Chapter 246: Uchiha Clan Rebels! Kill Without Mercy!
Konoha Military Police Force.
The Police Force building, once a symbol of Uchiha pride and power, had now turned into a blood-soaked Shura field.
Shattered windows, overturned desks and chairs, walls splattered with large patches of blood, and… Uchiha elites lying scattered on the ground, having lost their vital signs.
A mysterious person wearing an orange-red tiger-patterned swirl mask was shuttling freely through the spacious Police Force headquarters like the Shinigami harvesting lives.
Every swing of the great sword in his hand brought up a spray of gorgeous blood flowers.
Relying on the “Kamui” phasing ability granted by his right eye Mangekyo Sharingan, the attacks from Uchiha ninjas—whether blazing Fire Style, insidious and deadly ninja tools, or kunai strikes from close range—all passed through him like air, unable to harm him in the slightest.
And every time he materialized, it was accompanied by the fall of a Uchiha ninja.
“Damn it! This guy’s ability is too bizarre!”
“All attacks ineffective!”
“Lord Yashiro, careful!”
Screams, roars, and ninjutsu explosions intertwined.
Uchiha Yashiro, Uchiha Inabi, and other Uchiha Clan elite jonins were now covered in blood, riddled with wounds.
They organized a counterattack with all their strength, trying to find the flaw in this mysterious masked person, but the opponent’s near-unsolvable phasing ability made their resistance seem so futile and desperate.
“Monster! What the hell is this guy?!” Yashiro clutched his profusely bleeding abdomen, leaning against the broken counter to gasp for breath, his eyes filled with horror.
Beside him, Uchiha Tekka had already become a cold corpse, his chest pierced by a chain.
Yashiro could hardly believe that over a dozen Uchiha jonins couldn’t stop this one opponent?!
Companions’ corpses kept falling around him, the once powerful Police Force elites now like lambs waiting to be slaughtered.
Watching this group of formerly arrogant Uchiha elites struggle and fall under his blade, even though many were acquaintances, the single eye behind Obito’s mask flickered with cold and cruel pleasure.
“It’s already night. Disappear quietly.” He was preparing to launch the next round of fatal attacks, finishing off these leaders and putting an end to this “cleanup.”
Boom—!
The huge window glass on one side of the building suddenly shattered!
Shards of broken glass rained down like a storm, and clear moonlight shone through the broken window, illuminating several figures that suddenly burst in!
Several figures leaped in ferociously from the broken window like agile leopards, accompanied by the sound of shattering glass!
The leader was unusually tall and burly, with strange bluish-gray skin, shark-like sharp teeth, and gill-like facial markings.
On his back was a huge weapon almost as tall as him, wrapped in thick bandages—Samehada!
Behind him were several ninjas who appeared just as suddenly, wearing various animal masks and the distinctive standard vests of Hoshigakure, moving swiftly and silently like trained nocturnal hunters.
“Hm?” Obito’s movements halted instantly, his single eye locking through the mask’s hole onto Kisame Hoshigaki, or more precisely, onto the great sword emanating a thick bloody aura behind him.
“Kisame Hoshigaki? And… Samehada?”
Long-forgotten scenes flashed through Obito’s mind.
Years ago, he had manipulated Fourth Mizukage Yagura, secretly ordering three famed members of Kirigakure’s Seven Ninja Swordsmen—Jūzō Biwa, Mangetsu Hozuki, and Suigetsu Hozuki—to intercept the “Shura” infiltrating Kirigakure.
The battle’s outcome was tragic: Jūzō Biwa and Suigetsu Hozuki died on the spot, their signature ninja swords “Kubikiribocho” and “Samehada” taken by Shura, with only Mangetsu Hozuki escaping wounded.
Now, Samehada, which should have been in Shura’s hands, was on the back of S-rank rogue ninja Kisame Hoshigaki, who had defected from Kirigakure!
And Kisame was wearing Star Ninja uniform!
‘Star Ninja… Shura’s people?!’ Obito’s thoughts raced, instantly understanding many things.
A strong chill spread along his spine.
“Why are they here? Did the extermination plan leak? Shura and that Uchiha Hikari… they must be nearby too!”
While he was shocked and suspicious, the Star Ninjas’ attack had already begun!
“Blood Dragon Technique!”
One Star Ninja Anbu wearing a Tanuki Mask formed hand seals, instantly activating scarlet Blood Dragon Eyes!
The blood from Uchiha ninjas lying on the ground, not yet fully cold, was drawn out invisibly from their wounds, surging and quickly coalescing in the air into a ferocious roaring blood-colored dragon!
Carrying heavy blood scent and resentment, the blood dragon let out a silent roar, lunging at Obito with claws and fangs bared!
At the same time, the other Star Ninja Anbu didn’t hesitate.
“Wind Release: Great Vacuum Sphere!”
“Lightning Release: Earth Walk!”
“Earth Style: Earth Dragon Bullet!”
……
Several ninjutsu of different attributes wove into a dense firepower net, sealing off all of Obito’s evasion space!
“Damn it!” Obito cursed inwardly.
Facing such dense attacks from different directions, he unhesitatingly activated Kamui immediately!
His body instantly became ethereal; the blood dragon passed through him, earth spikes, water senbon, and explosive tags all missed, leaving massive destruction marks on the ground and walls where he had been.
Kisame Hoshigaki grinned ferociously, yanking off the bandages to reveal Samehada covered in barbs: “Looks like I get a meal tonight!”
Samehada seemed to sense its master’s battle intent, excitedly opening its mouth full of sharp teeth.
Meanwhile, the younger Ida Tasuke in the team rushed with two companions toward the surviving Uchiha Yashiro and others, saying lowly: “We’re here to rescue you! Don’t resist!”
They took out first aid kits and military rations pills, beginning emergency treatment for the wounded.
“Oh dear~ so lively!” A sinister voice suddenly rang out.
The ground at Obito’s feet writhed like quicksand, and Black and White Zetsu rose slowly like a pitcher plant.
White Zetsu’s half exaggeratedly waved its arms: “Lord Madara~ big trouble! Lots of blue-vested Star Ninjas popped up at the Uchiha Compound too! Tough customers, time to pull out!”
Black Zetsu added in a low, raspy voice: “Intelligence severely mistaken, plan must be aborted.”
“Hmph! Shura… I’ll remember this debt!” Obito’s face behind the mask was frighteningly grim.
But now wasn’t the time for all-out war with Shura; truthfully, even Nagato had lost, so Obito was already thinking perhaps only reviving Uchiha Madara could…
He glanced deeply at Kisame and the well-trained Star Ninja Anbu behind him, especially Miyoshi Jin’s eerie bloodline limit.
Confirming the opponents were numerous and prepared, he no longer lingered.
“Kamui!” A space vortex distorted around him, instantly swallowing his figure and making him vanish without a trace.
Black and White Zetsu also sank into the ground immediately, as if they had never appeared.
Kisame Hoshigaki snorted coldly, the bandages on Samehada trembling slightly, as if regretting not drinking its enemy’s blood to satisfaction.
“Lucky he ran fast!” His voice carried a heavy shark-like accent, full of reluctance at not slaying his foe personally.
The assailant of Fourth Mizukage, who branded him a ninja village traitor and forced his defection from Kirigakure—one of the culprits—had slipped away right before his eyes.
The hall temporarily fell silent, leaving only the thick blood scent and the groans of the wounded.
Uchiha Yashiro, Uchiha Inabi, and the remaining seven Uchiha ninjas were covered in blood, some leaning against walls gasping, others barely standing propped on weapons.
Still shaken, they looked at this group of Star Ninjas who suddenly appeared and repelled the terrifying masked man, their eyes filled with post-survival bewilderment and deep wariness.
The ground was littered with former colleagues’ corpses, including experts like Tekka.
“You… who the hell are you?! Why save us?” Uchiha Yashiro stood shakily with Ida Tasuke’s support, looking at the clansmen’s corpses on the ground and these strange animal-masked ninjas, his voice hoarse and wary.
Kisame Hoshigaki sheathed Samehada, his gaze sweeping the wrecked hall and survivors.
Naturally taciturn, he was too lazy to explain, but remembering Lord Shura’s orders, he bluntly replied in his gruff voice: “By Lord Shura’s command, here to rescue the Uchiha.”
“Shura?” Yashiro, Inabi, and the others exchanged glances, not unfamiliar with the name.
Shura had attacked Konoha twice, so elite jonins like Yashiro and Inabi naturally knew, though few knew he was the leader of Hoshigakure Star Ninjas.
Kisame continued in his unique tone, dropping words that struck all survivors like thunder: “Konoha High Council has issued the extermination order, to be carried out by Itachi Uchiha against your clan. Root is setting up barriers to seal the clan territory, preventing any escapes.”
He paused, seeing disbelief and towering hatred flare in their eyes, then added: “I know you might not believe it. But rushing back to the clan territory now might let you see… other survivors.”
These words were like cold water poured into boiling oil, instantly igniting the survivors’ last spark of hope and frenzied rage!
“Itachi… extermination order… Root barrier…” These terms together formed a horrific truth they couldn’t accept yet explained the nightmare before them.
“It really is… Itachi!” Yashiro’s eyes nearly split, teeth grinding audibly.
“Konoha High Council! Danzō!!” Inabi let out a beast-like growl.
“I knew it! Shisui’s death must’ve been the work of Konoha High Council!”
“Itachi Uchiha! That guy must’ve been involved in assassinating Shisui!”
Despite heavy injuries, the massive shock and rage overrode their physical pain.
They had no time to question these strangers’ identities or purposes, or even treat wounds.
The seven survivors exchanged looks, seeing resolve and a sliver of hope in each other’s eyes.
“Go! Back to the clan territory!” Yashiro roared through excruciating pain, dragging his wounded body first, charging desperately toward the clan territory.
Inabi and the others gritted their teeth and followed, staggering but resolute figures vanishing into the night outside the Police Force headquarters.
Watching them leave, Kisame Hoshigaki waved to the animal-masked Anbu members behind him, ordering coldly: “Move out! Take everything of value! Seal the corpses too, leave none behind!”
“Yes!”
The Star Ninja Anbu sprang into efficient action. Some quickly unrolled special storage scrolls, sealing Uchiha ninja corpses one by one; others burst into the Police Force archives, packing stacks of files, scrolls, and file cabinets whole; still others stood vigilant at broken windows and doors, guarding against other Konoha ninjas.
As Uchiha Yashiro, Inabi, and others dragged their wounded bodies out of the Police Force headquarters onto the street toward the clan territory, they ran head-on into a group of ninjas waiting in formation!
Leading them was Konoha Anbu Head Captain, Hiruzen Sarutobi’s eldest son—Sarutobi Shinnosuke!
He wore a badger mask, but shock and doubt in his eyes were hard to conceal.
Behind him were several Root and Anbu mixed ninjas.
Shinnosuke wondered inwardly: ‘What’s going on? Wasn’t a squad assigned to monitor the Police Force? How did these Uchiha escape? Where’s the one executing the extermination inside?’
Per plan, the Uchiha elites in the Police Force should be mostly “cleaned” by now!
The two sides met, no words wasted.
Hatred, fear, misunderstanding, and kill orders instantly ignited the clash!
“Fire Style: Great Fire Dragon Flame!” Uchiha Inabi’s eyes blazed red, ignoring wounds to spit a massive fire dragon first!
“Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!” Anbu ninjas immediately formed seals to counter.
Boom!!
A violent explosion erupted on the street, firelight soaring, instantly lighting up Konoha’s silent night sky!
Explosive tags detonated one after another, ninja tool clashes, ninjutsu howls, roars, and screams filling the air!
………….
Konoha Anbu Base Front Plaza
Cold moonlight shone on the wide plaza.
Dozens of ninjas in uniform Anbu attire, faces covered by animal masks, stood in neat formation, killing intent permeating.
They were respectively Anbu members directly under the Hokage and “Root” elites controlled by Shimura Danzō.
Kakashi Hatake, as one of the Anbu squad leaders, stood silently in the ranks with Yamato.
He wore a White Cat Mask, his uncovered right eye turning slightly, scanning surroundings, equally puzzled by tonight’s sudden emergency assembly.
At the front of the plaza, Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi
Shimura Danzō leaned on his cane, standing slightly behind him at his side, that one eye flickering with sinister light in the darkness.
Excluding the twelve Elite Ninja dispatched to seal off the Uchiha Compound and monitor the Konoha Military Police Force, almost all of the top forces from Konoha Anbu and Root have gathered here, totaling more than sixty!
The order they received was “stand by to respond to emergencies,” but no one knew what the specific situation was.
Hiruzen Sarutobi’s gaze turned toward the Uchiha Clan Territory, his brows furrowed tightly, as if calculating the time.
‘Although Itachi Uchiha’s strength has improved at a tremendous speed, Fugaku is after all the Uchiha Clan leader with vast experience… they should have already clashed by now, right?’ He silently pondered in his heart, planning to lead his team into the Uchiha Compound under the pretext of “rescue” or “suppression of rebellion” once it was thoroughly plunged into chaos and the resistance forces sufficiently weakened.
If some Uchiha Clan Members could be spared, it would both weaken the Uchiha threat and demonstrate the Hokage’s “mercy,” gaining the advantage in public opinion.
Meanwhile, Danzō was contemplating entirely different thoughts in his mind.
His gaze greedily stared in the direction of the Uchiha Compound, and at the Sharingan of those Uchiha Ninja.
‘That traitor Orochimaru…… The research materials he left behind are too fragmented, the new research personnel are making slow progress…… And we lost another precious Three-Tomoe Sharingan in the confrontation with Shisui……’ Danzō’s heart was filled with anxiety and greed.
‘I must take this opportunity to replenish my stock! Fugaku’s eyes, and those three-tomoe eyes……’ To extend the number of times Izanagi can be used, and to obtain even greater power, Sharingan eyes were treasures he was determined to obtain.
The two each harbored their own thoughts, and the plaza was enveloped in a heavy silence.
Suddenly——
Rumble——!!!
A deafening explosion roared, accompanied by soaring firelight, suddenly erupting from the direction of the Uchiha Clan Territory!
The intense shaking even reached the plaza of the Anbu base!
All Anbu and Root members instantly became alert, their gazes uniformly turning toward the direction of the explosion!
Kakashi’s brows furrowed even tighter beneath his mask.
Hiruzen Sarutobi and Danzō Shimura both perked up at the same time!
“It’s the Uchiha Clan Territory!” Hiruzen Sarutobi said in a heavy tone, his face showing just the right amount of “worry” and “gravity”.
“Looks like the situation has changed! Itachi may have run into trouble, or the Uchiha’s resistance is fiercer than expected!”
Danzō inwardly rejoiced, but kept a straight face on the surface: “Hiruzen, no time to waste! We must provide support immediately! We cannot let the chaos spread to other parts of the village!”
“Mm!” Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded heavily, immediately raising the Adamantine Staff in his hand high, his voice loud and majestic spreading throughout the plaza: “All Anbu, Root, listen to the command! The Uchiha Clan is in rebellion! They have caused large-scale destruction! Everyone, follow me! Depart to suppress the rebellion and protect Konoha! Any resisters… kill without mercy!”
“Yes!” Sixty elite ninja responded in unison, brimming with killing intent.
Over sixty figures shot forth like arrows off the string, transforming into blurred dark shadows under the lead of Hiruzen Sarutobi and Shimura Danzō, rapidly charging toward the Uchiha Clan Territory illuminated red by firelight.
Meanwhile, Kakashi in the team was still shocked by Third Hokage’s earlier words, “The Uchiha Clan has rebelled,” and the unease in his heart grew stronger and stronger.
This bloody storm, ignited by the Konoha High Council themselves yet attempting to intervene in the guise of “firefighters,” was now engulfing the fates of countless people as it dramatically opened its curtain.
