Chapter 110: The Collapse of Uchiha Shisui's Beliefs
"Five Style - Great Combo Barrage Technique!!"
Surging Water Release, scorching roaring Fire Release, heavy terrifying Earth Release, and also Wind Release, Lightning Release...
The five elemental ninjutsu, exuding terrifying might, combined into one, then entangled and reacted within.
The air filled with violent, distorted fluctuations. The surrounding temperature rose sharply. Trees, buildings, etc., also turned to flying dust in an instant.
The fireballs, lightning, gales, stone flows, and water waves of the five elements danced wildly, dyeing the night sky as one, surging towards Menma like an overwhelming tide.
The Professor of Ninjutsu, Sarutobi Hiruzen, had researched the nature transformations of the five elemental ninjutsu very thoroughly; this was his ultimate ninjutsu.
Even if his body was already aged, this one strike was still worthy of his status as 'Kage'.
But Menma, looking at the attack rushing towards him, remained expressionless, offering no resistance.
The next second, the five elemental ninjutsu collided with Susanoo.
BOOM BOOM BOOM!!!
A violent explosion occurred, causing the very earth to tremble, illuminating the night as if it were day.
"This... is this Lord Hokage's true strength?"
Looking at this terrifying strike, some of the younger ANBU ninja swallowed hard, their faces showing expressions of horror.
Most young ninja's impression of the Third Hokage was only his extremely rich ninjutsu repertoire and profound knowledge.
Because during several Shinobi World Wars, Sarutobi Hiruzen had always remained in Konoha's rear, never going to the front lines.
Naturally, he had never revealed his true strength.
However, after seeing the Third Hokage's formidable power, some young ninja, while shocked, had a bold thought pop into their heads.
"Clearly possessing such strength, why didn't Lord Third go to the battlefield front lines like the Raikage and Tsuchikage?"
This one strike, whether in range or damage, its lethality against ordinary ninja had already surpassed the Tsuchikage's Dust Release and the Raikage's Nintaijutsu.
If Lord Third could take to the battlefield, he could definitely reduce his side's casualties and also form a deterrent against the enemy.
Sarutobi Hiruzen, of course, didn't know these young people's "bold" thoughts.
Although the chakra in his body was already depleted, seeing that masked man rashly choose to meet this blow head-on,
"Hmph!"
He still let out a breath, a smile appearing.
"Still too young. Even that guy the Third Raikage wouldn't dare to take this move of mine head-on, not even with Susanoo."
But just as he was rejoicing,
The dust and smoke gradually dissipated, revealing the scene on the battlefield.
"This..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at the scene before him, his eyes gradually widening, his face filled with utter shock.
"How is this possible?!"
He saw, at the center of the explosion, a streak of green light flash. A half-bodied giant clad in green armor stood there.
This was the third form of Susanoo.
The even larger green half-bodied giant protected Menma's crimson giant within it, also blocking the attack of the five elemental ninjutsu.
Even if the green giant and the dozen or so coffins outside the Susanoo were severely damaged, under the protection of the two Susanoo,
Menma within, and the thirty-odd coffins beside him, were completely unharmed!
"Where... is this place?"
A familiar voice suddenly came.
Even Uchiha Itachi, who had remained calm from beginning to end, couldn't maintain his composure upon hearing that familiar voice.
"...Shisui-bro?!"
Thump!
One of the coffins closest to Menma was pushed open from the inside. The coffin lid fell heavily to the ground, kicking up dust that scattered everywhere.
Hands emerged from the coffin, gripping its edges. As if somewhat unaccustomed to his own body, he slowly climbed out.
A man with a dango nose, wearing a black high-collared short-sleeved shirt and black pants embroidered with the Uchiha clan emblem, and carrying a short sword on his back, appeared before everyone.
The scene before them had already surpassed what most present could comprehend.
The person walking out of the coffin was actually Uchiha Shisui, who had been dead for two or three years.
"I..."
Shisui abruptly opened his eyes. In his scarlet eyes, peculiar pupils with four curved blades appeared, powerful pupil power instantly erupting.
However, after seeing the scene before him clearly, Shisui showed a bewildered expression.
"Is this... Konoha? But haven't I already died?"
His memory was still at the moment he was killed by the masked man.
So upon awakening, sensing the extremely strong chakra fluctuation, he instinctively used his Susanoo.
"You indeed died. I was the one who pulled you up from the Pure Land."
Menma's tone was full of amusement: "I told you, your foolishness and naivety would drag the Uchiha clan into a bottomless abyss, leading the Uchiha clan to complete annihilation."
"Now, two years have passed since your death. Witness the destruction of Konoha's Uchiha with your own eyes."
Uchiha Shisui was somewhat dazed upon hearing this, then looked blankly at everything before him.
"Lord Third? Itachi?"
The additional age spots on Sarutobi Hiruzen's face, and Uchiha Itachi's more noticeable growth, made him understand the masked man's words were not false.
Two long years had indeed passed.
Then the Uchiha clan...
Snapping back to reality, Shisui looked at the familiar Uchiha clan grounds around him, his heart instantly sinking.
Numerous houses had collapsed, the ground scraped several layers deep. The originally neat and prosperous Uchiha clan grounds had almost turned into ruins.
A cold wind blew past him, whistling mournfully, as if countless wronged souls were weeping.
Clearly, before he came out, a tragic battle had taken place here.
However, aside from Uchiha Itachi, he couldn't see any other Uchiha clansmen.
"Looking for your clansmen?"
Hearing the slightly amused voice beside him, Shisui, his mind in chaos, turned to look at Menma.
Only then did he realize there were dozens more coffins behind the two of them.
Thump!
Thump thump thump!!
Before Shisui could react, the coffins behind them also opened one after another.
From the coffins emerged Uchiha clansmen dressed in traditional Uchiha attire.
Their exposed bodies bore fine, bizarre cracks, giving the impression they could shatter at any moment.
These Uchiha clansmen slowly opened their eyes.
Their originally white sclera were now corroded by an ominous darkness, exuding a bizarre aura.
Their movements and thoughts were somewhat stiff at first, but then, they became little different from living people.
"Where is this..."
Uchiha Yashiro looked around with a bewildered expression, not yet understanding what was happening.
Wasn't he already killed by that masked man?
But this familiar feeling... undoubtedly, he was still in Konoha.
Uchiha Tekka beside him, with a steadier personality, was the first to come to his senses, looking up towards Uchiha Itachi in the distance.
Immediately, his expression gradually became ferocious, a hint of fear discernible deep within his eyes.
Unlike Uchiha Yashiro, he wasn't killed by the masked man, but directly killed by Uchiha Itachi while conscious.
And his child and wife both died under Uchiha Itachi's blade, right before his eyes!!
"Uchiha Itachi?!"
Uchiha Tekka roared, full of resentment.
Having lost his reason, without regard for whether his strength could pose a threat to Itachi, he directly charged towards him.
"Uchiha... Itachi?"
Some clansmen killed by Uchiha Itachi were also jolted awake by Tekka's furious roar.
Immediately, they too looked towards Itachi in the distance with resentful eyes, following Tekka's steps to charge forward.
But Uchiha Shisui extended an arm, stopping them.
"Tekka, Yashiro, and everyone..."
Shisui lowered his head, the bold idea popping into his mind making his body tremble uncontrollably.
These clansmen who died like him, their resentment and fear towards Itachi, and what the masked man said just now...
The destruction of the Uchiha clan?
"...What happened?"
He abruptly looked up at Uchiha Itachi, a twisted expression that was both crying and laughing on his face: "Itachi, tell me, what exactly happened?"
Hearing this, Uchiha Itachi, who originally showed astonishment and joy, froze for a moment.
But seeing the spite in those clansmen's eyes, and Shisui standing before them,
The joy in his eyes quickly faded, eventually becoming evasive, guilty.
Creak!
He clenched his fists, but seeing the unconscious Sasuke nearby, then looking at Sarutobi Hiruzen in the distance, he finally, slowly unclenched them.
Sarutobi Hiruzen also noticed Itachi looking at him.
But Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyes flickered, various thoughts flashing through his mind, ultimately offering no response.
He had already recognized the ninjutsu that masked man used.
-- Forbidden Jutsu: Edo Tensei.
An S-rank forbidden jutsu invented by the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama, capable of resurrecting the dead.
It was a forbidden jutsu Senju Tobirama developed to be used in conjunction with the "Mutual Multiplying Explosive Tags".
Meaning, the Uchiha Shisui and Uchiha clansmen summoned by that masked man all possessed their own memories and emotions.
Although he didn't know how the Edo Tensei technique was leaked,
His best choice now was to feign ignorance and remain silent, letting the blame for the clan extermination conveniently fall onto Uchiha Itachi.
"Itachi, this is the darkness you must bear. I will take good care of your younger brother."
He couldn't be associated with the clan extermination, so Uchiha Itachi had to leave Konoha. Leaving Uchiha Sasuke behind was already the limit he could accept.
Uchiha Itachi remained silent for a long time, finally, without joy or sorrow, speaking expressionlessly: "The Uchiha clan... has been destroyed by me."
"Whether the elderly, or children, or even my own relatives, all were killed by me, Uchiha Itachi."
Uchiha Itachi... destroyed the Uchiha clan?
As soon as these words were spoken,
Whether the uninformed Uchiha clansmen, or the ANBU ninja who thought Itachi was an ally,
Everyone present froze, then, reacting, all showed expressions of disbelief.
"The one who wiped out the Uchiha clan... wasn't that masked man, but Uchiha Itachi, who is an Uchiha?"
Even the elderly and children, and his own parents, were not spared?
Instantly, everyone looked at Uchiha Itachi with varied expressions.
Apprehension, disdain, fear, spite, anger, confusion...
All sorts of emotions were present, but understanding was uniquely absent.
One must know, even in a Shinobi World War, when facing enemy children, one would avoid killing if possible.
They were ninja, weapons, but they also had their own feelings.
And no matter how annoying the Uchiha clan was, they were still a part of Konoha, Konoha's compatriots.
On the battlefield, they were incomparably reliable comrades, who had once shed blood and sweat for Konoha.
What's more, those civilian children and elderly were innocent.
The ANBU ninja couldn't imagine.
To what extent could a person be so merciless and cruel as to personally kill their own parents and innocent children?
"Even those guys from Root wouldn't be so cold-blooded. Uchiha Itachi can no longer be called human, right?"
Shisui's body began to tremble violently, his fists clenched tightly.
"Why? How could you do this? Those were all our relatives!!"
His lips trembled slightly as he questioned, filled with grief and indignation: "There were even one-year-old babies among them! How could you possibly bring yourself to do it?!"
Facing Shisui's questioning, Itachi fell silent for a moment, then pointed to his own Mangekyō Sharingan: "Naturally, to test my own capacity, to obtain even greater power."
His tone, devoid of any emotional fluctuation, made it seem as if he were talking about something insignificant.
As if those he killed were just a group of ants.
Uchiha Shisui stood there in silence, staring blankly at Itachi, his eyes gradually losing their luster.
He then opened his mouth, wanting to say something.
But the next second.
"Ugh!"
He suddenly knelt on the ground, retching.
He was clearly a dead person, clearly no longer possessing physical organs.
But the smell of blood in the air, and this sudden blow, continuously stimulated his nerves, making him feel as if his entire worldview had completely collapsed.
"You can kill me, but the future you speak of is absolutely impossible! Lord Third would never allow such a thing to happen!"
"Even if I die, Itachi will inherit my will and do his utmost to eliminate the rift between the Uchiha and the village!"
Pant! Pant!
Shisui knelt on the ground, hands propped, gasping heavily for breath.
Thinking of the words he had spoken with such conviction back then, Shisui's heart filled with anger and sorrow.
The person he had seen as hope not long ago had now become the executioner who destroyed the Uchiha.
Those sensible children, those kind elderly people, and the future of the Uchiha clan...
"It was me! It was my fault! I trusted the wrong person!!"
"It was I who chose to run away! It was I who chose to pin my hopes on him!!"
Shisui couldn't suppress his sorrow. He wanted to cry badly right now, but simply couldn't.
He could only tremble all over, mouth agape, so grief-stricken he was speechless.
At this moment, the beliefs in Shisui's heart completely shattered.
Shattered to pieces, never to be put back together again.
Clap~ Clap~ Clap~
A round of applause suddenly broke the bizarre silence.
Menma looked at Shisui, then at Itachi before him, sneering coldly: "I don't consider myself any kind of saint, but my blade would never be aimed at my own kin."
"And you, Uchiha Itachi, are truly a laughable fool."
Menma's gaze towards Itachi was sharp, his voice gradually turning cold, his words like blades stabbing straight into the heart.
"In the end, you only followed your own narrow justice and peace. Beyond that, you achieved nothing."
(End of Chapter)
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