Chapter 49: Uchiha Unleashes Action, Fugaku Rises!

Almost, in an instant.

Following Uchiha Jin’s order, the entire Uchiha clan sprang into motion like a precision machine.

Uchiha Hachida and Setsuna, along with several elders, immediately gathered two-thirds of the Uchiha’s jōnin and vanished without a trace, heading straight for the Root base.

Due to Uchiha Jin’s rise to power and his methods, the Root base was no longer a secret to the Uchiha.

Then.

When they reached the entrance of the Root base, they fully concealed their presence and began waiting silently for Uchiha Jin’s signal flare.

Meanwhile, on the other side.

Uchiha Amano led the remaining Uchiha jōnin, along with numerous chūnin and genin, and moved to encircle the entire Uchiha clan completely.

Each person was issued two hundred explosive tags—also purchased by Uchiha Jin over this period at the cost of nearly two-thirds of the radical faction’s funds from outside.

Fugaku went alone to the Hokage Tower.

Uchiha Jin stood alone at the village entrance of the clan grounds, silently waiting for Fugaku’s outcome; only if Fugaku succeeded would he step into Danzō’s trap.

…

Ten minutes later.

Fugaku arrived at the Hokage’s office; Hiruzen Sarutobi regarded him with complete indifference.

Clearly,

because Fugaku was too weak, had lost his clan leader rights, and could not be controlled…

he didn’t even bother pretending anymore in front of Fugaku.

Hiruzen Sarutobi sat calmly behind his desk, his Hokage hat slightly lowered, smoke curling from the cigarette in his hand, obscuring his face.

He didn’t even lift his eyes at Fugaku.

“What is it?”

His tone was casual, utterly unconcerned.

But as for this—

Fugaku, who had long seen through Hiruzen Sarutobi’s true nature, paid it no real mind.

He didn’t bother with pleasantries and spoke directly: “Bring back Shisui and Itachi.”

“Impossible. Not doable,” Hiruzen Sarutobi replied calmly. “They are not in the village.”

Fugaku’s expression remained unchanged; he spoke softly: “If Shisui and Itachi are not returned, Jin will not attend Danzō’s invitation—even if Itachi kill his parents, it won’t matter.”

Hiruzen Sarutobi froze instantly.

He looked up at Fugaku for the first time: “Have Itachi also joined Uchiha Jin?”

“Yes. Itachi guessed right,” Fugaku nodded, his gaze perfectly calm. “Send them back.”

“Even if they are traitors, the Uchiha forbids internal conflict and killing.”

“We can compete with Itachi within normal boundaries—even if Itachi break the peace, we’re willing to follow your rules.”

“But likewise!”

“Don’t push us too far. Don’t force the Uchiha down the final path.”

“We wish to take over a relatively clean Konoha, so we’re willing to clash with Itachi on a limited scale and have no desire to expand the killing to the entire village.”

“But if Itachi mistake this for Uchiha weakness—or believe we lack the power—then the Konoha leadership is gravely mistaken.”

Fugaku’s face was icy, his tone filled with threat.

Then,

without any further words, he revealed his Mangekyo Sharingan.

This—

a power he had hidden for years, unknown to anyone.

Meanwhile,

upon hearing these threats, Hiruzen Sarutobi froze in place, a flicker of shock visible in his eyes.

Was this really Fugaku—the weakling?

But then,

before he could fully react, he saw Fugaku’s Mangekyo Sharingan.

He was utterly stunned.

He drew a sharp breath, his voice now filled with horror.

“Mangekyo?!”

“Itachi’ve awakened the Mangekyo too?”

“This…”

Hiruzen Sarutobi trembled violently.

His face turned deathly pale, his whole body trembling uncontrollably—Fugaku’s Mangekyo had utterly terrified him.

There was no way around it!

One Mangekyo user—Uchiha Jin—had already pushed Konoha’s leadership to the brink; now Fugaku had one too? This completely trapped him.

Especially considering that if they truly broke with the Uchiha, the village would face two Mangekyo users and the full force of the Uchiha clan—could Konoha even withstand it now?

Even if they could destroy the Uchiha, what price would the village pay?

Could a shattered Konoha stand against the other ninja villages?

Yes!

Just as Uchiha Jin dared not fight lightly, Hiruzen Sarutobi shared the same concerns.

After long consideration, he finally sighed helplessly.

He tapped his desk; an Anbu appeared.

“Hokage-sama!”

“Bring Shisui and Itachi back immediately. Tell them to ignore everything else.”

Then,

the Anbu spoke no further words and left without hesitation.

Twenty minutes later.

Shisui and Itachi, stationed in the Death Forest, paused upon receiving Hiruzen Sarutobi’s order; Danzō roared in fury: “That bastard Hiruzen is insane! Why recall Shisui and Itachi now?!”

“Shisui! Itachi!”

“Neither of Itachi is leaving!”

Danzō was furious, veins bulging on his forehead.

Of course!

This was the critical moment to ambush Uchiha Jin—he had no intention of letting Shisui and Itachi go.

But unfortunately,

Shisui and Itachi were not Danzō’s men—they answered to Hiruzen Sarutobi!

Now that Hiruzen had given an order, they naturally ignored Danzō; they merely bowed slightly in apology before rushing off at full speed to the Hokage’s office.

Then,

the moment they saw Fugaku, their expressions darkened instantly.

But unfortunately,

before they could speak, Fugaku opened his eyes and revealed his unique Mangekyo Sharingan.

“Mangekyo?”

“Elder Fugaku, this…”

Shisui spoke involuntarily, sensing something wrong.

But unfortunately,

because they were in the Hokage’s office, Shisui had no defenses against Fugaku.

‘Tei Kō Jin Hi!’

This was Fugaku’s right-eye technique, similar in function to his left eye, also a time-based special dōjutsu.

Its ability was simpler:

his left eye, Izanagi’s Premonition, used time to anchor a point and predict outcomes; his right eye simply slowed time within a range—by tenfold, a hundredfold, even a thousandfold…

Within this space, only Fugaku could move normally.

Of course,

Fugaku’s current ability was weak—he could only slow time by twentyfold.

But it was enough!

Even though Shisui tried desperately to resist, his speed before Fugaku…

was too slow!

Even as the Body Flicker King, he now moved like someone in slow motion.