CH - 234 Uchiha Clan's preparation
"Attention, everyone! Let's maintain order and move quickly. Please form a line and refrain from making loud noises."
"Kindly remember to offer seats to those in need, including the elderly, disabled, pregnant, and individuals carrying infants. Your cooperation is appreciated."
With a megaphone in hand, Akihiko surveyed the Uchiha clan members before him. Despite their evident confusion, they remained composed and quiet, a testament to Clan Leader Fugaku's prior explanations.
Though curious children sought answers from their mothers and grandmothers, their inquiries did not incite panic. Under the calming presence of the clan leader's wife, everyone followed instructions, gradually transitioning into the Kamui dimension.
Except for Mikoto and her son, Obito escorted all other Uchiha clan members.
At that moment, Uchiha Mikoto approached Akihiko, her expression weary yet tinged with a sense of resignation. Beside her stood a child, who exuded an air of defiance mixed with subdued anger, though he remained silent. With a faint, bitter smile, she addressed Akihiko, "Grass Village Leader."
As the wife of the clan leader, Mikoto was likely aware of Fugaku's intentions. Before their departure, Fugaku had entrusted her with the care of Sasuke, their youngest son. He had cryptically assured her not to worry, mentioning that she would reunite with a friend in Grass Village. However, Fugaku remained tight-lipped about the identity of this friend, merely shaking his head in response to Mikoto's inquiries.
Yet, he had suggested that in times of need, she could seek assistance from this mysterious friend, or from Obito and the Grass Village leader. Intrigued by the latter, Mikoto couldn't help but wonder about the enigmatic figure at the helm of Grass Village.
Who wouldn't be curious? Over the years, Grass Village had inflicted significant losses on Konoha, and their leader was often compared to the First Hokage. Moreover, his compassionate actions, such as welcoming wandering ninjas and protecting Naruto, had earned him praise for his empathy and understanding. However, having retired from the life of a ninja, Mikoto no longer followed the intricacies of the shinobi world closely, knowing only snippets about the Grass Village leader.
As the Uchiha clan departed from Konoha and headed towards the Grass Village, Mikoto couldn't help but wonder what awaited them next. She had heard positive reports about Obito and Naruto's experiences in the Grass Village, and now she hoped that Sasuke would find acceptance there as well.
Reflecting on the downfall of both the Fourth Hokage's family and now their Uchiha clan, Mikoto couldn't help but sigh. It had only been two days since the publication of that damning newspaper article, yet the Uchiha had already plummeted so far. Despite this, she harbored no resentment towards the Grass Village leader. As the wife of the clan leader, she was intimately acquainted with the Uchiha's circumstances. Her only lamentation was regarding Itachi. How had their once-promising son succumbed to such darkness?
"Forgive him, Leader," she murmured, gently patting Sasuke's back as she observed the anger etched on his face. "Although Sasuke is still filled with anger, but please rest assured, I will guide him and help him understand."
Thankfully, Sasuke remained by her side. Without him, Mikoto felt she would have no purpose to endure. Regardless of the challenges they faced, she vowed to nurture and protect Sasuke with all her strength.
"It's alright, he's just a child. I completely understand," Akihiko reassured Mikoto with a warm smile as she approached, her expression heavy with concern. With a gentle motion, he reached out and affectionately ruffled Sasuke's hair.
Despite Sasuke's attempts to evade his touch, there was no escaping Akihiko's playful gesture.
"What an adorable child," Akihiko remarked with a grin. "This kid... seems to possess remarkable potential for learning."
As Akihiko's words resonated in the air, Obito, standing nearby, couldn't help but roll his eyes. It was a familiar phrase, one Akihiko always used when encountering children.
Yet, as he observed Sasuke, a mixture of pride and fury in the boy's demeanor, Obito's inner smile flickered with a touch of melancholy for reasons he couldn't quite grasp.
For some reason, Uchiha Itachi, the prodigy of the Uchiha clan, flashed across his mind. Joining the battlefield at the tender age of four, hailed by the Third Hokage for possessing the wisdom of a Hokage at five—Itachi was esteemed highly. But wasn't that essentially manipulating and indoctrinating young minds? Obito pondered, his thoughts drifting to the cunning strategies and counter-strategies he had learned during his time in the Grass Village. He wasn't the same naive Obito from years ago who had never cracked open a book. He had become well-versed in the art of deception and counter-deception.
Indeed, knowledge truly was power. With a smile mirroring Akihiko's, Obito playfully tousled Sasuke's hair, employing what he dubbed the "Kamui Headpat Technique." Sasuke's attempts to evade it were futile.
"Absolutely," Obito chimed in, his voice brimming with confidence. "This kid... has a clear passion for knowledge. He is clearly destined for greatness. With his thirst for knowledge, he's bound to become a pillar of strength for the Uchiha clan in the years to come."
"Hehe~" "Heh heh~" The unsettling smiles on Obito and Akihiko's faces sent an unexpected chill down Sasuke's spine. Why did they seem so ominous all of a sudden? And what was with the excessive head-patting?
Meanwhile, Mikoto's expression softened at the words of gratitude from Akihiko and Obito. With a serene smile, she nodded in acknowledgment. "Thank you, Grass Leader, and... Clan Leader."
But before Mikoto could finish her sentence, a sudden light enveloped them, casting a tense atmosphere over the group. "A barrier!"
Akihiko's demeanor shifted instantly to seriousness as he directed Mikoto to take Sasuke and leave. "Time is of the essence, Mrs. Mikoto. Please take Sasuke and depart.""
Understanding the urgency, Mikoto wasted no time. With a final glance at the familiar surroundings, she hurriedly guided the now strangely calm Sasuke into the empty space. However, as she stepped through, a pang of bitterness crept back into her expression. Where would the fate of the Uchiha clan lead from here?
After Mikoto and her son had safely entered the empty space, Obito turned to Akihiko with a furrowed brow. "Should we leave too?"
"Boom! Boom! Boom!" But before Akihiko could respond, a deafening series of explosions echoed through the Uchiha clan's territory, causing the ground to shake violently and countless houses to collapse in a matter of moments.
Akihiko and Obito exchanged a knowing glance, their expressions grim. They looked up simultaneously, only to behold two towering entities materializing before them. Was that... Susanoo?
…
"This... Is this the power of gods?" The sight of the sudden appearance of two colossal beings left the surrounding Konoha ninjas in shock. Witnessing the overwhelming presence, many of them trembled uncontrollably.
Uchiha Madara's reputation as a rival to the First Hokage seemed more than justified now. The sheer magnitude of power displayed was beyond the comprehension of ordinary ninjas. It seemed that only the gods of the ninja world could match such might. Who could have imagined that the Uchiha clan possessed not just one, but two pairs of such Mangekyo Sharingan? They were facing formidable adversaries indeed.
"Calm down!" Kakashi, now serving as the temporary commander of the Anbu, shouted with authority to rally his bewildered comrades. Having once wielded the Mangekyo Sharingan himself, he understood the dread that accompanied its power. Yet, the sight of multiple awakenings within the Uchiha clan also left him deeply troubled.
Despite the astonishment, duty called. They had a mission to fulfill: sealing off the area immediately. Allowing such formidable power to roam free posed an immense threat to the village, akin to the Nine-Tails Incident.
"Maintain the barrier! Inform Hokage-sama and ensure Lord Danzo's rescue!" Kakashi issued swift orders, his gaze unwavering as it fell upon the colossal beings. "Shisui, it's up to you now."
At that moment, the colossal beings, locked in a standoff, stirred once more…