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Added 2024-10-02 12:34:27 +0000 UTCChapter 126: Open and Aboveboard! (1)
In the Hokage's office.
The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, suddenly felt his heart race.
A strong sense of unease swirled within him.
“What’s going on?”
Instinctively, he stood up, took a few deep breaths, and tried to calm himself.
But that feeling of dread clung to him like a shadow.
He walked to the window and looked outside.
The village was peaceful and quiet.
He lifted his head, gazing at the Hokage Rock in the distance.
The faces of four Hokages were carved there, watching over and protecting Konoha.
Including his own.
“Hah…”
Hiruzen let out a long sigh.
Lately, he had been so exhausted.
I’m getting old, he thought.
Maybe it's time to start grooming a successor.
Memories of the past flooded his mind.
The lessons he received from his teacher.
The missions he carried out with his comrades.
The Fourth Hokage.
A young Kakashi.
And finally, his rivalry with Danzo.
A faint smile crept onto his lips.
...
The entire Uchiha clan had been summoned.
Ninjas, elders, even children—everyone was included.
It happened so suddenly!
The Uchiha were confused, unsure of what was going on.
Toji and Setsuna rushed over.
“Itsuki, what are you doing?” Setsuna asked anxiously, his voice low and harsh. “Don’t you know how unsafe the clan is right now?”
Was there a traitor among the Uchiha?
There must be!
The Uchiha were a proud clan.
But…
The Third Hokage’s manipulation skills weren’t to be underestimated either.
Even Itachi, the clan's genius and the clan leader's son, had once followed the Third Hokage’s orders and turned against the Uchiha. If someone as talented as him could be swayed, how much easier would it be to manipulate ordinary clansmen?
So, when Setsuna heard that Itsuki had summoned all the Uchiha, his heart turned cold.
This was going to be a disaster.
No matter what Itsuki’s intentions were, this move would surely bring calamity.
The Third Hokage and his people had been waiting for an opportunity like this.
“I know,” Itsuki said calmly. “Elder Setsuna, please step down. I have something to say.”
He stood alone on a high platform, towering ten meters above the crowd, overlooking all the Uchiha.
“Itsuki…”
“Step down!”
Itsuki’s voice was stern and his expression cold.
Setsuna’s breath caught in his throat. He exchanged a glance with Toji, and both saw the shock in each other’s eyes.
Under Itsuki’s icy gaze, they felt a deep sense of dread.
It was as if they were powerless to resist.
Even though Itsuki was stronger than them, they shouldn’t have felt this way!
Itsuki’s secrets ran deeper than they had imagined.
With heavy hearts, they stepped down and stood beside Itachi in the front row.
The Uchiha whispered among themselves.
They didn’t know what was happening, but an ominous feeling loomed. Also, wasn’t Itachi supposed to be away in battle?
He was supposed to be involved in what might become the Fourth Great Ninja War!
So why was he here?
In the crowd, some Uchiha wore strange expressions—some were sad, some relieved.
It seemed like they were letting out a breath they had been holding.
The day had finally come.
Once everyone had gathered, Itsuki stood up, looked at the Uchiha, and spoke loudly.
“Everyone, the Uchiha are leaving Konoha!”
“What?!”
The crowd erupted in chaos.
Toji and Setsuna wore bitter expressions.
“What is that kid thinking? What does he plan to do?”
“Whatever it is, there’s no turning back now. We have no other options.”
“Then we’ll fight!”
“With three Mangekyo Sharingan, facing Konoha now doesn’t seem hopeless. We shouldn’t be too worried.”
“But… there will be many unnecessary sacrifices.”
“Let’s see what that kid really intends to do.”
...
“Silence!”
Itsuki’s commanding voice boomed, his chakra surging like a tidal wave.
Immediately, the Uchiha fell silent.
At that moment, Itsuki stood tall like a giant, radiating an overwhelming pressure.
They could barely breathe.
For the first time, the Uchiha realized that someone could be this powerful.
“Konoha is no longer the Konoha it used to be!” Itsuki said slowly. “This village is rejecting us. You’ve all felt it, haven’t you?”
Someone shouted, “So we’re just going to leave?”
“Yes!” Itsuki responded loudly. “But we’re not leaving because the village rejects us. We’re leaving because this decaying village isn’t worthy of us!”
“It doesn’t deserve us!!”
His eyes were cold.
“We’ve already built a new village, one that belongs to the Uchiha. There, we will start a new life.”
Gasps of astonishment filled the crowd.
A new village?
A village that belonged to the Uchiha?
The idea shook the Uchiha to their core, and many began to waver.
They were no strangers to the insults, cold stares, and disdain they received in Konoha.
Why stay, if they had another option?
Were they fools?
If not for themselves, they should at least think about their families.
“Whoosh!”
Itsuki activated his Mangekyo Sharingan, and the skeletal form of Susanoo began to emerge.
Flesh grew over the bones.
A towering figure of a raven-headed giant appeared, exuding an overwhelming aura.
In an instant, all murmurs stopped.
The Uchiha stood speechless, staring at Itsuki in awe.
What was this?
Itsuki continued, “I know some of you don’t want to leave.”
“Some of you are reluctant to go.”
“And some of you are defiant, unwilling to leave like this.”
“But what’s the point?”
“This village, rotten from the inside out, is something we, the proud Uchiha, should reject!”
“We refuse to decay alongside it!”
“We will build a new village.”
“A village governed not by the Will of Fire, but by the Will of Uchiha.”
“In this new village, the Uchiha will be its absolute rulers!”
Itsuki clenched his fist and shouted.
His words stirred the Uchiha deeply.
A village ruled by the Uchiha's will?!
They were moved.
“Clan leader Fugaku has agreed!”
“Elder Setsuna has agreed!”
“Elder Toji has agreed!”
“Deputy clan leader Itachi has agreed!”
“I, Uchiha Itsuki, agree!”
“Of the thirty-plus Jonin, over twenty-five have agreed.”
“We’re done playing with Konoha.”
“So, everyone, prepare yourselves. If any Uchiha doesn’t want to leave, you’re free to go. We won’t force you. Enjoy your life in Konoha.”
Itsuki’s voice was calm.
The Uchiha exchanged glances.
Not forced?
That was a joke.
Almost all the clan’s top powerhouses had agreed. If they stayed behind, the Third Hokage would wipe them out.
Do they think we’re fools?
Are they playing with us?
This was nothing short of a threat.
He was forcing them!
And yet, they were helpless, left with no choice but to applaud him.
A small number of them felt like crying.
But the majority felt energized, ready to abandon Konoha and start a new life.
(End of Chapter)
*Chapter 127: Open and Honest! (Part 2)*
“I have already mastered the Flying Thunder God Technique!”
Itsuki looked at the gathered Uchiha and said in a deep voice, "I could have used the Flying Thunder God to silently take you all away without anyone knowing, but I don’t want to do that.”
“Why should I?”
“Why should we, the Uchiha, sneak away?”
His voice grew louder, and by the end, he was practically roaring.
Those present understood Itsuki's intention, staring at him in disbelief.
If they weren’t sneaking away, then… this was madness!
Itsuki shouted, “The Uchiha are one of the founding clans of Konoha! Since its creation, we have fought for the village, sacrificing countless lives.”
“Would Konoha be what it is today without the Uchiha?”
“No!”
“I dare say, the Uchiha have contributed more to Konoha than any other clan!”
This was not an empty boast.
During the Third Great Ninja War, the Uchiha nearly fought entire villages on their own.
They held the Mist Village at bay at their doorstep, making them question everything.
Behind these glorious achievements lay the cost of blood.
Which other ninja clan had done as much?
“If that’s the case, why should we sneak away now that we’re leaving?”
“Why should we?”
“Have we ever wronged Konoha?”
“Have our actions truly betrayed the village?”
“Wrong!”
“We haven’t betrayed anyone. The ones who betrayed us are Konoha!”
“Konoha has betrayed the Uchiha!”
"Boom!"
Everyone was dumbfounded.
They could only think that Itsuki's logic was wildly unconventional.
Twisted as it might be, it struck a chord with the Uchiha!
It was thrilling!
Sasuma and Sōgi were both fired up.
Their aged bodies trembled with excitement, and their lips quivered.
“Do you think I’m wrong?” Itsuki roared. “Tell me, since the founding of Konoha, when have the Uchiha ever wronged the village?”
“Never!”
“On the contrary, Konoha has always targeted us.”
“They speak of the Will of Fire. Is this so-called Will of Fire just a tool to oppress the Uchiha?”
“If that’s the case, then to hell with the Will of Fire!”
“The Uchiha have never wronged Konoha, but Konoha has always harbored ill will toward us. If that’s not betrayal, what is?”
“The First Hokage, Hashirama Senju!”
“The Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju!”
“The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi!”
“The Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze!”
“Even if all four of them stood before me, I would still say this: In the fifty years since Konoha’s founding, the Uchiha clan has no guilt toward Konoha!”
“Wow!”
The entire Uchiha clan erupted.
If Itsuki’s earlier words sounded a bit rebellious, his later statements were completely unassailable.
The simplest truth was this:
The Uchiha had shed blood and sacrificed for Konoha and owed it nothing.
Could the same be said the other way around?
“Well said, Lord Itsuki!”
“Well said!”
“We, the Uchiha, have never wronged Konoha!”
“Konoha has always been against us. They owe us!”
“Roar!!”
The Uchiha clan members roared in unison.
Their voices were so loud that the Anbu and Root agents outside the clan compound noticed something was off and began to take action.
Itsuki raised his hands slightly, and the Uchiha immediately quieted down.
Their eyes, filled with excitement, were fixed on him.
Their Sharingan gleamed!
What Konoha saw as evil eyes, Itsuki now interpreted as eyes of hope.
Itsuki’s own blood was boiling.
He could feel the desire within the Uchiha!
Rising to the moment, he declared, “Today, I will lead you all out of Konoha with our heads held high!”
“We Uchiha helped create Konoha, we protected Konoha, and today, we leave Konoha.”
Pointing toward the village gate, Itsuki said, “We Uchiha are honorable. We reject this decaying Konoha, and we will leave openly and honestly.”
"Open and aboveboard!!"
"Boom!!"
All the Uchiha members let out a loud roar.
In this moment, everyone went wild.
"You bastard!!"
"This bastard, haha!"
Setsuna stared at Itsuki, his face full of complex emotions.
Relief!
Excitement!
Madness!
...
He could hardly believe it.
Itsuki had actually made such a choice.
He gave up the Flying Thunder God Technique and decided to lead the Uchiha clan, proudly walking through the front gates, leaving the Leaf Village openly!
Because they had no regrets!
They had done right by everyone in the Leaf Village, so why should they sneak away?
They had always been the proud Uchiha!
Suddenly, Setsuna felt the urge to cry.
A bloody battle was inevitable.
Yet the Uchiha clan accepted it with joy!
Including him!
Setsuna took a slow step forward. His aged body seemed to regain its vitality.
His back straightened!
He looked at Itsuki and said in a deep voice, "Itsuki, well said, so well said! You've got this old man’s blood boiling. This time, let me lead the charge!"
"Count me in!"
The representative of the Dove faction, Uchiha toji, had a calm expression, but his eyes were shaking uncontrollably with emotion.
"I’ve endured my whole life, only to realize I’ve been nothing but a clown."
With the great battle unavoidable, toji found peace instead.
The Dove faction?
To hell with the Dove faction!
His mind was flooded with memories.
When Itsuki questioned their souls, he couldn’t help but wonder, had the Uchiha really been wrong?
Maybe they had their faults, but for the Leaf Village, their merits far outweighed their mistakes.
Though their actions may have caused some shame, their loyalty remained untarnished!
Which other ninja clan in the Leaf could claim as much?!
A smile crept onto toji's face.
He had let it all go!
He shouted, "We Uchiha have no shame in our hearts!"
Turning to the other Uchiha, he said in a deep voice, "I know some of you stand with the Third Hokage, but it doesn’t matter. Before you act, think carefully: who’s really in the wrong?"
"Is it even worth it?"
"What's the point of talking?" Itsuki waved his hand and said, "We’ve done right by ourselves. Now, let’s see who’s got the stronger fist. If the Leaf tries to stop us, we’ll kill them all!"
"Kill them all!"
The Uchiha shouted in unison.
"Good, go pack your things!"
Itsuki yelled, "There’s plenty of supplies in the new village. Just pack your most valuable items. In an hour, we leave."
"We Uchiha will start a new life!"
"A new life!"
The Uchiha shouted and dispersed.
toji and Setsuna exchanged a glance and said to Itsuki, "We’ll keep an eye on the Third Hokage and his people. We won’t let them take a single step into Uchiha territory."
"Thanks for your hard work, both of you!"
After they left, Itsuki turned to the silent Itachi.
"What? Do you think I’m wrong?"
"No!"
Itachi quickly shook his head, looking up at Itsuki with admiration. "Big brother Itsuki, you’re so damn amazing! Why didn’t you tell us how awesome you were before?"
Itsuki: "..."
(End of chapter)
*Chapter 128: Who's the Conspiracy For?*
"Stop talking nonsense!"
Itsuki glared at Itachi, clearly annoyed, and said, "We’ve decided on our own to break away from Konoha. There’s no way Konoha will agree, so a war is inevitable. You need to be prepared."
His fist cracked audibly.
They had fought against the other four shinobi villages many times.
But Konoha? This was the first.
It felt good!
In fact, deep down, Uchiha Itsuki had long wanted to take on Konoha!
Always thinking they could act like 'family,' talking down to the Uchiha.
This time, he thought, I'm going to tear your mouths apart!
The Root...
Does Danzo even count as a person?
Taking down the Root doesn’t count as fighting Konoha!
"Itsuki, are you doing this on a whim?" Itachi sighed helplessly. "If we’d decided this earlier, I would’ve kept more strong fighters with the clan. If the Third Hokage dares resist, we’ll hit him where it hurts."
"Oh, by the way, those people who faked their deaths wasted a few Sharingan. I thought we tricked Danzo and kept some strength hidden as a surprise, but it’s all been for nothing now."
Sigh, "Sharingan are precious, once we use one, there’s one less."
Seeing Itachi's pained expression, Itsuki was speechless.
Actually, Hiruzen Sarutobi wasn't wrong about one thing.
Uchiha Itachi was indeed a man capable of becoming Hokage.
Once Itachi made a decision, he would act on it without hesitation, pouring his all into it, like a tidal wave crashing forward.
That kind of decisiveness isn’t something most people have.
A normal person, even when knowing they have a good chance to win, would hesitate when faced with an important matter. They wouldn’t dare act rashly.
But Itachi? He would!
And he could accurately assess the situation, cutting straight to the heart of the matter.
It’s unfortunate.
Sarutobi would never let him become Hokage.
Why? Because he’s a Uchiha!
As it’s often said, there would never be a Uchiha Hokage in Konoha.
...
When faced with life and death, people tend to get smarter.
It’s as if their potential gets unlocked.
Itsuki gave the Uchiha an hour.
During that short time, the Uchiha quickly packed up, only taking the most valuable items, leaving everything else behind.
Every Uchiha prepared for action with as little burden as possible!
A new village?
Sounds nice?
Haha, if they live long enough to see it.
At this moment, there weren’t many shinobi left in Konoha, but then again, how many Uchiha were left either?
Each clan had only left behind a basic defensive force.
The main forces were out in the field.
In this situation, could the Uchiha leave Konoha safely?
And after leaving, how many would actually reach the new village?
The Uchiha had no choice but to follow Itsuki’s lead.
The leadership had decided to leave. Staying behind would be a death sentence!
Thankfully.
Itsuki had shown incredible power.
Especially that colossal figure towering over everything, exuding an awe-inspiring presence that filled them with both fear and confidence.
At the same time.
The Uchiha elites loyal to Itsuki began taking action among the crowd.
Leading!
Guiding!
Encouraging!
And ultimately, threatening!
Itsuki had made it clear: staying behind meant certain death!
Under such circumstances, the hour passed quickly.
The scattered Uchiha began to regroup.
Itachi gathered the remaining forces.
He even brought over the Konoha Police Force.
Patrols?
Patrol what?
If the Third Hokage didn’t already know what the Uchiha were up to by now, he’d be an idiot!
Itachi organized the Uchiha forces into teams and distributed explosive tags.
They weren’t trying to kill; they just needed to protect themselves!
Seeing the sea of Uchiha shinobi, Itsuki couldn’t hide his excitement.
“Summoning Jutsu!”
Poof!
A white snake appeared before him.
Slash!
Thud!
A flash of cold light passed, and the white snake was cut in half.
“Uchiha, move out!”
Itsuki shouted.
The crowd looked at Itsuki, bewildered.
Summoning a white snake, only to cut it down yourself—what kind of nonsense is this?
The group began to move toward the barrier entrance.
At the entrance, there was a sea of people.
At the forefront stood none other than Hiruzen Sarutobi.
His face was serious; he was ready for battle.
Zongyi and Setsuna stood with about a dozen shinobi each, guarding the gate.
Several bodies lay on the ground.
Clearly, they had already clashed.
"Hey there, Monkey! You’re looking good! Hmm, haven’t seen you in a few days, and you seem taller."
Itsuki greeted Sarutobi with a playful smile.
“Uchiha Itsuki!!!”
Hiruzen Sarutobi practically seethed with hatred.
He knew this guy was strong and could use the Flying Thunder God technique, making him hard to deal with.
So this time, he hadn’t even bothered trying to order him around.
Knowing full well that Itsuki wouldn’t listen, issuing commands would only be embarrassing.
But he had made up his mind. Sooner or later, he would deal with Itsuki.
Konoha couldn’t have such an unstable element within it.
Who would’ve thought, after just a few days, Itsuki would drop this bombshell?
He was inciting the Uchiha to secede!
Damn it!!!
When Sarutobi found out, he was almost ready to explode on the spot.
He had been plotting to privatize Konoha, and here Itsuki was, flipping the whole table.
What’s the point of my plan now?
If Itsuki had known Sarutobi’s plan, he wouldn’t have caused trouble now.
He would have waited!
Waited for Sarutobi’s plan to be exposed, and then he would’ve led the Uchiha’s secession.
That way, Sarutobi would’ve been nailed to the pillar of shame forever!
“What’s with the shouting?”
Itsuki looked at Sarutobi with disdain, then eyed the shinobi behind him.
There weren’t many.
About a thousand.
No surprise.
Konoha had sent seventeen to eighteen thousand shinobi to deal with Suna and the other villages.
How many could they possibly have left in the village?
Oh, and the four major clan families don’t count.
It’s always others who get hurt, while they reap the benefits.
"Monkey, you probably know what the Uchiha are planning by now."
Itsuki glared at Sarutobi. "You’ve got two options: either step aside or we’ll fight our way through. You choose."
“Uchiha Itsuki!”
Sarutobi’s voice was ice cold. "Do you want to go down in history as a traitor to Konoha? If you lead the Uchiha in this division, do you realize the severe harm you’ll cause? Konoha might be destroyed because of you."
"Then let it be destroyed!"
Itsuki didn’t hesitate, his voice chilling. "Konoha’s been wanting to take out the Uchiha for ages now, so destroying it sounds just fine to me."
“You…”
Cough, cough!
A sudden cough interrupted.
Nara Shikaku appeared, looking at Itsuki with hesitation.
"Huh?"
Itsuki looked at Shikaku in surprise. "Strategist, you stayed behind in Konoha? Didn’t go to the battlefield? Why?"
He turned to Sarutobi. "What scheme are you cooking up now?"
“Let me think!”
Before Sarutobi or Shikaku could respond, Itsuki rubbed his chin, muttering to himself.
"Nara Shikaku, said to have the sharpest mind, yet in the middle of this major war, he stays behind in the village. Either he’s the commander-in-chief, or there’s a plot afoot."
"Being the commander seems unlikely; the battle isn’t at that stage yet. Knowing the old monkey, he’d want the glory for himself. So, it’s a conspiracy."
"A conspiracy for whom?"
"The Uchiha? No, that’s Danzo’s thing!"
"The Hyuga? No, they’ve never been a real threat."
"The Ino-Shika-Cho Alliance!"
Itsuki stared blankly at Sarutobi, whose face had turned pale.
"You actually plan to target the Ino-Shika-Cho? Have you lost your mind?"
*End of Chapter*
*Chapter 129: Roadblock*
"Sarutobi Hiruzen, screw you!"
Itsuki glared with wide eyes, saying, "You even calculated against the Ino-Shika-Cho trio? What, do you need hundreds of them to die before you're satisfied? Your heart is darker than Danzo's."
Sarutobi Hiruzen’s face turned green.
Nara Shikaku’s face darkened.
"Uchiha Itsuki, stop talking nonsense."
"What nonsense am I spouting?" Itsuki sneered, tilting his head and looking at Nara Shikaku. "Great strategist, tell me, do I have a point or not? Come on, speak from your heart."
He's right, damn right.
But for heaven’s sake, don’t say it aloud.
Saying it again will cost you your life.
And seriously, who says stuff while holding their balls? People usually hold their conscience.
What, is your conscience growing out of your balls?
Should I say, ‘as expected of an Uchiha’?
Nara Shikaku fumed inwardly.
Does this so-called ‘great strategist’ not understand?
He understands everything.
But what can he do?
A few days ago, Akimichi Choza was summoned by Sarutobi Hiruzen, and when he returned, his face was dark as thunder, having agreed to Hiruzen’s terms.
At that moment, Shikaku knew trouble was coming.
For Choza to give in, things must’ve gotten really bad.
"Itsuki!"
Nara Shikaku tried to keep his voice calm, saying, "The Sand, Cloud, and Stone Villages have all mobilized against Konoha. Konoha is struggling to fend them off. I hope you can remain calm and put the greater good first. Don’t forget, you are a part of Konoha."
"Konoha? Soon I won’t be. I’m going to be a celestial dragon."
"Put the greater good first? Whose greater good?"
Itsuki shot back, asking, "And ask this old monkey beside you, has he put the greater good first?"
"He pulled several hundred Uchiha members and placed them under Danzo’s command. Nara Shikaku, tell me, if it were you, could you endure that?"
"Easy to say when it’s someone else. When it’s yourself, it’s ‘screw the rules.’"
"What about justice?"
"What about the law?"
"The ‘greater good’ you speak of, is it really just Hiruzen Sarutobi's version?"
"Enough with the nonsense!"
Hiruzen shouted angrily, "Uchiha Itsuki, immediately lead your clan back to the Uchiha district, or else—"
"Stop with the 'or else'!"
Itsuki rolled up his sleeves and challenged, "If you back down now, old monkey, you’re nothing but Danzo’s lackey. Come on, show me the strength of a shinobi hero."
Swish, swish, swish!
All the Uchiha shinobi drew their weapons, preparing for battle.
Even the non-combatants pulled out kunai.
They were making their stance clear.
Sarutobi Hiruzen's face grew darker, his killing intent barely concealed. "You Uchiha are determined to become rogue nin? Betray Konoha?"
Itsuki sneered at Hiruzen, "Screw your 'rogue nin.' Konoha was founded by Uchiha and Senju. We’re leaving to create a new village."
"We Uchiha are simply breaking away from Konoha."
"We're severing ties with you!"
To be honest, Itsuki was frustrated too.
With Uchiha Madara's power, why did he choose to form a village with Senju Hashirama back then?
Why not create a village on his own?
Because they were best friends?
Nara Shikaku sighed helplessly. "Itsuki, no matter how you frame it, Hiruzen Sarutobi is the Hokage of Konoha. Disobeying the orders of the Third Hokage is betrayal."
"Because of you, the Uchiha will be internationally branded as rogue nin."
"Your entire clan will carry the stigma of traitors for generations."
"If you don’t care for yourselves, at least consider your loved ones and descendants."
He cast a glance at the Uchiha clan behind Itsuki, noting their unease.
"Oh?" Itsuki responded nonchalantly, "Rogue nin or not, at least we'll still be alive. Loved ones and descendants? Haha, if we don't rebel, will there even be loved ones and descendants?"
Nara Shikaku's brow furrowed even more deeply. "From the way you’re talking, it’s as if staying loyal to Konoha means certain death for your clan."
Itsuki chuckled, giving Shikaku a knowing look. "Isn’t the Senju clan a perfect example?"
"Utter nonsense!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen erupted in fury.
That was his master’s clan.
Itsuki’s words implied that Hiruzen had destroyed his teacher’s clan.
How could he continue to be Hokage with such accusations hanging over him?
How would the people of the village see him?
Itsuki glared at Hiruzen coldly, "You know exactly what you've done. Can anyone still find the Senju clan in Konoha?"
"Second Hokage personally dismantled the Senju clan. He wanted all ninja clans to be civilianized. Even I, an Uchiha, don’t deny the logic behind his plan. But did he ever say the Senju should be wiped out?"
"He wasn’t a monster!"
"The only surviving Senju in Konoha is Tsunade."
"And that’s only because she fled quickly. Had she stayed, she’d probably be dead too."
"Monkey, you’re ruthless."
"Behind your kind face, you’re more sinister than anyone!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen roared repeatedly, "You, you’re spouting nonsense!"
"Enough talk!"
Itsuki smirked, "Are you going to fight or not? If not, we’re leaving."
Sarutobi Hiruzen and Nara Shikaku remained silent.
Shikaku really didn’t want to fight!
Neither did Hiruzen.
Though they had over a thousand people, the Uchiha only had two hundred, but everyone knew how troublesome the Uchiha were.
To kill an Uchiha of equal rank, you’d need at least three people.
And then there was Uchiha Itsuki himself.
If the fight broke out, the thousand people behind Hiruzen would be wiped out.
"Itachi!"
The Third Hokage turned to Uchiha Itachi. "Are you really going to follow Uchiha Itsuki in this madness? You—"
"Lord Hokage!"
Itachi raised a hand, cutting him off. "There’s no need to say anything more. I am an Uchiha, and that will never change. Isn’t that what you said yourself?"
"No matter what I do, I can’t change that."
Hiruzen shouted angrily, "Itachi, I never said that! Is Uchiha Itsuki putting words in my mouth?"
"No, that’s exactly what you said!"
Itachi said calmly, "I heard it with my own ears."
Whether he did or didn’t, I’m sticking to it.
Unless you can prove otherwise, you said it.
"That’s impossible!"
The Third Hokage roared, but inside, he wondered, Did I really say that? I can’t remember.
"Itachi, listen to me—"
"I’ll listen when pigs fly!"
Itsuki impatiently interrupted. "Hiruzen Sarutobi, you’ve been stalling for time, waiting for reinforcements. Well, you got your wish. The people are here. Can you drop the fake kindness now?"
"One question: are we fighting or not?"
"If not, we’re leaving!"
Without waiting for a response, Itsuki led his people toward Hiruzen’s forces.
Satsuna and Toji flanked him on either side, protecting him.
Itachi moved to the rear, quietly guarding from behind.
The battle was about to begin!
(End of chapter)
Chapter 130: Crushing Your Shadow Rock (1)
As the Uchiha clan members steadily approached, Sarutobi Hiruzen could no longer hold back.
"Prepare!"
"Clang!"
The people Sarutobi Hiruzen had brought with him all readied their weapons.
Kunai, shuriken, long swords... all appeared in their hands.
Sarutobi Hiruzen sternly warned, "Uchiha, this is my final warning—fall back!"
"Tch!"
Uchiha Itsuki scoffed, forming a hand sign with both hands.
"Bang!"
Itsuki vanished and reappeared.
But!
As they looked at the newly appeared Itsuki, the Uchiha clan members were stunned.
Especially the older generation of Uchihas, their expressions were filled with excitement, even zeal.
At this moment, Itsuki was dressed in a tight black battle suit, layered with red armor on the outside.
On his back was the Uchiha clan's signature fan.
Uchiha Madara!
This attire was a spitting image of Uchiha Madara!
Many of the older members of the Uchiha clan began to softly call out, "Lord Madara!"
Back then, they had grown tired of fighting, so they abandoned Madara.
They believed that Madara was too obsessed with battle!
They had become weary and only wanted a peaceful life, which ultimately led to Madara leaving on his own.
But now!
After living through these years, they fully realized that Madara’s choice wasn’t wrong!
Moreover!
What stirred them the most was the immense power that Uchiha Madara had possessed.
It was the kind of strength that allowed him to capture tailed beasts as if they were mere chickens.
Uchiha Itsuki!
Uchiha Madara!
The two figures gradually overlapped in their minds.
Looking at Itsuki's upright stance, they seemed to see Uchiha Madara once again!
For Itsuki, though, this was a bit dull.
His attire was indeed a direct imitation of Uchiha Madara!
He didn’t want to dress this way, but he had to admit that Uchiha Madara's image could significantly boost morale within the Uchiha clan.
And for enemies like Sarutobi Hiruzen, it could effectively crush their spirits.
Even though it was just Uchiha Itsuki donning Madara's armor and wielding his weapon...
The discerning eye could see that Sarutobi Hiruzen and Nara Shikaku's expressions had shifted.
Especially Sarutobi Hiruzen—he had seen Uchiha Madara in person.
At this moment, Itsuki’s appearance stirred deep memories within him.
A chilling sensation spread around his body.
"Little monkey!" Itsuki sneered at Sarutobi Hiruzen. "Come, let’s dance!"
"Hahaha!"
"Fire Style!"
"Great Fireball Jutsu!"
Amidst his maniacal laughter, Itsuki formed a hand sign.
"Boom!"
A massive fireball, hundreds of meters wide, blasted toward Sarutobi Hiruzen.
That big?!
Seeing the fireball, which resembled a meteor, Sarutobi Hiruzen's mind went blank.
He had only one thought: *This fireball is even bigger than a tailed beast!*
"Water Style!"
"Earth Style!"
"Wind Style!"
Seeing the enormous fireball, the Leaf Village ninjas were also stunned. They scrambled to counterattack with all their might.
But!
Itsuki had unleashed his full strength this time, easily overpowering all of their attacks.
"Ahh!"
A large number of Leaf Village ninjas were caught in the attack and died on the spot.
"Uchiha Itsuki!!!"
"How dare you actually attack?!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen roared in fury.
Nara Shikaku, standing nearby, was speechless.
At this point, you can't still be holding onto some naïve idea, can you, Third Hokage?
Have you really grown old?
"Kill!"
With a deafening shout, the Uchiha ninjas hurled shuriken and kunai in unison.
"Boom, boom, boom!"
Explosions rang out.
Every attack was accompanied by explosive tags—not just one or two, but at least five per strike, with no upper limit.
In an instant, another layer of Leaf Village ninjas was wiped out.
"No!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen was both shocked and enraged.
The Leaf Village was in a vulnerable state of defense, and every ninja lost pained him deeply!
Moreover, from the beginning of the battle until now, they had made no progress.
"Go, kill them!"
He roared and charged at Uchiha Itsuki, forming hand signs with lightning speed.
"Fire Style: Dragon Flame Jutsu!"
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu!"
Itsuki merely responded with another Great Fireball Jutsu!
"Boom, boom, boom!"
The massive fireball, hundreds of meters wide, shattered Sarutobi Hiruzen's Dragon Flame Jutsu and engulfed him along with many Leaf Village ninjas.
Some of the ninjas, including Sarutobi Hiruzen, turned into puffs of white smoke.
*Substitution Jutsu!*
*Shadow Clone Jutsu!*
But!
Some ninjas couldn’t evade.
Another dozen Leaf Village ninjas died.
"So strong?"
Even Nara Shikaku was shocked.
He began forming hand signs rapidly.
No matter what, they couldn’t let the Uchiha leave the village.
The Uchiha clan was Konoha’s sharp blade, and if they defected, they might turn that blade against the village.
Even if they had to be killed, they must not be allowed to leave.
"Buzz!"
Nara Shikaku's shadow quietly crept toward Itsuki.
But just as he approached, Itsuki noticed him, turned his head, and smiled.
A chill ran down Nara Shikaku's spine, and he quickly used the Body Flicker Jutsu to move away.
"Boom!"
A ball of fire engulfed the area he had just been in, covering over twenty meters.
Had he not moved, he would surely have been injured.
"Quick reflexes!" Itsuki grinned. "Shikaku, do you like grilled venison? I like it a bit charred, with some crispiness."
"I'm not a fan."
A low voice from Sarutobi Hiruzen rang in Itsuki’s ears.
"Summoning Jutsu!"
"Come forth, Monkey King Enma!"
"Bang!"
In a cloud of white smoke, the fierce-looking Enma appeared.
"Roar!!!"
He let out a roar and swung a powerful fist at Itsuki.
The punch was heavy enough to shatter boulders.
"Bang!"
Itsuki crossed his arms to block the attack, but the force still sent him staggering back.
Behind him, Sarutobi Hiruzen was waiting, ready to strike him down.
Itsuki suddenly opened his eyes, and his Sharingan spun with the three tomoe pattern.
"Bang!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen’s punch landed on Itsuki’s chest.
"Success!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen hadn’t even had time to celebrate before he noticed something—the figure of Itsuki had turned into countless snakes that coiled around him, baring their fangs gleaming in the sunlight.
"Genjutsu?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen’s expression shifted.
"Enma!"
"Roar!!!"
Enma roared, sending a massive shockwave that broke Itsuki’s illusion.
"Hmm, interesting!"
Itsuki, who was about to launch another attack, was forced to retreat, distancing himself from Enma.
That old monkey had impressive close-combat skills.
But Itsuki wasn’t fond of close combat, even though he wasn't bad at it.
"Old monkey Enma, the so-called strongest summoning beast?"
Itsuki smiled slightly at Enma. "Honestly, I’m not too convinced."
"Hmph!" Enma snorted coldly. "I'll prove it with your corpse."
"Then let’s give it a try."
Itsuki bit his thumb.
"Summoning Jutsu!"
With Itsuki’s summon, a massive figure appeared.
The crimson scales on its body shimmered in the sunlight, radiating a bloody aura.
(End of chapter)
