Chapter 126: Open and Aboveboard! (1)

In the Hokage's office.

The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, suddenly felt his heart race.

A strong sense of unease swirled within him.

"What's going on?"

Instinctively, he stood up, took a few deep breaths, and tried to calm himself.

But that feeling of dread clung to him like a shadow.

He walked to the window and looked outside.

The village was peaceful and quiet.

He lifted his head, gazing at the Hokage Rock in the distance.

The faces of four Hokages were carved there, watching over and protecting Konoha.

Including his own.

"Hah…"

Hiruzen let out a long sigh.

Lately, he had been so exhausted.

I'm getting old, he thought.

Maybe it's time to start grooming a successor.

Memories of the past flooded his mind.

The lessons he received from his teacher.

The missions he carried out with his comrades.

The Fourth Hokage.

A young Kakashi.

And finally, his rivalry with Danzo.

A faint smile crept onto his lips.

...

The entire Uchiha clan had been summoned.

Ninjas, elders, even children—everyone was included.

It happened so suddenly!

The Uchiha were confused, unsure of what was going on.

Toji and Setsuna rushed over.

"Itsuki, what are you doing?" Setsuna asked anxiously, his voice low and harsh. "Don't you know how unsafe the clan is right now?"

Was there a traitor among the Uchiha?

There must be!

The Uchiha were a proud clan.

But…

The Third Hokage's manipulation skills weren't to be underestimated either.

Even Itachi, the clan's genius and the clan leader's son, had once followed the Third Hokage's orders and turned against the Uchiha. If someone as talented as him could be swayed, how much easier would it be to manipulate ordinary clansmen?

So, when Setsuna heard that Itsuki had summoned all the Uchiha, his heart turned cold.

This was going to be a disaster.

No matter what Itsuki's intentions were, this move would surely bring calamity.

The Third Hokage and his people had been waiting for an opportunity like this.

"I know," Itsuki said calmly. "Elder Setsuna, please step down. I have something to say."

He stood alone on a high platform, towering ten meters above the crowd, overlooking all the Uchiha.

"Itsuki…"

"Step down!"

Itsuki's voice was stern and his expression cold.

Setsuna's breath caught in his throat. He exchanged a glance with Toji, and both saw the shock in each other's eyes.

Under Itsuki's icy gaze, they felt a deep sense of dread.

It was as if they were powerless to resist.

Even though Itsuki was stronger than them, they shouldn't have felt this way!

Itsuki's secrets ran deeper than they had imagined.

With heavy hearts, they stepped down and stood beside Itachi in the front row.

The Uchiha whispered among themselves.

They didn't know what was happening, but an ominous feeling loomed. Also, wasn't Itachi supposed to be away in battle?

He was supposed to be involved in what might become the Fourth Great Ninja War!

So why was he here?

In the crowd, some Uchiha wore strange expressions—some were sad, some relieved.

It seemed like they were letting out a breath they had been holding.

The day had finally come.

Once everyone had gathered, Itsuki stood up, looked at the Uchiha, and spoke loudly.

"Everyone, the Uchiha are leaving Konoha!"

"What?!"

The crowd erupted in chaos.

Toji and Setsuna wore bitter expressions.

"What is that kid thinking? What does he plan to do?"

"Whatever it is, there's no turning back now. We have no other options."

"Then we'll fight!"

"With three Mangekyo Sharingan, facing Konoha now doesn't seem hopeless. We shouldn't be too worried."

"But… there will be many unnecessary sacrifices."

"Let's see what that kid really intends to do."

...

"Silence!"

Itsuki's commanding voice boomed, his chakra surging like a tidal wave.

Immediately, the Uchiha fell silent.

At that moment, Itsuki stood tall like a giant, radiating an overwhelming pressure.

They could barely breathe.

For the first time, the Uchiha realized that someone could be this powerful.

"Konoha is no longer the Konoha it used to be!" Itsuki said slowly. "This village is rejecting us. You've all felt it, haven't you?"

Someone shouted, "So we're just going to leave?"

"Yes!" Itsuki responded loudly. "But we're not leaving because the village rejects us. We're leaving because this decaying village isn't worthy of us!"

"It doesn't deserve us!!"

His eyes were cold.

"We've already built a new village, one that belongs to the Uchiha. There, we will start a new life."

Gasps of astonishment filled the crowd.

A new village?

A village that belonged to the Uchiha?

The idea shook the Uchiha to their core, and many began to waver.

They were no strangers to the insults, cold stares, and disdain they received in Konoha.

Why stay, if they had another option?

Were they fools?

If not for themselves, they should at least think about their families.

"Whoosh!"

Itsuki activated his Mangekyo Sharingan, and the skeletal form of Susanoo began to emerge.

Flesh grew over the bones.

A towering figure of a raven-headed giant appeared, exuding an overwhelming aura.

In an instant, all murmurs stopped.

The Uchiha stood speechless, staring at Itsuki in awe.

What was this?

Itsuki continued, "I know some of you don't want to leave."

"Some of you are reluctant to go."

"And some of you are defiant, unwilling to leave like this."

"But what's the point?"

"This village, rotten from the inside out, is something we, the proud Uchiha, should reject!"

"We refuse to decay alongside it!"

"We will build a new village."

"A village governed not by the Will of Fire, but by the Will of Uchiha."

"In this new village, the Uchiha will be its absolute rulers!"

Itsuki clenched his fist and shouted.

His words stirred the Uchiha deeply.

A village ruled by the Uchiha's will?!

They were moved.

"Clan leader Fugaku has agreed!"

"Elder Setsuna has agreed!"

"Elder Toji has agreed!"

"Deputy clan leader Itachi has agreed!"

"I, Uchiha Itsuki, agree!"

"Of the thirty-plus Jonin, over twenty-five have agreed."

"We're done playing with Konoha."

"So, everyone, prepare yourselves. If any Uchiha doesn't want to leave, you're free to go. We won't force you. Enjoy your life in Konoha."

Itsuki's voice was calm.

The Uchiha exchanged glances.

Not forced?

That was a joke.

Almost all the clan's top powerhouses had agreed. If they stayed behind, the Third Hokage would wipe them out.

Do they think we're fools?

Are they playing with us?

This was nothing short of a threat.

He was forcing them!

And yet, they were helpless, left with no choice but to applaud him.

A small number of them felt like crying.

But the majority felt energized, ready to abandon Konoha and start a new life.

(End of Chapter)