The moment Rin was restrained, one of the ANBU Jōnin formed hand seals rapidly, ready to end the fight.
"Wind Release: Piercing Gale!"
"Shit—that's a B-rank Wind Style!"
Uchiha Amakumo's expression shifted. He could feel the lethality of the technique, and without hesitation, began weaving hand signs in a desperate attempt to save Rin.
No matter what crimes Rin may have committed—he was still Uchiha.
Amakumo made his choice without hesitation, even if it meant opposing the elite of the ANBU.
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu!"
A blazing orb burst from his mouth.
"Tch. Kid, you're not our target. Don't throw your life away."
Another ANBU Jōnin materialized beside Amakumo, gripping his throat with a hand faintly glowing with yellow light—an Earth Style D-rank jutsu: Hardening.
It blocked the flames with ease.
Crack!
The backlash scorched Amakumo's mouth, and dark blood oozed past his lips. The air filled with a sharp, burnt stench.
"Not bad… That look in your eyes—hatred, pain. Maybe we should kill him now. A child who awakens the Sharingan this early will become a threat."
The ANBU Jōnin looked toward his comrade, who was preparing to execute Rin, and asked calmly.
"That kid's the Fifth Elder's grandson. Killing him would cause too much noise."
The second Jōnin replied flatly.
"Tch, fine."
The first Jōnin clicked his tongue, his gaze lingering with disappointment on Amakumo's newly awakened single-tomoe Sharingan, like watching a grand trophy slip through his fingers.
"Stop struggling. Be a good boy and—"
Splurch!
He choked mid-sentence.
A crimson hand burst through his chest from behind.
The last thing he saw was his own blood coating Rin's fingers before his vision went black.
Rin stepped from behind him, crushing the heart in his grip. The blood soaked into his palm and he turned, eyes meeting Amakumo's.
"You alright?"
His voice was calm, as if two squads of ANBU weren't enough to rattle him.
Amakumo didn't respond.
He was too stunned.
This man, who looked so slender and unassuming… had just casually dismantled the elite of Konoha's secret forces.
The ANBU—those figures his father always spoke of with reverence—were torn apart like rag dolls.
In mere seconds.
Amakumo's chest surged with awe. He barely managed to stifle a gag from the smell of blood and burned flesh, clutching his mouth, shaking his head.
Rin didn't wait.
He turned toward the remaining enemies.
The Bloodlust Frenzy state brought a fivefold boost—not just in speed, but in strength, durability, and chakra output.
Even his Sharingan's perception was amplified.
The Jōnin around him looked like they were moving in slow motion—half-speed, sluggish and predictable.
Even the unavoidable Wind Release was now easy to dodge—his reflexes, enhanced by the evolved Sharingan, moved faster than instinct.
They were already dead. They just didn't know it yet.
One tried to run.
Too late.
Rin gave them no opening.
In twenty-eight seconds, all six ANBU operatives were dead.
Their blood restored his stamina, cleansing the exhaustion from the frenzy.
Without pause, Rin grabbed Amakumo and moved toward the Uchiha district.
They arrived at Setsuna's residence, where two elderly men sat playing shōgi under the afternoon light.
Amakumo dropped to his knees, bowing deeply.
"Great-Grandfather, Grandfather…"
Setsuna looked up at them, his eyes narrowing.
"You awakened?"
"Yes!"
Amakumo's Sharingan spun to life. He nodded firmly.
Nine years old—and already awakened.
His future was destined to be extraordinary.
"Excellent. Rin, your plan has my full support. What's your next move?"
A rare smile appeared on Setsuna's face. In Amakumo, he saw hope. In Rin, he saw the spark of the clan's resurgence.
"The village has already issued the bounty. The ANBU had orders."
"I'm going to lay low for a while. I don't want any interference."
Rin handed them the scroll bearing the bounty notice.
Danzō moved faster than expected.
For the clan to shelter him now would require immense cost. Fugaku, weak-willed and indecisive, would never stand up to the village.
So going to the clan meeting was pointless.
What Rin held wasn't enough to sway the elders into taking his side—into defying the Hokage.
Not yet.
The Uchiha hadn't been cornered. Not like they would be in the future.
He had to change his approach.
"A wise choice. Stay within the estate. The clan won't act against you."
Setsuna gave an approving nod.
"But the village won't let this go. Do not leave Konoha."
"Trash!"
"Useless pieces of trash!"
"You can't even take out one medic-nin!? Now I've got a damn mess to clean up!"
Danzō's roar echoed as he hurled the scroll across the room, smacking the ANBU captain in the face.
The elite Jōnin—feared and respected by most—didn't dare protest in front of Konoha's shadow master.
"Sir… this Uchiha medic-nin isn't ordinary. He's likely an infiltrator—an eagle-faction loyalist planted among the doves."
"No one else could've seen through our plan so quickly."
"I suspect Uchiha Setsuna's involved. If we're to further weaken the clan, we need to convince the Hokage to remove that old threat once and for all."
The captain's voice was low and analytical.
It had been nearly twenty years since Setsuna's failed coup.
Since then, under the Third Hokage's influence, Fugaku—a dove—had taken control of the clan and neutered the Uchiha Police into docile watchmen.
Anyone harboring hostility toward the village was sent to meaningless posts.
The force that had gone to the front lines this time? Almost entirely made up of doves.
They followed orders without question.
The plan should've been flawless.