"Did you all understand?"
"Gather all forces and launch a raid on the Hokage Building."
In the shadowy, damp depths of the Root headquarters.
Danzo Shimura squinted his eyes, his gaze slowly sweeping over the dark mass of Root ninjas kneeling before him.
His voice was low, yet it carried an undeniable, chilling authority.
"Understood, Lord Danzo!"
A chorus of emotionless voices rang out in unison, echoing through the cavernous base as if they had rehearsed this moment a thousand times.
Seeing this, Danzo nodded with satisfaction.
A surge of irrepressible excitement welled up in his chest.
The position of Hokage—the dream he had chased for decades.
Tonight, he would finally grasp it in his hands!
Hiruzen would never expect him to strike so suddenly, would he?
Danzo's eyes flickered with a feverish light, filled with boundless anticipation for the future.
Watching the Root ninjas flicker away into the shadows one by one.
Danzo reached out and gently stroked the mysterious Sharingan embedded in his pale arm.
Then, he turned slowly and walked away with firm, determined steps.
Minutes later.
Danzo stood atop the Hokage Rock, his posture steady and imposing.
He looked down, his hawk-like eyes fixated on the bustling, prosperous village of Konoha below.
His expression was one of intoxication and triumph.
"Hehe. After tonight, Konoha will belong to this old man!"
His voice was saturated with confidence and ambition, as if everything was already within his grasp.
Fugaku Uchiha stood beside Danzo.
A similarly smug smile played on his lips as he gazed at the prosperous scene below, a strong sense of accomplishment surging in his heart.
A dozen seconds later, Fugaku felt the time was right and spoke softly:
"Alright, let's go. It's time to deal with—"
However, before Fugaku could finish his sentence, he snapped his head around, frowning deeply as he stared at an empty patch of ground nearby.
"Come out!"
Fugaku's voice was filled with majesty and urgency.
His eyes were sharp as lightning, seemingly trying to pierce through the secrets of that empty space.
Hearing this, Danzo also stared vigilantly at the spot, his hands clenching instinctively, ready to deal with any danger that might emerge.
Fugaku's hands began to form seals, his voice cold as ice:
"If you don't come out, I will launch an indiscriminate attack."
A ruthless intent radiated from his gaze, promising immediate violence if the intruder did not reveal themselves.
Just as the words fell, a middle-aged man's voice drifted from the void.
"Wait!"
A figure materialized from thin air.
It was a middle-aged man wearing a dark gray cloak that covered his entire body. He had long, side-swept bangs that covered one of his eyes.
His gaze was deep and piercing, his facial features sharp and distinct, exuding an aura of steadfast coolness.
Beside him stood a young boy with short blond hair and two whisker-like markings on each cheek.
The boy's eyes were full of curiosity and excitement, his face radiating youthful energy as if everything around him was a fascinating new discovery.
Seeing this man and boy duo, Danzo's eyes went cold instantly.
His voice dripped with murderous intent:
"So there were two little rats hiding nearby, eavesdropping?"
Fugaku quickly waved his hand, stopping Danzo from acting.
He looked at the pair with suspicion, trying to find clues about their identity.
"Who are you?"
Fugaku's voice was laced with doubt.
His gaze swept back and forth between the man and the boy, searching for any sign of recognition.
In his perception, the middle-aged man seemed emotional, perhaps even sentimental.
His body trembled slightly, as if he were struggling to suppress powerful feelings.
The boy, on the other hand, looked at them with pure curiosity. There was no killing intent in his clear, bright eyes.
The middle-aged man looked at Fugaku—who appeared to be the same age as himself—with a complicated expression and muttered:
"I didn't expect to return to this era..."
The boy beside him whispered:
"Uncle Sasuke, do you know what year we've traveled back to?"
The boy's voice was clear as a spring, yet tinged with confusion.
Sasuke nodded slightly, but then quickly shook his head.
He frowned deeply, his voice filled with doubt:
"It should be thirty years ago."
His eyes revealed a trace of confusion, as if he wasn't entirely sure of the answer himself.
At this, Sasuke looked at Danzo standing beside Fugaku.
His gaze focused intently on the ten Sharingan embedded in Danzo's pale arm.
His eyes became complex, a storm of inexplicable emotions rising in his heart.
"But this is completely different from the 'thirty years ago' I know."
"At the very least, these two people shouldn't be standing together like this. And at this point in time, Danzo shouldn't possess those things, let alone display them so openly."
Sasuke's voice was filled with shock and incomprehension.
Fugaku frowned, about to speak, but his gaze snapped to the side.
A blinding yellow flash erupted, and Minato Namikaze appeared instantly nearby.
Minato, having sensed something amiss and rushed over, quickly scanned Fugaku and Danzo.
His eyes lingered heavily on the ten Sharingan on Danzo's arm.
Then, Minato's gaze shifted to Sasuke and Boruto.
Before Minato could speak.
Sasuke's expression changed abruptly, and he stared intently at the sky.
In the air above them, a man was slowly descending, floating as if gravity didn't exist.
This man had pale skin and light blue hair tied high in a ponytail. He had no eyebrows.
There were two dots on his forehead, and two horn-like protrusions grew from his head, resembling a forehead protector.
He wore pristine white robes, carried a glowing red fishing creel on his back, and held a glowing red fishing rod in his hand.
The man, who looked like a celestial fisherman, looked down at the group below.
He curled his lips into a smile, speaking in a light, cheerful tone:
"I didn't expect that after being interrupted by you two, I'd end up in such an early era."
His tone became even lighter and more amused:
"However, this seems a bit different from the history I know, doesn't it?"
Minato stared intently at the man, his tone grave:
"Everyone, regardless of your purpose tonight..."
Minato glanced at Sasuke and Boruto.
"And regardless of your identities, please join me in dealing with this man."
"He feels extremely dangerous!"
Danzo frowned, then suddenly turned and leaped off the Hokage Rock.
He didn't care what purpose these mysterious figures had!
His target was Hiruzen Sarutobi. He had to become Hokage tonight!
He wasn't comfortable leaving the siege of the Hokage Building solely to his Root ninjas without his supervision.
Fugaku glanced at Danzo jumping away, and his resolve wavered.
The enemy in the sky looked powerful. Perhaps he should let Minato deal with him; it would keep the Yellow Flash occupied.
"AHHH!"
Just as this thought crossed Fugaku's mind, a wretched scream echoed in his ears.
Hearing the scream, Fugaku froze.
Wasn't that Danzo's voice?
Urashiki Ōtsutsuki flicked his fishing rod, a wild, arrogant smile on his face. His tone was one of surprise:
"That old man's Chakra is quite complex!"
"But getting rid of one isn't bad. Aside from that brat Boruto, I'll kill all of you!"
As soon as the words fell, Danzo reappeared on the Hokage Rock.
He clutched his chest, panting heavily as he stared at Urashiki.
Seeing Danzo reappear, the smile on Urashiki's face froze instantly.
Meanwhile.
Hidden Stone Village, Tsuchikage Office.
"Is that so? They've finally made their move."
Obito Uchiha stood quietly by the window, squinting his eyes as he stared into the distance, his voice tinged with excitement.
White Zetsu, half-emerged from the floor, laughed coldly, his voice low:
"He even managed to control Danzo. This not only adds a powerful ally but also disrupts the judgment of the Konoha high command."
Obito nodded slightly.
Under his mask, his single exposed eye shifted into the Mangekyō Sharingan pattern. His tone was playful:
"This makes it interesting."
"If it were just Fugaku's Mangekyō and the strength of a single clan, how could they possibly contend with the massive forces of Konoha?"
Black Zetsu, standing on the other side, spoke softly, confusion in his raspy voice:
"Obito, aren't you going over there now?"
A look of urgency was visible on Black Zetsu's face.
Obito shook his head gently. He slowly removed his mask, revealing the scarred, wrinkled skin beneath.
A strange, cold sneer twisted his lips, and his eyes emitted a chilling aura.
"No rush. Wait a few more minutes. Let them decide the victor first."
"By that time, whether it's Konoha or the Uchiha who wins, the victor will be battered and bruised. That is when I will appear and harvest the fruits of victory with ease!"
Black Zetsu clapped his hands together, a grotesque smile spreading across his face. His voice was full of anticipation:
"They will be in absolute despair by then. Hehe!"
At this moment, the exterior of the Konoha Hokage Building was engulfed in a raging sea of fire.
The scorching flames devoured everything in their path, seemingly trying to burn the world to ash, or perhaps to cut off any reinforcements from entering the building.
Several Konoha ninjas who had been guarding the entrance lay limp on the ground.
Blood flowed like a broken dam from their fatal wounds, pooling on the earth.
Their eyes were wide open in death, filled with obvious shock and confusion.
Inside the building, the sounds of fighting and explosions could be heard faintly.
In the silent night, these noises were exceptionally loud and bone-chilling.
Inside the Hokage's office, Hiruzen Sarutobi sat in his chair, his face ashen.
His expression was dark enough to drip water, veins bulging on his forehead. His hands were clenched into tight fists, his body trembling slightly as he fought to suppress his rage.
The dozen Anbu members guarding him from the shadows had all revealed themselves.
They stood in a tight protective circle around Hiruzen, scanning the surroundings vigilantly, not missing a single potential threat.
The eyes visible behind their animal masks were filled with determination and resolve.
They were ready to give their lives to protect the Third Hokage at a moment's notice.
Outside the office, the sounds of slaughter grew closer. The fierce combat seemed ready to shake the entire building apart.
The occasional screams were blood-curdling, like demons howling from hell.
Eventually, the fighting died down, and the entire building fell into a deathly silence.
In the quiet office, an Anbu hesitated for a moment before whispering:
"Lord Third, we should retreat. The enemy clearly came prepared."
"It's only been half a minute since this started, and the entire building has fallen. This is clearly a full-scale deployment of Root..."
Hiruzen waved his hand firmly, his brow furrowing deeper.
"I want to see what Danzo is thinking."
"To dare launch a coup so brazenly!"
Seeing Hiruzen's resolute attitude, the Anbu fell silent, staring alertly at the door.
He knew they just had to hold on. A few more minutes would be enough.
It was just a sudden attack; the village hadn't reacted yet.
But in a few minutes, the various departments would respond, and reinforcements would arrive.
As for who they would support?
Between the Third Hokage, who had ruled benevolently for decades with immense prestige, and Danzo, the shadowy leader of Root plotting a rebellion...
The choice for any Konoha ninja was obvious.
BOOM!
Suddenly, a violent explosion rocked the doorway. Countless shuriken and kunai flew into the room like a storm of steel!
The weapons traced sharp arcs through the air, threatening to tear the office apart.
However, the Anbu were ready.
Several of them narrowed their eyes and formed seals simultaneously, shouting:
"Wind Style: Wind Wall!"
Instantly, a wall of wind rose from the floor. The dense cloud of projectiles slammed into the barrier and were deflected back.
Most of them struck the walls, turning the solid concrete into a pincushion.
A few were blown back out the shattered door, clattering into the dark hallway.
Hiruzen remained seated, staring silently into the darkness of the corridor, but a flicker of doubt crossed his eyes.
Strange. It had been two minutes since the attack started.
The village's ninjas should have reacted by now.
Even if the main force was still on the way.
With Minato's Flying Thunder God, he should have arrived long ago.
Why wasn't Minato here yet?
And Danzo?
Why hadn't he come to face him?
Given his personality, he should have come to gloat by now.
Meanwhile, the Hokage Rock had long since been shattered by the battle above.
Massive fragments of the stone faces rained down from the sky, crashing into the buildings below.
A Semi-Complete Susanoo and a Perfect Susanoo stood shoulder to shoulder, launching relentless attacks at the figure in front of them.
At the same time, a yellow flash flickered constantly through the air.
From another direction, a barrage of Wind Style jutsu flew toward the sky.
Urashiki Ōtsutsuki dodged frantically in mid-air, his earlier composure completely gone.
Note: I have made some slight alterations to the timeline logic, as this novel operates on the premise of infinite timelines where different choices create vast divergences.