51-55

Chapter 51: One Strike to Shatter the Susanoo! The Terror of Kuyebikuno!  

In that instant, blood tears streamed from Uchiha Shisui’s Mangekyō Sharingan eyes.  

His face was deathly pale, his lips streaked with involuntary trickles of blood—a horrifying sight.  

And yet…  

The Susanoo had finally manifested!  

This power, synonymous with absolute destruction, had vanished from the shinobi world for untold years…  

Now, it had descended upon the mortal realm once more!  

The towering warrior-god, clad in furious emerald chakra, stood with wild, flowing hair and a body of dense, armored energy. In its right hand gleamed Shisui’s unique Susanoo weapon—  

A colossal spiral greatsword of chakra!  

Shisui’s ragged breathing suddenly stilled.  

Calm and focus returned to him.  

With Susanoo unleashed, he was certain: no one could defeat him now.  

Across from him, Yoru’s brow furrowed slightly.  

"So, Uchiha Shisui has awakened the power of Susanoo…"  

"But this form only has the basic chakra armor—not the crow-tengu variant. Which means…"  

"It’s still just the second stage."  

Noticing Shisui’s smug confidence, Yoru’s lips curled into a mocking smirk.  

Then—with a thunderous surge—his Lightning Release Chakra Mode-enhanced "Raikiri: False Darkness Blade" PIERCED forward, inch by brutal inch!  

Shisui’s eyes widened in shock.  

"What?!  

"How can it penetrate Susanoo’s defense?!"  

He instantly pushed his Mangekyō’s ocular power to its limits, forcibly repairing the shattered chakra armor.  

But—  

"Hmph."  

With Yoru’s cold scoff, the False Darkness Blade’s lightning ERUPTED.  

BOOM!!!  

Even Susanoo’s armor couldn’t withstand the blast. A massive crater spiderwebbed across its surface, cracks spreading like wildfire!  

"Damn it!"  

Shisui swung Susanoo’s spiral greatsword down in desperation—  

WHOOSH!  

Yoru dodged effortlessly.  

The blade struck the earth instead, shaking the banks of the Nakano River. Cliffs crumbled; boulders plunged into the raging waters below.  

"So this is Susanoo…"  

"Such monstrous power!"  

Every witness trembled at the spectacle.  

Yet even this "invincible" trump card—Shisui’s last resort—had failed to crush Yoru. Instead, the False Darkness Blade had left Susanoo’s armor in ruins.  

Gritting his teeth, Shisui poured more chakra and ocular power into repairing the damage. But the cost was dire:  

The Mangekyō Sharingan’s curse.  

From the moment of its awakening, the Mangekyō marched its user toward blindness.  

That was why even Uchiha Itachi and Shisui reserved Susanoo for life-or-death battles.  

In the original story, Itachi used it only once—against Sasuke.  

As for Sasuke himself?  

Between the Five Kage Summit and his fight with Danzō, he’d pushed his Mangekyō to near-total blindness in a single day.  

Only Obito’s intervention (by transplanting Itachi’s eyes) saved him from eternal darkness.  

Now, Shisui faced the same fate.  

Win or lose, this battle would steal more of his sight.  

Yet as Susanoo’s armor regenerated, Yoru only laughed.  

"Pathetic. Is this all your Susanoo can do?"  

Shisui glared. "You understand nothing of its true power, Uchiha Yoru!"  

His Mangekyō whirled—  

CRACK!  

Susanoo’s chest armor split open, unleashing a storm of emerald chakra arrows!  

"Susanoo: Ninety-Nine!"  

A technique unique to Shisui’s Susanoo.  

Dodging was impossible; blocking, futile.  

The arrows blotted out the sky, sealing every escape route—  

But Yoru’s Sharingan flared crimson.  

With godlike reflexes (courtesy of Lightning Release Chakra Mode) and the False Darkness Blade, he sliced through the barrage like a phantom!  

The earth below was ravaged, yet not a single arrow grazed him.  

"Impossible!"  

Shisui’s confidence shattered.  

"Susanoo is powerful… but it turns you into a sitting duck."  

"Right now, you’re just a turtle hiding in a green shell."  

Like a bolt of divine punishment, Yoru slammed into Susanoo again—  

BOOOOOOM!  

Another massive hole erupted in the armor, cracks spreading like madness!  

"USELESS!" Shisui roared. "Susanoo’s defense is ABSOLUTE!"  

Yoru shook his head.  

"No jutsu is flawless. No defense is unbreakable."  

"Every technique… has a weakness."  

Then—  

His Sharingan erupted with light.  

The three tomoe spiraled, morphing into a dazzling six-pointed star—  

The Mangekyō Sharingan!  

Left eye ability:  

KUYEBIKUNO!  

ACTIVATE!  

The six-pointed star’s glow enveloped Susanoo, exposing its fatal flaw in an instant.  

Yes, Susanoo was near-impenetrable.  

But even the sturdiest armor had a weak point—and Kuyebikuno, the "Ultimate Insight Eye," could pinpoint it with surgical precision.  

Lightning gathered at Yoru’s blade.  

Chakra Mode at full power.  

False Darkness Blade, maximized.  

Then—  

HE STRIKES THE WEAK POINT!  

KRAKATOOOOOM!  

The thunderous slash obliterated Susanoo’s armor, flesh, and bones alike!  

Lightning rampaged inward—  

HALF OF SUSANOO EXPLODED INTO NOTHINGNESS!  

"GYAAAAAAAAH!"  

Even shielded by Susanoo, Shisui wasn’t spared. His left arm and half his torso charred instantly, the agony unbearable.  

With a final scream, the mighty Susanoo collapsed into dissipating embers.  

"WHAT?!"  

"No… NO!"  

"SUSANOO… WAS DESTROYED?!"  

Hokage Hiruzen.  

Danzō.  

Fugaku.  

Even Itachi, watching nearby—all stood frozen in disbelief.  

That man… Uchiha Yoru…  

Was he truly invincible?!  

Chapter 52: Magatsuhi, the God of Calamity! Divine Judgment! Crimson Lotus Purgatory Flames!  

Uchiha Shisui was barely standing, half his body ravaged beyond recognition. The once-revered elite shinobi had been reduced to a broken shell.  

Blood streamed from his eyes like tears, his face pale as death. Crimson spilled from his lips, and his right arm—along with half his torso—had been charred black, seared by the lightning that shattered his Susano'o.  

He was a pitiful sight.  

Even worse, his eyes were spent. Forced to overuse the Susano'o, his chakra and mental energy were utterly drained.  

This was his limit.  

Gasping for air, he clenched his teeth against the agony, refusing to collapse through sheer willpower alone.  

But everyone could see the truth—  

Uchiha Shisui had lost.  

His final trump card, the invincible Susano'o, had been obliterated by Yoru. His chakra and ocular power were exhausted. His body was wrecked. He had nothing left.  

"That… that technique…" 

"Was that the power of Yoru’s Mangekyō Sharingan?" 

"To destroy a Susano'o in a single strike… I’ve never seen anything like it!"  

Even Uchiha Fugaku stood frozen, his face slack with shock.  

Uchiha Itachi trembled, his analytical mind racing.  

"Yoru’s left eye…" 

"The hexagram pattern—it must grant extreme perception. He focused on the weakest point of Shisui’s Susano'o and struck with pinpoint precision." 

"That left eye… it’s the ultimate ‘Eye of Insight’…"  

Cold sweat dripped down his face as he whispered, "Shisui…"  

Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzō watched in horror.  

"Has he really grown this strong?!" 

"He just annihilated Shisui’s Susano'o in one hit?!" 

"What kind of power is that?!"  

"Is Shisui really about to lose?!"  

Despite their shock, Hiruzen and Danzō’s minds were already calculating.  

"Shisui still has one last power—the ultimate genjutsu…" 

"Kotoamatsukami." 

"Should we seize it now?" 

"But Yoru won’t just stand by. Even if he’s exhausted from the fight, he’s still dangerous…"  

Danzō, who had planned to swoop in and steal Shisui’s eyes, now hesitated. If he didn’t move, neither would Koharu, Homura, or Hiruzen.  

Shisui coughed up blood, his face twisted in pain.  

"Yoru… was that the power of your left Mangekyō?"  

Yoru saw no point in hiding it. The observers would spread the intel anyway.  

"Sukunahikona—the ‘Eye of Insight.’ It perceives the flaws in all techniques and destroys them in a single strike."  

Shisui exhaled, awed despite himself.  

"Only someone like you could awaken such a dōjutsu…" 

"I never imagined you’d reach this level…" 

"I underestimated you…"  

Their battle had been a masterpiece—taijutsu, ninjutsu, genjutsu, even the clash of Mangekyō powers. Yet Yoru had dominated every exchange.  

But Shisui wasn’t done.  

He still had one last move.  

Itachi didn’t know what it was, but he recognized the resolve in Shisui’s eyes.  

This is his final stand…  

Shisui glanced into the distance—where he knew Hiruzen and Danzō were watching.  

I am loyal to Konoha. This is my final duty.  

"Lord Hokage… I’ll use Kotoamatsukami to rewrite Yoru’s will. He’ll be forced to serve Konoha. After that… his fate is yours to decide." 

"As for the Uchiha… I have another eye. Even if I use one for Yoru, the other can still stop the coup."  

He knew the cost.  

Using Kotoamatsukami would push his eyes to the brink of blindness. After this, he’d be a broken man.  

But he didn’t care.  

With a ragged breath, Shisui—battered, bleeding, barely alive—locked onto Yoru with the fury of a cornered beast.  

Just as he prepared to speak—  

"Shisui. You were about to use Kotoamatsukami on me, weren’t you?"  

Shisui’s chakra stuttered.  

"H-How did you—?!"  

Yoru didn’t answer.  

"That cursed power has no place in this world."  

Before Shisui could react—  

"Let the heavens judge your sins!"  

In that instant—  

"Hmph."  

Yoru’s right Mangekyō Sharingan flared.  

A crimson hexagram spun violently.  

Even from a distance, Shisui was engulfed in its power.  

"W-What is this—?!"  

His body locked up. His vision twisted.  

Before him stretched a nightmarish realm—a hellscape of corpses, blood, and crimson flames.  

Was this the afterlife?  

Or the judgment of Yoru’s Mangekyō?  

Left eye—Insight. 

Right eye—Judgment.  

Shisui finally understood Yoru’s true power.  

But it was too late.  

Trapped in the inferno, he saw Yoru’s towering form—divine yet demonic, righteous yet merciless.  

"Face your sins." 

"Magatsuhi no Kami—Judgment of the Calamity God!"  

Shisui’s mind shattered.  

Memories flooded in—  

Betraying his clan for Konoha’s elders. 

Hunting his own kin under Danzō’s orders. 

Sacrificing Uchiha lives for "peace." 

Even planning to brainwash his entire family.  

Sin after sin unfolded like blooming lotuses—each petal a crime, each flame a punishment.  

Yoru showed him more—the original timeline.  

Shisui, ambushed by Danzō, losing an eye. 

Still trusting Hiruzen, giving Itachi his remaining eye. 

And Itachi—slaughtering their clan in the end.  

"GYAAAAAAAAAAHHHH—!!"  

The crimson flames consumed him.  

To the spectators, it happened in an instant.  

One moment, Yoru declared judgment.  

The next, Shisui collapsed—his body wreathed in crimson lotus flames.  

"SHISUI!"  

Itachi lunged forward but froze—the heat was unbearable.  

Hiruzen, Danzō, Itachi—all stood paralyzed.  

"W-What kind of dōjutsu is that?!"  

(◕‿◕) 

Chapter 53: Shisui’s Death!  

Under the power of Magatsuhi no Kami—Yoru’s Mangekyō Sharingan—  

Uchiha Shisui was trapped in the purgatory of his own sins.  

Crimson Lotus Flames seared his flesh and soul, punishing his crimes… and in turn, cleansing them.  

In his mind, he was already reduced to ashes.  

In reality, his body burned with the same inferno.  

But worse than the flames was the despair.  

"I… committed so many sins?" 

"My so-called ‘Will of Fire,’ my loyalty to Konoha… led only to this?" 

"And Itachi… in the end, he—" 

"The Uchiha Clan… slaughtered in a single night…" 

"I… truly deserve this hell."  

In his final moments, clarity struck.  

Collapsed on the ground, wreathed in flames, Shisui lifted his gaze to Yoru.  

"Yoru…" 

"Thank you… for showing me the truth." 

"I’m sorry… for everything."  

Yoru didn’t acknowledge the apology.  

This was the inevitable end for those who faced Magatsuhi’s Judgment.  

But at least Shisui died with understanding.  

"You’ve realized your sins." 

"Now die."  

Shisui smiled faintly in the fire.  

"…Thank you."  

His eyes drifted toward the shadows where Hiruzen and Danzō still hid—cowards who wouldn’t even show themselves.  

Then, to Itachi.  

"Itachi… we were wrong." 

"Don’t repeat my mistakes." 

"Love yourself… love your family. Nothing else matters more."  

His voice faded.  

His breath stilled.  

His eyes closed.  

Uchiha Shisui was dead.  

The man known as *"Shunshin no Shisui"*—Konoha’s strongest, the Uchiha Clan’s pride—had fallen to Yoru’s hands.  

"SHISUI—!!"  

Itachi’s scream tore through the air, raw and shattered.  

But even he dared not touch the lingering flames.  

Hiruzen and Danzō stood frozen.  

Shisui… lost?  

No—he was annihilated.  

To them, Yoru had been strong, but never Shisui’s equal.  

Yet now…  

"That right eye… the ‘Eye of Judgment.’" 

"It condemns the target’s sins… burns body and soul alike." 

"Is there no defense against it?!"  

Sweat dripped down their faces.  

Could they survive such a technique?  

For now, they stayed hidden.  

But Yoru wasn’t unscathed.  

Using both Mangekyō abilities—Sukunahikona and Magatsuhi—had taken its toll.  

Without the Eternal Mangekyō or Hashirama’s cells, the backlash was brutal.  

He was exhausted.  

But it was worth it.  

Shisui had been his opposite—naive, indecisive, swayed by others’ words.  

His death marked the end of that path for the Uchiha.  

Unlike Amaterasu’s black flames, Magatsuhi’s fire didn’t burn endlessly.  

It consumed life and soul—and when both were gone, the flames vanished.  

[You have slain Uchiha Shisui, preventing his suicide. A righteous act! +1,500 Virtue Points.]  

Yoru’s eyes narrowed.  

1,500 points?  

Killing Sarutobi Shinnosuke, Hiruzen’s son, had only granted 200.  

Shisui truly was in a league of his own.  

He allocated the points to his ocular power.  

[Current Mangekyō Sharingan: 5,030/10,000]  

At 1,000, he’d awakened the Mangekyō and Sukunahikona (Left Eye). 

At 3,000, Magatsuhi no Kami (Right Eye) had emerged.  

How much more until Susano’o?  

6,000? 8,000?  

Regardless, this was a massive gain.  

With Shisui dead, Konoha’s elders had lost their strongest weapon.  

Add Shinnosuke, Sarutobi Hidenori, and the dead ANBU…  

Hiruzen’s faction was crumbling.  

Itachi stared at Yoru, his expression unreadable.  

Yoru ignored him.  

Instead, he turned to Uchiha Fugaku and the arriving clansmen.  

"Bury him properly."  

Fugaku nodded solemnly, gazing at Shisui’s corpse.  

What a tragedy.  

Both Shisui and Yoru were monsters in battle.  

If only they could have fought together…  

But Shisui’s downfall was Konoha’s brainwashing.  

The true culprits were Hiruzen and Danzō.  

Uchiha Yashiro spoke up. "Clan Head… Shisui’s Kotoamatsukami—"  

Fugaku glanced at Yoru.  

"Useless." 

"His eyes are ruined." 

"He overused his Mangekyō before this fight. Then Susano’o. Then my flames." 

"There’s nothing left to salvage."  

Yoru’s voice hardened.  

"More importantly—I refuse to use mind control." 

"It’s the most despicable power of all."  

Fugaku agreed. "Then we’ll honor his burial." 

"As for what comes next… you decide, Yoru." 

"You’re the Captain now."  

Behind them, the Uchiha Police Force knelt in unison, fists to the ground.  

"AWAITING YOUR ORDERS, CAPTAIN!"  

Among them—  

Uchiha Aoki.  

Yoru’s lips curved slightly.  

"Aoki… you’re awake."  

Aoki grinned back. "Yes, Captain!" 

"I’m back!"  

For the first time in years, the Uchiha Clan stood united.  

Chapter 54: The Despair of the Four Old Fools!  

The Hokage’s office was steeped in gloom.  

An unprecedented sense of despair and suffocating tension weighed upon the four most powerful figures in Konoha.  

Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado exchanged glances, sighing silently.  

Danzo Shimura remained shrouded in shadows, his expression unreadable—but the bitterness in his eyes was unmistakable.  

And then there was the most helpless of them all:  

Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage himself.  

Pipe after pipe of tobacco burned between his fingers, filling the office with thick, acrid smoke.  

They faced a problem unlike any before.  

If dealing with Yoru and the Uchiha had once been a matter of politics, strategy, and manipulation…  

Now, it had boiled down to a brutally simple truth:  

They couldn’t win.  

Uchiha Shisui had been their strongest card.  

And yet—he had fallen to Yoru. Killed by his own kin.  

So now… who stood a chance?  

Truthfully, Hiruzen had never feared the Uchiha clan as a whole.  

If it came to war, his forces—the ANBU, the Sarutobi and Shimura clans, ROOT, and his other loyalists—could crush them without question.  

But now, they faced something far worse:  

A single man.  

A man whose power defied reason.  

Until he was dealt with, nothing else mattered.  

Exhaling a slow, heavy plume of smoke, Hiruzen finally spoke.  

"To think even Shisui died at that bastard’s hands…"  

"What are your thoughts?"  

His gaze flicked to Danzo.  

Silence.  

Danzo had hoped to scavenge Shisui’s Kotoamatsukami Mangekyō—maybe even Yoru’s eyes—once the two weakened each other.  

But that plan had crumbled to dust.  

Hiruzen saw right through him. With a cold snort, he turned to the elders.  

"Advisors? Your counsel?"  

Koharu sighed. "We never imagined that man would grow so strong…"  

"Even Shisui was…"  

"After Minato’s death, Shisui was meant to be the village’s strongest."  

Hiruzen’s patience snapped. "Enough pointless lamenting."  

"We need a plan!"  

"Shisui is dead. That bastard won’t sacrifice himself to appease Kumogakure. With the Raikage’s temper, war is inevitable!"  

"We’re trapped between internal strife and external threats!"  

Homura’s voice was steady. "Calm yourself, Hiruzen."  

"The situation is dire, but not hopeless."  

"Kumo may posture, but they won’t risk total war. Remember—the Third Shinobi World War left them with enemies on all fronts. If they throw everything at us, Iwagakure and Sunagakure will strike while they’re vulnerable!"  

"As for the Uchiha… their clan is still just that—a clan. They can’t defy the entire village."  

"In short, the real problem is one man alone:"  

"Uchiha Yoru."  

Hiruzen grimaced. "True. But that ‘one man’ is enough to give us all migraines!"  

"How do we fight him? Who do we send?"  

"Will you two go? Or shall I march out myself?"  

Koharu frowned. "Don’t be rash. No one doubts your strength, but you’re not in your prime anymore."  

"Without Shisui, only three people could possibly stand against Yoru…"  

Hiruzen’s chest tightened.  

He knew exactly who she meant.  

The Legendary Sannin.  

His own students—Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Orochimaru.  

If even one of them were here, loyal and willing to fight, this crisis would vanish like mist.  

"Tch. Orochimaru betrayed us. Tsunade wanders the world, drowning in grief. Jiraiya may love Konoha, but he won’t take orders blindly—and he’s just as hard to track down!"  

Koharu pressed on. "Forget Orochimaru. But Tsunade and Jiraiya? They might return for you. You are their sensei, after all…"  

"Send scouts. Try to persuade them."  

After a long pause, Hiruzen gave a reluctant nod.  

"Fine. I’ll dispatch ANBU to find them."  

"But don’t expect miracles."  

Then—Danzo finally spoke.  

"Hiruzen. I can kill Uchiha Yoru for you."  

The Hokage’s laugh was ice.  

"Spare me the bravado, Danzo. I know your limits better than anyone."  

Danzo’s face darkened further.  

"Don’t underestimate me!"  

"And I’m not talking about fighting him now."  

"Give me time, and I will end him."  

"How much time?"  

"Not long. But you must agree to one condition."  

Hiruzen’s eyes narrowed. He knew Danzo too well—the man’s intentions were transparent.  

"You want free rein. No interference from me, correct?"  

Danzo smirked. "As sharp as ever, Hokage-sama."  

"You plan to—" Hiruzen cut himself off.  

"...Never mind. I won’t ask. Just ensure your ‘dirty work’ stays hidden. Don’t embarrass me like that fool Orochimaru."  

"Dirty work?!" Danzo’s voice dripped venom. "Need I remind you who those deeds serve?!"  

Hiruzen’s retort was merciless. "The village, wasn’t it?"  

Danzo had no rebuttal.  

"Hmph. Regardless—stay out of my way. Two months… no, one is all I need. Uchiha Yoru will die."  

Hiruzen knew this was his last lifeline. Swallowing his pride, he yielded.  

"Fine. But Danzo… you’d better deliver."  

"Or else—"  

Danzo was already turning away.  

"Rest assured. With your blessing, there’s nothing in this world beyond my reach."  

With that, he vanished into the shadows.  

Koharu sighed. "Hiruzen… he’ll contact Orochimaru, won’t he?"  

"You know their ties never fully severed…"  

Of course Hiruzen knew. But desperation left no room for principles.  

"Tch. If he kills Yoru without getting caught, I don’t care what he does."  

"And if he’s exposed? Well… Danzo alone will bear the consequences."  

A chill ran down the advisors’ spines.  

Yet they understood.  

In Hiruzen’s place… they’d have done the same.  

Homura nodded. "Danzo isn’t wrong. If he and Orochimaru join forces, no obstacle remains—not even Uchiha Yoru."  

"Now, we focus on Kumo and the Uchiha."  

Hiruzen took a deep, steadying breath.  

"Relax. That man is the true threat. As for Kumo and the Uchiha…"  

"I already have a plan."  

"Oh?" Koharu’s eyes sharpened. "What is it?"  

Chapter 55: Police Reform! Purge the Leaf! Soaring Reputation!  

Hiruzen Sarutobi’s voice was ice.  

"It’s simple. Every debt has its debtor."  

"I’ll do everything to persuade Kumo and avoid war—but if it’s inevitable, I already have troops in mind to send."  

"Who?"  

"The Uchiha. The Hyūga. The Nara, Akimichi, and Yamanaka—the Ino-Shika-Chō trio."  

He listed them off like a death sentence.  

The two elders exchanged glances.  

"You’re retaliating…"  

"This isn’t retaliation. It’s their own choice."  

"The Hyūga brothers dared act behind my back, undermining the Hokage’s authority. Hiashi has been resistant from the start, reluctant to sacrifice himself. His loyalty is questionable. They will go to war."  

"Let them reap what they’ve sown."  

"The Uchiha are no different. This kills two birds with one stone: fighting Kumo while weakening their clan."  

Homura frowned. "And Ino-Shika-Chō? They’ve always been the Sarutobi’s allies…"  

"Allies?" Hiruzen scoffed. "They’ve always had their own agendas!"  

"Shikaku’s involvement in the Yoru investigation made his stance clear."  

"Even Chōza and Inoichi supported Yoru after Shinnosuke’s death."  

"It’s time they learned their place."  

Koharu and Homura hesitated but didn’t object.  

Besides—if these clans didn’t go, who would? The village elders themselves?  

Homura nodded slowly. "The Raikage won’t commit his full force. With the Uchiha, Hyūga, and Ino-Shika-Chō, we should hold the line."  

"But the Uchiha… will they obey?"  

Hiruzen’s smile was thin. "If they comply, the frontlines will bleed them dry. If they refuse and stay, I have other ways to deal with them."  

"Beyond my ANBU, I have another plan…"  

"What plan?"  

"I’m placing the combined might of the Sarutobi and Shimura clans…"  

"Under your command."  

The elders stiffened.  

"Hiruzen, what’s the meaning of this?"  

"After that fool Sarutobi Hideo’s death, I took direct control of my clan—but as Hokage, my attention is divided."  

"As for the Shimura… handing them to you keeps Danzo in check."  

Understanding dawned.  

"So you’ve thought this through…"  

For them, this was a boon. Though influential, neither elder came from a major clan. Now, they’d wield real power.  

"Very well. The Sarutobi and Shimura are ours."  

"With your ANBU and our two clans, crushing the Uchiha will be effortless."  

"Leave Yoru to Danzo."  

"And the Kumo front? As you said—let those clans handle it."  

Hiruzen exhaled smoke.  

"Exactly. Once Kumo and the Uchiha are contained, and Danzo kills Yoru…"  

"Victory will be ours."  

The Aftermath 

Shisui’s death sent shockwaves through Konoha.  

On the surface, the village was calm—but beneath, tensions simmered.  

Everyone knew: Shisui was Hiruzen’s man.  

By killing him, Yoru had openly declared war on the Hokage’s faction.  

And everyone knew—Hiruzen would retaliate.  

But Yoru didn’t care.  

The Police Revamp 

At the Uchiha Compound’s Police Headquarters, Yoru wasted no time.  

As the newly appointed Chief, he overhauled the entire force.  

Though Fugaku remained clan leader, his authority over the police was stripped.  

The Uchiha’s power now split evenly:  

• Half to the Police (under Yoru).  

• Half to the clan guard (under Fugaku). 

The Police, brimming with young, fervent Uchiha, became Yoru’s personal army.  

He rewrote the laws—harsher, stricter, uncompromising.  

"In chaotic times, severity is mercy."  

"To straighten a bent branch, you must bend it the other way."  

Loyalists like Uchiha Tekka, Inabi, and Yoru’s own subordinates—Aoki and Yamakaze—became his zealots.  

Despite their past suffering, their Sharingan had grown stronger.  

So had their devotion.  

Under Yoru’s rule, Konoha’s streets grew orderly.  

Crime plummeted. Punishments were swift and brutal.  

The wicked cowered.  

The innocent thrived.  

And Yoru’s reputation?  

It soared to the heavens.  

His defiance against Hiruzen, his execution of Hideo—each act cemented his legend.  

Now, only one name eclipsed his in Konoha:  

The Hokage himself.  

And that?  

That terrified Hiruzen.  

War Breaks Out 

When news of the Kumo envoy’s massacre reached the Raikage, his fury shook the mountains.  

Ignoring Advisor Ōnoki’s warnings, he mobilized for war—only to be persuaded (barely) to stay behind.  

Instead, Ōnoki would lead the assault, joined by:  

• Yugito Nii (Two-Tails Jinchūriki).  

• Darui (Black Lightning wielder).  

• Shi (Elite Sensor). 

The battlefield awaited.  

The Hokage’s Gambit 

In the Hokage’s office, tension choked the air.  

Hiruzen deliberately avoided looking at one man—  

Yoru.  

The man who’d killed his ANBU Captain, destroyed his strongest piece…  

Now sat across from him as an equal, attending the war council by right as Police Chief.  

The insult burned.  

Officially, Shisui’s death was labeled a "personal duel." No charges were filed.  

(What could Hiruzen do? Arrest him? Impossible.)  

Exhaling smoke, Hiruzen spoke.  

"Kumo’s army marches. War is unavoidable."  

"As Hokage, I hereby deploy the following forces—"  

"The Hyūga. Ino-Shika-Chō. And…"  

*"The Uchiha Police."*  

Every clan head present flinched.  

They weren’t fools. This was punishment for defying him during the Kumo envoy crisis.  

The Hyūga and Ino-Shika-Chō leaders swallowed their protests.  

But then—  

"I refuse."  

Yoru’s voice cut like a blade.  

The room froze.  

Uchiha Yoru… was openly defying the Hokage?!  

Hiruzen’s face twisted.