Several days later, a major incident occurred that shook the entire Village—
An envoy from Kumogakure had died in Konoha!
He had been killed by the head of the Hyūga Clan, Hyūga Hiashi.
Although the Hyūga Clan explained the situation to the Village, stating that the intruder was masked and had attempted to kidnap the eldest daughter of the main branch.
Kumogakure clamored for Konoha to hand over the culprit’s corpse, threatening war otherwise.
Anyone could hear the lack of logic and the sheer unreasonableness in their demands.
Yet, faced with Kumogakure’s nonsense, the Konoha higher-ups remained collectively silent…
Danzō and the others repeatedly emphasized the importance of the Village’s safety and peace!
Hiruzen Sarutobi personally arrived at the Hyūga Clan Grounds.
But he kept his pipe in his mouth the entire time and said nothing, merely watching as the brothers, Hyūga Hiashi and Hyūga Hizashi, argued over who should die…
In the end, Hyūga Hizashi acted first and took his own life…
There was no other way; the Hyūga Clan was simply too strong.
Previously, it was only known that Hyūga Hizashi was powerful, but this incident also exposed the strength of the clan head, Hyūga Hiashi.
Hyūga Hiashi was actually able to instantly kill a Jōnin from Kumogakure!?
And most importantly… the Hyūga Clan did not belong to the Hokage faction!
…
The news of the Hyūga Clan killing the Kumogakure envoy and the culprit, Hyūga Hizashi, paying with his life, was like a giant boulder thrown into the seemingly calm lake of Konoha, creating massive waves and quickly drowning out the whispers about the Uchiha Clan in the streets.
The entire Village’s attention seemed to be dragged toward the Hyūga Clan Grounds overnight.
Tension, suspicion, anger, sorrow… complex emotions filled the air.
Ordinary villagers were terrified of the coming war.
The various Ninja clans, however, felt injustice and a chill at the Hyūga Clan’s sacrifice—
Even a clan as powerful as the Hyūga had to bow before the “Village’s big picture,” even paying the price with a life.
Within the Uchiha Clan Grounds, the atmosphere was equally subtle.
Many clansmen whispered privately, filled with the dread of those who mourn their own kind’s fate.
Even the typically hawkish faction had temporarily quieted their voices.
The example of the Hyūga was too vivid, too cruel; it was like a bucket of ice water poured over the heads of those blinded by radical emotions.
“Even the Byakugan clan is like this… what about us…”
Similar whispers were quietly passed under every roof.
Uchiha Tianti stood in his courtyard, looking up at the square patch of sky cut out by the high walls.
When the news arrived, his heart skipped a beat, followed by a surge of absurd chill.
As expected… the way they handled problems was so familiar.
Sacrifice the individual, quell the incident, and maintain the so-called “big picture.”
The Hyūga’s sacrifice might not necessarily bring true peace, but it would certainly give other Ninja clans, especially the Uchiha, a silent warning: do not challenge the Village’s “Will of Fire.”
Immediately after, a thought uncontrollably popped up:
An opportunity!
The attention of the Konoha higher-ups, the Anbu, and even the elites of Root must be heavily focused on the Hyūga side right now.
Would there be a gap in the surveillance of the Uchiha?
Once this thought arose, it spread like a wildfire.
Uchiha Tianti knew the risk was immense, but the crisis of clan annihilation hung over his head like the Sword of Damocles, making him feel like he was sitting on pins and needles every day.
His sister’s innocent smiling face and his mother’s increasingly haggard appearance all transformed into a heavy driving force.
He had to try!
As long as he could successfully escape Konoha, then the Konoha higher-ups would definitely spare his sister’s life to use as a bargaining chip!
He didn’t tell anyone, not even his family.
He just made an excuse to go to the forest on the outskirts of the training ground for personal training.
This was not an abrupt excuse.
He carried a small Ninja tool pouch on his back, filled with various training tools.
He forced himself to maintain his normal state, his pace neither fast nor slow, his Chakra stable.
After entering the forest, he first symbolically practiced shuriken and basic Taijutsu for a while, then gradually moved deeper into the forest, slowly increasing his speed.
With his perception fully open, Uchiha Tianti could not help but feel a chill inwardly.
Two teams…
About fifty meters to his rear-left, following steadily.
Another team was alternating stealthily through the tree crowns further to the right.
Compared to before, the number of people seemed to… not have decreased?
The vigilance was even higher!?
Uchiha Tianti’s heart sank, but he did not stop.
Go for it!
Utilizing the terrain and shadows of the forest, he began to attempt more complex movement trajectories, sprinting rapidly at times, stopping suddenly at others, using trees and bushes for brief visual concealment.
At the same time, he quietly took out several miniature smoke bombs from his Ninja tool pouch—
These were things he had purchased privately over the years; the effect wasn’t strong, but perhaps they could create a few seconds of interference.
In a dimly lit ravine, he instantly threw the smoke bombs.
At the same time, he hung a coat on a branch he had pre-set in another direction, then held his breath and restrained his Chakra to the limit, curling up like a stone into a shallow pit under a rotten tree root, quickly covering himself with fallen leaves.
His heartbeat was like a drum.
Five seconds…
Ten seconds…
The Anbu team to the rear-left quickly approached the direction where he had created the fake disturbance, pausing briefly to investigate.
The team on the right also seemed to have their attention drawn, their movement trajectory shifting.
Now!
Uchiha Tianti shot out like an arrow from a bow, silently dashing in the opposite direction, pushing his speed to the limit as he raced away from the Village.
His figure became a blurred shadow among the trees.
Three hundred meters…
Five hundred meters…
Eight hundred meters…
Just as he thought there might truly be a gap, and a faint glimmer of hope just rose in his heart—
On the trunk of a giant tree ahead, like ink dripping into clear water, a figure wearing an animal mask slowly emerged.
There was no killing intent, just standing there quietly, blocking the path.
Swish, swish, swish!
Almost simultaneously, three other figures flashed rapidly from the left, right, and rear, forming a perfect encirclement.
They appeared without any warning, as if they had been waiting there all along.
It was not the standard Anbu mask style.
It was Root!
Uchiha Tianti slammed on the brakes, his heart instantly turning cold.
He slowly turned around, looking at these four Root Ninja who were silent like puppets.
Their Chakra was cold and uniform; their eyes, visible through the mask holes, had not a ripple of emotion, only the indifference of executing a mission.
One of them stepped forward half a step, their voice flat and emotionless, with no discernible age or emotion:
“Uchiha Tianti, the training area has exceeded the permitted range; please return to the clan grounds immediately.”
There was no questioning, no threats, and not even a mention of his little tricks from just now.
Just stating a fact, issuing an order.
Uchiha Tianti stood where he was, his fingers digging deep into his palms, sweat soaking the clothes on his back.
He could feel that the Chakra levels of any one of these four people far exceeded his own.
Working together, he had absolutely no chance of winning, and wouldn’t even have the chance to send out a proper warning!
However, he also felt a secret sense of relief inwardly…
Perhaps the rhythm really had been disrupted; Root actually didn’t make a move to kill him…
This should count as a stroke of luck amidst misfortune.
The blood of the Hyūga did not bring about a relaxation of the surveillance on the Uchiha; instead, it acted like a warning bell, pulling that string even tighter?