Uchiha's Taijutsu Supreme

Hyūga Yūto stood frozen, staring at the towering floating fortress above, his mind a chaotic whirlpool of disbelief.

The technological development of the ninja world was notoriously skewed. While advancements in biotechnology had brought cloning technology close to modern standards, its mechanical industry lagged far behind.

Even the invention of an internal combustion engine remained a distant dream, as though this line of progress had been collectively abandoned.

Thus, the existence of a floating fortress—a futuristic, highly technological construct—was something incomprehensible to most in the ninja world.

"Why... Why is it that while we, as so-called prestigious ninja clans, cling to outdated traditions, the Uchiha Clan constantly evolves and abandons the old ways?"

"Look at this! While we're still perfecting our Gentle Fist techniques, the Uchiha have already soared into the skies. When will the elders of our clan wake up to reality?"

The Hyūga Clan's rigid conservatism was deeply ingrained in their bones.

Not only did they stubbornly uphold the "Caged Bird" system, but they also discouraged members from learning any techniques outside the Gentle Fist. Instead, they insisted on perfecting this one style of combat.

In the original timeline, even Hyūga Neji—among the first of the Konoha 12 to be promoted to jōnin—never demonstrated proficiency in techniques beyond the Gentle Fist.

His combat style epitomized the Hyūga Clan's age-old traditions: a relentless refinement of their signature techniques.

From Sixty-Four Palms to One Hundred Twenty-Eight Palms, their martial art was like a repetitive choreographed dance—beautiful, but stagnant.

Yūto often found himself frustrated by this. "The Uchiha Clan's techniques strike with such destructive power that a single blow can annihilate an enemy."

"Why do we, the Hyūga, need over a hundred strikes just to bring someone down? Are we trying to give our enemies a massage?"

Without direct comparison, the Hyūga's methods might not seem so bad. Their strict training produced a steady stream of capable jōnin, ensuring a stable and respectable output of talent. For a ninja clan, this was a commendable achievement.

But now, the stark contrast was glaring. The Uchiha Clan—the Hyūga's traditional rival—had literally taken to the skies, leaving the Hyūga far behind in their pursuit of progress.

"What in the world is that...?" Yūto muttered, his voice trembling. The fortress radiated an immense chakra signature that dwarfed anything he had encountered before.

Its otherworldly design only added to its mystique. "How can such a thing even exist in the ninja world? What are the Uchiha plotting now?"

Through his Byakugan, Yūto could clearly see the massive chakra core burning brightly within the fortress—an Energy Stone. It was like a miniature sun, its energy so potent that it nearly seared his vision.

"This chakra… it's almost on par with the One-Tail's chakra reserves…"

The details of the fortress came into sharper focus under Yūto's gaze. Mounted atop the structure were several large, menacing cannons, all pointed directly toward Konoha.

They exuded an ominous energy, as though they could obliterate the village with a single blast.

"Could it be... Is Fūma planning a coup today?"

"No, Fūma-sama, it's too soon! If you wait a little longer, the other clans will naturally rally to your cause. Starting a civil war in Konoha now would only tarnish your legacy…"

Cold sweat trickled down Yūto's forehead as he clenched his fists tightly, staring up at the fortress in the sky.

Although the Hyūga Clan had been on tense terms with the Uchiha for generations, they had recently been suppressed by the Third Hokage. Some members of the clan had even begun to waver, considering submission to the regime.

Having served under Fūma for nearly a year, Yūto understood his leader's character well.

Fūma was not a man who hesitated when it came to dealing with enemies. If the Hyūga Clan acted rashly now, it could very well lead to their annihilation.

Moreover, Yūto still harbored a personal hope—that Fūma could heal his younger brother's eyesight.

"What's going on? Report your findings, Hyūga Yūto."

Sakumo's voice pulled Yūto out of his thoughts. The renowned White Fang of Konoha placed a firm hand on Yūto's shoulder, his tone steady but commanding.

"I… uh…" Yūto stammered, unsure of how to respond. How could he explain what he had seen? Should he expose the Uchiha's plans outright? Such a dangerous act could make him a target.

"No, wait…" Yūto's Byakugan swept over the surroundings again, observing two figures—Aburame Shikuro and Uchiha Fugaku—standing nearby.

Both appeared utterly calm, their chakra signatures steady and unthreatening. They seemed to be mere spectators.

"Something's not right… Why do they look so relaxed? This doesn't feel like a prelude to battle…"

Shifting his gaze toward the Uchiha Police Force headquarters, Yūto searched for any signs of unusual activity.

To his relief, everything seemed normal. The Uchiha patrolled the village as usual, with no signs of mobilizing toward the Hokage's residence or other key locations.

"It seems… the Uchiha aren't planning any aggressive moves. I must have overreacted…"

Turning back to Sakumo and the gathered Anbu, Yūto cleared his throat and spoke. "Apologies, but my Byakugan's range is limited. For a more detailed analysis, you'd need one of our clan's main family members."

Sakumo raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed, but Yūto continued, "From what I can sense, the chakra signature resembles that of the Cloud Village's ninja. Perhaps our allies have come to pay an unexpected visit?"

Yūto deliberately emphasized the word "allies," his tone laced with sarcasm. The implications were clear to everyone present, though none dared to address them openly.

"You…!" one of the Anbu commanders growled, stepping forward. "If it's an unknown threat, we have a duty to eliminate it. Speak clearly, Hyūga Yūto. What are you suggesting?"

"Apologies," Yūto said with a smirk, wiping his brow theatrically. "I simply don't have enough information to confirm anything. If it's truly our allies, though, shouldn't we extend them a proper welcome? I await your orders, Commander."

The Anbu commander bristled with frustration but said nothing. The tension hung thick in the air, leaving everyone silently fuming as Yūto casually stepped aside, his confidence fully restored.

.....

"Sakumo-Sama, what do you think we should do now?"

The masked ANBU, presumably a member of the Sarutobi clan, had spent the last few minutes seething in anger. Yet, in his frustration, he decided to pass the responsibility to Sakumo. After all, wasn't he the current commander of the ANBU?

Sakumo, who had already unsheathed his blade, calmly returned it to its scabbard. His sharp eyes narrowed as he examined the increasingly distinct black dot in the sky.

If it was someone from the Cloud Village, this would be far from a simple situation.

Despite the recent scandal involving the Hyuga clan, the Cloud Village was still technically an ally of the Leaf—a signatory of their mutual defense pact.

However, if the intruder was indeed from the Cloud, this sudden provocation could very well escalate into another round of their infamous manipulative schemes.

No one dared gamble on that possibility. The actions of the Third Hokage had made it abundantly clear to everyone present: he prioritized the peace of the Leaf over individual sacrifices.

Even Sakumo wasn't an exception. In the past, he would have followed the Third Hokage's orders to the letter, enforcing the ninja code and confronting any unknown threat encroaching upon Konoha. But now?

Sakumo's mind flickered back to that helpless night when Hyuga Tenno, the clan leader, was left hopping mad, only to ultimately surrender the Hyuga's treasured kekkei genkai to preserve the village.

If even the mighty Hyuga clan had to kneel, what chance did someone without a powerful background like him have?

He had a son, Kakashi, waiting for him at home every night. A boy who always looked forward to having dinner with his father.

"Prepare defenses and notify the Third Hokage. This situation is beyond my authority as the ANBU captain. I need clearer instructions," Sakumo ordered, relinquishing his stance.

After all, with their current lineup, no one in the vicinity could effectively counter an airborne opponent. Sakumo might be able to unleash a sword slash strong enough to threaten the intruder, but not without the risk of inadvertently endangering Kakashi.

The Konoha shinobi began shirking responsibilities, each one silently passing the proverbial buck.

"Pfft… Look at this mess. Such poor coordination," came a lazy drawl. "Our Konoha Police Force would've handled this much better."

"If one of our officers had spotted a suspicious individual, we'd have already used Sharingan genjutsu to lock them down—Cloud ninja or not!"

"Or sicced our bugs on them. Doesn't matter how we do it, as long as they're neutralized."

Fugaku yawned, clearly unimpressed by the scene unfolding before him.

"Mm, just like Shizan-Sama said…" Shikuro muttered, his tone carrying a trace of amusement.

Shikuro's gaze shifted toward Fugaku. Several months ago, their clan leader Shizan had returned home, reeking of alcohol, and shocked the entire Aburame clan by announcing their intention to fully align with the Uchiha.

The declaration caused an uproar among the elders. How could the disciplined and composed Aburame ally themselves with the tempestuous Uchiha?

Yet, when Shizan presented a fist-sized mutated kikaichu, the elders fell silent.

"These insects are just the beginning," Shizan had explained. "Aligning with Fuma-sama's cause is the only way to ensure our clan lives the life Konoha owes us."

Shikuro turned his attention back to the gathered Leaf ninja, shaking his head ever so slightly. "Shizan-dono truly has foresight beyond measure…"

Moments later, the Third Hokage arrived with Homura and Utatane in tow. Having endured a harsh scolding from the Hokage, Koharu had seemingly learned her lesson.

She now followed obediently, no longer daring to meddle inappropriately with Hiruzen's leadership.

"What's going on here? Why has a Level Three Alert been issued without any concrete action taken?" Hiruzen's stern tone carried a weight that silenced the area.

"Lord Hokage, the intruder's origin remains unclear," the Sarutobi-clan ANBU reported cautiously. "The Hyuga's Byakugan couldn't discern detailed information, but there's speculation they might be from the Cloud Village…"

"So what if they are?" Hiruzen interrupted sharply. "Even allies must adhere to proper etiquette. This is no time for careless conduct!"

"Procedures must be strictly followed! How can the ANBU neglect their duties like this? Such negligence puts the village's security at risk!"

Although his words were harsh, the gathered ANBU visibly relaxed. They offered stiff apologies while bowing deeply to their Hokage.

The truth was, Konoha's security measures had always been dubious at best. After all, in the original timeline, Orochimaru's Sound Four bypassed every barrier to kidnap Sasuke Uchiha—one of Konoha's most valuable assets.

The web of alarms and barriers that supposedly safeguarded Konoha had proven to be more bark than bite.

As the distant black dot grew larger, its descent hastened, revealing more of its true form.

"Everyone, prepare long-range ninjutsu. Hold your fire until my command!" Hiruzen barked, stepping to the forefront of the group, exuding authority.

"Yes, Lord Hokage!" the shinobi chorused.

Meanwhile, Aburame Shikuro discreetly tugged at Fugaku's sleeve, signaling him to hold back. "My kikaichu have detected a familiar presence. I believe… it's Fuma-sama returning."

Fugaku raised an eyebrow. "What nonsense are you spouting, Shikuro? Didn't you get enough sleep?"

But as Fugaku tilted his head skyward, his expression shifted. There, hurtling toward the ground, was a massive structure adorned with an unmistakable Uchiha clan emblem.

The black dot transformed into an imposing fortress. It descended rapidly, its monumental form casting a shadow over the gathered shinobi.

"Is this a welcoming party? Truly, you didn't need to go to such lengths," a voice called out, resonating with a confident warmth.

Standing atop the airborne fortress, high above the assembly, was Fuma. His figure exuded authority as he looked down at the crowd, a playful smile tugging at his lips.

"Honestly, this is all a bit much. You're going to make me blush."

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