Sora walked over to where Karin and her mother were, the Mangekyō in his eyes already fading, restored to ordinary black pupils.
"It's alright," he said softly.
Karin's mother stared blankly at Sora, seemingly still not recovered from the recent upheaval.
Sora looked at Karin's mother and continued, "Survivors of the Uzumaki clan, right? I'm Sora from Ryūgakure. If you're willing, you can come with me. There, you won't be forced to become medical tools, nor will you be hunted by anyone again."
Karin's mother finally snapped out of it. She stared intently at Sora, her eyes full of vigilance and suspicion.
She didn't recognize the name Sora, but she had heard of Azure Dragon.
"Ryūgakure? I've heard of it... But why help us?"
"Because I'm also from the Uzumaki clan, even though my hair is white," Sora said frankly. "Moreover, I need your talents. Of course, this isn't coercion; you can choose for yourselves."
"If you're unwilling, I can give you some money and send you to a safe place to live. But if you're willing to come with me, I promise you'll have a real home."
Karin's mother fell silent.
She looked at Sora, then down at Karin in her arms.
These years of living as fugitives had exhausted her, and besides, Karin was still young; she shouldn't have to keep living in fear like this.
After a moment, she took a deep breath and made her decision.
"We... are willing to come with you."
Little Karin, just over a year old, couldn't quite grasp the situation, but seeing Sora's face, she giggled along with him.
...
Meanwhile, in Konohagakure.
Outside the new Uchiha clan compound.
The night was deep, moonlight obscured by dark clouds, and the air was thick with a murderous aura.
Two colossal Susanoo stood at the edge of the compound. One was entirely green, taking the form of a half-bodied warrior wielding a spiraling sword.
The other was orange, also in a half-bodied form, gripping a massive chakra broadsword.
They belonged to none other than Uchiha Shisui and Uchiha Fugaku!
And in the open space opposite them, Sarutobi Hiruzen, clad in his Hokage robes and wielding the Adamantine Staff, wore a grave expression.
Beside him stood Jiraiya, along with dozens of Hokage-direct ANBU and jōnin from various major clans.
Further away, large numbers of Konoha ninja were still gathering, subtly encircling the Uchiha compound.
Sarutobi Hiruzen roared in anger, "Uchiha Fugaku! Does the Uchiha clan truly intend to commit such an act of treason?!"
Within the orange Susanoo, Uchiha Fugaku's figure was faintly visible.
His expression was grim, and he sighed inwardly.
The coup had been planned for a month later.
The clan's elite forces needed time to gather, and secret contacts with certain forces outside the village required further confirmation.
Most importantly, Uchiha Takumi's stance remained unclear, and he dared not push too hard.
While Takumi probably wouldn't actively side with Konoha, given his temperament, Fugaku was genuinely afraid he might just take his brother and leave.
But five days ago, a detailed plan of the Uchiha coup had been anonymously delivered to the Hokage's office!
The plan had been leaked.
Hiruzen acted decisively, choosing to strike first while the Uchiha were still unprepared, suppressing them with overwhelming force.
The confrontation tonight was the result.
"Treason?" Uchiha Fugaku's voice echoed from within the Susanoo, carrying a trace of sarcasm. "Lord Hiruzen, who was it that first betrayed the Uchiha's loyalty?"
"It's been over a year since the Third War ended, so why were most of my Uchiha clan members still sent alone to the Kirigakure front lines?!"
"During the Nine-Tails incident, our clan was ordered not to leave the compound, yet in the end, that became evidence of our guilt!"
"Relocated outside the village, watched over like prisoners—is this Konoha's way of treating its founding clan?!"
His words resonated with the Uchiha clansmen behind him.
Hundreds of Uchiha ninja gathered within the compound, their various tomoe Sharingan glowing red in the night, forming a sea of scarlet stars.
Emotions of anger, resentment, and despair filled the air.
They had no way left to retreat.
"Fugaku, don't be deluded!" Jiraiya stepped forward and said solemnly, "Cease this now, and I can still ensure the Uchiha clan isn't destroyed!"
"Ensure we aren't destroyed?" Uchiha Fugaku sneered. "And then what? Continue being penned up like dogs outside the village? Or be sent to ANBU labs to have the secrets of the Sharingan studied?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen's expression shifted.
Though Danzo was dead, some things hadn't changed. That proposal had indeed been one of the options privately suggested by certain radical factions within the higher-ups.
It seemed the Uchiha hadn't been idle during Minato Namikaze's brief one-year tenure either.
"Enough talk." Sarutobi Hiruzen gripped the Adamantine Staff tightly. "Since you've chosen this path, don't blame me for being ruthless!"
As his words fell, he formed hand signs: "Fire Release: Great Fire Dragon Flame Bullet!"
Three fire dragons roared forth, charging straight at Uchiha Fugaku's orange Susanoo!
Almost simultaneously, Jiraiya moved: "Sage Art: Needle Jizō!"
Though he hadn't fully entered Sage Mode, he could still draw upon natural energy. His hardened white hair shot out like a storm towards the green Susanoo!
The battle had begun!
"Shisui!" Uchiha Fugaku barked a low command.
The orange Susanoo swung its blade, cleaving the three fire dragons in a single stroke!
Uchiha Shisui also maneuvered his green Susanoo, its spiraling sword spinning before him, blocking the barrage of hair needles.
But his heart sank.
The strength of Sarutobi Hiruzen and Jiraiya far exceeded ordinary Kage level.
Especially Jiraiya. If he fully entered Sage Mode and summoned the two Great Sages, his combat power would become even more terrifying.
'We must finish this quickly...' Shisui glanced at Fugaku beside him.
Uchiha Fugaku was also looking at him, a flash of determination in his eyes.
The plan leaked, their forces not yet at full strength, Takumi absent... With these compounding disadvantages, the Uchiha's chance of victory now was less than thirty percent.
But they still had one trump card.
Kotoamatsukami!
If Shisui could use Kotoamatsukami to control Sarutobi Hiruzen, making the Third Hokage have a "change of heart," acknowledge the Uchiha's grievances, and order both sides to stand down...
Then there might still be a chance for this coup!
As for how to clean up the mess afterwards, that was a problem for later.
The immediate priority was survival!
"Execute the original plan!" Uchiha Fugaku signaled to Shisui behind him.
Shisui's heart tightened, then he nodded firmly.
The green Susanoo suddenly stepped forward, raising its spiraling sword high as it charged towards Sarutobi Hiruzen!
"Protect the Hokage!" an ANBU captain barked.
Several ANBU teleported using the Body Flicker Technique, positioning themselves in front of Hiruzen.
But their attacks landed on the Susanoo like harmless tickles.
"Fall back!" Hiruzen ordered in a low voice, rapidly forming hand signs: "Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall!"
A thick earthen wall rose from the ground, blocking the Susanoo's path.
However, Shisui's Susanoo swung its spiraling sword, and the earth wall was instantly sliced through!
"Such immense offensive power..." Hiruzen's pupils contracted. He quickly retreated. "Everyone, scatter! Don't engage the Susanoo head-on!"
Just then, the orange Susanoo also moved.
Uchiha Fugaku maneuvered it, its broadsword sweeping horizontally to drive back the Konoha ninja attempting to flank them, especially those trying to interfere with Shisui.
At the same time, he shouted to the clansmen behind him: "Warriors of the Uchiha! For the honor of our clan! Activate your Sharingan! Face the enemy!"
"Yes!!!"
Hundreds of Uchiha clansmen roared in unison!
The next moment, countless Fire Release techniques shot into the sky!
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"
"Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Flower Technique!"
"Fire Release: Great Dragon Fire Technique!"
"..."
The night sky was dyed crimson!
This time, without Uchiha Itachi acting as a traitor, the Uchiha clan, with all its power unleashed, showed why it was known as the strongest ninja clan!
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