Blood coated the long sword; the sharp blade was exceptionally glaring under the illumination of the Police Force plaza lights.
Everyone watched this scene in disbelief.
Yashiro died... just like that? Right in front of everyone?
No one dared to believe it, but this absurd reality, accompanied by the sight of Yashiro Uchiha falling to the ground with his eyes wide open in death, jolted the Uchiha present awake.
This... was the reality.
"Good evening, everyone."
Walking out from the shadows, Obito Uchiha's figure appeared before them all.
Beneath that eerie tiger-pattern mask was a piercing crimson Sharingan.
"Now, the game of cat and mouse begins."
"Run to your heart's content."
"Before I catch you."
Flicking the blood from his blade, Obito Uchiha's low, raspy voice was just like his mask—exceptionally eerie.
"Senior Yashiro!"
Only then did the Uchiha clansmen react, looking at Obito Uchiha one by one with uncontrollable rage.
"I'll kill you!"
As Tekka Uchiha became the first to charge at Obito Uchiha, the nearly three hundred Uchiha ninja behind him followed close behind like a rising tide!
"This is really... quite a headache..."
Watching the Uchiha rushing toward him one after another, the corners of Obito Uchiha's mouth curled into a mocking cold smile beneath his mask.
Tekka Uchiha, the first to reach him, swung his ninjatō directly at Obito's face. Yet, Obito showed no intention of dodging, standing still in place as if stupefied, facing the incoming blade.
Got him!
Seeing this, Tekka Uchiha felt a surge of excitement and brought his blade down without hesitation!
But...
The sight before his eyes told him that this strike should have beheaded the enemy, yet the sensation transmitted through the ninjatō held no feeling of cutting into a physical body.
Something's wrong!
Tekka Uchiha was horrified. Just as their bodies overlapped and separated, he was about to turn and counterattack, but the opponent had already anticipated this situation.
With just a twist of his body, the blade in his hand simply severed Tekka Uchiha's neck!
A Jōnin—an Uchiha Jōnin.
If this were a normal duel, even a Kage-level opponent would have to spend some effort.
But he died just like that.
He died so inexplicably.
Tekka Uchiha even had numerous techniques he hadn't yet used, yet he died beneath this single strike.
Chills! Everyone who witnessed this scene felt a chill in their hearts, but after the chill came a surge of rage.
This guy... this guy!
He actually killed an Uchiha within the Uchiha clan grounds?!
They were the proud and glorious Uchiha!
In an instant, countless Uchiha roared and charged forward, rushing toward Obito Uchiha to kill him like moths flying into a flame!
Meanwhile, Fugaku Uchiha was facing a single person.
He had never imagined he would face him at such a time.
According to his thoughts, he should have faced him somewhere else, perhaps in front of the Hokage Residence.
"Godaime..."
Looking at the familiar white-haired man before him, Fugaku Uchiha's voice was somewhat hoarse.
"Fugaku..."
The one who spoke wasn't the Kakashi standing before him.
It was the person behind him.
Mikoto Uchiha.
His wife.
A gentle woman.
But this gentle woman was once a Konoha Jōnin, a Jōnin with outstanding strength even among the Uchiha.
From the moment Kakashi appeared to block the couple's path...
They already knew: the Uchiha had lost.
On the day of the coup, the leader of the enemy you envisioned appears right in front of you.
What does this mean?
It means your plan had long been seen through by the opponent.
"It's been a long time, Fugaku."
Kakashi looked at the man before him and spoke calmly.
"I had originally intended to kill my way to you myself."
"I didn't expect you, Kakashi, to come face me alone. do you think victory is already in your grasp?"
A smile that wasn't quite a smile appeared on Fugaku Uchiha's face. He held his sword, faint traces of blood appearing in his eyes as he looked at Kakashi.
"The Anbu have already surrounded the Uchiha."
"Fugaku, I gave you a chance. It is a pity you did not grasp it."
Hearing Kakashi's words, Fugaku Uchiha laughed.
He laughed hideously; he laughed terrifyingly.
"Chance?!"
"What chance?!"
"That so-called position in the Elder Council?"
"Kakashi Hatake, do not be so arrogant!"
The sound of metal against metal rang out abruptly as a snow-bright long sword was drawn from its sheath by Fugaku Uchiha, pointing straight at Kakashi.
Looking at the ninjatō pointed at him, Kakashi remained unmoved, simply watching him coldly.
"Was that not enough?"
Kakashi's words further ignited the fury in Fugaku Uchiha's heart.
Finished! He knew it was finished. Everything was finished. He was finished. The Uchiha were finished.
He was a sinner of the Uchiha!
This clan of a thousand years would be extinguished here tonight!
But, even if he died, he would drag this Fifth Hokage into the Pure Land with him!
"You really act so high and mighty!"
"Who do you think you are!"
"My Uchiha created Konoha together with the Senju, yet until now, the Hokage position has been controlled by your Hokage—Lineage!"
"Hashirama Senju deserved to be Hokage. The Uchiha reluctantly accepted Tobirama Senju as Hokage!"
"But on what basis Hiruzen Sarutobi? On what basis Minato Namikaze? And on what basis you, Kakashi Hatake?!"
"The entire Hokage succession is held in the hands of your Senju faction!"
Fugaku Uchiha clenched his teeth, staring dead at Kakashi. He had wanted to say these words for a long time!
Now that this was his last chance, if he didn't vent the dissatisfaction and resentment in his heart, he would not die in peace!
"It seems you do not intend to surrender without a fight."
"Since that is the case, I will answer you."
"Why the Third was Hokage, why Sensei was Hokage, and why I am Hokage."
Kakashi calmly watched the man who looked like he had descended into madness. The White Fang at his waist was slowly unsheathed, its translucent blade gleam soaking into the dark night.
"It is the simplest of matters."
"Because whether it was the Third, or Sensei, or finally myself..."
"Across three full generations of Konoha, or even three generations of the ninja world..."
"No one could compare to the Third, Sensei, or me at the same age."
"As for the so-called Hokage Lineage?"
At this point, the corners of Kakashi's mouth curved up slightly as he looked toward Mikoto Uchiha behind Fugaku Uchiha.
"What are you doing?!"
Fugaku Uchiha immediately blocked Kakashi's line of sight.
"Your younger son is very talented."
Kakashi mentioned Sasuke, who was currently at the Academy, causing Fugaku Uchiha's expression to turn slightly ugly.
"Hokage Lineage?"
"Where did you hear such a joke?"
"You define the 'Hokage Lineage' as those who were chosen by the Hokage, or the Hokage's disciples, because they were excellent enough themselves. That is the 'Hokage Lineage' you speak of."
"Without demonstrating one's own value, on what basis can one enter this so-called 'Hokage Lineage' of yours?"
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