https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-528-Horror-Story-Numerous-Uchiha-Have-Escaped-/12943215/
Chapter 529: 'Protecting' the Uchiha!
Chapter 529: 'Protecting' the Uchiha!
"Hokage-sama!"
Kakashi half-knelt and saluted before beginning his report.
"The missing Uchiha bodies should number around seven hundred, but identifying them will take some time!"
"The escape route leads to an underground passage from the Uchiha Compound to the village outskirts!"
"And they fled south."
...
The Shinobi's investigative abilities were astonishing. Given any lead, they could uncover anything.
Although someone had been covering their tracks, such a large-scale operation would undoubtedly leave traces. At most, it would only require more time and effort from the ANBU.
"South...!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen frowned and muttered to himself.
This direction left him completely perplexed.
If the Heavenly Castle had indeed intervened, why would they leave such obvious traces?
"I'll immediately mobilize the Root Division to intercept and stop them at all costs!"
Danzo's words were few but filled with determination.
Although he also feared the Heavenly Castle, as long as they didn't directly storm the city and kill, the other party would have no grounds to complain.
Most importantly, he held the moral high ground.
If they intervened to stop them, he could label them as traitors to Konoha and deal with them together.
(In Danzo's mind, Konoha was invincible!)
"That's right, we must not allow the Uchiha to be taken. We have to 'protect' them and bring them back!"
Mizukage Gen gave Danzo a stern look.
Some things could be done but not spoken of.
Currently, the fleeing Uchiha were 'victims'. They would only act to protect them, and it would be normal for accidents to occur during the pursuit, but he couldn't say they were stopping their escape.
Danzo didn't argue with Mizukage Gen because he knew the other party was right.
Regardless, the village wouldn't get involved in the Uchiha's internal strife. Even if they sent a pursuit team, it would only be to protect them from the S-rank rogue ninja, Uchiha Ketsu.
Anyway, regardless of whether others believed it or not, they did.
As for Sarutobi Hiruzen, he remained silent.
This was equivalent to tacitly agreeing with their decision.
But if they succeeded, it would be fine, but if they failed, they would naturally bear the consequences.
Just like Danzo, who knew how many times he had taken the blame.
It was precisely because of this relationship that Danzo, no matter how big his mistakes or how many times he took the fall, remained unscathed.
Soon, Konoha dispatched a pursuit team.
Led by Danzo and the Root Division, with the ANBU as support, the total number reached several hundred.
Extremely formidable! Whether ANBU or Root, they were the cream of the crop.
Saying they could take on ten opponents might be an exaggeration.
But if it was a fight between equals, it wouldn't be a problem for these elite forces.
Additionally, their mission was to kill, so the task wasn't challenging.
Indeed, for the Root Division and ANBU, killing was much simpler than any other mission.
Ninja themselves were killing machines, let alone the ANBU and Root, who were the ultimate killing machines among ninja.
There was also another advantage: this was the Land of Fire.
Konoha's home turf! Even 'that' person wouldn't dare to intervene openly.
However, Danzo hoped the other party would make a move, as that would allow him to gather all of Konoha's strength and eliminate this thorn in his side.
Hmm, he had never considered what would happen if Konoha lost.
In Danzo's mind, Konoha was forever invincible.
It was just a small Heavenly Castle.
Deal with them!
Even if they had two thousand registered ninja and had defeated the Daimyo's coalition, so what?
With Konoha in his hands, he viewed them as mere ants.
This was approximately Danzo's mindset, making him stubborn and leaving others at a loss for words.
The pursuit wasn't smooth.
Since the traces were being deliberately concealed, they occasionally chased in the wrong direction.
Moreover, the other party was well aware of Konoha's tactics, and with various arrangements in place, they even pursued the wrong targets several times.
Fortunately, they had sufficient manpower this time, allowing them to use a 'brute force' tracking method.
A human wave!
They divided the team into smaller squads and conducted a carpet-style search.
Of course, to prevent misinformation, Danzo also dispatched search teams in several other directions around Konoha.
After more than a day of tracking, they finally obtained a lead.
"Let's go!"
Danzo's eyes lit up, and he immediately gathered the team and headed full speed in one direction.
His actions left some people perplexed.
"What's going on?"
Hyuga Shosuke watched Danzo's actions with a puzzled expression. "Weren't those guys already dealt with? How could Danzo have possibly discovered something amiss?"
Indeed, the Uchiha who had escaped Konoha as part of the Filial Piety and Filial Revenge Plan were now several dozen kilometers away.
Due to the large number of people and the fact that most of them were ordinary Uchiha clan members, it was natural for them to be spotted by reconnaissance squads.
However, the few individuals mixed within the group could easily handle such reconnaissance teams, leaving no chance for them to raise an alarm, making it theoretically impossible to be discovered.
"Could it be that Danzo is using these reconnaissance squads as bait to confirm the target's location?" Tang Ping asked.
Tang Ping's reminder was significant.
Danzo had always been ruthless when it came to using his subordinates as cannon fodder and bait.
Sacrificing Root and ANBU members was a basic tactic for him and also the most effective strategy.
As for the sacrifices of Root and ANBU?
For the sake of Konoha, let them endure a little more suffering.
"Should we step in to stop them?"
Hyuga Shosuke asked a critical question.
If they intervened, they could easily halt the pursuit.
However, doing so would draw significant attention to themselves.
"We can, but we must act as 'mercenary' Mist Ninjas. Hopefully, they can catch up in time!" Tang Ping replied.
Using the Shell Organization's cover meant that they might have to take action.
Even so, they couldn't afford to attract too much hostility.
It was better to leave it to the Mist Ninjas.
As one of the five great ninja villages, the Mist Ninjas had a deep-seated grudge against Konoha, making it reasonable for them to target Konoha.
As for their Shell Organization?
They were merely doing a paid job, and these major ninja villages' grudges had nothing to do with them.
And what about Uchiha Meika?
Ever since she left the village last night, she hadn't uttered a word.
Perhaps she never expected that the prestigious Uchiha clan, renowned since the Sengoku period, would be 'exterminated' by someone.
Although she held hatred towards them, and after the extermination, the main branch of the Uchiha clan would become the new 'Uchiha aristocracy'.
Still, her feelings were incredibly complex.
"Rest assured, under your leadership, the Uchiha clan will only become stronger and greater than before!" Tang Ping could sense the complicated emotions of his fiancee and turned to reassure her.
Before they could exchange a few more words, they noticed that Danzo's group was slowing down.
In the grass ahead, a team was advancing in an orderly manner.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
ANBU and Root ninjas, each wearing a mask, emerged from various locations and gathered around Danzo.
These ninjas had been scattered earlier and were now returning after receiving orders.
This demonstrated the incredible mobility of ninjas.
Ordinary people would take half a day to cover such a distance, but ninjas didn't even need half an hour.
Moreover, this was just their 'average speed'. If there were only Jonin-level ninjas, they could easily catch up in a few minutes by using the Body Flicker Technique without regard for chakra consumption.
"Move out! Rescue the Uchiha from the 'enemies' hiding among them!" Danzo commanded loudly.
However, his order was quite intriguing.
Enemies hiding among the Uchiha!
In other words, by killing the Uchiha, he could claim that the 'enemies' were among them.
As for how many Uchiha they could 'protect' and bring back to the village, that was another matter.
Even if they didn't 'rescue' a single Uchiha, it would merely be a failed mission, which was quite normal.
They weren't like White Fang, who couldn't afford to fail.
Brilliant!
Danzo was indeed Danzo, playing these tricks and schemes as if they were second nature to him.
Clang! Clang!
The sound of sheathed shinobigatana being drawn filled the air.
White Fang and Dead Fish Eye, who were mixed among the ANBU, exchanged a glance and could only silently obey the order.
"Attack!" Danzo commanded.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Shadows darted forward, rushing towards the fleeing Uchiha group'.
With their strength, dealing with these targets didn't require more than a few minutes.
Using the Body Flicker Technique, they covered the distance in an instant, and before the group could react, some speed-type Root ninjas had already arrived, brandishing their shinobigatana.
This group of Uchiha, lacking combat power, was completely at their mercy in this critical moment.
However, at that very moment, justice descended from above.
(End of Chapter)
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