"As expected… he also has the Mangekyō Sharingan!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi was observing the battlefield through the Telescope Technique.
He was keeping watch for the mysterious Uzumaki.
That was why he could not personally enter the battlefield.
If he were ambushed and killed, everything would truly be over.
This ti, he had mobilized the overwhelming majority of Konoha's ninja.
Even the Hyuga clan had been forced to participate.
Hiruzen's order had been simple:
Eliminate the Uchiha traitors.
At the sa ti, he had subtly hinted that the Hyuga might inherit the Uchiha's forr position.
Hiashi Hyuga did not believe him for a second.
But when the Hokage ca to his doorstep, what choice did he have?
Refuse to cooperate and side with the Uchiha instead?
The other clans had sent people as well.
This ti, Hiruzen was acting under the banner of justice rather than using his authority as Hokage to force compliance.
As a result, more than five thousand ninja had joined the operation.
The entire Uchiha clan numbered fewer than one thousand.
Only a little over a third of them were actual combatants.
On average, each Uchiha faced more than ten enemies.
"He hid it well."
"He never exposed it."
"It seems he's been guarding against us all along."
Koharu Utatane spoke grimly.
Her tone was far from friendly.
That single counterattack had already caused dozens of casualties.
The Mangekyō Sharingan truly was terrifying.
"Send more forces."
"Suppress him with ninjutsu."
"Do not let Fugaku break through."
Homura Mitokado gave the next order.
No one objected.
The command was imdiately relayed to the front lines.
"Hah… damn it. There are too many of them!"
Fugaku Uchiha was beginning to feel the strain.
Wave after wave of attacks had forced him to repeatedly use his Mangekyō Sharingan.
By controlling tal weapons on a massive scale, he launched devastating counterattacks.
In just a few minutes, he had already taken down nearly two hundred enemy ninja.
But he knew most of them were genin and chunin.
He doubted he had killed even a single jonin.
These were rely expendable forces sent to drain the Uchiha's strength.
The real elite would strike next.
Boom!
"Ahhh!"
Explosions echoed endlessly.
Explosive tags detonated.
Ninjutsu erupted.
Flas lit up the night.
Buildings burned.
Corpses covered the ground.
For the first ti, Fugaku felt a sense of helplessness.
The Uchiha of today were no longer the mighty clan that had helped found Konoha.
Most importantly, they no longer possessed a godlike warrior such as Madara Uchiha.
"Will the Uzumaki co?"
A flicker of unease rose in Fugaku's heart.
Even so, his hands did not stop moving.
Countless weapons rged into a tallic shield, blocking a coordinated fire release assault from Konoha's forces.
But inwardly, he was terrified.
If the Uzumaki did not arrive tonight, the Uchiha clan might cease to exist before dawn.
…
"This…"
Even Kakashi was shocked by the sheer brutality of the battlefield.
"I'm going to help the Uchiha."
"What about you?"
"Will you stand against and support Hiruzen Sarutobi?"
"Or will you help your teacher's son?"
Uzumaki Shuji and Kakashi were standing roughly one kiloter from the battle.
Several ninja had attempted to stop them on the way, only to be rendered unconscious by Uzumaki Shuji's Sharingan genjutsu.
"Don't ask why."
"You know the truth."
"I've given you this much ti to think because you were my father's student."
"Now give your answer."
"If we keep waiting, half the Uchiha will be dead."
Uzumaki Shuji's voice remained calm.
Kakashi's expression twisted with conflict.
The decision was painfully difficult.
He was not a fool.
He knew Hiruzen Sarutobi was far from innocent.
But if Hiruzen fell, Konoha itself would be shaken to its core.
"If I help you… what will happen?"
"Will Konoha be destroyed?"
"This village was what your father sacrificed his life to protect."
At last, Kakashi voiced the question weighing on his heart.
Uzumaki Shuji looked at him quietly.
"After seeing the outside world, do you think the ninja world is cruel?"
"The children of heroes gave everything."
"And this is how their sons are treated."
"Do you think that is fair?"
His voice was calm, but his eyes were cold.
Only after living through it personally did Uzumaki Shuji understand how miserable Naruto's life had truly been.
He could not forgive it.
Everyone in Konoha had feasted on the sacrifices of his parents.
And this was how they repaid their children.
He owed them nothing.
"No… it isn't fair."
Kakashi answered hesitantly.
He thought of Obito.
Obito was also an Uchiha.
He, too, had given his life for Konoha.
And yet the village treated the Uchiha like this.
"Make your choice."
"I'm done waiting."
As Uzumaki Shuji spoke, another golden ripple appeared behind him.
A single Sharingan eye erged from within it, staring directly at Kakashi.
If Kakashi refused, Uzumaki Shuji would not give him any opportunity to retaliate.
Fate.
Bonds.
He would sever them himself.
"I will protect Naruto."
"But I will not participate in this battle."
"I won't attack either Konoha or the Uchiha."
Kakashi answered decisively.
"Then get out of my sight."
"Do not approach us."
"Or I will kill you."
Uzumaki Shuji's voice was emotionless.
He could not accept such a half-hearted answer.
Who knew whether Kakashi would stab him in the back at a critical mont?
Better to fight alone.
"You…!"
Kakashi had not expected this response.
Buzz!
Boom!
"Do not co any closer."
"I an it."
A Chain of Heaven shot out from above Uzumaki Shuji's left shoulder and slamd into the ground directly in front of Kakashi, leaving a deep crater.
After one final glance, Uzumaki Shuji used the Sharingan to place Naruto under a gentle illusion.
Naruto would dream of a world he loved, completely cut off from the chaos outside.
Then Uzumaki Shuji stepped onto the Chains of Heaven and ascended into the night sky.
"Did I make the wrong choice?"
Kakashi could never bring himself to attack his teacher's children.
But he also could not betray Konoha.
Caught between two loyalties, he was left in agonizing uncertainty.
"Susanoo!"
On the battlefield, Fugaku Uchiha was being pushed to his limit.
Five jonin and dozens of other ninja were attacking him simultaneously.
Standing within a towering purple-red Susanoo, Fugaku raised his head and looked toward the night sky.
"Still not here?"
But the color he longed to see—
That brilliant golden light—
Had yet to appear.
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