Chapter 52: Blood in the Whirlpool

In the Hokage's Office – Konoha

"Hiruzen, what is going on?" Koharu Utatane demanded, pacing the floor with a dark expression. "We had everything planned. How could this happen? Mito-sama took the Senju and left—and the Uchiha went with her!"

Homura Mitokado narrowed his eyes. "That alliance… Senju and Uchiha joining forces with Lady Mito. It's a dangerous precedent."

Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed, rubbing his temples. "Everything was going according to plan… until it wasn't. We underestimated the Uchiha. Their intelligence network picked up on the movements of the other villages and the Land of Whirlpools almost instantly. They acted before we could adjust."

His voice dropped lower. "Mito suspected we already knew… suspected we deliberately withheld information to let the Uzumaki suffer."

They hadn't spoken of it aloud—but the damage was done. Their relationship with Mito, and the Uzumaki, was crumbling.

"The Uchiha clan… something feels off," Koharu muttered. "There's no way they reacted that fast on short notice. Even the Senju couldn't have mobilized that quickly unless—"

"They already knew," Homura finished grimly.

Hiruzen nodded. "I suspect Mito and Hikaru Uchiha made a secret pact. Mito likely instructed the Uchiha to monitor the situation in the Land of Whirlpools and act when necessary. The two clans coordinated everything behind our backs."

"That explains it," Koharu said coldly. "What do we do now? Most of the Senju and Uchiha elites have left the village. There's no better opportunity."

Her voice carried a dangerous tone.

"No!" Hiruzen snapped, eyes sharp. "Don't even think about it. They went to save the Uzumaki, not to die. We've already lost half of our Anbu and ROOT to this mission—we don't have enough trusted personnel left. Even if we could act, the consequences would be catastrophic."

He leaned forward. "For now, increase surveillance. Stay on guard. Nothing more. Dismissed."

"…Fine," Koharu relented, raising her hands in mock surrender. She turned and left, but her eyes still glittered with icy calculation.

At the Nara Compound

Clink. A sake cup hit the table.

"It seems Lady Mito no longer trusts the Hokage," Nara Shikayama murmured. "To choose the Uchiha over Hiruzen… that speaks volumes."

"Of course she doesn't trust him!" Akimichi Torifu snapped. "He's done nothing but suppress the Senju. Without the Uchiha's help, the Uzumaki would've been wiped out already. Hiruzen would've watched from afar."

Shikayama stroked his chin thoughtfully. "With this alliance, the Senju, Uchiha, and Uzumaki might truly grow close. If they support the Uchiha politically… maybe even push for a Hokage of their own."

It was once a nightmare scenario—but now, it didn't seem so bad.

"…That might not be a bad thing," he said aloud. "Uchiha leadership would need to prove themselves with tangible benefits for the people."

Torifu's eyes lit up. "Exactly! With their pride and strength, they might finally shake Konoha out of its stagnation. The world is brutal. The Hokage should be someone who understands that."

Four Days Later – Border of the Land of Whirlpools

Lady Mito stood on a rocky outcrop overlooking the coastline, her red hair fluttering in the wind. The elite forces of the Senju and Uchiha flanked her, expressions grim.

The air smelled of ash and blood. Below them were ruins—burning homes, shattered walls, and hundreds of corpses. Most were Uzumaki.

"…We're too late," Mito whispered. Her fists clenched at the sight of her fallen kin. "Move! We head for the capital. The main barrier must still be holding—they haven't broken through yet!"

"Yes, ma'am!"

They surged forward, racing across the charred land toward the heart of Uzushio.

Capital City – Uzushiogakure

Screams echoed in the streets as the last survivors of the Uzumaki clan retreated behind a colossal chakra barrier surrounding the Imperial Square. Enemy shinobi from Kumogakure, Iwagakure, and Kirigakure gave chase, cutting down anyone who fell behind.

The Third Raikage, Third Mizukage, and Onoki—the Third Tsuchikage—stood just outside the barrier, surrounded by elite units.

"This damn barrier," growled the Raikage. "Too strong to crack from the outside. We're wasting time!"

"The longer we wait, the greater the chance Konoha sends reinforcements," the Mizukage warned.

"Hmph. Hiruzen?" Onoki scoffed. "You don't know him like I do. That man wouldn't lift a finger to help the Uzumaki. If anything, he wants them to fall. Otherwise, why wait over a month while we moved so openly?"

"You think he's complicit?"

"Who knows?" Onoki muttered. "But now that Mito's still alive… things may change."

"Then no more stalling," said the Raikage, his eyes flashing. "We break through now."

Inside the Barrier – Imperial Square

Uzumaki Aminari, the clan head, stood beside the elders as they maintained the chakra barrier. Their faces were pale, eyes bloodshot.

"If only we'd listened to Lady Mito when she urged us to migrate to Konoha…" Aminari muttered. "We were too proud."

"There's no time for regret now," an elder replied. "We must save who we can. The main force will hold the barrier. The rest are splitting into five groups and escaping through the tunnels—only one is heading to Konoha. We're not putting all our hopes in one basket."

Another elder suddenly gasped. "Wait! The enemy's attacks are weakening…"

Kagura-sense, a sensory elder, opened his eyes wide. "Chakra signatures! I feel it—Mito-sama is here! And not alone. There are Senju. And… Uchiha. So many… three-tomoe Sharingan everywhere! Over a hundred of them!"

"What?" the room filled with shocked voices.

"And not just them. I sense Aburame, Inuzuka, Hyūga… and members of ROOT and Anbu. Even Danzo Shimura is among them."

The realization dawned on them like sunlight through storm clouds.

"We're saved!" someone cried.

Aminari straightened. "Maintain the barrier. I'm going to rally our remaining forces. If they're here… we'll strike from the inside when they attack from outside."

Outside the Barrier – Battlefield

Explosions ripped through the field as the Konoha vanguard clashed with the three great villages.

"Fire Style: Great Fire Annihilation!"

"Water Style: Water Dragon Missile!"

"Genjutsu: Sharingan!"

The tide shifted instantly. The invading forces stopped attacking the barrier and turned to face the reinforcements.

"Damn it!" Onoki snarled. "How did Konoha send so many elite troops? Has Hiruzen changed his mind?"

A monstrous roar echoed.

"Susanoo!"

A towering black ethereal warrior rose behind the Uchiha line, casting a shadow over the battlefield. It drew a massive blade and swung down toward Onoki.

"Shit!" Onoki barely dodged, blown away by the shockwave. Below him, dozens of elite shinobi from Iwa, Kumo, and Kiri were flattened—instantly killed.

The battlefield froze.

"G-God…" a Kumo ninja stammered. "What the hell is that?"

Onoki's face twisted in fear and recognition. "That chakra… You're… Uchiha Hikaru!"

Hikaru stood atop Susanoo's shoulder, his eyes glowing. "You wanted a war, Onoki? You got one."

The blade of the giant shimmered again. Hikaru pointed forward.

"Come. Let's see if you can bear the weight of your sins."