The next few days passed incredibly quickly. With so many tasks to tackle, I couldn't find a moment to be bored. We tested Itachi's new eyes as much as possible. Fortunately, his eyesight hadn't deteriorated yet, but it surely wouldn't take long. There was already minor damage to his optical nerves, and it would only worsen from here. I pondered what to do with this information, realizing that not using his Mangekyō was absolutely out of the question. There had to be something we could do to preserve his sight for at least a little longer.
I was jolted from my thoughts as I saw Itachi once again light his surroundings ablaze with a black flame, clutching his eye as the pain became too much for him. He breathed heavily, focusing once more, extinguishing the flames with great effort, blood running down his face.
"I think that's enough for tonight," I said, trying my best to sound authoritative.
"Your sight will begin to diminish soon, and I'd rather you be at full capacity for as long as possible." As he wiped the blood from his face, I continued,
"Is there a way to stop this? To ensure you won't go blind?" I asked while attempting to fix the nerve damage in his eyes.
I could only temporarily hold off the process of degradation, but honestly, it was still better than expected. I wasn't a fully-fledged medic, and from what I knew, not even Tsunade should be able to reverse the damage done by Mangekyō overuse.
"I'm not sure. The answer might be on a stone tablet under the Uchiha district. Other than that..." He paused, and the training ground fell into silence.
I, of course, knew about the Eternal Light, but mentioning it would be incredibly suspicious. I wasn't prepared to share my outerversal knowledge with anyone, at least not yet, and possibly never.
"I think you can manage one or two Mangekyō jutsu per day if you see a medic the very same day," I said, still uncertain about how the degradation actually worked.
"Any more than that, and you'll go blind incredibly fast. Only use those eyes as a last resort, a trump card to pull out in the most desperate situation." I concluded my 'medical' advice.
Itachi nodded, looking satisfied with the progress we had made in the past few days. He had learned to harness his abilities.
His right eye housed the divine flames of Amaterasu, which couldn't be extinguished by any ordinary means.
His left eye contained the most formidable genjutsu I'd ever encountered: Tsukuyomi, giving Itachi absolute power over a world of illusions.
At least my knowledge could aid him in mastering these abilities quickly. A slight push in the right direction could yield great results.
I wasn't slacking off either; I used Itachi's Mangekyō training to study his eyes as he practiced. My goal? To enhance my own eyes with powerful abilities.
I still couldn't understand how Orochimaru had never figured out the workings of the Sharingan. But then again, he would most likely never collaborate with someone; he'd simply pluck out the eyes and experiment on them.
Seeing Itachi actually use his Mangekyō abilities made me believe that, with a better understanding of seals, it might be possible to imbue my own eyes with Mangekyō-like powers… or blind me permanently. However, that would undoubtedly be a long-term project.
Our preparations had come to an end far quicker than any of us wished.
It was time to act, but there was no anticipation, no nervousness before a fight. There was only determination to be done with it, in and out, a twenty-minute mission.
At least that was my hope, but so far, no mission has gone according to plan.
It was already early morning, around three o'clock, and the night was dark; only a few stars were visible through the clouds. I was prowling around the Uchiha district, an Anbu mask on my face, taking out anyone who might be able to see the operation.
So far, I had knocked out twelve Anbu members, all stationed near the Uchiha district, placed there as a surveillance for the clan.
I extended my senses, trying to suss out if there were any more threats nearby, but fortunately for me and Itachi, there were none.
The night was quiet, with no witnesses in sight, and everything was prepared. I tapped my earpiece to turn it on.
"Area secured. There shouldn't be any interruptions from the outside," I whispered into the transmitter, letting Itachi know that all was set.
"Are you sure you want to do this alone?" I added, expressing my concern about his plan.
His response came shortly after my message.
"I have to. It's my clan, my responsibility." His voice was harsh and raspy, he had clearly made up his mind. There was no turning back now.
I sighed; he was as stubborn as ever.
"Roger that. I'll keep watch, make sure your earpiece is active," I conceded and extended my senses once again. The coast was clear, at least for now. The only thing I picked up was Itachi entering one of the houses in the center of the Uchiha district.
I could still hear everything from his end, the quiet footsteps, the heavy breathing right before a squelching sound.
The tanto pierced the neck of the unfortunate Uchiha. He died instantly, never feeling any pain. The same sound was heard only a few seconds later, shortly before Itachi's voice came through my earpiece.
"Two down, nineteen to go." There were no emotions to discern in his voice; it sounded completely hollow, but he soon left the house and walked away, homing in on his next target.
I gave him only a short acknowledgement every time I heard him talk. It was not the time for talking; that could come later, he had to keep his focus solely on the mission.
By the time I realized he was saving the murder of his parents for last, the mission was almost over.
The mind-numbing boredom and needless death had dulled my ability to think clearly.
But not all was well; my Haki picked up numerous signals, many of them moving towards us.
"We have company. I count at least twenty-five full teams heading our way," I whispered into the comm, hoping against all odds that it didn't spell trouble.
The sky above us grew even darker, if that was possible, with clouds now sparkling with lightning as the rain began to fall.
"I have no idea what that's about," came Itachi's quick response; he sounded barely able to hold it together.
"I'll find out, don't worry," I replied, preparing for a possible fight.
To be safe, I created five Shadow Clones and sent them on a reconnaissance mission.
Fortunately, the teams looked spread out, as if they were encircling the entire district. It should be possible to pick off one team, and replacing them with my clones might buy us some time.
Not long after I sent my clones to carry out their tasks, one of them popped, providing me with interesting, yet ultimately predictable ntel.
I opened the channel to speak again and caught Itachi mid-conversation with Fugaku.
"I hate to interrupt," I said with urgency in my voice, "but there are over a hundred Anbu encircling the Uchiha district, each one with cursed sealed on their tongue. I doubt they come in peace."
I hated being the bearer of bad news, especially feeling Itachi's chakra spike sharply.
He wasn't alone though. Fugaku's chakra surged as well, filled with wrath, just like Itachi's.
I had no idea he could hear me too. His reaction was understandable but ultimately futile. Itachi had already made his choice, but the mission had gone tits up again.
"I understand you've chosen your side, but the survival of the clan is paramount for me," said Fugaku, his voice dangerously calm.
"We're only here to take out the coup leaders, Father," Itachi replied, his tone equally menacing.
"I take it we're killing all of them?" I asked, seeking confirmation before I acted.
"Yes, no prisoners needed," Itachi's response was the only affirmation I needed, and my clones undoubtedly heard him too.
"I'll join you shortly..." The calm in his voice vanished, replaced by grim resignation.
I heard the line go dark; understandable. I wouldn't want to be overheard during such times either.
Only seconds after the connection ended, a loud siren rang out across the Uchiha district.
"An alarm system..." I murmured to myself. It seemed the Uchiha would get a chance to fight for their lives.
"May the gods have mercy, because I sure as hell won't."
With my thoughts finally organized, I leapt into action, rushing towards the nearest Root team. I caught up to them just as they were about to enter a building.
Standing on the air platform created by Hirenkyaku, I observed them closely. The moment they were about to breach the door, I made my move.
With Senbonzakura in hand, I sped towards them using another Hirenkyaku, cutting two of them in half before they even noticed me.
The other two tried to jump back, but they were met with a crystal spear piercing through the gut.
"A chakra refill. How thoughtful of them," I mused as the crystal spears disintegrated, having drained every drop of chakra the Root ninja once had.
I didn't have time to linger, though. Another team was already inside a nearby house. I blitzed towards them, crashing through a window to enter. The interior already resembled a crime scene; four dead bodies lay in the living room, two of them being Root members.
The other two were a father and a child clearly younger than me. I ran through the room, exiting the house through an open door into the garden. I dashed at full speed towards the two remaining Root members who had cornered a young Uchiha woman.
The earth beneath them suddenly opened, following my command, and they fell, startled cries escaping their lips shortly before getting impaled by stakes made of rock.
I didn't have time to look back at the woman I saved. There were more people in need of help. I just created an Earth Clone to help her get to safety.
I rushed to the nearest enemy signature, but with all the Uchiha awakening, it was becoming increasingly difficult to distinguish between everyone.
The fight was growing more desperate with each passing second. With little to no missions outside the village, the Uchiha were rusty and unaccustomed to all-out combat.
This had cost them dearly; they were ill-prepared to face anyone in a fight, especially not an ambush by an Anbu team.
I finally pinpointed the exact location of my next targets, another house in the back garden.
I sped up again, almost moving in a flash, and appeared high above the garden.
"Well, fuck me..." I whispered to myself. In the garden below was Izumi, her right arm hanging limply at her side, still fighting for her life. I had no time to waste; she needed help, and all four enemies were lined up rather conveniently.
I stepped closer, using Hirenkyaku to position myself precisely.
"Shiden!" The purple lightning struck true, piercing clean through three of them before hitting a nearby tree and splintering it completely.
The swift demise of three of his comrades distracted the last one just long enough for Izumi to strike a decisive blow, sending a shuriken straight through his eye socket. He, too, would not be getting up.
I immediately began searching for more targets.
"Get as many as you can into hiding!" I breathed out just before I found another enemy team to pursue. To be safe, I had an Earth Clone escort her to the other survivors.
As I raced across the sky once more, I finally heard Itachi's voice through our comms.
"Mission successful. Now for the pest control..." His voice sounded broken, and how could it not be?
"I'll handle things here. Go get the guy responsible for this mess," I replied. I didn't need to be a mind reader to know what he wanted to do most right now. I would have wanted the same in his place.
A pause stretched out, feeling like an eternity, although in reality, it was only a few seconds.
"Thanks..." The voice barely above a whisper, yet it carried intent.
"I doubt Danzo will see the sunrise," I thought as I sensed Itachi leaving the Uchiha district, taking down two Root teams along the way.
The Uchiha clan appeared to be evacuating toward a small shrine by the riverbank, while a line of Police Force members was attempting to shield the civilians seeking safety.
The fighting grew even more intense as more Uchiha joined the fray; even the less experienced Uchiha could still be dangerous. The Root members had managed to take out several people in their initial strike, but they were quickly starting to suffer casualties.
At least it was becoming easier for me to locate the Root members, mainly due to the clear defensive line that was forming.
"Still at least fifteen teams," I cursed under my breath as I dove behind enemy lines. Unfortunately, I couldn't unleash any large-scale crystal jutsu. It would only catch innocent bystanders in the crossfire.
"Looks like it's the slow and painful way," I sighed, feeling both annoyed and angry.
"Scatter: Senbonzakura!" I commanded, and my blade obeyed, breaking into thousands of pieces that swirled around me almost like real cherry blossoms.
I sprang into action again, running toward any Root member I could see or sense.
The razor-sharp cherry blossoms took care of the rest.
In just a few seconds, two more teams lay dead at my feet, their bodies cut to an almost unrecognizable state, blood pooling on the ground.
With another use of Hirenkyaku, Senbonzakura shredded another Root member to pieces before he even had time to scream. They were now officially fighting on two fronts, but my main objective remained: fight my way toward the evacuating Uchiha.
Keeping them safe was more important than killing the attackers; the slaughter could wait, but the lives in danger could not.
As I closed the distance between myself and the retreating convoy of civilians, I sensed more Root Anbu approaching. The standing forces had clearly called in reinforcements.
"At least ten more teams," I thought after a quick headcount. This situation was becoming increasingly frustrating, but at least Itachi's path should be clear.
I had Senbonzakura cut down another Root agent as I finally caught up.
The convoy was under constant attack from all sides, and many Police Force members lay dead along the way. It seemed the Root's casualties were mounting as well.
For now, I decided to play defense.
I noticed a powerful jet of water rushing through the air toward the convoy.
I swung my arm, directing my cherry blossom blades to create a wall, just barely in time to block the attack.
The presumed leader of the evacuation looked my way, uncertain if I was truly there to help.
"How far to the hideout?" I asked, ignoring her distrustful gaze.
There were more pressing problems at hand, like the fire jutsu heading in our direction and the salvo of weapons aimed at the convoy from another angle.
I acted quickly, creating another wall from the airborne blades to block the fireball, while some of the ninjas among the escapees raised an earth wall to block the incoming weapons.
"Not far. Can you keep up the defense?" the Uchiha woman asked, still skeptical, but it seemed she was willing to accept any help they could get.
I simply nodded. My Shadow Clones were also in position to launch an attack, and they should be ready by now.
The journey to the shrine was ian absolute slog. Along the way, I had to create numerous earth and cherry blossom walls to protect as many people as possible.
Meanwhile, my clones appeared to be having much more fun, even though they exhausted their chakra more quickly than I had hoped.
In the end, all my clones were dispelled, but not before inflicting heavy casualties upon the Root.
As the last of the Uchiha entered the Naka Shrine, only twenty-four Root members remained alive, just six teams out of at least thirty-five that had attacked.
The Uchiha did not fare much better, while most civilians and children were safe, only twelve Chuunin or higher-level ninjas were left standing.
Out of a clan that boasted at least three hundred combatants, such losses were devastating. The alpha strike had been incredibly successful, and if it weren't for my intervention, the Uchiha clan would likely have been completely wiped out.
The remaining Uchiha ninjas remained silent. There was no need for words; they had their duty, and I had a promise to fulfill.
As they finally entered the shrine, I turned around. It was time to hunt down the remaining Root ninjas.
Before I could move, however, the dark sky brightened, as if the sun were rising. But it was not the sun. I looked toward the source of the light and saw an enormous pillar of flames reaching toward the heavens.
The light grew so powerful that it bathed the entire village in an orange glow, reminiscent of a sunrise, and I finally allowed myself a small smile.
It looks like Danzo is getting cooked tonight.