UTBW: Ch. 44

"Even the ANBU are here?" The old man sighed softly, though his gaze didn't waver in the slightest. He simply nodded calmly. "Looks like Hiruzen has made up his mind to wipe us out completely."

Beside him, one injured Uchiha after another gripped their weapons tightly, their faces twisted in fury as they glared at the ANBU.

Their intense emotions surged.

In their eyes, the Sharingan glowed even redder, like blood—dazzling and demonic.

"Put down your weapons." One ANBU ninja spoke in a low voice. "Surrender now. The Hokage may still pardon some of your sins, and some of you might be allowed to live."

At those words, the old man scoffed immediately, his face full of contempt. "Your attempt at persuasion is laughably bad! Would you surrender in my stead, knowing full well what transpired?"

"You've already slaughtered Uchiha members who weren't even ninjas, and even children. It's clear, this is a fight to the death. I don't believe surrendering would make Hiruzen spare the rest of us."

"Besides..." The old man stared coldly at the ANBU who had spoken and sneered, "Would you really tolerate a group of Uchiha, alive and full of hatred?"

"Hahahaha! Don't be ridiculous! The moment we surrender, the Uchiha will be completely exterminated!!!"

That final sentence, he roared, his voice brimming with fury.

The surrounding Uchiha had eyes full of unwavering fire. They knew very well, at this point, surrender wasn't an option!

This battle could only end with one side falling.

"..."

The ANBU ninja fell silent, mocking himself inwardly. Indeed, they'd never planned to let the Uchiha live. The offer of surrender had been a lie. What he hadn't expected was to be seen through so quickly.

"Then I've got nothing more to say." He shook his head, voice tinged with regret. "You could've had a painless death. Now, you'll all die in agony."

As he spoke, the ANBU lifted his hand and gave a gentle wave forward.

"Attack!"

At the command, all the surrounding ANBU surged toward the Uchiha.

Swish swish swish…

"Try your worst!" The old man shouted, standing tall with his blade raised, completely unafraid.

However, the overwhelming difference in numbers forced the Uchiha to retreat step by step.

Moreover, Konoha's assault was so sudden, and with Itachi as a traitor from within, many elite ninjas with three-tomoe Sharingan had already been killed in the initial strike. As a result, the Uchiha clan had no way to withstand the combined forces of ANBU and Root.

"Damn it!" The old man clenched his teeth but could only continue forcing his exhausted body to swing his blade.

Whoosh!

Suddenly, a massive fireball came roaring from the side.

A three-tomoe Uchiha suddenly appeared, unleashing a fireball the size of a house.

Boom!

The fireball landed, erupting into a sea of flames.

Because it happened so suddenly, ten ANBU and Root members were engulfed by flames and collapsed, burned.

"Aaargh..." Screams of agony rang out. The battlefield fell silent for a moment.

"Fugaku!?" Both the ANBU and Uchiha were surprised to see who had arrived.

"Are you joining the rebellion too?" an ANBU snapped.

"Rebellion?" Fugaku sneered, stepping into the Uchiha ranks. "Do you even believe your own words?"

The ANBU fell silent.

Indeed, anyone from the Uchiha might rebel. But not this man, not their dove-like clan head. He was the one person they never believed would.

"So you finally decided to show yourself?" The old man looked displeased, giving Fugaku a cold stare.

"I'm sorry. I came... to atone." Fugaku bowed deeply to the old man, speaking with solemn sincerity: "Please give me this chance, Yuki."

The old man glared at him coldly. At this point, what use were words?

Your son betrayed the clan. He was the executioner who led tonight's massacre. It's truly baffling how he could go through with it, this was the clan he grew up in!

"Fugaku-sama, isn't it a little too late now?" Other clan members looked at him with hostility. "Itachi killed many of us. So impressive, awakening the Mangekyō Sharingan... but what a shame, those eyes abandoned their own clan."

"What good does it do for you to show up now? Why not just wait to die quietly at home?"

Resentment surged among the clan.

Fugaku had no words to defend himself. He could only bow deeply and respectfully to everyone.

"Enough." Yuki raised his hand, halting the crowd's complaints. He looked at Fugaku and sighed, "The fact that you've come to your senses is at least something."

"We'll set the past aside for the moment. Right now, the clan needs your strength!"

Hearing this, the other Uchiha suppressed their anger. Just as Yuki had said, they needed Fugaku's strength now.

As a top-tier jonin, he could play a critical role in this battle.

"I am deeply grateful." Fugaku took a deep breath and finally straightened up.

"If you want to atone, then take the front line," Yuki said, staring at him. "Do you have any objections?"

"None!" Without hesitation, Fugaku shook his head, drew his blade, and turned, marching straight toward the ANBU and Root forces at the front.

The battle resumed.

This time, with Fugaku leading the charge, the assault from ANBU and Root was somewhat held back. But the fighting became even fiercer.

"Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Fire Jutsu!"

"Earth Release: Earth Flow Spears!"

"Lightning Release: Thunder!"

Boom!

Flashes of deadly ninjutsu lit up the battlefield. Each high-damage technique collided, exploded, and shook the earth. Buildings shattered.

In just over ten minutes, a hundred-meter radius around them had turned into complete ruins.

---

Outside the Uchiha compound, Hiruzen and Danzō arrived, watching the battle inside with dark expressions.

"Too slow!"

Time was against them. The longer this dragged on, the greater the risk.

"Send in the clan forces too!" Hiruzen turned, eyes filled with murderous intent as he looked at a nearby clansman.

The man shivered under the gaze, heart pounding wildly. He didn't dare hesitate and quickly replied, "Yes!"

Then he vanished to relay the command. Soon after, a large private force belonging to the Sarutobi clan, equal in size to the combined Root and ANBU, appeared on the battlefield.

After bowing to the Third Hokage, they all stormed into the Uchiha compound.

---

Elsewhere, Junichi slowly emerged from within the Uchiha compound's perimeter. His Observation Haki spread out, constantly sensing his surroundings.

From time to time, he swung his blade.

Whoosh!

A flying slash sliced through a nearby wall and bisected a Root ninja hiding behind it in a single stroke. The enemy's face was blank with confusion, even in death, he never understood how he was exposed.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Junichi advanced with steady steps, blade constantly in motion.

With every swing, at least one ninja was sliced in half.