Chapter 3: Rebellion as a Code
As Uchiha Fugaku had anticipated, the moment the Uchiha began to mobilize, word spread quickly.
Tall buildings surrounding the Uchiha compound were already filled with operatives from the Anbu.
The Third Hokage silently put down his pipe.
"What's the situation now?"
A shadow-nin bowed respectfully.
"All of the Uchiha clan's combatants are gathering. Kaien Uchiha has disappeared along with thirteen clansmen. Uchiha Shisui is missing. Uchiha Itachi is also unaccounted for."
The Third Hokage remained silent. He hadn't wanted things to come to this.
Had Shisui failed… or was it something else entirely?
With a heavy sigh, the old Hokage's expression turned resolute.
He tore off his Hokage robe, revealing the combat uniform he'd already prepared underneath.
"Send the order. Konoha is in a state of emergency. Summon all clan leaders. Gather every jōnin and elite shinobi. Surround the Uchiha compound at once."
Stomp. Stomp. Stomp.
Heavy footsteps echoed across rooftops. One shinobi after another leaped between the houses.
What would normally be deemed rude and disorderly was justified tonight—Konoha was officially under emergency lockdown.
The rooftops of Konoha were now filled with shinobi. Civilians cowered indoors, lights dimmed in fear.
Another great clan of Konoha, the Hyūga, began to move. Their elite force, led by Hiashi and Hizashi, swiftly approached the Uchiha compound.
Hizashi whispered, "Brother… have the Uchiha rebelled?"
Hiashi frowned. "Call me Patriarch outside."
Hizashi paused, then nodded. "Yes, Patriarch."
Hiashi's tone softened slightly. "The Third ordered us to surround the Uchiha. A battle could break out tonight."
His face was clouded with worry.
Internal conflict always meant bloodshed.
And this wasn't just any clan—it was the Uchiha, the most powerful family in the ninja world. Highly skilled, emotionally volatile.
Hiashi glanced at the twenty jōnin behind him, elite members of his clan.
How many will return tonight?
This was their clan's legacy, and they might not all live to protect it.
"Hizashi… if it comes to battle, hold our men back. Do not take the lead."
"What about the Third?"
"If the Uchiha fall tonight…" Hiashi said grimly, "We might be next."
Hizashi stiffened, then looked around cautiously and nodded.
Elsewhere...
"Danzo-sama," a Root member reported, "the Third Hokage has declared a state of emergency and summoned all jōnin. Are we going to war?"
"Oh?"
Danzo had just completed an eye transplant. He rose slowly, adjusting the bandages covering his right eye.
"What's the situation?"
"All Uchiha combatants are mobilizing."
Danzo stood fully and smirked.
So, the time has finally come.
How many Sharingan could be harvested tonight?
The Uchiha... they could never be trusted.
He had warned the Hokage. And thanks to him, Uchiha Shisui had already been neutralized.
"Gather all of our forces. We march to the Uchiha compound—immediately."
"Yes, sir!"
The gate of the Uchiha compound was brightly lit.
Konoha's elite shinobi had surrounded it.
At the front stood the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, flanked by Koharu and Homura.
Behind them were the leaders of all the great clans: Hyūga, Akimichi, Nara, Yamanaka—each with their elite units.
All the Anbu and elite jōnin of Konoha were present, forming three layers of encirclement.
Tension was thick. Expressions were solemn.
Each clan leader had their thoughts, their worries.
Creak—
The massive wooden gates of the Uchiha opened slowly.
Hundreds of Uchiha warriors emerged, fully armed, led by Uchiha Fugaku.
Everyone's eyes shifted to the usually passive and reserved clan head.
But today… Something was different.
The Uchiha behind Fugaku stirred in confusion, murmuring when they saw how many shinobi had surrounded them.
But when their patriarch didn't speak, the murmuring died down.
Silence.
Frozen air.
A messenger bird swooped down from the sky. Fugaku caught the scroll, read it, and a glimmer of killing intent flashed in his eyes—before vanishing just as quickly.
He looked around calmly, eyes scanning the crowd.
Danzo hadn't arrived yet. Fugaku narrowed his eyes.
"Hokage-sama," he said, his voice clear, "why is the Uchiha clan's land surrounded by your forces?"
The Third Hokage's brows furrowed. "Fugaku! You've mobilized your entire clan. And you dare ask us what's going on? What are you planning?"
Fugaku's expression held no reverence, no fear.
"What am I planning? Uchiha Shisui went missing earlier today. We mobilized to find him. Is there a problem with that?"
The Hokage was caught off guard. He had prepared for many excuses—but not this one.
And it was true: Shisui was missing.
Mito Menma stepped forward, scowling.
"Don't play games! One man goes missing, and you mobilize the whole clan? Do you take us for fools?"
Fugaku said nothing.
Just then, the crowd parted.
Shimura Danzo arrived.
His right eye, shoulder, and arm were all bandaged.
"Uchiha Fugaku," Danzo barked, "you do plan to rebel tonight!"
Fugaku's eyes flickered with rage.
"You still dare to show your face, Danzo?"
"Itachi reported that Shisui disappeared after being summoned by you this afternoon. You dare deny it?"
In the crowd, Itachi frowned.
He never reported that to his father.
Danzo's face darkened.
So, Itachi can't be trusted after all.
"Nonsense!" Danzo snapped. "I never even saw Shisui today. Your accusations are baseless."
Fugaku's smile turned cold.
"Is that so?"
His chakra surged, eyes sharp and piercing.
The surrounding shinobi tensed.
At that moment, the crowd split once again.
Kaien Uchiha entered, leading a squad of Uchiha.
[Ding! Mission updated – Ending of the Coup d'état.]
Objective: Protect all Uchiha clan members from death.
Reward: Hitomi Amplifier x1, Uchiha Deputy Patriarch Title.
Kaien ignored the reward notification.
If protecting the clan meant avoiding combat, then so be it.
Kaien stepped forward alone, sharp eyes scanning the assembled crowd.
Behind him, the Uchiha remained silent.
Their eyes, when turned toward Kaien, were filled with admiration.
Two men carried a stretcher—on it lay the broken body of Uchiha Shisui.
Others dragged the corpses of several Root members, their bodies torn and battered.
The Third Hokage's expression darkened.
"Fugaku, what is the meaning of this?"
Kaien turned, placing himself between the Hokage and Fugaku.
He sneered. "Still playing dumb, Hokage-sama? Danzo summoned Shisui earlier and tried to steal his Sharingan."
"That's why we mobilized the entire clan. We were searching for Shisui. Is that a crime?"
He leaned down and whispered something into Shisui's ear.
Shisui struggled to sit up.
His body was bloodied and bruised—
—but the most shocking sight was the pair of hollow sockets where his eyes had been.
Gasps spread through the crowd.
"Danzo… stole Shisui's eyes?"
"Be quiet! Danzo is the Hokage's advisor. Don't speak rashly!"
Shisui spoke weakly.
"This afternoon, Danzo summoned me… I thought it was important. But he wanted my eyes… and he took them while I was off guard."
The Third Hokage's heart sank.
He had trusted Shisui—had even planned to use Kotoamatsukami through him to avoid the coup.
Now this…
Danzo said nothing, face dark and unreadable.
But the crowd was shifting. Suspicion filled the air.
In the ninja world, stealing someone's kekkei genkai is a blood feud—
—and doing so to a comrade from the same village… was unforgivable.
Shisui, the Instantaneous, hero of the Third Ninja War, was widely respected.
His word held weight.
And tonight…
everything had changed.
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Translated By – Ancient Lores