**Chapter 57: The Suffering of Konoha**
"..."
Faced with questions from his clan members, Uchiha Fugaku hesitated.
Right!
What should he do now?
Raijin's rebellion didn't give him any notice either.
And besides…
Uchiha Fugaku suddenly thought of his wife and children.
Earlier, Uchiha Setsuna had asked his wife, the Uchiha clan leader's wife, to take charge of the situation.
He had readily agreed, hoping to bring some honor back to the family.
But unexpectedly!
Raijin had directly detained his wife and children.
He had no idea what had happened to Sasuke and Mikoto!
"Captain Fugaku!"
"Captain!"
...
Seeing the hesitation still on Uchiha Fugaku's face, they became increasingly anxious.
At this point, what was there to consider?
Another faction within the Uchiha clan had already raised the banner of rebellion.
Could they really go back to defending Konoha, staining their hands with their own clan's blood?
Even if Fugaku was willing, they couldn't bring themselves to do such a thing.
Besides, the Nine-Tails had been released tonight.
Konoha's strongest would undoubtedly be occupied.
How could Konoha possibly stand a chance against the Uchiha now?
"Uchiha Fugaku, heed my command!"
As Uchiha Fugaku wavered, a command came from outside.
Five ninjas surrounded Uchiha Fugaku.
An ominous man, his face wrapped in bandages, stepped forward to confront him.
Danzo glanced at those beside Fugaku, who had drawn their weapons in defense.
Useless fools!
Danzo's evaluation of Fugaku was just that.
At this moment, Danzo harbored no prejudice against the Uchiha.
This was merely his personal assessment of Fugaku.
"Uchiha Fugaku, heed my command! The Konoha Police Force is to protect civilians and escort them to the shelters."
Just like on the night of the Nine-Tails' attack, Danzo, as a high-ranking Konoha official, issued the same order to Uchiha Fugaku once more.
No difference at all! He hadn't even changed his tone.
Even though Danzo had previously been stripped of his high-ranking status.
Who didn't know that Danzo was close to the Third Hokage?
This command also represented the Third Hokage's will.
"…Konoha is in such a crisis, the Konoha Police Force has no reason to stand idly by."
Uchiha Fugaku's face was expressionless, his arms crossed tightly, gripping his hands.
His Sharingan activated, glaring at Danzo.
Danzo intended to make him watch his own clan perish.
"This is the decision of Konoha's leadership! Uchiha Fugaku, do you intend to disobey orders?"
Danzo struck the ground with his cane.
The dark aura of the Shinobi World emanated from him.
In the end!
"Uchiha Fugaku, heed my command!"
After much hesitation, Uchiha Fugaku finally made his decision.
The Uchiha present immediately darkened, gripping their weapons tightly.
Rather than endure such humiliation, they would rather die fighting for the Uchiha.
At this moment!
The young men had completely lost faith in Uchiha Fugaku.
But having chosen to follow Uchiha Fugaku, there was no turning back.
They prayed!
Prayed that Uchiha Raijin could overthrow Konoha's rule.
Then they could join forces with Raijin.
"Hmph!"
Danzo sneered at Uchiha Fugaku, leaving two Root ninjas to monitor him, while the others followed Danzo out.
Uchiha Fugaku was a weak man.
But Uchiha Raijin was different.
That man was real trouble.
...
Boom!
A massive energy beam shot past Uchiha Itachi.
The Konoha that had once seemed so beautiful in his eyes.
At this moment!
**Half of the buildings had been reduced to rubble.**
"Uchiha Clan, Uchiha Raijin!"
Uchiha Itachi's face was filled with pain.
Lord Third Hokage once believed there was still hope for you.
But I never expected you would repay Lord Third in this way.
Releasing the Nine-Tails.
Imprisoning the heads of Konoha's clans.
You're trying to destroy Konoha completely.
"Help...!"
As Uchiha Itachi struggled with his pain, a faint, broken voice called out.
He quickly moved, searching through the rubble for the source of the sound.
He despised war, despised death.
At this moment!
He was witnessing death firsthand.
Cries of agony echoed from countless buildings.
Every moment!
Lives were being lost in Konoha.
Itachi's heart couldn't remain calm.
Following the sound, he found the person who had called for help.
He uncovered the building and saw a ninja who had already stopped breathing.
Itachi's heart briefly stopped.
His pupils dilated.
He looked around.
Hoping to find something that could soothe his soul.
But he was disappointed!
Konoha was now a wasteland.
The streets were littered with severed limbs.
"Ah!"
Blood flowed from Itachi's eyes.
The mental pressure was suffocating.
The Konoha he had always wanted to protect.
Had now become a ruin.
He had always been proud to be Uchiha Itachi of Konoha.
And had suffered because of the Uchiha name.
But today, the actions of the Uchiha clan.
Made Itachi resolve completely.
"Uchiha Raijin… must die!"
The three tomoe in his Sharingan connected.
An overwhelming amount of chakra erupted from Uchiha Itachi.
A fierce killing intent, all directed at Uchiha Raijin.
"So this is the Mangekyō Sharingan? What a tragic curse!"
Uchiha Itachi cried out in sorrow.
"Uchiha… Sasuke! Mother!"
Uchiha Itachi suddenly remembered something, and his breath hitched.
His figure swiftly darted toward the Uchiha district.
Not daring to stop for even a moment.
On the way, as people called for help, he gritted his teeth and hurried on.
As he neared the Uchiha district, a girl about his age blocked his path.
"Uchiha Izumi!"
Itachi looked at the girl before him with a serious expression.
This girl had awakened her Mangekyō before him.
She had likely already mastered its power.
She was a formidable opponent.
"Where is Uchiha Raijin? And Sasuke?" Uchiha Itachi asked in a low voice.
"Sasuke is fine. Lord Raijin plans to take him as a disciple. He will fight for the honor of the Uchiha clan."
"As for Lord Raijin... there's still some unfinished business. He should be coming out soon."
Uchiha Izumi glanced at the Uchiha district's flames, answering Itachi's question.
Her gaze remained fixed on Uchiha Itachi.
Itachi!
Even now, you stand against the Uchiha clan.
You're beyond saving!
The only cure is to kill you.
And Uchiha Izumi had come here for that purpose.
"The honor of the Uchiha? This honor is built on the suffering of others. You've all gone completely mad. Let me end your misguided thinking."
Hearing that Sasuke was safe, Itachi felt a sense of relief.
But knowing that Raijin planned to take Sasuke as a student and instill anti-Konoha beliefs.
That nearly drove Itachi mad with anger.
"..."
Uchiha Izumi gave no response, her three tomoe linking together.
The Mangekyō Sharingan's light flared.
At the same moment, Itachi activated his own Mangekyō.
Itachi had awakened his Mangekyō too!
This startled Uchiha Izumi.
But there was no time to think.
The two locked eyes briefly.
Then, they moved simultaneously, charging at each other.
Itachi flipped his hand, drawing a short blade. His exceptional Uchiha swordsmanship created afterimages in the air as he slashed at Izumi.
"Bang!"
"Bang!"
"Bang!"
...
Their figures clashed in midair repeatedly.
Kunai and short swords clashed, sparking.
Their movements were graceful.
Uchiha's battles were like art, with ordinary people only able to catch glimpses of the flashes of steel.
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!"
Izumi found an opening and kicked Itachi in the chest.
She quickly formed hand seals, spitting out a massive fireball.
"Boom!"
The fireball engulfed Itachi.
But Izumi didn't relax, remaining vigilant of her surroundings.
A Mangekyō user wouldn't die so easily from a Great Fireball.
"Amaterasu!"
Black flames engulfed the fireball.
"This…"
Uchiha Izumi's expression changed drastically, and she quickly rolled away to avoid the flames.
But Amaterasu followed her gaze.
No matter where Izumi ran, Amaterasu followed.
"Severing!"
Izumi's pupils suddenly contracted.
An invisible blade fell from the sky.
Itachi stumbled forward, falling to his knees.
He looked up in disbelief at Izumi.
He…
His connection with Amaterasu was severed.
---