"Heh, what a great show."
Obito Uchiha appeared where Uchiha Itachi had been crouching.
He crossed his arms, quietly watching Uchiha Itachi's actions.
In just a short while, Uchiha Itachi's face and body were splattered with blood. The strands of blood hanging on his face slid down his cheeks, making his scarlet Sharingan appear even more sinister.
"Knock, knock, knock!"
Uchiha Itachi, covered in blood, walked out of one courtyard and knocked on the door of the house next door.
"Is Xiao Yue back?"
A delighted voice came from the other side of the door.
The door was quickly opened, and a kind, smiling face slowly appeared. The old woman's originally happy smile faltered when she saw Uchiha Itachi, but after seeing the blood all over him, she exclaimed in alarm.
"Itachi! Why are you covered in so much blood?"
"Are you injured? Come in quickly, we have medicine for injuries at home."
The old woman immediately made way for Uchiha Itachi to enter, while she turned around, preparing to call her husband to get the medicine.
But just as she turned around, a long sword pierced through her chest.
The old woman stared blankly at the small section of the sword protruding from her chest, covered in blood, glinting coldly in the moonlight. She wanted to call out to warn her husband, but blood gushed from her throat, blocking her voice.
Before falling to the ground, the old woman struggled to turn her head, wanting to see the true culprit who had killed her, but she only saw the emotionless Sharingan in the shadows.
Thankfully, Xiao Yue hasn't returned yet.
"Old woman!"
A cry of alarm rang out as an old man walked out of the house, staring blankly at the scene of his wife collapsing powerlessly.
He was about to shout for help when Uchiha Itachi trapped him in place with a Genjutsu, then beheaded him with a single sword strike.
"Where did the child go?"
Uchiha Itachi, who had been rummaging through the room for a while, stood in the courtyard with a puzzled expression. He knew very well that the old couple had a granddaughter.
"This is the second time."
Uchiha Itachi took out a list from his Ninja tool bag and crossed out the names of the two old people, but Uchiha Yue's name remained. The crossed-out names before had the same situation.
"Something's not quite right."
Uchiha Itachi looked at the list and thought for a while, but in the end, he put it away again, preparing to go to the next house.
But at the door, he saw a figure he didn't want to see.
"Father..."
...
In the secret room of Naka Shrine, there were nineteen young, even young children, the oldest being no more than five years old, and the youngest being no more than three years old. Many of the children were gathered together, whispering or playing various Ninja games. Children of this age can have fun anywhere.
And around these children, there was also a gentle and mature woman, which was also one of the reasons why these children could play happily.
"Auntie Mikoto, when can we go home?"
Despite the circumstances, the four-year-old Uchiha Yue nestled in Uchiha Mikoto's arms, asking with a pitiful expression.
Uchiha Mikoto, jolted from her daze, looked at the little girl in her arms with a gentle smile, and softly said, "Don't worry, Xiao Yue, we'll be able to leave soon."
"Click—"
Just then, the door to the secret room opened, and a figure walked in.
Uchiha Mikoto recognized the figure and stood up, holding Uchiha Yue, her eyes filled with sorrow.
"Inaho, you're here."
A trace of pain flashed across Uchiha Inaho's face as he said, "You've worked hard, Lady Mikoto."
"At least I don't have to see that hellish scene."
Uchiha Mikoto slowly shook her head, her tone tinged with sadness.
Uchiha Inaho pursed his lips, recalling the sight of corpses strewn across the clan grounds, and found himself speechless.
Uchiha Mikoto said nothing more, but looked at the other children, still smiling gently. "Children, how about we play a game with Auntie?"
Upon hearing about a game, the faces of several children who had been impatiently waiting lit up with anticipation.
"Auntie Mikoto, will there be a reward for playing the game?"
A bolder little boy raised his hand directly.
"Of course, but the number of rewards is limited, only the top-ranked children will get them."
"Eh, what's the game?"
"The game is, to see who can keep their eyes closed the longest. The first child to open their eyes is out, and the reward is an endless supply of snacks for a year."
Hearing this, many of the children's eyes lit up. Even the Uchiha children couldn't help but be tempted by the prospect of a year's worth of unlimited snacks.
"Do you all want to play?" Uchiha Mikoto reminded them with a smile.
"Yes, we want to play!"
"I want to be first!"
"I'll be first!"
Watching the children making a fuss, a hint of relief appeared in Uchiha Inaho's eyes. At least, the hope of the Uchiha still remained.
"Since we're going to play, let's start. I'll count to three, and everyone has to close their eyes."
"Okay." x19
"3...2...1"
After all the children had closed their eyes, Uchiha Inaho took out a box of incense from his ninja pouch and slowly lit it.
Uchiha Mikoto and Uchiha Inaho also fell silent, quietly waiting for the children to fall asleep, making their subsequent plans easier.
"When... is he coming?"
Uchiha Mikoto tucked all the children into bed and asked.
Uchiha Inaho pushed open the door, looked at the moonlight outside, estimated the time, and said, "It should be..."
Before he could finish speaking, he suddenly saw a kunai flying towards them.
Uchiha Inaho's eyes widened instantly, and he also took out a kunai in his hand, rushed out of the secret room, and shouted.
"Enemy!"
Hearing the sound, Uchiha Mikoto also immediately entered a fighting state, Three-Tomoe Sharingan appearing in her eyes.
But by the time she rushed out the door, she was already dumbfounded.
Uchiha Inaho was instantly knocked down, and when she looked at the person who knocked down Uchiha Inaho, she was even more incredulous.
"F... Fourth Hokage?"
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