Obito withdrew his hand, observing the subdued sealing ninja before him in silence. The sound of the barrier shattering behind him caused a twitch at the corner of his mouth. Was this guy trying to exploit the situation? What exactly was his game plan?
Nevertheless, Obito found himself dumbfounded by Akihiko's audacity in impersonating the Uchiha ancestor and directly intervening in the rebellion. Though Obito harbored a myriad of thoughts, he opted for silence, merely sighing and shaking his head.
In fact, it was Obito who used his Kamui ability to infiltrate and acquire the passphrase for the barrier. He easily subdued the sealing ninjas maintaining it, creating the illusion that it was Akihiko's jutsu that broke the barrier. Moreover, Given the chaos in the village, they probably hadn't sensed his presence until now.
Sensing someone approaching, Obito turned to face them. "Are you finished?"
Akihiko responded with a helpless tone, "Well, the Third Hokage is on his way."
"Then are we ready to depart?" Obito inquired.
Akihiko raised an eyebrow. "Leave? And miss this opportunity? Can a Grass Ninja come to the village and leave empty-handed?" With a shake of his head, he regarded Obito. "Clearly, you haven't been paying attention at the academy. Let's make our way to the Hokage Tower."
'Who learns such deceitful tactics at the academy?' Obito rolled his eyes, incredulous at Akihiko's ethics. Understanding his companion's intentions, he sighed. "With you as an ally, Konoha truly has the worst luck."
…
"Broken... It's broken!" Simultaneously, a chorus of shock echoed among the Konoha Shinobi as they witnessed the shattered barrier. To witness the destruction of such a large-scale barrier, encompassing the entire Uchiha territory, left them awestruck.
"Wow," murmured one observer, acknowledging the formidable power of the elderly man who hailed from the same era as Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha. His sheer strength was daunting, leaving one to ponder what he could have accomplished in his prime. Yet, the most unsettling aspect was yet to come.
Quickly regaining his composure, Kakashi focused on the remaining Uchiha shinobi before him. Following Uchiha Tatsuno's self-sacrifice to shatter the barrier, the eyes of these Uchiha shinobi began to whirl with ominous chakra fluctuations. Guided by their ancestor's sacrifice, they seemed imbued with renewed determination.
Under the influence of this intense energy, many Uchiha shinobi's Sharingan underwent a transformation, progressing from one tomoe to two. Some even achieved the coveted three tomoe, while others with two immediately ascended to the three tomoe level. However, for those already possessing the three tomoe, this surge of power fell short of awakening their Mangekyo Sharingan.
Akihiko couldn't sigh in disappointment that his sacrifice hadn't triggered the awakening of the Mangekyo Sharingan. "Truly a group of indifferent descendants," he muttered under his breath.
However, amidst the tumultuous emotions, their surge in chakra levels was unmistakable. With the barrier shattered, the Uchiha shinobi rallied with a unified cry, "For the glory of the Uchiha. For our ancestors!" They surged forward, launching a fierce assault on the Konoha Shinobi.
Observing the sudden increase in the number of three tomoe Sharingan users among the Uchiha, Kakashi's expression darkened once more. "Attack! We must not let them escape," he commanded urgently. The prospect of their escape would be dire.
Responding swiftly, the ANBU ninjas rallied to intercept the frenzied Uchiha shinobi. However, with the influx of three tomoe Sharingan users, the ANBU found themselves at a disadvantage against their determined adversaries.
Even Uchiha Shisui, locked in combat with Fugaku, couldn't help but be troubled by the unfolding chaos. His initial goal had been to quell the Uchiha rebellion and reintegrate them into Konoha. Yet, his efforts seemed in vain as he pondered why the clan leader persisted despite the inevitable outcome. Despite his attempts to intervene, he was thwarted by the clan leader's resolve.
It was evident to all present that the Uchiha's intentions were laid bare. Faced with the might of Konoha, their defeat seemed inevitable. Yet, amidst the chaos, unforeseen consequences loomed, spelling potential heavy losses for Konoha in the wake of this Uchiha Rebellion.
However, just as the ANBU ninjas found themselves in a precarious situation, Sarutobi Hiruzen, adorned in his Hokage cloak, swiftly led ninjas from various clans to the scene.
The moment the barrier shattered, every ninja in Konoha sensed the disturbance and promptly followed the Hokage without hesitation, anticipating the unfolding situation.
Upon witnessing the ruins before them, even Sarutobi Hiruzen was taken aback, almost dropping his pipe from his hand. "What has happened here? Where is the Uchiha clan's territory?"
Gone was the once majestic, bustling domain of the Uchiha clan.
"Hokage-sama," Kakashi stepped forward quickly, addressing Sarutobi Hiruzen with a wry smile, "This is what remains of the Uchiha clan's territory."
Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at Kakashi with a hint of dissatisfaction. "Didn't I instruct you to resolve this situation with minimal casualties?"
Kakashi offered a rueful smile as he explained, "There was an unforeseen development. The ancestor of the Uchiha clan unexpectedly appeared outtanowhere."
"What's happening? The Uchiha clan still has an ancestor?" Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at Kakashi with a furrowed brow, his confusion evident. However, as Kakashi elucidated the situation, comprehension dawned on the Hokage.
"I didn't anticipate the presence of such a formidable user of Fire Style, Uchiha... Tatsuno?" Sarutobi muttered, his expression solemn.
Yet, why had he never heard of this figure before? As a disciple of Hashirama and Tobirama, he had lived through that era, albeit in his youth. However, dwelling on this question was a luxury they couldn't afford amidst the chaos. Their immediate priority was quelling the Uchiha Rebellion.
Drawing deeply from his pipe and casting a complex glance at the colossal energy beings above, he murmured to himself, "This charade... must come to an end!"
With a decisive wave of his hand, he commanded, "Attack! We must contain the situation within this area. We cannot allow it to escalate any further."
Without hesitation, the assembled ninjas affirmed in unison, "Yes!" They comprehended the urgency of the situation and swiftly engaged in battle. With their concerted efforts, the tumultuous situation was gradually brought under control, averting further catastrophe for Konoha.
At that moment, within the confines of the Hokage Tower, a sudden pause gripped the room.
Obito cast a puzzled glance at Akihiko. "What's the matter now?"
Akihiko let out a weary sigh before murmuring, "It seems the end is near. Indeed... The Third Hokage's prowess is not to be underestimated."
"Is it truly coming to an end?" Obito's countenance stiffened at Akihiko's somber tone. Then, he tightened his lips, his expression devoid of emotion. "They are all blinded fools."
He had long discerned Fugaku's underlying motives for inciting rebellion alongside the militant faction.
Obito shook his head dismissively, his voice tinged with resignation. "Forget it. Why am I bothering? Since it's nearly over, let's make haste and depart... And just so you know, if we run into trouble, I won't hesitate to flee first!"
This fellow had truly honed his skills as a ninja from the Grass Village. Akihiko nodded approvingly, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Don't worry, I always have a backup plan up my sleeve!"
But Obito's reaction to the prospect of another scheme wasn't one of enthusiasm. Instead, his lips twitched as he regarded Akihiko, tentatively questioning, "And what exactly do you intend to do now?"
Before he could finish his sentence, a thunderous 'Boom!' reverberated through the air, causing Obito to instinctively turn his gaze toward the source of the disturbance nearby.
What greeted his gaze was a sight both familiar and yet subtly altered—a water dragon, unmistakably reminiscent of past encounters, but now emerging from beneath the Uchiha clan's territory. Obito blinked, a sudden realization dawning on him and he couldn't help but become speechless, 'Is this your backup plan?'
…
Meanwhile, In the midst of the Uchiha clan's territory, a hush fell over the crowd as they witnessed the water dragon soaring into the sky.
Kakashi's expression shifted once more, a sense of foreboding washing over him. "Not again..."
And Indeed, in an instant, a deep, elderly voice cut through the silence, accompanied by coughing fits. "How long has it been? Where is Madara? Hashirama? What chaos has befallen us?"
Unexpectedly, amidst the tumult, hearty laughter erupted, resonating through the air. "Who would've thought I'd witness the awakening of the Mangekyou Sharingan in my descendants? Fortune truly smiles upon the Uchiha clan!"
Yet, an eerie sense of déjà vu swept through the crowd.
Kakashi exchanged a glance with Itachi, both equally perplexed. 'How many ancestors does the Uchiha clan have hidden away?'
But even Itachi was at a loss. 'Where does this ancestor keep emerging from?'
Even Fugaku, locked in combat with Shisui, was momentarily taken aback. A wry smile tugged at his lips as he contemplated the unexpected antics of the Grass leader. He had heard rumors of the Grass Ninja's lack of morals and ethics, but he never imagined their leader would be like this too. If this continued, the venerable reputation of the Uchiha would surely be tarnished.
Observing the scene unfold, even the usually verbose journalist, White Zetsu, fell silent, scrutinizing the scene before him. There was a faint familiarity lingering in the air, prompting him to mumble, "There's a scent of familiarity here..." Yet another revision to his notes seemed imminent.
At that moment, Hiruzen's gaze sharpened as he observed the elderly figure stepping forward, hands clasped behind his back. The Uchiha clan still harbored ancestors?
With a subtle nod to the heavily armed Mitokado, both men advanced in unison. Hiruzen's voice resonated with authority as he inquired, "Identify yourself, sir."
"I am... Uchiha Shirogane," came the firm declaration from the aged Uchiha.
However, Hiruzen fell silent, for some reason a peculiar sensation stirring within him at the mention of the Uchiha elder's name. Suddenly, a thought flashed through his mind, prompting him to speak without hesitation, "Grass Ninja?"
"...Grass what? What nonsense are you spouting?" Uchiha Shirogane's dignified demeanor faltered momentarily, his confusion palpable as he regarded the Third Hokage before him.
Hiruzen was left speechless at the Uchiha's response, his bewilderment evident in his gaze. It was as he suspected— that moment, a single expletive echoed in his mind: "Damn Grass!"
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