Outside World
"Haruto, Celebi, you saved me a lot of trouble. Thanks for your help."
Itachi opened his eyes and flew toward the two of them, gently patting their heads.
"Celebiiii!!!"
Celebi shouted joyfully in response before flying straight into the sky, dispelling all the darkness and allowing the moonlight to once again fall upon the earth.
Below on the ground, everyone quickly took deep, precious breaths and stood up in relief. Just moments ago, when Itachi was about to throw Sagittarius, they had all been forced to the ground by the sheer pressure emanating from it, making movement impossible even for elite Jōnin. All they could do was watch in terror as Itachi prepared to unleash Sagittarius.
"Big Brother..." Sasuke, who had just emerged from Kamui, looked toward Itachi curiously. "What would have happened if you had actually thrown Sagittarius?"
Hearing the question, everyone present except Haruto turned toward Itachi.
Even they wanted to know what kind of monster that weapon truly was.
"Well... do you know what Sagittarius actually is?"
"Isn't it a zodiac sign? Or maybe a constellation?" Sasuke answered after recalling information Itachi had mentioned before.
"It does have those meanings," Itachi nodded. "But Sagittarius is also the name of a black hole."
"As for what a black hole is...It's a celestial object, similar to a planet or star — except millions of times more dangerous. It devours everything around it into a singularity and can even bend space and time itself."
He then glanced toward the spear in his hand.
"This weapon could basically be considered a miniature black hole.
If I had released it here, the surrounding hundreds of kilometers would likely have been erased into oblivion. And after absorbing all the souls of everyone present, it would have evolved into a true Six Paths-level weapon."
Hearing Itachi's words, everyone felt as though they were listening to a fairy tale. Even Hashirama, the God of Shinobi, and Madara, the Asura of the world, could only affect a few nearby kilometers during their battles.
Now Itachi was saying that a single attack from him could destroy hundreds of nearby kilometers, and that was still with an incomplete weapon.
For a moment, everyone felt a chill run down their spines. Itachi had been ready to take countless lives on a moment's decision. Only now did they truly understand the side effects of the Mangekyō Sharingan.
Obito looked at Itachi with admiration. He had once thought that he himself was extreme for wanting to trap everyone inside a Genjutsu forever. Now, Itachi had been ready to kill millions, making Obito realize the true meaning of being Uchiha Itachi.
Well, Itachi had merely been under the influence of divinity. As for which benevolent deity wouldn't hesitate to kill millions without batting an eye?
Itachi had simply followed the rule of equality and death.
To the Goddess of Life, every life is equal. The life of an ant is no different from the life of a Six Paths-level individual. And whatever is born is destined to die. Under such influence, slaughtering millions of humans—other than the Uchiha—would not evoke even the slightest emotion within him.
Just as some humans in Itachi's previous life felt no empathy while pouring molten aluminum into anthills containing hundreds of thousands or even millions of ants for curiosity, research, or art, Itachi had similarly felt nothing.
However, the current Itachi has not yet fully reached the level of the Goddess of Life. To him, the Uchiha and a few relatives connected through the Ōtsutsuki bloodline are people he genuinely cares about. Beyond them, everything else is fundamentally equal in his eyes—humans, animals, dogs, or any other form of life.
"Then, Big Brother, should we head back now? And what about Sagittarius?" Sasuke asked after a moment of silence.
"For that, I might need to borrow a few things from the Land of Demons. In the meantime, how about all of you help me clear this place? Inform everyone that after half an hour, this area may become a forbidden land. If anyone is still present when I return, then they cannot blame me for their deaths."
"Okay, leave it to us," Fugaku replied with a nod.
Flying Thunder God.
"I request everyone to leave Konoha immediately, or you may have to face the consequences later."
As Itachi disappeared, Fugaku amplified his voice with chakra, allowing it to spread throughout Konoha and the nearby Forest of Death.
"Shikaku, you may have to take the lead if you wish to at least preserve the Nara Clan."
Seeing no response, Fugaku calmly looked toward a certain direction and spoke.
Bang!!
With a loud explosion, the ground split apart as Shikaku and Hiashi emerged from underground.
Earlier, after fighting Kurama, both of them had suffered severe injuries, with Shikaku no longer capable of fighting.
After seeing Hiruzen force Kurama out of the village, Hiashi had chosen not to follow. Instead, he evacuated Shikaku, Inoichi, and several injured Jōnin underground. Fortunately, this decision had saved their lives from the destruction above.
Many of Konoha's elites had also survived because they had been prepared to confront the mastermind behind the disaster, following Hiruzen's orders through the ANBU.
As a result, Konoha lost its only Kage-level shinobi, along with thousands of lower-level Genin and Chūnin.
With their current strength, they might now be considered the strongest small ninja village, just one level below the remaining Four Great Ninja Villages.
"Fugaku..."
Hiashi looked at Fugaku with a complicated expression. Just a year ago, their clans had still been competing to become the strongest ninja clan and greatest dōjutsu clan. But now, the Uchiha had surpassed the Hyūga to such an extent that Hiashi no longer saw any hope of even matching them.
"Hiashi, as fellow dōjutsu bloodline clans who share the same ancestor, you may come with us to the Land of Demons," Fugaku offered.
"Forget it. Although I am still alive, dozens of my clan members perished today. If you had made this offer earlier, things might have turned out differently... or perhaps not. Anyway, are you planning to rule the Land of Fire now?"
"Sigh, no. But I suggest that you either leave the Land of Fire or at least cede part of the territory to neighboring nations.
Also, you heard Itachi's words yourself. It would be best to leave the surrounding dozens of kilometers before it is too late."
"I will"
Hiashi answered with mixed feelings. Earlier, inside the bunker, everyone had looked at him differently. He recognized those gazes well—the same respect and awe his own clan members directed toward him.
Perhaps he might truly become the first Hyūga Hokage.
But unfortunately, this was not the Konoha he had wished for.
If I become the next Hokage, then I swear that I will definitely restore Konoha to its former glory.
After making that vow to himself, Hiashi quickly ordered the survivors from the other camps to gather together and evacuate in groups.
Seven Minutes Later
"Asuma... it's you."
Hiashi, who was finally preparing to leave Konoha alongside the surviving clan leaders and important Hyūga members, suddenly noticed Asuma struggling to stand.
However, his condition was terrible. Burn scars covered his body, and an iron rod had pierced through his stomach.
Hearing this, Fugaku looked at Asuma in surprise. Finding a surviving member of the Sarutobi Clan now is as rare as finding an Uchiha in the original timeline.
"Hiashi, the Sarutobi Clan holds a deadly grudge against the Uchiha. For the sake of Konoha, I suggest you hand Asuma over to us. Otherwise, we may have to use force."
Fugaku spoke sternly, though a faint smile remained on his lips.
Hiashi was stunned upon hearing those words. He had heard a similar sentence years ago, and he had regretted his cowardice ever since. At that time, he had vowed never to back down again, yet now it seems... he is still a coward.
"Asuma, sacrificing for Konoha is the only thing Hokage-sama taught us throughout his decades of service. If I could, I will definitely resist and fight these evil Uchiha so that no more people of Konoha would be harmed, but I understand you.
Your sacrifice will not be forgotten. Everything is for Konoha."
"Everything is for Konoha." × 6
Hearing this, Asuma, who was barely conscious, raised his bloodshot eyes and glared at Hiashi. If it were truly for Konoha, he would gladly give his life, but not to the evil Uchiha. He knew that Hiashi was merely taking revenge for his brother through him.
"Cowa—"
SPLASH!!!! CLANGGG
Asuma's head fell onto the ground along with a bloodied kunai.
A child who looked less than ten walked forward while holding Asuma's severed head. He approached Fugaku and the others before kneeling.
"Lord Uchiha, I, Hyūga Neji, abandon the Hyūga surname. I wish to join the Uchiha Clan. This is my tribute."
After saying this, the child placed the head before Fugaku's feet and bowed respectfully, waiting for a response.
"How dare you, a mere bran—"
Just as a Main Family ninja was about to curse Neji's entire lineage, Hiashi raised his hand and stopped him.
"Neji, I will not stop you. This is the letter your father left behind for you before his death. If you ever need anything, you may come to your uncle anytime."
After handing over the letter, Hiashi did not wait for a response. He simply turned around and left with the others, leaving Konoha almost completely empty.
On the other hand, Neji read the letter with tears flowing down his face, yet the resentment in his heart did not lessen much. He still did not regret his decision, nor would he in the future.
"Welcome to the Uchiha Clan, Neji. Later, I will ask Itachi to remove the Caged Bird Seal from you. Previously, Itachi lamented that your talent might be wasted within the Hyūga Clan because of the cursed seal. Do not let the Uchiha down and prove Itachi right.
Sasuke, you have met Neji before. Introduce him to Naruto and others."
"Yes"
Without responding to Fugaku, Neji silently followed Sasuke. He would prove himself through results, not words. One day, he would become as strong as Itachi so that he could avenge his father.
---
{ TENGOKU CURRENT MEMBERS
KING - UCHIHA ITACHI
QUEEN - UCHIHA NATSUKI
ROOK 1 - UCHIHA SASUKE
ROOK 2 -
BISHOP 1 - HYUGA NEJI
BISHOP 2 - UZUMAKI KARIN
KNIGHT 1-
KNIGHT 2-
PAWN 1-
PAWN 2- UZUMAKI NARUTO }