The first to block Sarutobi Nichio’s path wasn’t the Uchiha cn—it was the Anbu.

  Five or six masked Anbu members dropped from above, intercepting Nichio’s vengeful brigade. Their voices rang with urgency.

  “Nichio-sama, what… what are you pnning to do?”

  Nichio was enraged. “Get out of my way!”

  “Lord Hokage explicitly forbade—”

  “Move!”

  The Anbu exchanged gnces, then stood firm. “Apologies, but stopping you is the Hokage’s direct order. If you want to pass, you’ll have to step over our dead bodies.”

  “You think I won’t?”

  By now, Nichio had gone completely mad, heedless even of Sarutobi Hiruzen’s name—let alone the Hokage’s subordinates.

  The Anbu understood this all too well, but they couldn’t defy the Hokage’s command.

  “Quick, go alert the Hokage!”

  “Right!”

  Two of the masked shinobi darted off, while the remaining ones gritted their teeth, preparing to hold their ground.

  Nichio gave a cold ugh. “If it’s death you want… I’ll oblige!”

  “Attack!”

  …

  A force of thirty or so Sarutobi cn members charged forth in a menacing wave. It was too rge and imposing to go unnoticed. Countless other cns quietly observed from the shadows.

  This was no small matter. In the eyes of many shinobi, such an act resembled the outbreak of civil war or a coup. A direct csh between the Sarutobi and the Uchiha cns would undoubtedly tear the entire vilge apart. And at the heart of it all y the question: Was this really just Sarutobi Nichio acting on his own? Or did Sarutobi Hiruzen, the current Hokage, stand behind him? There was no telling.

  Momentarily, the Hyūga, the Ino-Shika-Chō, the Inuzuka, the Aburame—every major cn—held their breath, withdrawing from sight, watching in silence.

  After killing three Anbu, Nichio’s troops continued toward the remote district where the Uchiha resided.

  Naturally, it didn’t escape the Uchiha Police Force’s notice. Uchiha Fugaku was shocked. He’d never imagined Nichio would go so far as to defy Hiruzen’s orders, leading a rge contingent of shinobi in an open assault on the Uchiha. It was tantamount to decring open war.

  Sweat beaded on Uchiha Yashiro’s brow.

  “Patriarch… the time has come for you to make a decision! If we back down now, the Uchiha will be doomed. But if we give the order to fight, this becomes a fight to the death, with no quarter.”

  Fugaku’s heart pounded. Deep down, he was no hardline hawk. He never wanted to gamble the cn’s future by going head-to-head with the vilge. He understood that the odds of surviving such a battle were slim. And yet, retreating now—what good would that do?

  Uchiha Tekkā, Uchiha Yakumi, Uchiha Inabi, and a host of elite jōnin from the Police Force gathered around him, awaiting his order. One command from him would decide the Uchiha’s fate.

  Fugaku clenched his teeth. “Follow me. We’ll face them head-on!”

  With that, fury boiled within the Police Force.

  “Yes, Patriarch!”

  He had no choice but to make a stand. Forming up, he led his people out of the station, meeting Nichio’s forces by the Naka River. Tension crackled like lightning; they were on the brink of battle.

  Fugaku took a deep breath.

  “Nichio-dono, what is the meaning of this?”

  Nichio roared, “Fugaku, spare me your nonsense—hand over Uchiha Chiyu! Otherwise, don’t bme us for what we do!”

  Behind him, the Sarutobi loyalists shouted in a fury.

  Meanwhile, the Uchiha on Fugaku’s side burned with equal anger.

  “How dare you! You’re trespassing on Uchiha grounds—are you seeking death?”

  “Sarutobi cn wants war? Then war it is!”

  “You think the Uchiha are afraid of you?”

  Fugaku raised a hand, quelling the uproar behind him. He spoke icily, “So this is under direct order of the Hokage?”

  Nichio barked in response, “What if it is? What if it isn’t?”

  “So it isn’t. Then you are trespassing on Uchiha territory, tantamount to decring war on the cn. Nichio-dono, do you realize what you’re doing?”

  “Enough talk! Either hand over that scum Chiyu, or prepare to face the wrath of the Sarutobi!”

  Fugaku’s anger spiked. “Very well, if that’s how it is… then come! The blood of the Sarutobi cn shall dye the waters of the Naka red!”

  Just as the csh seemed inevitable, a figure dropped from the sky and nded between the two sides—Uchiha Chiyu himself.

  Uchiha Aoki and Uchiha Yamakaze followed close behind.

  “Chiyu…” Fugaku’s frown deepened. “Get back. This has outgrown you alone now.”

  Chiyu gnced back at him.

  “No. If I acted alone, I’ll take responsibility alone. Patriarch, I’ve said before I don’t mind dragging the Uchiha cn into war. I stand by that. But…”

  He paused. “One thing at a time.”

  Fugaku’s heart lurched. “Chiyu, you…”

  “Captain Chiyu…” murmured Aoki and Yamakaze anxiously.

  “Neither of you will lift a finger,” Chiyu commanded.

  “But—”

  “That’s an order.”

  “…Yes, sir.”

  Nichio let out a savage ugh. “Fine, so you at least have some guts. I’ll kill you with my own hands and avenge Jirō!”

  He and Chiyu stood facing each other by the Naka River, cold wind blowing across the water.

  Chiyu spoke dispassionately. “Sarutobi Nichio, you used your authority for personal ends. You shielded a criminal and covered up his crime, then trespassed on Uchiha nds and attacked the Police Force. Your sins are countless. By the w, you deserve death.”

  “Arrogant brat!” Nichio bellowed. “If you have the nerve, then try it! Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!”

  His hands formed seals with lightning speed—faster than many onlookers could track—and a scorching fme, burning white-hot, roared forth like a fiery dragon, cwing at Chiyu with violent force.

  “Chiyu, be careful!”

  “Captain!”

  Yet Chiyu did not dodge. He answered in kind, unching his own Fire Release technique:

  “Fire Release: Dragon Fire Technique!”

  Another raging inferno burst out, equally overwhelming, hurtling forward like a meteor to collide with the Great Fireball. The two streams of fme crashed into each other, burning sky and riverbank alike.

  In that moment, Nichio let out a cold snort. His hands blurred in rapid seals once more, unleashing another attack:

  “Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet!”

  Instantly, a massive water dragon gushed from his mouth, extinguishing Chiyu’s Dragon Fme. The surging water then hurtled toward Chiyu himself, unstoppable.

  Fugaku’s face fell.

  “As expected of Sarutobi Nichio, head of the Sarutobi cn—no pushover. Chiyu… how will you handle this?”