Outside the Uchiha compound, hidden in the shadows of a building, a group of clan leaders and shinobi carefully observed the barrier surrounding the Uchiha compound. Their expressions were a mix of bewilderment and disbelief.
Inuzuka Tsume, known for her fiery temper, scowled in frustration. After several failed attempts to make sense of the situation, she turned to the Hyuga clan leader beside him.
"What's the situation, Hiashi? Any updates from inside?"
"The Inuzuka clan's sense of smell is completely useless here. What about you?"
Hiashi Hyuga, the leader of the Hyuga clan, kept his composure despite the mounting tension. His Byakugan, usually an invaluable asset, proved ineffective against the barrier.
"The entire Uchiha compound is sealed within a barrier. The Byakugan can't penetrate it," Hiashi explained, glancing at the curious faces around him. He suppressed the urge to roll his eyes at their reliance on him—such an expression would be far too undignified.
"Instead of looking to me, you might want to ask the Aburame clan leader," he added dryly. "I noticed some parasitic insects attaching themselves to the Anbu earlier."
"...No idea!"
The cryptic response hung in the air, reflecting the mounting uncertainty among the group.
Adjusting his sunglasses, the Aburame clan leader gave a characteristically terse reply.
He, too, was at a loss. While his parasitic insects had infiltrated the barrier, they did not share his vision. How could he possibly provide a clear report?
Still, surrounded by the heads of Konoha's prominent clans, he knew it wouldn't do to appear too detached.
"The battle hasn't started yet," he offered calmly, though his confidence in the statement was limited.
The scale of this commotion was far too large for the village leaders to remain oblivious. Inevitably, there were always a few bold souls who would step forward to investigate. Once the first ventured out, others followed—second, third, and eventually more—until their numbers emboldened them further.
As their ranks grew, caution gave way to carelessness. They began to observe the barrier with less restraint, daring to peer inside despite the risks. After all, the saying goes: the law does not punish everyone.
—
Fugaku opened his mouth to speak but found no words.
The Sandaime was completely in the dark about the current situation. Beyond Danzo's recent actions, he couldn't even be sure how many members of the Uchiha clan still recognized Fugaku as their leader.
The clan's unexpected response today and Toshiro's sudden appearance only deepened Fugaku's sense of failure as a patriarch. The clan had made extensive preparations, yet he, the clan leader, had been utterly unaware of them.
"Jiraiya, I'm leaving things here to you!"
Tsunade, visibly frustrated, stomped her foot before throwing a glance at the silent Fugaku. After addressing Jiraiya, she turned and prepared to leave.
Everything that had unfolded today was difficult for her to stomach. If not for her earlier discussions with Jiraiya and Kushina and their push about attempting to mediate with the Uchiha, she wouldn't have come at all.
Adding to her frustration was the timing. If it hadn't been nighttime, the telltale signs of her recent indulgences—signs she struggled to suppress—might not have been so noticeable. Whether she could even stand properly was now in question.
"If these people are so eager to die, let them fight with the old man until both sides are utterly ruined!"
Tsunade felt little concern for the fate of either the village or the Uchiha clan. Whether they survived or perished was of no consequence to her. If the village hadn't been something her grandfather, Nawaki, and Dan cherished so deeply, she wouldn't have even bothered to return.
Let them destroy each other. If both sides were wiped out, perhaps there would finally be peace.
"Don't be in such a rush to leave... Tsunade-senpai!"
Noticing the Sandaime's failure to sway Fugaku and Tsunade's intent to withdraw, Toshiro turned to her with a mysterious smile.
"I've prepared a special ninjutsu for tonight's events. If Tsunade-senpai leaves now, she might regret it later!"
"Special ninjutsu... kid, I don't care how you or the old man plan to end this!"
Tsunade's thin eyebrows arched into crescents as a smile spread across her face. But her cheerful demeanor abruptly vanished, replaced by a stern expression as she spoke deliberately:
"But... don't involve me in this, or else..."
Her thoughts drifted back to an incident on the Sand Village frontlines, where a young Uchiha Toshiro—barely ten years old—had sneakily glanced at her chest. Even then, he had been an unapologetic little troublemaker.
At the same time, a sense of foreboding crept over her. The mention of a "special ninjutsu" from this seemingly pleasant yet mischievous kid didn't sit right with her.
She wasn't the only one unsettled. The Sandaime Hokage's face grew serious, his eyes narrowing as he studied Toshiro. Could the Uchiha actually have a trump card they haven't revealed?
"Hiruzen, don't let this brat fool you! He's just one Uchiha—insignificant compared to the power of the entire village!"
Danzo, still bitter after his close brush with death at Toshiro's hands, interjected harshly. His cold tone and icy glare fell squarely on Toshiro and the Uchiha clan members standing by his side.
"With the combined strength of the two of us, along with Jiraiya and Kushina, handling Uchiha Toshiro is more than manageable. As for the rest of the Uchiha clan, there's no need for us to personally intervene," Danzo declared coldly.
His forces had suffered devastating losses this time. Aside from a few "clever" individuals who managed to escape, the rest of his Root operatives had been slaughtered by Toshiro and Fugaku, who had led the Uchiha clan into battle.
Now seemed like the perfect moment for revenge.
"It seems... there's no turning back now," the Sandaime muttered with a weary sigh. His eyes briefly lingered on the lifeless bodies scattered around him before shifting to the Uchihas standing defiantly across the battlefield. His expression betrayed a deep sense of helplessness, yet also a glimmer of resolve.
"In that case, we may as well unveil some of our hidden cards," he declared, his tone firm.
Noticing the determination in the Sandaime's gaze, Toshiro realized the old man had resolved to sacrifice himself if necessary.
This wasn't surprising—Konoha possessed several Seal techniques designed for mutual destruction, and Toshiro suspected the Sandaime was preparing to use one.
"Don't be so impatient," Toshiro said, a peculiar smile playing on his lips as his eyes flickered between the Sandaime and Tsunade. "I've brought two helpers this time—people you're quite familiar with. You'll have a chance to catch up with them soon enough."
"People familiar to both of us?"
Both the Sandaime and Tsunade exchanged puzzled looks at Toshiro's words, clearly caught off guard.
"Acquaintances? Who could possibly..." Tsunade murmured, her brow furrowing.
"Could it be... Orochimaru?" Jiraiya suddenly interjected, his voice heavy with suspicion. Unlike the others, his mind immediately jumped to a possibility that had haunted him for years. His obsession with Orochimaru's betrayal made him acutely aware of such connections.
Jiraiya's gaze darted around anxiously. "Orochimaru is an acquaintance of Tsunade and the old man. If there's anyone who would side with Toshiro, it has to be that snake, Orochimaru!"
Toshiro chuckled lightly, the grin on his face widening. "Take a good look; they're right over there. You'll have plenty of time to chat," he said cryptically, nodding toward a specific direction.
Several figures clad in warring clans era shinobi attire emerged from the shadows, their presence sending a ripple of unease through the battlefield. Among them were two familiar faces—individuals the villagers of Konoha saw almost daily—now stepping into the light before the Sandaime and his companions.
Toshiro, clearly uninterested in any guessing games, wasted no time in revealing the answer.
"This is..."
The Sandaime and his comrades froze, their exclamations of shock barely concealing their disbelief.
Toshiro's lips curled into a sinister smile. "You didn't think I'd come unprepared if you were planning to turn against us, did you? This is something I arranged just for you. So, tell me—how does they look?"
"Surprising, isn't it? Unexpected, right?"
As he watched their jaws drop, Toshiro couldn't suppress his satisfaction. If they thought they could overwhelm him with numbers—four against one—they were sorely mistaken. Uchiha Toshiro wasn't someone who didn't know how to play the game.
Relishing their reactions, Toshiro found himself savoring the moment.
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