As the sun dipped below the horizon, the sky had not yet completely darkened, but a sudden surge of shinobi activity shattered the evening tranquility of Konoha Village.
This abnormal commotion made the villagers uneasy. Yet for their own safety, they heeded the notices and sealed their doors shut.
The streets, usually bustling with people, now appeared desolate and silent.
A large number of shinobi swiftly surrounded the Uchiha clan compound, determined to let no one escape.
Hiruzen and Danzo, having spent the day recuperating and preparing, were now full of energy and on high alert, ready for any counterattack from the Uchiha.
Hiruzen took charge of overall coordination, ready to lend support wherever needed.
Danzo and Torifu were tasked with capturing the Uchiha clan's Elder, Uchiha Hideo.
Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane were assigned to apprehend another Elder, Uchiha Ken.
Meanwhile, Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Orochimaru teamed up with a division of the Anbu led by Sakumo.
Their mission was to monitor Uchiha Shin, the clan head, and prevent him from interfering in the operation.
Other teams had their own assignments. Dan's unit was after Uchiha Hiro, while Might Duy's team was tasked with securing ordinary Uchiha civilians.
At Hiruzen's command, the shinobi moved swiftly, each heading toward their designated targets.
At that moment, Uchiha Shin sat composedly at the head of the reception hall in his home. Gathered before him were the top pacifist leaders of the clan.
His voice was low but resolute. "The village leadership will soon cleanse the hawkish faction among us. But as clan head, I cannot sit idly by while our people are slaughtered.
Even if our views differ, the blood in their veins is the same as mine.
The crime of treason falls upon the whole clan, and as the leader, I will not evade that burden. I will face death alongside them."
Some elders tried to persuade him otherwise, but Shin waved them off.
His final command was firm: "As clan head, I order you to stay close to your families. Do not let them be caught in this rebellion."
Seeing the absolute resolve in his eyes, the others fell silent.
They, too, had the will to die with honor, but the clan's women and children still needed protection.
For the sake of the Uchiha's future, they chose to survive, no matter how bitter that choice was.
Just as they prepared to leave, a group of Anbu arrived outside. The four leading figures were all very familiar to Shin, painfully so.
Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Orochimaru were once the seniors of his grandson, Uchiha Kaito, during the academy days.
Though the three still had no idea of that familial bond.
The fourth was Sakumo, the rising star of the Anbu whose mastery of the blade made him a feared name across the shinobi world.
Seeing these four at his doorstep with Anbu in tow, Shin felt a deep, ominous premonition.
He led the clan members outside to confront the Anbu. With a stern voice, he demanded, "What is the meaning of this? Will you truly draw blades against comrades of the same village?"
Orochimaru chuckled darkly. "Surely you already understand, don't you? It's your clan who raised their blades first."
The moment those words fell, silence engulfed the Uchiha gathered behind Shin.
His tone softened, yet grew heavier with emotion. "Do you really believe you can wipe out every last member of the hawk faction?
That will only breed more hatred, hatred that will be passed down through generations. When that day comes, the Uchiha will truly be alienated from this village."
Sakumo spoke coolly, "Then it all depends on how sharp my blade is."
To Shin, those words were like a dagger to the heart. But he could not refute them. The clan's strength was no match for the full might of the village.
And the hawks had, indeed, committed treason. As clan head, it was a failure on his part not to have discovered their plans in time.
That failure tore at him.
'Lord Madara… I've failed you,' Shin thought in despair.
After tonight, the Uchiha won't just be weakened, we'll be hated, distrusted. What does the Uchiha's glory even mean anymore? Lord Madara, can you still answer me?'
Though desperation filled his heart, he knew he had to keep the peace for now. If the Anbu clashed with the remaining clan members, everything would spiral out of control.
He turned and invited the four visitors into the main hall and instructed his servant to serve tea.
The four entered and sat upright, alert for any surprise attack. They didn't touch the tea.
Everyone sat in silence, each lost in their own thoughts.
Just then, faint footsteps sounded nearby. Shin looked up to see that Kaito had arrived without anyone noticing.
The boy's sudden appearance broke the heavy silence.
Seeing the confusion and sorrow in his grandfather's eyes, Kaito grew worried.
The once-vigorous elder now looked utterly defeated, like a dying flame. It reminded him of how his maternal grandfather looked before their final goodbye, like all hope had been drained away.
"Grandpa, why are there so many Anbu here?" Kaito asked anxiously.
"Why do you and Hiruzen-san look so worn down? Is something bad happening? My teacher will be back soon, he'll know what to do!"
At the mention of Arima, the Third Hokage, a flicker of hope lit up in Shin's eyes, only to fade again.
He murmured, "Yes… if only he were here. His blood too… is Uchiha blood."
But then, something shifted. That faint spark ignited anew.
"He is the Uchiha's pride. He's also our hope," Shin said with renewed conviction. "So long as he lives, the Uchiha name and legend will echo through the shinobi world."
Tsunade and the others, aware of Kaito's public identity, exchanged confused glances.
The strange conversation between the old man and boy puzzled them, but it didn't affect their mission. Their task was to monitor Shin and those with him.
At that moment, they noticed Shin's eyes.
The intricate pattern, unmistakable.
Mangekyo Sharingan.
The realization sent a chill down their spines. The Mangekyo, with its fearsome powers and the dreaded Susanoo, could upend the mission in an instant.
Kaito noticed it too. "Grandpa, what's with your eyes? That pattern looks so cool!"
Shin was pulled back from his thoughts by the boy's curiosity. His expression softened. He had already made peace with death. His only regret was the safety of those he left behind.
He chuckled. "Don't be surprised, Kaito. This is the Mangekyo Sharingan. It surpasses the Sharingan. Your father… your teacher… they had these eyes too."
Kaito stared in awe at the mysterious pattern. "I wish I could awaken it too!"
But Shin's smile froze briefly. His own Mangekyo had awakened after finding his son's lifeless body. A cursed eye, born of grief. He would never wish such pain on his grandson.
He said nothing, only smiled kindly. "You and your mother will stay here tonight. Don't go anywhere, alright?"
Kaito nodded. "Hiruzen-san already told me. He even gave me the scroll for the B-rank Fire Style: Great Dragon Fire Jutsu!"
As he spoke, Kaito proudly pulled the scroll from his pouch and showed it off.
Shin playfully rapped his head. "You little brat. If you wanted jutsu, you could've just said so. No need to use Sarutobi as an excuse."
Busted, Kaito confessed. "Sensei hasn't been back in ages. I've already learned everything he gave me! I just wanted to see if you or Hiruzen-san had more jutsu to teach me."
Shin patted his shoulder, beaming. "Just like my grandson! Don't worry, I've already prepared some scrolls for you, including the B-rank Fire Style: Majestic Destroyer Flame. That was Lord Madara's signature jutsu. It won't be easy!"
Kaito puffed out his chest. "Don't worry, Grandpa. I'll work hard!"
Seeing the boy so full of ambition, Shin found an excuse to send him away. Time was running short.
"Kaito, go check my study. There's something special waiting for you there."
Kaito turned and dashed off.
Watching him disappear down the corridor, Shin's heart ached. He wiped his eyes and turned to the guests.
"Forgive me," he said. "Age makes one sentimental."
They nodded in silent understanding.
Shin then asked for paper and ink, and at the table, he wrote his final letter to Kaito, a farewell filled with lessons and love.
At the end, he wrote:
"Kaito, my grandson, I can no longer stay by your side. I wanted to see you grow up, to see you start a family of your own.
That's what I'll miss the most. Don't blame me for being selfish. The path ahead will be thorny, but it's one you must walk alone. , Grandpa Shin, final words."
Finished, he stood tall and walked toward the door.
Tsunade and the others immediately blocked his way.
"Please return to the hall. If you insist on leaving, we'll be forced to stop you."
Shin replied calmly, "You know my grandson is here. I won't raise a hand against you.
I only wish to walk to my death with dignity, to accompany those of my clan who are about to perish. As clan head, I must see them off. Please, grant me this final request."
Tsunade hesitated, then sent word to Hiruzen.
A reply came swiftly. Hiruzen agreed.
Tsunade and her team resumed their watch over the rest of the Uchiha.
Meanwhile, Uchiha Ei found out what was happening in the hall and quietly avoided her son to meet Shin at the door.
Her husband, Kagami, had died young on the battlefield, leaving her father-in-law to raise him alone. And now, it would be white-haired elders burying their black-haired sons again.
At least Kagami's bloodline lived on.
Kaito and Ei were all Shin had left.
Standing at the door, Ei choked on her words.
"Please… please take care of yourself. My father knows he won't survive this, but he begged me to make sure you stayed safe. He didn't want you to suffer needlessly."
Shin shook his head gently. "Ei, as clan head, I won't abandon my people.
This is the price I must pay for my failure. I leave this family to you now. Don't follow me. If you do, that brat Kaito will surely sneak after you."
Ei had no choice but to stop and watch him go, to face death without fear.
Tears welled in her eyes.
'Kagami… if you were still alive, what would you do?' she thought bitterly. 'The ones wielding the blade now… are your own comrades. Is this really what your sacrifice led to?'
////
Chapter 92: Own Path
In the Uchiha Clan compound, within the residence of the Elder Uchiha Hiro, a gathering of hawkish clan members was underway.
They had already received word that members of the Anbu were en route to raid them. With no other choice, they assembled to discuss their response.
Hiro spoke quickly. "The Anbu are on their way. Have you made arrangements for your families?"
The others all nodded and replied, "Thanks to the doves, we got word early. We didn't know exactly when the Anbu would strike, but the women and children have already been moved to safety!
Under the protection of the doves, the higher-ups likely won't go so far as to slaughter them all."
Hiro nodded. "They may seem soft and useless most of the time, but their intel was timely."
He looked down at the impassioned faces before him, his voice full of pride.
"For the future of our clan, what's a little sacrifice? The Uchiha have never feared death!
Pain and bloodshed only make us stronger. Let those doves hide behind us and care for the weak. We'll carve a path to the future with our blood and tears!"
The others erupted into cheers, gazing at Hiro with fervent eyes.
None of them regretted the coup they had plotted. For the honor of the Uchiha, they were willing to shed blood, even their own, to awaken the fighting spirit of their kin.
In the eyes of the hawks, ever since the Uchiha had been absorbed into the fabric of the Hidden Leaf, their status in the village had steadily declined.
They were becoming invisible. Even when the Konoha Military Police Force was formed and brought the clan back into public view, that visibility came laced with suspicion and disdain.
Moreover, as fewer and fewer Uchihas awakened their Sharingan due to the lack of external pressure, and with intermarriage diluting the bloodline, the situation looked increasingly grim.
To Hiro and the hawks, these were existential threats.
So they were willing to stake their lives and futures on a coup, hoping to seize real power in the village and win a brighter tomorrow for the clan.
Even if the coup failed, their spilled blood would serve as a warning for the future generations.
Never forget the Uchiha massacre.
But to the doves within the clan, the hawks' views were dangerously extreme.
Yes, the Uchiha's strength had been weakened, but there were other ways to change their fate.
And while the bloodline may have thinned, that mostly affected the branch families.
From the doves' perspective, the Third Hokage's policies were the opposite of the Second's, more progressive, more accepting.
Many dove-aligned Uchiha now held key positions across the village's major departments. Their influence was slowly but surely growing.
In truth, the hawks and doves had always been at odds, mutual disdain ran deep.
Yet in the face of life and death, even that rift had been set aside. After all, the same blood flowed through their veins.
The doves stepped forward to shield the families of the hawks, removing that final burden from their minds.
To the Uchiha, the Third Hokage may have borne the Senju name, but many believed he carried Uchiha blood in his veins. His ability to awaken the Mangekyo Sharingan was proof enough.
While the hawks shouted with fervor, the Anbu had already surrounded them.
Uchiha Hiro stood in the courtyard and called out loudly, "Who's leading this operation?"
Hiruzen stepped forward, calm and composed. "I'm sorry, everyone. Our positions differ. I am here under orders… to see you off."
Hiro didn't grow angry. He simply smiled and said, "Sarutobi. Not bad. You're a fine man. Without the Third, you might've made a great Hokage."
Hiruzen shook his head. "Arima and I each serve our roles, for the village's future."
Hiro dismissed the sentiment. "Whether it's an individual or an entire clan, we must fight for a better future. A tree without roots cannot grow. A man without ambition cannot stand tall!"
Hiruzen clenched his fists, holding back his anger.
"Though you've betrayed the village, I still call you 'Elder Hiro' out of respect. But I cannot agree with your so-called 'fight'!
You stand upon the righteous banner of 'struggle,' yet your actions are anything but righteous.
Do you realize the catastrophe a coup would bring, not just to the village, but to the entire alliance with the Hidden Cloud?
You're using the name of the Uchiha to mask your own selfishness!"
Hiro's expression remained calm. "Those who walk different paths cannot plan together. We fight for our beliefs, and beliefs are not about right or wrong, only perspective."
To that, Hiruzen had no rebuttal. Though enraged by Hiro's actions, he knew deep down, it came down to perspective. There was no clear line between right and wrong.
Danzo stepped forward with a snort. "Hmph! Uchiha Hiro, you're just a power-hungry wolf, willing to sacrifice your clan for a taste of authority!"
Hiro turned to Danzo, shaking his head. "Danzo, your vision is far too narrow. Power was never my goal."
He activated his Sharingan, locking eyes with Danzo.
"As the Elder, I know well the addictive taste of power. But today, I'm wagering it all, for a future worth fighting for."
Danzo sneered. "Empty words, hiding the bottomless pit of your ambition."
Hiro gave him a deep, meaningful look but said no more.
He turned to Hiruzen one last time. "Hiruzen, this place is too cramped. Let's take this to the banks of the Naka River. Let that be our burial ground."
Hiruzen nodded solemnly and led the way. He wasn't worried that the Uchiha would flee, they had the look of men who had already accepted death.
And that, strangely, brought Hiruzen a sense of relief. The guilt weighing on his heart felt a little lighter.
Soon, they arrived at a wide stretch by the Naka River.
Hiro looked out over the water and said with quiet pride, "Born here… and buried here. My life has come full circle, no regrets."
With a wave of his hand, the Uchiha behind him formed up, ready for battle.
Hiruzen's side was no less prepared. The elite Anbu members organized into squads, eyes fixed on their targets.
Both sides were set. The final battle was about to begin.
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