Chapter 100: The Night of the Uchiha Clan Massacre
"Damn that old ghost Sarutobi!"
Inside the seal space, Uzumaki Kushina grit her teeth: "Little Naruto's talent is clearly off the charts, but that old ghost actually embezzled our family's inheritance and secret techniques."
"Just using a few trashy C-rank and B-rank ninjutsu to fool little Naruto! Who would care for that garbage?!!"
The angrier Kushina got, the more she kneaded and flattened little Nine-Tails in her arms, leaving the Nine-Tails with a look of utter despair.
Naruto could already be considered a perfect Nine-Tails Jinchūriki, but in Kushina's motherly eyes, it still wasn't safe enough.
Her own son naturally deserved the best.
"I've decided!"
A glint of determination flashed in Kushina's eyes. She patted little Nine-Tails' head, saying firmly: "I'm going to teach Naruto all of the Uzumaki clan's sealing techniques."
With that, she abruptly turned her head towards Minato nearby.
Minato, seeing this, could only nod with a bitter smile.
As a Hokage from a civilian background, he not only possessed solid ninjutsu knowledge but also rich practical combat experience.
He possessed five chakra natures – Fire, Wind, Lightning, Yin, and Yang – excluding Earth and Water.
Although his ninjutsu foundation was slightly inferior to Sarutobi Hiruzen's, whether in ninjutsu, taijutsu, genjutsu, or sealing techniques, Minato had considerably high skill.
This was also why Menma chose to leave the Minato couple behind (in the seal).
Able to be personally taught by the Minato couple, Naruto's current strength could still grow.
"Guest, you've waited long! Your ramen!"
Teuchi's energetic voice, along with the aroma of ramen reaching his nose, directly interrupted Naruto's thoughts.
"Oh? Looks pretty good!"
Looking at the ramen, perfect in color, aroma, and taste, Naruto's eyes lit up even more, his appetite whetted.
Naruto put his hands together, saying politely: "Time to eat."
Teuchi, seeing the smile on Naruto's face, also couldn't stop a gratified smile from appearing on his own.
...
Night gradually fell, a bright and pure moon slowly rising into the night sky.
Inside the Uchiha clan grounds, a figure, cloaked in faint moonlight, crouched on a tall utility pole.
Those scarlet eyes coldly watched everything within the clan.
"For Konoha's peace... forgive me..."
His tone was cold and merciless, as if speaking to someone, yet also as if consoling himself.
As his voice fell, his figure instantly vanished from the spot.
After he disappeared, ripples and distortions suddenly appeared in the air.
Uchiha Obito, wearing a one-eyed mask, emerged from the distorted space.
"Hehe~ Time to end the fate of this foolish clan."
Obito sneered coldly, saying without turning his head: "Zetsu, you're responsible for collecting the Sharingan. But remember to leave some for a certain someone."
A pitcher plant with a black and white face also slowly emerged from underground, the white face grinning with a mouthful of sharp teeth: "Relax, I'll leave some."
Truly interesting.
Two Uchiha clansmen... actually about to completely destroy the Uchiha clan.
Even Lord Madara didn't do this back then. Truly makes one feel life is fickle.
"Once the Uchiha elites in the Police Force are dealt with, it will be much easier for Itachi to kill the other Uchiha clansmen living in the Uchiha clan grounds."
Obito didn't know Zetsu's little thoughts. His figure flickered, also heading towards the Police Force.
Meanwhile, on the outskirts of the Uchiha clan grounds, numerous masked ninja hid in the darkness.
They surrounded the Uchiha clan grounds from several directions, then began forming hand seals in unison.
The next moment, a transparent barrier suddenly appeared, directly enveloping the entire Uchiha clan grounds.
Even if Uchiha clansmen sent out a distress signal, it would be blocked by the barrier. If anyone tried to escape, they simply couldn't break through.
Attempting to break the barrier would only mean facing annihilation by Root ninja.
It could be said everything was ready, with no oversights.
Inside the dark Root base.
Standing under the moonlight, Danzō looked up at the full moon in the sky.
The bright moon seemed stained with streaks of blood red, looking both bewitchingly sinister and evil.
"Hmph, Sarutobi you're old. Konoha, without the Uchiha, is the true Konoha."
Danzō revealed a cold smile, then turned his head to look at the calligraphy work behind him.
"Humans are like trees. The more they yearn for the sunlight above, the deeper their roots must extend into the darkness below."
This sentence had become the Will of Root he acknowledged, deeply engraved in the hearts of all Root ninja.
Danzō always believed that only he could lead Konoha to prosperity.
As for Sarutobi Hiruzen, that hypocritical coward hiding in the Hokage Office, "completely unaware" of the Uchiha massacre...
He was long no longer the Shinobi Hero who unhesitatingly stayed behind with Teacher Tobirama to face death!
...
But in a place they overlooked – Konoha Prison.
"Hiss, why does it feel a bit cold today?"
"Told you to wear more clothes, but you wouldn't listen! By the way, why isn't that guy Inabi here yet today?"
Two jailers stood outside the prison, chatting idly out of boredom.
But just as the two were talking,
Rustle!
A figure suddenly appeared before the two.
The two were first startled, subconsciously becoming alert.
However, after clearly seeing the newcomer's face, they instantly relaxed.
"Inabi! Appearing and disappearing mysteriously like that, you scared me."
One of the jailers complained good-naturedly: "I knew you..."
However, looking at Inabi, who was unusually expressionless, the other, more prudent jailer frowned deeply.
Why does Inabi seem strange today?
"Keizō, Keiyū."
Inabi suddenly spoke, interrupting the jailer's chatter, his tone calm: "I am very grateful for your care all this time."
"Huh? What are you saying all this for?"
The jailer called Keizō looked puzzled, but the next second, his expression turned to shock.
"Hkk... Hkk!"
A cold glint flashed. Keizō's eyes widened as he clutched his bleeding neck, slowly collapsing to the ground.
Thump!!
"Inabi! You..."
The other jailer, Keiyū, looked horrified, completely unprepared for Inabi's sudden attack.
In their impression, Inabi was a steady Uchiha, harmless to humans and animals.
As Keiyū snapped back and was about to draw his weapon,
Inabi whipped his head around. The moment their eyes met, the tomoe in Inabi's eyes spun rapidly.
Keiyū's movements instantly froze, then he too collapsed to the ground.
"Sorry. There was no other way."
Inabi's expression was impassive as he directly moved the two bodies aside.
Immediately, he opened the prison gate.
Click!
Walking into the prison, wherever Inabi passed, the prisoners, still unsure of the situation, all fell within their cells.
"Inabi?"
Setsuna, in his cell, slowly opened his eyes upon hearing the footsteps.
Unsure if it was sorrow or helplessness, he sighed with emotion: "It seems this day... has finally arrived after all."
He could already smell the scent of blood on Inabi.
Meaning, today was the day of the Uchiha clan's extermination.
Inabi looked at his grandfather, his tone regretful: "I only managed to gather forty-three children. The others were held up for various reasons."
His nature was somewhat peaceful, but it was still a pity he couldn't help the Uchiha leave behind more kindling.
Setsuna fell silent for a moment, his gaze becoming profound.
"...It doesn't matter. It's enough."
Inabi tilted his head, asking tentatively: "Grandfather, aren't you leaving yet?"
That man has already sent people to receive them outside the barrier.
"Leave for what?"
Setsuna sneered coldly: "Uchiha Itachi is the executioner who massacred the entire clan, and I am likely no more innocent than he."
"This old life of mine isn't worth much, but having borne such sin, I must still atone with my death!"
He knew very well that the Uchiha, unwilling to leave Konoha yet also unwilling to self-isolate like the Hyūga, whether their coup succeeded or failed, would ultimately face a dead end.
But his actions were equivalent to sacrificing the hope of survival for other Uchiha clansmen for the sake of the Uchiha children.
"...Is that so?"
Although Inabi had anticipated it, he still fell silent.
Setsuna was his last living relative.
"Hmph, what are you thinking, brat? It would be easiest for me to just die, but you will have to bear everything from now on!"
Setsuna snorted coldly, then extended his arm, forcibly gouging into his own eye sockets.
Splurt!
"Inabi."
Setsuna's expression turned serious, his empty eye sockets looking towards Inabi: "These eyes are to be given to Ame-no-Minakanushi. Remember, eyes are always tools. Do not forget your original intention."
He had lived from the village's founding era until now, witnessing everything as an onlooker.
Witnessed the Uchiha clan's betrayal of Uchiha Madara, witnessed the Uchiha clan being led by these eyes into arrogance, extremism, and other emotions.
He understood the darkness and power these eyes carried better than the current young clansmen.
Even he himself was thrown into prison because of these eyes.
"..."
The three tomoe in Inabi's eyes spun rapidly, looking as if they were even about to fuse.
Unfortunately, in the end, they still couldn't break through that layer of shackles.
"I understand."
He remained silent for a moment, then took the pair of eyeballs from Setsuna's hand: "Old man, then I'll be leaving."
"Go, go, go! You should have left long ago!"
Setsuna waved his hand with disgust, then turned his back to him, saying no more.
Click!
Only after the footsteps behind him disappeared did Setsuna slowly turn around.
His face, hidden in shadow, was full of melancholy, and the intent of death.
"No one can extinguish the Uchiha's flame! The ninja world will surely witness the Uchiha's flames of vengeance!"
Before that, let these old bones of mine light the first fire.
...
After leaving Konoha Prison, Inabi walked back to the Konoha border on foot.
In an open space, a group of three and four-year-old children stood obediently. Beside them were Kurama Unkai and Yakushi Nonō.
"Uncle Inabi!"
Upon seeing Inabi, the children all smiled in unison.
Inabi nodded to Unkai and Nonō, receiving their nods in return.
"Children."
When he looked at the children, a smile was already on his face: "Today, let's play a ninja game."
Saying this, he then pointed towards the Konoha border.
"Under Sister Nonō's lead, whoever reaches there first, I will give a reward."
Reward?
Hearing these two words, the children showed no suspicion, their eyes instead lighting up.
Because during this time, Uncle Inabi often played games with them and would then give various rewards to the winner.
This time, it was just that two more people were leading them.
"Ready! Go!"
As Inabi gave the command as usual, Nonō and Unkai exchanged glances, then led the group of children running towards the Konoha border.
Inabi followed behind them, ensuring no one fell behind.
Simultaneously, also ensuring no pursuing soldiers would block them from behind.
No matter what, with over forty people moving together, ANBU and Root would definitely discover them.
...
At this time, inside the Uchiha clan grounds.
Some elders who had been on battlefields vaguely sensed an abnormal atmosphere.
Just didn't know what was happening, and could only attribute it to being old and overly suspicious.
In a brightly lit house, lived an elderly Uchiha couple, stooped with age.
They once also had a son and daughter-in-law who were ninja, but they sacrificed themselves on the Kirigakure battlefield during a Shinobi World War.
Now, only a grandson remained.
The old grandfather wore reading glasses, looking down at a newspaper.
However, looking up at the time, he asked somewhat puzzledly: "Old woman, why isn't little Cheng back yet today?"
Lately, little Cheng had been fooling around with that brat Inabi.
If not because Inabi's character was good and his strength not weak, he wouldn't have let his grandson spend time with that boy.
But usually by this time, he should have been back long ago.
"Aren't you reassured with that brat Inabi?"
The old grandmother, while tidying the bed, complained good-naturedly: "Instead of worrying needlessly, better give me a hand! Don't know what's wrong lately, business is getting worse and worse."
The old grandfather grumbled unwillingly: "Truly, the older you get, the more long-winded you become. Who told you to always give things away for free to those brats."
But the two were, after all, an old married couple. Though his words were harsh, the old grandfather still moved his body somewhat laboriously off the bed.
But just then.
Tap~ Tap~ Tap~
In the silent night, faint footsteps suddenly came from outside the room.
"Hmm? Who could be visiting so late?"
Though the old grandmother looked somewhat puzzled, she still patted the old man: "Go open the door and see. Is it someone needing help?"
"Alright, alright~"
Click!
The old grandfather responded impatiently, simultaneously walking to the entrance hall and opening the door.
With only a barely audible sound, the outside fell silent again.
"Old man?"
The old grandmother turned around, somewhat puzzled.
She saw a figure slowly walking towards her from the shadows of the entrance hall.
The old grandmother squinted, peering closely. Recognizing the newcomer's face, a kind and gentle smile appeared on her face again.
"Oh, it's Itachi. So late, what... huh?"
As she spoke, a glance sideways suddenly caught sight of a familiar figure collapsed by the door.
But before she could react,
She only felt a cold glint flash before her eyes.
Splurt!
A short sword plunged directly into the old grandmother's heart.
Scarlet blood splattered onto his face, making the Sharingan in Itachi's eyes appear even more evil.
(End of Chapter)
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