The Hidden Leaf Village was now nothing more than a field of ruins.
In the very center of the massive crater, a wooden door materialized out of thin air.
With a heavy clatter, the door swung open, and a group of figures stepped out.
Dressed in the traditional attire of the Uchiha clan, their crimson Sharingan glowed with solemn intensity.
These were the members of the Uchiha clan who had crossed over from the Soul Society.
They were the vanguard sent by Ren.
As the group stepped through the Senkaimon and beheld the scene before them, they were collectively stunned.
"Where is this... Didn't Shisui say the coordinates were set for Konoha?"
"Wait, look! The Hokage Rock! This is Konoha!"
"How did it end up like this? Was it Clan Head Fugaku or Shisui who did this?"
While the Uchiha were discussing, Shisui's voice rang out.
"The coordinates are correct. This is indeed Konoha."
Shisui's figure flickered into view from the side.
Seeing the confusion on his kinsmen's faces, Shisui slowly began to explain the events that had transpired.
These Uchiha were elites of the Onmitsukidō; they had previously reviewed the documents sent by Fugaku and possessed a basic understanding of Uzumaki Naruto and the Akatsuki organization mentioned by Shisui.
After hearing Shisui's explanation, the group finally understood.
"So, this level of destruction was caused by that Rinnegan user's ninjutsu!"
Tekka's face was full of astonishment.
It was difficult to imagine that ninjutsu could possess such terrifying destructive power.
And it was the legendary Rinnegan, no less.
"To be able to resurrect the dead... what an incredible ability."
"And who is this ninja named Uzumaki Naruto? To think he could defeat the Rinnegan."
"I remember now. Isn't that the Demon Fox brat from the village?"
Faced with the dilapidated village, everyone's expressions became complicated.
Although the clan had been wiped out by the village and Itachi, this place was still their ancestral home.
Seeing their home reduced to such a state, far from its former glory, it was impossible for them to feel nothing.
As an elder of the Uchiha clan, Uchiha Setsuna was also part of this expedition.
Having been the most radical member during his life, even he couldn't help but sigh at the sight of the village's ruin.
After all, he had played a part in the founding of this village.
After his moment of reflection, he turned to Shisui.
"After using a technique to resurrect the dead, that Rinnegan user must not have met a good end."
Shisui nodded. "He is dead. I have already collected his soul."
As he spoke, Shisui produced two orbs; two souls were slumbering within them.
One contained a withered, red-haired man, while the other held a silver-haired ninja whose face and one eye were covered by a mask, wearing a Konoha forehead protector.
"The Copy Ninja of Konoha died during the upheaval. I collected his soul as well."
"Hmph. Since he possessed our clan's Sharingan, I suppose he's finally returned to our side."
Setsuna nodded and then asked, "Where is Fugaku?"
"He went to track down the masked man."
Just as Shisui finished speaking, Uchiha Fugaku's voice rang out.
"I have returned."
Fugaku flickered into existence before the crowd.
He surveyed the tragic state of Konoha, his expression shifting slightly before he composed himself.
"What was the result?" Shisui asked.
"I have located the masked man's base."
"And the man? You couldn't deal with him, Clan Head?" Shisui frowned.
Fugaku shook his head slightly.
"He is just a ninja. Even with space-time ninjutsu, killing him would be no trouble at all."
"However... I seem to understand his motives now. I believe leaving him be is more beneficial to us."
"How so?" Setsuna asked.
"He seems intent on sparking a great war across the Shinobi World."
Fugaku's words immediately caused the eyes of the crowd to light up.
Once war broke out, the powerhouses of the various hidden villages would be drawn in, and ninjas would die every single moment.
From their perspective, this was indeed advantageous for their mission.
Although they were cautioned against interfering with the living unnecessarily, a war breaking out between the living was a different matter entirely.
As for whether the masked man was a match for the villages...
He had been hiding in the shadows for years and had even collected several Tailed Beasts. He had accumulated enough power to challenge the great villages.
Shisui suddenly asked, "What about Sasuke? How is he?"
"When I found him, he had already awakened the Mangekyo due to Itachi's death."
At the mention of Sasuke, Fugaku thought of the deceased Itachi. For a moment, he didn't know whether to feel joy or sorrow.
The Uchiha Sharingan was their strength and pride, but it was also the source of their clan's curse.
"Sasuke awakened the Mangekyo as well?"
"Fugaku, it seems your bloodline is truly exceptional. For both of your sons to show such potential."
Setsuna smiled.
The Uchiha behind them began to whisper among themselves.
Although they were already dead, their clan pride remained.
Hearing that another pair of Mangekyo had awakened made them feel a sense of shared glory.
"Where is Sasuke now?" Shisui asked.
Fugaku sighed. "He learned the truth about Itachi and the village from the masked man. He wants revenge on Konoha."
"Revenge?"
Setsuna chuckled, looking at the ninjas busy in the ruins. A look of eagerness flashed in his eyes.
"It seems his goals align with ours."
He looked at Shisui and raised an eyebrow.
"Shisui, you said everyone in the village, except for Kakashi, was resurrected by the Rinnegan, correct?"
"Yes."
"Heh, good. Uchiha's debts should be collected by our own hands. There's no reason to let others do it for us."
"That was my intention as well."
Shisui's decision to let Nagato resurrect the villagers had been influenced by this exact thought.
Fugaku's brow furrowed slightly.
"However, we must be careful. Do not slaughter the innocent on this trip, or we will incur the Lord's displeasure."
"We understand that much," Setsuna said, turning to the group behind him.
"Don your Gigai. Now is the time for our vengeance."
The civilians and ninjas of Konoha, excluding those clearing the rubble, were temporarily settled in a clearing above the Hokage Rock.
By the time the Uchiha group arrived, they saw a sea of tents forming a makeshift camp.
Shisui had already mapped out the locations of the Uchiha clan's enemies.
"The Third Hokage is dead, but we cannot let his soul go."
"I have the locations of the two advisors."
"Where is that bastard Danzo?"
Noticing the clan's confusion, Shisui explained, "While Tsunade was unconscious, Danzo took the opportunity to seize power and become the Hokage."
"The Raikage called for a Five Kage Summit, and Danzo has already departed for it."
"I placed a mark on him. His location is firmly within my grasp."
Setsuna paused. "A Five Kage Summit? Why did the Raikage call for one?"
Fugaku sighed at the mention of this. "Sasuke helped the Akatsuki capture the Eight-Tails. The Raikage is naturally furious over the loss of his brother."
"This summit was likely called because of Sasuke's actions."
Setsuna snorted. "Those Cloud barbarians are no match for the Mangekyo."
The Mangekyo was the ultimate power of the Uchiha clan; in their minds, it was synonymous with invincibility.
Setsuna in particular, having witnessed Uchiha Madara's might, had a blind confidence in those eyes.
"One would hope," Fugaku added.
After Shisui shared the locations, the group immediately split up. They wore masks, but the Sharingan glowing beneath them radiated an ominous aura.
Originally, the Uchiha had wanted to charge in openly.
However, considering they were dead men, appearing suddenly might disrupt future plans. After much deliberation, they chose to wear masks.
This allowed them to take their revenge personally before the eyes of Konoha while revealing their Uchiha identity without exposing their true state of existence.
Who could have imagined that these dead men had returned to the Shinobi World as spirits?
Konoha was still reeling from Pain's assault. Even if the dead had been resurrected, their spirits were broken.
They were no match for the sudden arrival of the Uchiha.
Even though these Uchiha were using Gigai and could not exert their full power, it didn't matter.
Chaos erupted in the camp as the Uchiha invaded.
The people of Konoha had no chance to resist the sudden onslaught.
Unfortunately for Konoha, its strongest fighters were not in the village.
Danzo was gone; Kakashi had not been resurrected.
The Hokage, Tsunade, was in a deep coma after exhausting her chakra to protect the villagers during the battle with Pain.
Uzumaki Naruto, the hero who defeated Pain, and his companions had also left to deal with the Sasuke situation.
The entire village was in a state of unprecedented vulnerability.
Even when they finally reacted and tried to organize a defense, the Uchiha tore through them with ease.
Slaughter had returned to Konoha once more.
Shisui watched the battle in the camp, his eyes flickering. His face remained expressionless, but his heart was a whirlwind of emotions.
Beside him, Fugaku asked, "Shisui, aren't you going?"
"Aren't you staying behind as well, Clan Head?"
"It was the village we protected in life. Let the others have their fun."
"Yes... after all, it was the village."
The two did not have to wait long. Soon, the squad led by Tekka and Inabi emerged from the camp, blood dripping from their blades.
"That old man Mitokado Homura was stubborn to the end, even trying to take us with him."
As Tekka spoke, he handed several orbs to Fugaku.
"Every member of the Mitokado family is inside."
"The same goes for that old woman Utatane Koharu and her family, as well as Hiruzen Sarutobi's kin."
Inabi handed two more orbs to Fugaku.
Fugaku looked at the three orbs; several souls were slumbering in each.
Shisui's brow furrowed in dissatisfaction, but he said nothing.
By now, the Konoha camp was in a state of absolute panic.
After waiting on the Hokage Rock for a while longer, Setsuna returned with the majority of the force to rendezvous with Shisui and the others.
"Exhilarating! Truly exhilarating! The Shimura clan has been wiped out."
"The Root organization has been slaughtered to the last man."
"Fugaku, here. These are their souls."
Fugaku took two orbs from Setsuna. One contained only a few individuals—likely the meager remains of the Shimura clan's main branch.
The other was packed tight with souls; these were surely the members of Root.
"The people are dead. How do we handle these souls?"
Setsuna looked confused by Fugaku's question. "Haven't we already settled this?"
"Aside from the culprits directly responsible for our clan's destruction, who must be punished severely, their families will be cast into the Soul Society to fend for themselves, just as we were."
Fugaku pocketed most of the orbs, leaving the one packed with Root members in his palm.
"I'm asking about these Root ninjas."
"What are you planning?"
"These subordinates of Danzo are emotionless ninjas. They might be worth keeping."
The Uchiha didn't raise any objections to Fugaku's plan.
The Root ninjas had been trained by Danzo to be nothing more than tools.
Torturing their souls would yield little satisfaction, as they felt nothing.
To a tool, it made no difference who the master was.
Moreover, these tools had already paid for their actions with their lives.
"Next is Danzo!"
"Shisui, give us Danzo's location."
Shisui nodded, then suddenly added, "Right, one more thing."
"What?"
"Has Jiraiya's soul been collected yet?"
"It hasn't."
Fugaku looked around and spotted Uchiha Yashiro.
"Yashiro, go to the Hidden Rain Village and collect Jiraiya's soul. He is marked with my Kido, so he should be easy to find."
"Understood."
Just as Yashiro was about to leave, Shisui called out.
"I followed the Rinnegan user's dying wish and left his body to his companion. She should have taken him back to the Rain Village by now."
"Given it's the Rinnegan, the masked man will surely be after it."
"The Rinnegan's companion is no match for him. If you encounter her, collect her soul as well. She's a capable one."
Yashiro nodded and vanished in a flicker of movement.
Fugaku stood in pensive silence, staring off into the distance.
Setsuna noticed his expression. "Fugaku, what is it now?"
"No, it's nothing."
After a pause, Fugaku voiced the thought he had just had.
"Now that Danzo's movements are in the open, I suspect... Sasuke will go after him the moment he finds out."
"And your point is?"
"We leave Danzo's life to Sasuke. Let him have his revenge," Fugaku said. "We will take Danzo's soul back to the Soul Society to deal with ourselves."
Setsuna nodded slowly. "Very well."
"Sasuke is an Uchiha, and a Mangekyo holder at that."
"We have had our revenge. We can leave that piece of trash Danzo to him."
"Consider it a way to satisfy his heart."
The other Uchiha agreed to the proposal.
"My thanks." Fugaku bowed deeply to his kinsmen.
At the mention of Sasuke, Setsuna's eyes lit up as if he had remembered something. "Fugaku, Itachi was killed by Sasuke. What about his body... no, his Mangekyo?"
Fugaku lowered his gaze.
"I have secured Itachi's body. Why do you ask, Elder?"
"It's good that you kept it."
Hearing the faint hostility in Fugaku's voice, Setsuna was taken aback.
"What? You don't know?"
"Know what?"
A look of realization dawned on Setsuna's face. "I suppose it makes sense."
"You kept your Mangekyo a complete secret while you were alive. Neither I nor Kakkaku knew, so we never told you."
"And Shisui had no siblings, so knowing wouldn't have mattered for him."
Fugaku's confusion deepened. Even Shisui looked puzzled by Setsuna's words.
"Elder Setsuna, what on earth are you talking about?"
"I am talking about the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan—the eyes that never lose their light."
The image of a wild, arrogant figure flashed through Setsuna's mind, and his voice trembled slightly.
"Just like Madara back then. By transplanting the Mangekyo of his younger brother, Izuna, he obtained the Eternal Eyes."
"Sasuke has already awakened his own Mangekyo. If he transplants Itachi's eyes, he will obtain eyes just like Madara's."
"Infinite ocular power, no degradation, and no blindness. The supreme eyes of our Uchiha clan!"
"I never imagined I would live to see those eyes again."
"Even if I'm already dead."
[Reviews - Power St0nes - Comments are highly appreciated to keep me going.....(+50 chapters) patre0n.c0m/talecrafter]