Chapter 119: Borrowing a Knife to Kill: The End of the Sarutobi Clan
Uchiha Kenji, standing beside Uchiha Akira, keenly sensed a subtle abnormality in his Clan Head. "Clan Head-sama?" he asked in a low voice, his hand already on his sword hilt, scanning the surroundings vigilantly.
"It's nothing," Akira's voice remained calm. But only he knew what earth-shattering transformation he was undergoing. A few seconds later, the intense pain receded like a tide. Uchiha Akira slowly opened his eyes. In his eyes, there was no longer the blood-red Sharingan. Instead, there was a pair of purple eyes with mysterious ripple patterns. This was... the Rinnegan. The eyes of the Six Paths Sage.
With a thought, Akira's purple Rinnegan instantly faded, reverting to his deep Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan. With another thought, it switched back to ordinary black pupils. He could switch between them at will, with perfect control.
[Uchiha Akira]
[Strength: Peak Kage (Only 1 step away from Six Paths level)]
[Skills Mastered:]
[Taijutsu: Sage Body (Perfect)]
[Ninjutsu: Complete mastery of all Fire Release Ninjutsu, Lightning Release Chakra Mode (Perfect), All Creation (Rinnegan Basic)]
[Space Ninjutsu: Amenominaka (Enhanced Flying Thunder God Technique, no coordinates, no consumption, arrives with a thought)]
[Genjutsu: Immune to conventional Genjutsu, Genjutsu Reflection (Rinnegan Enhanced)]
[Bloodline Limit: Rinnegan (Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan form can be switched)]
[Dōjutsu: Shinra Tensei, Universal Pull, Chibaku Tensei, Limbo: Border Jail]
[Exclusive Dōjutsu:]
[Left Eye: Divine Authority: Technique Amplification: The ultimate amplification under the blessing of Rinnegan and Sage Body, capable of elevating the power, range, and effect of any Ninjutsu to a law level, imbuing it with partial "word-becomes-law" characteristics.]
[Right Eye: Kamui: Time Reversal: Can forcibly revert the state of everything (including oneself) within a specified range to several seconds prior, a causality-level Dōjutsu, with greatly reduced cooldown time.]
[Family Status: Uchiha Clan Head, Konohagakure Fifth Hokage]
[Family Honor Value: 350,000]
[Number of Loyal Clan Members: Entire Clan (Combat Personnel)]
Just then, an Uchiha shinobi responsible for vigilance appeared at the entrance of the main hall, kneeling on 1 knee. "Hokage-sama!" he had already begun using the new title. "An urgent report from the north! Several northern nobles, led by the Ōtori and Yamashiro families, have openly rebelled, taking advantage of the turmoil in the Capital and the young Daimyō. They have already captured several cities."
"Oh?" A playful smile appeared on Akira's face. Rebellion! He was just thinking about how to deal with that old man, Sarutobi Hiruzen, and now, a pillow had been delivered to his doorstep. It was truly a case of someone providing a pillow when one was sleepy. These nobles were truly considerate.
He turned around and looked at Chiba, the new Daimyō, who was still sitting on the throne like a puppet. He leaned down and gazed at the boy gently with his eyes, which had just reverted to ordinary black pupils.
"Chiba, are you scared?"
"I... I..." The boy was so frightened he couldn't complete his sentence.
"Don't be afraid," Akira's voice carried a peculiar, convincing power. "You are the Daimyō, the ruler of the Land of Fire. Now, there are rebellious subjects causing trouble, what should you do?" He guided him patiently.
"I... I should... quell them?"
"Exactly," Akira nodded with satisfaction. "However, you are still young and lack power. And the rebel army is strong; relying solely on my strength might lead to neglecting other areas and causing greater losses to the country. You need a helper. An experienced, highly respected, and stabilizing helper."
Akira's voice was like a devil's whisper. "What do you think of the former Hokage, Lord Hiruzen Sarutobi?"
Chiba was stunned. Hiruzen Sarutobi? The old man who was personally removed from power by the man in front of him?
"Go," Akira patted his shoulder and straightened up. "Draft a handwritten order in your name, as the Daimyō of the Land of Fire." He turned his back to Chiba, his voice becoming cold and majestic, echoing throughout the hall.
"I humbly request Lord Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, to disregard past grievances in this time of national crisis, and to lead the elites of the Sarutobi clan to the Capital with all haste to assist this Daimyō. To quell the northern rebellion!"
Chiba stared blankly at Uchiha Akira's back, then at the ink, brush, and paper already prepared before him.
In Konohagakure, Uchiha Akira's prestige reached new heights. The acting Hokage became the official Fifth Hokage. The Daimyō was replaced, and military expenses doubled. All of this felt like a dream.
In the Hokage's Office, Nara Shikaku rubbed his throbbing temples, looking at the mountain of piled documents, muttering incessantly. "Such a hassle... All the mess is dumped on me."
Kakashi, standing by the wall, still held his Icha Icha Paradise book, but his gaze was unfocused. "He's always like this, isn't he? Solving all problems in the most direct, most brutal way. Including eliminating all problematic people."
Shikaku sighed. He knew what Kakashi was thinking. Uchiha Akira's methods were too harsh, sending chills down one's spine. But... "But you have to admit, it's very effective," Shikaku spread his hands. "At least now, the Village's funds are more abundant than ever before; those departments that used to complain about poverty are now walking with a spring in their step."
That was true. Kakashi was silent. He didn't know how to evaluate Uchiha Akira.
At the Sarutobi clan compound, Sarutobi Hiruzen sat on his veranda, holding his characteristic pipe, but it was unlit. He just sat there quietly, like a stone statue. Ever since he was publicly dismissed at the Jōnin meeting, he seemed to have been drained of all his spirit and energy, aging more than a decade overnight.
He lost. He lost completely. He not only lost power but also prestige. Now, in Konohagakure, mentioning "Third Hokage" no longer evoked reverence and respect, but rather contempt and disdain.
"Father," Asuma Sarutobi walked over, his face filled with worry.
Just then, a Sarutobi clan shinobi ran in, looking flustered. "Lord Hiruzen! Lord Asuma! The Daimyō's Mansion... an envoy from the Daimyō's Mansion has arrived!"
"What?" Asuma was stunned. The Daimyō's Mansion? What were they doing here?
Soon, an envoy in luxurious robes, with an arrogant expression, entered the Sarutobi clan compound, accompanied by a group of shinobi. He walked directly up to Sarutobi Hiruzen and unrolled a golden-edged scroll. The envoy read aloud in a declamatory tone.
"Handwritten Order of the Daimyō of the Land of Fire! It is hereby known that rebels are causing trouble in the north! Considering the distinguished achievements and high prestige of the former Third Hokage, Lord Hiruzen Sarutobi, it is hereby humbly requested that Lord Hiruzen immediately lead the elites of the Sarutobi clan to the Capital with all haste to quell the rebellion! After the matter is concluded, there will certainly be a heavy reward! By Imperial Order!"
After finishing the reading, the envoy respectfully handed the scroll to Hiruzen Sarutobi. The entire courtyard was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Asuma's face instantly became extremely grim.
"You can't go!" He grabbed Hiruzen Sarutobi's arm, his voice trembling. "This is a trap! This is definitely Uchiha Akira's trap! He wants to wipe out our Sarutobi clan!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen said nothing. He just stared intently at the handwritten order.
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