"For years, Konoha's oppression and exclusion of the Uchiha fueled rebellious thoughts among the clan's leaders. You, who weren't qualified to attend the secret meetings at the Naka Shrine, probably didn't know. But the truth is, the Uchiha's relationship with Konoha had reached a breaking point. For the sake of the village's peace, Itachi willingly became the executioner for Konoha's leaders, turning his blade on his own clan," Uchiha Tsukikage explained patiently.
The nine listeners' hearts sank.
Izumi's eyes clouded with tears, hot droplets streaming down as she sobbed, "And you, Captain?"
In her memory, Tsukikage was gentle, kind, always smiling—a dedicated and responsible captain. When she graduated from the Ninja Academy and was injured on a mission, Tsukikage never abandoned her, carrying her back to Konoha on his back.
Tsukikage's tone was calm. "I'm not as noble as your beloved Uchiha Itachi, who can slaughter his clan while claiming it's for loved ones, for justice, for Konoha. I don't care about village peace. Those who died by my blade tonight were destined to die—whether sooner or later. I just want to survive in the ninja world! But since I've taken their lives, I owe the Uchiha something in return. I don't want to owe a debt of honor. That's why you're all standing here now."
At that moment, in the Uchiha clan grounds, Itachi's blade reaped one civilian life after another. Piercing screams and cries grew deafening, shrouding Konoha in gloom.
"Hahaha!" Uchiha Tamao burst into hearty laughter. "I knew it! Brother Tsukikage isn't slaughtering clansmen—he's freeing them from hell's suffering!"
In public, he called Tsukikage "Captain"; in private, "Brother."
The others shot Tamao strange looks. His outburst shattered their grief, making it feel disjointed. But Tamao was a lunatic, his emotions wildly unstable. His ability to perform missions stemmed from his three-tomoe Sharingan and, crucially, Tsukikage's vouching for him.
Tsukikage glanced at Tamao, his Mangekyō spinning, temporarily lifting the Yachihoko seal from Tamao's eyes.
Tamao's parents had died in the Third Great Ninja War, leaving him mentally unstable from childhood. Abandoned by the clan and sent to Konoha Hospital's psychiatric ward, he was saved by the original Tsukikage, who raised him. Tamao obeyed and trusted him unconditionally.
Freed, Tamao bounded excitedly to Tsukikage's side, resuming his role as a loyal subordinate and guard, just as he had under Tsukikage's command.
"Captain Tsukikage! Let us go—I'll stop that bastard!" Uchiha Minamikaze's eyes were bloodshot, his voice a wail, spurred by Itachi's actions. His elderly parents lived in the clan grounds.
Minamikaze's teammates pleaded desperately. Their families resided in the clan's core district, where Itachi was nearing.
"You can't stop him. Even with me, it's not enough," Tsukikage said, his gaze returning to the clan grounds, as if waiting for something.
A Police Force member, clinging to hope, stammered, "The Uchiha only intended to seize power—they haven't acted yet! Given our clan's bloodshed for the village, surely the higher-ups won't ignore this!"
"We still have Clan Leader Fugaku…"
"Fugaku won't let Itachi run rampant, right?"
Their words lacked conviction.
Tsukikage stood, pointing to the forest beyond the clan grounds. "Root operatives are gathering there. Why aren't they moving? Five minutes into this massacre, where are the Hokage's direct ANBU? The other clans? Clan Leader Fugaku? Can't they hear these screams? Until Itachi's blade and the Uchiha's cries stop, the Hokage and Konoha's leaders won't appear. Your Clan Leader Fugaku has done nothing. He's complicit!"
The speakers fell silent.
Standing apart from the slaughter, the Uchiha Police Force members watched as outsiders. Tsukikage was right: this was a one-sided massacre sanctioned by Konoha's leaders. No one would save the Uchiha tonight.
Their despair deepened knowing their clan leader stood idle.
"Brother, let's run!" Tamao urged.
If they couldn't fight, they should flee, become rogue ninja, and return when the time was right!
The others glanced at Tamao, agreeing with the lunatic's logic. The surviving Uchiha wouldn't be spared—not by Itachi, not by Konoha. With the massacre's momentum, Danzō would ensure their deaths if they didn't act.
"Captain Tsukikage, you escape. My family's in the clan grounds—I can't abandon them to live alone," Minamikaze said bitterly.
An honest man, he'd lost his parents to missions and was raised by his grandparents. He couldn't flee and leave them.
Tsukikage opened his mouth to reply, but a mission prompt flashed in his mind:
[Side Mission]: Save People
[Condition]:
1. Rescue people in the Uchiha clan grounds.
[Reward]:
100 cubic meters of storage space.
Tsukikage's brow furrowed. Save people? He lacked the ability and inclination. But the mission didn't specify how many—just to rescue someone in the clan grounds. The nine with him were controlled before the mission, so they likely didn't count.
The reward—a 100-cubic-meter storage space—would be far more convenient than a storage scroll.
Tsukikage formed a plan. There was one person in the clan grounds worth saving. Previously, his strength was insufficient, but now, his goal was achieved.
Just moments ago, his Shadow Clone, sent to the clan grounds, had stumbled into fulfilling this mission. It wasn't complete yet, but he'd save that surprise for Itachi—and bolster his chances of survival.
A faint rustle came from the forest outside the clan grounds, imperceptible to most.
Tsukikage's eyes lit up. The moment had arrived. He stood from the cliff's edge, scanning the eight still under his control, their faces etched with despair.
"I can't save your families from Itachi, but I can lead you to vengeance! After tonight, your grandparents, parents, siblings will sleep forever in this land that betrayed them. But you will gain a new life—to one day raze Konoha!"
Tsukikage commanded the eight to use the Transformation Technique, disguising them as three Root operative teams. Tamao, seeing this, transformed to match.
He was a bit unhinged but not foolish—he knew what his brother was planning!
Tsukikage led the nine around the clan grounds, using the night's cover to blend with the Root teams heading to the clan's edge.
"This is the end—and the beginning!" Tsukikage said, deactivating his Mangekyō. Yet, through Yachihoko, he still controlled the eight's minds and chakra, like manipulating eight external limbs.
Next, he'd execute the final step before defecting from Konoha—the key to truly escaping.
Tsukikage's target for assassination: Shimura Danzō!!
He had roughly fifteen minutes. Once Itachi finished the massacre, Hiruzen Sarutobi and his direct ANBU would intervene. Then, all ten of them would die in Konoha.
Tsukikage was willing to take the risk. Killing Danzō was ideal, but if not, he'd seize something vital from him.
This was the last thing he'd do before leaving the village!
(End of Chapter)