"Stop right there! Identify yourself. What business do you have in Uchiha territory?"
A patrolling Uchiha guard demanded, his tone firm and authoritative.
"I am Danzo Shimura, Elder of Konoha," Danzo declared coldly, stepping forward without the slightest sign of respect. "Step aside."
The Uchiha ninja furrowed his brow. Danzo, as a senior member of the Konoha Council and leader of Root, held significant political power—second only to the Hokage in authority. Still, trespassing into the Uchiha district without cause or escort was a blatant provocation.
"Even if you're a Konoha Elder, this is the Uchiha district," the guard said tensely. "You can't—"
"How dare you, a mere foot soldier, question me?" Danzo snapped.
At that moment, a new voice cut through the confrontation.
"Danzo Shimura…"
A young man in a dark Uchiha cloak approached. His tone was laced with disdain.
"Captain Byakuya!"
The patrolling Uchiha guards instantly straightened and saluted. His presence seemed to anchor the atmosphere, shifting the balance.
Danzo's single eye narrowed as he studied the young Uchiha. "You're Uchiha Byakuya, aren't you? You're harboring dangerous ambitions. Release whoever you've detained and submit to questioning."
"Hmph." Byakuya scoffed. "Get lost."
Danzo stiffened. "What did you say to me?"
"I said—get lost," Byakuya repeated with deadly calm.
And then, without warning, he vanished.
In a blink, Byakuya reappeared right in front of Danzo, faster than any of the surrounding Root members could react. A sharp smack echoed across the district as his palm struck Danzo's cheek, leaving a red mark.
Danzo staggered slightly, stunned.
"You—dare lay hands on me?" he growled.
[Ding—Danzo Shimura's anger intensifies. Negative Emotion +200. Ninjutsu Proficiency +15.]
"Not only will I hit you…" Byakuya's voice was low, laced with cold killing intent. "I'll expose the crimes you've committed in the shadows."
Furious, Danzo gave the signal. "All Root operatives—seize him!"
"Yes, Lord Danzo!"
The Root members unsheathed their blades and surrounded Byakuya, ready to attack.
"What are you doing? You're attacking Leaf shinobi on Konoha soil!" Byakuya shouted. "This is insubordination—treason against the Hokage's authority!"
Some of the Root agents hesitated. They were trained to follow Danzo's orders without question, but attacking recognized Konoha shinobi in broad daylight—especially within the Uchiha compound—was a line that even they were cautious about crossing.
Danzo, however, doubled down. "I will take full responsibility. Restrain the Uchiha. If they resist—use lethal force."
To Danzo, his status as Konoha Elder meant impunity. The idea of a young Uchiha defying him publicly was intolerable.
"Lightning Release: Piercing Thunder Spear!"
One of the Root members launched a jutsu without hesitation. Lightning arced violently through the air, exploding with destructive force.
But Byakuya was already gone. He darted through the attack with expert agility, reappearing unscathed behind the Root agents.
"Captain, we're with you!"
Several Uchiha guards activated their Sharingan in unison, stepping forward with kunai at the ready.
"So you want to label us traitors?" Byakuya asked coldly. "Fine. All Uchiha, prepare for combat. If they resist—subdue them. Use lethal force if necessary."
"Yes!"
The Uchiha moved in formation, ready for full-scale battle.
"Uchiha En—send the emergency signal. Konoha must witness Danzo's treason!" Byakuya barked.
"Emergency signal?" En hesitated. "Captain Byakuya, with our strength, we can handle them. Why involve the village?"
"This isn't just a skirmish," Byakuya replied grimly. "This is a power struggle. Let the Hokage see exactly who Danzo Shimura really is."
Konoha's emergency flare—used only in moments of dire crisis—suddenly lit up the sky, a brilliant crimson streak that burst overhead with a thunderous bang.
This signal was reserved strictly for moments when the village was under threat by an overwhelming enemy force.
At once, the Konoha ninjas sprang into action.
"A distress flare!? That's the emergency signal!"
"It came from the Uchiha compound!"
"Could the village be under attack?! Move!"
All across the village, shinobi abandoned their posts and headed swiftly in the direction of the Uchiha district.
Inside the Hokage Tower, Sarutobi Hiruzen, the Third Hokage, looked up from his desk as the flare exploded. His expression darkened immediately.
"That's the emergency signal… and it's coming from the Uchiha sector?" he murmured, rising to his feet.
"Could it be Danzo…?" His gaze narrowed with unease.
Without delay, he gave his orders. "Summon the Anbu—immediately! We're moving to the Uchiha district!"
Back at the scene, Danzo Shimura, watching the signal flare ignite, frowned.
"What is he doing? Why summon the entire village…? That idiot!" Danzo grit his teeth. "This needs to end. Now."
Without waiting for his subordinates, Danzo stepped forward and formed hand seals.
"Wind Style: Wind Cutter Jutsu!"
He released a series of razor-sharp wind blades that howled toward Byakuya.
Unfazed, Byakuya smirked. "Too slow."
He clapped his hands together.
"Fire Style: Great Fire Dragon Jutsu!"
A massive flame, shaped like a roaring dragon, surged forward and collided with Danzo's wind jutsu.
BOOM!
The blast shook the ground. Fire devoured the wind blades and surged onward, barreling straight toward Danzo.
"Tch!" Danzo clicked his tongue and vanished in a blur, narrowly avoiding being engulfed.
He reappeared several meters away, dust rising around him.
"His fire release is too strong… Was this bait?" Danzo muttered, now realizing Byakuya had drawn not just him—but the whole village—into the conflict.