UCHIHA: THE ATTACK ON KONOHA

Just after news of Uchiha Mei's situation spread through the valley, the surrounding patrols and task teams halted their work, gathering toward the valley in pairs and small groups.

On the third day after Uchiha Yang and the others spread the word, three Uchiha arrived in haste. Unlike the earlier arrivals who had concealed their identities, these three made no effort to hide. They were clad in standard Konoha Jōnin uniforms, the Uchiha crest proudly displayed on their backs. Following the signs, they moved toward Mingshin-in Temple.

One of them, a warrior with two swords strapped to his back, spotted Uchiha Mei in the courtyard. She appeared to be waiting for them. Nearby, Uchiha Yan reclined on a rocking chair, lazily sipping from a bottle while soaking in the sunlight. As the group arrived, he lazily stood and opened the sliding door. From within, Uchiha Retsu stepped out, his arms hanging loosely at his sides.

The three newcomers hesitated for only a moment before their Sharingan flared to life. The swordsman among them spoke first. "You're the ones who sent the message? Who was killed? Was it Xiaoyang? Who did it?"

Uchiha Mei raised a hand, her voice calm but firm. "Don't be so hasty. Yang was injured, but he's fine. He stepped out for a walk and will be back by noon. The culprits were from Danzo's Root. Let's discuss this inside."

Hearing that no one had died, the three Uchihas relaxed, their Sharingan fading back to normal. They stepped inside. Over the next hour, seven more Uchiha arrived. Those in the valley quickly sensed that something major was unfolding—some bystanders discreetly withdrew.

By the time Uchiha Yang returned, he was momentarily stunned at the sight of four Uchiha warriors standing at the entrance. Recognizing one of them, he canceled his Transformation Jutsu and approached.

He bowed slightly. "Master Sa, you came too? That's great!"

The older shinobi, Uchiha Sa, was their mentor. But his expression was grim. The message had suggested a death in the clan—if not Yang, then one of his squadmates. His voice was deep and steady. "Yang, who did it happen to?"

Yang blinked in confusion. "Huh? What do you mean? During our mission, we were ambushed by Root operatives. We fought hard but were heavily injured. We barely survived while waiting for reinforcements in the valley. At the time… we thought we wouldn't make it."

Hearing this, Uchiha Sa exhaled slowly, then gestured to Shinya to continue the discussion.

Inside Mingshin-in Temple, Yang sat, still visibly shaken. Counting his squad, there were now 18 Uchiha present. He had always known the clan valued unity, but he hadn't expected one message to summon so many so quickly.

The warrior with two swords approached Yang, looking him over before ruffling his hair. "Xiaoyang, I came as soon as I heard. Don't worry. With our clan behind us, no one can lay a hand on us." As he spoke, his Sharingan activated, the three tomoe swirling menacingly.

Yang chuckled darkly. "Revenge shouldn't wait overnight. I like it. Uncle, you came so fast. I was starting to worry these past two days. If the enemy had arrived before you…"

The swordsman smirked. "They won't. They're already dead."

The Uchihas nearby chuckled. Yang froze. That fast? He had assumed retaliation would take time, but if his uncle already knew the culprits and had taken action... That's Uchiha for you.

He clenched his fists, feeling warmth surge through him. "This is my family… I'll fight for it, no matter what."

—-------------

Meanwhile, the high-ranking Uchiha gathered in a meeting. In the past, when conflicts with the Hokage arose, some elders advocated for negotiation, others for compromise. But this time was different. Even Uchiha Ieyasu, usually the voice of diplomacy, wanted to kill Danzo with his own hands.

The Third Elder, a longtime advocate for peace, was the loudest voice calling for the eradication of the entire Shimura clan. The Great Elder, however, remained calm—this was the outcome he had foreseen.

This was why the clan had been preparing a strike force. If Konoha's leadership did nothing, there would still be a few dissenting voices within Uchiha. That was inevitable in any family. But if anyone dared to act against them… well, this was the result.

"Thank you, Shimura Danzo," the Great Elder muttered darkly.

At the head of the table sat Uchiha Nobunaga, the clan head. His role had shifted to maintaining order as the council descended into angry debates. Yet beneath the fury, a plan was being set in motion.

Even the common villagers sensed something was wrong. The streets were quieter than usual—no Uchiha were patrolling, and, more notably, few ninja were visible at all. Shops closed early, and a tense atmosphere settled over Konoha.

The Hokage's Office

In the Hokage's office, the tension was palpable.

Mitokado Homura was berating Danzo. Koharu Utatane sat with an unreadable expression. Danzo, as expected, was dismissing the accusations, labeling the Uchiha as traitors. Orochimaru seemed lost in thought, while Jiraiya was dozing off in a chair.

Hiruzen Sarutobi exhaled a long plume of smoke before speaking. "Danzo, your actions have ensured that Uchiha won't just blame you alone. They'll assume this was a decision made by all of us." He tapped his pipe against the desk. "Fear is sometimes necessary, but allowing resentment to fester can lead to chaos."

A knock on the door interrupted them. An Anbu knelt before the Hokage. "Lord Hokage, the Uchiha clan head and Great Elder are here, along with a dozen Jōnin. They're waiting outside the Hokage Building."

An hour later, the Uchiha delegation left. With their departure, Konoha's usual patrols resumed, and the village returned to a tense normalcy.

—-------------

At the Uchiha compound, the Great Elder and Uchiha Nobunaga sat across from each other.

"This time, it was a small gain," Nobunaga admitted.

The Great Elder sneered. "As the clan head, don't be short-sighted—especially not as an Uchiha. Are you satisfied with mere scraps? Form a strike force. Send Uchiha Ming to lead it. Assign him the mission at the valley near the Land of Waves." His eyes gleamed. "Let's force Danzo's hand. Give him bait he can't resist. And once he moves…"

Nobunaga exhaled, understanding the implication. "We crush them."

The Great Elder chuckled. "Exactly. Let's give that old dog something to choke on."

Their war had already begun.