Chapter 33: Chapter 33 (Bonus Chapter)

Kaito nodded and said, "Don't worry, I will lead Uchiha to a new peak!"

…

On the other hand, after Anbu lifted the restrictions, the ninha who knew how to heal immediately rushed to Hiruzen Sarutobi's side.

The dying Sarutobi Hiruzen and Danzo finally began to be treated.

Soon after, the two woke up leisurely.

When Sarutobi Hiruzen opened his eyes, he saw Itachi standing near him.

He hurriedly asked, "Did we win?"

Itachi shook his head and said, "We lost, but I traded Shishui's left eye for Kaito to let us go!"

"Is that so..."

Sarutobi Hiruzen was silent for a while.

At this moment, the sound of 'Kaza~kaza~' suddenly sounded!

Everyone looked up and saw that the surrounding scene seemed to have become a mirror, and countless cracks began to expand!

Before everyone could ask, the surrounding scene suddenly exploded!

Then, the fragments of the scene began to fall, and after falling to the ground, they disappeared inexplicably, and the surrounding area became a black screen.

After all this was over, the shady scene gradually disappeared, and the familiar scene came into the eyes of everyone again.

They have already returned to the Uchiha clan, but the traces of those fierce battles have long disappeared!

Seeing this, Obito murmured, "Is it a mirror space? What a magical ability!"

Then, Kaito's voice suddenly sounded.

"Okay, my promise has been fulfilled, and I'll... say goodbye!"

Everyone looked up and saw Kaito and a group of Uchiha people looking at them coldly.

Kaito said lightly, "I hope you will like the gift I left behind."

When Itachi heard the words, his pupils shrank, and he hurriedly stepped forward and asked, "What do you mean?!"

"Didn't you promise not to attack us again?!"

Kaito looked at Itachi without a smile, and said, "Of course, I still keep my promise!"

"This gift is just the fireworks I prepared earlier, I think you will like it!"

"Ha ha ha ha…"

After that, the figures of Kaito and the other clansmen disappeared in place in an instant!

…

The highest mountaintop near Konoha offers a panoramic view of the entire village. Suddenly, hundreds of people appeared there in an instant—Kaito and his group!

However, moments after appearing with the Uchiha clan, Kaito groaned, covering his eyes as he staggered a few steps. Uchiha Izumi, who was just behind him, was shocked and quickly moved to support him.

"Are you alright, Brother Kaito?" Izumi asked, her voice filled with concern.

Kaito waved his hand, dismissing her worry. "It's nothing, I just used too much of my pupil power. My eyes are a bit strained."

Izumi nodded, but she didn't let go of his arm. The surrounding Uchiha clansmen seemed relieved at his words. Kaito was their leader and their source of hope—they couldn't afford to lose him after everything they'd been through.

"Brother Kaito, why did you bring us here?" Izumi asked, her gaze shifting toward the panoramic view of Konoha below. There was a hint of disgust in her voice.

Kaito smiled enigmatically. "You'll find out soon enough."

Everyone else also turned their attention to Konoha, curious to see what would happen next.

...

Meanwhile, back in Konoha, Sarutobi Hiruzen breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Kaito disappear. He spoke to the assembled ninjas with a stern expression, "Kaito is definitely up to something. We need to mobilize every ninja in the village immediately—"

"Boom!"

A violent explosion interrupted him. Everyone turned toward the source of the sound, and a brilliant burst of fire erupted from Hokage Rock.

"No, Kaito planted explosive tags in Hokage Rock!" Sarutobi exclaimed, alarmed by the devastation that might follow.

Danzo, recovering from his injuries nearby, laughed. "Seems like Kaito just wants to humiliate Konoha, blowing up Hokage Rock. Quite the spectacle!"

Sarutobi glared at him. "It's not just about the Hokage Rock! If the entire back of the mountain collapses, the rocks will cascade into Konoha, burying the village!"

"Another explosion!" someone yelled as another blast shook the mountain. Hokage Rock trembled, and the potential for catastrophe grew more dire.

Sarutobi ordered his Anbu, "Split into two groups. One group must prevent rocks from spilling into the village, and the other should evacuate civilians to safety. Gather every available ninja!"

"Yes, sir!" the Anbu responded, quickly organizing into their groups.

Despite the recent scandals involving Sarutobi's leadership, they knew the village's survival was at stake. They couldn't afford any hesitation.

Meanwhile, Danzo's root ninja stood by, not acting on Sarutobi's orders. Instead, they focused on treating Danzo's injuries. Even though Kaito had pierced Danzo's heart, his resilience—thanks to cells from the First Hokage—kept him alive.

Sarutobi noticed the roots' inactivity but decided not to confront them. He and Danzo were both badly injured, and the village faced grave danger. Any misstep could cost lives.

Amid the chaos, Fugaku, tended by his wife Mikoto and his son Itachi, regained consciousness. Itachi, still processing the events that had unfolded, approached Sarutobi.

However, before he could speak, root ninjas intercepted him. Itachi demanded, "Where's my brother Sasuke? I need to see him!"

Danzo replied with a smirk, "He's safe. Don't worry." He didn't reveal Sasuke's location, knowing it gave him leverage over Itachi.

"Tell me where he is!" Itachi shouted angrily.

Danzo's root ninjas held their ground. Even if Itachi overpowered them, they were loyal to Danzo to the point of death. Any reckless move could endanger Sasuke.

"Don't worry, he's safe now!"

"Boom!" Another explosion echoed from Hokage Rock.

Danzo turned to Itachi and said with a smile, "You see the village is in crisis. Why don't you take the Uchiha clansmen who are willing to support Konoha? We'll continue our discussion when everything is settled."

Itachi frowned but stepped away, thinking of Sasuke's safety.

Once Itachi was gone, Danzo's expression darkened.

 "These Uchihas can't be trusted," he muttered to Sarutobi. 

Sarutobi frowned. "They've chosen to stand with Konoha! What do you plan to do?" 

Danzo's cold smile hinted at his true intentions, but he kept his response ambiguous. 

Danzo stated, "The only reason they stood with us was because we were strong!"

"Even though Kaito nearly killed me, I knew exactly what was happening while I was in a coma," he continued. "Neither the Itachi family nor the Uchiha clan genuinely wanted to be on our side."

"They're all sources of instability!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen sighed and replied, "Konoha has suffered heavy losses. We can't afford to keep fighting among ourselves."

"Isn't that what Itachi is for? He'll take care of it," Danzo sneered