"Two pairs of Mangekyo Sharingan?!" Hiruzen Sarutobi and his aides were dumbfounded upon hearing the report from the ninjas. Disbelief etched across their faces, their hands trembled slightly at the gravity of the revelation.
The Mangekyo Sharingan—a legendary power believed to rival that of Hashirama Senju's. Since the demise of Madara Uchiha, the Uchiha clan had only boasted one known user of these formidable eyes—Uchiha Obito. Awakening the Mangekyo Sharingan was an exceedingly rare feat, shrouded in mystery and difficulty.
And yet, now, in addition to the already defected Uchiha Obito, two more pairs of Mangekyo Sharingan had surfaced within the Uchiha clan. Each pair was rumored to possess unique and formidable abilities; Obito's Kamui was but one example, alongside Shisui's enigmatic Kotoamatsukami.
Had it not been for Shisui's intervention, utilizing his powers to halt the Uchiha rebellion, the village might have faced a crisis of unprecedented proportions. It could have rivaled, if not surpassed, the infamous Nine-Tails Incident.
No, it could have been even more catastrophic. With three pairs of Mangekyo Sharingan concentrated within the Uchiha clan, the village's security would have been in grave peril.
The trio exchanged glances, a shared understanding of the dire implications flickering in their eyes. Then, turning to the assembled Anbu ninja, they spoke with gravity, "What of Danzo? Has he been rescued? Remember, Danzo is indispensable to Konoha!"
Reflecting on Danzo's recent misfortunes, they couldn't help but feel a pang of concern. Twice captured by the Grass Village and now held by the Uchiha clan, Danzo's luck seemed to have taken a turn for the worse. As the Hokage's Assistant, Danzo possessed formidable strength, yet he had found himself ensnared three times in succession.
The sole consolation lay in the fact that this time, his captors were the Uchiha clan, not the Grass Village. Had it been the latter, Danzo might have faced a far graver fate. After all, the Grass Village had forsaken the code of the shinobi, making their actions unpredictable and potentially perilous.
Hiruzen Sarutobi let out a deep sigh, drawing on his pipe before fixing a serious gaze on the Anbu ninja before him. "Our priority is to rescue Danzo and fortify the village's defenses. We cannot afford to allow any external forces, particularly those from the Grass Village, to breach our borders."
The impending crisis, akin to the severity of the Nine-Tails Incident, demanded swift resolution. With Uchiha Shisui intervening to halt the Uchiha clan's uprising, and the coordinated efforts of the ANBU and ROOT, they stood a chance at swiftly containing the catastrophe.
"And reinforce the barrier. We cannot risk its breach," he emphasized.
In response, the Anbu ninjas nodded in solemn agreement. "Understood, Hokage-sama!"
With unwavering determination, they swiftly departed. Time was of the essence, and every action taken was crucial in averting disaster.
As the Anbu departed, the trio let out a collective sigh of relief, their tension momentarily easing. Turning to each other, they shared a deep exhale, expressing their mutual sentiment, "Truly, the Uchiha clan is a formidable force, second only to the Senju clan. Their power is not to be underestimated."
With a solemn nod, Sarutobi and his companions acknowledged the gravity of the situation. They were grateful for Uchiha Obito's defection and Uchiha Shisui's unwavering loyalty to the village. Without their intervention, the gathering threat of three pairs of Mangekyo Sharingan would have posed a dire predicament for Konoha. It was now evident why their sensei had maintained such vigilance against the Uchiha clan. Truly, the Uchiha clan was a force to be reckoned with.
At this critical juncture, Homura Mitokado, Konoha's esteemed strategist, turned to Hiruzen Sarutobi with a grave countenance. "Hiruzen, the time has come for you to make a decision."
Beside him, Koharu Utatane, equally resolute, fixed her gaze on Hiruzen, echoing the sentiment. "For the sake of Konoha's safety, we cannot afford to delay any further."
Hiruzen paused, his demeanor composed as he took a contemplative drag from his pipe. "Let us exercise caution and patience. Our immediate focus must be to contain the situation and resolve it swiftly."
His thoughts drifted to the recent troubles Konoha had faced since renewing ties with the Grass Village. Are the Grass ninjas plotting against them this time too?
A subtle twitch at the corner of Hiruzen's mouth and a furrowed brow hinted at his underlying concern. "Additionally, my intuition tells me to remain vigilant. I can't shake the feeling that the Grass ninjas may spring an unexpected move, reminiscent of the Nine-Tails Incident."
"Impossible! We've taken extensive measures since the Nine-Tails Incident. With our barrier functioning at full capacity and defenses stationed throughout..." Koharu Utatane's brow furrowed at Hiruzen's statement, pausing momentarily before adding, "Any foreign infiltrators should be swiftly detected."
"True, but... we mustn't underestimate the persistence of those relentless Shinobi Times reporters." Hiruzen's reminder resonated with both Mitokado and Koharu Utatane, prompting grimaces from them.
They had nearly overlooked those persistent nuisances. The mention of the elusive journalists elicited a shared grimace from the trio. Despite their best efforts, these reporters had proven to be elusive and remarkably adept at slipping past even the tightest security measures.
"True, Although our defenses are significantly fortified now," Homura Mitokado conceded, his tone reflecting a hint of concern. "We cannot overlook the persistent threat posed by those cunning reporters from the Shinobi Times."
Koharu Utatane nodded in agreement, her expression mirroring the sentiment. "After all, Their ability to infiltrate our village undetected remains a baffling mystery."
Hiruzen Sarutobi's gaze hardened with determination. "Regardless, we must remain vigilant and prepare for any eventuality. We cannot afford to underestimate our adversaries, whether they be foreign ninjas or nosy reporters."
…
On the other hand, A curious voice interrupted the conversation between Akihiko and Obito, "Leader Akihiko, Lord Obito, you're both here?"
"You're the undercover journalist within the Uchiha clan, correct?" Akihiko regarded the white-clad journalist, White Zetsu, with intrigue. "You're still alive? We believed you had sacrificed yourself."
"Thank you for your concern, Leader Akihiko and Lord Obito," White Zetsu responded earnestly, adjusting his wooden glasses. "But as a top-tier journalist, I'm drawn to major events. Wherever there's significant news, you'll find me..."
Akihiko was momentarily speechless, observing White Zetsu's professional demeanor. If he didn't know their true identities, he might have mistaken them for seasoned reporters. The dedication of such journalists explained the rapid growth of the Shinobi Times.
With a determined tone, White Zetsu continued, "I won't detain you any longer, Leader Akihiko. This is prime time for breaking news, and I must cover it all. Tomorrow's headline is already decided: '[Shocking News! Konoha's Interest in Ancient Clan's Heritage; Uchiha Clan Leader Demonstrates Love and Duty, Moral Dilemma or Human Complexity?]"
"...very…Impressive." Akihiko nodded in acknowledgment, recognizing the journalist's adeptness with captivating headlines. With that, he gestured for White Zetsu to depart, allowing him to pursue his journalistic endeavors.
Beside him, Obito observed the clash between the colossal energy beings, his mind lost in contemplation. He never anticipated that, besides himself, there were others within the clan capable of awakening the Mangekyo Sharingan.
Though, It was regrettable. After all, Witnessing this spectacle, Konoha's suspicions toward the Uchiha clan would undoubtedly deepen. Obito chuckled wryly, shaking his head before turning to Akihiko. "Shouldn't we leave?"
"Not just yet." Akihiko's response came with a dismissive wave of his hand. He stroked his chin thoughtfully, his gaze fixed on the barrier before them, his eyes narrowing in concentration. "I wonder how the Third Hokage would handle this?"
Obito's eyes widened in anticipation at Akihiko's words. "What do you have in mind?"
A mischievous smile played on Akihiko's lips as he replied, "Well... since we're already here…"
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