Fugaku's hand.
"Fugaku, you are the captain of the Konoha Military Police Force. Do you know what you're doing right now?!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi still vainly attempted to win Uchiha Fugaku over.
"I know."
"When Lord Hokage didn't give a direct reply just now, I already knew what I was doing."
"Since you already intend to subject us to the Uchiha Clan Massacre, then Lord Hokage, why not make the move yourself?!"
After Uchiha Fugaku finished speaking, his Mangekyō Sharingan spun instantly.
Hiruzen Sarutobi's figure paused, and the strength in his hands weakened a fraction.
All around him, countless iron bars suddenly appeared, piercing through his body and sealing him.
Meanwhile, the longsword in Uchiha Fugaku's hand slashed down toward him.
"Release!"
Suddenly, a wave of chakra transmission came from the Adamantine Staff in his hand, freeing Hiruzen Sarutobi from the genjutsu.