"We must eliminate the Uchiha clan today..."
Shimura Danzo's expression was cold and resolute as he formed hand seals rapidly, chakra surging around him. He launched himself at the monstrous Susanoo-armored Nine-Tails, which stood like a towering god of destruction.
"Wood Release: Exploding Tree Bind!"
From Danzo's arms, grotesque wooden tendrils erupted violently, rapidly growing into enormous vines that lunged toward the Susanoo-clad Kyuubi.
But against the sheer magnitude of the construct before him, Danzo's attack was pitiful.
"Is this supposed to be Wood Release?"
Byakuya's voice echoed from within Susanoo, dripping with scorn.
"You dare sully Hashirama's legacy with this pathetic display?"
He sneered. "In Hashirama's hands, Wood Release suppressed tailed beasts. But you? You're only good for landscaping."
With a dismissive snarl, Byakuya commanded Susanoo's immense tail to sweep through the air.
"Boom!"
The vine barrage was shredded in an instant. The tail's arc continued without pause, smashing directly into Danzo.
"Tch—!"
Danzo's eyes widened in alarm. Despite his speed, he couldn't evade the vast area of effect. The massive tail struck with the force of a landslide, obliterating his wooden constructs and launching him into the distance like a ragdoll.
The world blinked white—then flickered.
Danzo's ruined body shimmered and vanished, replaced by a healthy one.
Izanagi.
Another Sharingan on his arm closed.
Panting, Danzo glared grimly at the single remaining eye implanted in his forearm.
"Just one left…"
If he died again, he would be gone for real.
He turned to Sarutobi Hiruzen.
"I can't stall him any longer! Uchiha Byakuya is beyond anything we anticipated!"
Koharu and Homura stumbled over, pale and panicked.
"What do we do now, Hiruzen!?"
"All our forces have failed… the clan is untouched…"
Hiruzen's grip tightened on his staff. He had bet everything on this assault—Anbu, loyal clans, even Danzo's forbidden techniques.
And they had still failed.
Byakuya's power wasn't just fearsome—it was absolute.
"We retreat."
His voice was hoarse with bitter defeat.
"Retreat!? We came here to annihilate the Uchiha clan!"
Danzo barked furiously.
"We don't have a choice!" Hiruzen snapped.
"If we stay, we die. And then Byakuya will come for our families. This operation is over."
The elders froze. The thought of retreating from Konoha itself was unthinkable.
"We're the ruling council! The village belongs to us!"
Koharu trembled.
"How can we abandon it all to one rogue Uchiha?"
But even as they spoke, their eyes turned upward—toward the Susanoo-armored Nine-Tails, its glare burning like a sun.
They knew.
There was no longer a place for them in this village.
"We leave Konoha," Hiruzen said again, steel in his voice now.
"We can rebuild. But if we stay, we die—and worse, everything we worked for will be erased by Byakuya."
Although Sarutobi Hiruzen was reluctant to abandon Konoha Village and his position as Hokage, he knew very well that staying any longer would only lead to one outcome—death.
Not only would Byakuya never let him go, but even the Sarutobi clan would be wiped out, just like the Shimura clan.
At this point, there was only one path left for Sarutobi Hiruzen and his clan—to flee Konoha Village.
"Damn it… we're really leaving Konoha…"
"There's no other choice. It seems we must escape, whether we like it or not…"
Though both Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura were filled with resentment and reluctance, they understood clearly that escape was the only way to survive.
If they stayed, death would be certain.
And who would choose death when they could still live?
"All Sealing Squad ninjas, listen to my command—"
"Deploy the barrier at once. Stall the Nine-Tails."
"Everyone else, follow me! We're retreating!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen gave the retreat order decisively.
He also knew that Byakuya would never allow them to flee so easily.
So he made a cruel decision: leave behind the sealing specialists to delay Byakuya's advance.
Those who stayed behind… would die.
But their sacrifice would be for the so-called Will of Fire.
Upon hearing the command, the Sealing Squad didn't hesitate.
They swiftly formed hand seals, and a series of massive barriers erupted into place, blocking Byakuya's path.
Meanwhile, Sarutobi Hiruzen led the rest of the forces in a rapid retreat.
"…Hmph. What are they doing?"
"Why set up so many barriers all of a sudden?"
Byakuya narrowed his eyes, puzzled at first.
But when he noticed Hiruzen and the others desperately fleeing in the distance, realization dawned.
"So that's it…"
"Hmph. Sarutobi Hiruzen, you're trying to run away?!"
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