"Lord Danzo, the S-rank rogue ninja Hyuga Mirai has appeared in the Uchiha clan's territory and prevented the battle between the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki and Uchiha Fugaku. Naruto Uzumaki has now exited his tailed beast form."
"What!?"
Danzo nearly snapped his cane in shock upon hearing this. Naruto Uzumaki was his trump card—how had it been neutralized before achieving anything?
And why was Hyuga Mirai in Konoha?
"Was the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki retrieved?"
The Root ninja lowered his head. "We didn't have time. The Jinchūriki was taken to Kushina Uzumaki. Hyuga Mirai and Uchiha Fugaku are also nearby. Should we engage them, Lord Danzo?"
"Hyuga Mirai!"
Danzo gritted his teeth at the name of the man who had ruined his plans. Not only had the Uchiha clan not been wiped out, but the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki was also lost.
"What about Itachi Uchiha? Has he sent any messages?"
Danzo demanded sharply. Even if Itachi had fired a signal flare in the Uchiha district, there should have been some communication.
The Root ninja reported, "No word from Itachi Uchiha. However, our sensors detected massive chakra fluctuations in the Uchiha district earlier, likely from a high-level jutsu. Shortly after, Hyuga Mirai and Uchiha Tekka appeared at the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki's battlefield."
The Root ninja detailed their findings, concluding that Itachi Uchiha had either been killed or captured—there was no third possibility.
"Useless!"
Danzo cursed in fury. Itachi had boasted about handling the massacre alone, insisting Root and ANBU only needed to guard the perimeter. If not for Koharu Utatane forcing him to carry a signal flare, they wouldn't even know the operation had failed.
Even with the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki occupying Fugaku and some of the police force, Itachi had still failed. Danzo was livid.
"Root will proceed with the prearranged plan to exterminate the Uchiha clan. Have ANBU search the village for their secret escape routes. Any fleeing Uchiha are to be executed on sight as traitors."
"Yes, Lord Danzo."
The Root ninja immediately moved to carry out the order. Danzo, meanwhile, headed for the Hokage's office. With Hyuga Mirai's appearance, he needed Koharu and Homura to rally the clans—especially the Hyuga—against the rogue ninja.
Deploying only Root would result in heavy losses. Danzo had painstakingly built Root to its current size; excessive casualties tonight would render his efforts meaningless.
Only for the Uchiha's destruction would he risk his full force.
After forcing Naruto's Nine-Tails chakra back with Tailed Beast Balls, Hyuga Mirai casually reinforced the seal Danzo had damaged. The old man had deliberately weakened the Eight Trigrams Seal to let the Nine-Tails' chakra leak out.
But unleashing four tails at six or seven years old had taken a toll—Naruto's skin was burned by the dense chakra, and his meridians were severely damaged.
Kushina, seeing her son's injuries, cursed Danzo vehemently. If the bandaged elder had been present, she would have killed him even if it cost her life.
"Hyuga Mirai, please… heal Naruto…"
Kushina begged, the irony bitter. Betrayed by her own village, she now sought help from a Konoha rogue.
Had she foreseen this six years ago, she would have left with Ayaka Uzumaki.
"It's manageable—no lasting damage. I told you, Lady Kushina, your injuries are the greater concern."
Mirai spoke calmly. He was becoming a full-time medic tonight.
Uchiha Tekka, after driving back the surrounding ANBU and Root, approached. "Elder, Hyuga-san, we should leave. If we delay, Konoha will regroup."
"They've already reacted. The earlier disturbance drew attention—other clans are converging here."
Mirai's Byakugan surveyed the village unimpeded by barriers. Over 300 ninjas were approaching, beyond the initial ANBU and Root forces.
"Regroup with your clan first. Three hundred won't evacuate quickly."
Fugaku, drained from the night's events and overuse of his Sharingan, could barely think. He nodded numbly at Tekka and Mirai's suggestions.
"Tekka, what about Itachi—"
Before Fugaku could finish, he noticed the grim expressions of Tekka and the police force, their gazes sharp with anger.
"We'll discuss that later!"
Tekka said coldly. He was determined to kill Itachi—even Fugaku couldn't stop him.
Itachi's betrayal was now undeniable. Over a hundred clansmen and Yashiro's deaths demanded vengeance.
"Let's go."
Mirai created a shadow clone to carry Naruto, his mind on Itachi's Mangekyō Sharingan. The eyes were merely manifestations—the true secret lay in the Uchiha's unique brain chakra.
He might leave the eyes, but Itachi's brain was essential for research.
"Hyuga Mirai…"
Kushina's voice called from behind. Mirai turned, then chuckled.
"Almost forgot you. My apologies."
Another shadow clone lifted Kushina. Despite initial treatment, her injuries required extensive surgery. Forcing the cursed seal's activation had drained her last strength—without Mirai, she'd have died tonight.
Root operatives still lurked in the distance, but the Uchiha had no time to deal with them.
The night had been catastrophic.
The clan district lay in ruins. The police force had suffered heavy losses against Obito Uchiha, while Uchiha's private forces clashed with ANBU. Over a hundred civilians had been slaughtered by Itachi—their bodies left uncollected.
Soon, Mirai followed Tekka to the evacuation site.
Past the perimeter guards, Fugaku saw his wife, Mikoto, held at kunai-point by two police officers.
"Fugaku, save Itachi!"
Mikoto struggled as the officers forced her down.
"Release her!"
Fugaku growled, but the officers hesitated, looking to Tekka.
"My orders. Anyone aiding the traitor Itachi is guilty of treason."
Tekka stepped forward coldly. "Elder, Mikoto lives only by our mercy. Itachi slaughtered over a hundred clansmen—including Yashiro's group. How should such a traitor be punished?"
Fugaku nearly collapsed. Itachi had done this?
He saw his son nearby—limbs twisted, body bloodied, barely breathing.
"Itachi…"
Fugaku crouched beside him. "Why? You were the clan's pride. Why betray us for Konoha?"
"Father…"
Itachi opened his eyes weakly. "This… was the only way to ensure peace… preserve the Uchiha's honor. Your path… would only bring war… to the Land of Fire."
"So you killed 132 Uchiha civilians? They couldn't wage war—shouldn't you have targeted the ninjas?"
The speaker wasn't Fugaku, but Mirai's shadow clone.
Everyone turned.
"Apologies, my clone lacks tact. Release!"
Mirai dispelled the clone—Kushina fell with a thud.
"Pardon the interruption. But the number's accurate—the Byakugan sees the buried bodies."
Though the moment was broken, the logic resonated—especially with the Uchiha civilians.
We couldn't fight a war! Why target us?
The thought echoed among them.
(End of Chapter)