Chapter 2. Rescue

Fugaku's eyes snapped open, and a hushed anticipation spread through the assembled Uchiha. All eyes turned to the source of the disturbance, and that's when they noticed Natsuki Uchiha making a determined entrance into the shrine.

Ba, still grappling with the mystery of his implanted identity as the acting elder, steeled himself and stepped forward to face Fugaku.

Fugaku, acknowledging Natsuki's new role, declared, "Natsuki, as the acting elder, you now have the right to speak. Share your thoughts."

"Explanation!?" He was momentarily taken aback.

"That's absurd! Shisui is being hunted, and here we are having a meeting!" Natsuki's frustration echoed through his words.

The tension in the room escalated. It felt like a blade hovering over their collective necks, and Natsuki couldn't hold back his agitation.

Fugaku turned sharply. "Natsuki, are you telling the truth?"

Natsuki nodded decisively. "There's no time to explain. Kai, Yuta, assemble your teams and follow me!"

"Izumi! You're with me too. I might need your medical expertise," he added, injecting a sense of urgency into his call to action.

Shisui, known for his gentle temperament and a plethora of close friends within the clan, became the focal point of Natsuki's urgent directives. Natsuki called upon those who shared strong personal bonds with Shisui, issuing a command that resonated with the clan's collective concern.

Several individuals promptly rose from their seats, responding to the call, and sprinted outside, led by him.

In contrast, Fugaku sat at the head of the assembly with a brooding expression. The third and fourth elders, sensing the gravity of the situation, abandoned their arguments. Despite the fourth elder's affiliation with the dove faction, he wasn't one to shy away from resistance even when faced with a metaphorical knife at his throat.

After a prolonged silence, Fugaku finally released a slow exhale.

"Uchiha Takuya!" Fugaku's authoritative voice echoed through the room.

"Yes!" The third elder responded with enthusiasm, recognizing that his time to act had come. While he held seniority over Fugaku in most circumstances, being called by name signaled Fugaku's assumption of the role of the clan leader.

"You, mobilize all Uchiha combat members! Prepare for battle!" Fugaku commanded.

The third elder's demeanor shifted, his expression turning resolute as if he could already sense the impending scent of blood in the air.

Naka River.

Plop!

The water splashed everywhere, and the cold river water jolted Uchiha Shisui awake for a moment.

Amid his serious injuries, thoughts of his family occupied Shisui's mind. Could his death truly alter everything? Would Itachi be able to carry out his instructions?

As his world gradually darkened, his body sank into the rushing waters of the Naka River.

"Found it! Elder! Shisui is here!"

The exclamation rang out, and two Uchiha leaped into the water, retrieving the unconscious Shisui.

"Elder! Shisui's eyes were gouged out!"

Natsuki had anticipated this grim discovery. "Izumi, treat and examine Shisui immediately. We must ensure his survival."

Uchiha Izumi stepped forward promptly to attend to Shisui. Given her friendship with Shisui and her connection to Itachi, she felt a profound shock when she saw him covered in wounds.

Shisui, a skilled master within the clan, lay injured and with his Sharingan forcibly removed. And this happened within the walls of Konoha Village!

Time was of the essence, and there was no opportunity to summon other medical ninjas. Natsuki remembered that she possessed knowledge of medical ninjutsu.

Under the urgency of emergency treatment, Shisui's vital signs finally stabilized.

[Ding, the rescue of Shisui has been completed]

The host obtains the Mangekyou Sharingan and unlocks Susanoo in advance.

He finally let out a sigh of relief. Having rushed back from outside the village, running tirelessly for half a day without rest, the successful rescue of his life brought a sense of accomplishment.

Improving strength also meant securing one's life, the Mangekyou Sharingan was a priority.

After clicking to receive, a cold sensation flowed into Natsuki's eyes.

'Unlock Susanoo in advance? I still don't know what its technique is.'

The Uchiha who had gathered to rescue Shisui, upon seeing his empty eye sockets, erupted in collective rage.

To harm a member of the Uchiha in such a way was an unspeakable disgrace and a profound humiliation!

"You bastard! How dare you defile our Uchiha's eyes!"

"To inflict such harm upon Shisui, I will never forgive them!"

"Elder! Who attacked Shisui!?"

As Natsuki's ocular abilities heightened, so did his perception. He sharply turned his head, directing his gaze toward the woods behind the Uchiha tribe.

A rapid rustling echoed through the forest, and in the blink of an eye, four ANBU operatives dressed in white burst out of the foliage.

As the first ANBU in white emerged from the woods, he caught sight of a sizable group of Uchiha gathered by the river. The target he sought lay on the ground, undergoing treatment.

But why were there so many Uchiha nearby?

The man signaled with a tactical gesture, instructing the three ANBU behind him to halt.

"Root!"

The Uchiha's eyes collectively widened as they recognized the organization. The Uchiha were well aware of Root's operations, and the realization hit them almost instantly.

Shisui must be pursued by Root!

In response, they unsheathed their knives and charged toward the Root.

The captain who was leading the ANBU, felt a sinking sensation in his heart. Increasing their numbers might prove challenging.

'Danzo-sama's will must be carried out!'

The team leader made a determined gesture, and the team members behind him mirrored the resolve on their faces.

Advancing instead of retreating, the four of them charged toward the Uchiha, skillfully crossing formations to obscure their intentions.

Several members closed in swiftly.

"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"

The two Uchiha swiftly formed seals, initiating a feint attack with a massive fireball before actual combat.

With the assistance of the flames, they closed the distance rapidly.

Simultaneously, the other Uchiha unleashed a flurry of shurikens.

"Earth Release!"

Quickly joining forces, the captain erected an earth wall, effectively blocking their fireball jutsu and the incoming barrage of shurikens. 

As they emerged once more, they hurled ten detonating charms.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Explosions at such close range inflicted substantial damage, dealing a considerable blow to the enemy, though not without some self-inflicted harm.

The Uchiha clan members emerged from the smoke in a somewhat embarrassed state.

They hadn't anticipated that the roots would be so desperate.

Several roots were visibly discomforted, having been closer to the explosion and suffering more damage. Four of them rushed out with grievous wounds, their actions bordering on the suicidal.

At this critical moment, the team leader was seemingly cut into smoke by a Uchiha's sword.

"Oh no, a shadow clone!"

Bump!

The ground exploded as roots leaped out of it, detonating symbols covering their bodies sizzling. With determination, the root operative rushed towards Shisui, who lay on the ground.

"Let's die together!"

At that moment, only Izumi and Natsuki stood next to Shisui. The other Uchiha members were too far away to return and offer assistance.

Boom!

The massive explosion sent all other Uchiha clan members flying.

"Elder!"

"Elder!"

When the smoke and dust settled, a golden skeleton became visible, steadfastly protecting Shisui and Izumi behind it.

Surging chakra spread out like a whirlwind in all directions.

Natsuki stood with his arms folded across his chest, the Mangekyō Sharingan in his eyes slowly turning.

"Susanoo!"

"It's Susanoo, our Uchiha legend!"

"The elder possesses the Mangekyō Sharingan!"

...

It is truly impressive, he nodded with satisfaction. If only it were an eternal Mangekyō Sharingan without the risk of blindness.

Natsuki still treasured his eyesight, and upon realizing that the danger had passed, he promptly closed the Mangekyō Sharingan. His ocular powers had just been enhanced, and he hadn't had the chance to fully comprehend his new abilities. Fortunately, unlocking Susanoo in advance provided a crucial advantage.

...

At this moment, Uchiha combat members from the clan began to gradually assemble.

The fierce and determined Uchiha members displayed enthusiasm as they ran towards each other. They brought their equipment and donned combat uniforms, ready for action.

The fourth elder, found her mouth dry, contemplating how many Uchiha clan members might meet their end tonight. Doubts lingered—could they truly succeed?

Among the Uchiha members aligned with the Dove faction, confusion prevailed, and anxiety loomed at the prospect of potential conflict with the village.

In contrast, the third elder, Uchiha Takuya, couldn't contain his excitement. "Patriarch, the combat members have been assembled! Please give the order!"

Fugaku clasped his hands tightly. "We'll wait for Elder Natsuki to come back first."

Surely, Konoha must have taken some action by this time, right?