Some Uchiha clan members had indeed resorted to extreme measures to awaken their Sharingan. For instance, Uchiha Fugaku, in an effort to awaken Itachi's Sharingan, had thrown his four-year-old son onto a battlefield. That was already considered an extreme act, shocking many within the clan at the time. It had also solidified Fugaku's position as clan leader, proving his resolve and vision.
But what no one in the room could have anticipated was that there was an even more extreme method for awakening the Sharingan—one tied to Uchiha Setsuna, an elder of the clan. If what Uchiha Akainu claimed was true, Setsuna's actions went far beyond mere "resolve." They were so vile that he could only be described as a monster unfit to exist in this world.
This revelation caused the dozen or so radical Uchiha clansmen surrounding Setsuna to look at him with strange, wary eyes.
"Uchiha Akainu!" Setsuna realized he could no longer stay silent. If he didn't speak up, even these radical young clansmen, while not openly opposing him, would never fully stand by his side. Breaking Akainu's momentum, he shouted coldly, "You claim your eyes can see the evils of the past, but who's to say what you're spouting is actually what you saw? If you can't prove it, then you're just slandering me, an elder of the Uchiha clan, with these absurd lies to target me!"
His words gave the other radical Uchiha ninjas pause. If Akainu was the only one in Konoha with such a power, he could easily frame anyone, and they'd have no way to disprove him.
Akainu, unfazed by the interruption, replied coldly, "Cut off your head and send it to the Yamanaka clan for inspection. That'll prove whether I'm lying."
Setsuna: "???"
For some reason, he noticed a few clansmen suddenly nod as if enlightened. What?! They actually agree with such an outrageous idea?! If his head was cut off, even if it proved his innocence, he'd still be dead! And worse, Setsuna knew he wasn't innocent, which made the situation even more dire.
Before he could say more, Akainu continued, his voice icy, "Are you all going to protect a villain like him?" His thumb pressed against the tsuba of his sword, nudging it slightly to reveal a few centimeters of gleaming silver blade. The air grew heavy with a chilling killing intent. "I don't have the patience to wait. Twenty seconds. Step aside. Twenty, nineteen…"
His cold countdown sent shivers down everyone's spines. Uchiha Izumi, standing behind him, placed her hand on her own sword's hilt, ready to follow Akainu's lead without hesitation, no matter how many enemies they faced. Juzojiro, perched on her shoulder, arched its back, fur bristling slightly as it bared sharp fangs.
Mitarashi Anko, watching from the back, took a deep breath. She suddenly remembered why the name "Uchiha Setsuna" sounded familiar. She also realized what Akainu was about to do: he was going to kill his own clan's elder in the name of justice. Anko steeled herself, knowing this was a test from Akainu. Facing a group of elite Uchiha ninjas in such a tense standoff, a bloody fight was inevitable.
"Uchiha Akainu!" As the countdown reached "fourteen," a ninja fiercely loyal to Setsuna's coup plan couldn't hold back any longer. Stepping forward, he gritted his teeth and said, "Elder Setsuna is leading us to a brighter future for the Uchiha! He'll overthrow the current Hokage and put our clan in charge of Konoha, ending the discrimination we face. Your 'absolute justice' is just your personal vendetta. You don't care about the Uchiha! I don't know why some people buy into your justice, but I sure don't!"
His words brought a flicker of relief to Setsuna's grim face. Over the years, he'd cultivated loyalty among the radical younger generation, earning their respect and admiration. No amount of talk about "absolute justice" could easily sway that. Those radicals who were influenced by Akainu's ideals? They were simply not loyal enough.
"We, the Uchiha supporting the coup, don't recognize your justice either!" the ninja continued. "If you think you can use baseless accusations to target Elder Setsuna, you're gravely mistaken. We'll protect the Uchiha's interests, even if it costs us our lives. There are ten of us—"
"One." Akainu's countdown abruptly stopped. He didn't care about their words; they went in one ear and out the other. He only cared about their choices and actions. And now, they'd made the wrong choice.
In an instant, Akainu's eyes transformed into crimson three-tomoe Sharingan. His sword, already slightly unsheathed, was drawn fully in a flash. Before anyone could react, a silver arc of light sliced through the air in a crescent moon shape.
Splurch!
The young Uchiha's shocked expression froze as his head soared into the air, blood spraying from his severed neck like a fountain, splattering those nearby.
"Meow!" Juzojiro used Izumi's shoulder as a springboard, leaping toward an Uchiha chunin. Its body swelled rapidly, and with a thud, it slammed the chunin to the ground, the faint sound of cracking bones echoing. The chunin's agonized scream snapped the others out of their shock—Uchiha Akainu was really killing!
One Uchiha ninja's pupils contracted as he instinctively activated his two-tomoe Sharingan, drawing his sword to block. Clang! Sparks flew as his blade met Izumi's, her sword nearly slicing into his throat. "Uchiha Izumi!" he growled.
"Ninja Art: Twin Hidden Snake Hands!" Anko, realizing she couldn't stand idle, formed hand seals. Several white snakes shot from her sleeves, lunging at two Uchiha ninjas. The battle erupted instantly. The radical Uchiha loyal to Setsuna drew their swords, clashing fiercely, while those hesitating stepped back, unwilling to join the fray.
Their retreat infuriated Setsuna, but he had no time to berate them. "Stop this traitor who's slaughtering his own kin!" he shouted. "I'll go get help!" With that, he turned and ran, not sparing a glance back. At his age, he knew his old bones couldn't last in a fight. If he were thirty or forty years younger, he'd have faced Akainu head-on. But now? Fleeing was the only option.
"It's really happening!" Outside Setsuna's mansion, Uchiha Fugaku stood alone. He could hear the chaos inside, smell the blood in the air, and catch glimpses of the fighting through the gaps. He hadn't expected his suspicions to come true: Akainu was targeting Elder Setsuna. The fully-fledged Akainu feared no one—not even Fugaku, the clan leader, or Setsuna, the radical elder.
As clan leader, Fugaku knew he should rush in to stop the conflict. If Akainu acted, people would die—likely many. But thinking of Setsuna's obsession with the coup that would drag the Uchiha into ruin, Fugaku's steps faltered. Akainu's actions made it hard for the Uchiha to recover, but wasn't Setsuna doing the same? If either side were removed, the clan might find some stability.
Silently, Fugaku stood still, choosing to watch the tigers fight. He even ensured no one else approached the scene.
"Fire Release: Dragon Flame Jutsu!" A roaring flame shaped like a dragon's head surged toward Akainu, only to be shattered by a torrent of molten lava. An Uchiha jounin was engulfed by the lava, unable to even use Izanagi before dying.
Of the dozen or so radical Uchiha, a few had retreated, leaving even fewer to fight. Some were held back by Juzojiro, Izumi, and Anko, leaving only a handful to face Akainu. Half his body cloaked in flowing lava, the other half wielding a sword, Akainu pierced one ninja's chest with his hand and drove his blade into another's heart, killing both instantly. His three-tomoe Sharingan morphed into a Mangekyo Sharingan, and with a glance, he trapped another ninja in a genjutsu. A swift slash, and another fell in a pool of blood.
After five Uchiha ninjas fell, Akainu broke through their line, his calm gaze locking onto the direction Setsuna had fled. Without hesitation, he pursued.
Huff… huff… Setsuna's old body gasped for air after just a brief sprint, his declining strength making him grit his teeth. If I were younger, I wouldn't be this pathetic! To be chased through the Uchiha compound by a radical kid was humiliating beyond words. Shoving aside an oblivious Uchiha civilian blocking his path, he shouted, "Get out of my way!"
Desperately, he considered his options for help. The Konoha leadership? No, he'd rather die. That left only one choice: Uchiha Fugaku. Fugaku didn't want conflict between the Uchiha and Konoha, so surely he'd want to stop Akainu too. Alone, Setsuna couldn't handle Akainu, but with Fugaku's help, it might be possible. He just hoped the radical youths could hold Akainu off for a few minutes—five, or even three, would do.
"Ow…" The civilian Setsuna had pushed down struggled to rise. A hand suddenly grabbed his arm, pulling him up effortlessly. Grimacing in pain, he turned to thank his helper, only to freeze. "He went left, right?" Akainu's emotionless voice asked.
Gulp. The civilian nodded frantically, not daring to lie. He was surprised—Akainu, the terrifying "Uchiha Plague," didn't seem that scary. He'd even helped him up! But before he could process further, Akainu vanished.
"What… just happened?" the civilian muttered, clutching his arm. "That guy who pushed me… looked like Elder Setsuna. Wait—Akainu's chasing him?!"
Meanwhile, Setsuna, thinking he'd gained some distance, slowed slightly, panting and cursing, "That damned radical kid! After today, I swear I'll…" His words cut off as his face paled. A hot breeze laced with sulfur hit him from behind. His breath hitched, and he turned in a panic, stammering, "Akainu, wait—"
But as he turned, his vision was consumed by a blinding flash of steel. A cold sensation grazed his neck, like ice sliding across his skin. His words choked off, and he touched his neck, feeling warm, wet liquid. Looking at his fingers, he saw blood. "Blood… urk…"
His pupils dilated as a thin red line appeared on his neck, growing clearer. Blood trickled down, and his head tilted slightly. With a thud, it rolled off, tumbling across the ground. His headless body collapsed, lifeless.
The air fell silent.
[Ding! You have successfully killed a "red-named" evildoer! Your chakra has been slightly enhanced! Congratulations, you have obtained: "All of Uchiha Setsuna's youthful Sharingan power"!]
Akainu expressionlessly flicked the blood from his blade and sheathed it. His gaze swept the street, where Uchiha civilians and members of the clan's police force stood frozen. At least a dozen had witnessed him kill on the street. One police ninja recognized the head. "That's… Elder Setsuna?!" he gasped, his composure shattered.
He looked up at Akainu, only to see him staring elsewhere. Following his gaze, the ninja spotted Fugaku at the street's corner. Is the clan leader going to act? Akainu killed an elder! But to his shock, Fugaku stood motionless, merely locking eyes with Akainu.
Akainu spoke calmly, "If you want explanations, go to the Yamanaka clan." Without a second glance at the corpse, he turned and left, as if an elder's death meant nothing to him.
Fugaku approached the body slowly, his expression complex as he stood over Setsuna's corpse, blood staining his shoes. "Setsuna, when you made an enemy of Akainu, did you ever think this day would come? I did," he murmured. Seeing the elder who'd tried to oust him just days ago now dead left Fugaku in a daze. "'Absolute justice'… it's truly extreme."
He knew the news couldn't be contained. Soon, the entire clan would know Akainu had killed Setsuna. As clan leader, standing by silently while an elder was killed would further erode his standing. No one in the clan understands my position, he sighed. Acting against Akainu would only deepen the clan's chaos and destabilize Konoha. But perhaps someone understood—like Itachi.
As Fugaku predicted, the news spread like wildfire, shaking the Uchiha clan. The most respected and senior radical elder, killed in the street by Akainu, his head severed—it left everyone stunned. Many thought it was a rumor, but seeing Setsuna's body and head lying in the street silenced them. The drying blood and his unwilling expression seared into their minds.
At Setsuna's mansion, another radical elder arrived to find it in ruins, littered with nine Uchiha ninja corpses—all radicals. Furious, he glared at the few surviving radical ninjas standing silently nearby. "What happened? Weren't you supposed to protect Setsuna? Why are they dead, and you're unharmed? Where's Setsuna's body? Where's Akainu? Answer me!"
The ninjas remained silent. They were the ones who'd hesitated and stepped back, sparing their lives from Akainu's blade. "Speak!" the elder roared, raising his hand to strike, only for a young radical to grab his wrist.
"Elder," the ninja said coldly, "we wanted to protect a Setsuna who truly cared for the Uchiha. But someone who committed such evil isn't a worthy leader. We didn't join Akainu against him—that's restraint enough. Don't lecture us with your seniority. The Uchiha value strength. Akainu was stronger, killed Setsuna, and gave a valid reason. He's right. We've done our duty."
With that, they turned and left, leaving the elder stunned and furious. "Traitors! Parasites! And Akainu—he dared kill an elder!" But beneath his rage, fear glinted in his eyes.
Meanwhile, calming her racing thoughts, Anko hesitantly asked, "You killed an Uchiha elder and nine clan ninjas. Won't the clan leader come after us?"
"Meow, that coward Fugaku? Where'd he get the guts?" Juzojiro licked its paw, unbothered. "If he had any spine, would the Uchiha be so ostracized? Besides, Akainu-sama stands for absolute justice. What reason does Fugaku have to confront us? Because we killed a filthy evildoer? If he tries, he's just an accomplice to evil!"
Anko was surprised a ninja cat could say such things—and make sense. But Cowardly Fugaku? Wasn't he called Wicked-Eye Fugaku? Maybe because he was weak? Shaking off the thought, she turned to Akainu, whose clothes were stained with blood, and mustered her courage. "Akainu, did I pass your first test?"
"Barely," he replied, the words she most wanted to hear. Her anxiety melted into joy. Tainted by Orochimaru's evil, she'd now earned justice's approval, even if only preliminary. It gave her a new direction, proving she wasn't irredeemable.
"Orochimaru…" she muttered, her eyes burning with resentment.
Outside Konoha, Sarutobi Hiruzen gazed at the village gates with a dazed expression. "I'm back…" His delayed return was due to the mess Akainu left in the capital. The nobles' misconceptions about his connection to Akainu forced him to visit each family to explain himself. "Killing the Daimyo," "slaughtering nobles," "absolute justice"—none of that had anything to do with him! If he didn't clear it up, the misunderstandings would only deepen.
Heading to the Hokage Tower, he was stunned by Koharu and Menma's news: Akainu had killed Uchiha Setsuna, the radical elder, just an hour ago. Hiruzen was speechless for a dozen seconds before muttering, "What a 'grand surprise' to come back to." Rubbing his aching temples, he felt too exhausted to be angry.
Wait, why be angry about Setsuna's death? Shouldn't I be celebrating? Coughing awkwardly, he realized why Koharu had relayed the news without anger.
Menma spoke up, "Hiruzen, this is good for Konoha. With the most radical Uchiha gone, the clan might stabilize. Itachi likely won't act either. Akainu's extremism isn't entirely harmful—at least this benefits the village."
Koharu, however, said grimly, "It doesn't outweigh the damage he's done. Don't forget he killed the Daimyo and massacred the capital." Her gaze fixed on Hiruzen, silently blaming him for not acting against Akainu.
Did I not want to act? Hiruzen ignored her look, about to respond when a Root ninja burst in. With most Anbu away, Root had taken over their duties. "Lady Koharu! Lord Hokage! Lord Menma! The Nine-Tails Jinchuriki and Fugaku's second son… something's happened!"
Hiruzen: "!!!"
Meanwhile, a rare smirk curved Akainu's lips as his calm eyes glinted. In front of Izumi, Anko, and Juzojiro, he said, "Looks like Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha have given us a little surprise."
Juzojiro blinked. "Those two brats? What'd they do?"
Izumi was puzzled. How did Akainu know about Naruto and Sasuke? He hadn't seen them since returning. Unbeknownst to her, a notification had just flashed before Akainu's eyes: [Ding! Your disciples of "absolute justice" have jointly killed a "red-named" evildoer! Your chakra has been slightly enhanced! Congratulations, you have obtained: Bloodline Limit "Byakugan"! Simultaneously, Sasuke Uchiha and Naruto Uzumaki have received a minor chakra boost!]
"Let's go," Akainu said as the prompt faded.
"Where to, senpai?" Izumi asked, hurrying to follow.
"The Hyuga clan compound," Akainu replied.
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