THE EVIL OF UCHIHA BYAKUYA

In addition to the Root operatives, the strike force that ambushed Byakuya also included elite shinobi from the Sarutobi clan, the Utatane clan, and the Mitokado clan.

Their goal was singular—to eliminate Uchiha Byakuya.

To achieve this, they laid out a meticulous ambush. The first step was containment. Before launching their attack, they deployed a high-grade barrier—a Four Violet Flames Formation—intended to isolate the battlefield and prevent Byakuya's escape.

But for someone like Byakuya, such tactics were meaningless.

What they intended as a trap became a coffin for themselves.

"The barrier's active."

Upon seeing the formation seal shut, the coalition of Konoha elites exhaled in relief. They believed Byakuya was now contained. In their minds, this marked the beginning of his end.

Not one of them questioned whether they could defeat him.

They had numbers—dozens of trained shinobi, many from powerful clans. Root was known for brutal efficiency. With them stood members of Hiruzen Sarutobi's inner circle and two of Konoha's elder clans.

No matter how strong Byakuya and the Uchiha were, they were the establishment of Konoha. How could a single clan hope to stand against all of them?

"Lord Byakuya, the barrier's up. We're surrounded," Uchiha En reported calmly.

Despite the situation, there was no panic in En's tone. The presence of Byakuya gave them confidence—a kind of unwavering belief that they could break through anything.

"Surrounded? Heh… looks more like they've surrounded themselves."

With a smirk, Byakuya surged forward—blazing straight into the Root formation.

To him, these weren't enemies. They were fuel. Negative emotions, death, fear—all things he could feed on.

"Target approaching. Engage and neutralize," one of the Root captains commanded.

Three Root operatives—trained in perfect formation—drew their chakra-infused tantōs and moved to intercept. Their synchronized assault was clean, swift, and deadly.

But they were not even close to being his equal.

Bang—Bang—Bang.

"Aaargh—!"

With three precise movements, Byakuya tore through them. Their bodies flew like rag dolls, lifeless before they even hit the ground.

"Target's strength exceeds projections! All units—attack together!"

Panicked voices rose as over a dozen shinobi squads moved in simultaneously, launching coordinated jutsu offensives.

Byakuya, unfazed, muttered:

"More bodies? Fine."

He rapidly formed seals, his chakra flaring violently.

"Katon: Gōka Mekkyaku!"

(Fire Style: Majestic Destroyer Flame!)

FWOOOSH—BOOM!

A wall of searing fire swept across the field, enormous and suffocating.

"He's casting Gōka Mekkyaku—use Water Style! Block it!"

"Suiton: Suiryūdan no Jutsu!"

(Water Style: Water Dragon Bullet!)

"Suiton: Suijinchū!"

(Water Wall!)

Jets of water rose in defense, but it was like trying to extinguish a forest fire with a cup.

The fire consumed everything—boiling the water on impact and enveloping the shinobi in steam and flame. Screams were choked before they could leave their throats.

Ashes scattered across the battlefield.

Byakuya did not stop. His eyes burned red—his Sharingan spinning—as he turned toward the Sarutobi lines. His blade cut through flesh like paper. Screams rang out again—each one more desperate than the last.

No one could match him.

Whether Root, Sarutobi, Utatane, or Mitokado—none of them were prepared for the raw terror that was Uchiha Byakuya.

The gap between their strength and Byakuya's was so vast that they couldn't even withstand a single move from him.

Faced with his attacks, they could only scream in terror.

Their fear and desperation surged through the battlefield, releasing a flood of negative emotions—exactly what Byakuya needed to fuel his power.

As he unleashed a one-sided slaughter, the other Uchiha clan members weren't idle either.

Though they didn't possess Byakuya's overwhelming strength, the power of their Sharingan was more than enough to overwhelm the Root operatives.

With each Genjutsu, every copied jutsu, and flawless coordination, the Uchiha turned the battlefield into a crimson massacre.

"Damn it! What's going on!?…"

"They're Konoha ninjas—why are they attacking us!?"

Tsunade gritted her teeth. As one of the Legendary Sannin, and a veteran of countless wars, she could instantly recognize the chakra control and combat techniques unique to Konoha shinobi.

And worse—among the attackers, she spotted members of the Sarutobi clan.

That's what truly shook her.

In Tsunade's mind, the shinobi of Konoha were supposed to stand together—united by the Will of Fire.

They had just returned from a victorious campaign. Shouldn't they be welcomed back as heroes?

Why… why were they being ambushed like criminals?

"Heh… Tsunade, I don't know if you're just naïve or willfully blind," Byakuya said coldly, eyes glowing crimson with the Mangekyō Sharingan.

"Bastard! What are you talking about!?" Tsunade shouted, fury rising.

"You really don't understand?" Byakuya sneered.

"Hiruzen Sarutobi fears me. He fears that the Uchiha clan, that I, will return and threaten his place as Hokage. So he sent his dogs to kill me first."

As he spoke, a flicker of metal caught the air.

A kunai soared, guided with chakra precision.

It pierced the throat of a Sarutobi clansman before he could even weave a hand seal.

The ninja collapsed, gurgling as blood spilled between his fingers.

Byakuya didn't even glance at him.

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