Chapter 5

Panicked!

Nara Kabyu’s forehead broke into sweat; embarrassed, he fell completely silent.

The feud between the Pig-Deer-Butterfly clan and Konoha’s high command was known to all, but this matter could never be spoken aloud.

What the hell!

Is this Uchiha Jin really an Uchiha?

And on the other side.

With Nara Kabyu’s silence, the Konoha F4 sank into complete stillness.

Two minutes later.

Hiruzen Sarutobi put down his pipe and said calmly: “Kabyu, return to your post.”

“This—alright!” Nara Kabyu blinked in surprise, then left without another word.

His retreating figure looked utterly flustered.

After Nara Kabyu left and closed the door, Hiruzen Sarutobi’s expression darkened: “Now that there are no outsiders, let’s speak plainly—what exactly do Itachi intend, Uchiha Jin?”

Almost instantly.

The Konoha F4 shed all pretense; their eyes brimmed with contempt, fury, even—icy killing intent!

Yes!

They had seen through Uchiha Jin completely—he was a hardened radical, utterly beyond redemption.

Pretense?

Meaningless!

Uchiha Jin’s words cut sharp as blades: “An eye for an eye, a life for a life!”

Hiss!

The Konoha F4 drew in sharp breaths; Transmigration Shōshun snapped angrily: “How dare Itachi! Are Itachi plotting rebellion?”

“I’d love to, but I lack the power,” Uchiha Jin shrugged. “I must admit—Itachi all are formidable.”

“The Uchiha name has long been rotten to the core; your machinations have turned our clan into scattered dust.”

“Though your influence in Konoha has waned, it still dwarfs the infamous Uchiha.”

His voice remained perfectly calm.

Even as the Uchiha’s situation deteriorated, he showed not the slightest concern.

The Konoha F4 were baffled; Mizukado En couldn’t help asking: “If Itachi understand Konoha’s situation so clearly, why join the radicals and adopt this no-holds-barred stance?”

The others were equally curious.

If Uchiha Jin were like other Uchiha, such behavior might be understandable—but if he saw everything so clearly, why act this way?

Uchiha Jin smiled sharply: “Precisely because I see everything clearly, I know I must fight to the death!”

“Oh? That’s interesting!” Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled without warmth. “Elaborate.”

Uchiha Jin didn’t hide it: “In my view, Itachi’ll eventually exterminate the entire Uchiha clan. Your current restraint is merely to cut off our wings, paving the way for the final purge.”

“Hashirama Senju didn’t fear the Uchiha’s strength; Tobirama Senju outmaneuvered them. But Itachi? Itachi have neither, yet Itachi crave eternal control over Konoha.”

“So your only choice is to erase the Uchiha entirely—perhaps leaving one or two bloodlines alive.”

Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed softly.

His eyes were filled with complex emotion: “Itachi don’t seem like an Uchiha at all.”

“Hiruzen, Itachi can’t let him live,” Orochimaru’s face turned icy, his eyes brimming with murder. “He must die today!”

“Afterward, claim Uchiha Jin flew into a rage and tried to assassinate the Hokage in his office.”

“Any act by a radical Uchiha will be believed!”

Hiruzen Sarutobi remained silent, deep in thought.

His Hokage hat brim slowly lowered as he picked up his pipe and began smoking.

Orochimaru saw this and instantly understood the Hokage’s intent.

No words meant consent!

He slowly unsealed his left arm, his voice cold as he stared at Uchiha Jin: “I admit—Itachi’re a clever, capable Uchiha. But this world still bows to strength.”

“Itachi’re too arrogant!”

“Itachi truly believe awakening the Mangekyo makes Itachi invincible?”

Thud!

The sealing seals on his right arm fell to the ground as he lifted the eye patch, revealing his crimson Mangekyo.

“Tsukuyomi!”

Almost instantly.

Uchiha Jin found himself on a vast blue earth, surrounded by birdsong and blossoms—like paradise.

What startled him more: countless familiar faces surrounded him.

These were friends Uchiha Jin deeply trusted, now gently pulling him toward heaven.

Is this Uchiha Kagami's genjutsu?

Uchiha Jin murmured.

Though both were Tsukuyomi, Kagami’s version felt like paradise, unlike Itachi’s crimson hell.

It made sense.

Itachi himself lived in hell; his awakened Mangekyo naturally reflected that.

Uchiha Kagami was different—he was Tobirama Senju’s disciple, considered himself a friend to Hiruzen Sarutobi and others, his life nearly perfect.

The Mangekyo is a mirror of the soul; even when manifesting the same illusion, Kagami’s Tsukuyomi overflowed with beauty!

“What a pity!”

“Though everything here is beautiful, illusions remain illusions.”

“Susanoo!”

As Uchiha Jin spoke, his eyes instantly transformed into Mangekyo, forming a crimson six-pointed star pattern.

Yes!

Like Sasuke Uchiha—straight-bar Mangekyo!

Almost instantly.

As Uchiha Jin activated his technique, the illusion shattered like bubbles; the scene instantly reverted to the Hokage’s office.

“Wood Release: Exploding Spear Tree!”

Uchiha Jin had just broken the illusion when he heard Orochimaru’s roar.

Next.

His right arm transformed into a massive tree, hurtling toward Uchiha Jin like lightning.

Orochimaru feared Uchiha Jin’s unknown Mangekyo technique; this attack required no testing—he opened with Kagami’s Mangekyo illusion, then struck instantly with his strongest kill technique while Uchiha Jin was trapped.

Wood Release!

“Susanoo!”

Uchiha Jin unleashed his ultimate technique without reservation.

Blood streamed from his left eye as his Mangekyo spun wildly, consuming endless ocular power.

Orochimaru’s Wood Release collapsed instantly; even his Sharingan arm—and his entire body—began crumbling to dust!

Aah!

Orochimaru screamed, then died instantly.

Hiruzen Sarutobi and the others felt their scalps tighten; they rose involuntarily, eyes wide with terror.

They couldn’t believe Orochimaru was dead?

But the next second.

Orochimaru’s corpse vanished; Uchiha Jin grew sharply alert.

“Izanagi!”

He knew this powerful Uchiha illusion well.

Whoosh!

Orochimaru appeared behind him, a sharp kunai piercing his chest.

“Hah!”

“Uchiha Jin, die!”

Orochimaru roared, eyes filled with mockery.

But unfortunately.

Uchiha Jin’s body vanished with a *pop*; Orochimaru stared, stunned.

“Shadow Clone?”

“Impossible?”

“When did he do it?”

Yet.

As he hesitated, Uchiha Jin appeared behind him.

Same kunai—piercing Orochimaru’s heart.