"Sanboku!?"
Pakura instantly used the Body Flicker Technique to appear beside Keikou Sanboku. The poison on the senbon had already taken effect—Sanboku was vomiting blood, his face turning dark.
"Cough, cough... The poison is potent... That shinobi was decisive."
As he spoke, his body was already failing. The Root operatives had used an extremely rare poison for this assassination—one that virtually no one besides Tsunade could counteract. Even Tsunade wouldn't be able to prepare an antidote in such a short time.
At the Roran base, No. 18 turned to Hyuga Mirai and reported, "Sir, Keikou Sanboku's body has approximately 73 seconds before complete loss of vital signs and death."
"Can it be extended?"
"Activating rescue measures can prolong it to 192 seconds. Complete detoxification is impossible."
"That's enough. Extend it." Through Sanboku's perspective, Mirai could clearly observe the battlefield situation. Eliminating all the Root operatives would take two minutes—leaving one minute for final words was just right.
Under No. 18's control, the nanomachines embedded in Keikou Sanboku's body rapidly slowed the poison's spread. Otherwise, a mere minute would pass too quickly—hardly enough for meaningful last words.
On the battlefield in the Land of Fire, Pakura's worst fears materialized the moment she saw Keikou Sanboku's condition. His near-death state ignited a fury within her that burned like a physical flame.
"Sanboku-san!?"
The Uchiha clan members also noticed Sanboku's state. The three tomoe in their eyes spun rapidly—especially Uchiha Tekka, who had come to regard Sanboku as a mentor guiding his life. Conversations with Sanboku had always been effortless and uplifting.
Moreover, Sanboku had trusted the Uchiha clan so deeply that he hadn't waited to rendezvous with Pakura's forces, fearing delays. Had he traveled with her, this tragedy might have been avoided.
Or, had their vigilance been sharper, Sanboku might still be alive.
'This is all their fault—the lapdogs of Konoha's elders!'
Tekka's rage surged uncontrollably. His three tomoe spun faster, edges blurring toward an unfamiliar pattern.
"Kill them!"
Tekka flashed forward with the Body Flicker Technique, targeting the Root operative wielding Wood Release.
Pakura's ANBU squad joined the assault, bolstered by seven Sand ANBU. The Uchiha, incensed that their guest had been struck down by Root, fought with reckless fury.
Though the Root operatives sent by Danzo were skilled, they stood no chance against six bloodlusted Uchiha and seven Sand ANBU. The battle ended in under two minutes.
Even the Wood Release user fell quickly, charred to a crisp by Tekka's Flame Dragon Singing Technique.
Uchiha Hachida captured one alive, inspected his tongue, then snapped his neck with a cold expression.
"Root. Danzo's dogs."
The other Uchiha seethed, wishing they could return to Konoha and tear Danzo apart limb by limb.
Since when had the Uchiha become so powerless to protect their own guests? What kind of disgrace was this?
"Sanboku, hold on! I'll get you to a medic—"
In desperation, Pakura slapped a healing talisman onto Sanboku, but the green glow did nothing to slow the poison's spread.
A Sand ANBU, originally a puppeteer, examined Sanboku and shook his head grimly. The toxin was too advanced—identifying its composition here was impossible, let alone finding an antidote.
"It's alright, Pakura... I know my condition."
Sanboku's darkened face twisted as he pulled a scroll from his robes and pressed it into her hands.
"This... is the agreement with the Uchiha. The Federation must honor it. Tekka-san... is my friend. This was an accident. Don't... blame them."
The six Uchiha bowed their heads in shame. Strictly speaking, they bore responsibility—failing to detect the ambush, neglecting their duty as escorts.
Yet Sanboku absolved them completely, even defending them in his final moments. Even Hachida felt a pang of respect.
"Tekka-san... I leave the rest to you and Pakura."
With those words, Sanboku's body gave out. His vital signs ceased.
In Roran, Mirai's visual feed from Sanboku cut off.
No. 18 explained, "Sir, the nanomachines will self-destruct upon his death to prevent detection."
Mirai nodded. "I know. Just wished for a few more words. But this suffices."
---
Witnessing Sanboku's death, Tekka's fists trembled.
'Had Miki survived, the Uchiha's alliance with the Sand Federation would have been ideal—a place where someone truly understood them.'
Though Sanboku had defended the Uchiha with his dying breath, Tekka couldn't shake the feeling that without him, their integration into the Federation would forever feel incomplete.
As he bowed his head, the tomoe in Tekka's eyes merged and expanded, morphing into a distinct triangular pattern—the Mangekyo Sharingan.
"Kazekage-sama, I am Uchiha Hachida. Sanboku-san's death... shares ties to us."
"This wasn't your fault. I know who the real enemy is."
Though Pakura's voice was calm, her fury was palpable—directed not at the Uchiha, but at Konoha's Root.
"The Sand Federation's alliance with the Uchiha was Sanboku's long-held wish, and our fortune. I'll assign Elder Mikan to oversee the agreement's execution. I hope you don't object."
"We appreciate it, Kazekage-sama. The Uchiha will avenge Sanboku-san."
Hachida's tone brooked no argument. Failure to retaliate would stain their centuries-old clan's honor—inviting an ally only to let his killers walk free.
Though this had been a private mission, the six could mobilize a third of the Konoha Police Force's strength.
"Upon my return, I'll expedite Elder Mikan's duties. Hachida-san, regarding war with Konoha—the Federation will support the Uchiha. For Sanboku's vengeance, and to divert attention from your clan."
With that, Pakura led her squad away.
Both sides departed, leaving only carnage behind. The Uchiha made no effort to conceal the evidence—they merely crushed the Root operatives' skulls before leaving the corpses in plain view.
They no longer cared. Rebellion was imminent, and the Uchiha had secured an escape route for their non-combatants.
Tekka's priorities had shifted. His goal was no longer coup—but retribution.
On the return journey, the other five Uchiha noticed Tekka's transformed eyes. At his request, they swore secrecy.
In shinobi warfare, intelligence dictated victory. Knowing an opponent's abilities allowed countermeasures—a fatal advantage.
Tekka's Mangekyo was his new trump card.
His left eye's ability, Ukafu no Kami, healed injuries—so long as the target lived, though severe wounds drained more chakra.
His right eye's Ikaga was the ultimate immobilization technique, freezing targets within his line of sight like sacrificial offerings. Once ensnared, escape was nearly impossible.
Though untested, Tekka sensed this binding surpassed the Uchiha's Demonic Illusion: Shackling Stakes by tenfold.
---
After Sanboku's death, Mirai consulted Tsunade.
He advised against her proactively returning to Konoha—better to let ANBU seek her out, or time her arrival with the Uchiha's coup.
Tsunade had no objections. She had no desire to beg for the Hokage title. Were it not for her grandfathers' legacy, she wouldn't even consider returning.
Yet if Mirai requested it for the sake of lasting peace, she'd comply.
Next, Mirai sought out Sasori.
Barging into the lab, he declared, "Sasori! You're the only one who can pull this off!"
Mid-assembly, Sasori paused. After hearing the details, his expression darkened.
"You're assigning me babysitting logistics now?"
"You're literally the only option. I'll accompany you, but since my last Konoha visit exposed me, you'll handle the surface ops."
"The Uchiha's defection is pivotal for the Federation. I can't entrust this to anyone else—otherwise, I'd ask Orochimaru."
Confronted with Mirai's earnestness, Sasori always faltered. Pushing him away, Sasori clicked his tongue.
"Fine. Just notify me when it's time. Honestly..."
(Chapter End)
===================================
DROP THEM POWER STONES PLEASE
SUPPORT ME ON P@TREON IF YOU'D LIKE ACCESS ON ADVANCED CHAPTERS
PAT REON . COM / TurdTranslations (Just remove the space).