Moments later, rapid footsteps echoed within the Uchiha Clan's compound.
They fell like countless heavy hammers on the bluestone pavement, startling even the copper bells under the eaves into stillness. A tense atmosphere spread through the streets and alleys, causing the night wind itself to blow around them.
All the clan's strong members were mobilized. The Sharingan abruptly ignited among the crowd, crimson light flowing within their pupils, like swords unsheathed in the dark night.
The air was so heavy it felt like one could wring water from it, the pressure was like a dark cloud pressing down.
Itachi and Shisui stood within the ranks, the hems of their black coats utterly still. Their black eyes, yet to activate the Sharingan, reflected the crimson in their clansmen's eyes.
Their fingertips subconsciously dug into their palms, their breaths even softened by half. Various thoughts flashed through their minds.
Izumi also tightened her grip on the kunai at her waist. The skirt of the young girl was lifted by the wind for a moment before quickly settling, as if afraid to disturb this solemnity. Her fair cheeks flushed faintly red under the glow of the Sharingan.
Inside the Hokage's Office, Hiruzen had just extinguished his tobacco pipe, tendrils of smoke still drifting in the air.
A black figure flickered into existence, dropping to one knee. The voice, lowered in the characteristic manner of the Anbu, carried urgency: "Hokage-sama, the entire Uchiha Clan's strong members are heading this way."
It was like a spark landing in hot oil, instantly disrupting the room's calm. The very air seemed to bristle.
The wrinkles at the corners of Hiruzen's eyes deepened into ravines. As he turned, his gaze met the single eye revealed by Danzo.
That single eye blazed with wild fire, distorting the surrounding smoke rings, radiating undisguised killing intent.
"Orders to the Anbu and Root: all personnel, stand by!" Hiruzen's words fell, his geta grinding a dull sound on the floor… not panic, but resolute steadiness. He continued,
"Also notify the Nara, Akimichi, Yamanaka... and other clans to come."
The Anbu's member acknowledged the order and vanished in the blink of an eye, leaving no trace.
Danzo stepped forward, his black robe sweeping over the dust on the floor, his voice like sanded sandpaper: "This is the perfect opportunity to..."
"Shut up!!" Hiruzen suddenly roared, a terrifying ferocity bursting from his turbid eyes. His authority, deep-rooted like an old tree, firmly suppressed Danzo's aura.
"Hiruzen, you will regret this!" Danzo's fist struck the edge of the desk, the wood groaning in protest.
In Danzo's view, his old friend, once known as the Professor, had grown old, could no longer wield the blade properly. The seat of Hokage should be his.
"I am the Hokage!" Hiruzen's voice wasn't loud, but it fell like a massive rock into a deep pool, stirring undeniable echoes in the room.
Bam!
Furious and humiliated, Danzo turned and slammed the door shut. The loud crash of the door hitting the frame startled night birds outside into flight.
This door to the Hokage's Office was already covered in cracks, like a weather-beaten face, clearly having endured such treatment long-term.
Nowadays, in the entire Konoha, only Danzo did this, and only he dared to do so.
Hiruzen watched Danzo's retreating back, his tobacco pipe turning halfway between his fingers. Remembering he still had use for him later, he suddenly called out: "Wait, Danzo."
Danzo's steps halted outside the door. A hint of imperceptible triumph flashed in his single eye, a light laugh in his heart: 'Hiruzen, you truly can't do without me after all.'
…
The night grew deeper, like spilled ink soaking through the entire Konoha.
In front of the Hokage Tower, numerous figures quickly gathered.
Anbu and Root's members hid in the shadows, the patterns on their masks faintly visible under the moonlight, revealing only pairs of cold, glinting eyes silently watching their surroundings.
The air in Konoha seemed to freeze, pressing down until it was hard to breathe. Only the approaching footsteps in the distance grew louder, like drums beating on everyone's hearts, each thud heavier than the last.
The Uchiha Clan's procession stopped a hundred steps away.
The dark mass of people was like a rising black tide. At the front, Fugaku stood straight as a pine tree, the Uchiha Clan's fan emblem on his chest gleaming with a cold light, the sense of pressure overwhelming.
Hiruzen's gaze swept over this 'black tide'. In the ranks were vibrant young boys and girls, as well as elders seasoned by battle.
In the eyes of many Uchiha, battle intent flickered… a sharp edge ready to erupt after long suppression.
Hiruzen knew very well in his heart that if a civil war truly broke out now, the Hokage's faction could win, but the losses for the entire Konoha would be severe.
Even the embers of the recently ended Third Shinobi World War could be fanned by the wind into the conflagration of a Fourth War.
The slightest misstep, and the entire future of Konoha could be reduced to ashes in this civil war.
A fierce light glittered in Danzo's exposed single eye, like a jackal locking onto its prey, fixed intently on the Uchiha Clan's direction.
Just then, Fugaku suddenly stepped forward.
His black robe cut a straight line in the wind. Reaching the base of the steps, he bent slightly at the waist, the muscles on his face pulling into a stiff curve, his tone extremely respectful:
"Hokage-sama, please be magnanimous regarding my foolish son's prank. His mind isn't quite right. I will discipline him properly later."
Hearing this, Danzo's nails dug sharply into his palm. He didn't even notice the beads of blood seeping out, roaring inwardly: 'Your entire Uchiha Clan is mentally ill!'
"You create such a huge commotion, just to come and apologize?"
Hiruzen's tobacco pipe turned halfway between his fingers. He suddenly laughed. The laughter, wrapped in the smell of smoke, was like a water-soaked sponge, unclear whether it was relief or a tightening string.
Somewhere in the Uchiha ranks not far away, someone turned their face away, the soles of their boots grinding gravel on the ground, making a faint, gritted-teeth sound, clearly seething with anger at the Clan Head's show of weakness.
Meanwhile, back at the Hokage Rock, Makoto was still applying makeup to Sandaime.
The multi-colored paint gleamed glaringly under the moonlight, making a certain little blond kid in Konoha almost cry with envy… he really wanted to paint too.
Makoto looked at his work and nodded in satisfaction. But seeing the [Mission: Incomplete] on the pale golden virtual panel, he couldn't help but frown.
He suddenly felt the need to pee. Makoto pondered for a moment. Compared to climbing up and down wasting time, or relieving himself outside indiscriminately... it was better to pee on Sandaime's head.
In front of the Hokage Tower, Itachi's pupils constricted sharply, his small face turning pale. He abruptly raised a hand to press against his forehead, the collar of his black coat flapping loudly in the wind. His Sharingan almost activated reflexively, 'Makoto actually...'
Then many of the strong figures present also noticed this scene. Gasps rose one after another, each person like a cat whose tail had been stepped on.
In front of the Hokage Tower, Hiruzen's usually gentle face suddenly tightened, the wrinkles deep enough to trap mosquitoes. He nearly crushed his pipe outright, and tobacco ashes rustled down onto his lapel.
Izumi covered her face, her eyes peeking through her fingers wide and round. The young girl's cheeks flushed a deep red that seemed capable of dripping blood, her mind also exploding inwardly: 'Th-this... is this the treasure that can help girls have babies?'
Fugaku's face looked like it had been smeared with pot soot. He suddenly raised his voice: "Makoto, get down here this instant!"
Only after shouting did he realize his voice was trembling like a leaf in the autumn wind.
On the Hokage Rock, Uchiha Makoto gave a shake.
The pale golden panel suddenly chimed with a prompt.
[Mission Complete!]
[Reward: Random S-Rank Ninjutsu]
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FOR EVERY 50 POWER STONES, I'LL UPLOAD ONE CHAPTER