Night of the Clan Massacre (3) Please Vote

As night approached!

The Military Police Force did not disband. Their usual single patrol squad became two squads patrolling simultaneously, and their Ninja Tool Pouches were packed with Kunai, Shuriken, Exploding Tags, and other equipment. They were also fully outfitted with ninja tools.

"Senior Yashiro, I’ll leave escorting the clansmen to you. I believe the Saudi Federation’s people will arrive at the agreed location on time."

Just as punctual as Yasunori-kun.

Uchiha Tekka gave the order in an even tone. Though he was only in his twenties and had only recently been promoted to squad captain in the Military Police Force, there were still many clansmen more senior than him.

But Uchiha Tekka possessed the Mangekyō Sharingan—the Clan’s second pair of Mangekyō Sharingan besides the clan head’s.

They had just issued a notice through the Military Police Force regarding the clansmen’s evacuation. Everyone was allowed to bring only one bundle; everything else had to be abandoned. The Uchiha’s most precious asset was the bloodline passed down within them. Compared to that bloodline, the wealth ordinary people had accumulated was not worth a cent.

Many clansmen still did not understand the order, but under the Military Police Force’s compulsory directive, they chose to comply.

Uchiha Tekka swept his gaze around and asked with a slight frown, "Where is the clan head?"

A Military Police Force member spoke up. "I haven’t seen the clan head. Could it be that it’s not time yet? Should we wait a little longer?"

At a time like this, he was still keeping to the schedule?

Not only the Squad Captains, but even the members remaining at the Military Police Force headquarters felt a trace of dissatisfaction toward Uchiha Fugaku. But with a major event at hand, they suppressed those emotions.

After discussing it, the other Squad Captains announced to the Military Police Force members, "Until the clan head arrives, everyone in the Military Police Force will follow Uchiha Tekka’s orders."

Aside from the specific abilities of his Eye Technique, Uchiha Tekka had already revealed his Mangekyō Sharingan to the Military Police Force clansmen. With the clan head absent and everyone’s faith in strength, the other Squad Captains and team captains decided after deliberation to let Uchiha Tekka take command of the Military Police Force.

"Squad Captain!"

A Military Police Force member came to report, "The Anbu and Root have strengthened their surveillance outside the Compound. They’ve even set up a barrier."

One of the Military Police Force Squad Captains gave a cold laugh. When he opened his eyes again, his slowly spinning Three-Tomoe Sharingan emerged. "Looks like we had the same idea. Konoha intends to strike first."

Upon hearing that, Uchiha Tekka immediately said to another man, "Senior Suion, please lead the clansmen outside the Military Police Force to draw Konoha’s attention. Destroy every barrier around the compound. If anyone tries to stop you, deal with them!"

Suion Uchiha was a hidden ninja within the Clan. With him leading those clansmen whose information had not been gathered by the Anbu, they would certainly catch them off guard.

"I understand."

Suion Uchiha nodded. His task was to ensure Konoha’s attention remained fixed on the Compound, allowing the ordinary clansmen to leave safely through the Secret Passage.

Only three teams were escorting the ordinary clansmen. Even if they sent over a hundred people out of Konoha at a time, it would take a long time to evacuate all the ordinary clansmen.

And the barrier Konoha had set up already showed that they intended to isolate the Uchiha Clan and prevent the disturbance here from being noticed by ninjas elsewhere.

After Suion Uchiha left, the remaining Military Police Force members gathered there. Uchiha Tekka looked around and saw that only 112 people remained in the force. He could not help but close his eyes in thought.

With their current numbers, plus the clansmen under Senior Suion, they had enough to deal with Root and the Anbu. But afterward, intimidating the other Ninja Clans and seizing political power would probably be difficult.

If the clansmen united as one, seized the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, and added Shisui’s power, it was not impossible for one Clan to take on Konoha. Sadly, there were several traitors within the Clan!

As Uchiha Tekka thought this, the Three-Tomoe in his eyes abruptly transformed into a triangular Mangekyō pattern. He suddenly said, "Inabi, I remember there are still some capable ninjas in the Clan. Their missions should have ended today, right? Call them here."

"Them? Are we including them in our fighting force…?"

Uchiha Inabi asked doubtfully. Most of those people were neutral, or even leaned toward Konoha. Having attended the Ninja Academy and then joined mission teams after graduation, they did not agree with such radical ideas as a coup d’état.

There were quite a few of them, and organized into teams, they counted as a fighting force. The only question was whether they would hold them back. More or less, they had all been brainwashed by the so-called Will of Fire; it was just unknown whether it ran as deep as it did with Itachi.

For example, Izumi Uchiha seemed to be the same age as Uchiha Itachi, yet she had already awakened the Three-Tomoe Sharingan. But her personality was far too gentle, and being a woman, she had not joined the Military Police Force.

"The Anbu and Root are about to attack the ordinary people in the Clan. Even if it’s only to protect the clansmen, they should contribute!"

The other captains all strongly agreed with this order. This was a coup d’état. Even if it was to protect the clansmen, they had to pick up Kunai and Shuriken.

Orders were passed down in an orderly fashion. Both sides tacitly avoided starting a full-blown battle before darkness fell. There were still Civilians on the streets, and if they began fighting now, the other Ninja Clans would be dragged in as well.

The Uchiha did not want to create more enemies, while the Konoha Higher-ups were waiting for Uchiha Itachi to act. Thus, even the clashes at the edge of the Uchiha Compound’s barrier did not spread far. Moreover, this place was far from Konoha’s center, so some commotion would not draw the attention of ordinary Villagers.

Time passed second by second. Then, suddenly, Uchiha Fugaku arrived.

"Clan Head?"

After observing him with their Sharingan, several Uchiha clansmen confirmed that he really was Uchiha Fugaku and not someone disguised with the Transformation Technique. They then invited him inside.

"Clan Head, you’re here!"

After Uchiha Tekka bowed, he noticed that Uchiha Fugaku was alone and could not help frowning slightly.

Where was Uchiha Itachi? Had the clan head confined him because he had no desire to fight?

Judging by Uchiha Itachi’s past behavior, he truly might stand with Konoha, so it was within expectations that he would not want to participate tonight.

But since Uchiha Itachi did not want to join the coup d’état, the clan head should have confined him, right?

This concerned the coup d’état, and Uchiha Tekka had originally wanted to confirm it with Clan Head Fugaku. But asking directly in this setting would likely embarrass Uchiha Fugaku, so after thinking it over, Uchiha Tekka let it go.

Uchiha Fugaku asked, "How is the situation now?"

A Military Police Force squad captain then told Uchiha Fugaku everything that had just happened. After listening, he turned around and said to Uchiha Tekka with a somewhat complicated expression, "Tekka, it seems you are more suited to be clan head than I am."

In truth, Uchiha Fugaku had sat silently in his room all afternoon and had not dealt with Uchiha Itachi at all. Just now, he had nearly missed the time because he was lost in thought.

The rooftop of a shop in the Uchiha Compound

After leaving home, Uchiha Itachi stood there. Not long afterward, Uchiha Obito arrived behind him through Kamui teleportation.

"They’re moving the ordinary clansmen. That was a miscalculation. Although Yasunori Sakai is already dead, the agreement is still being carried out. The Saudi Federation’s people are probably waiting at the other end of the Secret Passage. Are you going to eliminate them completely?"

Uchiha Itachi asked evenly, "Are many people being sent away?"

"Not many. They can’t send that many away at once, or Konoha would definitely notice." Uchiha Obito shook his head. "But the Uchiha Military Police Force is extremely vigilant. I’ll have to put in some effort next. If you don’t want to go after them, start with the ordinary clansmen in the Compound first."

Uchiha Itachi glanced at Uchiha Obito, then reminded him, "You aren’t the only one with a Mangekyō. If you get killed, don’t blame me for not warning you."

When he returned home, Uchiha Itachi had heard the shocked cries of Uchiha Yashiro, Uchiha Inabi, and the others. Although he had not seen his father’s Sharingan, there was no need for Uchiha Inabi and the others to lie under those circumstances.

So his targets were one pair of Mangekyō Sharingan and over a dozen pairs of Three-Tomoe Sharingan?

"A Mangekyō? Your father, Uchiha Fugaku?"

The Sharingan beneath Uchiha Obito’s mask turned slightly. The situation he hated most had emerged, but to maintain his role as Madara Uchiha, he could not show too much concern.

The Eye Techniques housed within each Mangekyō Sharingan differed. The Sharingan was known as a reflection of the heart, and the Eye Technique’s ability corresponded to the powerful wish held when the eyes awakened. Uchiha Obito had no idea what kind of Eye Technique he might encounter.

"Well, one pair of Mangekyō Sharingan is nothing to me. You don’t need to worry about the Military Police Force. If you’re going to act, pay more attention to the ordinary clansmen. If you don’t move soon, they’ll be evacuated."

After saying that, Uchiha Obito left through Kamui.

Though he sounded relaxed, his vigilance toward Uchiha Fugaku had already risen to its peak. Before obtaining accurate intelligence on the other man’s Eye Technique, he had better be careful.

A forest near Konoha—the location agreed upon by the Uchiha and the Saudi Federation. After Uchiha Yashiro brought the ordinary clansmen out, he looked around but found no one waiting to receive them.

"Aoki, is it time?"

"Just about, Senior Yashiro."

Uchiha Yashiro frowned slightly upon hearing that. Could the other party be running late, or had they failed to keep their agreement?

But just as Uchiha Yashiro’s thoughts began to wander, someone suddenly leaped down from the air—a young man with red hair and a youthful face.

"Is this all? I remember there were supposed to be four or five hundred people."

Had the mission changed? Sasori counted their numbers and asked with a slight frown. Hyuga Mirai had not assigned him many tasks, so the word failure absolutely could not appear in connection with him.

"This is only the first group." Uchiha Yashiro asked suspiciously, "Are you the person sent by the Saudi Federation to receive us?"

As soon as he finished asking, Sasori tossed Uchiha Yashiro a scroll. It contained the agreement’s terms and the Kazekage’s signature.

There was no problem!

After seeing it, Uchiha Yashiro relaxed his guard toward Sasori. But then he began worrying about something else.

"Sir, how are so many of us supposed to travel to the Saudi Federation?"