"Who goes there…? "
Inside the Scroll Repository, a jōnin-ranked shinobi stood guard.
The moment he saw the intruder step in, he instinctively opened his mouth to shout—
But before he could make a sound, his gaze locked with the intruder's blood-red eyes.
Hypnosis struck instantly.
The warning died in his throat, never spoken.
The White Zetsu clone had anticipated the presence of a guard within the repository—that was why it destroyed the door with such speed and slipped inside.
Now, with no one left to interfere, the clone moved quickly through the chamber, searching for the scroll that contained Yin Seal, an S-rank fūinjutsu.
It didn't take long to find it.
Grabbing the scroll, it tucked it into its cloak and turned to leave.
It didn't destroy any other scrolls. It didn't take anything else.
Because in Fugaku Uchiha's eyes, everything in this chamber would eventually belong to him anyway.
This was merely an early withdrawal—no need for wanton destruction.
The mission complete, the clone departed the Hokage Tower without a hitch.
In a secluded spot, it sank into the earth with the Mayfly Technique, heading back toward the Uchiha compound.
Only after it had been gone for some time did the four ANBU—once entranced—begin to stir, the hypnosis wearing off.
Their memories before and after the trance were gone. They had no recollection of anyone entering the repository.
But the shattered door told the story.
Realization struck like a kunai to the chest.
"The Scroll Repository has been breached! The Scroll Repository has been breached! "
Their cries rang out, sending a shockwave through the Hokage Tower.
ANBU mobilized in an instant, surrounding the entire building to prevent any intruder from escaping.
Others rushed toward the repository to intercept the thief.
But it was too late. The White Zetsu clone was long gone.
"Hiruzen Sarutobi… in your current state, you are no match for me. Don't disgrace yourself any further."
Fugaku's voice was calm, almost dismissive, his eyes cold as they bore into the Third Hokage.
"Fugaku Uchiha…"
The name escaped Hiruzen's clenched teeth, rage boiling inside him.
He knew full well that numerous clan heads were watching this confrontation from the shadows.
They had seen his humiliation.
The Hokage—supposed to embody the pinnacle of power in the village, the deterrent to enemy nations—had been beaten down in moments.
The image of "the strongest Hokage in history" was crumbling before his eyes.
"Damn it…"
The taste of blood filled his throat, but he forced it down.
He had believed that even if he couldn't defeat Fugaku, he could at least hold him off long enough for the ANBU to rescue Itachi—then fight side by side with the Mangekyō wielder.
But Fugaku's strength had shattered those expectations. A few exchanges, and he was already bleeding.
Then—
A masked ANBU appeared in a blur, dropping to one knee in front of him.
"Lord Hokage! The Scroll Repository has been robbed! "
"What—?!"
The news hit like a kunai to the gut. Hiruzen's vision swam.
His anger and frustration boiled over, merging with the physical strain of battle—and he coughed up a mouthful of blood with a violent splatter.
The ANBU froze in shock.
"Lord Hokage! What happened to you?! "
He had no idea his leader was already injured—only that his words had provoked this alarming reaction.
"I'm fine…! Back to the tower! Now! "
Hiruzen waved him off, his voice like steel, abandoning all thoughts of Itachi.
The Scroll Repository housed techniques and knowledge accumulated over generations—irreplaceable treasures of the Leaf.
If there was even the slightest chance to recover them, he had to seize it.
"The repository was robbed?! "
The ANBU who had come with him all turned pale.
They understood the gravity of this. Without hesitation, they followed the Hokage as he sped toward the tower.
Fugaku made no move to stop them.
The scroll containing the Yin Seal was already in his possession. Their frantic chase would lead nowhere.
"The Scroll Repository has been robbed? How could this happen? "
One of the clan leaders lurking in the shadows frowned in confusion.
"Most likely, someone exploited the fact that the Hokage and so many ANBU had left the tower—slipped in and stole from the repository."
Another voice, low and grim, replied.
"This time, the Hokage truly miscalculated. He failed to resolve Itachi's resignation… was wounded… and now this."
"Not just that. He left the village exposed and let the scroll chamber be breached."
A third clan head shook his head in disbelief.
"We should return. The Hokage will summon us soon enough."
They began to withdraw—yet none could shake the image of Fugaku Uchiha's overwhelming power from their minds.
In one shadowed corner, Kakashi Hatake and Nobuhiro Hatake turned to leave as well, speaking quietly as they went.
"Just a few moves… and he injured the Hokage. Clan Head Fugaku is truly formidable."
Nobuhiro's voice was tinged with awe.
He had heard of Fugaku's strength—the man who had repelled a shinobi wielding the Wood Release bloodline—but hearing was one thing. Seeing was another.
Now he understood.
'No wonder Shisui fell…'
Kakashi's thoughts turned inward.
After witnessing Fugaku's might firsthand, he finally understood why even Shisui—fast, skilled, and cunning—had lost his life to this man.
"Even if I unleashed the full power of this eye… I wouldn't stand a chance."
His gloved hand touched the left side of his face, brushing the hidden eye beneath the patch.
He had long suspected that Obito's eye had evolved into a Mangekyō Sharingan.
But he had never revealed that truth to anyone—and had never unleashed its power.
Elsewhere, Hiashi Hyūga glanced back one last time at Fugaku before slipping away.
For weeks, he had wrestled with the question: Should the Hyūga side with the Uchiha and overthrow the Hokage's faction?
Now, after seeing Fugaku's overwhelming might, his mind was made up.
He would ally with the Uchiha. Together, they would topple Hiruzen Sarutobi's regime.
And then—he would avenge the humiliation his clan had suffered under the Hokage's rule.