[TU] 11: Chapter 11: Explosions, Chaos, The First Step Complete!
[TU] Meanwhile, inside Root Headquarters’ command room, Danzō stared at the surveillance feed showing Konoha engulfed in flames, then looked toward the Uchiha compound, which remained completely motionless.
His lone eye was filled with both fury and disbelief.
“Lord Danzō!
The administrative district has been bombed!
Lord Hokage has already led the ANBU to put out the fires!
What should we do?!
Do we continue surrounding the Uchiha, or go reinforce them?!” A squad captain rushed before him, panic evident in his voice.
Danzō clenched his fists.
Veins bulged beneath the bandages wrapped around his arm, while the Sharingan embedded in it twitched violently.
He knew he had fallen into their trap.
The explosions were a classic diversion, meant to lure Konoha’s defensive forces away and create an opening for the Uchiha.
Yet according to the surveillance, the Uchiha compound remained completely quiet.
There wasn’t even the slightest abnormal chakra fluctuation.
He had no excuse to strike.
“Idiots!
Why are you panicking?!” He let out a furious roar, his lone eye filled with sinister malice.
“Pass down my orders!
The outer blockade is not to move!
Continue surrounding the Uchiha.
Not even a fly is allowed to escape!” “The rest of you, come with me to the administrative district!
I want to see exactly what tricks those Uchiha are trying to play!” At that very moment, beneath the shadow of Hokage Rock, Uchiha Ye quietly lowered the detonator in his hand as he looked over the Konoha that had descended into complete chaos.
A scarlet Three Tomoe Sharingan flashed across his eyes.
Following the predetermined route, he silently made his way toward the Hokage Building.
The first step of the plan…
Was complete.
The entire village had been consumed by explosions and panic.
No one noticed that deep beneath Naka Shrine, inside the underground chamber hidden within the heavily surrounded Uchiha compound, the massive teleportation array had already begun to glow with a faint blue light.
The thunder of explosions continued to echo through Konoha’s streets.
Danzō had already left Root Headquarters with his two personal guards, his lone eye beneath the bandages fixed firmly on the Uchiha compound as crimson light flickered within it.
He knew it all too well.
The explosions were the Uchiha’s doing.
They were using a diversion to drag Konoha’s defensive forces into the burning city and create an opportunity to break through.
“Pass down my absolute order!” He suddenly stopped and roared at the messenger behind him, killing intent almost solidifying into a tangible force.
“All Root members operating outside are to abandon the fire rescue immediately and converge on the Uchiha compound!” “Fully activate all three layers of the blockade.
Have the barrier teams deploy a full scale sealing barrier immediately.
Seal everything, even twenty meters beneath the ground!” “If anyone from the Uchiha dares take a single step outside the compound…” “Kill them without exception!” “Lord Danzō…
what about Lord Hokage’s orders…?” The messenger hesitated for a brief moment.
“Lord Hokage has his considerations.
I have my own methods!” Danzō suddenly turned around.
The savagery in his lone eye frightened the messenger into immediately lowering his head.
“If anything happens, I’ll bear the responsibility myself!” “Carry out the order!” His commands spread across every Root outpost like a rising tide.
Root shinobi who had originally been scattered throughout Konoha instantly abandoned the firefighting efforts and gathered toward the Uchiha compound like a black tide.
The number of guard posts doubled in an instant.
The barrier teams rapidly formed hand seals.
A pale purple sealing barrier rose along the walls of the Uchiha compound, extending high into the sky until even the air above was completely enclosed.
The Uchiha compound had truly become an airtight fortress.
Root shinobi wearing animal masks pressed themselves against the edge of the barrier, their kunai already drawn as they watched every inch of movement inside the Uchiha compound.
They waited for the slightest opening.
The moment anyone slipped up, they would swarm in and tear the target apart.
Meanwhile, at the very center of the disaster, Hiruzen Sarutobi had just raised an Earth Release: Earth Flow Wall to block the falling boulders crashing toward a group of children.
The scorching smoke made him cough without end.
The sea willow pipe in his hand had already been crushed into splinters.
Wood chips mixed with burning embers fell to the ground, but he didn’t even notice.
All he could hear were the villagers’ cries…
The thunder of collapsing buildings…
And the anxious shouts of the medical shinobi.
He had served as Hokage for his entire life.
He had protected Konoha for his entire life.
Yet he had never seen the village descend into such chaos.
Hokage Rock had collapsed.
Half the commercial district had become ruins.
Countless villagers had lost their homes, while many more remained buried beneath the rubble.
“Lord Hokage!
The fire in the western residential district is spreading out of control!
The wind is blowing it farther!” “Lord Hokage!
The Medical Corps is running out of bandages and medicine!” “Lord Hokage!
More Explosive Tags are still detonating throughout the village!
We can’t locate them fast enough!” One urgent report after another struck his ears.
Hiruzen took a deep breath filled with smoke and gunpowder, suppressing the overwhelming rage surging inside his chest.
He suddenly raised his head toward the ANBU squad captain beside him, his hoarse voice carrying unquestionable authority.
“Pass down my orders!” “All Chunin, Genin, and every non combat shinobi are to assist with civilian evacuation and firefighting immediately!” “Every Security Force unit stationed in the surrounding towns is to establish temporary shelters and gather the displaced civilians!” “The Medical Corps is to save the wounded at all costs!
If medical supplies run short, open the Hokage Storehouse immediately!” He paused before turning his gaze toward the Uchiha compound.
It remained deathly silent.
The contrast between that eerie calm and the blazing inferno behind him was almost unbearable.
He knew that this had been the Uchiha’s true objective all along.
To keep him trapped inside the burning village.
To leave him unable to act elsewhere.
“All remaining ANBU elites and every member of the Jonin Corps are to proceed to the Uchiha compound immediately!” His voice turned ice cold as he gave the next order.
“Coordinate with Root and place the entire Uchiha compound under complete lockdown!” “Without my written authorization, no one is permitted to enter or leave, regardless of age or gender!” “If the Uchiha show any signs of gathering forces or attempting a breakout, suppress them immediately without waiting for my approval!” “Yes, Lord Hokage!” The ANBU squad captain accepted the order and immediately led the few dozen remaining ANBU elites racing toward the Uchiha compound.
More than a dozen elite Jonin from the Jonin Corps also assembled at once.
They rushed through Konoha’s streets before joining Root’s blockade, adding yet another layer to the already impenetrable encirclement outside the barrier.
The entire village had been forcibly split into two worlds.
One half was a sea of flames and desperate cries, where countless shinobi raced through the inferno to rescue trapped civilians.
The other half was the Uchiha compound, sealed behind two layers of blockade and a gigantic barrier.
Inside…
Everything was unnaturally silent.
Not a single light.
Not the slightest ripple of chakra.
It resembled a monstrous beast lurking within the darkness.
Though surrounded on every side, it still filled every shinobi standing outside with an inexplicable sense of dread.
Standing at the very front of the barrier, Danzō’s lone eye burned with greed and ruthless anticipation.
He could hardly wait any longer.
The instant there was the slightest movement from inside…
He would personally lead Root into the compound…
And exterminate the entire Uchiha Clan.