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[NTU] [ARC-19] Chapter : 244
🕑 Added 2025-01-23 20:13:01 +0000 UTCThe glow from the Kusanagi sword in Toshiro's hand cast sharp, cold light across his face. Danzo tensed. Danzo's Mangekyo might indeed be a dangerous weapon, but he was no little fish to get easily fall for it.
Even if Toshiro was confident, Danzo knew his own Sharingan wasn’t entirely defenseless.
“This boy…”
Danzo’s gaze fixed on the three tomoe spinning ominously in Toshiro’s Sharingan. Unease rippled through his mind as he analyzed the situation. Was Toshiro bluffing, or did he truly have a strategy?
Then, an even more chilling thought struck him: Could it be that he had awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan?
Danzo’s face twisted with uncertainty and dread. If Toshiro had indeed unlocked such a power, the implications were dire.
“And to make matters worse…” he muttered under his breath, “My Mangekyo has only a few limited uses left!”
Danzo briefly glanced at the faint chakra glow surrounding Fugaku in the distance before quickly averting his eyes, a shadow of unease falling over his heart.
He recognized it immediately. He had seen something similar when Shisui’s chakra flared. Although the hue was slightly different, the energy felt almost identical.
But… when had that bastard Fugaku unlocked his Mangekyō eyes?
If Fugaku had awakened his Sharingan, then… had Uchiha Toshiro done the same? And with the added power of the opponent's Sage Mode...
“Tsk, tsk, tsk! Your subordinates are truly loyal,” Toshiro muttered with a sneer.
With a swift slash, he cleaved through the Root member who had been blocking his path. Toshiro felt a flicker of regret for their sacrifice, but he quickly pushed it aside, focusing his attention back on Danzo.
"This time... there’s no Sandaime, no Minato… You're dead tonight!"
The Kusanagi sword, glowing with a white light, pointed forward. With no obstacles in his path, Toshiro's cold, indifferent gaze settled on the figure just a few meters away from him.
The chaotic sound of footsteps echoed in the air.
Kakashi, fully equipped, stood in the familiar streets, feeling a sense of disorientation.
He knew this road well. At the end of it stood the Uchiha clan's compound. As a child, he had often traveled this path, searching for a certain someone who was always late.
But the orders he had received tonight left him confused.
He wasn’t sure how to face the situation ahead.
"Senpai, we…"
Not just Kakashi, but Yamato and several other subordinates standing nearby shared the same bewildered expressions.
Although they were ANBU, they were still Konoha ninjas at their core. It was inevitable that they would struggle to accept the reality of pointing their swords at fellow comrades, even if just for a brief moment.
"Follow the main force!"
Years of service in the ANBU had honed him into a precise tool, acting strictly according to orders.
At the entrance of the Uchiha compound, just as Toshiro was about to strike down Danzo, he suddenly pivoted and swung his sword at the empty space behind him.
Ding!
A sharp, clear sound rang out, followed by the rapid shrinking of a large iron rod with yellow ends and a black center.
"Monkey King Enma : Adamantine staff!"
Gazing at the end of the golden staff, with the Sandaime Hokage now standing in a black combat uniform, Toshiro raised an eyebrow in response.
"The real culprit has finally arrived!"
After all, Danzo Shimura was an assistant to the Hokage, and the Root forces he commanded consisted of only about 200 people.
In contrast, there appeared to be a massive group behind the Third Hokage, numbering close to 6,700 individuals.
"Tsk tsk tsk!"
"Let me take a look, Sarutobi, Shimura, Mitikado, and Ino-Shikacho—Sandaime-sama really thinks highly of the Uchiha, bringing so many clans here!"
Raising his eyebrows, Toshiro spoke with a mocking tone as his eyes swept over the faces of the clan heads, none of whom dared meet his gaze.
"Oh! Even the ANBU have been mobilized. Looks like we're in for a big fight tonight!"
As Toshiro remarked, the Sandaime had brought the full combat force of his faction's core this time.
The goal was clear: to finally resolve the Uchiha issue.
"As Hokage, I cannot allow you to harm your fellow villagers!"
After glaring at the useless Danzo, the Sandaime now felt a surge of anger, wanting to deal with him personally.
Danzo had previously promised that the situation would be easily handled, with all the blame conveniently placed on Uchiha Itachi, allowing for a smooth resolution. All that was needed was to deal with Uchiha Toshiro.
Glancing at the corpses scattered on the ground, a fleeting moment of regret passed through the Sandaime’s eyes, quickly replaced by a steely determination.
"Uchiha Toshiro, you have killed innocent villagers without cause. As Hokage, I must offer you this final advice: surrender now, and I might consider a lighter sentence for you."
If possible, he didn’t want things to escalate to this point. A conflict with the Uchiha clan would benefit neither him nor the village.
However, the animosity between the Uchiha and the village had grown too deep, and the divide had only worsened in recent years. On their side, aside from Kakashi, there were almost no young talents of note.
Although taking such action would likely lead to ill feelings among the clans after the incident, he had already devised a solution.
If things progressed in the direction he feared most, he was prepared. Being older, his death would pave the way for a new future for Konoha.
As long as the new Hokage makes a few concessions to the clans, earning their loyalty over a few years, things would eventually return to the status quo.
"It seems the Sandaime has effectively excluded the Uchiha from the fold."
Watching the aggressive group of ninjas behind the Sandaime and hearing his words, Toshiro, while having anticipated this turn of events, hesitated for a moment about whether to wipe out everyone on the opposing side.
However, when he thought of the elderly and the children he had seen on the road earlier, his resolve strengthened.
"Toshiro, no one wants to see things reach this point, so you’d be better off surrendering!"
Jiraiya, with his white hair, suddenly appeared from behind the Sandaime and began to speak to Toshiro, pleading:
"I've spoken with Tsunade and Kushina, and we’ll ensure your safety. As for the Uchiha clan, don’t worry—we won’t let anything happen to them!"
He and Tsunade had been called back to Konoha by the Sandaime yesterday. While he had a rough understanding of the situation, he didn’t agree with the Hokage’s decision. But, as Hokage, the old man’s choice was final, and Jiraiya had no power to oppose it.
Despite his personal misgivings, Jiraiya, along with Tsunade and Kushina, had privately decided to both minimize the impact of the situation and ensure the safety of the Uchiha clan. They were also concerned about potential alienation from the major clans in the village.
This was the best they could do.
To reinforce Jiraiya’s words, Tsunade and Kushina appeared beside him, their expressions serious as they looked at Toshiro.
"So, this is why the Sandaime suddenly grew a backbone—it turns out you and Tsunade-senpai have returned. No wonder he seems so confident," Toshiro remarked, his gaze shifting between the white-haired Jiraiya, the blonde Tsunade, and the red-haired Kushina standing in a line.
He smiled faintly. These were the Sandaime’s disciples and his trusted inner circle. It was no surprise that they had chosen to stand by his side during such a pivotal moment.
As for surrender?
Promises like these, designed to placate children, held no weight in the ninja world. If such assurances worked, there would have been no endless cycles of war.
Sure, listening to them might save his life. But what kind of life would that be? Stripped of power, reduced to a shadow of himself, and rendered harmless—a life not much different from death.
Turning his gaze to Fugaku, he spoke with a sharp edge in his voice:
"Fugaku, you're the head of the Uchiha clan. Are you just going to stand there and watch as this spirals into an irreversible disaster?" asked Sandaime.
Noticing the disapproval etched on Toushirou’s face, the Sandaime’s heart sank. He shifted his gaze to Uchiha Fugaku, pinning his hopes on the clan leader.
"Fugaku, I know you’ve always carried the 'Will of Fire' in your heart. You understand the consequences of this rebellion and the irreparable damage it will bring to the village!"
He paused, his tone hardening as he added, "With me, Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Kushina here, there’s no way the Uchiha can win this fight!"
The Sandaime’s strategy was clear. If Fugaku could be swayed, the conflict could be resolved more swiftly and with less bloodshed. Shisui was already gone, and after tonight’s events, Itachi no longer posed a significant threat.
The ideal outcome for Konoha, in the Sandaime’s mind, was an Uchiha clan stripped of its power—weak enough to pose no threat, yet intact enough to preserve appearances and ready for deployment to the Kirigakure war front.
Comments
Jose Miranda
Thanks for the chapter
Den Tsukayev
Hiruzen wins!?
