"You... you..." The Sarutobi clan elder was so apoplectic he couldn't form a coherent sentence. His face was flushed a deep crimson, resembling a boiled crab, while the veins on his forehead throbbed rhythmically. Watching him, Naruto half-expected the man's head to simply detonate.
'Is he trying to cast Self-Destruction: Head-Splitting Jutsu?'
"The Root is 'fine,' that old scoundrel Danzo is 'fine'!" The elder finally caught his breath, though his fury remained. "But Fifth Hokage? Fifth Hokage?!"
"Could he finally hold it back no longer?"
"Does Danzo truly believe he can exterminate my Sarutobi Clan with his power alone? That's wishful thinking!"
The Sarutobi elder continued his tirade, venting his spleen, entirely unaware just how close to death he was standing close to.
"To speak Danzo-sama's name so casually... those who insult Danzo-sama..."
A voice whispered from the shadows behind him, followed immediately by the sound of a blade piercing his heart.
"Die."
The assassination of an elder was a far graver offense than the death of ten ordinary clansmen, the surrounding Sarutobi Ninja immediately erupted into chaos.
"Avenge your grievances. Repay your grudges." Naruto swung his right hand forward. The Uchiha warriors standing behind him needed no further prompting.
"Go. Unleash the dissatisfaction you have held in your hearts."
"After tonight, the Sarutobi Clan will cease to exist."
Having lived among the Uchiha day and night, Naruto knew they had waited for this moment for far too long. Even Fugaku, once the most rational among them, had grown zealous.
Who were the Uchiha's enemies? It was Danzo. It was the Third Hokage. It was Konoha itself!
It was the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, who drafted the policies of isolation! It was the Third Hokage and Danzo who enforced the Second's designs! It was the village that pushed them to the brink, leaving them no choice but a coup d'état! And, of course, the executioners: Itachi and Obito.
These were all their enemies.
Now, the Second was dead, the Third was deposed, and Danzo was still lost in a beautiful dream of his own weaving, oblivious to reality.
Why should the Uchiha, who bled for Konoha, be cast aside?
Why should the Sarutobi Clan, who achieved nothing of note, enjoy such privilege?
Just because the Third Hokage was one of them?
It was unfair.
And if the game is unfair, you flip the table.
The Uchiha of the past lacked the strength to overturn the board, they were fractured, their hearts unaligned. But the current Uchiha possessed both the power and the unity born from the trauma of near-extinction.
Rebirth, that was the phrase that defined them now.
So, let the Sarutobi Clan taste that same despair.
As Nagato once said: 'Know pain.'
"Fire Release: Fire Dragon Bomb!" Scores of Sarutobi Clan ninja launched their jutsu in unison.
Rows of fire dragons roared forth, smoke billowing into the night sky.
But to use Fire Release before the Uchiha?
Both clans were renowned for their fire affinity, but against the Sharingan, the Sarutobi were inextricably inferior. As long as the Uchiha existed, the Sarutobi Clan would forever be second-rate in the art of fire.
Perhaps that professional jealousy was another hidden reason for the original massacre.
*Pu...* One by one, Sarutobi Clan ninja fell. Their proud Fire Release ninjutsu failed to even singe the Root members.
The opponents seemed to know the nature of fire better than the casters themselves, moving like individual Spirits of Fire.
The movements of the Root ninja were fluid and graceful, a unique rhythm hidden within their lethality. It was elegant, almost mesmerizing, less a battle and more a performance.
Uchiha Style Taijutsu and Swordsmanship were killing arts married to dance. It could be said that every Uchiha was a master Dancer.
"Do you also want to dance?" Fugaku spoke calmly, his tone eerily echoing Madara Uchiha during the Great Ninja War.
But then, his voice hardened. "Unfortunately, I have no desire to watch your clumsy stumbling!"
The next moment, Fugaku moved. To the shock of the Sarutobi Clan ninja, an impossible sight unfolded. A distinct Fugaku appeared instantly before every single enemy. They materialized as if from thin air, splitting in an instant, appearing abruptly before their eyes.
Real body or clone? Illusion or reality?
"It's coming. The Clan Head's jutsu. It is breathtaking no matter how many times I see it." An Uchiha whispered his praise, then corrected himself. "Former Clan Head."
Fugaku held a Kodachi, staring levelly at his opponents.
The next second, searing heat turned the steel crimson, creating a Blade of Flame.
'Uchiha Style: Leap Flame!'
All the manifestations of Fugaku struck in unison. The motion began with terrifying stillness, accelerated midway, and as the tip cleared the scabbard, it flashed like lightning. The Blade of Flame slashed toward the exposed necks of the Sarutobi Clan ninja.
Each figure was real. Each strike dealt lethal damage.
Steady and slow, displaying the core of "Iai" in the Iaijutsu Slash.
Most Sarutobi Ninja died before they could register the movement, only the elite few managed to scramble away.
But those who survived the first wave had no time to celebrate. As if he had predicted their evasion, Fugaku transitioned seamlessly into his true killing blow.
'Uchiha Style: Sun Halo Dance!'
Three different directions. Three different slashes. The speed doubled.
Unless one possessed a constitution with the terrifying regenerative power of Hashirama Senju, taking three hits from the Three Flame Blade Slashes meant instant death.
Fugaku recited the techniques silently in his heart. As the bodies fell, he gently slid the tachi back into its Sheath. "This is the true Fire Release."
In a single moment, twenty Sarutobi Ninja lay dead.
'This is Fire Release?!'
'Bullshit! That is clearly Kenjutsu! High-level Kenjutsu at that!'
Every surviving Sarutobi Ninja screamed the thought internally, but none dared to voice it, terrified of drawing the attention of that terrifying technique.
In truth, it was indeed Fire Release, simply the pinnacle Combination of Fire Release Ninjutsu and Kenjutsu.
It was the highest realm of the Uchiha Style swordsmanship ultimate technique.
Historically, few Uchiha had ever achieved this realm.
Years ago, one other Uchiha had reached this height, relying on this technique to seize the Title of the Body Flicker and carving out a fearsome reputation in the Shinobi World.
That person was The Former Strongest Uchiha, Shisui Uchiha.
Tragically, Shisui possessed the power of a giant but the mindset of a coward. Caught between the clan and the village, he distrusted his own blood and placed his faith in Danzo. He lost an eye, hit a stumbling block, and rather than solving the problem, he chose the weak way out: suicide.
Self-sacrifice? Meaningless. It was essentially escapism.
He wasted the name "Shisui of the Body Flicker," and he wasted that pair of Mangekyo Sharingan.
The strongest genjutsu, able to forcibly rewrite a person's will, Genjutsu: Kotoamatsukami? He likely used it on himself the day he awakened it.
Compared to the Fugaku of today, Shisui was far inferior.
===============
Dear Readers and Fans,
For those eager to dive into next chapters earlier before others, I invite you to join us on Patreon. By becoming our Patron, you not only gain access to exclusive advanced chapters but also help us continue this endeavour and expand it further.
https://www.pat reon.com/8Ashes8
(no space)
You can read upto 7 Chapters in advance.