31 Vanishing

"...!"

Shiro's words struck Uchiha Fugaku's heart like a bolt of lightning. The reason he had endured so much, tolerated so many indignities, was not because he was a coward. As the head of a great clan, he was responsible for the lives and the future of all his people. As a father, he had to consider the safety of his wife and children. He dreamed of rebellion, of personally ending Danzō's tyranny, but he knew that if he truly acted on that desire, the Uchiha clan would face certain annihilation. This constant, crushing concern had tempered his once-passionate spirit into one of grim caution.

But now, everything was different. That man—the god-like figure from his clan's history—had extended an olive branch. The Uchiha's once-bleak future was suddenly about to be reborn.

"Shiro, then I…" Uchiha Fugaku started to speak, but stopped himself abruptly. He felt as though he had misspoken. In terms of seniority, the small child before him was his ancestor, generations removed. The Uchiha were a clan that valued propriety above all else. How could he address him so informally? After a moment of deliberation, Fugaku chose his words with extreme care.

"Shiro-dono," he began, his voice filled with a deference that bordered on reverence, "I am willing to lead the Uchiha clan to join Lord Madara. But please, grant me some time to discuss this with my people first."

"They have long been unable to bear Konoha's oppressive rule. Lord Madara is not only our ancestor, but the very symbol of the Uchiha clan's strength, a man who stood on equal footing with the First Hokage. I believe the clansmen will agree to join you without hesitation!"

"However, if so many of us try to leave at once, it will surely cause a commotion. The village's surveillance teams will discover us. We must devise a careful escape plan."

"Please, wait in my home. I will return shortly. Mikoto, Sasuke, take our guest to the living room to rest. See that he is not disturbed in any way!"

Shiro waved a hand with a leisurely air, his voice casual. "There is no need to bother. Now that I am here, I have a way to get all of you out of here safely. The Anbu will not detect a thing."

"Oh?" Fugaku's face lit up with relief. If what the boy said was true, his clan could escape without a single casualty. "Since you possess such an ability, I feel much more at ease. I will make the arrangements at once and have my people prepare to leave."

"Very good. I will wait for you in the house, then." With that, Shiro turned and walked toward the living room with an easy confidence, as if he were returning to his own home.

After Shiro had gone inside, Uchiha Itachi's worried voice broke the silence. "Father, are you truly going to leave Konoha and join Uchiha Madara?"

Fugaku sighed deeply. "Now, though the surface may seem calm, the situation between our clan and the village is already beyond repair. This is a chance to retreat unscathed, and I must seize it." Fugaku handed the scroll he was still holding to Itachi. "Look for yourself. This is the order the Fourth Hokage just delivered."

Uchiha Itachi took the scroll and read it carefully. As his eyes reached the end, a subtle twitch disturbed the corner of his mouth. The village was going too far. This was no different from house arrest.

Itachi composed himself and asked, "Father, do you believe he is truly Madara's son? Considering Madara's age, his son is far too young. He seems to be only a year or two older than Sasuke."

Fugaku replied, "I did not believe it at first, but his Sharingan is genuine, and his bearing is extraordinary. And for some reason, looking at the child's face gives me an inexplicable sense of trust, of conviction. I find myself unable to refuse his requests. It may be the power of his bloodline."

Itachi nodded. "Yes, I feel the same way. Compared to the 'Madara' I met before, I find myself liking Shiro a great deal more." It was not the power of his bloodline at all, but the effect of Shiro's talent, [Heaven's Favored]. Of course, they could not possibly know that.

"Itachi, do you agree with my decision?"

Itachi was silent for a moment before responding with a firm resolve. "I agree. This is an opportunity for both the Uchiha and the village to escape this conflict without a war. We should take it."

"Good! Then come with me to inform the others. Remember to be cautious. Do not let the Anbu spies hiding in the shadows see anything."

"Understood."

In the living room, Mikoto brought out a plate of refreshments and placed it before Shiro with a warm smile. "I cannot believe that the legendary Lord Madara of our clan is still alive, and has such a handsome son."

"You are very kind, ma'am," Shiro replied, his tone polite and mature.

Mikoto blushed at the unexpected compliment. "You speak so well, like a little adult. How old are you now?"

Shiro answered, "Almost four."

Though she had already guessed, Mikoto was still taken aback. A child only half a year older than her Sasuke possessed the temperament and conversational skill of someone far beyond his years, even more so than her prodigy son, Itachi. She had always thought a child as meticulous and mature as Itachi was a rarity. Today, she had discovered someone even more exceptional. And his appearance… it was extremely charming. There was a powerful magnetism about him that made Mikoto want to keep looking at him.

The one who was most surprised, however, was not Mikoto, but Sasuke. His young heart was reeling from the shock. This guy is about my age, but he seems stronger than Itachi! Sasuke, who had always been strong-willed, felt a surge of unwilling frustration. He's barely older than me, yet he already has a three-tomoe Sharingan! It's unbelievable! The person he admired most in the world was his older brother. In his small world, Itachi was the strongest, both in power and in spirit. Now, a child younger than his brother had appeared who seemed to surpass him in every way. Most importantly, even his own father addressed this boy with utmost respect. A feeling of bitter frustration washed over him. I will work hard to be his equal one day. No! I must surpass him! Sasuke made a secret vow to himself.

Mikoto and Shiro were still chatting when Fugaku and Itachi returned.

"Shiro-dono, I have informed all the clansmen," Fugaku reported. "They are willing to serve your father, Lord Madara, and are ready to depart at a moment's notice."

"Very good." Shiro nodded with satisfaction. He stood up, popping the last of a rice cracker into his mouth. "Then let us go now!"

"White Zetsu-daddy, it's your turn."

"Hello!" White Zetsu's form emerged from the floorboards. "Greetings, everyone!" Its sudden appearance startled everyone in the room except for Shiro. Mikoto, in particular, was so shocked she covered her eyes with her hands. After all, White Zetsu was, for all intents and purposes, completely naked.

"Do not panic," Shiro explained patiently. "He is my nanny and my father's right-hand man. You may not be used to his appearance at first, but you will grow accustomed to it."

"He will be our transportation out of Konoha. There is no need to struggle. It will be over in a moment."

As he finished speaking, several more White Zetsu clones emerged from the floor. At the same time, the same scene was unfolding in every house throughout the Uchiha compound. The clones opened their torsos, and then, regardless of gender, age, or status, they enveloped every single Uchiha, pulling them into their bodies. Finally, all the White Zetsu clones sank back into the earth and vanished.

At that moment, the compound where the Uchiha clan had lived for generations fell eerily silent, devoid of any human presence. The entire Uchiha clan had just "disappeared," right under Konoha's nose.

On the outskirts of the Uchiha compound, a large number of Anbu ninja remained hidden, their eyes fixed on the silent houses. They were constantly monitoring the clan, ensuring that not even a fly could get in or out.

Perhaps growing bored after hours of surveillance, one Anbu member said with disdain, "Hmph, they're being very obedient. Not a single one has dared to come out."

"They're afraid of death. If they were to step one foot outside the compound, we have orders from the Hokage to kill them without mercy."

"These Uchiha are truly pitiful. Their reputation is completely ruined."

"Tsk! They deserve it. Who told them to try and assassinate the Hokage? For that crime, even the extermination of their entire clan would not be too harsh a punishment."

"Still… doesn't it seem a little too quiet? It's as if no one is there at all."

"How is that possible? Our people have the entire area surrounded. We haven't moved an inch. It would be impossible for them to escape. I imagine they are all shivering in their homes, awaiting judgment!"

"Yes, Captain. But if you are worried, I can use my sensory abilities to check."

The sensory ninja formed a series of hand seals and began to focus his chakra.

"Ah, this…!"

"Impossible… It's impossible!"