Outside the Uchiha compound, perched on the high ground of an abandoned training field.
"Lord Danzō, are we truly going to spare the others?"
"Patience."
Danzō Shimura narrowed his eyes, gazing down at the brightly lit, seemingly bustling clan district below. The lights of the Uchiha masked the encroaching darkness.
He spoke with a chilling indifference. "A tiger that has been stripped of its fangs and claws... how we choose to dispose of it is merely a matter of a single word, is it not?"
His exposed eye remained fixed on the distant compound.
"After tonight, the Uchiha shall be no more."
"But... what about the Hokage?" Toge asked, his voice laced with concern.
Danzō shook his head dismissively. "Pay him no mind. As long as we continue to do the dirty work for Konoha, Sarutobi won't actually do anything to us."
"Understood!" Toge dared not object further.
After a moment of hesitation, the Root agent spoke again. "Additionally, Orochimaru's subordinates made contact with Yagyu Masahiko this afternoon."
"Orochimaru wants the data Masahiko possesses. We want the results of his research. Hiruzen wants the man himself..." Danzō glanced sideways, sweeping a sharp look over his capable subordinate. "Masahiko is a pragmatic intellectual who understands the times. As long as he remains loyal to the village—loyal to me and the Hokage—there is no need to corner him too aggressively."
"Yes, my Lord!"
Hearing Danzō's verdict, cold sweat beaded on Toge's forehead. He nodded heavily, not daring to speak another word.
Suddenly, his face went pale.
A memory flashed through his mind, visceral and terrifying, as if he were physically experiencing death all over again. His eyes widened in horror.
"Lord Danzō! Uchiha Shisui has returned!"
"What?" Danzō's eye snapped open with a sharp glint. "Where?"
"Over there! In the lake within their district. He was hiding underwater—my Kikaichū beetles failed to detect him until he suddenly surfaced and obliterated both my insects and my Shadow Clone!"
"Well done!" Danzō praised, misinterpreting the panic for efficiency. "Order the Root squads and the Anbu: The rogue ninja Uchiha Shisui has returned to the village in an attempt to incite an Uchiha rebellion. Kill him on sight!"
He stared intently at Toge. "Furthermore, ensure he does not appear inside the compound before Itachi finishes his task. Do not let him interfere with our plans."
"Yes, sir!"
Toge executed a Body Flicker, vanishing instantly.
Danzō remained, staring in the direction of the lake with a burning, covetous gaze.
Inside the Uchiha Compound.
Masahiko's head broke the surface of an old well.
This well connected to the deep underground water veins, which in turn linked to the rivers outside, forming a massive subterranean network. It was through this watery web that he had infiltrated the district.
Pulling himself up from the well, Masahiko performed a quick sensory sweep. A flicker of surprise crossed his face.
'Uchiha Itachi isn't here yet.'
Danzō hadn't dared to send his own men to directly slaughter the clan, yet chaos had already begun to take hold.
"Oh no! Fire! There's a fire!"
"Everyone, hurry! Put it out!"
"My child is still inside—!"
Cries of panic and wailing grief filled the air.
'Not good.'
If there were fires, the residents would immediately come to the wells for water. He couldn't hide here.
Realizing the situation was deteriorating, Masahiko didn't wait. He immediately flickered upward, vanishing from his spot in a blur of motion.
However.
In that fleeting moment, a clear, melodious shout rang out from nearby: "Who's there?"
Even the best-laid plans are often besieged by variables.
Masahiko remained calm. After all, in a "Grand Banquet" of this scale, there were too many players involved; the number of variables was naturally beyond imagination.
As he melted into the shadows of an alley, his body shifted. His chakra compressed his throat and manipulated his facial structure, perfectly mimicking the vocal tone and appearance of a certain dead genius.
The figure of "Shisui" concealed himself in the dark, leaving only his feet visible under the edge of a streetlamp.
When the pursuer entered the alley—
"Keep your voice down. It's me."
"Brother Shisui?"
The girl was initially shocked, but realization quickly dawned on her faces as to why he was acting so suspiciously. However, she frowned, confused. "Didn't you defect from the village?"
Masahiko scrutinized her from the shadows.
She had long, raven-black hair, wore a Konoha forehead protector, and was dressed in a high-collared black shirt. A tear mole under her right eye made her instantly recognizable.
'Uchiha Izumi?'
'She can be used.'
Masahiko's mind raced as he improvised. "The situation is complicated, I don't have time to explain. In short, Konoha intends to exterminate the Uchiha clan. You must take a group of infants and children and run. Leave the compound, leave Konoha—get as far away as possible!"
"What? No... that's impossible!" Izumi's face drained of color, her mind rejecting the information.
Masahiko's voice turned cold. "The Anbu and Root have already surrounded the district. I set the fires on the perimeter to distract them and scramble their line of sight—"
"No!"
Uchiha Izumi suddenly stepped back, her eyes narrowing. "You aren't Brother Shisui. You are—"
In her eyes, the three tomoe of the Sharingan spun wildly.
In the next second, Izumi's hair stood on end. She watched the chakra-saturated figure before her vanish, and instantly, a gust of wind hit her side.
She tried to retreat, but a hand clamped around her throat like a vice, dragging her forcefully into the pitch-black depths of the alley.
Masahiko's gaze was freezing, his killing intent sharp enough to cut skin.
"Guh—"
Izumi struggled desperately, but the chaos outside was growing louder. Her muffled struggles and the noise of the scuffle were drowned out by the screams of the clan.
Terror, panic, and finally, despair flashed across her face one by one.
As the suffocating darkness closed in, she knew she was going to die.
But at that critical moment—
"Let her go. I will speak to her."
A familiar voice echoed in the alley.
Before Izumi could comprehend what was happening, the iron grip on her throat loosened. She gasped for air, looking up to see a figure emerge from the darkness.
It was a face every Uchiha knew well.
"Shisui!"
"It is as he said. Konoha has surrounded us. I started the fires to force everyone onto high alert," the projection of Shisui spoke rapidly, his tone urgent. "Quickly, take a group of children and babies and come with us."
"But..."
Izumi was only thirteen years old. Faced with this nightmare, she was overwhelmed and panicked.
Masahiko—now playing the role of the pragmatic, dark accomplice—sneered coldly. "Time is running out. Even if you stay, it's a dead end. Danzō's orders were absolute: Kill every Uchiha who has awakened their eyes."
"You... you're telling the truth?"
Izumi's thoughts were a mess, but her gaze locked onto Shisui.
Through her Sharingan, she could see it clearly: The man standing there was not using the Transformation Jutsu. That face was undeniably Shisui's true appearance.
She trusted Shisui.
Shisui's expression was grave. "I'm afraid so. In fact, the reality is likely even worse. I will explain everything once we are safe."
He turned to Masahiko and bowed slightly.
"Thank you for coming as promised. My main body has already drawn away some of the Anbu and Danzō's subordinates. Please, help me escort them out."
"They prioritized slaughtering the Police Force; they'll be heading this way soon. We can't take too many people," Masahiko said, glancing at the girl. He deliberately avoided mentioning the name 'Itachi'.
"But—"
Izumi listened to their exchange, swallowing hard in fear. She looked back toward the street.
Firelight. Chaos. And...
Faint, almost inaudible screams of agony.
Shisui looked at her with intensity. "I know it's hard, Izumi. But you must listen to his commands. If you don't, it is very likely that no one in the clan will survive tonight."
"Yes! I understand!"
Izumi gritted her teeth and nodded, turning to Masahiko.
"Your identity as a civilian makes you less of a target," Masahiko instructed. "Go bring a group of children and infants out. Remember, we cannot save everyone. And one more thing—do not go near the Police Force headquarters."
He pointed toward the sector housing the police station.
"Understood!"
Having made her resolve, Izumi hesitated no longer. She turned and sprinted toward the residential block.
The slaughter was still spreading.
The projection of Shisui looked at Masahiko and bowed again. "I leave everything in your hands."
"We'll rendezvous outside the village."
Masahiko nodded. As he moved to tail the girl, he created a Shadow Clone to follow her openly, while his main body slipped silently into the shadows of the alley, vanishing without a trace.