As Tobirama gazed into the intricate patterns swirling in Toshiro's eyes, a sinking realization dawned upon him—his plan to break free from the Edo-tensei had failed.
"Brother!"
Turning his head with great difficulty, Tobirama directed a pleading glance toward his elder brother. At this point, he could only rely on him to regain control of his own actions.
But just as the Nidaime struggled to resist the jutsu's effects, the Shodaime acted.
A vibrant, almost tangible aura of purple chakra enveloped the First Hokage's body, followed by crimson streaks of Sage Mode markings emerging on his face.
"Hmm…"
The sudden eruption of overwhelming chakra shook the battlefield. The immense energy not only displaced the surrounding air but also cracked the very ground beneath him. Spiderweb-like fissures rippled outward from beneath his feet, spreading across the area in all directions.
"Saru… looks like you're on your own this time," the Shodaime said with a weary sigh, glancing at the distinct Sage Mode markings on Toshiro's face and the swirling patterns of the Mangekyo Sharingan in his eyes. His tone was a mixture of resignation and mild surprise as he turned his gaze toward Sarutobi Hiruzen, who stood tense and watchful on the other side.
"It seems there's yet another remarkable man who has been born among the Uchiha."
With his strength now less than half of what it had been at his peak, the Shodaime had initially intended to use his Sage Mode to break free from the control of the Uchiha prodigy manipulating him. He'd hoped to reason with the young man once free.
Unfortunately, the situation was far from ideal. The Uchiha not only wielded Sage Mode himself but also enhanced its power with the binding force of his Mangekyo Sharingan. The Shodaime realized his efforts were futile and could only place his hopes on the Third Hokage.
"…"
"Toshiro, you…"
Seeing that even the Shodaime was unable to break free from Toshiro's control, the Sandaime's heart sank like a stone in water. He opened his mouth, as if to speak, but no words came.
"I'm honored to receive praise from the God of Shinobi himself," Toshiro said with a faint smile, his tone carrying a mixture of mockery and pride.
"However, do you really think I'd summon someone as powerful as you without a solid plan in place?"
After briefly addressing the Shodaime, Toshiro's expression hardened. His gaze shifted toward his Uchiha allies, his voice sharp and commanding.
"Send the signal to Konoha Prison. Sacrifice all the prisoners—every single one. This time, we don't move unless we finish this once and for all!"
He paused, his tone carrying a chilling finality.
"Stick to the original strategy. Secure the prison, fortify it completely, and let no one interfere. As for the reanimated souls…"
Seeing the doubt flicker in the Sandaime's eyes, Toshiro's voice turned icy, each word deliberate and cutting:
"Command them to target the Hokage faction clans. Leave no one untouched—no clan present here today is to be spared. If they want to wipe out an entire clan, we are more than capable of responding in kind."
Though there were only 157 chakra-bearing prisoners in Konoha Prison, ordinary individuals could still serve as sacrifices, albeit with diminished effectiveness.
But what did it matter? The Uchiha's elite forces were already concentrated at their compound. As for the rest—those summoned Uchiha warriors—they were more than sufficient to deal with the weakened opposition.
Yes, the Uchiha clan had masters, and Toshiro was prepared to unleash them.
While the Uchiha alone might struggle against the combined forces of the Hokage faction, the Anbu, and other factions, there were other resources to tap into. The family cemetery beneath the Uchiha compound was full of capable warriors waiting to be revived.
With the sacrifices ready in Konoha Prison and the ancestral strength of the clan on his side, Toshiro was determined to eliminate the Hokage faction in one decisive blow.
"After generations of effort and fifty-five years of grievances and animosity, it's time to bring it all to an end!"
The Uchiha had spent decades trying to integrate into Konoha. After enduring sacrifices, suppression, and exclusion for over half a century, it was indeed time to put an end to the cycle.
"...Yes."
Hearing Toshiro's words, Asuka, who had been prepared for this moment, showed a complex expression—a mix of hesitation and resolve. With a heavy sigh, she raised the signal gun in her hand, ready to send the prearranged signal.
"Wait!"
Just as things were about to reach the point of no return, the First Hokage, now fully in Sage Mode, interjected urgently.
"Is there some kind of misunderstanding?"
He stepped forward, his tone earnest and pleading.
"We are all Konoha's shinobi. Have you truly considered the consequences of this path? If there are unresolved conflicts, let's sit down and talk. I'm certain there must be another way to resolve this!"
"As expected of the First Hokage—able to retain some level of autonomy even in this situation. Truly remarkable," Toshiro remarked with a faint smirk as he glanced at the Shodaime.
However, his tone quickly turned sharp.
"The Sandaime has already led his forces to wipe out the Uchiha clan. What's left to discuss?!"
He stepped forward, his expression resolute.
"The ninja blade has already tasted blood. Lives have been lost on both sides. Tonight, it will either be the annihilation of the Hokage's entire clan or the end of the Uchiha!"
With that, Toshiro shifted his gaze to Asuka, his tone heavy with impatience.
"Asuka, what are you waiting for?"
"What is there to hesitate about when the moment demands action?"
Asuka, having grown up in Konoha, knew full well the weight of the decision. Once the signal was sent, it would unleash the reanimated shinobi—every prisoner in Konoha's prison would be used as part of the plan.
The village would descend into chaos if things spiraled further out of control. Should Toshiro fail to manage the aftermath, Konoha itself could face complete destruction.
"Wait, Toshiro! This is all a misunderstanding!"
As Asuka prepared to fire the signal, a wave of panic washed over the Sandaime. Beads of cold sweat trickled down his temples as he hastily intervened, his mind racing to find a way to defuse the situation.
"We came here… because we received intelligence that Danzo was plotting to destroy the Uchiha clan," he began, his voice trembling slightly.
Once he started, the Sandaime's words began to flow more naturally, and he quickly seized the opportunity to keep talking:
"Danzo and his conspirators were behind the assassination of Uchiha Shisui. They manipulated public opinion to discredit the noble Uchiha clan and even launched tonight's attack without consulting me!"
He gestured earnestly toward Toshiro.
"Thankfully, you saw through their schemes and prepared in advance, preventing this traitor from succeeding. In fact, I must thank you, Toshiro, for exposing Danzo's true face to us!"
They stood no chance in a direct fight. Not with the Shodaime alone, let alone the addition of the Nidaime and Izuna standing over there. Victory was completely out of reach.
Clap, clap, clap!
A round of slow applause echoed as Toshiro clapped his hands.
Standing tall with his Sage Mode activated and Mangekyo Sharingan glowing ominously, Toshiro looked at the Sandaime with a bemused smirk.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk! As expected of the Sandaime, the esteemed Hokage for so many years—always quick to devise a solution!"
There was a glint of mockery in Toshiro's eyes as he continued, clearly impressed by how swiftly the Sandaime had attempted to shift the blame onto Danzo.
"But... Sandaime," Toshiro's smirk deepened, his voice laced with disdain, "do you honestly believe that pinning this on Danzo alone will suffice?"
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