That night, flames suddenly lit up the quiet streets of Konohagakure. Explosions echoed from every direction.
In an instant, the entire village was thrown into chaos.
"Enemy attack! Enemy attack!"
Inside the Uchiha Clan Compound, Uchiha members were jolted awake from their sleep. In less than three minutes, hundreds of Uchiha shinobi had already dressed and equipped themselves, leaving their homes and gathering in the streets.
When Uchiha Ren appeared on the street, Uchiha Fugaku and Uchiha Tekka immediately approached him.
"Clan Head, do we know what's happening?"
Fugaku's expression was grave as he asked urgently.
No matter the reason, if Konohagakure had been attacked, the Konoha Military Police Force, which was responsible for maintaining the village's security, would inevitably bear responsibility.
If the situation was mishandled, it could easily become an excuse for others to attack both the Uchiha Clan and the Military Police.
More importantly, Fugaku was worried that tonight's attack might be a trap specifically aimed at the Uchiha clan.
Ren shook his head.
"Uncle Yashiro is on duty at the Police Force tonight. He should already be on his way here. Let's wait for his report."
At that moment, Ren 's question might have seemed unnecessary, but in truth it carried unusual significance.
"Members of the Police Force's Second, Third, and Tenth Squads, follow me to Konoha Prison!"
However, both the Kumogakure diplomatic delegation and Shimura Danzō's men had capable sensory-type shinobi among them. Black Zetsu did not dare get too close, so Ren had not been able to learn the exact contents of their discussion.
Yashiro hesitated briefly before speaking in an odd tone.
"Up until now, the Konoha Reconnaissance Division, Communications Division, ANBU, Root, and other departments haven't taken any real action. The Konoha Military Police Force hasn't received a single coordination request either."
If the enemy had come from outside the village, the problem would already be serious.
But if the enemy had originated from within Konoha itself, the situation would be far worse.
Before anyone could question further, Yashiro continued:
"Clan Head, the Hokage Tower, Konoha Hospital, Konoha Prison, Konoha Storage Depot, the Nine-Tails jinchuriki's residence, and even the Konoha Orphanage have all been attacked by groups of unidentified enemies."
"If my guess is correct, the inn where the Kumogakure delegation is staying must be very quiet right now, isn't it?"
After hearing that location mentioned, Ren 's eyes flickered briefly before quickly returning to calm.
Fortunately, Konoha Prison was located in one of the most remote corners of the village. Otherwise, tonight's chaos would have caused countless civilian casualties.
The Konoha Barrier Team was not just for show. If enemies could infiltrate the village so easily without triggering any barrier alerts and rampage through Konoha unchecked, it could only mean there was a serious problem within the Barrier Team itself.
All the defensive measures Konoha had set up would effectively be meaningless.
Ren asked directly:
"Did the enemy come from outside the village, or from inside?"
Yashiro thought for a moment before answering.
"The Barrier Team detected no signs of external intrusion. These enemies must have come from within the village."
"…There's also something else."
Ren 's gaze sharpened.
"What else?"
Yashiro replied,
"There have been no reports involving the Kumogakure delegation. That place is indeed completely quiet."
"Just like the entire village is being attacked—except for them."
Hearing this, Ren laughed coldly.
"So that's how it is… Shimura Danzō has truly gone mad."
Combining the strange events unfolding across Konoha with the intelligence he already possessed, Ren quickly concluded that the masterminds behind this incident were Shimura Danzō and the Kumogakure delegation.
Earlier, Ren had already received word that Hiruzen Sarutobi's operation had failed. He even knew that the Kumogakure delegation had begun packing their belongings and had summoned Danzō for a meeting.
At first, Ren had not taken the matter too seriously. He never expected that the man who constantly preached "everything for the sake of the village" would become so insane in his pursuit of becoming the Fourth Hokage that he would sell out the village's interests to an enemy nation.
"Fugaku," Ren ordered, "take my authorization and go to the Hyūga Clan immediately. Ask Hyūga Hizashi to dispatch two squads from the Divine Archer Unit to support Uncle Yashiro."
The Konoha Military Police Force consisted of ten operational squads. Each squad was divided into five platoons, twelve smaller units, along with a captain and vice-captain—about five hundred personnel in total.
These five hundred shinobi represented the elite combat strength of the Uchiha Clan. If mobilized fully, they could wipe out a small nation overnight.
"Tekka," Ren continued, "lead the Second Squad and coordinate with the Third and Fourth Squads currently on duty. Eliminate the enemies inside the village as quickly as possible and stabilize the civilians."
At Ren 's command, the gathered Uchiha shinobi instantly sprang into action. Aside from those assigned to guard the clan compound, the others vanished within a few breaths.
"Uncle Yashiro," Ren said decisively, "lead the First, Fifth, and Sixth Squads through the clan's secret passage and leave the village immediately. Set up an ambush on the route toward Kumogakure."
"The Tenth Squad will follow me!"
When Ren led more than a hundred Uchiha shinobi to the vicinity of Konoha Prison, the prison had already completely fallen.
The inmates who had been locked inside were not fleeing in all directions. Instead, under the incitement of certain individuals with ulterior motives, they were venting their pent-up rage, smashing and destroying everything in sight.
Because Konoha's leadership had suppressed large-scale mobilization, the village had not organized an effective defense. Only the Konoha Military Police Force and scattered shinobi who had rushed to the scene were desperately trying to hold back the rioting prisoners.
Seeing this scene, Ren 's face darkened.
In a cold voice, he issued an order:
"Members of the Second and Third Squads, deal with the escaped prisoners on the spot!"
"If they resist—kill them."
Meanwhile, behind Konoha Prison, a team of several dozen individuals had already taken advantage of the chaos to slip past Konoha's border defenses.
They had escaped the village.
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