Branded as Traitors

As Uchiha Fugaku anticipated, news spread quickly when the Uchiha began mobilizing.

Not to mention, the tall buildings surrounding the Uchiha compound were filled with Anbu.

The Third Hokage silently put down his pipe. "What's the situation now?"

The Anbu reported with bowed head, "All Uchiha combat personnel are gathering. Uchiha Natsuki, leading thirteen Jonin, is unaccounted for. Uchiha Shisui is missing. Uchiha Itachi is missing."

The Third Hokage remained silent, reluctant to reach this point. It seemed Shisui had failed, or perhaps...

Sighing, he made his decision, his expression turning resolute.

He pulled off his Hokage robe, revealing the battle armor he wore beneath.

"Relay the order: Konoha is now in a state of emergency. Notify all clan heads and gather all Jonin and elite Jonin. Surround the Uchiha compound."

...

Step, step, step...

Dense footsteps echoed from the rooftops as one ninja after another leaped over the houses.

Usually, this would be considered highly disrespectful, but the Hokage had just declared a state of emergency for the entire village.

Thus, the rooftops of Konoha were filled with leaping ninjas while civilians hid in their homes.

The Hyuga Clan, another prestigious family in Konoha, led by their strongest members, Hiashi and Hizashi, was making its way to the Uchiha compound with elite clan members.

Hizashi couldn't help but ask Hiashi, "Brother, has the Uchiha Clan really rebelled?"

Hiashi frowned. "Call me Clan Leader when we're outside."

Hizashi fell silent for a moment. "Yes, Clan Leader."

Hiashi paused, his tone softening slightly. "The Third Hokage has ordered us to gather and surround the Uchiha. Tonight might be a fierce battle."

Hiashi was full of worry. Civil war meant casualties, especially against the Uchiha, the strongest clan in the ninja world, with members who were all well-rounded fighters and often quite mad.

Looking back at the twenty-plus elite Jonin following him, Hiashi wondered how many would return tonight. These were the clan's foundation.

"Hizashi, if a fight breaks out, hold back our clan members. Don't lead the charge."

"What about the Third Hokage?"

Hiashi waved his hand. "If the Uchiha are destroyed, we might be next."

Hizashi shuddered, glanced around, and nodded silently.

...

"Lord Danzo, the Third Hokage has declared a state of emergency and issued a summons for all Jonin and above to prepare for battle. Shall we participate?"

"Oh?" Danzo, who had just finished an eye surgery, was waking up.

"What happened?"

"All Uchiha combat personnel are gathering."

Danzo stood up, touching his newly acquired right eye. It seemed tonight he could finally eradicate the Uchiha. How many Uchiha eyes would he collect tonight?

Hiruzen, I warned you that the Uchiha couldn't be trusted. Fortunately, I acted first, disabling Uchiha Shisui.

"Take our men and head to the Uchiha compound immediately."

"Yes, sir!"

...

The entrance to the Uchiha compound was brightly lit, with countless Konoha elites surrounding the Uchiha.

The Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi, Koharu Utatane, and Homura Mitokado stood in front.

Behind them were the clan heads and elites from various noble families, including the Hyuga, Akimichi, Nara, and Yamanaka Clans. All the prominent families were present.

Konoha's Anbu and elite Jonin had gathered, forming layers of tight encirclement around the Uchiha. Everyone wore grave expressions.

The various clan heads harbored their thoughts.

Creak... The massive wooden gate of the Uchiha compound opened.

Hundreds of Uchiha, fully armed, slowly emerged under Fugaku's lead.

All eyes immediately focused on Fugaku; their expressions varied, but everyone was surprised.

Usually seen as a mediator, Fugaku seemed different today.

The Uchiha behind Fugaku, seeing the massive number of Konoha elites surrounding them, began to murmur in agitation.

However, seeing their clan leader remain silent, the noise gradually subsided.

The atmosphere became tense.

A messenger bird flew in, and Fugaku received its message. His eyes flashed with killing intent before calming down.

Under the Third Hokage's stern gaze, Fugaku remained composed. He scanned the area for Danzo, narrowing his eyes when he didn't see him.

"Lord Hokage, why is the Uchiha compound surrounded?"

The Third Hokage frowned. "Fugaku! You've gathered so many Uchiha. What are you planning?"

Fugaku's expression differed from usual, showing no respect for the Third Hokage.

"What am I planning? Uchiha Shisui went missing after leaving today. We are searching for him. Is that a problem?"

The Third Hokage frowned deeply. He had considered many of Fugaku's excuses but hadn't expected this.

And as far as he knew, Shisui was indeed missing. The Third Hokage was momentarily at a loss for words.

Standing beside him, Homura Mitokado said, "Nonsense! Just because Shisui is missing, you gather the entire clan? Do you think we're fools?"

Fugaku remained silent.

At that moment, the Konoha forces parted as Danzo arrived, his forehead, right eye, right shoulder, and right arm wrapped in bandages as usual.

"Uchiha Fugaku, it seems your clan is planning a rebellion tonight!"

Seeing Danzo, Fugaku's eyes flashed with killing intent.

In a deep voice, he said, "Danzo, you dare show up in front of me? Itachi reported that Shisui went missing after meeting with you this afternoon. Can you say this has nothing to do with you?"

Hidden among the crowd, Itachi frowned. He hadn't reported anything to his father.

Danzo's face darkened. It seemed Itachi couldn't be trusted either.

He angrily retorted, "Nonsense! I never saw Shisui this afternoon. You're making baseless accusations."

Fugaku coldly smiled. "Is that so?"

Fugaku's chakra surged, his gaze growing colder. The surrounding ninja clans tensed.

As the crowd buzzed with unease, the path cleared, and Uchiha Natsuki led a group of Uchiha back.

[Ding! Mission updated: The Outcome of the Coup]

[Mission requirement: Ensure all Uchiha survive the coup.]

[Mission reward: Ocular Jutsu Amplifier (one-time use), Uchiha Vice Clan Leader...]

There is no time to check the rewards; if the mission required all Uchiha to survive, then no fighting could occur tonight.

Natsuki stood in front, his gaze sharp.

The Uchiha behind him were silent, occasionally glancing at Natsuki with admiration and reverence.

Two of them carried a stretcher, on which lay Uchiha Shisui.

Others dragged the corpses of several Root members.

The bodies were heavily damaged, with many wounds.

The Third Hokage's face darkened. "Fugaku, what's the meaning of this?"

Natsuki led the group back to the clan, turning to face the Third Hokage, standing in front of Fugaku.

Natsuki sneered, "Third Hokage, even now you play dumb. Danzo summoned Shisui this afternoon and stole his Sharingan! We mobilized the clan to search for Shisui. Is that a problem!?"

Then he whispered something in Shisui's ear, and Shisui, struggling, rose. His body was covered in wounds, but the most obvious was his empty eye sockets, where his Sharingan had been gouged out.

The surrounding ninja clans buzzed with murmurs.

"Danzo stole Shisui's Sharingan?"

"Shut up! Danzo is the Hokage's assistant. Don't speak nonsense."

Shisui weakly spoke, "This evening, I received a message from Danzo asking me to meet him. He coveted our Uchiha Sharingan and took my eyes when I was unprepared."

The Third Hokage, familiar with Shisui, had received a report from him that afternoon about using Kotoamatsukami to prevent the Uchiha coup. He hadn't expected to see Shisui in this state now.

Danzo's face darkened as Shisui spoke, remaining silent, lost in thought.

Everyone present was in an uproar, casting doubtful looks at Danzo.

In the ninja world, stealing someone's Kekkei Genkai was a mortal enmity, let alone from a fellow village member.

Shisui, known as Shisui of the Body Flicker, had achieved numerous feats for Konoha during the Third Shinobi World War and was a genius of the Uchiha.

Shisui's reputation was excellent, and his words carried great weight.