Chapter 74: Arrogant? No, This Is the Strength of the New Clan Leader
The 3 tomoe in Itachi's eyes suddenly changed. His Mangekyō Sharingan activated. A cold and vast ocular power pressed down on Fugaku. The sorrow in Fugaku's eyes dissipated. The pattern of a three-bladed pinwheel in his eyes spun wildly, fiercely clashing with his son's ocular power in the air, showing no weakness.
Orochimaru watched this scene with great interest, a morbid gleam of excitement flickering in his golden snake-like pupils. "What a wonderful family drama, a father and son fighting to the death, and with the Uchiha's Mangekyō no less. Itachi, it seems your mission has run into a bit of trouble."
Kakuzu, on the other hand, seemed a bit impatient. "Stop talking nonsense. That Uchiha Akira, and Uchiha Fugaku's heads, are both worth a fortune." Kakuzu's gaze was fixed intently on Akira, who stood to the side. In his opinion, this new Uchiha Clan Head was the biggest variable tonight.
Facing the undisguised killing intent of two S-rank rogue ninja, Akira showed no signs of backing down. He released his own aura, clashing with Orochimaru and Kakuzu's auras. Akira glanced at Fugaku and Itachi, then spoke to them.
"This place is not suitable for our stage."
"Hmm?" Orochimaru raised an eyebrow, the smile on his face becoming even more playful. "Kid, are you talking to us?"
The killing intent emanating from Kakuzu had already solidified. "It seems you're in a hurry to die."
Akira ignored Kakuzu's provocation and continued, "This place, let's leave it to them, father and son! After all, this is their family matter. As for you..." Akira showed a look of disdain. "If you want to die, let's find a more spacious place. I'm afraid the commotion later will disturb them."
Arrogant! Too arrogant!
The smile on Orochimaru's face had completely vanished, replaced by a strong and chilling killing intent. Kakuzu was even more enraged. A mere brat dared to provoke both of them at once!
Atop the Konoha Police Force Department building, Obito, wearing his spiral mask, also focused his gaze entirely on Akira. This new Uchiha Clan Head was far more interesting than Obito had anticipated.
Just as Orochimaru and Kakuzu were about to explode into action, Boom—! Akira activated his Mangekyō Sharingan. He unleashed his ocular power, pressing it toward Orochimaru and Kakuzu in a clear provocation. Orochimaru and Kakuzu's movements suddenly froze.
"Follow." Akira calmly uttered two words. Without another glance at Orochimaru and Kakuzu, he turned around and leaped toward the Uchiha Clan Territory training ground.
Akira completely exposed his back, defenselessly, to the two S-rank rogue ninja. What immense confidence this was. Orochimaru stared intently at Akira's retreating figure, a trickle of cold sweat even appearing on his forehead.
"Heh heh... interesting." Orochimaru once again stuck out his tongue and licked his lips; this time, his eyes no longer held greed, but the excitement of meeting a worthy opponent. "I want to see what kind of monster you truly are."
Kakuzu also snorted coldly. "Brat, too arrogant." The two no longer hesitated, their figures flickering, transforming into 2 afterimages, and following Akira's footsteps. In an instant, the previously tense street was left with only Fugaku and Itachi, father and son, and, on the rooftop, the masked man who had fallen into thought.
Obito pondered for a moment, then used Kamui to head in Akira's direction.
"Akira..." Fugaku watched Akira's departing back. Only then did he realize that everything Akira had said earlier was not exaggerated in the slightest. He truly possessed absolute confidence to deal with Orochimaru and Kakuzu, as well as the instigator of the Nine-Tails Attack.
In that case, he couldn't hold him back any longer. Fugaku withdrew his gaze, looking back at his son, a cold killing intent surging forth.
"Itachi! Let us, father and son, use these cursed eyes to end all of this!"
"Susanoo!"
Root's base. Danzō Shimura sat upon a stone throne. "How are things?" Danzō's voice rang out.
"Reporting, Lord Danzō. All the decoys have lost contact."
Danzō's left eye narrowed slightly. "All of them?"
"Yes." Over 20 A-rank rogue ninja. They were all wiped out just like that.
"Uchiha Akira did it?"
"Yes." The Root Anbu confirmed again. "According to observations from our infiltrators, Uchiha Akira alone dealt with most of them within 3 minutes; the rest were handled by Uchiha Fugaku using Susanoo."
"What about Orochimaru and them?"
"They have already made contact with Uchiha Akira, as planned. Itachi has also confronted Uchiha Fugaku."
Danzō nodded. Very good. Orochimaru, Kakuzu, plus an Itachi with Mangekyō. This was the real main course.
Deep within the Uchiha Clan Territory, inside a massive underground shelter, the members of the Uchiha Clan were gathered, their faces filled with fear and unease.
"The... the ground is shaking!"
"Is it an earthquake?"
"No... it's not an earthquake! It's the tremors of battle!"
"Silence!" A steady low shout quelled all the clamor. Uchiha Yashiro and Uchiha Honoka spoke to calm the clan members.
"What's there to panic about! Have you forgotten what Lord Clan Head said? Tonight, no matter what you hear or see, do not panic, do not go outside! Lord Clan Head will resolve everything!"
"But, Elder..."
"Akira... can he really handle it?"
"Trust Akira and Fugaku; the eyes they possess are the divine power of the Uchiha Clan!"
The battlefield was split into two. Uchiha Fugaku's Susanoo, like an ancient demon god crawling out of the depths of hell, emitted a powerful aura from its massive skeletal body. An equally massive Susanoo rose from behind Itachi, confronting Fugaku's demon god from a distance.
"Itachi!" Fugaku's voice came from within the ribs of his Susanoo. "Do you really mean to go this far!" The Chakra blade in his hand hummed, but he hesitated to swing it down. That fatherly hesitation was a fatal flaw on the battlefield. Itachi's response was a merciless slash. His Susanoo's arm swung violently, the massive Totsuka Blade tearing through the air, striking directly at Fugaku's Susanoo.
Clang—! The deafening clang of metal rang through the night sky. The fierce battle began.