บท 82: Chapter 82: The Uchiha's Double Strategy! The Root Division's Assassination!
Shisui hesitated for a moment before speaking cautiously, "Kazuya-senpai, do you think the Uchiha clan will eventually face the same fate as the Kaguya clan?"
At these words, even Itachi's expression grew solemn.
It was a heavy topic.
What they had witnessed in the Mist Village weighed heavily on both of them. They couldn't shake the feeling that a grim future awaited the Uchiha clan.
If things truly came to that, the Uchiha could end up disappearing from this world, just as the Kaguya had.
Hearing this, the smile faded from Kazuya's face.
He was silent for a long time before responding seriously, "Of course not."
"Really?" Shisui asked, hopeful.
"Absolutely."
Kazuya smiled.
He was certain of it. If things followed the original story, the Kaguya clan would be nearly wiped out, leaving only Kimimaro behind.
But the Uchiha? They'd still have a few survivors, right? It wasn't all bad.
"Shisui, Itachi, you have to believe in the village and in the Hokage."
Putting on a diplomatic tone, Kazuya added, "The Hokage will find a way to allow the Uchiha clan and the village to coexist peacefully."
In the 51st year of the village, tensions between the village leadership and the Uchiha clan were no secret. Due to the Uchiha's role as the village's police force, their relationship with the villagers had grown increasingly strained.
As a result, radical factions within the Uchiha were gaining strength, and events were starting to unfold just as they had in the original story.
"Believe in the Hokage, huh…" Shisui murmured thoughtfully.
"Just be patient, Shisui," Kazuya said, patting him on the shoulder reassuringly.
"Thank you, Kazuya-senpai."
Shisui gave a slight bow.
"Heh…"
Kazuya chuckled.
In reality, he'd just given a bunch of nice-sounding advice that didn't mean much.
Honestly?
Even he was conflicted about the Uchiha.
At first, he thought he'd just follow the story and eliminate them all.
Why?
Because of Shisui's Kotoamatsukami and Itachi's Tsukuyomi. Both of their abilities could control him if he wasn't careful.
But now, Kazuya was starting to wonder if those abilities would even be an issue. Especially now that he had Level 5-tailed beast power!
With the power of that red-tailed beast core, he figured he could break through any genjutsu.
When he got back to the village, he planned to undergo special training to counter genjutsu. If he could become immune to it, he couldn't just wipe out the Uchiha.
After all, they were a goldmine of Indra's bloodline experience!
Kazuya smirked to himself, thinking If I kill them all, where else would I find such a steady supply?
Two strategies are always better than one.
That was why, when Kazuya responded to Shisui's concerns, he kept his words vague and official. In his mind, he was preparing for both outcomes. If he could solve the genjutsu problem, he'd keep the Uchiha around to grind for experience. If not, he'd follow the original story's route and wipe them out.
…
A few days later.
The ship reached shore.
The group finally set foot on the Land of Fire once more.
Many of the Konoha shinobi, recently released by the Mist, couldn't hold back tears.
We're home. Finally… we're going home!
"Kazuya-sama!"
At this moment, the Konoha shinobi looked up at Kazuya with awe, as if he were some kind of god. Only they knew the horror of the Mist Village prison. To make it out alive from that place was nothing short of a miracle.
Thank you, Kazuya-sama. You saved us all.
Moving swiftly, the group pressed forward with increasing speed, eager to return.
[You picked up 50 chakra points]
[You picked up 30 chakra points]
[You picked up 50 battle experience points]
[You picked up 20 Wind Release talent points]
[You picked up 10 points of Indra's bloodline]
[You picked up 20 points of Indra's bloodline]
One by one, golden orbs of energy dropped from the Konoha shinobi. Kazuya, using his earlier method, occasionally tossed pebbles to strike Shisui and Itachi, picking up small fragments of Indra's bloodline—every bit helped.
After several stops and starts, they were finally nearing Konoha.
As they drew closer, a range of emotions swept through the group. Nearing home always stirred complex feelings.
However…
As they moved through a dense forest, Kazuya's expression grew serious, and he signaled the team to halt.
"Hmm?"
Nearby, Shisui knelt and swept aside some fallen leaves, his brows furrowing.
In that instant, wires hidden beneath the leaves appeared. Each wire was rigged with explosive tags, camouflaged too well to be noticed easily.
"What is this?" Shisui's expression darkened. "This is the work of Konoha shinobi. Did a fight break out here? Could it be the Cloud shinobi again?"
Shisui's first thought was that the war-hungry Cloud Village had made another move.
"I doubt it's that simple…" Kazuya replied coolly.
He had specifically chosen a remote route for their return, yet they still encountered trouble.
"Did intel leak back at the supply point?" Kazuya mused. If so, then this ambush could only be orchestrated by the higher-ups in the village.
That means…
Danzo?
Under his mask, Kazuya couldn't help but smile.
Interesting. If it was Danzo again, then that guy was relentless. The last time he showed up at the Root base, he'd brought Kazuya a welcome surprise. And now, so soon after that, he was at it again?
What dedication.
Suddenly, the sounds of rapid movement filled the air.
In an instant, dozens of figures materialized in the shadows of the forest, perched on the ground, branches, and rocks, all masked shinobi from the Root Division.
"Nohara Kazuya…" A figure stepped out of the forest's shadow—a man propped on a cane, wrapped in bandages, with a cold, piercing gaze. "You've brought these traitors with you to attack the village?"
"How arrogant!" he sneered.
"So you…"
"…have betrayed the village, too!"
The speaker was none other than Danzo.
With a single sentence, he slapped a massive label of "traitor" on Kazuya and the shinobi.
"No!"
"Danzo-sama, we're not traitors!" some of the Konoha shinobi protested, but Danzo silenced them coldly.
"Shinobi captured by the Mist are not trustworthy anymore. For the sake of the village's security…eliminate these traitors."
"Yes, Danzo-sama!"
The Root shinobi's voices rang out, their killing intent rising as they charged forward.
Good grief!
Classic Danzo. Kazuya couldn't help but feel a twisted kinship. The sheer shamelessness of his deception was nothing short of legendary.
Except…
You may have chosen the wrong opponent this time!
…
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