Immediately after, Nara Shikaku’s Shadow Imitation Technique instantly spread over, firmly binding the feet of the other two Jonin, while Inoichi Yamanaka’s Mind Invasion struck simultaneously, forcing the two to hold their breath and focus their minds to break the genjutsu.
The current generation of Ino–Shika–Chō had appeared together.
“Kurenai, get back.” Shikaku’s voice was calm without a hint of a ripple.
His hands maintained the hand seal, his shadow firmly locking the opponent’s movements, his eyes filled with gravity.
He could clearly sense that the three Uchiha before him were all genuine Elite Jonin, none of whom were to be trifled with.
Tōka steadied himself, looking at the Ino–Shika–Chō trio blocking Kurenai Yuhi.
The killing intent in his eyes intensified.
Just as he was about to order an all-out attack, a sudden flurry of hurried footsteps came from the alley entrance.
Uchiha Yakumi arrived at the alley entrance with Yashiro, Yakugo, and the rest, instantly taking positions beside Tōka.
The numbers on both sides were now even, and the tension reached a breaking point.
The Chakra in the alley was as taut as a fully drawn bowstring; a single spark would set it off.
Shikaku’s brow furrowed even tighter.
He hadn’t expected a second group of Uchiha elites, and the Chakra of each one was so sharp it made his scalp tingle.
Just as both sides were about to clash, a dark figure landed silently atop the alley wall.
Uchiha Kai’s voice, carrying an unquestionable command, came from above: “Stop!
Retreat immediately!”
Tōka snapped his head up, saw Kai’s hand signal, and the killing intent in his eyes instantly vanished.
He knew that since Kai had ordered a retreat, it meant the clan compound was ready.
Lingering here would only delay the clan’s grand plan.
He gave Shikaku’s group a cold sweep of his eyes and, without hesitation, waved his hand: “Go!”
Over a dozen figures turned simultaneously, instantly turning into afterimages.
Under the cover of dust and smoke, they sped toward the Uchiha Clan Compound, disappearing at the end of the alley in just a few breaths.
Shikaku did not order a pursuit.
He slowly released his hand seal and stared in the direction they had vanished, his brow knitted into a knot.
He could sense that if the opponents had truly gone all out just now, even if they had won, they would have paid a heavy price.
Kurenai Yuhi sat slumped on the ground, looking at Gekkō Hayate in the pool of blood.
Her fingertips wouldn’t stop trembling, and a flash of complex sorrow crossed her face.
Regardless, Hayate was her classmate from the Ninja Academy.
Inoichi closed his eyes to sense for a moment, then snapped them open, looking at Shikaku with a pale face: “This is bad!
They’ve all headed toward the Uchiha Clan Compound!
Also, the laboratory at the Root base has been blown up!”
Shikaku’s pupils constricted, his heart skipping a beat as he suddenly understood something.
This wasn’t a simple theft, nor was it a test for an Uchiha rebellion.
From the very beginning, their objective had been terrifyingly clear.
And all of them had been played for fools by that earth-shattering explosion.
The firelight across the sky dyed Konoha’s night a murky blood-red.
Hiruzen Sarutobi, leading the remaining Anbu elites, stepped over rubble and scalding puddles, rushing toward the Uchiha Clan Compound like a madman.
The hem of his Hokage robe was riddled with holes from sparks, and his face was smeared with soot and blood.
The Sea Willow Pipe he had clutched for half his life had long since been lost during the rush.
His eyes, which usually held a gentle smile, now contained only heaven-shaking fury and a bone-chilling coldness.
The scroll of seals stolen, Hashirama cells samples snatched, Gekkō Hayate’s team wiped out, half of Konoha turned to ruins…
each incident was like a poisoned blade stabbing deep into his heart.
The Konoha he had guarded his whole life had been played for fools by the Uchiha right under his nose.
Just as he rounded a street corner, the sight before him made him stop dead in his tracks.
The entire Uchiha Clan Compound was completely encased within a giant, crimson barrier.
Flaming patterns flowed across the barrier’s walls; it was the Uchiha Clan’s ultimate defensive formation—the Flame Sun Array.
Even from dozens of meters away, the scorching heat waves made one’s skin feel tight.
The air was distorted by the high temperature.
A few desperate Root Ninjas who tried to force their way in had their Headbands and uniforms scorched through by sudden flames the moment their fingertips touched the edge.
They fell to the ground screaming and were silenced instantly.
Danzo Shimura stood at the very front of the barrier, his single eye beneath the bandages staring fixedly into the interior, his aura of malice almost solidifying.
Seeing Hiruzen Sarutobi arrive, he snapped his head around, his voice full of decades of suppressed resentment and rage: “Hiruzen!
Open your eyes and look!
This is the Uchiha you’ve protected your whole life!
This is the ‘big picture’ you’re always talking about!”
Hiruzen Sarutobi ignored his roar, his gaze fixed on that crimson barrier.
His knuckles turned white from gripping so hard, making a cracking sound.
He knew the power of the Flame Sun Array all too well.
This was the Uchiha’s trump card used to resist the destruction of their clan.
Without a massive infusion of Chakra from many people, it was impossible to activate.
Just then, a figure landed silently beside the two of them.
Uchiha Itachi took off his Anbu cat mask, his knuckles white from tension, his face devoid of color.
He had rushed all the way from the fire.
The news he heard along the way was like one thunderclap after another, leaving his mind a blank—the Hokage Rock collapsed into rubble, the scroll of seals stolen, the Root laboratory destroyed, and now this Flame Sun Array, which required the united effort of the entire clan to sustain.
He had always thought he held the key to balancing the clan and the Village, that he could protect everything in the cracks between them.
But at this moment, he finally saw clearly that he had been kept completely in the dark from start to finish.
His crimson Three-Tomoe Sharingan swirled uncontrollably as his gaze locked onto the barrier, his fingertips trembling incessantly.
At that moment, two figures within the barrier slowly walked to its edge.
Across the surging flame patterns, they looked out at the crowd from afar.
Walking in front was Uchiha Fugaku.
He had taken off the plain Kimono he usually wore and changed into the formal black Haori of the Uchiha Clan leader.
The Uchiwa Family Crest on his chest was a piercing red under the firelight.
The past endurance and hesitation were gone from his face, replaced only by the resolve of one who had burnt his bridges.
His gaze calmly swept over Hiruzen Sarutobi outside the barrier without the slightest flinch.
Beside him stood the eleven-year-old Uchiha Xia Yin.
The youth wore a light gray robe, hands behind his back.
His crimson Three-Tomoe Sharingan spun slowly in his eyes.
His gaze first swept over the ashen-faced Hiruzen Sarutobi, then past the malicious Danzo, finally landing on the pale Itachi, his lips curling into an unabashed sneer.
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