Chapter 97: The Spring of Konoha (Part 2)
In the Hokage's office, Uchiha Douguang cast one last deep look at Hiruzen Sarutobi before turning to leave.
"Douguang, where are you going?" Hiruzen asked urgently.
"To dispose of the enemy who invaded the village," Douguang replied coldly, glancing back at the Third Hokage.
"I'll go with you," Sarutobi said, rising from his seat.
"Lord Third is elderly now—no need to trouble yourself," Douguang said, his tone sharp.
At that moment, Uchiha Fugaku stepped forward, blocking Hiruzen's path.
Standing guard over the old man, Fugaku's mind flashed back to a similar moment six years ago, during the Nine-Tails incident. Back then, he had led his clan to support the Fourth Hokage, only to be stopped at the gate by Danzo's Root.
Now, here he stood again, playing the same role—only the players had changed.
Seeing this, Hiruzen sighed and slumped back into his seat. The timing of this masked man's arrival was too perfect. And with what he'd said… even if Sarutobi wanted to explain, it was far too late.
As Douguang's figure disappeared beyond the doorway, Hiruzen couldn't help but see a familiar silhouette overlaid on his back—the same determined young man from six years ago, the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, walking off to battle.
…
At the battlefront, Kakashi gently laid down the unconscious Shisui and glared at Uchiha Itachi.
"Itachi, who is that masked man? And what's your connection to him?"
Before Itachi could answer, a chained scythe came flying toward Kakashi. Dodging, he retaliated with a lightning-infused thrust—Raikiri, the sound of a thousand chirping birds.
Seeing the technique, the masked man's eye gleamed with cold light.
As Kakashi's strike closed in, the masked man let his body phase into intangibility, letting the Raikiri pass harmlessly through. Kakashi whipped around—only to see a scythe coming for his back.
It was too late to counter. At this range and angle, the best he could do was twist his body slightly and try to parry with the remaining momentum.
A black shadow lashed out and yanked Kakashi from the strike zone.
He tumbled, rolled, and finally skidded to a stop, panting.
From behind, Nara Shikaku's shadow tendrils withdrew.
Kakashi glanced back gratefully—then turned his attention forward, eyes narrowed at the masked man. Though his last strike had phased through, he had caught something.
The scythe had shown burn marks.
So... when attacking, his body becomes tangible?
A glint flashed in Kakashi's Sharingan. He charged forward again, weaving a trail of diversionary jutsu to mask his true approach.
—
"Itachi!" Nara Shikaku barked as he stepped up. "Do you have any idea what you've done?! Bringing an outsider into this—this isn't just mutiny. It's treason!"
"I didn't summon him!" Itachi snapped. "I swear, I don't know who that is!"
"Heh. That hurts, kid." The masked man danced nimbly between Kakashi's jutsu. "Especially after I said I'd help you when you needed it most."
He smirked, then lifted his head and revealed his eye—a red Sharingan spinning slowly.
"I'm Uchiha Madara," he said calmly.
A hush fell. The Uchiha around him froze in place.
"Madara?!"
Kakashi's Raikiri came again—but the man phased out and reappeared behind him.
This time, Kakashi was ready. He pivoted mid-strike, twisting against the momentum and lashing out with another lightning blade. The masked man barely had time to slip back into intangibility.
Again, a stalemate. Again, Kakashi pulled away.
But just then, his Sharingan pulsed with blinding pain. He staggered.
The masked man didn't hesitate—charging to strike the moment's weakness.
But a thunderbolt crashed from above.
Lightning exploded, blinding the battlefield. A figure emerged—wreathed in electric arcs.
It kicked Kakashi free and threw a punch straight at the masked man's face.
The masked man phased through the strike—but this wasn't over.
A Susanoo's arm crashed down, catching the scythe and chain. Thunder surged through it, forcing the enemy back.
He disappeared, reappearing at a safer distance.
Douguang stood tall, black Susanoo rising behind him, twin lightning blades crackling in its hands.
—
Kakashi gasped, "Be careful. He turns tangible when he attacks."
"Understood," Douguang replied.
He stared at the enemy. "And you… You dare call yourself Madara? A true Uchiha would never skulk in shadows."
"Watch your tongue, child," the masked man growled. "Show respect to your ancestor."
But Douguang's Susanoo slashed through the sky, forcing him into another retreat.
The battle escalated, and in minutes they had moved beyond the village, clashing now within the Death Forest. Thunder and distorted space rippled outward, lighting the night sky like daylight.
—
Back at the village, silence descended.
All eyes turned to Uchiha Itachi.
"Itachi Uchiha," Kakashi growled, hand pressed to his bleeding eye, "you brought an outsider here to attack us. Are you trying to start a war?!"
"I said I don't know him!" Itachi shouted. "You're the ones rebelling—!"
He drew his sword, ready to die for his belief.
But then...
"Enough."
A voice cut through the tension. Everyone turned.
Jiraiya had arrived—escorted by Uchiha Daika and Uchiha Zaito. He looked worn, but steady.
He gazed at Itachi, regret in his eyes. "Stop, Itachi. That's enough."
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