The moment the order was given, the Root shinobi surrounding the barrier sprang into action.
Countless jutsu slammed into the barrier wall.
Fire Release: Great Fire Annihilation, Wind Release: Great Breakthrough, Earth Release: Earth Flow River, along with a dense barrage of explosive tags, rained down upon the crimson Blazing Sun Formation.
Explosions echoed one after another as dust filled the sky and waves of scorching heat rolled outward.
Yet the crimson barrier stood as firm as forged steel.
Instead, the flaming patterns across its surface burned even brighter under the relentless assault.
Several Root shinobi who got too close were instantly swallowed by the rebounding flames, their screams ringing through the battlefield.
No matter how frenzied Root’s attacks became, the Blazing Sun Formation remained completely unmoved.
A deadlock barrier that required twelve hours to break was never going to fall to a brief bombardment.
Standing amid the swirling dust, Hiruzen Sarutobi stared at the unshaken barrier, then at the Uchiha clansmen calmly making their way toward the underground chamber.
Listening to the endless stream of urgent reports from the border, all the strength seemed to drain from his body.
He staggered and caught himself against a broken wall, barely managing to stay upright.
Only endless despair and regret remained in his eyes.
At last, he understood.
From the very beginning, he had fallen into the trap Uchiha Shinsuke had laid.
The devastating explosions.
The Scroll of Seals.
Even Kumogakure’s surprise attack.
Every single move had been calculated by an eleven year old boy and both he and all of Konoha had been led around by the nose.
Inside the barrier, Shinsuke stood before the teleportation array, watching the last group of clansmen step into the blue light.
He then turned toward the barrier, where Itachi stood with a deathly pale face, his Mangekyō Sharingan fixed on him.
A cold smile spread across Shinsuke’s face.
He slowly drew a finger across his throat.
Then he turned away and stepped into the deep blue light alongside Fugaku, Kei, and the others.
The light flared brilliantly before disappearing in an instant.
The entire Uchiha Clan Compound fell into silence.
Only the empty Blazing Sun Formation remained, its flames still burning fiercely, while outside the barrier, Konoha’s leaders could do nothing but watch in helpless rage.
The deafening bombardment outside the barrier continued without pause.
The explosions of colliding jutsu, Danzō’s furious roars, and the crashing of shattered stone blended into endless chaos.
Yet the crimson barrier merely rippled with each impact.
Not a single crack appeared.
Blazing fire flowed along the barrier’s patterns, blocking every attack like an impregnable fortress and giving the Uchiha an absolutely secure window to evacuate.
There was no panic.
No crying.
Not even hurried footsteps.
Along the stone roads of the clan compound, the Uchiha clansmen advanced in orderly rows toward the underground chamber beneath Naka Shrine.
At the front were the elderly, women, and children.
Women carrying infants held them close as they walked with calm, steady steps.
The clan elders, supported by younger relatives, carried ancestral tablets wrapped tightly in embroidered cloth, their backs perfectly straight.
Even children who had only recently awakened a single tomoe carried packs filled with food supplies as they quietly followed the line without a single complaint.
Behind them came the younger shinobi pushing sealed storage chests.
Inside were the clan’s ninjutsu scrolls, secret inheritances, and the gold and supplies obtained from selling off their assets.
Every step they took was steady.
Guarding both flanks were the elite members of Uchiha Kei’s Police Force.
Their Three Tomoe Sharingan rotated slowly as they watched every direction with vigilance, yet none of them looked tense.
As long as the Blazing Sun Formation remained, no one outside would ever set foot inside.
Even Uchiha Setsuna, who had always opposed Fugaku, now stood at the rear of the formation with his followers, maintaining order during the evacuation.
When Mikoto passed by carrying her child, he even stepped aside and gave the clan head’s wife a respectful nod.
The factional disputes and ideological differences of the past had completely vanished before the survival of the entire clan.
Inside the underground chamber, the blue light of the teleportation array flowed like a tranquil sea of stars.
Standing at its entrance, Shinsuke held the clan roster in his hand.
His crimson Three Tomoe Sharingan swept over every figure entering the light.
Each time another group was confirmed, he gave a slight nod to the clansman recording beside him.
There wasn’t the slightest trace of anxiety on his face.
Even his fingers remained perfectly steady.
The chaos outside seemed completely unrelated to him.
Fugaku stood beside him, watching clan member after clan member disappear into the blue light.
Complex emotions churned within his eyes.
He had protected this clan compound for his entire life.
From his passionate youth to the countless compromises he had made as clan head, every blade of grass and every brick carried the memories of half his lifetime.
Yet now, he had no desire to look back.
He simply accepted the roster Shinsuke handed him and carefully crossed off the names of each clansman who had safely evacuated, his hand never wavering.
“The elderly, women, and children have all been transported,” Uchiha Yakoto reported as he hurried over.
“The supplies and inheritance scrolls have all been transferred as well.
Nothing was left behind.” Shinsuke gave a slight nod.
“Have the younger shinobi enter in groups.
The elites will cover the rear.” The order was passed down.
The line remained perfectly orderly.
Ten people entered the teleportation array at a time.
The blue light flashed again and again before fading.
The number of people inside the chamber steadily decreased, yet absolute silence remained.
Outside, the attacks only became more violent.
Danzō even joined the assault himself.
Blades of wind crashed against the barrier, exploding into blazing fire, yet the Blazing Sun Formation remained as immovable as ever.
The Barrier Squad repeatedly shook their heads at Hiruzen Sarutobi, their faces pale.
The twelve hour dismantling time could not be shortened by even a single second.
There were no shortcuts.
They could only watch helplessly as the Uchiha calmly completed their evacuation without showing the slightest hint of panic.
Half an hour later, more than half of the clan compound was empty.
After the last group of ordinary clansmen entered the teleportation array, only Shinsuke, Fugaku, Uchiha Kei, Uchiha Tōka, Uchiha Yashiro, and more than twenty elite jonin remained inside the chamber.
“My Lord, every clansman has been transported safely.
No one was left behind.” Kei closed the roster, dropped to one knee, and spoke with barely restrained excitement.
A pale blue system screen quietly appeared before Shinsuke.
The beginner mission progress bar steadily climbed to one hundred percent.
[Beginner Mission Completed.
The System has been fully unlocked.
Beginner Gift Pack Distributed.] Shinsuke raised his head for one final look outside the barrier.
Through the blazing flames, he could clearly see Hiruzen Sarutobi’s ashen face, Danzō’s twisted expression, and Itachi standing at the very front, his Mangekyō Sharingan locked onto him while his entire body trembled.