As Fugaku Uchiha had expected, the moment the Uchiha began to mobilize, word had already leaked out.
Not to mention, the tall buildings surrounding the Uchiha compound were all filled with Anbu.
The Third Hokage silently set down his pipe. "What's the situation right now?"
The Anbu bowed his head and reported: "All of the Uchiha clan's combat members are gathering. Uchiha Natsuki has disappeared with thirteen jōnin. Uchiha Shisui is missing. Uchiha Itachi is also missing."
The Third fell into silence. He truly did not wish for things to come to this. It seemed Shisui had failed—or perhaps…
With a sigh, the Third made his decision, his expression hardening.
He tore off his Hokage robe, revealing the battle armor already worn underneath.
"Pass on the order. All of Konoha enters emergency state. Notify every clan head, gather all jōnin and elite jōnin. Surround the Uchiha compound."
Dense footsteps thundered across the rooftops as one after another, ninja darted over the houses.
Normally, this would have been highly disrespectful. But with the Hokage's command just issued, all of Konoha had entered crisis mode.
Ninjas were leaping across rooftops everywhere, while civilians hid inside their homes.
From another great clan of Konoha, the Hyūga, Hiashi and Hizashi led the clan's elites toward the Uchiha district.
Unable to restrain himself, Hizashi asked, "Brother… has the Uchiha really rebelled?"
Hiashi's brow furrowed. "When outside, address me as Clan Head."
Hizashi went quiet for a moment. "Yes, Clan Head."
Hiashi paused, then his tone softened slightly. "The Third ordered us to gather and surround the Uchiha. Tonight may turn into a bloody battle."
Hiashi's face was filled with worry. Civil strife always meant death.
And this was the Uchiha—the greatest clan of the shinobi world. Every one of them a master of ninjutsu, and most of them half-mad.
Glancing back at the twenty or so jōnin following behind him, Hiashi wondered how many would still return alive after tonight. These were the very foundations of the clan.
"Hizashi, if fighting breaks out, hold back our people. Do not charge the front lines."
"And what about the Third's orders?"
Hiashi waved his hand. "If the Uchiha are destroyed, the next ones… might be us."
Hizashi froze, shocked, glanced around nervously, then silently nodded.
Elsewhere—
"Lord Danzō, the Third Hokage has declared Konoha in a state of emergency. He has issued a summons for all jōnin and higher to gather for battle. Shall we join?"
"Oh?" Danzō, who had just finished adjusting to his newly implanted eye, stirred awake.
"What has happened?"
"All of the Uchiha's combatants are gathering."
Danzō rose, touching the fresh eye.
It seemed tonight, the Uchiha would finally be eradicated. How many eyes could he reap from them?
Hiruzen… I told you long ago the Uchiha could not be trusted. Fortunately, I struck first, crippling Shisui.
"Bring our men. Head for the Uchiha compound immediately."
—
At the Uchiha clan gates, lantern light blazed. Countless Konoha elites had already surrounded them.
At the forefront stood the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, along with Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado.
Behind them were the clan heads and elites of all the noble families.
Hyūga, Akimichi, Nara, Yamanaka—representatives of every great clan were present.
Nearly all of Konoha's Anbu and elite jōnin had assembled, encircling the Uchiha in multiple layers.
Every face carried a grave expression.
Each clan head harbored their own thoughts.
Creak… the massive wooden gates of the Uchiha compound opened.
Hundreds of armed Uchiha, led by Fugaku, strode slowly outside.
In an instant, all eyes fixed upon Fugaku's face—expressions varied, but all were tinged with surprise.
The usually conciliatory Fugaku—what had changed tonight?
The clansmen behind him stirred in unrest as they saw how thoroughly they were surrounded. But when they saw their leader remain silent, their voices gradually died down.
The atmosphere seemed frozen in place.
Just then, a messenger bird descended from the sky. Fugaku took the message, his eyes flashing with killing intent before quickly masking it again.
Under the sharp gaze of the Third, Fugaku remained composed, his eyes scanning left and right.
Noting Danzō's absence, his eyes narrowed.
"Hokage-sama, why has our Uchiha clan compound been surrounded?"
The Third frowned. "Fugaku! You've gathered so many Uchiha here, and you still ask us? What are you planning!?"
Fugaku's expression was utterly unlike before, no trace of respect for the Hokage in his tone.
"What am I planning? Uchiha Shisui went missing after leaving earlier today. We are now mobilizing to search for him. Is that a problem?"
The Third frowned deeply. He had imagined countless excuses Fugaku might give, but not this.
And from what he knew, Shisui truly was missing. For a moment, the Hokage did not know how to respond.
Homura stepped forward beside him. "Nonsense! Shisui goes missing, and you mobilize your entire clan? Do you take us for fools?"
Fugaku said nothing.
At that moment, the Konoha crowd parted—Shimura Danzō arrived.
As always, his forehead, right eye, right shoulder, and right arm were tightly bound in bandages.
"Fugaku Uchiha, tonight your clan clearly intends to rebel!"
Murderous light flashed in Fugaku's eyes.
In a low voice, he growled, "Danzō Shimura, you dare to show your face before me?"
"Itachi reported to me—after you summoned Shisui this afternoon, he disappeared. Do you dare claim it has nothing to do with you?"
Hidden among the crowd, Itachi furrowed his brows. He had never reported that to his father.
Danzō's face darkened. So, Itachi could not be trusted after all.
He barked back angrily, "Utter slander! I never saw Shisui this afternoon. These are baseless lies."
Fugaku gave a cold laugh. "Is that so?"
Chakra surged violently around him, his gaze turning glacial. The surrounding clans stiffened with tension.
As murmurs rippled through the crowd, a path opened in the rear. Uchiha Natsuki entered, leading more Uchiha.
[Ding! Mission updated: Outcome of the Coup.]
[Mission Objective: Ensure the survival of all Uchiha. Prevent deaths during the coup.]
[Mission Reward: Ocular Amplifier ×1, Uchiha Vice-Clan Head title…]
No time to check rewards now. If the mission required saving all clansmen, then there could be no bloodshed tonight.
Natsuki strode at the front, eyes sharp.
The Uchiha behind him said nothing. When they glanced at Natsuki, their gazes burned with fervor and reverence.
Two of them carried a stretcher. Upon it lay none other than Uchiha Shisui.
Others dragged several corpses of Root operatives, their bodies riddled with wounds.
The Third Hokage's face darkened. "Fugaku, what is the meaning of this?"
Natsuki returned Shisui to the clan's side, then turned toward the Hokage, stepping protectively in front of Fugaku.
With a derisive laugh, Natsuki said, "Third Hokage, even now you play dumb? Danzō summoned Shisui this afternoon and stole his Sharingan!"
"We mobilized to find Shisui after he vanished—what's wrong with that!?"
Then he bent down and whispered something in Shisui's ear. Shisui struggled to rise.
His body bore countless injuries—obvious to anyone's eyes.
But worst of all—his eyes. Two gaping hollows. His Sharingan had been stolen.
Uproar spread among the surrounding clans.
"Danzō stole Shisui's Sharingan?"
"Quiet! Danzō is the Hokage's advisor. Don't speak carelessly."
Weakly, Shisui spoke. "This evening, I received a summons from Danzō, asking to meet."
"I never thought… he coveted the Sharingan of the Uchiha. He stole them while I was unguarded."
The Third knew Shisui well. Just this afternoon, Shisui had reported to him, saying he would use Kotoamatsukami to prevent a Uchiha coup.
And now, to see him like this—
Danzō's face was already grim when Shisui rose, his silence betraying deep thought.
The entire gathering erupted into commotion, eyes turning toward Danzō with suspicion.
To steal a bloodline limit was already the gravest enmity. For a comrade of the same village to do so—it was unthinkable.
Shisui, called "Shunshin no Shisui," had earned countless merits for Konoha during the Third Ninja War. He was a genius of the Uchiha.
His reputation was sterling. His words carried great weight.