Chapter 255: The Fickleness of Reincarnators
Inside the Uchiha compound, the alert had been raised. A large number of Uchiha clan shinobi began to settle the old, weak, women, and children. Many of them, who had attended the clan meetings, still believed that their clan head, Fugaku, had finally gone to war with the Konoha leadership.
This was especially true when reports came back of a Susano'o being sighted within Konoha. The crowd was invigorated, believing Uchiha Shisui had successfully escaped and returned to support them.
The arrogance of the Uchiha clan was such that even though Uchiha Fugaku had already explained that Shisui and Itachi had gone missing after an encounter with a mysterious person named Mercenary Tao, many in the clan still believed it was a conspiracy by Konoha's leadership.
After all, in the past decades, their clan had been framed many times for baseless reasons. They no longer trusted any answer from the Konoha leadership.
"Mom, what's wrong with the village? Where's brother?"
A young Uchiha Sasuke was hidden at home by Uchiha Mikoto. He watched his mother, who rarely did so, change into a ninja uniform and combat suit. He felt a deep sense of unease. He hadn't seen his older brother in days. Usually, at times like this, Itachi would be by his side.
Uchiha Mikoto naturally knew that Itachi and Shisui's disappearance was not Konoha's doing. The commotion outside... Konoha must be under a real attack.
Uchiha Fugaku had not returned. She had to protect Sasuke.
Boom!
A terrifying Wind Style jutsu exploded from a corner of the compound, instantly destroying several wooden houses. The few Uchiha ninjas guarding there were blown away, their status unknown.
Dozens of Root ninjas, dressed almost identically to the Hokage's direct ANBU forces, appeared coldly at the edge of the Uchiha compound.
The next moment, dozens of shuriken flew sharply through the air, colliding mid-air to change their angles, hitting several Root members as they instinctively dodged.
A man with short brown hair, wearing Konoha combat armor over the Uchiha's tight-fitting combat suit, appeared with a group of Uchiha ninjas in front of Danzo and his men.
Uchiha Yashiro looked at Danzo, who wasn't even hiding his identity. Killing intent rose in his crimson three-tomoe Sharingan.
"Danzo! At a time like this, you're not supporting the Hokage, but attacking the Uchiha compound?!"
Uchiha Yashiro couldn't understand Danzo's madness. In his view, no matter how great the conflict between the Konoha leadership and the Uchiha, they shouldn't strike now.
He had been ordered by Fugaku to return and mobilize the clan's ninjas to support the village. He never expected to run into Danzo invading.
He made a hand signal behind his back, ordering someone to inform Fugaku and find Shisui. At the same time, his heart grew colder.
A Konoha like this... was it really worth saving?
At this moment, the Uchiha's elite were mostly outside the compound. He was the only three-tomoe Jounin here. He probably couldn't stop Danzo plus so many Root ninjas. Uchiha Yashiro lowered his stance, preparing for a fight to the death.
Danzo looked at him coldly, too lazy to explain anything. In his eyes, the Uchiha were mostly a waste of their bloodline talent. The Sharingan... only in his hands could it show its greatest value.
It wasn't just the Uchiha. Even Sarutobi Hiruzen was wasting the Hokage's power. If it were him, he would have solved the Uchiha problem long ago and made Konoha stronger.
Danzo's eyelids lowered. His hands emerged from his sleeves. He was different from Koharu and Homura. Although they were all advisors, Danzo had always operated in the shadows, doing dangerous work. He had never slacked in his combat, and was always seeking more power.
"Mysterious people attack Konoha. The Uchiha clan is massacred. That is the end of today's story."
Swoosh.
A nearly silent landing. A red-haired, pale-faced man appeared to Danzo's right. He wore a Konoha forehead protector, but his body was draped in an eye-catching, loose-fitting red and white robe.
Danzo frowned. He remembered this man, who called himself [Renji], was always with that [Providence].
Uchiha Yashiro also recognized him.
Renji looked expressionlessly at Danzo, who had indeed chosen this moment for infighting to seize profit. He could no longer stand the man's narrow-mindedness and stupidity.
All this time, for the sake of faction reputation, he had been polite and respectful to these Konoha leaders. Now, he no longer had to hide his Reincarnator temper.
"I say, old bastard, is your head full of water?"
"Can you not fucking see the situation? Are you still dreaming of becoming Hokage?"
Danzo froze. He could hardly connect the cursing man before him with the gentle, polite, and powerful new Konoha ninja he knew.
Renji clutched his forehead. He didn't like Mercenary Tao. Or rather, he feared him. He was the kind of guy you saw from a distance and knew you couldn't beat. The kind of guy you met once and knew to stay away from.
He acted like a madman, his strength was terrifying, and every step of his growth was paved with the lives of other powerful Reincarnators.
Kai of the Fifth Element, the notorious Akudo and Koppo, the terrifying Flame Fiend... Every guy who ran into Mercenary Tao, without exception, ended up as a Crimson Drop Card.
He really didn't understand why, at a time like this, this Danzo would actually come to the Uchiha clan to steal Sharingan.
Do you really think transplanting a few more Sharingan will reverse Konoha's defeat today?!
This time, he didn't need Lady Providence to explain. He knew the Konoha faction was about to suffer a major defeat. All the reputation he had built up would soon go down the drain.
Renji was in a terrible mood. With a flash, two tachi—one long, one short—appeared in his hands. Chakra flowed, and Chakra blades extended from both.
This rare, Chakra-conductive metal was extremely expensive, even in the Nexus.
In that instant, Danzo's heart also sank. This Renji... also seemed to be an expert in Chakra nature transformation.
From the sky, the Magic Carpet slowly landed. Catherine and [Rampage], the duo, had successfully regrouped. They appeared on Danzo's other side.
Catherine saw the scene, and her mind raced. She immediately shouted, "We've been entrusted by Uchiha Itachi and Uchiha Shisui to help the Uchiha clan fight back against the Konoha leadership's attack!"
Uchiha Yashiro didn't know what was happening within the Reincarnator factions, but he could sense that these people, who had been on the Konoha leadership's side, seemed to have all turned.
The next moment, Catherine raised her hands. Two heavy machine guns materialized in the air, aiming at the Root members.
Rat-tat-tat-tat...
A steel torrent was unleashed.
Being suppressed by Mercenary Tao for these past few days had filled Catherine's heart with rage.
[Rampage] sensed Catherine's mood. He gave a savage grin, and his figure flashed, pouncing at Danzo.
Renji was furious seeing them "steal his kills." He didn't attack them, but instead, his body blurred into an afterimage. His two terrifying blades, extended to nearly two meters by the Chakra, whipped up a blade storm, carving a bloody path through the Root ninjas.
On the Hokage Monument, Sarutobi Hiruzen stopped retreating. He faced the tall, barefoot man standing on his carved face. The man's feet were just gripping the ground, but the stone was already starting to crack.
"Old friend, I'll have to rely on you to stand by me this time..."
He reached out. The indestructible Monkey Demon Enma transformed into the Adamantine Staff and landed in Sarutobi Hiruzen's hand. Sarutobi spun it twice, tossed it up, and formed hand seals. Five Shadow Clones appeared.
Five different nature transformations appeared on the five clones, their hand seals blurringly fast.
Kaito Shirogane stood just twenty meters away, arms open, the purple Hado on his body flickering like flames in the wind.
He knew what the Third Hokage wanted to do. And that... was exactly what he wanted.
Hurry up and use that jutsu, Third. You know... besides that move, you have no way to kill me...
(End of Chapter)
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