Chapter 10: The Uchiha Clan's Great Escape
Before leaving, Danzō's furious roar still echoed in his ears, but Uchiha Ming didn't care at all.
"Come and catch me if you can, you old dog!" Uchiha Ming laughed happily like a child. Of course, judging by his age from his past life, he really still counted as a child.
"Let me look for the mission target." Searching around, he quickly found that piece of flesh from Danzō's shoulder.
He summoned the system. No matter what, every time he saw the system's bright green interface, he felt like it was mocking him.
"Submit mission item!"
Mission: Seize Shimura Danzō's Hashirama Cells. (He was about to dig out your eyes—how could you let that old bastard off easy? Even I couldn't stand it!)
Mission Status: Completed.
Reward: Fusion with Asura Cells, no side effects. (You wouldn't want someone else's face growing on your chest, right? If you don't like it, you can always pick the version with side effects.)
"System, does your mother know how cheeky you are?" Ming cursed inwardly at the system's nonsense. Luckily it was just a dumb program, otherwise it would have been very suspicious.
"Judging from the tracks, the clan should be nearby." Sure enough, not long after, Uchiha Ming found the Uchiha clansmen by a stream.
"Relax, it's just Ming returning." Seeing him come back, everyone's faces lit up with relief. Except for Uchiha Mikoto, who still looked grief-stricken, every other Uchiha felt grateful to have escaped this catastrophe alive.
Ninja World, Uchiha Compound.
"You're here, Itachi? I've been waiting for you a long time." Fugaku sat on the tatami, looking at his son whose face was filled with murderous intent.
How wonderful—it was thanks to Uchiha Ming's sudden appearance that he no longer had to agonize between his family and his clan.
"Tonight, the village has decided to strike at the Uchiha, hasn't it?"
Though he didn't understand why the compound was so quiet, Itachi still nodded.
"Was it Hiruzen who sent you, or Shimura Danzō?"
"The Third Hokage knows nothing of this—it was Elder Danzō's decision. Root has already surrounded the Uchiha compound."
"Don't spout such laughable lies! You expect me to believe Sarutobi Hiruzen doesn't know? Are you trying to fool me, or the dead?" Fugaku snapped, cutting his son off.
"Brainwashed by Hiruzen and his lot? Or are you just lying to yourself?"
Itachi stayed silent for a moment, then replied, "Father, it's too late for words now. Tonight, only one can survive—Konoha or the Uchiha. Do you think the Uchiha can win?"
"How did Shisui die? By the Third's hand, or Danzō's?" Fugaku calmed again, as if he hadn't just been furious.
"I don't know. But from what I've seen, it likely wasn't the Third."
"True. That old fox still cares about appearances. He wouldn't personally act—he has to maintain his mask of hypocrisy. Danzō, on the other hand, has no shame at all."
"And Sasuke?"
"Sasuke is in the bedroom. I don't want him to see too much blood. I've indulged you too much, Itachi. At the clan's moment of crisis, you turned completely to the village. Perhaps Konoha's peace is important, but do a thousand Uchihas deserve to die for it?" Fugaku roared.
"Father, you know it—everything is already too late." Itachi shook his head firmly.
"Forget it. Talking to a fool like you is pointless. Tonight, let me test my own son's strength." Fugaku slowly stood. "It's been a long time since we last crossed blades."
Itachi said nothing, blood already streaking from the corners of his eyes.
"Shuriken Jutsu!" The Uchiha's famed shuriken technique. Seeing the projectiles fly toward him, Itachi raised both hands—"Shuriken Jutsu!"
Steel clashed midair, ricocheting again and again until they fell scattered on the floor. Only one shuriken managed to graze Itachi's hand.
"Seems my son is indeed gifted, but still lacking experience." Fugaku mocked as blood trickled from Itachi's hand.
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu!"
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu!"
"Fire Style: Phoenix Sage Fire Jutsu!"
"Fire Style: Phoenix Sage Fire Jutsu!"
"Well done, my son. You've mastered both fire techniques admirably." After the exchange, Fugaku's breathing was steady—he was still a veteran Uchiha who had fought in the Second and Third Great Wars.
Itachi, however, was lightly winded. His body was still maturing, his chakra reserves limited, far less than his father's composure and skill.
Next came taijutsu, and again Fugaku dominated. Despite Itachi's genius, his physical abilities couldn't compare with his father's. In strength, timing, and technique, Fugaku surpassed him in every way.
"Itachi, do you need my help?" Tenzo (Jūzō Biwa) called from outside. He wasn't blind—he could clearly see Itachi wasn't his father's match. Even he knew he couldn't defeat Fugaku in such a contest.
He could only sigh inwardly—no wonder the Uchiha clan had such a fearsome reputation.
"Get out!" Itachi snapped, uncharacteristically losing composure.
"I can handle this myself. Go rendezvous with the masked man."
Jūzō left without protest. Since it was Itachi's family, he wouldn't interfere. But just outside, he ran into the masked man.
"Lord Madara, what's wrong?"
"Damn it! The entire Uchiha clan has vanished! Every last one—men, women, and children—already gone!" Obito's voice was edged with panic. His perfect plan had suddenly unraveled.
"How could this be?" Jūzō was equally shocked. To surprise even Lord Madara—did the Uchiha have some hidden trump card?
The most bewildered of all was Obito himself. After all, he carried the name of Uchiha Madara, walking the world as his successor. "Could that old man have left some hidden safeguard for his descendants?"
"Jūzō, withdraw from Konoha for now. Don't get caught by Root's rats."
"Yes, my lord." Jūzō's greatest quality wasn't strength, but obedience. Madara said retreat, so he retreated—without asking why.
Once Jūzō was gone, an agitated Obito quickly summoned Black Zetsu.
"Come out, White Zetsu, Black Zetsu. Can you sense the Uchiha clan anywhere?"
"No. Only lingering traces remain around Nanga Shrine. Everywhere else, the Uchihas have simply vanished."
"This is the ninja world, not the spirit world. With Konoha's barriers, how could the Uchiha escape? And right at the start of everything? Black Zetsu—you're Madara's will. Tell me, did he leave a trump card for the clan?"
"I may be Madara's will, but I never heard him mention such a thing." Black Zetsu shook his head. He was certain it wasn't something Madara left behind. In truth, Madara had been deeply disappointed in his clan, believing they had betrayed him.
"Could it be someone awakened a space-type Mangekyō Sharingan? With a power like yours, they could have transferred the entire clan away. Only space-time ninjutsu could do it so silently."
Obito fell deep into thought. "That must be it… Unless you think the dead Fourth Hokage came back to do it?"