Uchiha clan compound.
Fugaku Uchiha stood under the eaves of the hallway, his gaze passing over layers of rooftops to lock onto the direction of the Hokage Residence.
“Clan Leader.”
“The Anbu are making a major move.”
“It’s not just the Anbu.”
“According to reports from the perimeter Military Police Patrol, those rats from Root have deployed in full force as well.”
Right at that moment— Tekka Uchiha flickered into view, appearing before Fugaku Uchiha.
Fugaku Uchiha didn’t speak.
Within his crimson eyes, three tomoe spun rapidly.
Something major was happening.
Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzo were both men who never acted without guaranteed gain.
For them to make such a grand spectacle, it was definitely no trivial matter.
“Direction?”
“Where are they headed?” Fugaku Uchiha asked coldly.
“The southeastern corner.”
“If I’m not mistaken, their target should be the former Senju clan compound.” Tekka Uchiha swallowed hard.
Hearing this— Fugaku’s pupils contracted violently.
The former Senju compound?
That ghost town that had been deserted for decades?
“Let’s go!”
“We’ll follow and see!”
Hyuga clan compound.
Hiashi Hyuga stood in the center of the courtyard.
His Byakugan was already activated, veins bulging sharply around his eyes.
His vision penetrated countless buildings and crossed streets, locking directly onto the forces directly under the Hokage.
Far too vast.
The chakra of over a hundred ninjas gathered together was practically like a sun burning in the dark night.
“What on earth has happened?” Cold sweat seeped from Hiashi Hyuga’s forehead.
Following the direction of this terrifying force, his vision likewise locked onto the former Senju compound.
“Hizashi.” Hiashi Hyuga deactivated his Byakugan, turning to look at his younger brother beside him.
“Bring the elite from the branch house. We’re following them.”
“Konoha’s weather is about to change.”
The response of the Ino-Shika-Cho clans was equally swift.
Shikaku Nara was currently staring blankly at the shogi board before him.
Choza Akimichi gripped a handful of potato chips, forgetting to stuff them into his mouth.
Inoichi Yamanaka kept his eyes closed, sensing the heavy atmosphere of slaughter wafting through the air.
“This aura of slaughter is far too heavy.”
“The Anbu are truly going all out this time.” Inoichi Yamanaka opened his eyes, his expression extraordinarily grave.
“Shikaku.”
“Should we go check it out?” Choza Akimichi dropped the chips back into the bag, dusting off his hands.
“What a pain.” Shikaku rubbed his messy hair, his face filled with annoyance.
“Let me see… Let me see…”
“Let’s go. The Hokage made such a massive disturbance. If our clans don’t show our faces, we’ll end up getting chewed out.”
Within a mere dozen or so minutes— the entirety of Konoha stirred into action.
Countless dark silhouettes bounded rapidly across rooftops.
Inuzuka clan.
Aburame clan.
Even several smaller clans dispatched representatives of their own.
Hiruzen Sarutobi marched at the very front of the procession.
Naturally, he sensed the tails following behind.
The heads of the major ninja clans, bringing their respective elites, trailed far behind the Anbu forces.
“Hokage-sama.”
“Should we dispatch someone to drive them away?” An Anbu squad leader stepped forward, keeping his voice low.
“No need.”
“Let them follow.” Hiruzen Sarutobi gently waved his hand.
His objective today was to probe Chiba’s stance.
If Chiba was an obedient, good boy, everything could be discussed smoothly.
But if Chiba proved to be a thorn in their side— then right before the eyes of every major clan in the village, he would pin the label of being lawless and intending to overthrow Konoha on Chiba.
A righteous cause.
It was always Hiruzen Sarutobi’s most convenient weapon.
As long as he seized the moral high ground— even if Chiba was a descendant of the Senju clan, and even if Chiba possessed immense strength, he would still become a public enemy of Konoha.
Meanwhile— at the former Senju clan compound.
Chiba stood in the center of the ruins.
He had already walked a complete circuit around the Senju compound.
Ruin.
Desolation.
The weeds grew taller than a person, even submerging many of the collapsed courtyard walls.
The premier clan that had founded Konoha Village had actually fallen into such a ghostly, dilapidated state.
Chiba shook his head.
This place was utterly uninhabitable.
Since it was entirely ruins— then tear it all down and rebuild it from scratch.
Just as Chiba prepared to raise his hand— from the surrounding forest and the edges of the ruins, extremely dense sounds of cutting through the air suddenly erupted.
Swish!
Swish!
Swish!
A vast number of ninjas appeared, surrounding the former Senju compound so tightly that not a drop of water could leak out.
The Hokage had arrived.
Hiruzen Sarutobi walked at the very front.
Behind him stood Danzo leaning on his cane, flanked by Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado.
Further back— stood the elite forces of the Anbu and Root, standing in full battle array.
The sound of blades unsheathing rang harshly against the night wind.
And on the rooftops and treetops further along the perimeter— Fugaku Uchiha, Hiashi Hyuga, Shikaku Nara, and the heads of various other clans landed one after another.
Everyone was sizing up the young man standing amid the ruins.
“Chiba!”
“This is the restricted territory of the Senju clan!”
“As Tsunade’s disciple, did your master never teach you the rules of the village?!”
Hiruzen Sarutobi stopped in his tracks.
Staring fixedly at Chiba’s back, he barked out sharply.
Infused with chakra, his voice detonated like thunder across the night sky.
The moment Hiruzen opened his mouth, he slammed down a heavy accusation.
He made absolutely no mention of the Senju bloodline, but instead sought to completely suppress Chiba from a position of moral superiority.
The clan heads along the perimeter looked at each other in surprise.
Tsunade’s disciple?
Fugaku Uchiha furrowed his brow, his Sharingan filled with deep suspicion.
When did Tsunade take on a disciple?
Hiashi Hyuga was equally perplexed.
Activating his Byakugan, he stared intently at Chiba.
Within this youth’s body…
What bizarre chakra!
Though calm like stagnant water, it gave him the illusion of facing a bottomless abyss!
Shikaku Nara stroked his chin, his brain turning rapidly.
Something was wrong.
The Hokage’s tone wasn’t right.
Rather than an interrogation, it felt more like a cover-up born of guilt.
This youth named Chiba was definitely far more than just Tsunade’s disciple!
Chiba slowly turned around.
He didn’t look at Hiruzen Sarutobi, nor did he look at the battle-ready Anbu.
His gaze passed over the crowd, continuing to take in the edges of the ruins, as if estimating the overall area of the compound.
Disregard.
Absolute, thorough disregard.
With the simplest gesture, Chiba delivered a stinging slap to Hiruzen Sarutobi’s face.
Hiruzen Sarutobi’s expression instantly stiffened.
The flood of rhetoric he had prepared choked right in his throat.
“Arrogant brat!”
Danzo couldn’t take it any longer.
In his sole eye flared an extraordinarily violent light.
The opportunity had arrived!
Hiruzen Sarutobi couldn’t bring himself to strike directly, but Danzo had no such reservations!
He slammed his cane hard against the ground, producing a heavy thud.
“Root, hear my command!”
“Take down this traitor who disregards the Hokage!”
“Dead or alive!”
Swish!
Swish!
Swish!
The instant the command was issued— dozens of dark figures wearing animal masks shot toward Chiba like arrows released from a bowstring.
Their speed was extreme to the absolute limit.
Explosive tags.
Kunai.
Shuriken.
Several ninjas even formed hand seals directly mid-air, spewing forth scorching Fire Release and fierce Wind Release techniques.
A sky-covering onslaught instantly blocked off all of Chiba’s avenues of retreat.
Shikaku Nara held his breath.
This was entirely an absolute kill formation.
That youth named Chiba wouldn’t even have time to form hand seals.
Was he a goner?