"Young Clan Head, we have news."
"Clansmen have found traces of the Kumogakure ninjas and the Third Young Master in the back mountains."
"One of the Kumogakure ninjas was captured, but the rest managed to escape with the Third Young Master, escorted by reinforcements from their village."
At the Uchiha clan compound, Jie Uchiha suddenly opened his eyes upon hearing the clansman's report.
"So they've been found," he stated. "Bring all the Kumogakure ninjas to the Uchiha compound."
"Recall all clansmen. Dispatch every Uchiha Jonin and surround Root. Without my explicit orders, no one is allowed in or out." Jie's eyes narrowed coldly. "Kill anyone who disobeys!"
Jie Uchiha issued the series of orders in rapid succession. Without even waiting for the messenger to react, his figure instantly vanished from the spot.
"Surround Root?" Fugaku Uchiha, standing nearby, was startled upon hearing Jie's commands. "Could the village be involved in Sasuke's disappearance?"
But thinking about everything that had happened tonight, the more Fugaku pondered it, the more plausible it seemed.
Tonight, he had been kept at the Konoha Military Police Force headquarters due to a sudden, highly irregular mission assigned by the village. Meanwhile, Mikoto Uchiha had been unexpectedly invited out by the wives of other clan heads, similarly drawing her away from the compound. Even Itachi, who was usually inseparable from Sasuke, was absent, having been invited out by Shisui Uchiha.
Under this bizarre series of coincidences, the massive Uchiha Clan Head's estate was left completely undefended, with only four-year-old Sasuke inside.
And exactly tonight, an explosion just happened to occur outside the compound, creating the perfect diversion for Kumogakure ninjas to infiltrate and abduct his son.
With so many convenient coincidences piling up, Fugaku wouldn't believe it if someone told him there wasn't foul play involved.
'Hiruzen Sarutobi, Danzo Shimura... you've really crossed the line this time,' Fugaku thought bitterly.
Letting out a low growl, Fugaku quickly changed into his combat uniform. He personally rallied the remaining elite ninjas of the Uchiha clan and rushed at full speed toward the Root base.
"What exactly is the Uchiha clan trying to do? Locking down their compound, locking down the village, and now they've captured everyone in the Kumogakure delegation. Are they trying to rebel?!"
Smack!
Hiruzen Sarutobi slammed his hand hard against his desk, his eyes burning with fierce anger.
"I heard that Kumogakure ninjas kidnapped Clan Head Fugaku's youngest son. Right now, the Uchiha clan is tearing the village apart searching for the remaining operatives," Shikaku Nara explained, his brow furrowed as he read over the intelligence report in his hand.
"What?" Hiruzen's pupils shrank instantly, suddenly recalling what Danzo had told him not long ago.
'Could the true goal of the Kumogakure delegation really be the Uchiha clan's bloodline?' he wondered.
"Impossible," Hiruzen denied flatly. "The Kumogakure delegation has been under strict Anbu surveillance this entire time. How could they possibly infiltrate the Uchiha compound and kidnap Sasuke Uchiha?"
"Lord Hokage, the Head of the Hyuga clan requests an audience," an Anbu operative suddenly reported from outside the door.
However, before Hiruzen could even grant permission, the office door burst open. Having his office trespassed upon, Hiruzen's expression instantly darkened.
"Hiashi, what is the matter at this late hour?" Hiruzen asked in a deep, warning tone.
"Lord Third, my daughter is missing." The veins on Hiashi Hyuga's forehead throbbed wildly. Forcibly suppressing the raging inferno in his heart, he spoke in an icy voice. "Therefore, I request that you lock down the village."
"Hiashi, your daughter is missing too?" Shikaku asked, his face full of surprise.
"Too?" Hiashi turned sharply upon hearing Shikaku's words. "Shikaku, what do you mean?"
"Fugaku Uchiha sent word that his youngest son is also missing. He suspects Kumogakure is behind it and has already initiated a lockdown of the entire village," Shikaku stated directly, as the situation was far past being classified.
"No wonder I ran into so many Uchiha clansmen on my way to the Hokage building," Hiashi muttered. "Those Kumogakure ninjas... they really were up to no good."
Hearing that Kumogakure ninjas had likely kidnapped his daughter, Hiashi could no longer suppress his fury.
Smack!
He instinctively struck out a palm, instantly snapping the solid wood desk in front of Hiruzen in two.
Hiruzen, whose expression was already grim, turned as black as pitch. He had just confidently declared that the Kumogakure ninjas were entirely under Anbu surveillance, and a second later, the Hyuga Clan Head burst in to report that the Main House's heir was also missing.
And the culprits were undoubtedly the very same Kumogakure ninjas. How was Hiruzen supposed to save face after this?
"Is it possible that it wasn't Kumogakure, but rather spies from another village trying to frame them?" Hiruzen asked in a low voice, desperately trying to adjust his mood and regain control of the narrative.
As Hiashi and Shikaku analyzed the plausibility of Hiruzen's theory, another Anbu suddenly appeared with an urgent report.
"Reporting to Lord Hokage! The Uchiha clan has captured a fleeing Kumogakure ninja in the back mountains of Konoha!" the operative announced. "It is now confirmed beyond a doubt that the disappearance of the Uchiha's young master was Kumogakure's doing. Furthermore, traces of Clan Head Hyuga's daughter have also been discovered at the scene!"
Hearing the Anbu's words, Hiruzen glared viciously at the kneeling subordinate. Of all the times for this intelligence to arrive, it had to be exactly when he was trying to shift the blame away from Kumogakure to save his own skin.
However, with Shikaku and Hiashi standing right there, Hiruzen couldn't afford to lose his temper.
Taking a few deep breaths to compose himself, Hiruzen was just about to ask if they had caught the rest of the Kumogakure infiltrators when suddenly, yet another Anbu barged frantically into the ruined office.
"Reporting to Lord Hokage! Fugaku Uchiha, Head of the Uchiha clan, has led his elite forces and completely surrounded the former Root base!"
"What?!"
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