"Lord Fugaku, please announce Shinnosuke Sarutobi's defection."
The voice belonged to Unkaku Gekko, the head of the Gekko clan. Since his clan had already aligned themselves with the Uchiha, it was only natural that he acted in accordance with Fugaku Uchiha's will.
The situation was clear: Fugaku needed someone else to speak up and set the tone for the entire affair. Besides, Shinnosuke's defection was a massive blow to the pride of the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, and the village itself. What did it have to do with the Uchiha clan?
Everyone in the ninja world knew about the bad blood between Konoha's high command and the Uchiha. With the Sarutobi clan producing such a scandalous affair, Hiruzen should be burning incense in gratitude that the Uchiha weren't seizing the opportunity to ruthlessly retaliate.
Moreover, compared to a victory that was practically within their grasp, what was a little pride worth?
With Unkaku Gekko taking the lead, the remaining clan heads exchanged thoughtful glances before quickly voicing their agreement. Hiruzen's downfall was already destined. Once the war ended and the Third Hokage stepped down, the only person qualified to take the Hokage's seat would be Fugaku Uchiha. Now was the perfect time to pick the winning side.
Seeing the unanimous support, a faint smile graced Fugaku's lips. He immediately raised his voice to make the declaration.
"The rogue-ninja, Shinnosuke Sarutobi, has coerced members of his clan into defecting to Kumogakure!" Fugaku announced, his tone leaving no room for argument. "Today, we launch a full-scale assault on Kumogakure. Apprehend the traitor Shinnosuke and his Sarutobi accomplices!"
"Yes, sir!"
Meanwhile, inside the enemy encampment.
"Lord Raikage, this is an absolute godsend. To think the Third Hokage's son would deliver himself right to our doorstep," Mabui said, a bright smile on her face.
"That old monkey is truly going senile. He can't even teach his own son properly," the Fourth Raikage snorted, his eyes brimming with utter disdain. "Then again, if that brat had half a brain, Kumogakure wouldn't have been gifted such a golden opportunity. Let's see if the Uchiha clan actually has the nerve to abandon the Hokage's son."
"Lord Raikage! We have news from Konoha!"
Darui rushed into the tent, an intelligence scroll clutched tightly in his hand. "Konoha has officially listed Shinnosuke Sarutobi as a rogue-ninja! They've mobilized their army and are marching on us as we speak. They're determined to execute him."
"So Fugaku actually has that kind of resolve... I underestimated him," the Fourth Raikage muttered. He stood up, his massive frame casting a long shadow, his voice turning ice-cold. "Prepare the army for battle! If Konoha is bringing the fight to our doorstep at this point, then we have no other choice...War it is!"
"Yes, sir!" Mabui and Darui shouted in unison.
"Don't they want to execute their rouge-ninja?" A cruel glint flashed in the Raikage's eyes. "Drag the old monkey's son and the rest of his pathetic clan out to the frontlines. I want to see if the Uchiha really have the guts to strike them down."
"Understood!"
Half an hour later, the Konoha allied forces, led by Fugaku Uchiha, collided head-on with the Kumogakure army commanded by the Fourth Raikage himself.
Thanks to his monstrous physique and the tireless efforts of Kumogakure's medical corps, the Raikage's injuries were fully healed—except for his severed arm.
....
At the battlefield..
The eyes of both sides were blazing with hatred. The Fourth Raikage glared at Fugaku, his killing intent spilling over.
"Fugaku Uchiha! Are you not relying on your son to lead the vanguard this time?" the Raikage mocked.
Enough time had passed for Kumogakure to thoroughly investigate Jie Uchiha's identity. When the intel finally confirmed that Jie was truly only ten years old, the Fourth Raikage had crushed the scroll in a fit of absolute rage.
He had lost to a ten-year-old child? A mere boy who had single-handedly defeated the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki, the Two-Tails Jinchuriki, and the Raikage himself? Had he not experienced Jie's terrifying power firsthand, the Raikage would have thought he was trapped in a ridiculous genjutsu. It was too absurd to be reality.
His taunt wasn't just mindless anger; he was probing for Jie's whereabouts.
"To be missed so dearly by the Fourth Raikage... I am truly flattered."
A calm, familiar voice drifted through the air. Jie Uchiha stepped forward from the ranks of the Uchiha shinobi, a pleasant smile on his face as he locked eyes with the Raikage.
"Jie Uchiha."
The moment the Raikage saw the boy, the fury in his chest became uncontainable. This was the ten-year-old monster who had manifested that colossal, crimson-gold giant, completely crushing Kumogakure's elite forces into the dirt. When the boy had finally retreated, that singular, terrifying arc of his sword slash had claimed the Raikage's right arm and Killer Bee's left.
Recalling that blinding slash, a cold shiver inadvertently ran down the Raikage's spine. 'It was so close.' If he hadn't twisted his body at the very last fraction of a second, he would have lost far more than just his arm.
The Raikage forcefully shook his head, casting out the distracting thoughts. In their place, a deep, heavy sense of dread took root. He took a deep breath and sharply waved his remaining hand.
"Even if the old monkey's son wants to defect, Kumogakure has no use for him!"
At his command, Shinnosuke and the surviving Sarutobi clansmen were dragged to the front, tightly bound in thick ropes.
"Killing trash like this would only soil the hands of a Kumogakure shinobi," the Raikage sneered. "So, we're returning this garbage to Konoha."
He threw his head back and let out a booming laugh. Following his lead, the surrounding Kumogakure shinobi erupted into roaring, mocking laughter. The son of the honorable Hokage was nothing but trash in their eyes—a calculated psychological blow meant to humiliate Konoha and enrage them into making reckless mistakes.
The tactic was working. Many Konoha shinobi flushed red with anger, gripping their weapons so tightly their knuckles turned white, ready to charge to their deaths.
Swish!!...Just then a blinding arc of white steel cut through the air, and the Fourth Raikage's laughter stopped dead in his throat.
The Raikage narrowed his eyes, his gaze snapping back to Jie Uchiha, who was looking completely nonchalant. He then looked to the center of the battlefield. Shinnosuke Sarutobi was on his knees, desperately clutching his throat. He gasped and sputtered, choking on his own blood, unable to form a single word.
The Raikage realized he had severely underestimated Jie Uchiha's ruthlessness.
"A rogue-ninja is a rogue-ninja," Jie said breezily, casually sliding his ninja blade back into its sheath. "Once disloyal, never to be trusted again!"
Shinnosuke's eyes bulged with pure disbelief. He opened his mouth, desperately trying to speak, but only bloody foam spilled out. A few seconds later, his body went limp, collapsing onto the dirt. The life faded from his eyes.
Sensing the perfect opening, Fugaku drew his weapon and roared, "Konoha shinobi, hear my command! Execute the traitors and slaughter Kumogakure! Attack!"
Seeing the charge, the Fourth Raikage roared in return, waving his arm forward. In an instant, a sea of Konoha and Kumogakure shinobi crashed into each other, the battlefield erupting into chaos.
Amidst the blood and steel, the Fourth Raikage stood perfectly still, his cold eyes locked entirely on the boy.
"Jie Uchiha," he growled. "It's time we settled the score."
"Settle the score?" Jie let out a soft chuckle, a profound, dangerous glint dancing in his eyes. "I'm afraid the result won't be what you wish to see."
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