Amid the spraying blood, Hiruzen followed within the crowd, carefully avoiding the ground stained with blood.
Some things, once they happen, are done. But being an observer and being an executor are two completely different things.
Just like Hiruzen now. He could issue the order to massacre the Uchiha Clan, but he couldn't actually get Uchiha blood on his own hands.
His identity was that of Konoha's Hokage, the holder of the highest power. If even such a figure personally participated in a coup within Konoha, it would set a terrible precedent.
It would make other clans feel uneasy, even suspicious. If the Hokage could move against the Uchiha Clan today, then wouldn't he potentially move against their own clan someday in the future?
Quite possibly!
Therefore, as the 'King' of the village, Hiruzen had to ensure his hands remained clean. As for the dark deeds, in the past, there was Danzo to act as the scapegoat. Now, it seemed his old comrade Danzo was gone, but wasn't there a Nine-Tails' Jinchuriki now?
The identity of the Nine-Tails' Jinchuriki itself represented a terrifying figure. Someone like Kushina was perfectly suited to carry out such unsavory tasks.
Of course,
Not every Konoha's Jonin participating in the operation was so calm.
Many Konoha's Jonin, watching the bloody and horrifying scenes unfolding within the Uchiha Clan's compound, couldn't help but swallow nervously, feeling an inexplicable sense of dread.
Even if they were Uchiha, they were still Konoha comrades!
At this moment, watching their former comrades-in-arms instantly become bloody smears on the walls inevitably stirred very complex emotions in the hearts of the Konoha's Ninjas carrying out the mission.
On one hand, there was comradeship. On the other, the hatred born from the Rotting Wood Plague. The combination of the two made it difficult for many to calm their hearts.
"Leave no survivors."
Koharu coldly issued the order, "The source of the Rotting Wood Plague lies with the Uchiha Clan. For the safety of the village, it is better to kill a thousand by mistake than let one go. All potential roots of trouble must be thoroughly eradicated."
It was an extremely ruthless command. With these words, it was equivalent to politically sentencing the Uchiha Clan to death.
When Koharu gave the order, the Konoha's Ninjas present instinctively turned their gazes towards Hiruzen.
Then,
They saw the Hokage-sama with a dark, sullen face, offering no response.
No response…
This was the strongest stance possible.
Everyone exchanged glances. Even those Konoha's Jonin who felt some reluctance had to harden their hearts and begin using kunai to slaughter the living within the Uchiha Clan's compound.
That's right.
Every living person they encountered. Not just Ninjas, but also the elderly, weak, women, and children. Anyone seen was defined by the Konoha's leadership as a rebel.
Some people's eyes trembled, feeling their souls were greatly impacted. But driven by the order, they had no choice but to plunge the kunai in their hands into the heart of the Uchiha Clan's members before them.
A bloody hell…
The Uchiha, once known alongside the Senju as Konoha's founding clan, were walking their final path.
The deeper they went into the Uchiha Clan's compound, the fewer corpses were left by the roadside. Because the core areas were mostly inhabited by Jonin-level Uchiha.
Yeah…
Were inhabited.
Because those Three-Tomoe Uchiha had also been indiscriminately killed by the furious, rampaging Kushina.
The Uchiha, who had achieved great military merits in the war against Kirigakure, died in droves within their own homes.
Blood.
White bone.
Mutilated corpses.
Walking along the path, no living person could be seen anymore.
Clearly,
Kushina, driven mad by Minato's death, had completely let herself go. She was utterly consumed by hatred, prematurely initiating the instance of the Uchiha Massacre Night.
Slaughtering her way through,
Kushina, carrying the corpses of two Uchiha elders, charged headlong into the Naka Shrine. This was the most crucial place in the Uchiha Clan's compound, and also the place where Fugaku had been confined earlier.
After entering, she found the place was empty.
Kushina's sensory abilities were exceptionally strong. The moment she approached the Naka Shrine, she had already realized it was completely empty.
In other words,
Fugaku had escaped.
"Escaped?"
"Hah…"
"Will escaping be of any use?"
Kushina's expression was as calm as a lake. She muttered with utter indifference, "Even if you flee to the ends of the earth, I will kill you. I… promise."
"I will definitely kill you!!!"
Rumble!
Rumble!
Rumble!
The next instant,
An earth-shattering explosion erupted into the sky, signifying that the Naka Shrine, which had existed for centuries, officially exited the stage of history. Just like the Uchiha Clan, it completely vanished from this world.