Inside the Uchiha clan.
"Shin, three of them just escaped!"
Uchiha Shin, along with the clan members, had started cleaning up the battlefield. A Uchiha clan member with bloodshot eyes walked over, his expression still filled with anger.
While they were cleaning up, three assassins had managed to escape.
After all the Uchiha clan members they had lost, letting those assassins escape was hard for him to accept.
"Don't chase them yet. We have a bigger problem—Uchiha Itachi!" Uchiha Shin looked up at the figure still standing there, his tone serious. "It's time."
With that, he led the way toward their destination, followed by dozens of figures behind him.
However, Uchiha Shin didn't forget the request from Uchiha Genya. He turned to Uchiha Furin beside him and said, "Furin, take a few trusted people and collect the eyes of the fallen clan members. Remember to visit the clan leader's house."
These were Genya's instructions. When Genya had arrived, he had already told him that Fugaku was dead.
Those eyes must not fall into the hands of the Root.
Uchiha Furin nodded and, with a few others, went back. They retrieved several small bottles from somewhere, filled with liquid to prevent the eyeballs from decaying.
They carefully removed the eyes of their fallen clan members.
Meanwhile, on Genya's side.
Uchiha Itachi was still talking with Genya. Figures started to appear around them.
They glared at Uchiha Itachi, as if they wanted to tear him apart.
Hmm?
Uchiha Itachi frowned, following their gaze, and saw dozens of blood-soaked clan members standing on higher ground, glaring at him with eyes full of anger!
It was likely because the battle had just ended, and the bloodlust and anger hadn't dissipated yet.
Seeing this scene, Itachi's heart skipped a beat.
Could it be that the root ninja who invaded the Uchiha clan have all been killed? Otherwise, Uchiha Shin wouldn't be leading the clan members here.
"Itachi Uchiha, everyone you brought has been wiped out. Surrender now!" Uchiha Shin called out as soon as Itachi turned his gaze toward him.
Wiped out?
Itachi's heart sank when he heard this.
It's over.
This mission was completely impossible to complete now. He had lost.
With Genya still here, and so many of the Uchiha clan's key members around, there was no way to wipe them all out, especially with his Sharingan's power nearly drained!
There was no chance of victory.
He was certain that if he dared to kill any more Uchiha, Genya might actually kill Sasuke.
Itachi didn't want to take that risk.
Moreover, this time, he had truly lost.
"Itachi, you lost!" Genya finally turned his gaze to Itachi, black flames dancing as his tone was cold.
"Lost?" Itachi chuckled bitterly. This was a complete loss, and it was utterly devastating.
Because of this mission, he had killed his own parents, and he had stained his hands with the blood of his clan.
There was no turning back now.
It was laughable how he had once considered himself the most rational and intelligent member of the Uchiha clan, mocking others.
Who would have thought that, in the end, he would be the one to be outwitted?
"Since that's the case, end it yourself!" Genya's eyes glinted with coldness as he looked at Itachi. "Your sins are too heavy. Even if you kill yourself, your crimes will never be washed away."
Itachi's sins were too great.
Even though he hadn't wiped out the entire Uchiha clan under Genya's watch, the killing he had done tonight was significant, especially with the dozens of elite Root ninjas breaking into the clan and massacring everyone.
This led to unimaginable suffering within the clan.
If Genya hadn't held him back, the clan wouldn't have suffered so many casualties.
"Suicide?" Uchiha Itachi gave a bitter smile, but his eyes quickly became cold and sharp. "No, I can't commit suicide!"
Uchiha Itachi shook his head decisively. He knew that if he died, Sasuke's life could be in danger. As long as he was alive, he could be a deterrent to both Genya and the Third Hokage.
He had to leave here alive.
With that thought, his Sharingan activated once again, and he prepared to head outside of Konoha.
But, he was sorry for Sasuke.
He had destroyed his clan to ensure Sasuke could live peacefully. But now, he could foresee that Sasuke might face injustice in the future.
With that thought, he was ready to make his move.
However...
Just as he was about to act, a young girl, covered in blood, appeared in front of him.
The girl had several wounds on her body, with one arm hanging limply due to the severity of the injury. Her face was pale.
But,
In the night, the blood-red three-tomoe Sharingan in her eyes stood out.
It was Uchiha Izumi.
In that deadly battle, Uchiha Izumi had survived, and she had even personally killed an ANBU elite. Although severely injured, she had completed her mission.
Now, standing in front of Itachi, her fragile figure made Itachi hesitate slightly. His gaze softened, filled with regret.
But Uchiha Izumi's eyes were cold, and she spoke to Itachi slowly, her words heavy. "Itachi, you should commit suicide. Only then can you atone for your sins!"
Back when he tried to kill her, if she had died, she might have still had some feelings for him.
But after witnessing the massacre of the Uchiha civilians by the Root, Izumi's heart had completely turned cold toward Itachi. Everything was caused by him. The mistakes he made led to the deaths of so many Uchiha clan members!
Many people lost their loved ones—parents, children, siblings. It was a disaster.
Itachi must take responsibility for his mistakes.
"I'm sorry, Izumi!" Uchiha Itachi shook his head, and with a swipe of his powerful hand, he pushed Izumi aside, preparing to leave.
He couldn't do anything to Genya, but if he wanted to leave, the current Genya couldn't stop him now!
"Want to leave?" Genya frowned, appearing in front of Susano with a body flicker. "Want to leave? Have you asked me first?"
Outside the Uchiha clan…
Danzo was waiting for news from the ROOT division. Although missions 03 and 04 had failed, missions 01 and 02 had successfully infiltrated the heart of the Uchiha clan's territory. This time, they would succeed for sure!
Even Sarutobi Eisuke hadn't left but was waiting for the news!
But the more they waited, the more anxious they became.
Their hearts grew restless.
Especially with that Susano, which seemed unsettled.
While they waited for news, Sarutobi Hiruzen suddenly appeared from behind, standing beside them. He too frowned and looked in the direction of Susano, his face full of deep wrinkles that seemed to be even more pronounced now.
"Hiruzen, why aren't you in the office? What brings you here?" Danzo looked at Sarutobi Hiruzen, a hint of surprise in his eyes.
According to the plan, he wasn't supposed to show himself this time.
****
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