"Danzo-sama, the Uchiha clan has absolutely no intention of rebellion. We are also part of the village of Konoha!"
This was exactly what Fugaku feared.
Among the previous generation of Konoha's Four Elders, it was Danzo who held the deepest prejudice against the Uchiha.
Back when he served as the Hokage's advisor, he didn't even bother to pretend—he outright told everyone that he simply didn't like the Uchiha.
The surveillance outside the clan compound never stopped. Sometimes Fugaku even wanted to ask Danzo directly—are your Root operatives just that idle? Or is your real mission to monitor the Uchiha?
"Is that so? But Susanoo is, after all, something of the Uchiha clan..." Danzo turned around, looking toward the distance where Hiruzen was fighting Susanoo, a meaningful expression on his face.
"Danzo-sama, no matter who that is, if he stands against Konoha, he is no longer a member of the Uchiha clan!"
Fugaku did everything he could to convey goodwill.
But seeing that Danzo couldn't even be bothered to turn his body, Fugaku had no choice but to close his eyes, weighing whether he should expose his real trump card.
After a long moment, still receiving no response, Fugaku finally made up his mind. A surge of ocular power flooded his eyes. When he opened them again, the patterns of the Mangekyō Sharingan appeared in both pupils.
A bright yellow skeletal structure emerged at the same time, completely enveloping Fugaku.
"Danzo-sama, I'm going to assist the Third Hokage. Please step aside."
Fugaku didn't look at the admiring gazes of his clansmen behind him. Instead, he watched Danzo's reaction with caution.
Had it been during the era of the Third Hokage's rule, he would never have dared to reveal his Mangekyō Sharingan.
But after Sakumo came into power and demonstrated his resolve through action, Fugaku regained faith in Konoha's upper echelon.
"Mangekyō Sharingan..." Danzo looked coldly at Fugaku, avoiding direct eye contact.
"Look!"
Just as Fugaku was waiting silently for Danzo's response, a Uchiha clansman suddenly pointed up at the sky.
A figure was sent flying by Susanoo and slammed into a building in the distance.
"It's the Third!"
One sharp-eyed Uchiha recognized the figure as none other than Sarutobi Hiruzen.
"Hmph, your skills aren't what they used to be, are they?"
Danzo snorted coldly, finally stepping aside.
"This is..."
As the Root ninjas moved with Danzo and cleared the path, Fugaku paused briefly before instantly understanding Danzo's intent.
"Members of the Police Force, follow me to repel the enemy!"
...
At the center of the battlefield, Sasuna finally managed to blast away the annoying Sarutobi Hiruzen. Just as he was about to search for Nagato, he suddenly saw a brilliant yellow streak flying straight toward his face.
"Susanoo?"
Taking a few steps back from the impact, Sasuna stared in disbelief at the Susanoo in front of him.
Uchiha Fugaku? When did this kid awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan?!
Before Sasuna could figure it out, Fugaku launched another punch, sending him retreating again.
The two Susanoo began brawling right under everyone's noses.
...
Meanwhile, outside the village, the violent explosions still hadn't ceased.
As Takeshi and the others landed at the center of the blast zone, they saw Minato battling a monster covered entirely in red chakra.
Not far away, Biwako was holding an infant, trying to avoid the shockwaves of the explosions.
"Biwako-san, what's going on here?"
Kakashi quickly moved to Biwako's side to ask about the situation.
Biwako was still visibly shaken.
"The Nine-Tails' chakra went out of control. Minato couldn't reinforce the seal in time while trying to get us away from the explosion. The moment we landed, Kushina was swallowed up by the Nine-Tails' chakra."
Right now, Kushina was fully enveloped in the Nine-Tails' chakra, with six tails swaying behind her. Every so often, she fired off a Tailed Beast Bomb.
Minato had to both find a way to reinforce the seal and protect Biwako and the others, all while tracking the Tailed Beast Bombs to keep them from flying toward Konoha.
It was a complete nightmare.
The arrival of Takeshi and the others gave him hope.
But Takeshi's mind was still stuck on what Biwako had just said.
To avoid the explosion?
Avoid the explosion... wasn't that caused by me?
In other words, even the Nine-Tails' rampage was part of my plan?!
"Takeshi!"
Minato called out urgently when he saw Takeshi standing there in silence.
"Hm? Oh! I'm coming!"
Taking advantage of the Nine-Tails' attention being fully on Minato, Takeshi moved behind it and began forming hand seals.
"Ice Release: Ice Age!"
A storm of ice crystals swept toward the Nine-Tails, covering it completely—but only for a moment before the Tailed Beast Cloak melted them away.
"Knew it wouldn't be that easy... Water Release: Water Prison Jutsu!"
Takeshi immediately changed the hand seal sequence, using the melted water to cast the Water Prison.
Encased inside a giant water sphere, the Nine-Tails thrashed violently, then tore the prison open with its claws for everyone to see.
"Rasengan!"
Just as the Nine-Tails broke free, Minato appeared above it with a Rasengan in hand, smashing it down hard.
"Ice Release: Ice Crystal Burial!"
Takeshi quickly manipulated the ice crystals to bind the Nine-Tails' limbs, preventing it from dodging Minato's strike.
As the Rasengan made contact, a huge chunk of the Tailed Beast Cloak was torn away by its sheer force—only to regenerate instantly.
"So it really can't be dealt with that easily, huh?"
Minato watched as the still-intact Nine-Tails prepared to swing its tail at him again. He immediately used Flying Thunder God to create distance.
"And this is only half-Tailed Beast transformation... still this tough."
Takeshi also felt the pressure. The complete Nine-Tails was on another level. Even at just the six-tails stage, it already had them overwhelmed.
Guess I'll have to try half-Tailed Beast form...
[Isobu: Takeshi.]
Just as Takeshi was preparing to ask Isobu for more power, the latter took the initiative and pulled him into the mental space.
"Isobu?"
Takeshi was surprised to see Isobu take the initiative for once.
"That's the Nine-Tails. Just going half-Tailed Beast form won't be enough, even if it hasn't revealed its full power."
Isobu propped himself up and walked forward, glaring at Takeshi through the barrier of the seal.
"Ugh, seriously? This is all that old fart Sage of Six Paths' fault! What do you mean 'split the Tailed Beasts evenly'?! One through Eight got divided equally, and then Nine-Tails got a whole half to itself?!"
Hearing Isobu confirm it in person, Takeshi lost it, clutching his head and cursing the Sage of Six Paths.
"However... there is still a way."
Seeing Takeshi's tantrum, Isobu spoke calmly.
"Huh? You had a plan this whole time and didn't say anything?! Stop being mysterious—tell me already!"
Hearing there really was a solution, Takeshi's eyes lit up as he rushed over to Isobu.
"Complete Tailed Beast Transformation."