Shin nodded slightly as the pale blue system light screen quietly emerged before his eyes.
The progress bar for the novice task had already jumped to 95%, with only one final step remaining.
He looked up toward the depths of the secret chamber, where a massive teleportation array had already been constructed.
He had personally carved the array patterns stroke by stroke according to the coordinates provided by the system, waiting only for the final injection of Chakra to open the gate to the New World.
“Has the array been checked?”
“Three times, without a single error.
The peripheral defensive and trapping arrays are also complete.
Even if the Hokage leads the Anbu in a full-scale assault, it can hold them off for at least six shichen.”
Shin gave a hum of affirmation, his fingertips lightly tapping the stone table as a cold, crimson glint flashed in the depths of his eyes.
Over the past month, Hiruzen Sarutobi’s arrogance, Fugaku’s cooperation, and even Uchiha Itachi’s repeated futile probing had all been within his expectations.
Fugaku’s initiative to hand over the Police Force and request Anbu surveillance wasn’t an act of submission; it was a reassurance meant to placate Hiruzen Sarutobi.
It made him believe that surrounding and blockading them from all sides would give him control over everything, yet he forgot that the Uchiha’s true trump card was never on the overt streets of the clan grounds, but within this Naka Shrine that he could not enter at all.
As for that contract to be handed over a month later, it was a backup plan he had left behind.
By the time Konoha realized what happened, they would have long since flown far away.
When the Daimyo’s people arrived with the contract to take over the properties, even if Konoha wanted to pursue them, they would first have to argue it out with the Land of Fire’s Daimyo.
That would be enough time for them to establish a firm foothold in the New World.
“Young Master, about Itachi…” Kai spoke up hesitantly.
“Don’t worry about him.” Shin waved his hand, his tone indifferent.
“Fugaku will handle it.
If he’s willing to die with Konoha, that’s his own choice.
We don’t have time to waste on him.”
He walked to the entrance of the secret chamber and pushed open the stone door.
The late autumn night wind blew in, swirling with maple leaves.
At the distant clan boundary, the lights of the Anbu sentry posts were clearly visible, and the silhouette of the Hokage Building loomed indistinctly in the darkness.
Less than eleven months remained until the Night of the Clan Massacre from the original story.
And only three days remained until they would completely leave this land, which had buried countless amounts of Uchiha blood and hatred.
All preparations were complete.
A few minutes later, the lights in the underground secret chamber of Naka Shrine reflected off the stone walls, bathing the room in a cold, hard light.
Uchiha Xia Yin stood before a stone platform, with a solemn-faced Uchiha Fugaku by his side.
Below the platform, sixteen figures sat cross-legged.
Their Chakra was perfectly restrained, yet they could not hide the sharp aura of those long-tempered by the battlefield—
Six Elite Jonin who had awakened the Three-Tomoe Sharingan, and ten Jonin who possessed at least the Two-Tomoe; these were the top-tier combat forces kept in reserve by the Uchiha Clan.
The six leading the group were Uchiha Taohuo, Uchiha Tekka, Uchiha Yashiro, Uchiha Yakumi, Uchiha Kai, and Uchiha Yakugo.
Any one of them was a formidable character capable of holding their own in the Ninja World.
“Has the news outside been spread?” Shin placed the secret scroll in his hand onto the stone platform and looked up at Fugaku, his fingertips lightly tapping the edge of the scroll.
“Everything has been handled as you instructed.” Fugaku nodded immediately, his voice kept very low.
“The news of our confrontation with the Village has been spread through the border merchant caravans.
Iwagakure and Kumogakure have both shown movement.
Especially the Fourth Raikage, A, who has already assembled a defense force at the border, just waiting for Konoha to fall into chaos so he can take the opportunity to take a bite.”
Shin nodded slightly and turned around.
His gaze swept over the sixteen upright figures below, and his originally indifferent tone suddenly grew heavy, carrying an unquestionable weight.
“The upcoming operation is no small matter.
It concerns whether our Uchiha can escape the curse of the Sharingan in the future, whether we can allow more clansmen to awaken their eyes, and even reach the Mangekyo or even stronger realms.
Therefore, I ask all of you here to please give your absolute all; there must not be a single mistake.”
As soon as he finished speaking, the sixteen people straightened their backs in unison.
Their voices were kept extremely low but carried a desperate determination as they shouted in unison, “Please give us your orders, Young Master Shin!”
“Uchiha Kai!”
“Present!”
Uchiha Kai immediately took a half-step forward and knelt on one knee.
The Three-Tomoe Sharingan flashed briefly in his eyes as he responded in a deep voice.
“From this day forward, take two men and lie in wait beneath the Hokage Rock.
Three days from now, during the Hour of the Ox, detonate all the Explosive Tags planted by Genno in the predetermined order—”
“Blow up the Hokage Rock first, then the peripheral residential areas, and finally charge into the Hokage Administrative Zone.
After the explosions, immediately suppress all your presence and move to the outside of the Hokage Building to provide backup.
You are not allowed to linger for combat or cause unnecessary trouble.
Do you understand?”
“Understood!
I guarantee the mission will be completed!”
“Taohuo!
Tekka!”
“Present!”
The two took a half-step forward together and bowed in response.
“After nightfall tomorrow, each of you will take two men, avoid all Anbu eyes, and hide around the perimeter of the Hokage Building.
Once Kai’s Explosive Tags go off in three days and draw Hiruzen Sarutobi away, you will immediately infiltrate the underground secret chamber of the Hokage Building.
Your target is only one—the scroll of seals.”
Shin’s tone paused, his gaze fixed intensely on their faces as he spoke word for word, “I don’t care what method you use, the primary objective is that you must obtain the complete scroll for the Flying Thunder God Technique, followed by the Edo Tensei.
If the situation isn’t right, the Wood Release and Eight Branches Technique that follow can all be abandoned.
Even if you only get the Flying Thunder God, you must evacuate immediately; you must not stay for even one extra second!”
“After you withdraw, first regroup with Kai, wait for news from Yashiro and the others, and finally contact the Ninja Cat Clan with whom we signed the contract to return to the clan grounds using the Reverse Summoning Jutsu.
Is that clear?”
“Yes!
I guarantee the mission will be completed!”
“Yashiro!
Yakumi!
Yakugo!”
“Present!”
The three stepped forward in response, their eyes filled with solemnity.
“The three of you will take the remaining five men and hide around the perimeter of the Root base after nightfall tomorrow.
Once the Explosive Tags detonate and Danzo leads the main force of Root out to maintain stability, you will immediately slip into the base.
Three objectives: live samples of Hashirama cells, core data on cell proliferation, and all related experimental data.”
Shin’s tone softened slightly, yet it still carried an unquestionable bottom line: “Remember, the live Hashirama cells are a mandatory order; you must get them.
As for the remaining two items, if there is even the slightest risk in taking them, abandon them immediately and turn back.
You are not allowed to engage or get entangled with anyone.”
“Keep this well in mind: every single one of you is a spark of the Uchiha, more precious than any scroll or data.
The mission must succeed, but you must also return to me in one piece.
Do you understand?”
“Understood!
Please rest assured, Young Master Shin!
We will not fail the family’s trust!”