Akatsuki's attack

Elsewhere, Akatsuki had already begun its operation against the Uchiha.

Meanwhile, the Third Hokage's Anbu and the somewhat replenished Root stood ready for orders.

"Konan, go."

In a forest, Konan gave the order.

Beside her stood Deva Path Pain.

"Mm!"

"Proceed according to plan!"

The paper wings on Konan's back fluttered.

"Yes!"

Kakuzu, Sasori, Orochimaru, and Juzo Biwa followed behind.

Konan slipped straight in through Konoha's rear gate...

Behind them, Deva Path Pain concealed himself, providing cover.

"To think I'd come back again..."

Kakuzu's eyes held mixed feelings.

Back then, he had still been a Jonin of Takigakure.

The Takikage had been dissatisfied that the Hokage at the time, Hashirama Senju, had given them only one tailed beast.

The Takikage at the time had felt that Hashirama was looking down on him.

So he had sent Kakuzu to assassinate Hashirama Senju.

In the end, Kakuzu had been frightened by Hashirama Senju... ahem, had fled back to Takigakure after a fierce battle.

And the result?

I risked my life on the front lines to carry out your mission!

Now the village was afraid that attempting to assassinate the Hokage would anger Konoha.

Then why hadn't you thought of that before?!

And so, the village had publicly declared that Kakuzu had acted entirely on his own!

They had immediately branded him a rogue ninja and thrown him into prison!

From that point on, Kakuzu had seen through the hypocrisy of Takigakure's leadership.

After breaking out of prison, Kakuzu had slaughtered nearly all of Takigakure's leaders.

Finally, he had left the village with Takigakure's Secret Techniques, Earth Grudge Fear.

He had begun his life as a bounty hunter.

"Hmph, Konoha. I'll make you feel the pain I felt back then, too!"

"I hear White Fang's son is called Kakashi? He'd better not run into me, or I'll make him wish he were dead!"

Beside Kakuzu, Sasori's gaze was cold, hatred flashing in his eyes.

Back then, his parents had died at Konoha's hands.

Now that he had returned to Konoha, he would make them truly feel pain!

He would let them taste the pain of losing their loved ones, too!

Juzo Biwa, however, was very wary of Konoha.

Back during the Third Shinobi World War.

As one of Kirigakure's Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, he had been preparing to carry out a decapitation operation.

Unexpectedly, they had run into three children along the way.

They had originally intended to dispose of them in passing.

Then a bowl-cut man in a green jumpsuit had suddenly appeared.

Shouting terms like hot blood and youth that Juzo couldn't understand.

He had charged straight at them.

As a result, their Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist had nearly been wiped out.

Even now, Juzo Biwa was still traumatized by bowl-cut men in green jumpsuits...

Terrified that one might give him a kick...

Orochimaru spoke nostalgically.

"Konoha really is a beautiful place. Unfortunately, its shadows run deep, too..."

That was the Uchiha Clan Compound.

Paper sheets drifted around Konan, and the instant she landed inside the Uchiha Clan Compound.

Fireballs came hurtling toward her!

They collided with the paper sheets in midair and exploded!

"What?!"

"Our information was leaked?!"

Kakuzu, Sasori, and the others were all startled!

Inside the Uchiha Clan Compound.

The powerful Uchiha who had been hiding revealed themselves one after another.

Leading them were Setsuna and Fugaku!

Their scarlet Sharingan all gleamed!

Their expressions were cold and murderous!

"The Clan Head's prediction was right!"

The sight was stunning.

Kakuzu and the others broke into cold sweats.

Everywhere they looked, there were three tomoe!

There were dozens of them!

Especially in the darkness of night, those scarlet Sharingan practically glowed red, like wolves that had locked onto their prey!

The pressure was overwhelming!

Just imagine whether you would be scared with dozens of red-glowing Sharingan staring at you!

"Damn it!"

Juzo Biwa gritted his teeth, the Kubikiribōchō already in his hands without anyone noticing when he had drawn it.

He, too, had experienced the Uchiha Clan's power firsthand.

During the Third Shinobi World War, it had taken at least two Jonin to deal with a single Uchiha Jonin with three tomoe.

Especially Body Flicker Shisui back then-even Juzo knew he was no match for him.

He had thought a surprise attack would catch the Uchiha off guard.

Instead, they were the ones caught off guard!

"Attack!"

Uchiha Setsuna spoke, his voice sharp and cold!

Whoosh!

Boom...

Elsewhere.

Obito and Black Zetsu also heard the sounds of battle.

Both their expressions changed in alarm.

"What's going on? Were they discovered? That Nagato really is good for nothing but screwing things up!"

Obito was furious.

If Feng Yao noticed, how would he get his Mangekyo back?!

If he couldn't get his Mangekyo back, what would happen to Rin?!

Feng Yao, if you dare desecrate Rin's body, I, Obito, swear I'll make you wish you were dead!

"Obito, calm down!"

Black Zetsu was truly exhausted!

This idiot still hadn't caught on.

Why did Feng Yao know he had a Mangekyo?

And if Feng Yao saw that Rin's body was also hidden in Obito's Kamui Dimension.

There was no guarantee Feng Yao wouldn't make a connection.

In fact, Black Zetsu felt that Feng Yao had already made the connection to Obito.

If that was the case, it was manageable.

It would prove that Feng Yao was exceptionally intelligent.

He, Black Zetsu, wasn't afraid of that. He had plenty of patience!

But if it was a Mangekyo ability...

And if it was the kind of ability Black Zetsu had in mind...

Then they were in trouble!

At that thought, Black Zetsu truly wanted to slap that idiot Obito to death.

Why did you have to come here and wipe out a clan for no reason?!

Weaken Konoha, you said!

Did you think I, Black Zetsu, couldn't see through your little schemes?!

Well, look at you now. Lost your Mangekyo, haven't you?!

Indra's descendants really were all lunatics!

Not a single normal person among them!

Madara Uchiha was like that, and so was Obito Uchiha!

If his plan failed because of Obito, he, Black Zetsu, swore he would never let Obito get away with it!

"Obito, Danzo has arrived with his men!"

Black Zetsu spoke.

Obito was delighted to hear it.

"Black Zetsu, go tell Danzo that the Uchiha's main force has already been tied down by Akatsuki..."

Before Obito could finish.

Black Zetsu and Obito sensed danger at the same time.

Both dodged away!

"Who's there?!"

Obito gritted his teeth, his scarlet Three-Tomoe Sharingan fixed on his surroundings.

Caw, caw, caw!

Countless crows flew past, eventually turning into a figure.

Scarlet eyes looked down at Obito and Black Zetsu from above.

That familiar entrance immediately told Obito who it was!

"Itachi, are you betraying me?!"

Obito seethed. He had even helped awaken Itachi's Sharingan.

Back then, Obito had killed two of Itachi's teammates in passing, helping him awaken his Sharingan.

Ungrateful bastards, every last one of them!

"Betrayal? What betrayal? I'd say you're the traitor, Madara Uchiha. Or should I say, Obito Uchiha..."

When Itachi spoke Obito's name,

Both Obito and Zetsu were shocked!

Obito kept pretending. "Obito Uchiha? Hmph, what worthless fool has that name? My name is Madara Uchiha!"

But Black Zetsu knew that Itachi must have learned something!

In fact, what frightened Black Zetsu even more was Feng Yao's Mangekyo ability...

Black Zetsu dared not think about it. He truly dared not. It was too hopeless!

Itachi said nothing, but his hand had already reached for the short sword on his back!

Behind him, more than a dozen figures slowly descended as well.

Scarlet eyes stared at Black Zetsu and Obito!