**Chapter 70: The Curse of the Uchiha**

"Danzo! Has Konoha's casualty report been compiled yet?"

Inside Konoha, a temporary tent had been set up beside the original site of the Hokage Tower. Sarutobi Hiruzen sat inside, dealing with numerous documents, his face etched with worry.

Who wouldn't be worried? Overnight, Konoha had been thrown back to the state it was in before the village was founded.

"Konoha's buildings have suffered 70% destruction. Some civilians didn't evacuate in time, and around 2,000 have died. Another 3,000 are seriously injured, and 7,000 sustained minor injuries."

"Konoha Hospital is overwhelmed, and medical-nin are running out. Some of the critically injured aren't getting help in time, and more people are dying by the minute."

"By the way, the death and injury counts don't include members of the four noble clans," Danzo reported calmly, standing in front of Hiruzen. There was no need for pretense between the two of them. They spoke plainly.

Hiruzen didn't usually put on airs of false humility either.

The losses were minimal compared to what they could have been, thanks to their preparations. The majority of civilians had been evacuated ahead of time, which prevented the death toll from being even more catastrophic.

"And…"

Hiruzen hesitated for a moment, then picked up his pipe and began smoking.

"The Sarutobi clan lost around 700 people, mostly the elderly, women, and children who couldn't evacuate in time. The Shimura clan lost 50, and the other two clans lost about 300 each."

Danzo let out a scoff.

It wasn't that the Shimura clan was quicker to evacuate, but because Danzo, as the head of Konoha's Root division, had been using up his clan's manpower with reckless abandon. Anyone with even a hint of talent had been sent to Root. The Shimura clan had essentially become the village's underbelly.

That only 50 Shimura clan members had perished was because there were hardly more than that many left.

While others in power used their position to enrich their clans, Danzo had been burning his own clan for the sake of Konoha. The Shimura clan was starving while being milked dry for others' benefit. In the end, Danzo's sacrifices had mainly helped elevate the Sarutobi clan.

Danzo's plan was simple: when he came to power, the Sarutobi clan would face severe cuts. In his vision for the future, there would be no more clan privileges in Konoha—there would only be Konoha shinobi.

"And what about the other clans?" Hiruzen's face remained expressionless, showing no reaction to the loss of 700 members of his own clan.

"All the clans have suffered some losses. But the biggest issue is that many of them have lost their clan heads. They're leaderless, and Konoha has never been in such chaos."

Danzo had already gathered information on the other clans' situations. This was Konoha's most tumultuous period.

But Konoha had a strong foundation. Right after the Nine-Tails incident, Hiruzen had dispatched 20,000 shinobi to secure the borders of the Land of Fire, with Jiraiya at the forefront to suppress any would-be aggressors.

Despite their strength, the other Great Nations were still eyeing Konoha, probing for weaknesses.

Hiruzen, however, was too preoccupied to worry about external threats right now.

"I see. Konoha's losses are heavy this time. Go and solicit donations from the clans. They'll need to contribute more to help rebuild the village."

"Root and ANBU have both suffered significant casualties as well, and their ranks need replenishing. You should assist in resolving the unrest and help the clans elect new heads."

"I heard the remaining members of the Kurama clan were captured by Reijin. It seems the Kurama clan won't be returning."

Hiruzen tapped his pipe thoughtfully. Konoha was beginning to feel like Hiruzen's domain, a place where he dictated the fates of the other clans without allowing for any opposition.

"Understood," Danzo replied, glancing coldly at Hiruzen.

*What a hypocrite!* Danzo thought to himself. He was sucking the lifeblood from the clans, using this opportunity to seize control of their leadership and absorb the Kurama clan's assets.

*He really knows how to strike when it counts.*

But Danzo had no objections. In his view, Hiruzen was doing exactly what needed to be done.

At this point, we need to draw blood from these families to make up for the losses.

"How's the investigation on the Uchiha clan going? Any leads on Uchiha Reijin?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen's gaze became sharp.

This entire mess was caused by the Uchiha.

That's why Konoha is in such chaos.

If Reijin isn't captured, skinned, and torn apart, he won't rest in peace, even in death.

"Hmph! We can't find him! That group vanished like they were wiped off the face of the earth."

"Ninety percent of the remaining Uchiha are dead."

"Only Uchiha Fugaku and two others were lucky enough to escape."

"But I'll bring them back."

"By the way, Hiruzen..."

Danzo suddenly paused, his face turning a bit strange.

"What is it?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen frowned slightly, not understanding why Danzo was giving him such a peculiar look.

"Tsunade's disappearance seems to be connected to Reijin as well."

Danzo knew Sarutobi Hiruzen had been searching for Tsunade. The village was severely damaged, and they had lost several key combatants.

Now they had no choice but to call back the legendary Sannin from their travels to defend Konoha.

But...

Tsunade had been kidnapped by Reijin too.

Now only Jiraiya was left holding down one battlefield.

But!

Konoha had four enemies.

"Damn Uchiha!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen slammed the table in rage.

The general was kidnapped!

And not just that—their strategist, their scouts, even their communications team—all gone.

Even Konoha's Ichiraku Ramen shop had been taken.

Was this Uchiha mad?

Dammit.

Now Konoha only had soldiers left.

Was he supposed to personally go to the battlefield?

...

Within two days, ten families had moved out from around Reijin's villa.

Some people didn't hesitate, taking their money and leaving right away.

Konoha's prominent families each chose a residence, while the Flying Thunder God squad and Kakashi's group, brought by Reijin, made do in one of the houses.

As for the Uchiha, all the jonin had been summoned and stationed around his villa.

Every day, the group left early and returned late, surveying the city.

Reijin, however, had set his sights on a maid from the Donquixote family.

A maid might not seem like anyone special, but every member of the Donquixote family had a "family" label on them.

"Can you lend me 100,000 berries?"

A ragged man, barely waist-high, with a big toothy grin and a face full of strange pimples, cornered the maid with a pleading tone.

"Huh? You need me? 100,000 berries? When do you need it?"

BABY-5 touched her face, feeling that the man before her was a bit ugly, but she couldn't refuse the feeling of being needed.

"I need it now. I can't afford food anymore."

"Oh, and... will you marry me afterward?"

The homeless man's face lit up with a sleazy smile, his eyes roaming over BABY-5 like he was admiring a work of art.

"Marry you? No problem!"

BABY-5 agreed without a second thought, a happy smile spreading across her young face.

*Boom!*

Suddenly, a foot stomped down from above.

The homeless man was crushed into the ground, his body compressed into a small mass, blood spurting from his face.

"What do you think you're doing to this lady?"

Reijin stepped on the man's face with disgust, as if he had stepped in something filthy.

"Huh, my fiancé..."

BABY-5 was stunned, her fiancé now pressed tightly into the ground.

(End of Chapter)