"If we can sow chaos among them, we may find an opening."
The thought passed swiftly through Itachi's mind.
He shifted his stance and began weaving through the battlefield with techniques he had learned from Shuoye Uchiha. His movements grew sharper, more fluid—footwork precise, angles unpredictable.
He moved like wind cutting through branches.
The Hidden Cloud shinobi struggled to keep up.
"How is this possible…?"
The Special Jōnin at their head felt a chill.
This boy's combat instincts were refined far beyond his age.
Shock flickered across his face—
—and was replaced by killing intent.
"Kill him! Even the corpse has value!"
He barked the order, signaling the others to tighten formation.
But Itachi was already gone.
He slipped between strikes, his presence blurring at the edges of perception.
Nearby, Sasuke held his kunai, ready to reinforce.
The battle shifted in a heartbeat.
As Sasuke turned—
Several figures lunged from the trees, sealing his retreat.
Their target had changed.
Predatory eyes locked onto him.
"Sasuke!"
Itachi's voice cut across the clearing.
Too late.
The Hidden Cloud shinobi surged forward.
Pressure mounted around Sasuke from all sides.
His heartbeat thundered in his ears.
The world narrowed.
He gritted his teeth.
He would not fall.
Not here.
Not in front of his brother.
—
Itachi's gaze hardened.
A single thought burned clear.
I will not let him be harmed.
The air seemed to thicken.
His pupils deepened.
Scarlet light flared.
The pattern in his eyes twisted—
Mangekyō Sharingan.
It opened without hesitation.
The world slowed.
Details sharpened.
Intent became visible.
"Die."
His voice was barely above a whisper.
His gaze locked onto the Special Jōnin.
The red light surged—
—and pierced straight through the man's mind.
The shinobi stiffened.
His eyes lost focus.
Sweat poured down his temple.
"You… what did you…?"
His knees buckled.
He had fallen into genjutsu.
A suffocating illusion swallowed his senses whole.
The others faltered as well, their coordination collapsing.
Without command—
They were scattered pieces on a broken board.
Itachi moved.
The slaughter began.
—
Moments later, the forest fell silent.
The metallic scent of blood lingered.
One of the Uchiha youths spoke hesitantly.
"What do we do with them?"
Itachi's gaze passed over the fallen bodies.
Twisted faces.
Unfinished hatred.
He answered calmly.
"We report to Clan Head Shuoye Uchiha. He will handle it."
There was no doubt in his tone.
Shuoye had dealt with matters far more complicated than this.
—
Elsewhere—
In another corner of the Hidden Leaf—
Hyūga Hiashi stood rigid.
Several Hidden Cloud shinobi lay lifeless before him.
One corpse remained grotesquely posed—an outstretched hand reaching toward Hinata.
Though dead, its expression still carried malice.
Hiashi's fists tightened.
This was no coincidence.
The Hidden Cloud had not acted impulsively.
It was a calculated move.
And he could not ignore the memory of Shuoye's warning.
Strengthen defenses.
Remain vigilant.
He had dismissed it.
Now—
The cost was visible.
"This… is troublesome."
He looked toward the approaching chakra signatures in the distance.
More enemies were coming.
—
Inside the Hokage Tower—
The air felt suffocating.
Hiruzen Sarutobi sat in silence, his face heavy with strain.
Across from him, the Hidden Cloud envoy raged.
"Our shinobi were attacked within your territory! Some are gravely wounded, others missing. We demand accountability!"
Spittle nearly struck Danzō Shimura's face.
Hiruzen's patience thinned.
"We granted you access for negotiation—not to spread accusations."
But the envoy only laughed coldly.
"Think carefully, Hokage."
"If this matter does not satisfy us—"
"War continues."
He turned sharply and left.
The chamber felt emptier.
Heavier.
Koharu Utatane exchanged glances with the others.
The situation was deteriorating rapidly.
"We cannot afford to fracture relations with the Hidden Cloud," she said at last.
A pause.
Then—
"Shift the responsibility."
Her gaze flicked toward Danzō.
"Let the blame fall on the Uchiha."
"Make Shuoye Uchiha pay the price."
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