(T/N: There is a p.atreon for this work. Check it out for an early release of 40 chapters edited smoothly. Ps: remove the (.) from P.atreon)
https://www.p.atreon.com/TheForgottenSensei
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"Clan leader,"
Shisui noticed what Uchiha Fugaku was doing in the distance, and his voice carried a note of concern.
This was difficult for him to accept.
After all, this action would affect ordinary villagers in Konoha, innocent people caught in a conflict they had no part in creating.
Yami had anticipated that Shisui might be overly compassionate, which was why he had decided to let Fugaku carry out this particular attack instead.
But at this moment, Shisui had no other choice.
His primary goal was to delay the ANBU and keep them occupied rather than allowing them to attack his retreating clan members.
Although the Uchiha had been contained and oppressed for years, their strength remained formidable.
Most ANBU members possessed strength at the chūnin level, with only elite jōnin serving as team leaders.
A single jōnin could command several teams, while an elite jōnin like Kakashi was qualified to serve as deputy commander of the entire ANBU division.
For the Uchiha clan, awakening the Sharingan marked the beginning of true strength.
After several years of training, their abilities typically reached chūnin level.
Those who possessed the three-tomoe Sharingan could rival experienced jōnin in combat.
However, awakening the Sharingan proved far more difficult than the Hyuga clan's natural Byakugan inheritance.
Still, a lot of Uchiha possessed an activated Sharingan, and these clan members formed the main force responsible for covering the retreat.
Several ANBU had broken through the defensive perimeter, but their primary objective was to disable the space-time portal rather than interfere with the evacuation of ordinary Uchiha civilians.
All their efforts focused directly on reaching the dimensional gateway.
This made the portal's defense second in importance only to the front lines, and Yami personally commanded this critical position.
He had already eliminated five ANBU operatives who had attempted to breach his defense.
"Fifteen minutes have passed, and there are still clan members who haven't made it through," Yami muttered, his expression cold and calculating.
The clouds he had created were nearly dissipated as well.
Soon, the pressure from the ANBU reinforcements would return to full strength.
At this point, eighty percent of the planned evacuation had been completed successfully.
But Yami wanted more, he wanted every Uchiha to escape alive.
"Five more minutes. We'll hold the line for five more minutes, then we retreat,"
Yami made his final decision with grim determination.
Since this entire operation had been his proposal, he felt responsible for taking as many Uchiha clan members to safety as possible.
He would not abandon anyone if he could help it.
His three-tomoe Sharingan rotated rapidly, the pattern shifting and transforming into the distinctive design of the Mangekyō Sharingan.
Without hesitation, Yami jumped directly into the air.
Such a maneuver would expose him to every enemy in the area, something no sensible ninja would attempt unless they possessed the ability to fly…
Or absolute confidence in their defensive capabilities.
"Boom,"
A massive black and red Susanoo skeleton materialized around Yami, its ribcage protecting him from all directions.
"Clang, Clink,"
Kunai, shuriken, and other projectiles launched at Yami struck the Susanoo's armor harmlessly, unable to penetrate its defense.
"Yami, he possesses the Mangekyō Sharingan too."
When the Uchiha clan members witnessed Yami's Susanoo manifestation, joy and hope filled their hearts.
Except for the few who had been privy to the evacuation plans, the rest of the clan had been unaware that he possessed such tremendous power.
The black and red Susanoo raised its right arm, and a spear materialized directly within its hand.
*Zzzzt*
Lightning chakra surged along the weapon's length as Yami channeled [Lightning Release] into the spear.
"Find a way to stop that attack," Sarutobi Hiruzen shouted from his concealed position.
This was precisely why he had always been reluctant to engage the Uchiha in direct combat within the village.
Any battle would result in devastating collateral damage to Konoha itself, not just the Uchiha.
He had known in advance about Yami's and Shisui's Mangekyō Sharingan, but he didn't think Fugaku would have it too, so he was caught completely off guard.
Two active Susanoos and the remaining police force members were successfully containing nearly all the ANBU operatives.
If these Susanoos weren't neutralized quickly, the possibility of another attack on the Hokage Building, or something even worse, became very real.
Yami's appearance in the sky only made the threat more immediate.
In his elevated position, Yami paid no attention to what the Konoha ninja might be thinking or planning.
He had already selected his target, and his aerial position provided the perfect angle for maximum impact.
'I'll let them feel a bit of our pain…'
"Sarutobi clan territory, locked on target."
"Go,"
Yami intended to give Sarutobi Hiruzen a taste of what it felt like to have his home destroyed.
The black and red spear, crackling with lightning chakra, instantly broke the sound barrier as it launched like a rocket.
In the eyes of countless observers throughout Konoha, a streak of light carved through the pre-dawn darkness.
"[Summoning Technique: Enma], Transform,"
Sarutobi Hiruzen immediately understood where the attack was headed, and urgency consumed him.
He summoned his contracted partner, the Monkey King Enma, commanding him to transform into his staff form in hopes of extending the weapon to intercept the incoming projectile.
But the lightning spear moved too fast,
By the time Enma completed his transformation, the mushroom cloud had already begun to rise from the Sarutobi compound.
The entire village of Konoha shuddered from the impact, and many older buildings collapsed from the seismic shockwaves.
"Uchiha kid, you will regret this."
"[Adamantine Staff Extension],"
Sarutobi Hiruzen's anger peaked as he directed the transformed Enma at Yami's position.
The staff extended instantly, reaching nearly the speed of sound as it closed the distance.
In less than a heartbeat, the weapon was directly in front of Yami.
However, Yami had no intention of defending against the attack.
Instead, he dismissed his Susanoo entirely at the last possible moment.
The extending staff passed harmlessly over his head as he dropped toward the ground.
"Damn it, Damn it all,"
"Deploy rescue teams to the Sarutobi compound immediately."
When Hiruzen realized his attack had failed, his eyes blazed with such anger and anxiety, they seemed ready to bleed like activated Sharingan.
Nevertheless, he maintained enough composure to relay urgent orders through Inoichi's telepathic network.
Every life that could be saved mattered. His family must be okay…
"Yes, sir,"
Inoichi's face had turned ashen.
Through his mental connection that extended across most of Konoha via the village's barrier system, he had witnessed the devastating aftermath at the Sarutobi clan grounds firsthand.
*Whistle*
As Yami touched down, he immediately released a sharp, piercing whistle that cut through the constant explosions and battle noise with crystalline clarity.
This was the signal to prepare for the final retreat.
Now they had five minutes remaining.
Hearing this signal, Uchiha Fugaku felt a surge of relief wash through him.
Many of his defenders bore injuries, and their formation had been forced back from their original positions.
The total distance to the evacuation point was now less than a thousand meters, but the brutal fighting had prevented him from calculating how much time remained.
Now that the retreat signal had sounded, hope rekindled in his chest.
"Everyone fall back, I'll cover the rear guard," Shisui called out when he recognized the signal, joy evident in his voice despite the circumstances.
He had never wanted this conflict to escalate further, knowing that continued fighting would only increase the suffering on both sides.
He immediately began directing the surrounding Uchiha to withdraw toward the portal.
"All personnel below jōnin level must retreat immediately," Yami commanded from his position near the dimensional gateway.
The more combatants who remained behind, the greater the complications would become.
The next phase would focus entirely on defending the portal itself; they wouldn't need such a large force for that final stand.