Chapter 87: The Uchiha Jōnin Gathered and Announced the Plan to Wipe Out the Root!
Akira's fingers reached for Itachi's eyes once more. "No… uh…" he pleaded.
Pfft— There was no hesitation. Akira's fingers precisely plunged into Itachi's eye socket and, with a forceful scoop, another Mangekyō Sharingan was dug out. He placed the eye into a glass bottle, then sealed it with a sealing scroll. After completing all of this, Akira kicked Itachi, whose eyes were now two empty, bloody holes, toward Uchiha Fugaku.
"Look after your good son," Akira said. Fugaku trembled all over, looking at the bloodied, barely breathing figure that had rolled to his feet, momentarily unable to distinguish whether the emotion in his heart was hatred or pain.
Akira no longer paid attention to the family drama. He looked up at the night sky, raised his hand, and fired a red signal flare.
Whoosh—boom! Red flames burst open in the night sky.
In the Hokage Office, Hiruzen Sarutobi sat in his chair, a barely concealed anxiety deep in his eyes. The tobacco in his pipe had long since gone out, and the cold mouthpiece was clamped tightly between his teeth. He was waiting for a result.
Swish. A black figure wearing an animal mask, an Anbu captain, appeared without warning, kneeling on one knee.
"Speak," Hiruzen said, his heart in his throat.
"Reporting, Third Hokage," the captain's voice trembled uncontrollably. "The Root ninja on the outskirts of the Uchiha Clan Territory have... all retreated."
Hiruzen's pupils constricted. "According to the infiltrating observer's report... several rogue ninja who invaded the Uchiha have... all been repelled or killed. Uchiha Itachi is confirmed... defeated and has... been captured alive."
Hiruzen felt his breathing become very difficult. "Then... what about Akira?"
The Anbu captain lowered his head even further. "Akira... is unharmed."
Hiruzen's hands fell limply. It was out of control. Everything was completely out of control.
At the same time, in the Root base, Danzō Shimura stood silently in the darkness, leaning on his cane. He, too, was waiting. A Root ninja appeared behind him.
"Lord Danzō," the ninja said.
"Speak."
"The plan... failed. The invaders were completely annihilated. Uchiha Itachi was captured. No Uchiha clan members died."
Danzō's body remained motionless, but the veins on the back of his hand gripping his cane bulged.
"What about Akira?"
"Unharmed."
Crack— The wooden cane in Danzō's hand snapped in two. He had thought it was foolproof, but everything had come to naught.
Above the ruins, over a dozen swift figures rushed over, finally landing around Akira. It was the Twelve Guard.
"Akira!" they said, uniformly kneeling on one knee.
Akira's gaze swept over them. "Send Uchiha Fugaku for treatment. This traitor, imprison him in the deepest part of the dungeon, guard him strictly, and await the clan's judgment. Relay my command: All Uchiha Jōnin, assemble immediately at the main training ground."
"Yes!" The Twelve Guard did not hesitate, instantly transforming into shadows and soaring away. Next, it was time to eliminate Danzō and Root.
At the Uchiha Main Training Ground, over 100 figures stood. They were the clan's most elite force, each possessing Jōnin-level strength.
"Just now, several S-rank rogue ninja led by Uchiha Itachi, in conjunction with Root, launched a surprise attack on the Uchiha," Akira announced.
Angry roars rose and fell. "Itachi, that scoundrel!" one shouted. "How dare he betray the clan!" another added. "Root... it's that old dog Danzō again! I knew his desire to destroy the Uchiha would never die!" Pairs of scarlet Sharingan spun wildly in the night, fueled by rage.
"The invaders have all been repelled, and the main culprit, Uchiha Itachi, has been captured alive."
A hot-headed Jōnin stepped forward. "Lord Clan Head! Why didn't you let us participate in the battle?! We were in the shelter, listening to the fighting! We could have rushed out and torn those scoundrels to shreds!" His question voiced the thoughts of everyone present.
Akira looked at him and calmly replied, "Because dealing with that level of trash does not require the full strength of the Uchiha. Next, there is a more important, a true battle, that requires you."
Everyone's breathing hitched. A more important battle? Could it be?
"Danzō Shimura and his Root, since they dared to extend their claws toward the Uchiha, then we will completely eradicate this cancerous tumor! I declare a full-scale purge operation against Root. Blood for blood, tooth for tooth!"
The entire training ground fell into a deathly silence. Purging Root? This was no longer simple revenge. This was wielding a butcher's knife at Konoha's highest echelons. This was a coup!
A slightly hesitant voice spoke up. It was an older Jōnin from the Dove Faction. His face was pale. "Lord Clan Head... please reconsider. Root, after all, is an organization whose existence is tacitly approved by the Hokage. If we act rashly like this, will it trigger a civil war in the Village? Once we become enemies with all of Konoha, our Uchiha..."
He did not finish. Akira's gaze had already fallen upon him. Akira slowly took a step closer.
"I ask you," he said. "Tonight, if I hadn't stopped them, if those who were slaughtered were your wife, your children, your unarmed family... at that time, would you still be here, discussing what it means to reconsider, what it means to have a civil war?"
The Jōnin's body stiffened, and the color drained from his face.
"What are you waiting for?" Akira's voice rang out again. "Waiting for others to put a knife to your wife's throat before you resist? Waiting for others to kill your son in front of you before you get angry? Or are you waiting for our Uchiha clan to be completely slaughtered, leaving only you living alone in this world, before you finally feel that you can disregard what is called peace and the greater good?"
Akira's words completely ignited the fury of all Uchiha clan members. Yes. What were they waiting for? Were they truly waiting until their homes were destroyed, until everything was irreversible, before thinking of resisting? The Jōnin lowered his head in shame. Lord Clan Head is right! Peace is not gained by begging with a wagging tail! Dignity is forged with blades and blood!
Akira looked at their reactions and nodded with satisfaction. "Now, hear my command! All Jōnin, break into small groups! Form groups of three, combine freely, target, Root's main stronghold! I want the word 'Root' to be completely erased from Konoha's dictionary before dawn!"
"Yes!" A thunderous roar of assent echoed across the training ground.
"Leave a portion of the Jōnin to coordinate with the Guard Team, seal off the Clan Territory, protect the clan members, just in case," Akira instructed. "Other ordinary clan members are not to leave the safe shelter until the alert is lifted. Once the operation begins, accept no surrender from Root, leave no survivors! Understood?!"
"Yes!" Over a hundred Uchiha Jōnin's eyes gleamed with bloodlust.
"Very good," Akira said. "Then... the hunt begins."
The moment his voice fell, nearly a hundred black figures, without any hesitation, instantly vanished, transforming into streaks of light that merged into the boundless night. On the training ground, soon, only the remaining Jōnin were left.