Chapter 812: The Strongest Genjutsu!
Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Orochimaru, only five years old, were not yet the Legendary Sannin renowned in the future.
They were still just children with immature minds.
Even the slightly more mature little Orochimaru wasn’t much better.
Faced with a sudden attack like this, he couldn’t help but panic.
"Are we going to die?"
Little Jiraiya wiped his nose, muttering with fear and helplessness.
"No way! I haven’t won back the money I lost to those idiots yesterday. I’m not dying here!"
Little Tsunade was also filled with fear. The blazing flames outside the window reflected on her youthful face, streaked with tears.
"Orochimaru, if we’re going to die, what’s the one thing you’d want to do most?"
"The one thing I’d want to do most is shut your mouth!"
Little Orochimaru clenched his fists, struggling to suppress the fear in his heart.
At this moment, his desire for power and truth swelled even more in his heart!
"Jerk! If I’m going to die, I’ll take you down with me!"
Little Jiraiya lunged at little Orochimaru. The two began to fight, as if it could vent some of their fear.
"Stop it! Both of you, stop!"
Little Tsunade shouted, trembling. But seeing the two boys fighting, she seemed to feel less afraid.
*SRAKKK!*
The classroom’s front door was yanked open with force. The sound startled the three children.
Fortunately, the one who entered wasn’t an enemy but someone they knew.
"There are still students who haven’t been evacuated, you guys..."
"Big Brother Dan?!"
Little Tsunade saw who it was and was instantly overjoyed.
It was Kato Dan, whom she greatly admired!
At the time, Kato Dan was only eight years old. He had just graduated from the Ninja Academy, the most exceptional genius of his class. Though he hadn’t taken the Chūnin Exams yet, his strength was already close to Chūnin level.
He was also an idol admired by several younger classes.
"Tsunade, it’s you guys! So you’re all here..."
Dan immediately recognized Tsunade and the other kids. After all, as the beloved granddaughter of the First Hokage, nearly everyone at the Ninja Academy knew Tsunade.
Unlike Naruto, she didn’t have to hide her identity.
"Big Brother Dan, help!"
Little Jiraiya lunged forward, crying with snot running down his face, as if he’d seen the most beautiful guardian angel.
At this moment, he wasn’t the brave Toad Sage but just a kid who idolized Dan.
"It’s okay, good thing you’re all safe."
Dan sighed in relief, smiled, and comforted little Jiraiya.
"Big Brother Dan, how did you know we were in this classroom?"
Little Orochimaru asked curiously, sensing something odd.
"The academy teachers are fighting the attackers outside. There aren’t enough people, so they sent me to check this classroom to see if any students were left behind, so I could take you all out together."
Dan explained simply. He shifted his body, revealing two figures behind him.
It turned out he was followed by two other kids, about five or six years old. One was Uchiha Yashiro, and the other was from the Akimichi clan. He had found them in another classroom.
"Yashiro, you’re here too!"
Little Jiraiya saw his familiar classmate, burst into tears again, and hugged his friend.
"Alright, it’s not safe here."
"Follow me quickly!"
Dan urged them to leave, hurrying to find a safer place to take shelter.
"Yeah, let’s go! I’ll find Grandpa Tobirama and ask him to kill all those bad guys!"
Little Tsunade huffed in a spoiled tone. Without realizing it, she moved closer to Dan, ready to hold his hand and leave.
But at that moment, little Orochimaru quickened his pace, overtaking little Tsunade, and grabbed Dan’s hand.
He asked eagerly, full of hope:
"Big Brother Dan, that Henge no Jutsu you taught me last time—I still don’t understand a lot. Can you teach me again next time?"
"Of course. Next time, I’ll definitely—"
*PU-CHI!*
A muffled sound rang out.
It was the sound of a kunai piercing flesh.
Little Orochimaru, from who-knows-where, pulled out a kunai and stabbed it straight into the waist of ’Kato Dan’!
"Aah!"
"Orochimaru, what are you doing?"
"Are you crazy?!"
Little Tsunade and little Jiraiya screamed. They couldn’t understand why little Orochimaru had gone mad.
"You’re not Big Brother Dan, are you?"
Little Orochimaru pulled out the kunai, quickly retreating a few steps, and pointed at the white liquid on the kunai. He glared angrily at ’Kato Dan.’
"No human blood looks like this. I know!"
The unmasked ’Kato Dan’ wasn’t angry. Instead, he smiled at little Orochimaru, a hint of praise in his eyes.
"How did you know?"
"Big Brother Dan never taught me Henge no Jutsu!"
Little Orochimaru was sharp. With a simple lie, he exposed the enemy’s identity.
This was far simpler and safer than trying to probe with questions.
"I see. But why did you suspect me?"
"You’re too calm! You shouldn’t have disguised yourself as Big Brother Dan!"
Little Orochimaru had met seniors who had just graduated. Most lacked composure. Even though Dan was a genius of his class, he couldn’t be this calm while rescuing others.
It had nothing to do with strength or talent. A child under nine, no matter how well they acted, would struggle to mimic an adult’s aura.
All of Dan’s behavior, in little Orochimaru’s eyes, felt like an adult’s—full of a rotten, contrived feeling.
Simply put, if the enemy had disguised themselves as a teacher to deceive them, it might have worked better than posing as Dan.
Of course, most crucially, the white pet snake hidden in little Orochimaru’s sleeve couldn’t detect the familiar pheromones from the person before him. So the opponent was likely not Dan!
"You’re really clever!"
"Unfortunately, clever kids don’t live long."
"Since I’ve been found out, I’ll have to get a bit rough!"
The fake Dan grinned eerily and reverted to his true form: White Zetsu.
Only White Zetsu could transform into others so flawlessly, bypassing the academy teachers’ checks and gaining the chance to ’rescue’ people inside.
It should be noted that since the attack began, Konoha’s ninja teachers had activated a barrier, protecting the academy building. Otherwise, Tsunade and the others wouldn’t have been hiding there until now.
White Zetsu could only enter the academy by disguising himself.
"Run!"
Little Orochimaru’s loud shout snapped little Tsunade and little Jiraiya, still confused, back to reality.
White Zetsu’s strength wasn’t great, but he was no match for five kids who weren’t even Genin.
Their only chance of survival was to scatter and run!
"Run? Can you even escape?"
White Zetsu laughed, extending both hands, which turned into two wooden vines.
In an instant, he bound little Tsunade and the other four kids, successfully capturing them.
Only little Orochimaru rolled agilely, narrowly dodging the attack in an embarrassing manner.
Without hesitation, little Orochimaru decisively abandoned any thought of saving his friends. He turned and sprinted toward the classroom exit.
But he was still no match for White Zetsu.
He didn’t get far before he, too, was bound by the wooden vines White Zetsu released and dragged back.
*SWOOSH!*
The sound of slicing air and snapping rang out simultaneously.
Little Orochimaru only felt his vision blur. The wooden vines binding him were cut, and he was lifted by a figure.
"Cough, cough—!"
A hoarse voice with a slight cough sounded.
"Grandpa!"
Yashiro, also bound, shouted excitedly upon seeing who had arrived.
Clearly, the one who saved little Orochimaru was his grandfather, an elder of the Uchiha clan: Uchiha Takashi.
Takashi was from the same generation as Madara, slightly older than Tobirama, but his abilities and strength were exceptional. His leadership skills were remarkable, nearly on par with Izuna.
When Izuna was alive, he was his deputy, always assisting Izuna and Madara in managing the entire clan.
After Izuna’s death, Madara wasn’t adept at governance. Most Uchiha clan affairs were handled by Takashi.
Even after Madara left Konoha, Takashi briefly served as the interim clan head.
Even now, though no longer young and not as strong as at his peak, he remained a reliable Kage-level fighter.
After retiring as clan head, he became an Uchiha elder, assisting the current Uchiha clan head in managing the clan alongside others.
He was undeniably a powerful figure in the entire Uchiha clan, even in all of Konoha.
For tonight’s attack, the Uchiha clan head led most of the clan’s main force to ambush the lodging, while Takashi brought a smaller group of Uchiha ninja to aid the Ninja Academy.
"Good child, don’t be afraid. Grandpa’s here."
Takashi called to his grandson Yashiro affectionately, then locked his angry gaze on this White Zetsu.
"Stop! Takashi, you—"
White Zetsu was slightly shocked and began to shout, but his words were cut off.
"Kill yourself!"
Takashi’s eyes glowed red. His Sharingan Genjutsu activated instantly, forcibly controlling White Zetsu and ordering him to commit suicide.
"..."
The Genjutsu-controlled White Zetsu released little Tsunade and the others. Then he twisted his own neck, killing himself in front of them.
This horrifying and brutal scene deeply shocked the young ninja’s hearts.
Even the usually cheerful and noisy little Jiraiya fell silent.
*WHOOSH!* *WHOOSH!* *WHOOSH!*
Several more sounds echoed around.
Three Uchiha ninja and three Senju ninja entered the room.
"Elder...?"
"I’ve handled things here. Check the rest of the academy. See if any students or enemies are still around."
"Yes, sir!"
The six Konoha ninja left together, rushing to search other areas.
"Yashiro, come here."
Takashi waved to his grandson. He affectionately helped Yashiro stand.
"Wahhh—!"
The terrified Yashiro lunged into his grandfather’s arms, crying heartbreakingly.
"It’s okay, it’s alright."
"Kids, you’re all safe."
"And Princess Tsunade, sorry for scaring you."
"Come on, I’ll take you all out!"
Takashi set little Orochimaru down. He also reached out to help little Tsunade stand, gently comforting them as he led them away.
This time, little Orochimaru also felt truly safe.
Kato Dan might have been fake, but there was no way so many Uchiha and Senju ninja were disguised enemies.
If that were the case, could Konoha still be called Konoha?
◆━⊰✧⊱━◆
But as Elder Takashi prepared to lead the young ninja away, another voice suddenly rang out.
"Konoha Elder, you can’t take them!"
"Who?"
A pair of red eyes appeared in the darkness. Kagami’s figure suddenly stood at the classroom door.
"Kagami? Why are you here? How are your injuries?"
Takashi was surprised but asked calmly.
"I came specifically to help. My injuries have healed too."
"Good. There shouldn’t be any major issues here. The enemies have basically been dealt with."
"Alright! Elder Konoha, you’ve worked hard. Leave these kids to me. I’ll escort them home one by one."
Kagami stared directly at the Konoha elder, volunteering his proposal.
"No need to trouble you. You’re the Second Hokage’s right-hand man and lead the Anbu. You must be busy now. I’ll take the kids home..."
Takashi politely declined, seeming genuinely concerned for Kagami.
"Elder, I don’t want to repeat myself. Please think carefully before answering!"
Kagami’s suggestion was sharp and firm.
It extinguished the last shred of hope in Elder Takashi’s heart. Clearly, the other party hadn’t appeared here by chance. He had come specifically to ambush him.
"When did you find out?"
"When you freed the prisoner Uchiha Setsuna from jail..."
"So you knew since last night? I shouldn’t have left any gaps. The substitute in the prison was replaced with a monster that can disguise perfectly. How did you know?"
Takashi showed shock.
Having worked in Konoha and the Uchiha clan for so long, he was familiar with all the rules and loopholes.
He could almost guarantee he left no gaps when freeing Setsuna. So why was he discovered so early?
This shouldn’t have happened!
"Nothing can hide from Tobirama-sensei."
Kagami didn’t explain specifically. He only gave a single, powerful sentence. It was a truth he knew.
"Senju Tobirama? That damn bastard! I didn’t expect he could brainwash you to this extent! Truly terrifying..."
"Sensei didn’t brainwash me! This is all my decision!"
Hearing the other party dare to badmouth Tobirama, the usually quiet Kagami grew angry.
"Hmph!"
"That’s not brainwashing?"
"Compared to the Uchiha’s Genjutsu, the Will of Fire concept he and his brother packaged might be the strongest Genjutsu!"
"Including you, so many Konoha ninja have been brainwashed by this belief, becoming tools for Senju Tobirama, willingly working and dying for him!"
Takashi shouted emotionally, completely losing control.
Hearing this, Kagami realized he could no longer reason with the other party.
Their paths were different.
The other party was convinced the path he chose was false. So there was no need for further discussion or communication.
"Elder, I have one last question: why?"
"Tobirama-sensei and the entire village have been good enough to our clan. Why did you still choose to betray?"
"Betraying the clan, betraying the village!"
"What exactly do you want?"
This question made Takashi furious again. He vented his frustration with a hoarse voice:
"Why?"
"Because the Hokage position should have belonged to Madara-sama! It should have belonged to our clan!"
"Senju Tobirama is just a thief who stole the Hokage position!"
"Moreover, without that bastard Senju Tobirama, Izuna-sama wouldn’t have died!"
"All of this is that evil Senju Tobirama’s fault!"
"If he doesn’t die, our clan has no future!"
Hearing this response, Kagami closed his eyes in resignation, as if sighing.
"If that’s the case, forgive me, Elder Takashi!"
When Kagami opened his eyes again, his Mangekyō Sharingan held only coldness and firm resolve.
No one could harm Tobirama, not even a clan elder!
"Kagami, you’re indeed very talented. You’re one of the few in the clan to awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan in the past ten years."
"But you’re still too naive and too arrogant!"
"Do you really think you can defeat me alone? Don’t underestimate us old-timers who survived the Warring States Period!"
Takashi roared angrily, his aura surging.
Though their paths differed, he had fought alongside Madara and Izuna. He wasn’t someone the new generation could underestimate.
Even if he wasn’t entirely confident in defeating Kagami, it wouldn’t be easy for Kagami to defeat him alone!
"Who said I’m alone?"
"Could it be...!"
Takashi was shocked. He turned and realized.
Another familiar figure had silently appeared at the back of the classroom. Five flexible golden chains swayed behind her.
Uzumaki Mito had arrived!