Fugaku suddenly opened his eyes wide. Everyone followed his gaze—only to see Uchiha Natsuki arriving at the shrine.
Natsuki had no idea how the "acting elder" identity had been planted on him.
But since he was back, for the sake of his own life, he braced himself and walked straight up to Fugaku.
Fugaku spoke: "Natsuki, now that you're an acting elder, you also have the right to speak. I want to hear your opinion."
"My opinion!?" Natsuki was stunned.
"Opinion my ass! Shisui is being hunted down right now, and you're still holding some useless meeting!" Natsuki snapped angrily.
Damn it, the blade is already at our throats, and you're still wasting time dithering here!
Fugaku's pupils shook.
"Natsuki, is what you're saying true?"
Natsuki waved his hand sharply. "No time to explain! Kai, Kotō, Yūta—take your squads, all of you, and follow me!
Izumi, you're coming too! We'll probably need your healing."
Since Shisui was mild-tempered and had many friends in the clan, Natsuki deliberately called those who were close to him.
The named Uchiha immediately stood up and rushed out with Natsuki!
Fugaku sat at the head seat, his expression dark.
The Third and Fourth Elders didn't bother to argue anymore.
Although the Fourth Elder leaned toward the dove faction, he wasn't the type to just sit there even with a blade against his neck.
Fugaku remained silent for a long while, then finally exhaled slowly.
"Uchiha Takuya!" Fugaku barked loudly.
"Yes!" The Third Elder jolted in surprise—this was his true name.
His seniority was above Fugaku's; normally, people addressed him as "Third Elder."
But once Fugaku called his name directly, it meant Fugaku was acting as clan head!
"You are to rally every Uchiha combat member! Prepare for battle!"
The Third Elder's expression hardened, as if already smelling blood in the air.
Splash! The icy waters of the Naka River gave Uchiha Shisui a fleeting moment of clarity.
But his wounds were far too severe. His heart, already in despair, still lingered on thoughts of the clan.
Would his death change anything? Could Itachi fulfill the burden he entrusted to him…?
Shisui's world grew darker as his body sank deeper into the rushing river…
"Found him! Elder, Shisui is here!"
With shouts, two Uchiha dove into the water and dragged Shisui's unconscious body ashore.
"Elder! Shisui's eyes have been gouged out!"
Natsuki had already expected this. "Izumi, check and treat Shisui immediately—make sure he lives!"
Uchiha Izumi quickly stepped forward. Because of Itachi, she was also a close friend of Shisui.
Seeing him covered in wounds, with his Sharingan stolen, she was shaken to the core.
Shisui was a top master of the clan—yet he had been reduced to this, and all within the walls of Konoha!
There was no time to summon other medical-nin. Fortunately, Natsuki remembered that Izumi knew medical ninjutsu.
Under urgent treatment, Shisui's vital signs were finally stabilized.
[Ding! Mission complete: Rescue Shisui.]
Host has obtained: Mangekyō Sharingan pupil power. Susanoo unlocked in advance.
Natsuki finally let out a long breath. He had sprinted all the way back from outside the village without rest for half a day.
At least Shisui's life was saved.
And with his strength boosted, his own life was more secure. He quickly accepted the Mangekyō reward.
Once he clicked "claim," a cold aura surged into Natsuki's eyes.
So this was Yin Release chakra? Already unlocking Susanoo? I don't even know what my ocular ability is yet…
Meanwhile, the other Uchiha who had come to rescue Shisui saw his hollow, empty eye sockets and erupted in fury.
Up to now, who would dare pull the Uchiha's whiskers? This was an intolerable humiliation!
"Bastards! How dare they steal the eyes of one of our Uchiha!"
"To injure Shisui like this—I'll never forgive them!"
"Elder! Who attacked Shisui!?"
At the same time, Natsuki's newly strengthened ocular powers were sharpening his perception.
He suddenly turned, staring into the woods behind the clan members.
The sound of rustling feet cut through the forest. In moments, four masked ANBU in white cloaks burst out from the trees.
The leading ANBU froze at the sight—so many Uchiha standing at the riverbank, with the very target he sought lying there being treated.
But why were there so many Uchiha here!?
He gave a tactical hand signal, halting the three behind him.
The Uchiha clan members narrowed their eyes. They knew exactly what organization these men came from.
Almost instantly, they understood—Shisui had been hunted by Root!
Fury surged, and blades were drawn. The Uchiha charged straight at them.
The Root squad captain's heart sank. Facing a dozen Uchiha, three of them with three-tomoe Sharingan—it was unlikely they'd hold out until reinforcements arrived.
Still, Danzo-sama's will must be carried out!
He gestured firmly, his three subordinates' faces resolute.
The four did not retreat—they advanced straight into the Uchiha charge.
Their formation constantly shifted, hiding their true intent.
In moments, they clashed.
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!"
Two Uchiha formed seals, launching blazing fireballs as a feint just before close combat.
Using the cover of flames, they rushed forward. Others hurled shuriken.
"Earth Style: Earth Flow Wall!"
Root operatives quickly joined forces to raise a wall, blocking both fireballs and shuriken, crouching behind it.
Then they leapt out, throwing ten explosive tags at once.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
At such close range, it was practically mutual destruction.
The Uchiha staggered out of the smoke, battered and singed. They hadn't expected Root to be so reckless.
The Root nin weren't much better off—being closer to the explosions, they bore even heavier injuries, bursting out bloodied.
It was practically a suicide assault.
Suddenly, the squad captain was cut down—only to disperse into smoke.
Damn, a shadow clone!
The ground erupted. From below, he sprang forth, his body covered in sizzling explosive tags, charging straight toward the unconscious Shisui.
"Let's die together!!"
At that moment, only Izumi and Natsuki stood beside Shisui. The other Uchiha couldn't return in time.
The massive explosion hurled everyone back.
But when the smoke cleared—a golden skeletal frame loomed, shielding Shisui and Izumi.
Fierce, storm-like chakra spread out in waves.
Natsuki stood within, arms crossed, Mangekyō eyes slowly spinning.
"Su… Susanoo!"
"It's Susanoo—the legendary Uchiha power!"
"Elder possesses the Mangekyō Sharingan!"
Like a towering mecha, Susanoo shone brilliantly. Natsuki nodded in satisfaction. If only it were the Eternal Mangekyō without blindness…
He quickly closed his eyes, deactivating the Mangekyō—keen to conserve its power. Still, unlocking Susanoo in advance was a stroke of fortune.
Meanwhile, back in the clan compound, Uchiha combat members had nearly all gathered.
The hawkish Uchiha were ablaze with fervor, gearing up, fastening armor, preparing for war.
The Fourth Elder, Uchiha Yōhei, licked his dry lips. How many of them would die tonight? Could they really succeed?
The dovish Uchiha were uneasy, unsettled by the thought of possibly going to war with the village itself.
The Third Elder, Uchiha Takuya, couldn't hide his excitement: "Clan Head, all combat members are assembled! Please give the order!"
Fugaku clenched his hands tightly. "Wait until Elder Natsuki returns."
By now… surely Konoha has already begun to act.