The moonlight was like a song. Yuhara stood quietly in front of the Uchiha clan's shrine, looking out at the Uchiha ninja lined up in perfect formation.
A few weeks earlier, Yuhara had already received information from Kakashi, so he had begun preparations early.
Whether it was informing other clans or notifying members of his own, Yuhara handled every matter with meticulous care.
Because he knew—this was going to be even more dangerous and troublesome than taking down Danzō.
Looking at the gathered Uchiha, especially Shisui and Fugaku at the front, Yuhara silently nodded to himself.
These were the clan's elite—over fifty in total—all at jōnin level.
Most of them had fought in wars, seasoned veterans. Even those who hadn't been to the battlefield were core members of the Police Force.
To be honest, this wasn't a large number of shinobi—especially compared to the combined might of the three great clans, this seemed almost pitiful.
But that was exactly what Yuhara had wanted. If the entire Uchiha mobilized, they could easily send out several hundred ninja.
But in his view, numbers alone weren't everything. In a situation where battle might break out, chūnin and genin wouldn't be of much use.
Rather than letting them be background decoration, it was better for them to stay behind and protect the clan's elderly, women, and children.
A breeze blew softly through the air, making the shrine seem even more silent.
Then, as a brilliant signal flare lit up the sky, Yuhara finally spoke calmly.
"Everyone, are you ready?"
His voice wasn't loud, but his words carried clearly to every ear—each syllable resonating with power and resolve.
"I believe you all know why we've gathered here tonight. You all know we're about to do something monumental.
The Uchiha were one of the founding clans of Konoha—we've always been here. We've never left.
But there are always those who want to drive us out of Konoha, to isolate us from everyone else, to make us pariahs, to plunge us into eternal darkness.
We've resisted, we've struggled—but their schemes never stop.
Uchiha Itachi is a perfect example—he betrayed the clan and even tried to destroy it.
We opposed that with everything we had, thinking maybe that would be the end of it.
But the truth is, we underestimated how much they hate us."
Yuhara paused slightly here, then suddenly raised his voice.
"But they also underestimated our Uchiha spirit—are you willing to be trampled on?
Are you willing to be ostracized, treated like outsiders in our own village?
Are you willing to be stared at with eyes full of disgust?
Are you willing to be endlessly targeted with malicious tactics?
Are you willing to watch the clan be destroyed—watch your people slaughtered in front of you?"
"No! No! No!"
The instant Yuhara finished speaking, a wave of roaring replies burst out in response.
Everyone present was burning with fury and passion, shouting in unison, their voices shaking the night.
Yuhara raised his right hand high, and the tidal wave of shouting came to an abrupt stop.
"That's right—we're not willing.
But as members of Konoha, we cannot start a war.
So if we want to avoid war, there's only one thing I can do: impeach the Hokage!
We're heading out soon. I don't know exactly what will happen next, but we must prepare for the worst.
That means battle might break out—and if it does, every one of us is at risk. We could die!
But even if we die, we'll make sure they know—the Uchiha will never bow.
Now, I ask you one last time—are you afraid?"
"No!"
Again, the response came loud and clear—so thunderous that even Yuhara at the front could feel the killing intent rolling toward him.
"Good. Move out!"
Yuhara nodded with satisfaction, then turned and began walking forward. Shisui, Fugaku, and the fifty Uchiha shinobi followed without a word, keeping pace behind him.
Their pace wasn't particularly fast—Yuhara was deliberately controlling it. After all, Kakashi's side still needed time, and this operation wasn't just the Uchiha acting alone.
But what Yuhara hadn't expected was that as soon as they stepped out of the shrine, lights began flicking on in households across the Uchiha district.
More and more clan members came out, quietly standing along the streets, watching them march past.
"Victory to the clan head!"
"Victory to the clan head!"
No one knew who started it, but soon the chants grew louder, rising like crashing waves to see them off.
It was overwhelming. And it deeply moved Yuhara.
He swore to himself—tonight must have a result worthy of all this.
"Get ready to move."
In the Hyūga compound, Hiashi looked at the flare lighting up the sky, then turned to his assembled people.
The Hyūga had gathered a decent number—around thirty or forty at a glance.
But compared to the Uchiha, they were clearly lacking—both in numbers and in quality.
Most of the ones Hiashi had summoned were from the branch family. Only a few were main house members. These were shinobi he had cultivated himself, loyal only to him.
But even after being clan head for years, this was all he could muster—which showed just how much resistance he faced within the clan.
In Hyūga tradition, the main house leads the branch families. And while the main family members were few, each one oversaw several branch shinobi.
These main family members were mostly clan elders—and they were not on Hiashi's side.
"Yes, Clan Head!"
The Hyūga answered in unison—but their spirit and volume paled in comparison to the Uchiha.
Hiashi could do nothing about that. But in his heart, he had etched the faces and actions of those elders—he would not forget them.
It was those same elders who, years ago, sided with Hiruzen Sarutobi and forced him to make that horrific decision.
Now they were dragging him down again. Sure, he wanted justice for his brother, but at the core, everything he was doing was for the clan.
Yet they dared to oppose him in the name of the clan—when all they feared was the consequences if he failed.
Hiashi had nothing left to say to people like that—so lost in the whirlpool of power they couldn't even tell right from wrong.
A confrontation between them was likely inevitable. Hiashi's patience had already reached its limit.
"If this all goes well... if I can come back alive…"
He thought silently as they walked, but suddenly lifted his head to glance sideways.
A few elders stood watching from the shadows, their foreheads smooth, their gazes full of anger and resentment.
They were the elders of the Hyūga clan—those most firmly opposed to him.
Hiashi took a deep breath and turned away.
The moonlight was like a song, casting silver rays across the Hyūga compound, making everything seem peaceful.
But the group walking through its streets tonight felt utterly alone.
"It's time. Let's move out."
In the Nara clan territory, Shikaku Nara watched the flare in the sky, then turned to his people.
Compared to the Uchiha's passion and the Hyūga's tragic resolve, the Nara clan was calm.
Yuhara wasn't wrong about one thing—Shikaku Nara never acted unless he was sure.
He was the kind who calculated every risk and reward before deciding on anything.
This mission was dangerous, but Shikaku had already considered every angle.
The instructions Yuhara gave Kakashi were actually drafted by Shikaku himself.
It was a strategy of public pressure—not unlike what they'd done against Danzō. The goal: make the entire village witness everything.
And this time, with all seven clans acting together, plus the legal backing from the daimyo—they had both evidence and legitimacy.
Even if fighting broke out, Shikaku had already mapped out their response.
He knew their numbers were limited, so every person had to be positioned with extreme precision.
Especially since all involved were elite—and any loss would be a heavy blow to their respective clans.
So, none of them would be entering the Hokage Tower zone directly. Instead, they'd secure key transit points around the area.
If a fight became inevitable, then they'd step in.
"But honestly, if it comes to combat, the Uchiha are enough.
As long as the entire village doesn't join in, with three Mangekyō users, the Uchiha won't lose."
Shikaku thought to himself. His confidence came from Yuhara, Shisui, and Fugaku's strength.
He could win the battle of public opinion, but not a direct fight.
That's where the Uchiha came in. They were warriors—wielders of the clan's strongest power.
With the three of them leading, and backed by shinobi from seven clans, even against the other three clans, they still held the advantage.
"If worst comes to worst… we'll rally the neutral Konoha ninja watching from the sidelines. This has to succeed!"
He murmured internally, then turned to leave.
Just as he did, a familiar figure caught his eye in the crowd, making him pause.
"Kotoha?" Shikaku spotted her hiding in the group. "What are you doing here? Weren't you assigned to stay behind and help protect the non-combatants?"
"I think I'm more useful going with you. My skills aren't exactly weak."
Kotoha, realizing she'd been caught, stepped forward and spoke directly.
"And this isn't just your fight. It concerns the whole clan. I can help. So I'm coming."
"You know how dangerous this mission is, right?" Shikaku felt a headache coming on—his cousin's daughter really was a handful.
"Of course I know. But don't underestimate me. My mission record has always been solid." Kotoha's expression was firm.
Her unwavering resolve made Shikaku pause. Truthfully, she was more than capable—or she wouldn't hold the jōnin rank now.
Actually, Shikaku had originally intended to bring her along. If it hadn't been for the fact that his cousin was already in the Fire Nation's capital, he wouldn't have hesitated to assign Kotoha to this mission from the start—he just didn't want the whole family facing danger together.
"Also, Uncle Shikaku, I think we should pick up the pace. That signal flare's been in the sky for a while now."
While Shikaku was still deep in thought, Kotoha pointed up at the flare overhead, and her words finally made Shikaku nod.
Staring at that streak of white light in the sky, he waved his hand and shouted again.
"Move out!"
"Yes, Clan Head!"
"Let's go, it's time."
"Yes, Clan Head!"
In the Akimichi compound, Choza Akimichi looked up at the signal flare and gave the command to his ninja, receiving a resounding response in return.
Similar scenes played out across the Yamanaka, Aburame, and Inuzuka clans—at that moment, all seven great clans began to move.
"What's going on?"
"No idea. That flare just popped up out of nowhere."
"That location... looks like the Hokage Tower?"
All across the Hidden Leaf, countless shinobi stared up at the bright flare, their minds racing.
Once they figured out the direction it came from, they began mobilizing immediately.
That flare came from the Hokage Tower—could that possibly be a minor issue?
For some reason, many of them were reminded of that night a year ago—when Uchiha Yuhara led his clan in a direct assault against Danzō.
That night had left a deep mark in their memories. Even now, they hadn't forgotten.
"What's going on?"
At home and about to rest, Hiruzen Sarutobi was suddenly interrupted by an Anbu report, prompting him to rush to the window.
Looking at the glaring white streak in the sky, Hiruzen's face twisted into a strange expression.
Even without being told, he could immediately recognize that the flare came from the direction of the Hokage Tower—he knew that place far too well.
But a flare launched from the Hokage Tower itself? What the hell did that mean?
"Who's on duty in the Anbu tonight?" After a long pause, Hiruzen asked the Anbu beside him in a low voice.
"Team 9, Hokage-sama," the Anbu answered with his head lowered.
Hiruzen already knew what that meant. If nothing unexpected happened, then the team on duty tonight would be Yamato's.
Yamato was someone he'd snatched away from Danzō—a survivor of Orochimaru's experiments, capable of using Wood Release.
If Kakashi hadn't discovered him during a mission, Yamato would probably still be rotting under Danzō's control.
The kid had been performing excellently since joining the Anbu. With him there, there shouldn't be any issues.
Still, Hiruzen decided to go check it out himself. Anyone bold enough to stir up trouble at the Hokage Tower absolutely could not be forgiven!
"I want to see for myself who has the balls.
Even that bastard Uchiha Yuhara wouldn't dare go wild in my damn building!"
Clang!
Inside the Hokage Tower, the sound of metal clashing rang out sharply.
Kakashi's swordsmanship was still exceptional. Even if he rarely used his blade these days, it had long since become a part of him.
Every swing, every angle of attack was executed flawlessly—and with the aid of his Sharingan, his movements were both deadly and mesmerizing.
But Kakashi was holding back. He knew exactly who his opponents were.
These Anbu were just like he had once been—simply carrying out orders.
His Sharingan eye flickered. As a blade came for him, Kakashi dropped low and evaded, countering with a sharp kick that sent one Anbu flying into the wall.
But even before the impact landed, another figure lunged at him from behind, thrusting a blade toward Kakashi's neck.
Poof!
The Kakashi he struck dissolved into smoke—it had been a Shadow Clone.
Realizing this, the Anbu leapt back immediately.
But he was still a split second too late. A hand shot up from beneath the floor, grabbing his leg and yanking him underground—earth sealing him tightly in place.
Landing steadily on the floor, Kakashi looked at the still-struggling Anbu and sighed softly.
The man was trembling. Clearly, he hadn't expected to be up against Kakashi of all people tonight.
"Take a rest. Everything will be okay."
Kakashi murmured. The Sharingan in his left eye spun rapidly, and a strange power radiated out.
"Why…"
The Anbu struggled harder, but the strange power had already overwhelmed him—he could barely form words.
"Because I have more important things to do."
Kakashi replied quietly, and under the effects of his genjutsu, the Anbu finally went still and passed out.
Rising to his feet, Kakashi turned toward the shadows and spoke calmly.
"This is my mission tonight. I know you're there, Yamato."
"Kakashi-senpai…"
From the darkness emerged a masked figure with brown hair. As he stepped out, he removed his mask.
His face was full of anxiety and disbelief. He simply couldn't understand—why would Kakashi do this?
This was an attack on the Hokage Tower. This was treason!
"Why are you doing this? Why?!"
"I told you. This is my mission. There are more important things I must do."
Watching Yamato's panicked expression, Kakashi's heart felt unbearably heavy. But this wasn't the time for explanations.
There wasn't enough time—and even if there were, it couldn't be summed up in a few words. Chaos had to be created tonight.
After launching the flare, Kakashi finally understood why Yuhara wanted him to do this.
It was simple: they needed everyone's attention. Everyone needed to witness this.
And what could shock people the most? What could truly expose the Third Hokage's crimes?
The answer was clear—Yamato's Wood Release.
The Third Hokage had done too much—whether it was about Kakashi's father or Naruto's treatment.
But if you looked at it calmly, all of it could be brushed off as "for the sake of the village."
Even if everyone knew it was wrong, even if the truth was obvious—so what?
It had already happened. Danzō had given the orders, and he was dead now.
Worst case, Hiruzen could give Kakashi's father a posthumous honor and start treating Naruto better.
After all, people make mistakes. But admitting mistakes and fixing them—that's redemption, right?
But could that really make up for everything?
Kakashi didn't think so. Those so-called "mistakes" had crushed him—but for the Hokage, they were just footnotes.
So, they needed something bigger. Something that Hiruzen couldn't explain away.
And what better than experimenting on the First Hokage's DNA, desecrating his corpse, and disturbing the dead?
Nothing could top that level of revulsion.
Yamato couldn't understand Kakashi. He just couldn't grasp why his mentor would make such a choice.
Was this really the same Kakashi he remembered? What secret was he hiding?
He kept asking himself, but there was no answer—and Kakashi wasn't about to give him one.
If Yamato had been paying attention, he might've noticed—Kakashi hadn't killed anyone. And there was a massive scroll strapped to his back.
"That scroll… is that what he's really after? What's in it?"
Yamato thought frantically, but Kakashi wasn't about to give him more time.
He moved.
Whoosh! The sound of blades slicing through the air filled Yamato's ears.
He instinctively drew his own blade, barely blocking Kakashi's strike in time.
"I don't want to fight like this. But I don't have a choice—neither do you."
Kakashi pushed harder with his sword, but his voice remained calm.
"Kakashi-senpai, if you have a reason, just tell me! And don't underestimate me!"
Yamato gritted his teeth, pushing back hard. Kakashi staggered back a step, feeling the force behind Yamato's counter.
But before Yamato could press forward, Kakashi's Sharingan spun—and he raised his blade, blocking Yamato's next strike with perfect timing.
"I've never underestimated you, Yamato. Not once."
He held Yamato's blade at bay, but his chakra surged even stronger now.
"As for my reasons—they're not something I can tell you. But trust me, you'll understand soon enough."
With that, Kakashi pushed Yamato back and calmly stared at him.
"Just a little heads up—if you fight me, don't get distracted. I will go all out."
And then, Kakashi charged again—this time with silver lightning arcing from his left hand.
Lightning Release—one of Kakashi's specialties. Even with thousands of jutsu copied via Sharingan, Lightning and Earth Release were still his favorites.
His signature move, Chidori, had made him famous throughout the ninja world.
Seeing the lightning in Kakashi's hand, Yamato's face grew even more serious. He could feel Kakashi's resolve.
If he didn't take this seriously, he'd be the one left in pieces.
Yamato took a deep breath. His chakra surged.
In the next instant, both of them vanished—and when they reappeared, they had already clashed again.
Now serious, Kakashi moved like silver lightning, flashing through the space at high speed.
Yamato couldn't match him. No matter how strong his defense was, he was clearly on the back foot.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Blades clashed rapidly. Yamato was quickly looking more battered—small cuts began to appear across his body, blood soaking into his clothes.
But Yamato could also feel it—this pace was taking a toll on Kakashi's chakra as well.
Still, Kakashi showed no signs of holding back. His attacks stayed fast and relentless—like a man with nothing to lose.
"This isn't working. I'll be the one getting taken down at this rate!"
Yamato bit his lip. He knew about Kakashi's physical limits—he had hoped to just outlast the old man.
But Kakashi's current state made it clear: if Yamato didn't go all out now, he might not get another chance.
Worse, Kakashi might cut him down first.
Thinking fast, Yamato pulled back, then quickly formed hand seals.
In a burst of chakra, he released a powerful jutsu.
"Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall!"
As Yamato's chakra surged, an earth wall shot up from the ground, cutting off Kakashi's path and completely blocking his attack range.
"Earth Release, huh... That's not enough."
Kakashi muttered to himself. What he needed wasn't just Earth Release—he wanted Yamato to use Wood Release.
He pulled back his blade slightly. The lightning in his left hand sparked violently, and then—he drove the Chidori straight into the wall.
BOOM!
The earth wall crumbled instantly under the force of the Chidori. But through the collapsing wall, Kakashi saw Yamato already forming hand seals again.
"Earth Release: Earth Flow Spears!"
The moment Yamato completed the seals, the ground shook violently as countless earthen spikes shot upward toward Kakashi.
Kakashi reacted in a flash. His blade glowed with chakra as he slashed swiftly, shattering the incoming spikes with ease. None of them lasted more than a second.
To increase efficiency, he unleashed lightning again with his left hand.
Blade and lightning combined seamlessly, and with his suffocating speed, Kakashi was already closing in on Yamato.
Even though he was starting to breathe heavily and had already burned through most of his chakra, his movements didn't slow down at all.
BOOM!
Under Kakashi's relentless assault, he once again broke through Yamato's defenses.
The lightning in his left hand crackled violently—the screech of a thousand birds filled the air.
Yamato stared at Kakashi in disbelief. He knew Kakashi was strong, but he never imagined how terrifying he'd be when he threw caution to the wind.
And those cold, murderous eyes—Yamato instantly realized he couldn't hold back anymore.
He had to go all out to stop Kakashi like this!
"What's going on, Senpai...?"
Yamato's heart ached. The Kakashi in front of him felt like a stranger.
As he retreated quickly, hands forming seals at high speed, he finally unleashed his most powerful jutsu:
"Wood Release: Tree Wall Barrier!"
The moonlight was like a song. In the Fire Daimyō's palace, Nara Rojō quietly paced the hall.
A few days ago, he had received a message from his younger brother. He knew the impeachment operation was starting tonight.
So he needed to act too—he had to meet the Daimyō face-to-face, alone.
This meeting should have happened days ago, but the interference from the Twelve Guardian Ninja kept delaying it.
Rojō was getting frustrated—not only with those meddling Guardian Ninja, but also with the Daimyō's passive attitude.
Self-awareness is a virtue. Unfortunately, neither the Daimyō nor his so-called bodyguards seemed to have any.
Since he couldn't arrange a formal private meeting, Rojō had spent the past few days thoroughly studying the palace's layout.
He knew he couldn't take all twelve of them on, especially not in a coordinated group. He'd be at a serious disadvantage.
So, calculating and bold, he made a decision: sneak in at night and meet the Daimyō directly.
He knew this wouldn't avoid all obstacles—there would still be guards in the Daimyō's chambers—but at least it wouldn't be all twelve of them at once.
His movements were steady but cautious. Dodging guards while advancing slowly, he finally arrived outside the Daimyō's quarters.
After all his observation, there was no doubt—this was the place. As he approached, he felt chakra signatures locking onto him.
Still, he showed no fear, calmly speaking out: "Lord Daimyō, I believe it's time we had a proper talk."
"The Daimyō is resting. Come back tomorrow," came a cold voice from inside.
Rojō wasn't surprised. Still calm, he replied, "And what if I refuse?"
"Nara jōnin, mind your place." The voice was sharper now—filled with killing intent.
"Oh, is that so?"
Rojō let out a cold snort. His tone turned distant.
"I am a jōnin of Konoha—I know my position very well.
But some people seem to have forgotten theirs. Forgotten how to speak to someone like me.
I'll say it once more: I want to see the Daimyō. Now."
"Are you looking to die?"
With those words, a terrifying chakra surged forth—locking onto Rojō like a guillotine, warning him he could be erased at any second.
"You can try, if you're not worried something might happen to your Daimyō."
Rojō didn't bother pretending anymore. His tone was icy, his words unmistakable.
"And who the hell do you think you are? You think you are the Daimyō?
You're just glorified bodyguards. You're not even officially recognized as Konoha shinobi. I, on the other hand, am a proper jōnin of the Hidden Leaf!"
His words were like daggers—but he didn't regret a single one.
People fear death—but shinobi sometimes must resort to extreme measures to complete a mission.
And Nara Rojō was clearly doing just that. Fear can only be instilled through extremity.
Power is like real estate—proximity to the center gives value.
But being close to power often makes people think they possess it. Rojō didn't know what was in these guards' hearts—but he knew where to strike to shatter that illusion.
There was no response this time, but the killing intent thickened to near solid form.
Still, Rojō remained composed. He could sense they weren't going to attack. Or maybe—they couldn't anymore.
He finally let out a quiet sigh of relief. He had been calm on the surface, but truthfully, he had been a bit worried.
"Lord Daimyō, as I've said before—this meeting isn't just about the future of Konoha. It's about the future of the Land of Fire."
He adjusted his tone and continued speaking.
"A matter this important shouldn't be heard by unnecessary ears.
And the changes happening in Konoha will affect your long-term policies as well.
Of course, if you truly insist, I'll return to the village and report everything I encountered in the Fire Nation capital.
Please consider the consequences. While Konoha needs your support—you also rely on our protection.
You've hired a bunch of ninja from who-knows-where as your guards. Konoha has stayed silent—that's your right.
But your actions could easily be misunderstood. Perhaps you've been influenced—or even controlled.
As per our agreement, Konoha is authorized to intervene on your behalf, as long as one of your children reports it to us.
Of course, there's no need to panic. We'll send our best to handle the situation.
Once it's resolved, one of your children can come to Konoha to discuss the future.
I believe they'll make the right choice on your behalf. Don't you agree, Lord Daimyō?"
His voice remained calm, even smiling faintly now.
But the room turned icy. The killing intent still hung heavy, but its flow was no longer steady—it was trembling.
That deeply rooted malice now etched itself into everyone's hearts.
Rojō glanced once at the chamber door, then turned wordlessly to leave.
But just as he moved, a weak voice came from within:
"Jōnin Rojō… come in. It seems… we really do need to talk."