Kapitel 309: Chapter 309

"Tsunade, you've finally returned…"

Hiruzen looked at Tsunade with a mixture of surprise and relief. He had thought he'd have no choice but to pass on the Hokage title to Jiraiya, but seeing Tsunade now gave him hope. However, his expression shifted to shock when he saw Nawaki standing beside her.

"Tsunade… is that… Nawaki?"

"It is. Due to… an unexpected circumstance, Nawaki has been revived, which is why I returned to Konoha, old man," Tsunade replied curtly. Seeing Hiruzen's aged face, she held back the harsh words she had initially prepared. Nawaki was alive, stronger than before, and his chakra and cell vitality even surpassed her own.

"But the moment I returned, I heard something shocking—apparently, the Uchiha clan is to be exterminated under your watch as Hokage!" Tsunade said, glaring at him.

Hiruzen's face darkened, and he quickly asked, "Exterminate the Uchiha? I have no such intentions, Tsunade. Has someone approached you?"

"As soon as I got here, I was intercepted at the gate. And don't tell me you're unaware of Danzo's actions. This isn't a matter of 'turning a blind eye.' Who's really in charge here?"

Hiruzen fell silent, sighing deeply. "It's complicated, Tsunade. The Uchiha have become increasingly hostile…"

He had tried communicating with them, but the Uchiha refused to respond. It baffled him—hadn't Itachi passed along his message to Fugaku?

"Forget it, old man. I'm not interested in your excuses. The situation is critical; hand over control of the Anbu to me."

Without hesitation, Tsunade demanded control of the Anbu. She intended to prevent Hiruzen from interfering if Itachi decided to take down Danzo.

Although she felt uneasy about killing a Konoha elder, Danzo's actions—collaborating with Orochimaru, experimenting with Wood Release, and assaulting Shisui—were unforgivable. The revival of Nawaki, the invaluable gift from Yōichi, had compelled her to agree to Itachi's plan.

Hiruzen looked at her for a moment, then slowly lit his pipe. "If you agree to take on the role of Hokage, I'll grant you control of the Anbu."

"We'll discuss that later."

"Tsunade, I'm nearly seventy. Konoha has no one else fit for the role. Jiraiya is rarely around, and Kakashi, despite his abilities, has been unmotivated for years…"

Nawaki's revival and Tsunade's return gave Hiruzen hope that her hemophobia had faded, making her the ideal candidate for Hokage.

"Tch!" Tsunade clicked her tongue in annoyance. She hated it when people guilt-tripped her, but she couldn't simply lash out.

"Once this is over, I'll think about it. For now, I need to ensure Nawaki's situation is taken care of."

"Very well. The Anbu is yours to command."

Hiruzen called for an Anbu operative, instructing them to gather the remaining Anbu captains in the village. Tsunade also asked who among the Jonin had the most notable strength, and upon hearing Kakashi's name among others, she ordered them to assemble.

When everyone gathered in the Hokage's office, Tsunade confirmed the number of Anbu in the village and then gave her orders, "Kakashi will take command of the Anbu, along with the other Jonin, to seal off the Root base. No one is to enter or exit."

Hiruzen and Kakashi, along with the others, were shocked, and Hiruzen quickly asked, "Tsunade, why?"

"Since you've given me command of the Anbu, don't ask questions. By tomorrow, all will be clear," Tsunade said firmly. "The fact that a covert operation to massacre a clan is even being considered in this village is something you bear responsibility for."

"W-what?"

Hiruzen was stunned, realizing she referred to the Uchiha clan.

Seeing that no one was moving, Tsunade frowned and ordered, "Move immediately!"

"Yes, Tsunade-sama," they replied in unison, then left to carry out her orders. Since Hiruzen had entrusted Tsunade with the Anbu, they had no grounds to question it.

"Old man, I'm heading to the Uchiha clan. Are you staying here, or will you come with me?"

"…I'll go with you. If things get dangerous, we'll have each other's backs."

Hiruzen agreed, not wanting Tsunade to face the Uchiha alone. Together, he was confident they could manage any threat from the clan.

Outside Training Ground 32, a secluded area only known to Root members, a figure emerged from the shadows, accompanied by the distinct sound of a cane tapping.

"Why are we here? Has the plan changed?" Danzo asked coldly, emerging from the darkness with two Root operatives by his side.

"It's time to implement the plan," Obito replied, his voice calm.

"Eliminating the Uchiha clan… it's too cruel. There has to be another way," Itachi said, staring at Danzo.

"There is no other way, Itachi!" Danzo snapped, cutting him off. "The clan's destruction ensures Sasuke's survival. I've arranged for his teacher to keep him at the academy as per your request. If you don't go through with this, my Root and Hiruzen's Anbu will wipe out every last Uchiha, including your brother Sasuke."

Hearing Danzo's words, Itachi clenched his fists, his gaze icy.

'Father was right to despise him. I was naive…' Itachi thought, recalling the time he saw Danzo wandering aimlessly as his father's technique clouded his mind. Back then, he had thought it excessive; now, he realized his father had been justified.

This man deserved no mercy.

"If that's the case… Hell Mist!"

Itachi released a dense black mist from his hands, crushing it in his grasp, causing it to erupt like dark flames spreading rapidly.

"What are you doing, Itachi!?" Danzo shouted, his eyes narrowing as he attempted to defend himself, but the black mist consumed him and his operatives.

When the mist cleared, Danzo found himself in a desolate, dim world. The sky was blood-red, and the eerie cries of crows echoed around him.

"A genjutsu…?" Danzo murmured, quickly uncovering his right eye to reveal a Mangekyō Sharingan, attempting to see through the illusion.

However, even with his Mangekyō, he couldn't detect any flaws in the illusion, which unnerved him.

Suddenly, he sensed an attack, instinctively tilting his head.

Swish! Swish!

Two shuriken sliced past his face, missing him but close enough to chill him. 'How is this genjutsu so powerful that even my Mangekyō can't see through it?'

Another wave of danger washed over him. Before he could react, a sharp pain struck his eye—it had been forcibly removed!

"Aah! My eye!"

"That was Shisui's eye, Danzo. You coveted the power of the Sharingan, as well as Wood Release… Die in repentance!" Itachi's voice echoed from all directions, and in the next instant, Danzo's body was engulfed in black flames.

"Damn you, Uchiha Itachi! The village will never forgive you!"

Danzo screamed, his expression twisted with rage. He attempted to extinguish the flames, but they only intensified, even his chakra surges proving ineffective.

"Curse you, Uchiha Itachi! Curse you!" In desperation, Danzo buried himself into the ground, but the flames still consumed him. As his soul drifted into nothingness, he faded away.

After Danzo's death, Itachi dispelled the Hell Mist, clutching his head and muttering, "The Fire of Sin is overwhelming. How did Father control that crow? Using it just once is exhausting…"

He took a couple of elixirs to regain his strength, then stood, pocketing the bottle containing Shisui's eye. Glancing at Danzo and the two Root operatives' lifeless bodies, he left without hesitation.

"Tsunade, why have you stopped?"

Hiruzen asked as they neared the Uchiha district, noticing Tsunade had paused.

"You go on ahead to Fugaku's home, old man," Tsunade replied. "I'll join you shortly, but don't let Fugaku leave until I get there."

Hiruzen looked puzzled. "What are you planning? Can you at least give me an idea?"

"You don't know anything anyway, so wait for the explanation afterward. Just remember what I said."

With that, Tsunade turned away.

"Tsunade… Tsunade!" Hiruzen called after her, but she ignored him. Sighing, he continued toward Fugaku's home, scanning the Uchiha district.

Despite what he had heard, there was no sign of a rebellion. The elderly, women, and children were going about their day, with stores still open.

'I need to have a serious talk with Fugaku,' Hiruzen thought, quickening his pace.

Meanwhile, at the entrance of the Police Force, space distorted, and a masked figure appeared.

Surveying his surroundings, Obito muttered, "Why hasn't the barrier been deployed yet? Danzo… well, my target is only the Sharingan…"

"Die!" a voice roared as a figure descended from above, landing with a powerful punch. The ground shattered under Tsunade's immense strength, creating a deep crater and cracks that spread across the area.

The nearby Police Force building was the first to feel the impact, cracking and shaking.

Obito leapt out of the dust, his Sharingan glaring through his mask at the woman before him.

"Tsunade the Slug Princess! Why are you here?"

The legendary Sannin, who had been off the grid, was suddenly here, attacking him the moment he arrived. The situation felt all wrong to Obito.

"What's going on? Who's attacking?"

"Who?"

"Who dares attack the Police Force?"

Uchiha clan members emerged from the Police Force building, recognizing the blond kunoichi with twin ponytails and the gambling mark on her back.

"Tsunade-sama?"

"The Sannin, Tsunade-sama? What is she doing here?"

"Who's that masked guy? Tsunade-sama, were you fighting him?"

Without turning, Tsunade responded, "Yes, this is the mastermind behind the Nine-Tails' attack eight years ago. His ability is space-time ninjutsu… be on guard!"

"That guy…" At the mention of the Nine-Tails' attack, the Uchiha all activated their Sharingan, glaring at Obito with hatred.

This masked man was responsible for eight years of undeserved scorn.

Seeing the crowd turn against him, Obito knew his plan for tonight was failing. He prepared to use Kamui to escape.

"Humph, I'll be back…"

Before he could finish, he activated Kamui, and space began to distort.

But at that moment, a fireball flew toward him from behind, matching the speed of his Kamui.

Sensing the danger, Obito canceled his teleportation, phasing his body to avoid the Great Fireball Jutsu.

Swish!

A figure appeared beside Obito—it was Itachi, who had just slain Danzo.

Arriving with Shunshin, Itachi calmly stated, "You can't escape. Surrender now, Obito."

(End of Chapter)

[Check Out My Patreon For +20 Extra Chapters On All My Fanfics!! For Only $5!!][www.p@treon.com/zaelum]

[+500 Power Stones = +1 Extra Chapter]

[Thank You For Your Support!]

Kommentar Kommentar von 7

Abstimmen

next chapter

Kapitel 310: Chapter 310

"Obito?"

The other Uchiha clan members were stunned. Some Police Force members, recalling that name, looked at Itachi in shock and asked, "Wait, Itachi, did you say this is Obito? Uchiha Obito? The one from the Shinobi World War?"

"Yes, that's him. I also know why he holds a grudge against Konoha," Itachi replied, his Sharingan fixed on the masked man.

What he knew about Obito came from his father, mother, and Aunt Mina. Obito was someone who, unable to accomplish his own dreams, placed his hopes in illusions while harboring hatred for Konoha. His father had summed it up: "Ultimately, it's his own incompetence."

Itachi couldn't agree more.

"You little brat…"

Under his mask, Obito's Sharingan glared at Itachi. He hadn't expected this kid to see through his identity, much less expose his motivations.

Seeing that moment replayed in his mind—the scene of Rin's death—Obito's heart filled with resentment. If only he had arrived a bit faster, healed a bit sooner, or avoided being gravely injured by Iwagakure…

Deep down, he even resented Minato, the "Fastest Shinobi," who was always just a fraction too late at critical moments. Extracting the Nine-Tails was partly to weaken Konoha and partly to seek revenge against Minato.

"Itachi, you were the one who sought me out to destroy the Uchiha clan. And now, what are you doing? Breaking our agreement?" Obito sneered, his gaze filled with accusation.

The other Uchiha clan members shifted their gaze to Itachi.

"It's no use, Obito. Even if you try to claim I wanted to kill the Third Hokage, you're not escaping tonight. We know your Mangekyō Sharingan ability. The moment you try to teleport, your body becomes tangible. With all these Sharingan focused on you, escape isn't possible," Itachi declared.

Hearing this, the Uchiha clan members' eyes flashed with understanding and anger. The Police Force members lined up around Obito, blocking his escape routes. Each of them was at least a two-tomoe Sharingan user, well-trained in the Uchiha clan's shuriken techniques.

With the Sharingan guiding their throws, they could alter the trajectory mid-air, making it difficult for Obito to dodge.

"No more talking. Tsunade-sama, Itachi, let's take him down and question him later!"

"Agreed!"

The Police Force members echoed, unfazed by Obito's Mangekyō abilities.

Swish! Swish! Swish!

In an instant, shuriken rained down on Obito from all directions.

As expected, the shuriken passed through him, as if he were just an illusion.

"He can only stay intangible for five minutes," Itachi reminded them. "Let's rotate teams to throw shuriken, so when he becomes tangible…"

Just then, they noticed Obito attempting to sink into the ground.

"Shinji!"

"Earth Release: Swamp of the Underworld!"

Following Itachi's command, Uchiha Shinji performed hand seals, turning the ground around Obito into a swamp to prevent him from materializing underground.

Although unknown to the others, Obito could still use his intangibility underground.

Itachi, having tracked him, pointed and said, "He's about ten meters down!"

"Earth Release: Ground Core Shift!"

Another Police Force Jonin used an Earth Release jutsu, one of the many that could be copied by the Sharingan. The Jonin in the Police Force were proficient in multiple jutsu, making it easy for them to perform Earth Release techniques together.

"You're not getting away!"

Tsunade joined the assault, slamming her fist into the ground. Her monstrous strength created a massive crater, compressing the earth below even tighter.

Boom! Boom!

With an elite Jonin illusionist and over thirty Uchiha with two-tomoe and three-tomoe Sharingan on his tail, Obito was forced to fight for his life. His Mangekyō abilities were hardly enough against such a relentless assault.

Watching from above, Uchiha Yōichi shook his head. "Obito's having a rough time, and his escape path's only bringing him closer to Fugaku's home. And there's the Third Hokage, too."

'Damn it, Itachi. I'll kill you someday!' Obito seethed, escaping underground, filled with rage.

'This isn't good… my intangibility is wearing off!'

Feeling the strain on his eye, he knew he had no choice but to surface.

As Obito emerged, he was greeted by a booming voice.

"Transform, Enma! Into the adamantine staff!"

Boom!

An indestructible staff slammed into the ground where Obito stood, the force equal to Tsunade's raw strength.

Obito felt a chill as he remained intangible. But why was the Third Hokage here?

"What's going on, Itachi?"

Fugaku appeared beside them, his three-tomoe Sharingan fixed on Obito. He didn't fully understand the situation, but seeing the Police Force, Tsunade, and Itachi all chasing this masked man, he knew it was serious.

"He's the mastermind behind the Nine-Tails' attack eight years ago, the 'deceased' Uchiha Obito from the Shinobi World War," Itachi replied, glancing at Fugaku. He hadn't seen his father in years, and calling him "father" felt strange.

"So it's him… then he cannot be allowed to leave!" Fugaku's face hardened as his Sharingan transformed into a Mangekyō.

Obito's heart sank. He hadn't anticipated Fugaku wielding the Mangekyō Sharingan. Though the clan head had the nickname "Fierce Eye," Obito had never taken him seriously… until now.

Itachi repeated Obito's Mangekyō abilities for Fugaku and Hiruzen, who quickly grasped the strategy to counter him.

"…Damn it!"

The battle concluded with significant damage to the Uchiha district. Fortunately, the Police Force managed to evacuate civilians, sparing any casualties. Hiruzen used Shadow Clones and barrier techniques to shield against Obito's final jutsu, protecting the majority of the clan.

In the end, Tsunade struck Obito in the chest, sending him flying through several buildings before he was buried in rubble.

After a reminder from Itachi, Fugaku unearthed Obito from the ruins, removing his eye and handing him over to the Police Force.

"Tsunade-sama, thank you for your help tonight." Itachi approached, offering her a secret medicine. "This will restore your chakra and energy."

Realizing that Hiruzen's presence was likely thanks to Tsunade, Itachi had no qualms sharing the Uchiha clan's prized medicine.

Tsunade accepted the medicine, swallowing it in one gulp. A warmth spread through her body, quickly replenishing her chakra and stamina.

"You Uchiha even have secret medicines? This must be rare." Tsunade raised an eyebrow but, recalling other urgent matters, quickly asked, "Brat, you're here, so does that mean…"

"Danzo is dead," Itachi replied. His voice wasn't hushed, and both Fugaku and Hiruzen, who had just approached, heard him clearly.

"What did you say, Itachi?" Hiruzen asked, his face a mix of shock and disbelief.

"Danzo is dead. I killed him just now," Itachi said calmly, unaffected by the gravity of the situation.

"Summoning Jutsu!"

An illusionary crow appeared in Itachi's hand, and he took out a vial containing Shisui's Mangekyō Sharingan. "Danzo ambushed Shisui-senpai and stole his eye. I retrieved it tonight. He also tried to coerce me into exterminating the Uchiha clan. When I discovered the true mastermind of the Nine-Tails' attack, I killed him."

After hearing Itachi's account, Hiruzen's expression became complicated. He didn't know whether to praise or scold Itachi. Not only had Itachi resolved the Uchiha conflict, but he had also captured the culprit behind the Nine-Tails' rampage.

With the revelation of the culprit, the Uchiha clan's tarnished reputation was restored. The Police Force's efforts tonight impressed Hiruzen, and the Uchiha clan saw firsthand Hiruzen's willingness to protect the innocent among them.

In a single night, years of distrust between the Uchiha and the village were erased.

Were it not for Danzo's death, Hiruzen thought, tonight would have been perfect. But with Danzo's betrayal of Shisui, coexistence with the Uchiha had become impossible.

With Danzo's death, the division between the Uchiha and the village vanished. As Hiruzen reflected on this, he realized Konoha's future had brightened, especially with Tsunade's return. Now, he no longer worried about Uchiha rebellion.

"Tsunade, I'll leave this matter to you," Hiruzen sighed, adding, "I'll handle Homura and Koharu."

Tsunade scowled, "Old man, stop dumping all this on me…"

"Don't pretend you didn't know anything! You deliberately kept this from me and brought me to the Uchiha district to prevent me from intervening with Danzo."

"Fine. Just keep those old fossils in check for me." Tsunade huffed, then turned to Fugaku. "Fugaku, the Police Force did an excellent job tonight. But since the clan district took some damage, let's meet tomorrow at the Hokage's office to discuss a new location for the Uchiha."

"Thank you, Tsunade-sama. The Uchiha clan will not forget the debt we owe you tonight," Fugaku responded, deeply relieved. He couldn't quite piece together every detail of what had happened, but he felt hopeful for the first time in years. The clan's standing within Konoha could now truly improve.

Tsunade nodded, hands on her hips. "Still, I've heard rumors of the Uchiha stirring up trouble recently, Fugaku."

Fugaku was about to dismiss this as gossip when Itachi interjected, "The rumors aren't baseless. There are indeed some hardliners in the Uchiha clan who've been advocating revolution as a way to restore our former status."

"Itachi!" Fugaku scolded, his voice tense. But then he noticed the crow perched on Itachi's shoulder, its eyes now bearing the Mangekyō Sharingan.

"What are you doing, Itachi?"

"Answering Tsunade-sama's concerns," Itachi replied calmly. "The two most vocal hardliners in the clan, those with the most revolutionary sentiment, have now had their minds subtly changed."

The crow flew to the two Uchiha who were known for their strong views on revolution and activated Shisui's Mangekyō ability, Kotoamatsukami. The two men blinked in confusion, then looked at each other, a subtle shift in their expressions hinting at newfound perspectives.

Itachi turned back to Tsunade. "Now, Tsunade-sama, you won't need to worry about any revolutionary activity from the Uchiha. And don't worry about Shisui's eye—I won't use its power recklessly. Its abilities will remain dormant for at least a decade."

"Well, I wasn't about to jump to conclusions," Tsunade muttered. But her face softened, her respect for Itachi growing. "For a kid, you sure have a level head. Guess I can't complain that you're too clever."

Itachi's calm smile hinted at his unspoken gratitude. His world had gained a sense of clarity, and with Fugaku's reluctant approval, he felt a quiet satisfaction.

(End of Chapter)

[Check Out My Patreon For +20 Extra Chapters On All My Fanfics!! For Only $5!!][www.p@treon.com/zaelum]

[+500 Power Stones = +1 Extra Chapter]

[Thank You For Your Support!]

Kommentar Kommentar von 8

Abstimmen