THE EVIL OF UCHIHA BYAKUYA

After dealing with the affairs of the Sand Village, Byakuya led many Uchiha clan ninjas on their journey back to Konoha.

"Lord Byakuya," Nara Shikaku asked with a puzzled expression, "why did you deliberately reveal our whereabouts? The Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, must already know our situation... He may dispatch forces to intercept us."

Shikaku had already made up his mind to defect from the current regime and bring the Ino-Shika-Cho clans under the banner of the Uchiha. From his perspective, there was no longer any need to share information with Sarutobi Hiruzen. Yet what confused him was that Byakuya had instructed him to report all developments in the Sand Village directly to Konoha.

Tactically, this made little sense. If Byakuya intended to strike against Konoha's leadership, secrecy and a surprise attack would be the most efficient route. But Byakuya had chosen to do the opposite—publicly broadcasting his movements.

Knowing Sarutobi Hiruzen's cautious and political nature, Shikaku was certain he would not allow Byakuya to return unchallenged. At the very least, he would send an ambush force.

"Haha, Sarutobi Hiruzen is just a coward who hides behind schemes and conspiracy," Byakuya said with a sneer. "If they want to stop me—let them try."

With Byakuya's current strength, no one in the ninja world could stand against him. The only people who had once posed a threat were Senju Hashirama and Uchiha Madara.

But Hashirama was long dead.

As for Madara, Byakuya suspected he still lingered in the shadows, barely surviving by depending on the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path.

In short—no one alive could match him. Hokage, Root, Konoha's so-called elites—none of them mattered.

But there was a second reason Byakuya openly revealed his plans: to harvest negative energy.

Not long after Nara Shikaku sent out the intelligence scroll, Byakuya began to receive massive waves of negative energy.

[Detected Sarutobi Hiruzen's fear. Gained 2000 negative energy. Chakra +170.]

[Detected Utatane Koharu's panic. Gained 3000 negative energy. Ninjutsu +180.]

[Detected Sarutobi Hiruzen's panic. Gained 4000 negative energy. Illusion +200.]

[Detected Shimura Danzo's rage. Gained 5000 negative energy. Taijutsu +220.]

Since the report had been sent, the negative energy from the Konoha leadership kept increasing.

Looking at the constantly rising stats, Byakuya couldn't help but grin.

"Just as I expected... Sarutobi Hiruzen and the others are perfect crops for harvesting negative energy. One harvest after another—like fat leeks."

Just as Byakuya stepped out of the Wind Country's borders into a dense jungle, he suddenly stopped.

"Lord Byakuya, what's wrong?" Shikaku asked.

Byakuya didn't answer directly. Instead, he called out toward the shadows.

"Since you're here, come out. I've already sensed your presence."

Immediately, the Uchiha clan ninjas around him became alert.

"Is there an ambush nearby?"

"Activate Sharingan!"

All Uchiha opened their eyes, scanning their surroundings. Even the Hyūga clan members activated their Byakugan.

Yet no matter how hard they searched—they found nothing out of the ordinary.

"You won't come out?" Byakuya smirked. "Then I won't be polite."

"Fire Style – Great Fireball Technique!"

A massive fireball surged from his mouth, roaring toward a dense section of the forest.

BOOM!

The trees ignited in a wave of flames—and masked figures scrambled out in panic, their cover blown.

"This is… an invisibility barrier?" Shikaku said in shock. "That's a technique exclusive to Konoha's ANBU…"

It was precisely because of the invisibility barrier's power that it remained one of Konoha's deepest secrets.

Very few people knew of its existence.

However, as Konoha's top military strategist, Nara Shikaku was privy to many of the village's hidden mechanisms — including this barrier.

"Haha, of course they're Konoha-nin..."

"Haven't you already figured it out?"

Seeing Shikaku's surprised expression, Byakuya couldn't help but sneer.

"I never imagined... that even the Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, would go this far..."

Inoichi, Shikaku, and Choza sighed heavily.

They had long suspected that Sarutobi Hiruzen might resort to extreme measures.

But now, facing an ambush from their fellow Konoha shinobi, the Ino–Shika–Cho trio felt the bitter weight of betrayal.

They had faithfully served Konoha and Hiruzen for years.

Yet now, without hesitation or warning, the Hokage had sent assassins after them.

If they once felt conflicted about betraying Sarutobi Hiruzen by siding with Byakuya, that hesitation had now vanished.

This wasn't just politics — it was personal.

To attack his own loyal subordinates for the sake of maintaining control…

Was this truly what the Will of Fire had become?

The masked attackers bore no clan insignias — but their precise coordination, emotionless actions, and sheer ruthlessness left no doubt.

Root.

Danzo's hidden force.

"Damn! Our location's been compromised!"

"Stick to the plan!"

"Understood!"

The Root operatives quickly regrouped and launched a second wave.

"Four Purple Flame Formation!"

In a flash, four Root jōnin appeared at the perimeter, slamming their hands onto the ground.

A towering purple barrier ignited into place, trapping Byakuya and the Uchiha forces within.

"No... not the Four Purple Flame Formation..."

"That's a high-level barrier technique — cast by four jōnin in unison."

"The defense is nearly impenetrable. We're sealed in..."

Shikaku's face tightened as he recognized the technique immediately.

"Sealed in?"

Byakuya scoffed.

"Heh... no. They're the ones trapped."

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