Pshhk!
Blood sprayed.
The Uchiha present froze for a beat.
Even their hands stalled mid-motion, unsure whether to continue attacking.
"D-Dead…? He's dead just like that?"
"That was Danzō! The Hokage's advisor! The head of Root! And he just… died?"
"I must be dreaming… but damn, this dream feels way too real."
No one had expected that the very instant the battle began, the enemy's head would be taken off.
This—
Was like two ninja villages clashing, only for the opposing Kage to get deleted on the opening move.
Absurd.
Yet explosively exhilarating.
Compared to the stunned Uchiha, the ANBU reacted far faster.
They immediately regrouped, turning back to form a protective wall in front of Danzō.
Like the most loyal guards.
A medical-nin pressed blue-green chakra into his palms, covering the wound.
Then, without hesitation, the Root shinobi shielded Danzō and began retreating.
They had arrived arrogantly—
And now fled in utter disgrace.
"Trying to run?! Chase them!"
The Second Elder gritted his teeth and charged forward with his men.
This kind of thing—
You either don't do it at all…
Or you go straight for the throat.
If they were killing Danzō, they'd scatter even his ashes.
Behind them, Kai narrowed his eyes.
Seeing the system give no notification, he immediately understood.
"So the old bastard really is using Sharingan as extra lives."
He shook his head and followed.
They were intentionally being let go.
Otherwise, how would he expose Danzō's schemes in front of all the great clans?
Shk-shk-shk!
Soon, more than three hundred Uchiha surged forward in pursuit.
Closing in rapidly on Root's rear.
"Move! Head to the Hokage Tower—seek the Hokage's protection!"
Seeing the situation, a Root captain clenched his teeth and abruptly changed direction.
At this point, only the Hokage Tower was safe.
No matter how arrogant the Uchiha were, surely they wouldn't dare rampage there… right?
Even Root—emotionless as they were—could accurately judge the situation.
Ahead of them, Danzō—being carried by a sprinting Root operative—gave a subtle nod.
He was surprised.
He hadn't expected the evil little Uchiha brat to kill him in one blow.
But because of that—
A brilliant idea bloomed in his mind.
Redirect the disaster.
Given how frenzied the Uchiha were right now, even the Hokage Tower might get attacked outright.
And when that happened—
The Uchiha clan would have zero chance of survival.
With that thought, Danzō immediately stilled his breathing.
Making himself look…
As close to dead as possible.
Shk-shk-shk.
Soon, two massive groups—front and rear—flashed into view at the outskirts of Konoha.
More and more sentry ninja began to notice.
"Huh? Root… being chased like stray dogs? Let me see who—HOLY SHIT, THE UCHIHA?!"
"Are the Uchiha insane?! They're chasing Root?!"
"Run! Run! Something huge is about to happen!"
"Quick! Report to the clan heads—Uchiha are pursuing Root!"
Hokage Tower.
Sarutobi Hiruzen stood by the window, his gaze sinking deeper into the night.
A sense of unease had already crept into his heart.
"At this hour, and Itachi still hasn't returned… I'm afraid—"
Just then, movement flickered at the edge of his vision.
"That is… Root?"
Seeing Root return, the old man finally allowed himself a small smile.
If Root had come back—
Then everything was already over.
The Uchiha clan had become history.
Whoosh.
In an instant, his hunched back straightened completely.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
He knocked lightly on the wall beside the window and said softly,
"Everyone… it seems this matter may already be over."
Thud.
The room stirred.
Especially Hyūga Hiashi.
Others might not see it clearly—
But he distinctly caught the smile tugging at the Third Hokage's lips when he said those words.
"So… the Uchiha still lost?"
Thinking of that ancient clan, one that had stood alongside the Hyūga for a thousand years—
About to vanish just like that—
A strange, complicated feeling welled up in Hiashi's chest.
His face held no trace of joy.
By contrast, Akimichi Torifu and the others visibly exhaled in relief.
"It's finally over."
They exchanged glances, excitement and anticipation written plainly in their eyes.
Especially the two advisors.
Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado looked at each other—
Their sagging eyelids trembling.
"Hahaha! It's finally over!"
"The Uchiha clan's assets… must be properly distributed!"
In Koharu's eyes, there was nothing but delight and expectation.
After decades as an advisor, the thing she loved most—
Was people dying.
Or more precisely—
Handling estates.
The inheritances of ninja without family were her favorite.
And now—
The Uchiha.
A millennium-old clan.
Just how massive would their assets be?
Perhaps comparable to half of Konoha itself?!
Her breathing grew rapid.
She even impatiently pushed the door open and urged,
"Hiruzen, perhaps we should go down and clarify things."
The urgency in her tone was unmistakable.
Just short of saying: Hurry up! I can't wait to start confiscating!
"Ahem…"
The Third Hokage put away his pipe.
Draped his cloak over his shoulders.
Placed the hat on his head.
And stepped out slowly.
Step.
Step.
Step.
Though his stature had shrunk with age, the pressure he carried had not diminished in the slightest.
As Hiruzen exited, the other clan heads and advisors followed close behind.
Outside the Hokage Tower.
Shh… shh… shh…
Root's footsteps drew closer.
Still indistinct in the darkness.
Only when they neared did their figures become clear.
"Hah… Danzō, could it be that you really—"
The Third Hokage hesitated, already preparing to launch into a righteous, furious reprimand.
The job was well done, but too dirty—he still had to scold him.
But before he could finish—
Something felt off.
Why… was Danzō being carried?
And why were Root's chakra signatures so chaotic?
Hiruzen's eyelids twitched violently.
A deep sense of unease rose in his chest.
Had something gone wrong?
Thud.
The Root operative placed Danzō gently on the ground and reported in a low voice,
"Hokage-sama, something's wrong! The Uchiha clan… has attacked!"
"…What?"
Hiruzen froze.
The smile in his eyes stiffened completely.
Before he could speak again—
At the edge of his vision, dense shadows began to appear.
Rapidly surrounding the Hokage Tower.
Those figures—
Every single one bore the unmistakable fan crest.
He drew a sharp breath, about to say something—
When a young voice rang out clearly.
"Purge the court! Execute the traitors!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen: ?
The two advisors: ?
The clan heads: ?!
Hyūga Hiashi: !!
The next instant—
Kai's small figure came streaking in on a path of moonlight!
Behind him, hundreds of scarlet eyes snapped open at once—
All fixed on the Hokage Tower.
Cold.
Unblinking.
Making one's blood run cold.
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