Uchiha's Taijutsu Supreme

"An unknown entity is approaching! Quickly notify the Anbu and Lord Hokage!"

At the gate within the barrier, Konoha's Special Jōnin, Hagane Gin, stared gravely at the floating fortress in the sky.

Though it appeared as a mere black dot to the naked eye, the intense chakra feedback from the barrier had him on high alert. Turning to the Chūnin beside him, he barked an order.

"Wait a moment. After notifying the Anbu, inform Deputy Minister Fugaku Uchiha. We might need their assistance…"

Hagane Gin stopped the Chūnin who was about to dash off, hesitating before adding this suggestion.

"…Understood."

The Chūnin replied in a low voice, exchanged a knowing glance with Gin, and sprinted off.

In the past, these ninja loyal to the Hokage faction would never have involved the Uchiha in such matters. Both in military and diplomatic affairs, Konoha's leadership had been working to gradually diminish the Uchiha's influence and reduce their presence.

The increasingly passive behavior of the Uchiha seemed to align with these intentions.

They showed little interest in political struggles, focusing on their duties, collecting their wages, and training quietly in their clan grounds after missions. This "hands-off" approach pleased the Third Hokage greatly.

If direct suppression was no longer feasible, the Uchiha's complacency at least reassured the Third Hokage.

However, the opinions of Konoha's leadership didn't necessarily reflect those of its lower-ranking ninja. Every person had their own thoughts and motives, not mere pawns to be moved at will.

After the recent Hyūga incident, many within the ninja clans began to scrutinize the Third Hokage's actions. While most continued to support the Hokage faction, a few proud clans grew wary.

The use of external forces to pressure internal clans was seen by many as a betrayal of the First Hokage's vision. For those who truly believed in the Will of Fire, such tactics were hard to accept.

Hagane Gin, having learned the truth of that night through certain channels, viewed the Uchiha—especially with Fūma's presence—as a source of strength and reassurance.

He felt that aligning with these red-eyed warriors provided a sense of security more reliable than the Hokage himself.

"What's the situation? Why was the alarm triggered?"

A shadow flickered, and Hatake Sakumo appeared beside Hagane Gin like a phantom.

As the head of the Anbu, Sakumo rarely gave orders, preferring to lead from the front and handle missions personally.

"Lord Sakumo!"

"Look, sir. That flying object in the southwestern sky is emitting an extremely intense chakra reaction and is heading straight for us."

"I've attempted communication through the barrier, but there's been no response. It continues to accelerate toward the village."

"This kind of structure…I've never seen anything like it before. I can't determine its origin or the enemy's identity…"

Hagane Gin spoke quickly, relief evident on his face at Sakumo's arrival. Known as the "White Fang of Konoha," Sakumo's presence always inspired confidence among his comrades.

"Raise the alert. The Hokage has emphasized strict vigilance recently. Every anomaly must be treated with the utmost seriousness."

Sakumo glanced briefly at the growing black dot in the sky and decisively issued the order.

In the ninja world, any sudden approach to a hidden village without prior notice was considered a severe provocation. Retaliation, even preemptive, was justified and would not invite reproach.

Given the destructive power of ninja, both individuals and villages were fragile in their own way. Vigilance was essential to prevent catastrophe.

Although it might seem overly cautious, a single jinchūriki's Tailed Beast Bomb could turn decades of effort into ashes in an instant.

"Yes, sir!"

Hagane Gin performed a complex series of hand seals, activating the barrier. Above Konoha, the circular barrier trembled and issued a sharp alarm.

This was Konoha's Level Three Alert, indicating the approach of an unknown hostile entity. All ninja were to prepare for combat.

Within moments, Anbu squads rushed to the scene, joined by representatives from various clans. The Sarutobi, Shimura, Inuzuka, Nara, Akimichi, and Yamanaka clans arrived first, followed by the Hyūga, who moved at a more measured pace.

Finally, the Aburame and Uchiha clans made their way toward the gathering point, their progress leisurely and unhurried.

Sakumo's eyes flickered as he observed the arrivals, shaking his head slightly. Months of studying Konoha's political landscape and history during his downtime had honed his political instincts.

The arrival sequence of the clans spoke volumes about their allegiances and respect for the Third Hokage—or lack thereof.

The early arrivals, such as the Ino-Shika-Chō trio, Inuzuka, Sarutobi, and Shimura clans, were staunch supporters of the Hokage. The slower pace of the Hyūga suggested lingering resentment from the Cloud Village incident, their participation perfunctory at best.

The leisurely approach of the Uchiha and Aburame clans, however, was the most telling.

Sakumo's gaze lingered on Fugaku Uchiha and Shikuro Aburame. The former spoke animatedly, while the latter listened silently. Though an odd pairing, their camaraderie seemed oddly harmonious.

Two months ago, the Aburame clan had unexpectedly declared their allegiance to the Uchiha, openly aligning with them and becoming the first clan to do so.

Their expertise in controlling insects had made them invaluable within the Police Force, quickly establishing dominance in their new roles. This abrupt shift left the Third Hokage deeply uneasy.

Yet, with Fūma's looming presence, the Third was unable to retaliate, forced instead to appease his remaining allies.

Sakumo couldn't fathom what power the Uchiha held to inspire such loyalty from the Aburame, a clan once loyal to the Hokage.

"Everyone, an unidentified flying object is approaching Konoha. Per Lord Hokage's orders, we are under lockdown. Prepare for battle!"

Sakumo pointed to the sky, setting aside his thoughts to focus on the mission.

The gathered ninja grew solemn. Enemies capable of flight were notoriously troublesome in the ninja world, as most lacked the means to retaliate effectively.

The fortress's altitude far exceeded what ordinary ninja could reach, marking it as a formidable threat.

"Hyūga Yūto, scout the enemy."

"Yes!"

The selected Hyūga activated his Byakugan. Yet what he saw made his eyes widen in shock.

There, atop the massive floating fortress, was the unmistakable Uchiha clan crest!

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