The battle between Kaede and Obito remained surprisingly calm.
But things were far more intense on Itachi's side.
Those who were still within the Uchiha compound could see the flames of battle exploding in the distance.
That was why Fugaku had rushed over.
And upon arriving, he immediately saw the clash of ocular power between Itachi and Kaede.
In that instant, he understood the choice his son had made.
"My child… So in the end, you've chosen to stand with Konoha…"
Fugaku's eyes were filled with struggle.
He wanted to shout at Itachi, to somehow change his mind.
But as his father, Fugaku knew him too well. If Itachi had made this decision, then no words would sway him.
At that moment, Fugaku fell into confusion.
On one side were his clansmen. On the other, his son. He didn't know who to choose.
Kaede looked at Fugaku, whose eyes were clouded with hesitation, and spoke calmly.
"So the clan head has arrived."
"Perfect timing. Your son has betrayed the clan and is working with the Konoha higher-ups to annihilate us."
"As the head of the Uchiha, it's time for you to show true righteousness—by cutting down your own kin!"
Itachi's eyes dimmed. "Father…"
Fugaku could only sigh once more.
"Itachi, do you remember the vision I once showed you? And yet, you still choose to side with Hiruzen and the rest?"
Itachi answered in a low voice, "I'm sorry, Father. For the peace of the village…"
Fugaku looked at him with pain in his heart. "Is there truly no way to take this back?"
Itachi remained silent.
Kaede suddenly let out a cold laugh and cut in.
"Now's not the time for a father-son chat."
"Fugaku, you have two choices—kill Itachi now and retain your place among the Uchiha."
"Or side with that traitor… and I'll deal with both of you."
"And I'll strike your entire family from the Uchiha genealogy!"
Stripping them of their Uchiha status?!
That icy declaration sent chills down both Fugaku's and Itachi's spines.
Yet none of the surrounding Uchiha, including Naoto and the others, stepped in to stop it.
Clearly, Kaede had already become a symbol of faith for the clan. He represented the will of the people.
If he said Fugaku's family would be erased from the genealogy, then so it would be.
In this world—especially among shinobi clans—the family record and honor of the bloodline meant everything.
Naoto looked at Fugaku and spoke coldly.
"Fugaku, did you know all along that Itachi was harboring treacherous thoughts?"
Fugaku remained silent. Of course he knew.
Seeing this, Naoto and the others burned with fury.
Unbelievable! Not just Itachi, but even Fugaku had shown disregard for the clan's lives!
They turned their gazes to Kaede.
Thank heavens the clan had someone like Kaede.
Otherwise, tonight might truly have marked the end of the famed Uchiha—wiped out by their own.
"Fugaku, you're quite the clan leader!"
"Hmph! The whole family is rotten!"
"I used to admire you. Turns out you're a traitor too!"
…
The scornful gazes of his fellow clansmen stabbed deep into Fugaku's heart.
Clansmen… and his son.
Which side should he choose?
If only he could die right now, and escape this cruel decision.
Itachi saw his father's torment.
Though he had resolved to side with the village, he couldn't bear to see his beloved father suffer like this.
So he raised his sword and pointed it at Fugaku.
"Clan Head… fight me."
Fugaku's heart trembled. He looked at his once-proud son with a complex expression.
Itachi had already made the choice for him.
"I…"
Just as he began to speak, a chilling laugh cut through the air.
"Kukuku… No need to be afraid, Clan Head Fugaku. Konoha's reinforcements have arrived!"
From a distance, Danzo appeared, flanked by several of his trusted men, arriving in a flash.
At the same time, at the edge of the Uchiha compound, explosions of battle broke out.
Kaede didn't even glance that way. He kept his cold eyes on Danzo.
After all, he had prepared for this. Root's numbers weren't enough to overwhelm the Uchiha. He had no need to worry.
"Heh… The rat from underground finally dares show his face."
Danzo's expression was one of surprise.
"Kaede… I didn't expect you to see through my plan."
"No wonder you were always said to be more gifted than Itachi."
Kaede sneered. "I don't need your praise."
"I was planning to finish off Itachi and then come find you and Hiruzen for a little game."
"But since you've walked in yourself, you can stay here with him!"
The eerie Mangekyō Sharingan bore down on him, and Danzo felt the pressure.
But alongside it, greed surged within him.
'Damn it… I didn't expect Kaede to have awakened the Mangekyō too.'
'But no matter. Once I kill him, I'll have three pairs of Mangekyō Sharingan!'
With that in mind, he turned to Fugaku.
He had heard every word of the earlier conversation between Kaede and the clan head.
"Don't worry, Clan Head. Your younger son is safe with me. You can focus on dealing with Kaede alongside Itachi."
Earlier, Danzo had brought all of Root into the Uchiha compound, originally intending to collect Sharingan from the dead.
He hadn't expected to fall into Kaede's trap.
Worried something would go wrong with Itachi, he rushed here with his elite men and ordered the others to hold off the Uchiha.
He even sent agents to capture Sasuke.
Hearing Danzo's words, both Fugaku and Itachi's faces changed.
That bastard Danzo… was using Sasuke as leverage!
More accurately—he was using him to manipulate Fugaku.
Fugaku's resolve wavered again.
Sasuke, his younger son… Even if he had always seemed distant, how could a father ignore his own blood?
Kaede suddenly burst into laughter.
"Hahaha… How interesting!"
Laughing, he looked toward Itachi.
"This is the choice you made? Helping Konoha slaughter your own clan?"
"And now, Konoha is threatening your brother's life in return. Truly noble of them!"
Itachi's fury surged at Kaede's mockery.
He glared coldly at Danzo. "This has nothing to do with Sasuke!"
"Release him now and hand him over to the Hokage—or else…"
Itachi loathed Danzo, the one who had indirectly caused his best friend's death.
But for the sake of the village, he had no choice but to endure this disgust and work with him.
However, if Danzo dared touch Sasuke, Itachi wouldn't hesitate to kill him on the spot!
This was still within Konoha. Once the Hokage arrived, Kaede wouldn't be able to stir up much trouble anyway.
But Danzo, unfazed by Itachi's threat, just smiled.
"Don't worry. Sasuke is quite safe. My subordinates would gladly die to ensure no harm comes to him—or anyone else trying to use him against you."
Then he looked at Fugaku again.
"So what are you waiting for, Clan Head? Take down that traitor Kaede already. That way, your family can be reunited in peace!"
(End of Chapter)
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