The lights of the Security Department had completely extinguished, plunging the entire space into darkness. The number of people saved here was much fewer than expected.
Bodies of Uchiha Clan members lay sprawled on the ground, blood continuously gushing from their wounds, spreading across the cold floor, forming dark red pools. The air was thick with the heavy scent of rust, mixed with the unique odor of the wooden floor after being soaked.
Menma sighed softly and walked towards the only two unconscious Uchiha Clan members in the corner. According to Shisui's judgment, only these two in the entire security team were 'doves', while all other members were staunch 'hawks'.
This situation was not surprising. The nature of the security team's work meant they frequently clashed with Konoha villagers, and over time, the villagers' rejection and hostility naturally deepened. In such a confrontational environment, the idea of changing the status quo through a coup was almost inevitable.
Rather, it was somewhat rare that two 'doves' could still exist in such an environment.
Menma skillfully completed the final cleanup. He first created a realistic fake death for the two dove clan members, and then carefully removed the Sharingan from all hawk members one by one.
When the last pair of Sharingan was placed in the nutrient solution tank, the first phase of tonight's mission was finally completed.
Menma stood in the blood-stained Security Department hall, looking up into the distance. In the pitch-black night, he wondered if his judgment was correct.
The situation was fundamentally different from the original story. In the original timeline, Uchiha Fugaku was completely unable to suppress the clamor for a coup within the clan. Under the relentless pressure from the hawk members, even though he, as the Uchiha Clan Leader, was extremely unwilling, the coup was already inevitable, with the arrow on the string and no choice but to be fired.
But this time, the Uchiha Clan massacre was delayed by a full year compared to the original. The tragedy that should have happened when Naruto was eight years old only unfolded now that Naruto was nine. This time difference itself explained many things—Fugaku had indeed successfully suppressed the hawk faction's voices.
The reason was simple: this time, the Uchiha Clan saw hope. The Third Hokage personally approved Satsuki's contact with Naruto, which meant that as long as they waited patiently for Satsuki to grow up, a deep bond would inevitably be established between the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki and the Uchiha.
Fugaku could completely use this reason to buy a few more years. This was completely different from the desperate, irreversible situation in the original story. The current Uchiha still had the capital to wait, and the possibility of peaceful evolution.
He had to hurry. There were two more people to save—two people whose future relationship with him might be extraordinary.
Of course, if Menma's judgment was wrong, and Fugaku still chose to go through with it even without being forced, then Menma could only turn his attention to the forbidden jutsu invented by the Second Hokage.
— — — — — —
"Clang—!"
The sparks of metal collision were exceptionally dazzling in the darkness. Fugaku's kunai drew a silver arc, and as Itachi leaned back to dodge, her left-hand short blade went straight for her father's throat from below.
Fugaku sidestepped the attack, then countered with an elbow strike to his daughter's temple. Itachi suddenly ducked and spun, changing her short blade from a thrust to a sweep.
"Clang!"
Fugaku's kunai precisely parried the sweeping attack, and as the two stalemated, Itachi's right leg swept towards her father's knee. "Bang!" Amidst a dull thud, Fugaku's body swayed slightly, but he used the imbalance to suddenly change his move, his kunai sliding down the short blade, aiming directly at Itachi's fingers.
"Sss—"
The blade grazed her glove, and Itachi released her weapon. Before the short blade could hit the ground, she kicked it towards Fugaku's body. As the Uchiha Clan Leader dodged, Itachi had already completed her hand signs—
"Fire Style: Phoenix Sage Fire!"
Five fireballs blocked all escape routes, but Fugaku suddenly charged forward, his kunai cutting through the nearest fireball. In the scorching heatwave, his left hand suddenly reached out from the gap in the flames, precisely gripping Itachi's wrist.
"It's over, Itachi."
Itachi felt a sharp pain in her wrist, but at this critical moment, she said.
"Indeed... it's time to end it."
Her knee slammed into her father's abdomen. The moment Fugaku let go in pain, Itachi's short blade had somehow returned to her hand, transforming into a silver flash—
"Pfft!"
The blade fully plunged into Fugaku's chest. Blood gushed along the blood groove, splattering on Itachi's pale face.
But the next second, Itachi's brow suddenly furrowed.
Too weak... this feeling isn't right. As the Uchiha Clan Leader, Father shouldn't be so easily...
The next moment, the Mangekyo Sharingan in Itachi's eyes began to spin, and the 'father' in front of her began to crack like a shattered mirror. The entire space was twisting and peeling away...
When the genjutsu was completely dispelled, Itachi found herself still standing in place. Fugaku stood unharmed three steps away, his Mangekyo Sharingan slowly rotating in his eyes, the crimson patterns appearing eerily beautiful under the moonlight.
"You saw through it? As expected of my daughter."
Itachi's fingertips felt slightly cold. The realistic taijutsu battle just now, the sparks of metal collision, even the sensation of the blade piercing a chest... all were illusions created by the genjutsu.
— — — — — —
Menma stood atop, watching the Uchiha father and daughter below.
The two stood still, only the Sharingan in their eyes slowly rotating in the darkness. They confronted each other like this, as if time had stopped, clearly engaged in a fierce battle within the world of genjutsu.
Finally, Itachi seemed to break free from some kind of restraint, her body retreating slightly, re-assuming a combat stance. Her breathing was a bit ragged, and fine beads of sweat appeared on her forehead, clearly indicating a significant drain from the genjutsu duel.
But Menma had no intention of letting this drama of father and daughter fighting continue.
"Uchiha Itachi, it's time for you to leave now."
The sudden voice made both of them look up simultaneously. Menma's figure slowly descended from above, his black robe swaying slightly in the night breeze.
Itachi's voice was low. "Are you finished?"
Menma nodded faintly. "Yes, I've completed all your requests. The Uchiha can no longer stage a coup now." Menma's gaze turned to Fugaku, "So, you don't need to lay hands on the Uchiha Clan Leader anymore."
Upon hearing this, Fugaku's Mangekyo Sharingan spun rapidly. He stared intently at Menma's attire, recognizing the other's identity—
"Wait! You are... the leader of the 'Ash' organization?!"
"What do you mean 'can no longer stage a coup'?! What have you done to the Uchiha Clan?!"