The Uchiha arrived at the Hokage Building in a grand procession, waking many residents along the way.
Seeing the situation, everyone retreated into their homes, not daring to make a sound, with only a few bolder individuals still peeking out.
The Jōnin Squad arrived quickly; many Jonin had already dispersed around the Hokage Building before the Uchiha arrived, and now they subtly formed a standoff with the Uchiha.
The Hyuga, Ino–Shika–Chō, Aburame, and Inuzuka Ninja Clans also couldn't sit idly by. Several Clan Heads led their people over, observed the scene, and exchanged silent glances.
The Uchiha were serious this time.
So, which side should they support?
On the surface, the Uchiha's chances of winning weren't high; even if they joined, the situation would at best be fifty-fifty.
But standing with the Hokage, to be honest, they weren't very willing.
Everyone had seen Danzo's actions over the years; suppressing the Uchiha, whom he disliked, was routine, and arbitrarily snatching children from Ninja Clans to join Root was commonplace, showing no regard for their opinions.
Yet, the Hokage inexplicably placed immense trust in him, providing him with people, money, and power, leaving them with unspoken grievances.
Especially the Inuzuka Clan Head, as a victim, his thoughts were even more wavering.
His granddaughter had also disappeared. When he went to the Hokage, he only received a dismissive, "Don't worry, the child won't be in danger."
He used to never care about what the Uchiha suffered, but now he truly felt their pain.
The Inuzuka Clan Head looked at Uchiha Fugaku, unconsciously hoping that he could truly be tougher and more assertive than usual, giving him the courage and hope to stand by his side.
"Fugaku!"
Minato should have been ambushed in the southeast corner, but he couldn't stay put. He left a Shadow Clone in his position, and his main body appeared before Fugaku.
"If things escalate like this, the Uchiha will have no way back!"
Fugaku gave a helpless bitter smile, looking up at the brightly lit window at the top of the building.
"The Uchiha never had a way back."
"We were forced onto this precarious path."
"Minato, stay away from here. I don't want to drag you into this."
With that, he revealed a pair of blood-red Sharingan, and his Chakra surged with menacing intensity.
Behind him, the other Uchiha also activated their Sharingan from front to back. The overflowing Chakra almost solidified, as cold as an iceberg and as scorching as lava.
Everyone immediately felt as if they were facing a formidable enemy.
"Sandaime," Fugaku no longer even added an honorific, his tone stiff, "Are you still not going to show yourself?"
"What is the meaning of this, Uchiha Clan Head?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi appeared on the rooftop with his two Advisors, looking down at everything below.
Even in this critical moment, he maintained his last shred of decorum and did not speak first; instead, Homura Mitokado behind him played dumb.
"Gathering in large numbers near the Hokage Building late at night, can this be called a rebellion?"
Hearing such a question, Fugaku sneered repeatedly: "We are only here to retrieve the missing children of our clan, and to learn the truth about how my adopted son, Uchiha Naraku, truly died."
Utatane Koharu maintained a business-like demeanor, a hint of impatience on her face.
"If the Uchiha have missing children, they should follow proper procedures to report it, not cause a disturbance like this. As for Uchiha Naraku, as long as there is conclusive evidence, there is no reason not to address it."
Fugaku had long anticipated such a bureaucratic response. In the past, he always endured, but now, he only wanted to go mad, tear apart these hypocritical individuals, and smash the entire Konoha to smithereens.
"Report to whom? To the people who abducted our clan's children?"
"I know none of you will admit it!"
"I suppose in your hearts, the Uchiha are just meat on a chopping block, to be slaughtered at will!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi finally stopped watching coldly and sternly reprimanded, "Uchiha Fugaku, mind your words!"
Before the situation truly became irreversible, he habitually tried to maintain the last bit of balance.
"Regarding the missing children, we are also very anxious. As long as you are willing to go back and wait for news, I can overlook tonight's incident."
"No!" Fugaku declared, each word ringing out clearly: "I refuse!"
...On top of a four-story building on the outskirts of Konoha.
"This is truly lively."
White Zetsu extended his right arm to his forehead, gazing towards the Hokage Building.
The vast Uchiha procession rushed out of their compound, appearing like a long dragon under the torchlight, unstoppable as it crashed forward.
"Now there's a good show to watch, Naraku, what do you say—"
White Zetsu turned to look at Naraku, but saw that the latter's eyes flickered, his breathing was rapid, his fingertips trembled, and his Chakra was in disarray. If this continued, the burden on his internal organs would increase, likely causing internal injuries.
"Naraku? What's wrong? Naraku!"
The instant it placed its hand on the other's arm, that arm, along with half of the shoulder, was sliced off by a cold gleam, falling to the ground with a thud.
"Don't touch me."
The abnormalities on Naraku's body gradually faded, returning to his original calm state, but White Zetsu always felt something was off.
It puzzledly used the Mayfly technique to sink along the wall to the ground, picked up its severed arm, and reattached it to the correct position.
The fissure quickly closed, and after clenching its fingers, there was no discomfort.
When it returned to the rooftop, it couldn't find Naraku.
"Huh?"
White Zetsu scratched its head, completely bewildered. It suddenly remembered that when Naraku spoke earlier, his tone wasn't the lively and frenzied one it usually heard, but rather gentle, calm, and imbued with a dead-still silence.
"How strange."
...Naraku sprinted along the route from his memory, while also dispatching a Shadow Clone with a few instructions to head in another direction.
The Inu Base (Dog Base) wasn't far, reaching it in a minute or two.
The guards at the base entrance and in the corridor hadn't even had time to see Naraku before their throats were cleanly slit with a ninja sword, and they fell to the ground, spilling blood.
Hatake sword techniques were exquisitely performed in his hands; the white light reflected from the blade transformed into crescent moon arcs, like the Shinigami's gleaming scythe.
By the time he reached the lowest level, the ninja sword in Naraku's hand was already covered in blood, which slid down the blade, forming a continuous bloodline with his movements.
Shisui, who had struggled several times in the secret chamber without success and was now resting to regain his strength before trying again, saw a dark red light illuminate a certain part of the wall.
The light grew brighter and brighter, seemingly about to break through the barrier, even causing the surrounding iron walls to melt and flow from the high temperature.
In an instant, a ball of flame burst through the melted iron door, creating a large hole and rushing into the room, its blazing light illuminating everyone's faces.
Shisui looked at the doorway, his eyes widening instantly.
That figure he had recalled countless times in his mind, sketched countless times, now appeared alive before him.
He couldn't help but wonder if he was dreaming, if this was all a beautiful dream born from his intense longing for the other to rescue him.
"Naraku, Senior...?"
Hearing that faint call, the person turned his head to look at him, the curve of his brows and eyes softening slightly.
"Shisui."
He heard the other's hoarse but calm voice, just as it used to be.
"I've come to save you."