The Konoha's Military Police Force headquarters, once a symbol of Uchiha pride and authority, had been transformed into a scene of bloody carnage.
Shattered windows, overturned desks and chairs, and walls stained with large splashes of blood surrounded the still forms of the Uchiha elite, lying motionless on the floor.
A mysterious figure wearing an orange-and-red tiger-striped spiral mask moved through the wide main hall of the headquarters like the Grim Reaper himself.
Every swing of the long sword in his hand sent a spray of crimson into the air.
Using the Kamui's intangibility power granted by his right eye's Mangekyo Sharingan, the attacks of the Uchiha Ninjas, whether roaring Fire Release Ninjutsu, precisely thrown weapons, or even point-blank kunai strikes, passed straight through him as if he were made of air, leaving him completely unharmed.
Yet each time he solidified, another Uchiha Ninja fell.
"Dammit! His ability is too strange!"
"All our attacks are useless!"
"Captain Yashiro, look out!"
Screams of pain, furious shouts, and the sounds of exploding Jutsu filled the air.
Yashiro, Inabi, and the other Uchiha Elite Jonin were now drenched in blood and covered in wounds.
They fought back desperately, trying to find a weakness in the masked man's defenses, but his nearly perfect intangibility made their efforts seem futile and hopeless.
"A monster! What is he?!" Yashiro gasped, clutching a heavily bleeding wound on his stomach as he leaned against a broken section of the front counter, his eyes wide with shock.
Next to him, Tekka was already a cold corpse, a chain piercing straight through his chest.
Yashiro could barely believe it… over a dozen Uchiha Jonin, and they couldn't stop one man?
His comrades fell around him one by one. The once-powerful elite of the Military Police Force now seemed like helpless lambs led to slaughter.
As he watched these formerly proud Uchiha elites struggle and fall beneath his blade, even though he knew many of them personally, a cold, cruel satisfaction shone in the single eye visible behind Obito's mask.
'Night has fallen. Fade away quietly,' He thought, preparing to launch his next lethal assault and finish off the remaining leaders, putting a final end to this 'cleansing'.
Boom-!
The massive windows on one side of the building suddenly exploded inward!
Shards of glass rained down like a storm. Pale moonlight streamed through the broken windows, illuminating several figures who had just burst into the hall!
Moving with the agility of hunting panthers, the newcomers charged into the room through the shattered opening.
The one leading them was exceptionally tall and muscular, with strange blue-gray skin, sharp, shark-like teeth, and facial markings resembling gills.
On his back, he carried a massive weapon, nearly as tall as he was, wrapped tightly in bandages… the Samehada!
Behind him were several other Ninjas, all wearing animal masks and the standard flak jackets of the Star Ninja. They moved with swift, silent precision, like well-trained nocturnal predators.
"Hm?" Obito stopped immediately, his single eye staring through the hole in his mask, his gaze locked on Kisame, or more precisely, on the large sword radiating a thick, bloody stench from the other man's back.
"Hoshigaki Kisame? And the Samehada?"
Old memories flashed through Obito's mind.
Years ago, while secretly controlling the Fourth Mizukage, Yagura, he had ordered three of the famous Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, Biwa Juzo, Hozuki Mangetsu, and Suikazan Fuguki, to intercept and kill the infiltrating Shura.
The result of that battle had been a disaster. Juzo and Fuguki were killed on the spot, and their famous swords, the Kubikiribocho and the Samehada, were taken by Shura. Only Mangetsu escaped, wounded.
Now, the Samehada, which should have been in Shura's possession, was strapped to the back of Kisame, an S-Rank Missing-Nin from Kirigakure!
And Kisame was wearing a Star Ninja's attire!
'Star Ninjas… Shura's people?!' Obito's mind raced, pieces clicking into place.
A cold chill ran down his spine.
'Why are they here? Has the extermination plan been leaked? Shura and that Uchiha Hikari... they must be close by!'
Even as he stood frozen in shock, the Star Ninjas launched their attack.
"Blood Dragon Ascension!"
One of the Star Anbu, wearing a tanuki mask, formed hand seals, his crimson Ketsuryugan activating instantly!
The blood of the Uchiha Ninjas lying on the floor, not yet cold, began to flow from their wounds as if pulled by an invisible force, quickly gathering in the air to form a roaring, coiling dragon made of pure blood!
Carrying a heavy scent of blood and hatred, the blood dragon let out a silent roar and lunged at Obito, claws extended!
At the same time, the other Star Anbu acted without hesitation.
"Wind Release: Vacuum Great Sphere!"
"Lightning Release: Earth Flow!"
"Earth Release: Earth Dragon Bullet!"
Multiple elemental Ninjutsu combined into a dense net of attacks, sealing off all of Obito's possible escape routes!
"Damn it!" Obito cursed under his breath.
Facing such a concentrated, multi-directional assault, he didn't hesitate, immediately activating Kamui!
His body turned incorporeal. The blood dragon passed through him, the earth spikes, the water senbon, and the explosive tags all flew through empty space, blasting the walls and floor where he had just been standing.
Kisame gave a ferocious grin, tearing the bandages off to reveal the spike-covered Samehada, "Looks like we're getting an extra meal tonight!"
Samehada seemed to sense its master's fighting spirit, opening its tooth-filled mouth in excitement.
Meanwhile, the younger member of the team, Yusuke, and two others rushed over to the surviving Yashiro and his men.
"We're here to help! Don't resist!" He said quietly.
They pulled out first-aid kits and soldier pills, starting emergency treatment on the wounded.
"My, my, how lively!" A strange, singsong voice suddenly called out.
The ground near Obito's feet shifted like mud. A black-and-white figure, shaped like a pitcher plant, rose from the floor.
White Zetsu waved his arms exaggeratedly, "Madara-sama, big trouble! A bunch of Star Ninjas in blue jackets showed up at the Uchiha Clan's compound too! The situation's bad, we got to run!"
Black Zetsu added in its low, raspy voice, "The intel was completely wrong. We have to abort the plan."
"Hmph! Shura… I'll remember this," Obito growled, his face dark behind the mask.
But now wasn't the time for a full-on fight with Shura. To be honest, with even Nagato defeated, Obito was already thinking that maybe the only solution was to revive Uchiha Madara after all...
He shot one last look at Kisame and the well-trained Star Anbu behind him, especially noting Oyashiro Jin's strange Kekkei Genkai.
Seeing that the enemy had greater numbers and was clearly prepared, he decided not to press the fight.
[Kamui]
A spatial vortex swirled around him, swallowing his form. He vanished without a trace.
The black-and-white Zetsu sank back into the ground, disappearing as if they'd never been there.
Kisame snorted, the bandages on Samehada twitching as if the weapon itself was disappointed not to have tasted enemy blood.
"Ran away, that one," He said, his voice thick with a shark-like rasp, full of frustration at having let a prime target escape.
One of the main culprits behind the attack on the Fourth Mizukage, the one who had labeled him a traitor and forced him to flee Kirigakure, had just slipped through his fingers.
The hall fell into a temporary silence, broken only by the thick smell of blood and the moans of the injured.
Yashiro, Inabi, and the seven other surviving Uchiha stood covered in blood, some leaning against the walls gasping, others barely standing with the help of their weapons.
They stared warily at the group of Star Ninjas who had suddenly appeared and driven off the terrifying masked man, their eyes a mix of relief at having survived and deep suspicion.
The floor was littered with the bodies of their clansmen, including skilled fighters like Tekka and Yakumi.
"You... who are you people? Why are you helping us?" Yashiro asked hoarsely, supported by Yusuke as he struggled to his feet. His eyes swept over the corpses of his clansmen and the unfamiliar, masked Ninjas before him.
Kisame sheathed Samehada, his gaze taking in the wrecked hall and the survivors.
As a man of few words by nature, he wasn't inclined to explain, but remembering Shura's orders, he answered bluntly, "By Shura-sama's command. We're here to rescue the Uchiha."
"Shura?" Yashiro and Inabi exchanged glances. The name was familiar.
Shura had attacked Konoha Village twice, so Elite Jonin like them knew of him, though few were aware that Shura is the leader of the Land of Stars.
Then Kisame, in his distinctive tone, delivered a blow that struck the survivors like a physical shock, "The Konoha's higher-ups issued an extermination order. Uchiha Itachi is carrying it out. The Root is setting up a barrier around the clan's compound to stop anyone from escaping."
He paused, seeing the disbelief and rising fury in their eyes, and added, "I know it's hard to believe. But if you go back to the clan now, you might still find... other survivors."
His words were like a spark in a powder keg, instantly igniting the last embers of hope and a raging, desperate anger in the survivors' hearts.
"Itachi... an extermination order... the Root barrier..." The phrases connected, forming a horrifying picture that explained the nightmare unfolding around them, even as they struggled to accept it.
"So it really is... Itachi!" Yashiro's eyes burned with fury, his teeth grinding together.
"The Konoha's higher-ups! Danzo!!" Inabi let out a low, animalistic growl.
"I knew it! The higher-ups must have been behind Shisui's death!"
"Uchiha Itachi! That bastard must have been in on killing Shisui!"
Despite their severe injuries, the shock and rage gave them a final burst of strength.
They didn't even stop to question the strangers' motives or tend to their wounds further.
The seven survivors looked at one another, seeing the same grim determination and a fragile spark of hope in each other's eyes.
"Let's go! Back to the clan!" Yashiro roared, forcing himself through the pain as he charged toward the clan grounds, his body protesting every step.
Inabi and the others followed, their movements unsteady but their resolve firm as they disappeared into the night.
Watching them go, Kisame gestured to the animal-masked Anbu behind him, "Move out. Take everything of value. Preserve the bodies too. Don't leave anything behind."
"Yes, sir!"
The Star Anbu sprang into action with practiced efficiency.
Some unrolled special storage scrolls, sealing the Uchiha corpses one by one. Others broke into the Police Force's records room, gathering files, scrolls, and entire cabinets. The rest took up defensive positions at the broken windows and doors, watching for any other Konoha's Ninjas.
As Yashiro, Inabi, and the others stumbled out of the Police Headquarters and onto the street leading to the clan district, they ran straight into another group of Ninjas standing ready for a fight.
At their head was the Commander of the Konoha's Anbu, Sarutobi Hiruzen's eldest son, Sarutobi Shinsuke!
He wore a wild boar mask, but the shock and confusion in his eyes were plain to see.
Behind him stood a mixed group of Root and regular Anbu.
Shinsuke's mind raced, 'What's going on? We had a team watching the Police Headquarters! How did these Uchiha get out? Where's the agent who was supposed to be handling the... cleanup?'
According to the plan, the Uchiha elites inside should have been dealt with by now!
The two groups faced each other. No words were exchanged.
Hatred, fear, misunderstanding, and the standing orders to kill instantly erupted into violence.
"Fire Release: Great Fire Dragon Technique!" Inabi's eyes were bloodshot. Ignoring his injuries, he unleashed a massive fire dragon.
"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!" An Anbu's member countered immediately.
Boom!!
A huge explosion tore through the street, flames leaping into the sky and lighting up Konoha Village's quiet night.
More explosive tags detonated. The sounds of clashing weapons, the roar of Ninjutsu, angry shouts, and screams of pain merged into a single chaotic uproar.
Konoha's Anbu Base, Main Hall.
The cold moonlight shone down on the wide plaza.
Dozens of Ninjas in standard Anbu's uniforms and animal masks stood in neat rows, a palpable sense of grim purpose hanging in the air.
They were a mix of the Hokage's personal Anbu and elite operatives from Danzo's Root.
Hatake, as one of the Anbu Captains, stood silently in formation with Tenzo.
His face was hidden behind a white cat mask. His visible right eye scanned the surroundings cautiously. He, too, was uneasy about the reason for this sudden emergency assembly.
At the front of the plaza, the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, stood in full dark combat gear, helmet on, gripping the Adamantine Staff. His expression was solemn.
Danzo stood slightly behind him, leaning on his cane, his single eye gleaming with a dark intensity.
Aside from the twelve elite Ninjas sent to seal the Uchiha Clan's compound and monitor the Police Headquarters, this gathering represented almost the entire combined strength of the Anbu and Root… over sixty highly skilled operatives!
Their orders were to 'stand by to handle any emergencies', though no one knew what those might be.
Hiruzen gazed toward the Uchiha Clan's compound, his brow furrowed as if mentally counting the seconds.
'Itachi has improved quickly, but Fugaku is the clan's head, experienced and cunning... they must have engaged by now,' He thought, planning to lead his forces in under the banner of 'rescue' or 'quelling a rebellion' once the Uchiha were sufficiently weakened and in disarray.
If he could save a portion of the Uchiha Clan, it would both neutralize their threat and allow him to play the merciful Hokage, winning public support.
Danzo, however, had very different calculations running through his mind.
His greedy eyes were fixed on the Uchiha Clan's compound, and on the precious Sharingan possessed by its inhabitants.
'That traitor Orochimaru... his research notes were too incomplete. My new scientists are making slow progress. And I lost a valuable Three-Tomoe Sharingan with Shisui...' Danzo's heart burned with impatience and avarice.
'I must use this chance to replenish my stock! Fugaku's eyes, and all those other Three-Tomoe Sharingan...' To extend the duration of his Izanagi and gain more power, the Sharingan were treasures he absolutely had to acquire.
Each lost in their own thoughts, the leaders and their forces stood in tense silence.
Suddenly… Boom-!!!
A deafening explosion, accompanied by a pillar of fire, erupted from the direction of the Uchiha Clan's compound!
The shockwave was strong enough to be felt even at the Anbu Base.
Every Anbu and Root member instantly snapped to attention, their eyes turning as one toward the source of the blast.
Kakashi's frown deepened beneath his mask.
Both Hiruzen and Danzo straightened up, their focus sharpening.
"It's coming from the Uchiha Clan's compound!" Hiruzen declared, his face a mask of appropriate concern and gravity, 'Has the situation changed? Is Itachi in trouble, or is the Uchiha resistance stronger than we anticipated?'
Danzo felt a surge of satisfaction but kept his expression neutral, "Hiruzen, we mustn't delay! We have to move in now! We can't let this chaos spread to the rest of the village!"
"Right!" Hiruzen nodded firmly, raising his Adamantine Staff high. His voice rang out, clear and commanding, across the plaza, "All Anbu and Root forces, hear me! The Uchiha Clan has rebelled! They are causing widespread destruction! Everyone, move out!
"Suppress the rebellion! Protect Konoha! Execute all resisters on sight!"
"Yes, sir!" The sixty elite Ninjas shouted as one, their combined killing intent palpable.
Over sixty figures shot forward like arrows. Led by Hiruzen and Danzo, they became a stream of blurred shadows, racing at top speed toward the Uchiha Clan's compound, now glowing red with fire.
Within the ranks, Kakashi was still reeling from the Third Hokage's pronouncement, 'The Uchiha clan has rebelled', his sense of foreboding grew stronger with every step.
The bloody storm, ignited by the Konoha's leadership themselves, who now sought to intervene as 'saviors', was now fully unleashed, sweeping up the destinies of countless people in its wake.