Chapter 48: 048: Release Itachi!!!
"Lord Clan Head, it's bad!"
"ANBU and Root ninja have broken through our lines first!"
In the grand plaza of the Uchiha Clan grounds, Fugaku, who had just stepped outside, glanced at the horizon.
The moon had just begun to rise.
Yet, the sounds of battle were already echoing from the clan grounds' entrance.
An Uchiha ninja rushed in to report.
The current situation was vastly different from the original story. With Gilgamesh's support, Fugaku no longer felt utter despair about the clan's annihilation.
Even if hope remained slim, carving out a bloody path was no longer an impossibility.
Therefore, this time, Fugaku didn't stay home and wait for death to arrive.
Instead, he directly went out to lead the battle.
"Attack!"
With a single command, over three hundred Uchiha, mostly Genin and Chunin, surged from the plaza, flying towards the entrance of the clan grounds.
From the rear, Elder Yamagen led a troop, escorting a large group of the elderly, women, and children.
They weren't heading to the Naka Shrine's underground shelter to wait for death, but retreating towards the back, preparing to escape Konoha through a breach in the village wall.
If the Clan Head and the others succeeded in the coup, they could return.
If the Clan Head and the others failed, they would be the Uchiha's last hope for the future.
...
"Do not hold back and show no mercy; flatten all the buildings in front!"
"First squad, use Fire Release!"
"Second squad, use Wind Release!"
"Third squad, use Genjutsu to disrupt the enemy!"
Looking at the densely packed enemies rushing towards them, Fugaku shouted loudly.
When the number of ninja was large, and individual combat transformed into a battlefield of group assaults,
The difference between having a commander and not having one was immense in these situations.
One after another, Fire Release jutsu, fueled by Wind Release, surged towards the masked ninja like a raging sea of flames.
"Everyone in the first row, use Water Release!"
"Second row, all use Earth Release, hold the first wave!"
Danzo's voice came from the front.
A dense, continuous wall of water suddenly blocked the first wave of attacks.
A large area of high-temperature no-man's-land was created by the massive amount of water vapor in the middle.
It clearly divided the Uchiha and Konoha ninja into two sides.
"Fugaku, I didn't expect you to actually betray us. I'm truly disappointed!"
Hiruzen, leading a group of ANBU, jumped over and said with a face full of grief.
"Hmph, stop pretending Hiruzen. Even if we didn't attack, wouldn't you have ambushed us tonight?
"Striking first has always been your usual tactic."
Fugaku snorted coldly: "We only needed a place to live, but you repeatedly squeezed our living space.
"Fellow ANBU, many of you were born into other Konoha clans. You know Konoha's situation well. Since the Third Hokage took office, things have been going downhill.
"We have no ill will towards you. We only want to overthrow the dark rule of Hiruzen Sarutobi, Danzo Shimura, and the others..."
Suddenly, Yudoku, a battle-crazed Uchiha, interrupted Fugaku's words and shouted loudly:
"Clan Head, there's no need to waste words with them. None of these people are innocent."
"Konoha's ninja all deserve to die! Kill them all, leave no survivors!"
"As one of the founding clans of Konoha, how have they treated us? Today, we will not endure it any longer."
"Yes! That's right. Kill them all!"
"Leave no one alive!"
In an instant, the crowd was agitated, and the naturally arrogant Uchiha's eyes turned red with bloodlust.
The coup launched tonight was meant to paint the town red with blood.
Cough!
Fugaku pressed his hand hard against his chest.
It was too difficult.
A bunch of short-sighted fools.
The Uchiha's current predicament was due to too many people like this.
His ploy was simple: If he could successfully alienate some of the ANBU members, it would greatly reduce the pressure on the Uchiha.
After all, many ANBU members came from various Konoha clans, including the Hyuga Clan, who were only superficially allied with the Hokage.
He didn't expect them to suddenly turn against the Hokage and kill him, but at the very least, they could hold back during the fight out of concern.
Such a small change on the battlefield could affect the outcome of the entire war.
Unfortunately, these fools erased all his efforts with just a few words.
What Fugaku didn't see was the sinister smile that gradually appeared on Yudoku's face after he finished speaking.
"Haha, see? This is the Uchiha!
"As the Konoha Police Force, have they ever held back from bullying the weak?"
Danzo sneered:
"Although Hiruzen has made some mistakes in his policies, he has been loyal to Konoha all his life, at least leading Konoha to victory in the Second and Third Great Ninja Wars.
"He didn't appoint based on favoritism and recommended a civilian ninja with no background to be the Fourth Hokage, leading to the rise of a large number of outstanding talents in Konoha."
Although Danzo was usually unhappy that Hiruzen had stolen his Hokage position, they were now grasshoppers on the same rope and he had to speak up for him.
At this time, the large area of high-temperature water vapor in the middle was gradually disappearing.
Soon, the temporary no-man's-land, the barrier that separated the two sides, would vanish.
The Third Hokage also stepped forward at the opportune moment:
"We are all members of Konoha. I truly don't want to fight with you all.
"If you are willing to lay down your weapons, stop releasing jutsu, and end this rebellion, I am willing to let bygones be bygones, and even step down.
"Bullshit! After we lay down our weapons, we will be lambs to the slaughter."
"Don't listen to him, everyone."
Yudoku once again stepped out of the crowd and answered first.
"You launched this coup rashly and refused to accept peace. You just want the entire Konoha to be buried with you.
"How many innocent civilians will this hurt, how many of them would be your former comrades and compatriots?
"Such heartless and ungrateful people also want to stand on a high ground and condemn the Hokage?
"Do you even deserve to do that?"
Danzo also seized the opportunity to speak again, rebuking loudly.
His words were passionate and vigorous!
As an experienced politician, how could the Uchiha barbarians be his match in rhetoric?
"We'll let you see what a truly rational Uchiha who loves Konoha is like!
"Where is Uchiha Itachi?"
At this moment, the high-temperature water vapor had completely disappeared.
A figure fiercely plunged into the Uchiha's rear formation.
Like a tiger jumping among sheep.
In his blood-red eyes, the three tomes spun rapidly.
The Mangekyo Sharingan was activated.
Under everyone's horrified gazes,
A gigantic, orange-red Susanoo instantly crushed the surrounding clansmen into splatters of blood.
"Forgive me, the Uchiha's path... is truly wrong!"
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