Nothing!
Nothing!
Absolutely nothing!
One by one, the Konoha shinobi stationed to guard the village searched through all the clan territories.
They found many things that shouldn't have been there, but no one cared anymore.
As long as it wasn't an act of treason against Konoha, contraband could be ignored at this point.
But!
Explosive tags!
None!
"How can this be?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi's whole body went cold.
He frantically turned his head and began searching.
"There's no need to look anymore!"
Shikaku Nara's face was pale as he said, "The Hyuga shinobi who reported to you has left with Uchiha Itsuki."
"Impossible!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi roared in anger, "That was a member of the Hyuga main family!"
Shikaku Nara calmly replied, "Even someone from the Hyuga main family is still human. Everyone has weaknesses, desires, and ambitions. Who knows how Uchiha bought him off?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi looked dazed.
They had handed over a large sum of money and given away so much chakra metal, only to discover in the end...
The other side had been playing with them!
Konoha managed to retrieve explosive tags from only two small clans.
No third location could be found!
This discovery left everyone in the room silent.
And more than that!
Not only had the Uchiha clan left, but even a member of the Hyuga main family had joined them!
What did this mean?
It meant that from now on, the Uchiha clan would also possess the Byakugan!
The new village they were building would at least have both the Sharingan and the Byakugan!
In time, as the Hyuga shinobi settled down and started families, more Byakugan users would be born.
This was the loss of a bloodline limit!
The impact of this on the village was enormous.
"Sigh," Shikaku Nara sighed, "Hokage-sama, this Uchiha Itsuki is incredibly powerful and deeply calculating. He will inevitably become a major enemy in the future."
If it had been a Flying Thunder God shinobi, they could have quietly evacuated their clansmen, but no, he made as much noise as possible.
He openly threatened the Hokage and the high-ranking shinobi left to guard Konoha.
He stole a large sum of money and chakra metal from right under their noses.
And he got away with it unscathed!
"Hmph, of course, I know how hard he is to deal with!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi's face twisted as he looked around the room, seemingly calculating something.
"Hokage-sama!"
Shikaku Nara quickly spoke, "We only have around 5,000 people left, and several outposts that must be defended. We don't have enough manpower to hunt him down!"
"So, are we just supposed to let him go?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi coldly stared at Shikaku Nara.
Seeing Hiruzen Sarutobi on the verge of losing control, Shikaku Nara wisely remained silent.
In the end.
Konoha scraped together another 1,500 shinobi to pursue Uchiha Itsuki.
Shikaku Nara led this team.
As a veteran Jonin, Shikaku Nara's strength was undeniable.
But!
Just as they left the village and reached the outskirts, Itsuki's gift arrived.
"Boom!"
A violent explosion rang out.
The leading shinobi were blown to pieces on the spot.
The nearby shinobi were sent flying by the blast.
Once again, the entire village of Konoha began to tremble.
Many villagers cursed under their breath.
What the hell is going on?
Is it ever going to end?
How many times has this happened today?
Are they trying to completely destroy Konoha?
The most confused of all was still Hiruzen Sarutobi.
He had just sent off this group of shinobi and was standing at the village gate, watching them leave, when he witnessed the lead team being swallowed by the explosion.
"Uchiha Itsuki, you @#￥%&"
Hiruzen Sarutobi couldn't help but curse out loud.
Hokage dignity?
To hell with that!
All I want to do now is jump around and curse at you.
Shikaku Nara's face was also grim, his back drenched in sweat.
Just a little!
Just a little closer, and he would have been sent flying too.
For the first time, he was this close to death!
"Hyuga shinobi!"
He shouted.
"Yes!"
A Hyuga clan shinobi stepped forward and used his Byakugan to scan the area underground.
"Nothing!"
After a long time, the Hyuga shinobi responded, "It seems to be just this pile of explosive tags!"
Shikaku Nara's face became even grimmer.
Once again, the other side had seen through them.
This trap was likely something the enemy had set up on a whim before leaving.
Uchiha Itsuki had predicted they would pursue him and even guessed which route they would take.
And!
Because Konoha's shinobi had just finished searching the entire village, they had naturally let their guard down.
This was the best opportunity for the enemy.
Should they keep going?
Uchiha Itsuki was a master at manipulating people's minds like a devil.
Everyone turned to look at Shikaku Nara.
Shikaku Nara looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi.
"Chase!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi roared, "We must kill Uchiha Itsuki and wipe out the Uchiha clan!"
Shikaku Nara remained silent, his gaze somewhat strange.
He didn't understand—could these 1,500 shinobi really annihilate the Uchiha clan?
It seemed highly unlikely.
Then why had Hiruzen Sarutobi issued such an order?
It almost felt like... he was intentionally sending them to their deaths!
Shikaku Nara wasn't the only one who thought this; many other shinobi had the same realization.
The shinobi left behind to defend Konoha were not just there to fight; they needed a leader who could give orders at critical moments.
Just like how the Uchiha clan had left behind the cunning Setsuna and the unshakable touji to guard their own.
They had sensed that something was off.
"Mehahaha!"
A wild laugh suddenly echoed through the air.
"Boom!"
The sky exploded with a roar!
Itsuki made a grand entrance!
...There really was an explosion in the sky because Itsuki had used Lightning Style.
He even used Fire Style.
Adding special effects to his appearance.
After the dramatic entrance.
Itsuki swaggered out, "Aren't you all curious? Don't you want to know why Hiruzen Sarutobi insists on chasing us?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi roared, "Uchiha Itsuki."
He launched an attack immediately, a powerful jutsu roaring towards Itsuki.
But Itsuki easily dodged, not even fighting back, only mocking, "What's wrong? Monkey, don't want me to say it? Trying to silence me? Well, I'm going to say it anyway."
"Your goal is to send them to their deaths, isn't it!"
"Shikaku Nara, and the rest of you guarding Konoha, I'll give you a clue. See if you can figure out the cause and effect."
Itsuki laughed loudly as Hiruzen Sarutobi glared at him with hatred, "The Sarutobi clan has 3,000 shinobi."
"Three thousand shinobi?"
All the shinobi gasped in shock.
"Impossible."
"That can't be true."
The Sarutobi clan only began to rapidly expand after Hiruzen Sarutobi became Hokage.
They had always suspected Hiruzen would allocate more resources to his own clan.
But in just a few decades, there was no way it could have grown this much!
Itsuki grinned, "Can't believe it? Too bad, it's the truth."
"I swear on the name of the Uchiha clan, the Sarutobi clan has at least 3,000 shinobi, maybe more!"
"Now, use your brains. Think carefully."
Itsuki's voice was low, and his expression playful.
"Really think about it."
"Why does Hiruzen Sarutobi want you 1,500 shinobi to chase me?"
"Do you think you can do it?"
"You can't."
"If you can't, why is he making you do it?"
"What's his real motive?"
"Mehahahahaha."
With a loud laugh, Itsuki left.
Leaving behind a group of Konoha shinobi with mixed expressions.
"Konoha, you'd better think hard. Otherwise, your clans' shinobi will suffer heavy casualties, and those who survive might end up as slaves."
These damned words echoed in their ears, making the Konoha shinobi clench their fists in rage.
Silence.
A long silence.
Finally.
Shikaku Nara broke the silence.
He turned to Hiruzen Sarutobi and softly asked, "Hokage-sama, should we keep chasing?"
The Third Hokage asked in return, "Shikaku, do you believe Uchiha Itsuki?"
Shikaku Nara's answer was clear, immediate, and without hesitation, "No."
The Third Hokage seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, "Uchiha Itsuki has divided the Uchiha and Konoha, plunged the village into crisis, and continually sows discord among us. He is the greatest traitor in Konoha's history. If we get the chance, we must destroy him."
"Yes!"
Nara Shikaku responded loudly, then, leading the ninja, he strode away.
However, just before he left, his expression was complicated.
Perhaps...
True belief and disbelief don't require questioning.
Sarutobi Hiruzen—has he ever truly trusted anyone?
Itsuki used Flying Thunder God and returned to the main force.
Itachi, calm as always, asked, "So, Itsuki, will anyone come to hunt us down?"
"No, they won't."
Itsuki smiled happily.
"In the short term, Konoha has to deal with its internal affairs. Well, maybe... if they really make up their minds..."
"Tch, tsk, Saru!"
"Enough, let's go back to our Uchiha village. Konoha has nothing to do with us anymore."
"And if it does, they are merely our enemies."
"Let's go."
The other Uchiha shouted in agreement.
...
Fugaku paced back and forth, his face dark with frustration.
No one blamed him.
Everyone else was just as restless.
As they were about to rendezvous with Danzo and had just reached the border of the Hidden Cloud, a message came.
Uchiha Itsuki had led the Uchiha clan in rebellion against Konoha.
When they heard the news, everyone was stunned.
At that moment, they even questioned their ears, wondering if they had misheard.
But then...
Considering that it was Uchiha Itsuki, it suddenly made sense.
Nothing that scoundrel did would ever surprise anyone.
Shortly after, Danzo was the first to take action, rallying Konoha's ninjas to wipe out the Uchiha clan.
He didn't know exactly what had happened in the village.
He only knew that if he wiped out the Uchiha on his side, the Uchiha clan would essentially be finished in the ninja world.
Fortunately...
The hundreds of Uchiha here were all elites.
Before Konoha's ninjas could complete their encirclement, two massive Susano'o appeared.
Fugaku and Shisui.
Under their leadership, the Uchiha ninjas broke through directly.
Moreover...
Thanks to the large number of explosive tags Itsuki left for the Uchiha...
They threw tens of thousands of them at once, sending Konoha's ninjas flying and too terrified to advance.
... Does their family own a mine or something? To be able to spend explosive tags like that!
And so...
Under Danzo's hateful gaze, the Uchiha clan successfully escaped.
In reality, Danzo had no chance of eliminating 800 Uchiha led by two Mangekyō Sharingan users with just four to five thousand ninjas.
Later, under the guidance of Uchiha Kaima, the Uchiha clan smoothly arrived at their new village, where they began a long wait.
A wait for Itsuki to return, bringing with him the elderly, women, and children of the clan.
The process was torturous.
With only 200 ninjas left to protect two to three thousand clan members, it was already a difficult task.
Not to mention that Konoha still had many ninjas.
They claimed to have left 4,000 behind.
But in reality, it was definitely more than that.
What clan doesn't have a hidden reserve?
Fugaku estimated that Konoha could easily field 6,000 ninjas.
Konoha is the largest village in the ninja world.
They're not like the Hidden Mist.
Right now, if the Hidden Mist emptied their entire village, they could field 10,000 ninjas, and that's with a stretch.
Apart from that...
Itsuki's plan—was it spontaneous?
If it was...
Then people would be cursing Uchiha Itsuki's ancestors.
Can this scoundrel do anything right?
Can he?
"Fugaku, calm down."
Uchiha Hachidai said seriously, "We need to trust Itsuki. He may be unreliable and unserious, but his strength is undeniable."
Fugaku glared at him. "Is that what I'm worried about?"
"Then what are you worried about?"
"Hmph!"
Fugaku's expression darkened. Gritting his teeth, he growled, "I'm worried that Mikoto is dead."
Hachidai frowned and scolded, "Fugaku, I have to say, as clan head... Ugh!"
He didn't finish the sentence.
Suddenly, Hachidai understood what Fugaku meant.
Fugaku's face twisted slightly, and he said grimly, "Got it? Then shut your mouth."
Hachidai's face grew awkward.
Uchiha Itsuki had been after Uchiha Mikoto for a long time—it wasn't just a day or two.
Now, Konoha, the Uchiha, and even the entire ninja world were in chaos.
At this critical moment, it would be so easy for Itsuki to arrange for Mikoto to "die."
That way...
Itsuki could easily and effortlessly claim the beauty!
No wonder Fugaku looked like he had swallowed a dead rat. If it were him, he'd be furious too.
This kind of thing is intolerable!
Time passed slowly as everyone waited.
Finally!
The people sent to assist returned.
Surrounded by 600 Uchiha, familiar faces appeared one by one.
The 200 Uchiha left behind to guard the camp were overjoyed.
The heavy burden on their hearts was lifted.
"Well done, Itsuki!"
Someone shouted loudly.
They had been full of complaints about Uchiha Itsuki, thinking he had gone too far this time.
Their families' lives were at risk.
Some had even resolved to teach Itsuki a harsh lesson.
Even if they couldn't beat him, they couldn't let him go unchecked.
Now!
The joy of reunion washed away the anger.
None of that mattered anymore—as long as their families were safe, they had the whole world.
One by one, the Uchiha rushed forward to embrace their loved ones, releasing their joy.
Fugaku strode forward, looking left and right. He saw Itachi, then Sasuke, but not Mikoto.
His heart sank.
"Itachi, where's Mikoto?"
Itachi looked helpless.
"Sigh!" Itsuki stepped forward, speaking softly, "Fugaku, I'm sorry!"
"Buzz!"
Fugaku's Mangekyō Sharingan appeared instantly. Calmly, he said, "If Mikoto's not here, only one of us will leave alive."
"Then bring it on!"
Itsuki's Mangekyō Sharingan flared as well.
He had never backed down from anyone in his life, and he wasn't about to start now!
(End of this chapter)