As he laid eyes on the approaching figure, Danzo fell into a contemplative silence. What was this guy doing here? Then, as if recalling something, he glanced at Uchiha Fugaku with a complex expression, his eyes betraying a hint of emotion. Had he truly made the right decision coming here? Was it all worth it?
Initially, he had believed that, given the pressure from the village, the Uchiha clan had limited options: either to revolt or to comply with the village's demands. Thus, he had seized the opportunity to profit before Hiruzen took decisive action.
With his conviction, he had anticipated no refusal from the Uchiha clan leader. After all, the prospect of an immediate uprising seemed implausible for the Uchiha. To initiate such a rebellion now would surely lead to failure.
Thus, He had arrived with the intention of securing a financial gain. To even demonstrate his earnestness, he had brought only two ninjas with him. He had also assumed that no one in Konoha would dare to lay a hand on him. Yet, upon his arrival, he was swiftly apprehended by dozens of Uchiha ninjas.
Now, faced with the Grass Village Leader's presence, Danzo's mind churned with speculation. Had the Uchiha clan already conspired with Grass Village, or had they been coerced into this alliance?
Danzo's gaze darkened with apprehension, but as he locked eyes with the familiar figure, a faint stirring of recognition flickered within him. Despite the circumstances, he understood that falling into the hands of the Grass Village likely ensured his safety. After all, the Grass Village Leader seemed intent on recruitment, not harm.
Nevertheless, he had not foreseen the Uchiha clan's defection to the Grass Village. With a resigned sigh, Danzo muttered under his breath, "Grass Village Leader is really cunning."
However, due to the cloth gag, he was unable to convey his thoughts, and could only emit a muffled "Wooooo~"
"What's that sound?" The Grass Leader's attention was drawn to Danzo's muttering, prompting him to gaze upon the captive with a somber expression.
Removing the cloth from Danzo's mouth, he inquired, "What happened to you? Who did this to you?"
"Grass Leader..." With the cloth removed, Danzo felt a sense of relief wash over him. It appeared his safety was assured, as he had anticipated.
Glancing at Uchiha Obito and Uchiha Fugaku nearby, Danzo's demeanor turned frosty as he began, "I didn't expect the Uchiha clan would..."
But before he could complete his thought, the cloth hastily thrust back into his mouth, stifling his words once more. 'Again? Why?'
Observing Danzo's confusion, the Grass Leader's expression grew somber. "I understand you have much to convey, but now is not the time. We'll converse upon reaching Grass Village."
Danzo's face contorted in disbelief at the unexpected turn of events. 'What's going on? Who was supposed to speak to him? And what was this about returning to the Grass Village? But Before he could protest he was ignored again
"Obito, what's taking you so long? Stop daydreaming and lend a hand with loading... uh... in welcoming our esteemed guest properly." Akihiko redirected his attention to the silent Obito. "Remember, treat our important guest from Konoha with respect."
With those instructions given, Uchiha Obito and Uchiha Fugaku exchanged glances, then directed their focus to Danzo, who was gagged and struggling. Esteemed guest? The irony wasn't lost on them.
Uchiha Fugaku couldn't suppress a twitch of his lips. He'd heard rumors about the Grass Village's questionable ninja ethics, but he hadn't anticipated this level of disrespect from its leader.
"Seriously, what does he take me for?" grumbled Obito. Not only was he expected to assist with transporting people, but now he was being roped into loading duties too? Obito rolled his eyes and muttered under his breath as he approached Danzo, who emitted muffled protests, looking weak and vulnerable, as if pleading, "Don't come any closer~"
However, his complaints fell on deaf ears. With time ticking away and Konoha likely already in motion, there was no room for delay. They had to move swiftly.
As Uchiha Fugaku gazed out at the tranquil night, a sigh escaped his lips, a hint of complexity in his eyes. Turning to Akihiko and Obito, he remarked, "We'll rely on the Grass Leader and the clan leader from now on." With a brief pause, he added, "I'll take my leave now."
With the Grass Leader's nod of approval, Fugaku made his way to the exit.
Once Uchiha Fugaku departed, Uchiha Obito found himself similarly lost in thought, surveying his surroundings with a complex expression and exhaling deeply. He hadn't anticipated that after his defection, the entire Uchiha clan would follow suit. "I suppose I won't experience this familiar sight again in the future..."
But before he could finish his thought... Whack A sudden slap on the back of his head jolted him. "Why are you getting all sentimental? Don't you realize time is of the essence? If you want to indulge in sentimentality, go back and write an 8000-word essay on it. You can be as melancholic as you want then!"
Obito couldn't help but grumble at Akihiko's reproach. "You're such a pain." Who said he was sentimental anyway?
…
On the other side, at the command of the clan leader, the entire Uchiha ninja clan sprang into action. Even amidst the darkness of night, the Uchiha compound remained illuminated, punctuated by the hurried footsteps of its members.
In particular, the Uchiha ninjas aligned with the militant faction, long suppressed by the village, were eager to reclaim the Uchiha's former glory and assert their power over those who had underestimated them.
Was the moment they had been waiting for finally upon them? Unfortunately, the absence of the Uchiha prodigy—Uchiha Obito—who had defected from the village, posed a significant setback. His legendary Mangekyo Sharingan abilities could have easily tipped the scales in their favor against the Third Hokage and his allies.
Yet, despite this setback, the clan leader's orders seemed puzzling. Why gather all members, including those who hadn't unlocked their Sharingan? And why divide Uchiha members into two groups instead of uniting their strength for a swift rebellion to seize control of the village before anyone could react?
"Where is Fugaku? What is he occupied with at this crucial moment?" inquired an elderly Uchiha ninja, his demeanor grave and authoritative. "Does he not grasp the urgency of our situation? And what of Danzo? His involvement is crucial to our present operation!"
In response, a slightly younger Uchiha replied with deference, "Elder Setsu, the clan leader mentioned he is occupied with a matter of importance. He assured us he would join us at the earliest opportunity and instructed the elders to proceed independently. As for Danzo..." He paused briefly. "He is presently under the clan leader's custody."
Setsu's brow furrowed deeply at this revelation, followed by a cold snort. "Why would Fugaku take Danzo away? After this ordeal, I will have a discussion with Fugaku. He seems to have forgotten his responsibilities, including his son's discipline, not to mention that Shisui. Has he lost sight of his duties to his own people?"
Sensing the pressing nature of the situation, Setsu checked the time and urged the gathered Uchiha ninja, "We cannot delay any further. Very well, As Fugaku has directed, let us initiate our operation. Be vigilant! Our first task is to neutralize the surrounding defensive forces and secure control of the village gates."
With a decisive wave of his hand, he began to issue further instructions. "Let's..."
However, before he could conclude his directive, a sudden phenomenon occurred. A peculiar light enveloped the entire Uchiha compound, causing everyone to freeze in astonishment. They turned their gazes in all directions, their eyes widening in disbelief. "A... a barrier!"
…
Deep within the heart of the Uchiha compound lay the chamber reserved for the clan's most crucial gatherings. In this solemn space, Fugaku knelt before the altar, his eyes shut in contemplation. A subtle shift in the atmosphere prompted his brows to furrow slightly, and he gradually lifted his gaze.
With serene composure, Fugaku spoke into the stillness, his voice carrying a quiet resolve, "Are you finally here?"