The deep crimson Susanoo rampaged across the land.
Its enormous sword mercilessly reaped the lives of the Root ninjas. There was no need for precise targeting or controlled force—just swinging the blade toward the chakra waves was enough. The sharp, massive sword would slice through anything in its path.
Forests, rocks, earth, rivers—nothing could withstand the blade of Susanoo.
Even Root, unafraid of death, found itself thrown into unprecedented chaos under such an overwhelming assault. But it wasn't just Susanoo's immense power that led to this. More importantly, the death of Aburame Ryoma, their direct superior, had left Root without leadership.
Root had always only had one true leader: Danzo.
He used cursed seals to control all his subordinates, including even his "right-hand man," Aburame Ryoma. Ryoma had been publicly given power second only to Danzo himself, and as long as Ryoma was there, Root remained stable.
But with Ryoma dead and Danzo lying on his deathbed in the hospital, Root was left without any strong figure to unify it. Root's members, trained only to follow orders, didn't even have the ambition to fight for power. Each squad fought on its own, and then one by one, they were utterly crushed by Sougen.
In truth, the members of Root were hopelessly rigid.
They had no concept of flexibility.
Even though they knew staying meant certain death, not one of them attempted to flee. Perhaps the threat of the cursed seal still lingered, or perhaps they had truly given up all emotion, leaving only the mission in their hearts. In any case, the Root ninjas fought Susanoo with everything they had and were one by one slain by the great sword that fell upon them, bringing their nameless lives to a quiet end.
There was no need for ninjutsu.
No need to use ocular powers, either.
Every swing of Susanoo's blade had enough destructive power to rival a standard B-rank jutsu. After the nearby forest had been thoroughly devastated and the terrain had dramatically changed, no more Root ninjas were seen moving in formation. All that remained was a black giant eagle circling in the sky.
"Get down here!"
Sougen looked up at the black eagle flying in the air. Susanoo, moving as he willed it, swung its sharp sword into the sky. The mere gust of wind from the swing knocked the giant eagle off balance. The creature, made of ink, wasn't resistant enough, especially with two people riding on its back.
The black eagle shattered.
The two riders fell from the sky.
But the woman named Shuri reacted quickly, raising her scroll and hurriedly drawing a new hawk. The fresh drawing caught them both just before they hit the ground, preventing them from becoming a mangled heap of flesh.
However, at that moment…
A giant arm extended, grabbing both the black eagle and Shuri, along with Yamanaka Masakazu. The eagle shattered into ink, leaving only Shuri and Yamanaka Masakazu alive.
"Demonic Illusion: Dragon's Sleep."
Susanoo raised the two captives in front of him.
At such a close distance, Sougen's ocular power could reach both Shuri and Yamanaka Masakazu before they could even speak. They were immediately put into a deep sleep, with no chance to resist or even to take their own lives.
Yin Release Secret Technique: Super Beast Imitating Drawing—
Got it!
The acquisition of this secret technique made Sougen feel a rush of excitement. With this technique, there was a chance that his training in Yin Release could finally get on track.
After confirming that no Root members had escaped and sensing the chakra fluctuations from the Hyuga Clan's compound, Sougen noticed a large group of chakra sources heading his way. No surprise—this must be the reinforcements sent to help Hyuga Hiashi. Though they were late to the battle...
Wait, what!?
Why were there also large chakra sources approaching from the northeast? And why did they all feel so familiar, rushing toward him at incredible speed?
"This chakra... Grandpa's here?"
Sougen squinted his eyes, recognizing the familiar chakra signatures as they drew nearer.
Every person's chakra had subtle differences, almost like a personal identity stamp. While the Transformation Jutsu could alter appearances, it couldn't change chakra signatures. That's why White Zetsu's technique of mimicking chakra was considered the most powerful transformation technique.
Sougen deactivated Susanoo.
Carrying the two captives, he went to meet the Uchiha clan members rushing to his aid.
Unlike the Hyuga Clan's reinforcements, who had arrived slowly, the Uchiha Clan had come from much farther away. Yet they arrived at almost the same time. They hadn't wasted a single moment, rushing to his side as fast as they could.
"Captain!"
"Clan leader!"
"Clan leader!"
"Captain!"
The Uchiha clan members greeted their clan leader as they arrived.
"Sougen, are you alright?"
Uchiha Genshi looked at his grandson with concern. They had seen Susanoo disappear moments earlier. As an elder of the clan, Genshi knew about the Mangekyo Sharingan and the toll it took, leading to inevitable blindness after repeated use...
"I'm fine!"
Sougen smiled.
Noticing the worry that still lingered on Genshi's face, Sougen quickly realized that his grandfather was concerned about his vision. But explaining his ability to recover his ocular powers wasn't something he could do in front of everyone. As he glanced around, he saw the looks of admiration and respect from his clan members.
The power of the gods: Susanoo!
Such a mighty force was indeed worthy of reverence.
"Sougen, what happened here that made you resort to using that?" Uchiha Homaru couldn't wait to ask, while Elder Uchiha Kyo quietly moved closer, listening for Sougen's response.
"Well..."
Sougen paused for a few seconds. He took a few steps and stood on a nearby tree trunk, which had been skewed into the ground, looking down at the 45 Uchiha jonin, including the three elders. He spoke loudly:
"I know everyone wants to know what happened here. It would be too troublesome to explain it one by one, so I'll just tell you all at once. Earlier, Root forces attempted to assassinate me here—again. They gathered their most elite troops to attack me and the Hyuga Clan's leader. This wasn't the first time. We've had grudges from the past, but this time, I've captured evidence. If the village doesn't give the Uchiha Clan a proper explanation, I will not let this go easily. Those who dare provoke the Uchiha must pay the price! So, prepare for battle!"
"Yes, Clan Leader!"
The clan members responded loudly, their anger mingling with excitement.
They were furious that their clan leader had been attacked in the village but thrilled by his resolute stance!
Their killing intent surged like blades, so thick it almost materialized into a sea of blood before their eyes!
(End of Chapter)