"The years of suppression and marginalization by Konoha have fostered a desire for rebellion within the Uchiha leadership. You haven't been granted access to the secret meetings at the Naka Shrine, so you likely weren't aware of the specifics. But the truth is, the relationship between the Uchiha and Konoha has reached a freezing point."
Kuroya explained with calm patience as the others stood in a state of deathly despair.
"To maintain the 'peace' of the village, Itachi has willingly become the executioner for the Konoha high command. He has turned his blade against his own kin."
Izumi's eyes were shrouded in a thick mist of tears. She sobbed, her voice trembling as she asked, "And what about you?"
In her memory, Kuroya had always been the gentle, kind captain—the one who always wore a smile and treated his duties with unwavering responsibility. Years ago, when she had just graduated from the Academy and was injured on a mission, it was Kuroya who refused to leave her behind, carrying her on his back all the way to the village.
Kuroya's tone remained level. "I am not as noble as the Uchiha Itachi you all placed your hopes in. When he swings his sword at his family, he can do so under the high-minded banners of 'beloved kin,' 'the greater good,' or 'the peace of Konoha.' I don't care about the village's peace."
He looked back toward the burning horizon. "The people who died by my blade tonight were destined to die regardless. The only difference is whether it happened a bit sooner or a bit later. I simply want to survive in this world. However..."
He paused, his voice dropping an octave. "Since I have 'borrowed' their lives, I must do something for the Uchiha in return. I don't like owing favors—which is the only reason you are standing here right now."
Down in the compound, Itachi's blade continued to harvest the lives of Uchiha civilians. The shrill cries and wails grew louder, more deafening, until a heavy, suffocating gloom seemed to settle over all of Konoha.
"Hahaha!" Uchiha Tamao suddenly burst into a loud, bright laugh. "I knew it! Big Brother Kuroya didn't murder them; he was helping them find release from this living hell!"
In public, Tamao called Kuroya "Captain." In private, it was always "Big Brother."
The others cast strange looks at Tamao. His sudden outburst had completely shattered the rhythm of their grief. But then, everyone knew Tamao was somewhat unstable—a "madman" of sorts. He was only allowed to serve on missions because Kuroya had personally vouched for him and his Three-Tomoe Sharingan.
Kuroya glanced at Tamao, his Mangekyō spinning slightly to temporarily release the Yachiyamato brand on the boy's mind. Tamao's parents had died in the Third Shinobi World War, leaving him mentally scarred from a young age. The clan had essentially discarded him, forcing him into the psychiatric ward of the Konoha Hospital. It was the original Kuroya who had rescued him and raised him. Consequently, Tamao followed Kuroya with unconditional, zealot-like devotion.
Feeling his autonomy return, Tamao stepped excitedly behind Kuroya, assuming his role as both subordinate and bodyguard.
"Captain Kuroya! Let us go! I'll go stop that bastard!" Uchiha Nanfu's eyes were blood-red. He wailed in agony, knowing his elderly parents were still in the heart of the compound.
The subordinates beside Nanfu began to plead as well. Their families lived in the central district—the very area Itachi was currently approaching.
"You cannot stop them. Even with me, it wouldn't be enough." Kuroya's gaze shifted back to the village, as if he were waiting for something specific.
One of the officers, clinging to a shred of desperate hope, stammered, "But the Uchiha only... only had the intent to seize power. We haven't taken any action yet! Surely the village leadership, considering all the blood the Uchiha have spilled for Konoha, wouldn't just sit by! And... and we still have Chief Fugaku! Fugaku wouldn't just let Itachi run wild like this!"
They didn't even believe their own words as they spoke them.
Kuroya stood up and pointed toward the forest surrounding the Uchiha district. His voice was cold and detached. "The members of the Foundation are currently massing over there. Why do you think they aren't moving? This slaughter has been going on for five minutes—why hasn't the Third Hokage's direct ANBU squad made a sound? What about the other clans? What about Chief Fugaku? Do you think they can't hear the screaming?"
He turned back to them. "Until Itachi's blade stops and the screams of the Uchiha die out, the Hokage and the high command will not appear. Your Chief Fugaku is doing nothing. He is an accomplice."
The officers fell silent. Standing on the cliff, away from the carnage, they were like outsiders forced to witness the end of their world. Kuroya was right. This was a state-sanctioned execution. Tonight, no one was coming to save the Uchiha.
But the realization that their own Clan Chief was allowing this to happen was the final blow to their spirits.
"Big Brother, let's go!" Tamao suggested. Since they couldn't win, they should run, become rogue ninja, and wait for the right moment to come back and kill everyone.
The others looked at Tamao. For once, the "madman" was making sense. Any Uchiha who survived tonight wouldn't just have to worry about Itachi; the village wouldn't let them live either. Danzō would ensure their "suicide" the moment the dust settled.
"Captain Kuroya, you should go," Nanfu said bitterly. "My family is down there. I can't live with myself if I abandon them."
Just as Kuroya was about to speak, a prompt appeared in his mind.
[Side Mission: Rescue][Condition:]
Perform a rescue within the Uchiha clan territory.
[Reward: 100-cubic-meter Storage Space.]
Kuroya frowned slightly. Rescue? He didn't have the inclination for heroism, nor the leisure for it. However, the mission didn't specify how many people to save. As for the nine behind him, he had essentially abducted them before the mission triggered, so they likely didn't count. A 100-cubic-meter storage space, however, would be far more convenient than sealing scrolls.
He decided there was indeed one person in the compound worth his effort. Before, he hadn't had the strength. Now, he did.
In fact, the Shadow Clone he had sent into the district earlier had already stumbled onto the path of this mission. He just needed to wait for the right moment to complete it. He intended to save that particular "surprise" for Itachi. It would also serve as insurance for his own survival.
Suddenly, Kuroya sensed a faint movement in the forest outside the compound—something a normal shinobi would have missed.
His eyes brightened. The moment had finally arrived. He stood up from the cliff edge and scanned the eight men and women standing in a row. Their spirits were broken, their despair etched into their faces.
"I cannot save your parents or your siblings from Itachi's hand," Kuroya said, "but I can take you to get your revenge right now! After tonight, your families will sleep forever in the soil of a village that betrayed them. But you... you will be reborn. And one day, you will return to level Konoha to the ground."
With a flick of his will, Kuroya used Yachiyamato to manipulate their chakra, forcing them to perform the Transformation Jutsu. Within seconds, the eight Uchiha were disguised as members of the Foundation. Tamao, though not under mind control, quickly followed suit. He wasn't stupid; he knew exactly what his Big Brother was planning.
Kuroya led the nine shadows down the cliff, blending into the darkness. Using the chaos as cover, they slipped into the ranks of the Foundation squads moving toward the edge of the district.
"This is the end," Kuroya whispered, "and also the beginning."
He deactivated his Mangekyō to conserve energy, but his grip on the officers' minds remained absolute. Under the influence of Yachiyamato, it felt as though he were merely controlling eight extra limbs.
Next, he had to execute the final move of his defection—the key to truly escaping Konoha.
Kuroya was going to assassinate Shimura Danzō.
He had roughly fifteen minutes. Once Itachi finished "cleaning" the Uchiha district, Hiruzen Sarutobi and his direct ANBU would arrive. If they were still in the village by then, they would be hunted down and killed.
It was a massive risk, but Kuroya was willing to take it. If he could kill Danzō, perfect. If not, he would at least strip the man of something vital.
This was the final thing he had to do before leaving the village forever.