Chapter 164: Fugaku Uchiha vs. Shisui Uchiha!
"Danzo, I know everything you did was to protect the 'Root' of Konoha."
Hiruzen Sarutobi's voice was calm, yet carried an undeniable weight. "But looking at it now, those methods… have left too many scars. And they have forced us to bear a heavy price."
He first affirmed Danzo's "motives," then immediately pivoted, pointing out the disastrous consequences of his "methods," effortlessly seizing the moral high ground. He didn't mention a word about how he himself had authorized the massacre.
"Now, they have returned. Perhaps this is a chance given by the heavens for you to make up for past mistakes, to untie this deadly knot. Danzo, you need to give those Uchiha—who might still hold a shred of hope for Konoha—an explanation. A way out."
Hiruzen's every word was about the "greater good of Konoha" and "avoiding bloodshed." As for how to explain, that was Danzo's problem.
"This is also to achieve a relatively peaceful resolution. To minimize the damage to Konoha."
His tone suddenly shifted, becoming colder. "Of course… for those stubborn elements who refuse to see reason, who still harbor resentment and attempt to threaten Konoha's peace again… Danzo, when that time comes, it will be up to you. It will be time for you to shoulder the 'responsibility.' Of course, I will bear it with you."
Danzo was silent for a moment, finally letting out a grunt of assent. Although it seemed he would have to share some of the Sharingan harvest with the Third, he tacitly accepted the arrangement.
…
Inside the Uchiha Compound.
Facing his father's probing gaze, Sasuke explained the origin of Kyubey and their resurrection.
"A small white thing appeared. It called itself Kyubey. It said it could grant any wish I had. I wished for all my clansmen to come back. And then… this happened."
The white creature named Kyubey had vanished without a trace.
"A wish… can bring back the dead? Such a massive resurrection… relying on that unknown creature?" Fugaku's brow furrowed deeply. "What kind of jutsu is this? Another form of Edo Tensei?"
His sharp gaze locked onto Sasuke, his voice low with suppressed emotion. "What is the price? What did it do to you?"
"Price?" Sasuke repeated. "Kyubey said the price would be collected by itself after the wish was granted."
Fugaku and Mikoto's hearts instantly sank into an abyss. What exactly had their child paid? A shadow of impending doom for their son loomed over them.
But Fugaku knew this was not the time for weakness. On the night of the massacre, amidst despair and rage, many clansmen's Sharingan had been catalyzed. Some awakened, others evolved their tomoe. This power could not be wasted.
He took a deep breath, expelling the stale air from his lungs. "We… have survived! Then, we will never allow ourselves to be slaughtered again! We will personally claim the blood debt of our extermination! The future of the Uchiha will be retaken by our own hands!"
Fugaku raised his arm and shouted. With no room left to be obedient dogs, the eyes of the surrounding Uchiha clansmen reignited with crimson fire. They would use blood to wash away the shame Konoha had inflicted upon the Uchiha!
The Uchiha clan surged toward the edge of their compound.
At the perimeter, the air was already frozen. Konoha's ninja, including Root, Anbu, and elites from other major clans (excluding Nara, Yamanaka, Akimichi, and Sarutobi), had completely surrounded the area.
Just as the Uchiha were about to engage, a figure appeared silently not far behind Fugaku.
Shisui Uchiha!
There was no joy of reunion in his eyes, only cold resolve.
Kotoamatsukami!
The invisible ocular power activated silently, aimed straight at Fugaku Uchiha! Without needing eye contact, this ultimate genjutsu could rewrite another's will invisibly.
However, a strange fluctuation suddenly rippled out from Sasuke! Deep within his scarlet Sharingan, an ominous pink glow faintly shimmered. The magic of a Magical Girl allowed him to acutely detect the mental intrusion targeting his father!
"Watch out!" Sasuke shouted sharply. Without thinking, a barrier unfolded in front of his father.
The barrier vibrated violently. But it successfully blocked the mental invasion of Kotoamatsukami! Then, a condensed beam of pink energy shot from his fingertip!
THWACK!
A wooden log shattered, and Shisui appeared several meters away, a flash of astonishment in his eyes. Kotoamatsukami failed? How is that possible?
At this moment, the clansmen also realized something was wrong, their shock turning to fury!!!
"Shisui, you!"
"Bastard! So you really are Konoha's dog after all!!!"
Although Fugaku didn't understand what new jutsu Sasuke had used to save him, now was not the time to investigate. He stared intently at Shisui.
Seeing his sneak attack fail, Shisui hesitated no longer. His figure flashed, appearing in front of the Konoha forces. He faced his former clansmen, his voice heavy with pain but firm.
"Lord Fugaku, everyone, please stop! Don't make another mistake! This resurrection is a chance given by the heavens for us Uchiha to prove our loyalty to Konoha once again! Don't let darkness blind your eyes! Dedicating our lives to Konoha is the only way to revitalize the Uchiha clan!! The Third Hokage promised that the village and the Uchiha clan would change! Both the village and the clan will change!! If you persist in this obsession, don't blame me for being merciless!!!"
As his words fell, emerald-green chakra surged from Shisui's body. It rapidly coalesced into a giant skeletal frame, covered by chakra muscle and armor, transforming into Susanoo! With both eyes present, Shisui's Susanoo was far more powerful and solid than it had been with only one eye!
The immense pressure made many Uchiha clansmen hold their breath.
"Shisui… You really are a genius…" Fugaku's face grew even darker. "I've truly been underestimated!"
The next moment, blood-red Mangekyo Sharingan spun wildly in Fugaku's eyes! A Susanoo, in no way inferior to Shisui's, rose from the ground!
"That's Father's Mangekyo!"
"The Clan Head has awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan too!"
The clansmen exclaimed, their morale soaring.
Two Susanoo, seemingly touching the sky, faced off across the crowd. A bloody battle that would decide the fate of the Uchiha, and perhaps overturn all of Konoha, was imminent.
Hiruzen watched the standoff from afar. He sighed softly, speaking to those around him in a tone that feigned compassion.
"Let's go. It's time to meet these 'returned' old friends. I hope this time, for Konoha's sake, and for their own… they can find a path where we can truly live in peace. Let the tragedies of the past… remain in the past."
Heh.