After It Was Settled, They Left

The truth behind the Nine-Tails’ Rampage, Uchiha Itachi slaughtering his own clan’s civilians—if they did not stop this now, wouldn’t their schemes against the Uchiha Clan be exposed piece by piece?

Utatane Koharu would never allow such a thing to happen. She had even developed murderous intent toward Uzumaki Kushina.

Betraying Konoha—even if she was the Fourth Hokage’s wife, they would never let her off easily. Uzumaki Kushina was now showing signs of joining forces with the Uchiha Clan. If this continued, it would be far too easy for her to influence the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.

Even if they did not kill Uzumaki Kushina, they had to separate her from Naruto and imprison them for a long time!

"Move!"

Twenty Root Anbu members skilled in barriers instantly leaped toward Hyuga Mirai after hearing Danzo’s order, preparing to set up a large-scale barrier to trap them.

This was Danzo’s backup measure. In order to wipe out the Uchiha Clan, he had prepared four plans.

"Prepare for battle."

Uchiha Tekka had just been about to order the Military Police Force when a hand landed on his shoulder, stopping him from shouting. He turned around and suddenly saw a pair of azure eyes.

"Let me handle it, Tekka."

Hyuga Mirai smiled as he spoke. A Truth-Seeking Orb floated from behind him into his hand, then transformed into a dazzling golden light.

"Golden Wheel Reincarnation Explosion!"

Hyuga Mirai swung the golden light in his hand forward like a sharp sword. As he extended his arm, the golden light instantly lengthened, as if it would stretch to the end of the sky. After seeing the golden light in Hyuga Mirai’s hand, every Ninja present felt only one thing—terror.

A brilliant golden radiance lit up the night. Hyuga Mirai swept the Golden Wheel Reincarnation Explosion to the right, and in an instant, all sound vanished. Everything along the golden light’s path turned to powder.

Root Ninja, the taller buildings within Konoha, Hokage Rock!

Rumble!!

Once the golden light faded, the Ninja present suddenly heard the roar of collapsing mountains and splitting earth in the distance. Everyone instinctively turned around and saw that Hokage Rock several kilometers away had been cleanly sliced in half!

Of the four Hokage statues, the lower ones still had their mouths remaining, while the upper ones had only their beards left—and the next moment, they fell.

It was not just Hokage Rock. Even the mountain wall behind Konoha had been carved into a slanted plane.

"W-what was that…?"

An Inuzuka Ninja murmured unconsciously.

Was that caused by that dazzling golden light? What kind of power was that? Where were the Root Ninja? It seemed that the Root Ninja who had just leaped up to charge over had all disappeared!?

"What happened?"

What kind of ninjutsu was that? Why could it destroy Hokage Rock several kilometers away in an instant? And with such tremendous power?

The Ninja present could not forget the chilling sensation from before. That golden light had only grazed past them. If the Root Ninja had jumped a little lower, or if they had been standing a little taller, their fate would surely have been the same as the Root Ninja’s—turned into powder. No, perhaps not even powder would have remained.

In an instant, every Konoha Ninja looked at Hyuga Mirai with fear and wariness. They could fight Ninja, and they could even sacrifice their lives to protect Konoha.

But before absolute strength, did numbers truly matter?

"You went through the trouble of gathering so many people to watch. Can you behave yourselves now?"

Hyuga Mirai said with a soft laugh. Most of the Konoha Ninja unconsciously swallowed, because they saw another black sphere behind Hyuga Mirai float into his hand and turn into golden light.

Under Hyuga Mirai’s restraint and control, the same golden light as before extended slightly, seeming to become a golden short sword.

This action made everyone unconsciously retreat. But then they remembered that the ninjutsu from before could even reach Hokage Rock, and its power far exceeded their imagination. Even if they ran, where could they possibly flee to?

The Hyuga Clan members wore varying expressions. The Branch Family Ninja had complicated looks in their eyes, while Hyuga Hiashi clenched his fists so tightly that his nails nearly dug into his palms. Why did a Branch Family Ninja possess such powerful strength!?

He normally would not feel such intense jealousy, but after witnessing Hyuga Mirai’s abilities today, Hyuga Hiashi’s heart was filled with doubt and incomprehension.

"Please continue, Tekka."

Once Konoha’s Ninja had settled down, Hyuga Mirai spoke to Uchiha Tekka.

Uchiha Tekka nodded gratefully at Hyuga Mirai. He had thought that he and the Military Police Force would have to fight to the death to cover the clan members’ retreat, but instead he had witnessed such overwhelming power.

Even if he used Susanoo, he had no confidence whatsoever in blocking that ninjutsu. The power of the Mangekyo gave him no cause for pride before Hyuga.

After they explained everything from the Nine-Tails’ Rampage to the Uchiha Clan’s experiences over the past few years, the other Ninja Clans began to feel some sympathy for the Uchiha Clan.

Even if there were questionable parts, such as Hyuga Mirai taking half of the Nine-Tails, Mitokado Homura, Utatane Koharu, and the others did not dare bring them up openly. Besides, judging by Kushina’s attitude, even if they did say it, she would not acknowledge it.

"Our Uchiha Clan has only two demands. First, Konoha’s higher-ups must announce Uchiha Itachi’s crimes in accordance with the Ninja Code and execute him. Second, allow our Uchiha Clan to leave. Konoha has targeted the Uchiha Clan for far too long, and today it even tried to exterminate us. We no longer want the title of Founding Ninja Clan!"

After hearing this, everyone present, whether the higher-up Advisors or the heads of the Ninja Clans, changed expression. If they agreed to the Uchiha Clan’s demands and the matter spread, Konoha’s reputation would be ruined!

Uchiha and Senju were the two great Ninja Clans that ended the Warring States Period. If Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha had reconciled, the concept of Ninja Villages would not even exist today.

Konoha had driven the Uchiha to this point because of a misunderstanding. Only a dozen or so members of the Military Police Force remained, while the rest were ordinary clan members. With such strength, they were not even as strong as any one of the Ino-Shika-Cho clans.

"Absolutely not!! How many Anbu and Root Ninja have your Uchiha Clan killed…"

Pfft!

A golden beam instantly pierced through Utatane Koharu as she shouted, opening a large hole in her chest. The golden beam continued without slowing and shot straight toward the broken-wall plains behind Hokage Rock.

Rumble!

The explosion there sent a glowing shockwave more than a hundred meters high into the air. Even standing here, they could clearly feel the tremors from the explosion dozens of kilometers away.

The violent explosion and the luminous shockwave rushing into the sky immediately reminded the Ninja present of the Tailed Beast Bomb explosion during the Nine-Tails’ Rampage a few years ago.

If that had struck the village, all of Konoha would likely have been finished.

"K-Koharu!?"

Mitokado Homura looked at his old friend, who had been killed beside him. Along with anger, he felt even greater fear.

Every powerful ninjutsu came at a cost, but Hyuga Mirai had used it twice in succession, and they could not see any weakness in the technique.

Did it consume the black spheres behind him? Yet whenever Hyuga Mirai used one, he condensed another. The technique was fast, and its power was nearly stronger than the Nine-Tails’ Tailed Beast Bomb. When he killed Utatane Koharu just now, none of them had been able to react.

Hyuga Mirai had already told them through his actions: whoever stood out, died!

After Utatane Koharu’s death, another black sphere floated into Hyuga Mirai’s hand and once again became a golden beam.

This time, everyone retreated much farther. Although they knew it was useless, it was an instinctive action. When facing an existence that could easily kill them, anyone would instinctively keep their distance. Even Shimura Danzō, Konoha’s staunchest hawk, was no exception.

At this point, the Uchiha Edo Tensei Bodies also understood what had happened through Uchiha Tekka’s words.

"Where is my child!? Tekka, is my son all right?"

Faced with Uchiha Rinjin’s tearful question, Uchiha Tekka silently lowered his head. He could not answer that question. If he had been more forceful back then, perhaps he could have pressured Uchiha Fugaku into imprisoning Itachi.

"I’ll kill him!"

Uchiha Rinjin’s Edo Tensei Body wanted to rush over and kill Uchiha Itachi, but Hyuga Mirai restrained him.

Hyuga Mirai reminded him, "Uchiha, you should request that Konoha’s higher-ups pass judgment on Uchiha Itachi’s crimes before killing him, because the people he killed were not just your family."

The Uchiha Edo Tensei Bodies, filled with hatred, all stepped forward and shouted their requests at Mitokado Homura. Each of them had beloved people who had died at Uchiha Itachi’s hands. If Hyuga Mirai had not controlled them, they certainly would not have been able to stop themselves from rushing to Uchiha Itachi and tearing him apart with claw and tooth.

The dead ordinary clan members of the Uchiha Clan were begging Konoha’s higher-ups to order Uchiha Itachi’s execution. Such a surreal thing truly happened.

"Danzo…"

Mitokado Homura saw that the heads of many Ninja Clans were looking at him, and he could not help looking toward Danzo.

Unfortunately, Danzo was afraid as well. He had one extra life, but he kept feeling that Hyuga Mirai’s azure eyes were fixed on him. Even with one chance to use Izanagi, Danzo did not dare play the hero of Konoha at a time like this.

Koharu’s corpse was still warm. Danzo lowered his head and pretended not to hear Mitokado Homura.

Hyuga Mirai, I will definitely uncover the secret of those eyes!!

Danzo thought to himself. If he possessed that power, he would surely become Hokage and make Konoha the strongest.

"Everyone!"

Hyuga Mirai called out, immediately making every Ninja present instinctively alert. Some even pulled out kunai.

"My time is limited. Elder Mitokado Homura, have you made your decision? Or do the dead Uchiha civilians no longer count as Konoha’s people?"

After hearing Hyuga Mirai’s words and seeing the golden beam in his hand extend a little farther, Mitokado Homura could not help taking half a step back in fear.

"Th-this matter… Uchiha Itachi’s actions indeed… violated the Ninja Code…"

Mitokado Homura glanced at Utatane Koharu’s corpse, took a deep breath, and then spoke.

Forgive me, Koharu. I was forced into this.

Mitokado Homura spoke helplessly in his heart.

"Uchiha Itachi violated the Ninja Code. Kakashi, execute Uchiha Itachi immediately."

"Yes."

After receiving the order, a white-haired Anbu Ninja walked toward Uchiha Itachi.

When Uchiha Tekka, the Military Police Force members, and the Uchiha Edo Tensei Bodies saw Kakashi, they all made way for him. Many even clenched their fists with expectant expressions. Those Uchiha Edo Tensei Bodies only hated that they could not personally kill Uchiha Itachi to avenge themselves.

Although Uchiha Itachi was severely injured, he could still see and hear. He knew everything that had happened just now.

Had he been wrong?

Perhaps he had. His parents had been implicated, his clansmen hated him, and even Konoha had abandoned him. In that instant, Uchiha Itachi felt as though everyone had forsaken him. Perhaps he truly had been wrong from the very beginning, believing in his extremity that exterminating the Uchiha Clan would achieve the best of both worlds.

When he sensed Kakashi arrive beside him, Uchiha Itachi opened his eyes and looked at him. He slowly asked, "Sasuke… is he here?"

"Your younger brother? He isn’t here." Kakashi sighed inwardly. He had clearly been a genius with limitless potential, yet he had fallen to this state.

"That’s good…"

Uchiha Itachi had already lost the will to live. Seeing this, Kakashi did not waste time and directly ended Uchiha Itachi’s life with one strike.

After completing his mission, Kakashi left and returned to the Anbu ranks.

Some Uchiha clansmen wept with joy. Even the Edo Tensei Bodies shed tears one after another. Their loved ones were dead, and their enemy was dead. It seemed they no longer had any reason to remain.

Two or three Edo Tensei Bodies slowly turned into fragments and dispersed. They had accepted their own deaths and accepted that their clansmen had been avenged, so they no longer had any lingering attachments. Hyuga Mirai had not placed any restraints on them, so their souls returned directly to the Pure Land.

Hyuga Mirai explained this to Uchiha Tekka, then said, "Let’s leave now, Tekka. I believe they will not stop you."

Some people in Konoha indeed no longer had any intention of stopping them. The primary reasons were the Golden Wheel Reincarnation Explosion in Hyuga Mirai’s hand and the Uchiha Clan’s unjust suffering.

As for Danzo, he was afraid once again—afraid that Hyuga Mirai would use that technique on him. He wanted to preserve his useful body and continue contributing to Konoha, so he chose silence.

"Oh, before leaving, let me tell you something about my eyes, Branch Family members."

Hyuga Mirai suddenly turned around and spoke to the Hyuga Clan members.

"You really are pitiful. What the Caged Bird Seal restricts is not only your status and freedom, but also the potential of the Byakugan!"

"The true Byakugan is the strongest and most promising power in the Ninja World. But that has nothing to do with birds in cages anymore. Your generation is already beyond saving."

There will be three updates tonight. This is the first.