Naruto: Konoha's Traitor

"Is That Reason Enough?"

Upon witnessing his fellow Uchiha clansmen being brutalized by Chiba, Uchiha Kazuo stepped forward, seething with anger, ready to intervene—only to be stopped by Orochimaru.

Kazuo snapped, "Lord Orochimaru, even if he is the unit captain, this goes beyond discipline! This is excessive!"

Orochimaru's golden eyes narrowed as he responded coldly, "What do you think this place is? This is Kusagakure, the frontlines of a war—not the streets of Konoha. If a subordinate refuses to follow orders during wartime, their death isn't a crime—it's military necessity."

He leaned in slightly, voice colder than steel.

"Uchiha Kazuo, this is your final warning: focus on your duties. Others' matters are not your concern. If you overstep again—return to Konoha, or face disciplinary action."

Kazuo's fists clenched. He trembled with fury.

Back in Konoha, even the Hokage had to give the Uchiha clan some degree of respect—Sarutobi Hiruzen, for all his power, still considered their political weight. But here, on the battlefield, Orochimaru showed no such deference. Not only had he appointed Chiba—a non-Uchiha—as captain over their clan members, but he openly allowed the humiliation of Uchiha shinobi.

Kazuo wanted nothing more than to grab Uchiha Ryuhei and the others and march them back to the village.

But he couldn't.

The clan head, Uchiha Masaki, had issued a strict decree: with war brewing, this was the Uchiha's chance to rise again. No one was to abandon the battlefield.

Kazuo still didn't understand it. The Uchiha were Konoha's largest and most powerful shinobi clan. They commanded the Military Police. Why would their leader speak of "revival," as if they were a fading relic?

Then came Chiba's ultimatum.

"This is your last chance. Stand, and follow me. Or don't bother leaving at all."

The surrounding ninja watched with mixed emotions.

He'd already beaten five Uchiha half to death. And now he expected their loyalty?

Jiraiya stepped beside Orochimaru, whispering, "Isn't it time you called this off? You've made your point. If this keeps up, there'll be no clean way to end it."

But Orochimaru only watched with eerie calm.

"This is Chiba's matter," he said. "And I gave him full authority when I named him captain. He's acting within his rights. Whether or not this ends cleanly isn't up to Chiba—it's up to those Uchiha."

Jiraiya sighed, shaking his head. He'd suspected Chiba would use these Uchiha as an example—but this was brutal, even by wartime standards.

Uchiha Ryuhei and the others remained silent, stubbornly enduring the pain.

Chiba released his foot from Uchiha Jinno's bloodied face, only to bring his heel crashing down on Jinno's knee.

"AHHH!"

Jinno had already lost the use of one wrist—now his leg bent unnaturally under Chiba's stomp. He howled in agony.

Gasps spread among the onlookers. Even hardened shinobi from other clans stared in shock. Chiba had just shattered his subordinate's leg.

But those who had served with Chiba before? They weren't surprised.

This was Chiba.

Cold. Ruthless. Uncompromising.

Chiba walked to the next target—Uchiha Raijin—who, unaware of the shift in atmosphere, shouted, "Chiba! I swear, the Uchiha clan will never forgive this!"

Chiba's lip curled.

"Oh? The Uchiha clan won't forgive me? Big words for someone lying in the dirt. Konoha isn't your personal clan domain, Raijin. I'm the one in command here. If subordinates disobey, they will be corrected.

Or are you threatening to bypass the Hokage and exact revenge directly? Is the Uchiha clan planning treason?"

Raijin's eyes widened. He recognized the trap.

"N-No! That's not what I meant! I wasn't—"

Chiba didn't let him finish. A sharp kick crushed Raijin's shin.

Another scream pierced the air.

Kazuo's face turned pale with rage—but Orochimaru's presence kept him still. If he moved now, it'd be insubordination.

Chiba approached Uchiha Kyosuke next, raising his foot—but Kyosuke suddenly croaked, "Wait—wait!"

He struggled upright, voice rasping from earlier injury.

"I—I'll follow you. I submit."

Chiba snorted. "You should've said so earlier."

Kyosuke lowered his head in shame. He understood now: the Uchiha name meant nothing here. Orochimaru was backing Chiba. Kazuo was powerless. And the clan leader's orders made desertion impossible.

Kyosuke would rather serve Chiba than suffer clan punishment for dereliction of duty.

Next was Uchiha Keiichi. Seeing the writing on the wall, he rose immediately and declared, "I will follow Captain Chiba's command."

Only Uchiha Ryuhei remained.

But before Chiba even stepped forward, Ryuhei made his decision.

"I submit."

One by one, they stood behind Chiba—Kyosuke, Keiichi, and Ryuhei.

From the side, Uchiha Kazuo looked on, seething.

Is this what our pride has become? Broken under pressure?

This is humiliation!

The three freshly loyal Uchiha couldn't meet Kazuo's gaze. They were the ones who'd suffered—Kazuo had only watched.

Chiba turned his gaze to the two still on the ground—Raijin and Jinno—and scoffed.

"Lord Orochimaru, since these two refuse to obey orders, I request that they be removed from the squad and returned to Konoha. I have no need for trash who mistake pride for strength."

Orochimaru gave a faint nod. "As you wish."

Panic overtook Raijin and Jinno.

If they were sent back now—without having fought, humiliated, broken, and disgraced—they would be finished within the clan.

"W-Wait! Lord Orochimaru—we'll follow Captain Chiba! We submit! Please don't send us back!"

Orochimaru turned to Chiba. "Your call."

Chiba stroked his chin theatrically.

"…Fine. One of you stays."

Raijin and Jinno stared at him in stunned silence.

Chiba pointed. "Jinno stays. Raijin gets lost."

Raijin's jaw dropped. "Why?!"

Chiba's smirk returned, sharp as a kunai.

"Because you tried to threaten me with your clan. I don't like that kind of person."

He stepped forward, eyes cold.

"Is that reason enough?"

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