The next moment, Nara Shikaku’s Shadow Possession Technique spread across the ground, firmly binding the other two jonin in place.
At the same time, Yamanaka Inoichi launched his Mind Body Disturbance Technique, forcing the pair to steady their minds and dispel the genjutsu.
The current generation of Ino, Shika, and Chō had arrived together.
“Kurenai, fall back.” Shikaku’s voice was calm, without the slightest ripple.
His hands maintained their seal as his shadow held the enemy in place, his expression filled with caution.
He could clearly sense that the three Uchiha before him were all genuine elite jonin.
Every one of them was dangerous.
Tōka steadied himself and looked at the trio standing in front of Kurenai.
The killing intent in his eyes intensified.
Just as he was about to order an all out attack, another set of hurried footsteps echoed from the alley entrance.
Yakumi arrived with Yashiro, Yakoto, and the others, immediately taking position beside Tōka.
The numbers on both sides instantly became even.
The already tense atmosphere reached its breaking point.
The chakra filling the alley was stretched as tightly as a drawn bowstring.
One spark was all it would take to ignite it.
Shikaku’s frown deepened.
He hadn’t expected a second group of Uchiha elites to appear.
Each of them possessed chakra sharp enough to send chills down his spine.
Just as both sides were about to clash, a black figure silently landed on the rooftop above.
Uchiha Kei’s commanding voice rang out from overhead.
“Everyone, stop!
Retreat immediately!” Tōka looked up.
The killing intent in his eyes vanished the moment he saw Kei’s hand signal.
He understood.
If Kei had ordered a retreat, it meant everything at the clan compound was ready.
Continuing the fight here would only delay the clan’s greater plan.
He cast one cold glance at Shikaku’s group before waving his hand.
“Move!” More than a dozen figures turned at once.
Using the smoke as cover, they became blurs racing toward the Uchiha Clan compound.
Within only a few breaths, they disappeared into the darkness at the end of the alley.
Shikaku made no move to pursue.
He slowly lowered his hands and stared at the direction they had vanished, his brows tightly knitted.
He could tell that if the Uchiha had truly gone all out just now, even if his side had won, the cost would have been devastating.
Kurenai collapsed onto the ground, staring at Hayate Gekkō’s body lying in a pool of blood.
Her fingers trembled uncontrollably as a complicated sadness crossed her face.
No matter what, Hayate had once been her classmate at the Ninja Academy.
Inoichi closed his eyes and concentrated.
A moment later, he suddenly opened them, his face turning pale as he looked toward Shikaku.
“This is bad!
They’re all heading toward the Uchiha Clan compound!
And Root Headquarters’ laboratory has been destroyed!” Shikaku’s pupils shrank.
His heart skipped a beat as everything suddenly clicked into place.
This had never been an ordinary theft.
Nor was it simply a test before the Uchiha launched a rebellion.
From the very beginning…
Their objectives had been terrifyingly clear and every one of them had been played by those massive explosions.
The blazing fires dyed Konoha’s night sky a murky crimson.
Hiruzen Sarutobi led the remaining ANBU elites through shattered streets and boiling puddles, charging toward the Uchiha Clan compound like a madman.
The hem of his Hokage robe had been burned full of holes.
Smoke and blood stained his face.
The sea pipe he had carried for decades had long since disappeared during the frantic dash.
The warmth that usually filled his eyes was gone.
Only boundless fury and bone chilling coldness remained.
The Scroll of Seals had been stolen.
The Hashirama Cell samples had been taken.
Hayate Gekkō’s entire squad had been wiped out.
Half of Konoha had been reduced to ruins.
Each disaster struck his heart like a poisoned blade.
The Konoha he had protected his entire life had been completely outmaneuvered by the Uchiha right under his nose.
The moment he rounded the corner, he came to an abrupt stop.
The entire Uchiha Clan compound was now enclosed within an enormous crimson barrier.
Flaming patterns flowed across its surface.
It was the Uchiha Clan’s ultimate defensive formation.
The Blazing Sun Formation.
Even from dozens of meters away, the scorching heat made everyone’s skin tighten.
The air itself warped beneath the intense temperature.
Several desperate Root shinobi tried to force their way through.
The instant their fingers touched the barrier, blazing flames erupted, burning straight through their forehead protectors and uniforms.
They screamed as they collapsed to the ground.
Within moments, they were dead.
Shimura Danzō stood at the very front of the barrier.
His lone eye beneath the bandages stared unblinkingly into the formation.
The murderous aura surrounding him had nearly become tangible.
When he saw Hiruzen arrive, he turned sharply.
His voice was filled with decades of suppressed hatred and rage.
“Hiruzen!
Open your eyes and look!
This is the Uchiha you’ve protected your entire life!
This is the so called greater good you’ve always defended!” Hiruzen ignored his outburst.
His eyes remained fixed on the crimson barrier.
His fingers tightened until they turned white, his joints cracking audibly.
No one understood the Blazing Sun Formation better than he did.
It was the Uchiha Clan’s final safeguard against extermination.
Without the combined chakra of numerous powerful clan members, it could never be activated.
At that moment, another figure silently landed beside them.
Uchiha Itachi removed his ANBU cat mask.
His knuckles had turned pale from gripping it too tightly.
Not a trace of color remained on his face.
He had rushed all the way from the burning districts.
Every report he heard along the way struck him like another thunderbolt.
Hokage Rock had collapsed.
The Scroll of Seals had been stolen.
Root’s laboratory had been destroyed.
And now…
The Blazing Sun Formation stood before him, a barrier that could only be sustained through the united efforts of the entire Uchiha Clan.
He had always believed he held the key to balancing the clan and the village.
He believed he could protect both sides.
Only now did he finally realize…
He had been kept completely in the dark from beginning to end.
His scarlet Three Tomoe Sharingan emerged uncontrollably.
His eyes remained fixed on the barrier as his fingertips trembled.
At that moment, two figures slowly walked toward the edge of the barrier.
Separated by the blazing crimson flames, they looked out at everyone gathered outside.
The man in front was Uchiha Fugaku.
He had changed out of his usual plain kimono.
Instead, he wore the formal black haori of the Uchiha Clan Head.
The crimson fan crest on his chest blazed beneath the firelight.
The hesitation and restraint that had once defined him were gone.
Only absolute resolve remained.
His calm gaze met Hiruzen Sarutobi’s without the slightest trace of avoidance.
Standing beside him was eleven year old Shinsuke.
The young boy wore a light gray robe with his hands clasped behind his back.
His scarlet Three Tomoe Sharingan slowly revolved.
His gaze swept over Hiruzen’s ashen face, shifted to the murderous Danzō, and finally settled on the pale faced Itachi.
A mocking smile slowly curved across his lips.