Chapter 244: The Night Of The Clan Massacre Begins!
The spring night’s breeze swept through the dense forest at the Border of the Land of Fire, tree shadows swaying, emitting a rustling whisper.
A massive waterfall roared, water vapor pervading the air, refracting a silvery shimmer under the hazy moonlight.
A petite figure landed silently on a giant rock before the waterfall, followed by several ninjas with restrained auras, their headbands bearing uniform pentagram symbols indicating their identity—elite Star Ninja.
The leading girl was Uchiha Hikari.
Her dark Uchiha Clan Robes fluttered in the wind, her jet-black long hair tied back, her cold gaze sweeping the surroundings, the scarlet three-tomoe Sharingan slowly rotating in the darkness, alert to any possible ambush.
Behind the waterfall, shadows writhed, several figures emerging like ghosts.
They wore uniform oversized black cloaks, their faces covered by expressionless fox masks, as if merged with the night.
Only that serene, abyssal aura hinted at the formidable strength hidden beneath.
“We have been waiting for some time.” One fox-masked person spoke, his voice muffled and distorted through the mask: “Please approach, do not resist the chakra pull.”
Uchiha Hikari nodded slightly, knowing these were Menma’s shadow clones.
She then gestured to the Star Ninja behind her.
Though the Star Ninja showed slight curiosity, their discipline was strict, and they immediately complied, gathering close.
The fox-masked figures placed hands on each person’s shoulders, and in the next moment, space distorted, accompanied by a faint dizziness, their figures vanishing from before the waterfall.
Almost instantly, the surroundings had completely changed.
Dense forest replaced the roaring waterfall, and in the distance, a towering high wall cast a massive shadow under the moonlight, like a crouching giant beast guarding the entire Konohagakure.
This was now inside Konohagakure’s Village Protection Barrier.
Several figures stood quietly ahead, gazing at that high wall.
Among them, two figures appeared slightly illusory, with faint paper scraps drifting, carrying a strange quality of neither living nor dead.
Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki, revived in the living world through the Reanimation Jutsu, looked at the familiar yet strange village and high wall before them, their eyes complex with reminiscence and sorrow.
Minato’s hand unconsciously lifted slightly, as if wanting to touch something, but ultimately lowered slowly.
Kushina clenched her fists tightly, her red long hair stirring without wind, her eyes flashing with mingled excitement and grief.
“I never thought… there would be a day I could see Konoha again…” Kushina’s voice carried a faint tremor: “But this wall seems taller than when we left.”
“It’s for defense, and also like… a kind of isolation.” Minato responded mildly, but his gaze sharply scanned the barrier and wall’s structure.
“Many places have changed.”
Standing beside them was Shisui Uchiha.
He wore dark combat uniform for mobility, his three-tomoe Sharingan eyes grave, his gaze fixed intently on a direction beyond the high wall.
That was the Uchiha Compound’s location.
The family’s fate, the clan members’ resentment, his own “death”, the high-level officials’ suspicion…
A flood of memories surged, clenching his fists until his knuckles whitened.
Though the transplanted new eyes had yet to reach his former Mangekyo realm, his concern and worry for the clan members remained undiminished.
At that moment, a fox-masked shadow clone approached silently, breaking the brief silence.
He gestured toward the area beyond the high wall, his voice calm and unwavering: “Beyond this wall is the Uchiha Clan’s residential clan territory.”
Uchiha Hikari took a deep breath of the cool air, steadying herself further.
She knew the critical moment of the plan was imminent.
She turned, facing the three squads led by Star Hidden jonin behind her, her eyes sharp and resolute, lowering her voice to command: “As per the predetermined plan, each squad disperses, find the best stealth positions. Without my order, absolutely do not expose yourselves! Stay ready for combat at all times!”
“Yes!” The low responses came in perfect unison.
With the command given, the well-trained Star Ninja melted into the surrounding forest shadows like water droplets into the sea, completely going dormant, awaiting that fateful bloodstained signal.
The forest returned to surface tranquility once more, only moonlight filtering through the leaves, casting mottled light spots.
…………
Meanwhile, inside Konohagakure.
The Ninja Academy’s nighttime drill field was brightly lit, students conducting evacuation drills under their teachers’ supervision.
Among the crowd, Menma’s performance was unremarkable, perfectly blending in without any anomalies.
However, the real Menma had long used a blind spot to swap with a shadow clone.
His true body instantly sensed the distant Flying Thunder God Technique jutsu, chakra stirring faintly, his figure vanishing from the Ninja Academy.
The next moment, he appeared in the Hyuga Clan’s clan territory.
In the branch family head’s room, Neji Hyuga sat cross-legged on the tatami, his eight-year-old face bearing maturity beyond his years.
His gaze occasionally glanced at the faint engraving on the back of his hand, his small hands clasped tensely.
Suddenly, the air stirred imperceptibly, and a black-robed figure wearing a white three-eyed fox mask appeared in the room without warning.
“Lord Shura!” Neji immediately stood, his voice suppressing excitement.
Menma said nothing, merely nodding to him, his right eye changing instantly, the black iris replaced by a Rin’ne pattern.
Mangekyo dojutsu: Rin’ne!
Eye power flowed as he extended a finger, gently brushing over the “Caged Bird” on the cyan cross mark on Neji’s forehead.
Neji’s body shuddered violently, feeling a cool, powerful force seep into his forehead, erasing and annihilating the curse mark that had bound, pained, and reminded him of his branch family fate since age three!
The process was brief yet vividly clear, like a heavy shackle snapping instantly.
Seconds later, Menma withdrew his hand.
His right eye’s Mangekyo slowly faded, returning to normal.
Neji eagerly circulated chakra, activating his Byakugan.
The insurmountable curse mark barrier was gone!
The Byakugan’s view expanded instantly to a full three hundred sixty degrees, without any blind spots!
An unprecedented sense of freedom washed over his body and mind, immense joy and excitement moistening his eyes instantly, his body trembling slightly from emotional surge.
He took several deep breaths to barely suppress the sob nearly escaping his lips.
“How does it feel?” Menma asked calmly.
“…Better than ever.” Neji suppressed his inner agitation and joy, lifting his head to gaze firmly at the one who granted him new life and freedom.
“Thank you, Lord Shura!”
“Follow.” Menma was concise.
Neji quickly wiped the moisture from his eyes and followed without hesitation.
The two moved one after the other, silently through the corridors, arriving outside Hizashi Hyuga’s study room.
Menma knocked rhythmically on the door a few times.
When Hizashi opened the door and saw Lord Shura standing outside with his son whose forehead was now pristine, his pupils contracted sharply, his body jolting.
He instantly understood that the long-awaited moment had finally arrived.
In the dimly lit study room, Hizashi’s gaze immediately fell on Neji’s forehead.
It was smooth and clean; the Caged Bird curse mark symbolizing branch family fate and shame had vanished!
Immense shock crashed over Hizashi like a tidal wave; he opened his mouth but was momentarily speechless.
His eyes filled with disbelief and a mix of emotions.
He instantly realized that if he hadn’t chosen to trust this mysterious “Lord Shura” back then, hadn’t agreed to cooperate, then tonight, the one who might need to risk defection was his son Neji.
A strong mix of lingering fear and relief intertwined in his heart.
“Lord Shura… this…” Hizashi’s voice was dry.
Menma interrupted him, his tone calmly near cold: “Tonight, Konoha High Council will carry out the extermination of the Uchiha Clan.”
The words exploded like thunder in Hizashi and Neji’s ears.
The father and son’s faces changed dramatically.
Menma continued: “My subordinates are assembled outside the village. Once the extermination begins, we will assault Konoha, rescuing Uchiha survivors as much as possible. At the same time, a squad will come to extract willing ‘birds’ from your Hyuga Branch Family.”
The information was massive; Hizashi struggled to digest it.
Uchiha extermination?
Star Ninja assault?
Rescue extraction?
It was all too shocking.
But looking at the mysterious Lord Shura before him, at his son’s clean forehead, he harbored no doubts.
Hizashi Hyuga took a deep breath, resolve flashing across his face as he dropped to his knees, offering the highest salute to Menma.
He retrieved a scroll from his bosom, presenting it reverently with both hands: “Lord Shura, this is the branch family list I selected after long observation and testing. They all harbor deep resentment toward the main family and even Konoha High Council; they are reliable choices. I contacted them under the pretext of my own intent to rebel, and no leaks have occurred yet.”
Menma did not take the list, merely saying flatly: “Since you selected them, I naturally trust your judgment. Keep the list yourself.”
His words surged a warmth in Hizashi’s heart, the weight of absolute trust.
Then, Menma produced a strangely shaped wrist device, like a metal watch with complex runes on the surface and a small chakra conduction port.
“Wear it, activate with chakra.” Menma handed the wrist device to Hizashi: “It can release the ‘Caged Seal’, temporarily blocking the connection between the Caged Bird curse mark and the main family, buying you time to escape.”
Hizashi’s hands trembled as he received the heavy scientific ninja tool.
It was not just a tool, but the key to freedom for him and his branch family followers.
“When a massive explosion sounds from the Konoha Military Police Force direction, that is the signal for action.” Menma instructed last.
“Operation Codename—’Outcage’.”
With that, his figure melted into the shadows like a ghost, vanishing completely from the study room, as if never there.
Only the father and son remained in the study room.
Hizashi gripped the scientific ninja tool tightly, feeling its cool touch and latent power.
He looked at his son; Neji’s eyes burned with unprecedented fire—not resigned despair, but light filled with desire for freedom and determination.
“Father,” Neji spoke first, his young voice unusually firm: “Let me handle the rearguard and interception for this operation. I… want to truly fight, for myself and for everyone gaining freedom!”
Hizashi looked at his son, at his clean forehead and those Byakugan eyes full of steadfast belief, emotions surging within.
“Good! But remember, survival is paramount!” He nodded heavily, then wiped off the ‘Caged Bird’ pattern on his own forehead.
“Father! You?!” Neji stared shocked as the cyan curse mark on his father’s forehead was smeared away like graffiti, half gone.
………………
Late at night, in the Hyuga Branch Family clan territory, inside a remote training room.
An oil lamp emitted a dim yellow glow, barely illuminating the twenty-plus figures gathered there.
They whispered among themselves, faces showing bewilderment and slight unease.
Why had branch family head Hizashi suddenly summoned them so late?
These people varied in strength: prime-aged jonin, experienced chunin and genin, even a few family women retired from ninja duties.
But they shared one trait: a deep or shallow haze in their eyes that could not dissipate, the mark of shame and pain, unspeakable hatred toward the main family and the Caged Bird fate.
They, and their marked children, totaled fifty-seven—birds Hizashi had painstakingly selected over years from nearly a thousand branch members, the most likely and most desperate to break free from the cage.
The training room door opened, and Hizashi and Neji entered.
The faint firelight flickered, illuminating their faces.
Instantly, all whispers ceased.
All gazes froze, fixed on Hizashi and Neji’s foreheads.
There, the cyan cross Caged Bird marks that should have been… were gone!
Shock, doubt, disbelief culminated in a bold, chilling conjecture that made their hearts race wildly, bursting in every mind!
Hizashi’s gaze swept every excited yet incredulous face; he slowly raised his hand, revealing the strange scientific ninja tool on his wrist.
“Tetsu Hyuga.” He called the first name; a burly jonin stepped forward.
Hizashi channeled chakra; the wrist device’s runes glowed, a soft light shooting out to envelop Tetsu Hyuga’s forehead.
The Caged Bird curse mark that had plagued him half his life flickered rapidly in the light, then seemed covered by an invisible film, completely vanishing!
Tetsu Hyuga touched his forehead fiercely, feeling the vanished restraint, immense joy surging as tears filled his tigerish eyes instantly.
He opened his mouth but could only kneel heavily, kowtowing to Hizashi in excited silence.
“Xia Hyuga.”
“Tokuma Hyuga.”
…
One by one, names were called; one by one, branch clan members stepped forward to receive that miraculous “seal”.
Under the dim yellow light, some sobbed suppressedly, some trembled from excessive excitement.
Hope’s light shone truly into their despairing lives for the first time.
When the last clan member’s curse mark was temporarily sealed, the training room filled with a silent, intensely suppressed yet scorching emotion.
All gazed at Hizashi, eyes brimming with endless gratitude and impending resolve.
Someone finally couldn’t hold back, asking in a low voice choked with sobs and hatred: “Hizashi! Is it time? Are we going to… lead us! Charge back at the main family?!”
The words sparked suppressed echoes; long-pent hatred seemed to find an outlet.
But Hizashi slowly shook his head, his low yet clear voice reaching every ear: “No. Our goal is not revenge, but freedom.”
His Byakugan swept the crowd: “Tonight, Konoha High Council will issue a slaughter order against the Uchiha Clan.”
The news hit like another bombshell, stunning the agitated crowd into greater shock and disbelief.
Uchiha?
Konoha’s, the entire Ninja World’s most powerful, proudest ninja clan?
To be exterminated?
“This… how is this possible?”
“The high-level officials… actually…”
“Ordered by the Third Hokage?!”
Hizashi raised his hand, quelling the commotion: “The Uchiha’s catastrophe will be our opportunity.”
“While the village is in chaos, high-level attention diverted, it will be our best chance to ‘Outcage’! Remember our operation codename—’Outcage’! Not for slaughter, but to break this damned fate and gain true freedom!”
“Now, immediately gather your family here. When the signal sounds, follow our extractors, leave this prison, to a new world without the Caged Bird!”
…………
Outside the Uchiha Compound, atop a tall utility pole.
A slender figure stood silently, black medium-short hair, the red-white fan crest embroidered on his back.
Itachi Uchiha’s face showed no expression, only his eyes surging with pain and resolve beyond ordinary comprehension.
He slowly took out an Anbu animal mask, stiffly donning it, covering his young face already burdened with heavy fate.
The air beside him began distorting unnaturally, like rippling water.
A figure in black robe wearing a one-eyed tiger-pattern swirl mask appeared quietly, mysterious and eerie.
“Ready?” The masked man’s voice was low.
Itachi Uchiha didn’t look at him, merely nodding imperceptibly.
In the next moment, his figure vanished from the pole, Body Flicker Technique diving toward the Uchiha Compound below, merging into death’s shadow.
Obito Uchiha, wearing the tiger mask, let out a faint, nearly inaudible chuckle, with cold anticipation.
A pitcher plant-like bizarre creature slowly emerged from the ground at his feet; White Zetsu’s half-body grinned: “Hee hee… the show is finally starting! So exciting!”
“Go,” Obito instructed indifferently, gaze toward the silent clan territory below, as if appreciating an impending drama.
“You handle collecting Sharingan. But remember to leave some for our ‘cooperator’, don’t let him get nothing and desperation.”
“Got it~” White Zetsu replied cheekily, body sinking slowly into the ground.
Obito turned his gaze to the conspicuous building at the clan territory’s edge: the Konoha Military Police Force building.
Tonight, nearly all Uchiha Clan’s jonin forces were gathered there, discussing that doomed “rebellion” plan.
He slowly drew the long ninja sword on his back, its cold blade edge glinting chillingly in the moonlight, then deftly fastened a chain to his wrists.
He planned to use his Mangekyo Sharingan’s phasing ability, combined with chain and sword, to efficiently “clean up” those assembled Uchiha elites.
…………
Within the clan territory, Izumi Uchiha walked home alone.
“Strange, so quiet…” For some reason, since nightfall, she felt restless, sensing something terribly frightening about to happen.
The air seemed permeated with a faint, nauseating sweet blood scent.
She halted abruptly, face paling.
This smell… blood scent!
Instantly, endless fear gripped her!
In a daze, she thought she’d fallen again into that mysterious masked man’s infinite-loop, despairing “Night of the Uchiha Clan Downfall” illusion.
She looked sharply at the sky; clouds half-obscured the bright moon, moonlight clear and normal.
Not the eerie blood moon in the illusion!
This was the trivial yet crucial marker she’d found after countless deaths in that cruel illusion world to distinguish reality from illusion.
Reality… this meant…
Immense fear doused her like ice water, chilling her body.
She recalled the masked man’s cold words, that so-called “Night of the Uchiha Clan Downfall script”.
Without hesitation, Izumi Uchiha instantly activated her three-tomoe Sharingan, scarlet replacing black pupils.
She drew a kunai from her ninja tool pouch with her off-hand, suppressing intense fear, dashing toward the thickening blood scent!
Through familiar streets, around corners…
The sight struck her like lightning, freezing her in place, blood seeming to freeze!
Reflected in her Sharingan: a street dyed red with blood.
Familiar neighbors, playmate children, kindly elders…
Now twisted cold corpses in blood pools, eyes wide in death.
The heavy death aura nearly suffocating.
And amid this mountain of corpses and sea of blood stood a figure she knew intimately.
He wore Anbu attire but no mask.
Black short hair, handsome profile stained with glaring blood, expression cold as eternal ice.
His ninja sword slowly withdrew from the neck of familiar middle-aged woman Aunt Nako, hot blood spraying, some droplets even splashing his pale, expressionless face.
Itachi Uchiha!
Izumi’s pupils contracted to the extreme; immense shock and betrayal drowned her, nearly stopping her breath.
“Itachi…?” She forced out a sound, tiny like a whimper, filled with incredulous despair.
The voice piercingly sharp on the deathly silent street.
Even after a thousand “Night of the Uchiha Clan Downfall” illusions, when illusion became reality, seeing loved ones in blood pools, Izumi Uchiha still couldn’t believe that the Itachi she trusted and admired would do such a thing!
