Uchiha Tekka radiated killing intent.
Yes—Uchiha Setsuna might once have been a formidable master. But that was long ago. How much strength did he still have left now? No one could say for sure.
Tekka himself was young, vigorous, and a fully matured three-tomoe Sharingan user.
Killing Setsuna? For him, that was hardly difficult.
As for holding back because of sentiment?
Hah.
True, he had once been part of the militant faction, and Setsuna had indeed been his leader.
But loyalty? He had never felt any. He had long known that Setsuna had founded the militant faction merely to compete for power against Fugaku, the clan head.
Back then, Tekka had only joined because he'd had no choice. Fugaku was a fool, and the so-called moderates were nauseating.
So in a clan where everyone was useless, Setsuna had simply looked like the lesser evil.
But now?
With Uchiha Kai's rise, Tekka had finally seen real hope.
That was why he had chosen without hesitation to switch allegiance.
Killing Setsuna? To him, it was nothing at all.
He'd had enough of those old fossils who did nothing but cling to their positions and stir up endless infighting.
After giving his instructions, Kai didn't waste words.
Under Tekka's lead, he went straight to Naka Shrine.
There, Tekka gave a signal—and in an instant, more than fifty Jounin and over three hundred Chunin revealed themselves.
Even Kai's eyes narrowed slightly at the sight.
Konoha's official registry only listed a little over three hundred Jounin in total.
Yet here, in front of him, stood more than fifty.
"Tekka," Kai murmured, "what's going on? How do we suddenly have this many Jounin in the clan?"
Though Kai was the clan's leader, his own nature was laid-back. He'd never bothered to study the clan's inner numbers too closely.
Tekka bowed and explained.
"Lord Kai, some of these are recent promotions. But the majority… are hidden Jounin.
The Uchiha only have thirty-seven Jounin officially registered with the village.
The other clans are about the same.
If you added together all the hidden Jounin across the clans, I'd estimate there are at least eight or nine hundred."
Kai hissed softly.
Good heavens.
So that was the truth. The official records only listed a few hundred, but the clans had hidden away a far greater force.
No wonder—
Even when all four great villages had attacked together, Konoha's leadership had never seemed truly worried.
The village's hidden reserves were terrifying.
The other villages had sent nearly their entire armies.
But Konoha? On most battlefields, only registered shinobi and academy cannon fodder had fought.
The clan elites had stayed in the shadows—save for one battle, when the Uchiha briefly committed themselves at the Mist front.
It really showed just how foolish the clan had been in the past.
"I see," Kai nodded. Then he asked with some curiosity, "How many Jounin has Shisui managed to pull to his side?"
After all, Kai had fifty-plus on his side. He wondered what the other side looked like.
"Counting Elders Yashiro and Setsuna," Tekka replied, "thirteen Jounin, fewer than fifty Chunin, and under a hundred Genin."
Kai smiled.
Good.
That meant the majority were still with him.
Even with Shisui personally acting as the banner of the Will of Fire, and with two elders calling, he'd still only gathered that many.
That was manageable.
Even if they all had to be wiped out, the clan could bear the losses.
Yes—that was enough.
Just as he was about to speak again, Fugaku arrived with another seven or eight Jounin and over fifty Chunin in tow.
"Tekka, Kai!"
"The clan is in turmoil, and you didn't inform me, the clan head?
Since traitors have appeared, I must personally act as clan leader!"
Fugaku wore a grim expression.
Truth be told, after spending so much time around Kai, even Fugaku's acting had improved. Anyone watching him now would have thought he was truly outraged—few would guess he was one of the masterminds.
But that was fine.
The only thing that made Kai's mouth twitch was the fresh batch of Jounin behind Fugaku.
Good heavens—more of them!
Clearly, the Uchiha were still hiding cards. Some Jounin might be away on missions, or perhaps Fugaku simply hadn't bothered to bring them all out.
Tekka looked embarrassed.
He really had forgotten about the clan head. But it wasn't entirely his fault—he'd learned of the situation in a rush and rushed to Kai immediately, forgetting all about Fugaku, who had been nearly retired in all but name.
"Clan Head, let's cut the chatter.
Shisui's people are making their move. It's time for the curtain to rise.
Remember—kill Setsuna and his diehards without mercy. But for the rest, hold back a little.
Yashiro's moderates aren't as extreme as the militants—they still have some value left.
This battle is just a performance. Blood must be spilled, yes, to drag Hiruzen fully into the game.
But every loss is still Uchiha strength. Don't get carried away.
I expect Shisui's group will be siphoning resources from Hiruzen on our behalf afterward."
Kai smiled as he spoke.
Yes—this "battle" was only theater.
Even the opposing leader was one of his own.
Aside from Setsuna and his fanatics, who had no redeeming worth, everyone else still had a role to play.
Fugaku and Tekka nodded together.
As senior leaders, they both knew the truth. They had no objections.
"Very well—we'll follow Kai's lead!"
"Since our forces are assembled, and Shisui's group is meeting now at Setsuna's estate, then as clan head, I give the order: surround Elder Setsuna's residence completely.
If there is resistance—kill without mercy!"
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