UTBW: Ch. 45

The eight Uchiha ninjas who were following Junichi didn't even get a chance to fight. They could only watch in shock as the Root ninjas were slaughtered like wheat being harvested, cut down effortlessly by him.

"Huh?" Junichi suddenly let out a surprised sound and looked toward the main road of the clan grounds. In the perception of his Observation Haki, over a hundred ninjas were fighting. One side was Uchiha, and the other, assorted ninjas.

Ninjutsu exploded continuously from both sides, the battle fierce and chaotic.

Found the main battlefield. Pointing in the direction of the main road, Junichi said to the eight behind him, "I'll go ahead. Follow at your own pace."

The eight Uchiha ninjas froze. What did he mean by their own pace?

Junichi didn't explain further. He just stepped forward, stomping the ground more than ten times in an instant.

Whoosh!

His figure shot forward like an arrow, darting hundreds of meters away in the blink of an eye.

"So fast!" The eight clansmen's jaws dropped in shock. All this time traveling together, he had been holding back?

This—this was his real speed! It was so fast that even the Sharingan could barely keep up.

---

Over a hundred ninjas in green vests arrived on the battlefield using the Body Flicker Technique.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh…

The battling sides immediately halted, both turning to watch the sudden arrival of a third party with caution. When they saw who it was, the ANBU side let out a sigh of relief, "Oh, it's the Sarutobi clan."

"Sarutobi…" On the Uchiha side, every face turned grim. Their hearts sank to rock bottom.

"That bastard really went all in. Even sent his private soldiers," Yuki muttered with a sigh as he stared at the leading Sarutobi ninjas.

A cold smile curled at his lips. "Hiyori, you've already got one foot in the grave, and you're still leading troops into battle? Aren't you afraid you'll keel over before the fighting even starts?"

The Sarutobi ninja Yuki was glaring at was a wrinkled, age-spotted man with graying hair. His eyes were full of murderous intent as he replied coldly, "If I don't kill you, I won't sleep well tonight."

The other Sarutobi clan members also wore cold expressions, bloodlust rising in their eyes.

Tonight's battle, if the Hiruzen lost, others might still get away, but the Sarutobi clan definitely wouldn't.

They would be held accountable.

They were already tied to Hiruzen's fate, there was no way out. Not only did they have to come, they had to win. Otherwise, Uchiha's crisis tonight would become the Sarutobi clan's crisis tomorrow.

"Damn it." Yuki shook his head. Whether he was cursing the Sarutobi in front of him or the Hokage who sent them, it wasn't clear.

"We have no choice but to fight to the death!" Fugaku said quietly, his expression solemn.

"You don't need to tell me that, I'm not senile yet." Yuki suddenly relaxed, raised his sword, and was the first to charge forward. "Hiyori, let's see if you've still got it!"

"Killing you won't be a problem!" Hiyori charged forward as well.

With both leaders at the front, the two sides clashed once again.

But this time, with the Sarutobi ninjas joining in, the numbers difference became overwhelming.

The Uchiha formation was immediately torn apart.

"Argh…!!"

"Damn Hokage!"

"Damn ANBU!"

"Die with me!!"

In an instant, the Uchiha side suffered devastating casualties. Even though each one fought with unyielding tenacity, even dragging enemies down with them in death, the overwhelming numbers still shattered the Uchiha's defensive line like dead wood snapping under pressure.

"Damn it." Yuki exhaled heavily, muttering again in a low voice.

"All we can do now is hope." Fugaku stood by his side, face heavy with worry.

"Yeah… we can only wait for him to arrive," Yuki sighed softly.

The other clan members also kept glancing in a certain direction. It was the spot where Susanoo had been struck down with a single blow. They didn't know who had delivered that strike, but right now, the entire hope of the Uchiha clan rested on that mysterious clansman.

This man had become like a final lifeline. The last ray of hope in the hearts of the surviving Uchiha.

"Haha, still dreaming at this point? You guys are really hopeless fools!" Hiyori burst out laughing. He stared at the Uchiha with contempt in his eyes. "I'll even tell you, the one who used that Susanoo… was none other than Itachi, who's utterly loyal to the Hokage. You all know just how talented and strong he is."

"Even if that unknown person managed to defeat him, they must've paid a hefty price, maybe even…" He paused, and the sneer on his face deepened.

"Maybe, knowing Itachi's resolve… For the sake of the village, he definitely would have tried to severely wound or even take down his opponent with him before he died. He is a true believer in the Will of Fire, after all."

At those words, every Uchiha present glared angrily, their faces flushed with rage. Yuki's forehead veins bulged; he was beyond furious.

Fugaku hung his head in shame.

"You raised a fine son," Hiyori said mockingly as he turned to Fugaku. "As thanks, I'll let you live, spend the rest of your life rotting in a prison cell. Hahaha, attack!"

He laughed wildly and waved his arm.

Whoosh whoosh whoosh!

Three Sarutobi jonin behind him lunged at Fugaku.

Meanwhile, Hiyori, protected by a fourth Sarutobi jonin, charged at Yuki.

The next moment, two slashes came from both left and right.

Sigh…

Yuki silently exhaled. His old body had no strength left. He chose not to struggle anymore.

"No! Yuki!" Nearby, Fugaku was tangled up with the three jonin, unable to break free. He could only watch helplessly.

"Yuki-sama!"

"Stop!"

"Get out of my way!"

The surrounding Uchiha, eyes bloodshot, tried desperately to help, but were all tightly entangled by their own enemies.

No one could save him. He was in a situation beyond hopeless.

"Die, Uchiha!" Hiyori roared, eyes lit with glee.

Killing this old man would break the Uchiha's morale. This battle would soon be over.

Whoosh!

Just then, a gust of wind, no one knew from where, swept into the battlefield. Everyone's vision blurred for a moment.

Behind Hiyori, a young man suddenly appeared. In the next instant, the sound of blades cutting into flesh echoed out.

Pfft! Pfft!

Hiyori felt a chill on his neck, and suddenly, his vision began to spin.

"Hmm?" He was momentarily dazed, his mind sluggish, like rusted gears grinding.

Why… why is he… unharmed? He looked blankly at Yuki in front of him.