After receiving Uchiha Shisui's report, Sarutobi Hiruzen immediately realized what this meant:
Uchiha Rokuro was preparing to settle accounts with Uchiha Fugaku—seize authority, and unify the entire Uchiha clan.
There was no doubt this was unfavorable for Hiruzen. He should step in to stop it…
But the moment he recalled that towering hundred-meter Susanoo, Hiruzen's courage evaporated.
—
Meanwhile, after saying goodbye to his wife, Uchiha Fugaku entered a hidden building behind his courtyard. When he opened the door, four Uchiha jōnin turned their heads toward him at the same time.
These were the four who had attempted to kidnap Uchiha Ashikaga last night.
All of them possessed three-tomoe Sharingan—jōnin on paper.
While their "jōnin level" was inflated and not quite matching real combat capability, three tomoe was still three tomoe—they weren't weak.
Seeing Fugaku enter with a grim expression, the four instinctively activated their Sharingan, their eyes cold and guarded.
The kidnapping had failed.
Add Rokuro's unexpected return… and they all understood exactly what that meant.
They were loyal to Fugaku, yes—but not so loyal they would die for him without hesitation. In fact, before Fugaku arrived, the four had already agreed:
If Fugaku tried to silence them, they would never surrender quietly.
Fugaku looked at their wary stances and felt an ache in his heart.
He suddenly realized how much of a failure he was as clan head—not even one subordinate loyal enough to die for him.
Pathetic.
"You don't need to be afraid," Fugaku said. "There's still room to maneuver. Later, all of you will come out with me to face Uchiha Rokuro. I'll testify that you were with me all night yesterday, discussing clan matters—that someone used a Transformation Technique to impersonate you and sow discord within the Uchiha."
The four still looked uncertain, but they thanked him and followed close behind.
—
At this moment, hundreds upon hundreds of Uchiha had gathered in the clan head's courtyard, filling it wall to wall.
Standing at the very front were Uchiha Rokuro and the several Uchiha jōnin who were supporting him in seeking justice.
"Why hasn't the clan head come out yet? If this matter isn't explained clearly, how are we supposed to live together after this? Someone colluded with outsiders—an utter disgrace to the Uchiha name!"
"This must be punished severely! It cannot be brushed aside. The Uchiha will never tolerate those who harm their own!"
The Uchiha jōnin were growing more and more agitated.
Shisui did his best to calm them down, insisting the clan head would arrive soon and handle everything properly.
"What are you people trying to do? Rebel?!"
The Second Elder stormed out, attempting to crush them with sheer authority—
But unfortunately for him, he belonged to the dove faction, while the ones leading the turmoil were all hawks.
No one even bothered acknowledging his presence.
"Well, well, Second Elder, you got here fast. Don't tell me you've been conspiring behind our backs?"
"What did you just say?! How dare you speak to me like that!"
"And what are YOU? Just some pacifist elder who surrendered his pride long ago. Think too highly of yourself, don't you?"
"Exactly. You're only still around because you've lived long. You've never proven anything on a battlefield—don't pretend you're someone important."
"You!"
The Second Elder flushed bright red, utterly helpless.
Though he, like Uchiha Setsuna, held the rank of Elder, he had always been a civil official.
To be frank, he became Second Elder because:
He lived long enough,
He had a good father,
And the dove faction lacked ambition, so they pushed this loafer into position.
If it were the hawks, no matter the age or seniority, you could not be Elder unless you could fight—or had battle achievements.
Rokuro stepped forward, approaching the Second Elder.
Despite being shorter in height, his presence alone made the elder instinctively retreat—like a child shrinking beneath the pressure of an adult.
"I hear you're on good terms with the Shimura clan. One of your descendants even married a Shimura woman. No wonder."
"Uchiha Rokuro, what are you implying? I have nothing to do with Shimura Danzō!"
Rokuro chuckled softly.
"I only said you had ties with the Shimura clan.
I didn't say you were Danzō's in-law. Why bring him up? Feeling guilty?"
"You! Y-You're spouting nonsense! I've done nothing—what guilt?!"
Rokuro was about to mock him further when Fugaku entered the courtyard with his four subordinates.
Seeing the main figure of the day arrive, Rokuro ignored the Second Elder and turned toward Fugaku and the men behind him.
Just then, Uchiha Ashikaga stepped forward and pointed to the four Uchiha behind Fugaku.
"It's them. Those four tried to kidnap me last night!"
"So it WAS you? To think you'd stoop so low as to kidnap a fellow clanswoman—unforgivable!"
Several hawk-faction Uchiha surged forward, ready to attack—
But Fugaku immediately raised his hand to stop them.
He turned toward Rokuro and Ashikaga.
"There must be a misunderstanding. These four were with me all night discussing clan matters. They never left. Someone must have used a Transformation Technique to impersonate them and destabilize the clan."
Then he turned to Ashikaga again.
"Ashikaga, could you repeat everything exactly as it happened?"
Ashikaga exaggerated nothing—she simply recounted last night's events truthfully.
Fugaku seized on the opportunity.
"See? From your description, you only saw four people who resembled them. You never fought them. It's entirely possible someone used a Transformation Technique."
Ashikaga stared coldly at Fugaku.
"So according to the clan head, four outsiders disguised themselves, entered the Uchiha compound, moved freely, and weren't worried about being seen through by the Sharingan?"
Transformation wasn't like Shadow Clone—just a layer of chakra "clothing" around the body.
Anyone with even a bit of sensory ability could detect the unusual chakra fluctuations.
Let alone the Uchiha—one sweep of the Sharingan and the disguise would fall apart immediately.
Everyone knew Fugaku's excuse was weak.
Even clan members who didn't know the inside story began to realize something was off
Fugaku was practically confessing through his own clumsy defense.
Just then, the other two elders arrived.
Great Elder Uchiha Setsuna stepped forward with a stern face, having heard Fugaku's attempted justification.
"Fugaku… is this matter connected to you?"
"Great Elder, absolutely not. Someone wants to tear apart our unity!"
Fugaku then turned to Rokuro.
"Rokuro, now that you've awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan, you should shoulder greater responsibility. Above all, that means maintaining our stability—don't do things that cause grief within and joy to our enemies."
He delivered a grand speech—Fugaku had been PUA'd by Hiruzen for years, and at least learned some rhetorical tricks.
Rokuro smiled slightly.
Fugaku's performance almost deserved applause.
"The clan head is right. Uchiha unity and stability are paramount. No one should undermine them. So… you personally vouch for the innocence of these four, correct?"
"Yes. I guarantee they were not involved."
Rokuro smiled—and pulled out a sealing scroll.
Poof!
A burst of white smoke rose—and a headless corpse appeared on the scroll.
Many recognized it instantly.
"Shimura Danzō?! That's Danzō's corpse!"
"He's dead?! How is it in Rokuro's hands?! What happened?!"
"Who's Danzō? He looks old—was he strong?"
"You fool! He was a village advisor and leader of Root—one of Konoha's top figures!"
Most had assumed that Danzō's attempt to assassinate Rokuro failed when Rokuro returned alive.
But seeing his corpse still shocked them.
Fugaku's face tightened.
Great Elder Setsuna felt a rush of satisfaction.
The other elders were shocked and afraid.
After all, Danzō had suppressed the Uchiha for over twenty years—many had dreamed of killing him, but knew they never could.
He was an elite Kage-level opponent, and Root was an army just as dangerous as the Uchiha.
And behind Danzō stood Sarutobi Hiruzen.
If the Uchiha ever openly clashed with Danzō, Hiruzen and ANBU would intervene. Add the Nara–Akimichi–Yamanaka trio, and the Uchiha would lose.
Yet this seemingly undefeatable enemy now lay before them, dead like a discarded dog.
That alone silenced the entire courtyard.
This was exactly what Rokuro wanted.
He formed hand seals and used an Earth Release technique to raise a platform beneath his feet, elevating him above the crowd.
"Everyone—uncles, aunts, brothers, sisters—many of you know I recently left the village on a mission. Those who didn't know, don't worry. I'll explain briefly."
"You've all heard about the recent war between the Land of Lightning and the Land of Fire—how Konoha suffered losses, including several members of the Hyūga clan. Their bodies were taken by the Cloud shinobi, and their Byakugan were removed. Those eyes are a strategic resource, and must be recovered."
Rokuro explained the mission's background.
"My task was to retrieve the final pair of Byakugan held by the Cloud. The mission was dangerous, but not difficult for me. As proof, Izumi and I worked together and killed the Cloud jōnin with ease, taking the Byakugan back. But afterward… we were ambushed."
Rokuro pointed at Danzō's corpse.
"You've probably already guessed. Yes—the ones who attacked me were Shimura Danzō and over a hundred Root jōnin. Not only that—the Fourth Raikage himself led more than two hundred Cloud jōnin to reinforce them. Clearly, they had colluded, intending to kill Izumi and me."
Angry curses erupted from the crowd.
Some sharp-minded clan members quickly pieced together the conspiracy.
Rokuro continued:
"This was a meticulously planned assassination. Otherwise, Root and the Cloud—mortal enemies—would never cooperate, nor deploy so many fighters together. And yes, they even used the Six Paths Tools."
To strengthen his argument, Rokuro displayed the Amber Purifying Pot.
Many Uchiha instantly recognized it as a terrifying tool—far beyond ordinary weapons.
It had to be that Six Paths Ninja Tool set that always gave the Ino–Shika–Chō trio massive headaches.
"Uchiha Rokuro, splendid work—truly worthy of the Uchiha name!"
Elder Uchiha Setsuna praised loudly. Rokuro bowed slightly.
"Thank you for your acknowledgment, Great Elder. I'd love to be modest… but when it concerns the Uchiha, I have to say it plainly: before the Uchiha's strongest ocular power—the Mangekyō Sharingan—both Danzō and the Six Paths tools were nothing but fragile scrap! They actually thought that by joining forces, they could kill two awakened Mangekyō users. Too naïve—so naïve it cost them their lives."
Rokuro reached down and lifted Danzō's severed head, displaying it for all the Uchiha to see.
"Over a hundred Root jōnin, more than two hundred Cloud jōnin—aside from the Fourth Raikage who escaped with heavy injuries—every last one was killed by Izumi and me. Their bodies now lie buried in a nameless fishing village in the Land of Lightning!"
"Good! Well done!"
"That's the spirit of the Uchiha!"
"Rokuro, you're the pride of our clan!"
Whether ninja or civilian, every Uchiha present—except Fugaku's subordinates—cheered loudly, perfectly displaying the clan's reverence for strength.
Watching Rokuro standing upon the platform, receiving the hearts of the entire clan, Uchiha Fugaku's expression grew extremely dark.
At that moment, Uchiha Mikoto approached with Sasuke. Seeing this, Fugaku's face tightened; he wanted her to leave.
But right then, Rokuro suddenly took out a letter.
"When I was gathering spoils of war, I found this on Danzō… A letter revealing his collusion with a certain high-ranking member of our clan—framing me."
"Rokuro, are you saying someone from the Uchiha worked with Danzō?"
Elder Setsuna took the cue. Rokuro nodded with a pained expression.
"The letter says this person would push for me to accept the mission to retrieve the Byakugan. Afterwards, he would hand over all of my lifetime's sealing-technique knowledge to Danzō in exchange for his own safety."
As he spoke, Rokuro unfolded the letter.
"In this man's eyes, I was destined to fall to Danzō. And once Danzō returned victorious, he would surely carry out a bloody purge of the Uchiha. To save himself, this man willingly chose to cooperate!"
"As for how he planned to obtain my sealing techniques—he intended to kidnap my mother, forcing her to hand over everything."
When Rokuro finished, he slowly turned his head toward Uchiha Fugaku. All the Uchiha present also turned to look at their clan head.
"Within this letter is that clan member's name. And that name is—Uchiha… Fugaku."
In an instant, the courtyard fell utterly silent. The air pressure dropped so sharply it felt suffocating.
Uchiha Fugaku trembled under the stares of a thousand clan members.
He had never corresponded with Danzō—meaning the letter in Rokuro's hand was forged.
But he had sent men to kidnap Uchiha Ashikaga
Half-truths mixed with lies; everything tangled together until he could no longer defend himself.
"Clan Head… earlier you claimed you never sent men to kidnap my mother, and that you spent the entire night discussing matters with those four. Then why does the letter I found on Danzō bear your name—and correctly predict the kidnapping attempt? Surely Danzō didn't think he could beat me, forge a letter, and frame you out of spite before dying… right?"
Rokuro leapt from the platform and handed the letter to Elder Setsuna. The elder glanced at it, then pointed an enraged finger at Fugaku.
"Fugaku, this handwriting is unmistakably yours. The brushstrokes, the structure—it is your hand. What do you have to say?"
Uchiha Setsuna, the Great Elder, was the clan's highest authority. If he said the letter was Fugaku's work, then it was, truth or not.
And Fugaku's earlier excuses about the kidnapping were laughably weak—many already doubted him. Combined with this letter, the verdict was sealed.
Seeing Elder Setsuna's accusing finger… seeing Rokuro's body darken as black chakra rose, preparing to summon Susanoo—Fugaku knew he was finished.
This was a trap—one that swept together Danzō, Sarutobi Hiruzen, the Fourth Raikage, and all opposing forces.
And Fugaku was merely one of the destined sacrifices.
Danzō was the first to die. Fugaku would be the second.
As for the third—would it be Homura? Koharu? Hiruzen?
Fugaku didn't know. Perhaps all of them.
But he wouldn't live to see it—he would die before them.
"Protect the clan head!"
The four Uchiha jōnin who kidnapped Ashikaga charged forward—straight toward her. They understood perfectly: facing Rokuro head-on meant certain death. Their only chance was to seize Rokuro's mother and force his hand.
For jōnin, their judgment was sharp—even in a hopeless situation, they chose the correct breakthrough method.
Unfortunately…
A massive skeletal hand of black chakra materialized in midair. Several magatama spun upon its palm, then shot forward faster than any ordinary jōnin could react, punching through their chests.
The impact blasted all four into the ground. They vomited blood and lost all combat ability.
"Yasaka Magatama."
Even with three-tomoe Sharingan, all four Uchiha jōnin failed to dodge Susanoo's casual strike.
This display—just a fraction of Rokuro's true strength—completely crushed Fugaku's will to fight.
A loud whoosh split the air as Susanoo's giant hand seized Fugaku and lifted him high.
Even in its first form, Susanoo's hand was as large as an adult's entire body. Fugaku looked like a doll in its grasp.
"Father!!"
Sasuke screamed, trying to rush forward, but Mikoto held him with all her strength.
Once a jōnin herself, she understood perfectly: she couldn't intervene. If she acted, both she and Sasuke would die instantly.
Just as Fugaku was about to fall into despair, another colossal hand—this one jade-green—extended from the side, attempting to snatch him away.
Rokuro reacted instantly, dodging while commanding his other Susanoo arm to punch.
BOOM!
Two massive fists collided, unleashing a violent gust.
Uchiha shinobi immediately channeled chakra into their feet to stabilize themselves.
The civilians, however, were blown off their feet, several scraping their knees as they fell.
"Rokuro, stop! Release the clan head—there must be some misunderstanding! We can investigate calmly!"
Uchiha Shisui—eyes blazing with his Mangekyō—stood before Rokuro with his own Susanoo, the green one that never appeared in the manga but existed in the Ultimate Ninja Storm series, designed by Kishimoto himself.
"So you finally intervened. Good. If you hadn't… I wouldn't have a reason to kill you."
Rokuro elevated his Susanoo to its second form.
At the same moment, a pink Susanoo appeared behind Shisui, wrapping its arms around him.
A black blade slid free—then cleaved down upon the green Susanoo's head.
The strike split Shisui's Susanoo clean in half before it could even fight back.
Agony distorted Shisui's face—every cell in his body felt like it was being pierced and burned.
He was, after all, just a standard Mangekyō wielder. His chakra and ocular power couldn't compare to Rokuro and Uchiha Izumi's Eternal Mangekyō.
As Shisui staggered from the pain of forcibly maintaining Susanoo, the pink Susanoo grabbed him and lifted him to eye level.
"Tsukuyomi."
Shisui's eyes widened—life-or-death instinct taking over. He immediately fired back with his own Mangekyō technique.
"Kotoamatsukami!"
Two legendary Mangekyō genjutsu crashed into each other.
In the next moment, both men appeared within a Tsukuyomi realm.
Uchiha Izumi remembered Rokuro's instructions perfectly—she did not dare to hold back. She unleashed her full ocular might; a storm of dark crows materialized, swarming Shisui, ready to tear him apart.
But to her shock—Shisui moved.
Within Tsukuyomi, where victims should be frozen and helpless… he acted freely.
And not only that—he summoned volleys of spectral arrows, shooting down Izumi's crows.
A true genjutsu battle had begun.
END OF CHAPTER
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