Night of the Clan Massacre: Leading the Uchiha to Defect from Konoha!

Watching his subordinates die one after another, Koga Takaki's heart ached so much it felt hard to breathe.

These men were his capital for rising again in the future!

From the very beginning, Koga Takaki had never truly intended to surrender.

He only wanted to use Kaede's name to evade the pursuit of the Hidden Rock Village.

He had also heard that under Kaede's command, one could learn many jutsu only possessed by the great ninja villages.

So, his plan was to lie low for a while, let himself and his subordinates learn stronger jutsu, then launch a grand betrayal and rebuild the Hidden Grass Village!

Unfortunately, before his plan could even begin, Kaede's blade had already fallen.

After all, who could have imagined that Tsunade — the most prestigious person in Konoha and the current Hokage — would truly throw in with Kaede?

Even a novel wouldn't dare write something like that!

Seeing that Kaede did not seem ready to act personally, a trace of despair flashed in Koga Takaki's heart.

"Run! Hurry and run!"

If it were only Tsunade, he might have dared to test her.

But Kaede was standing right beside her, and behind him was the Hidden Waterfall Village.

Right now, there was only one path left: escape!

Inwardly, Koga cursed:

"Damn bastard, when I become strong enough one day…"

Elsewhere, the other Grass ninja, hearing his order, scattered in all directions without hesitation, doing whatever it took to flee.

"Do you think you can escape?" Tsunade sneered.

She quickly formed hand seals and slapped her palm onto the ground.

"Summoning Jutsu: Slug!"

In an instant, a slug as tall as a small mountain appeared.

Tsunade immediately gave her order: "Slug, use acid!"

"Yes, Tsunade-sama!"

The slug opened its mouth toward the fleeing Grass ninja.

In the blink of an eye, a foul-smelling yellow acid covered the battlefield.

Wherever the concentrated acid touched, the Grass ninja collapsed, screaming in agony.

Starting from their skin, flesh, bones, and internal organs… all were corroded away bit by bit!

No wonder even Orochimaru had once said this was something capable of killing him!

Kaede lowered his head and looked at Karin.

"Karin, do you enjoy watching them suffer like this?"

"Yes!" Karin nodded fiercely, her eyes filled with hatred.

"They're the ones who killed my mother!"

Seeing the miserable state of the Grass ninja, her heart felt no fear — only satisfaction.

Kaede patted Karin's head.

"Karin is your distant relative, you know. Right now she's avenging your mother."

Karin's talent was excellent, almost inheriting every ability of the Uzumaki clan.

She was an excellent candidate to cultivate.

Then, looking at the fleeing Grass ninja in the distance, Kaede waved his hand.

"Leave none alive!"

The Uchiha clansmen and Waterfall ninja behind him roared in excitement and charged forward.

Kaede handed Karin over to the Great Elder, telling him to take her to meet Naruto.

As for himself, he used a single Body Flicker to follow the battle at a leisurely pace.

…

Under Kaede's deliberate command, the Grass ninja were gradually driven to the border between the Land of Whirlpools and the Land of Grass.

There, hundreds — even thousands — of Hidden Rock ANBU and elite ninja awaited.

When Koga Takaki saw the Rock forces from afar, then looked at the twenty or so elites still beside him, a wave of despair overwhelmed him.

"We're finished…"

Thus, the group stopped in despair at the border line.

Moments later, Tsunade arrived with her forces.

Seeing the unit on the other side, her eyes narrowed slightly.

"Hidden Rock…"

The commander of the Rock forces, Kitsuchi, was equally stunned when he recognized Tsunade.

"That's… Konoha's new Hokage, Tsunade?"

"How could she be with a bunch of Waterfall ninja… and Kaede?"

A bold thought suddenly struck him.

Kitsuchi couldn't help but feel a trace of fear toward the infamous Kaede.

This man had even managed to sway the Hokage of Konoha?

At that moment, laughter suddenly rang out in the air.

"Heh, so this is the Hidden Rock's turf."

Kaede landed slowly in front of Tsunade.

"You are… Kaede!" Kitsuchi's eyes widened slightly.

He had seen Kaede's portrait before, so he recognized him instantly.

Ignoring Kitsuchi, Kaede turned to the remaining Grass ninja.

"You've lived long enough."

He raised his hand toward them.

The ground beneath their feet began to shake.

A massive stone hand erupted from the earth, engulfing the stunned Grass ninja.

"Seal!"

Kaede clenched his fist, and the stone hand crushed down violently.

"Ahhh!"

"Spare us!"

After a series of screams, blood flowed in rivulets from between the white stone fingers.

Kitsuchi's pupils contracted. "Such terrifying mastery of Earth Release!"

He hadn't even formed seals, yet he had used such a powerful earth-style jutsu.

Now Kitsuchi understood why his father, the Third Tsuchikage Ōnoki, had sternly warned him never to oppose Kaede.

This man alone could protect an entire ninja village!

Without hesitation, Kitsuchi called out to him:

"On behalf of my father, the Third Tsuchikage Ōnoki, I thank Lord Takikage for eliminating these remnants for us."

"Takikage?" Kaede chuckled. It was the most amusing title he'd heard recently.

"That Ōnoki really knows how to adapt to the times."

Then he said to Kitsuchi, "But don't misunderstand."

"I killed them only because they committed unforgivable crimes. It has nothing to do with your Hidden Rock Village."

Kitsuchi's face didn't change at Kaede's bluntness.

"No matter the reason, you've done us a great service."

"My daughter, Kurotsuchi, greatly admires the Takikage for accomplishing so much at such a young age."

"The Tsuchikage himself wishes to meet you. If you ever have the interest to visit the Hidden Rock, we will welcome you with the greatest honor."

Kitsuchi's reaction made Kaede frown slightly.

He had thought the Hidden Rock were arrogant and never feared anyone but the Second Hokage.

Yet this man was far more tactful than expected.

"Born in the same era, Ōnoki is far more interesting than Sarutobi Hiruzen," Kaede thought.

Kitsuchi continued, "The Tsuchikage also has another matter to discuss with you."

…

"Right now, both of us are occupying Fire Country territory, so conflicts nearby are spreading."

"The Tsuchikage proposes that we use the former border between the Land of Grass and the Land of Whirlpools as our boundary, to avoid friction between us."

"If the Takikage is unwilling, you may come to discuss the matter directly with him."

Kaede nodded calmly.

"If that's all, then leave."

Kitsuchi cupped his hands and departed with his men.

Watching them go, Kaede murmured,

"Ōnoki of the Hidden Rock… truly interesting."

"Let's head back as well."

Right now, the priority was to take the Land of Iron and the Land of Sound.

…

Elsewhere, a Rock guard asked quietly,

"Lord Kitsuchi, with Kaede being so arrogant, aren't you angry? Our Hidden Rock doesn't have to fear one man."

Kitsuchi replied lightly, "This is the Tsuchikage's order."

For the first time, the Tsuchikage had actively reached out to the Five-Tails sealed within him.

"Kaede is extremely powerful."

Seeing the curious looks around him, Kitsuchi explained:

"The moment Kaede appeared, the Five-Tails inside me reached out on its own."

"It said it sensed traces of both the Seven-Tails and the Nine-Tails in Kaede… and a fear that comes from the very source."

"Nine-Tails?" Kitsuchi frowned.

The Seven-Tails made sense — after all, the Waterfall Village was its host.

But wasn't the Nine-Tails in Konoha?

Thinking of Tsunade willingly standing behind Kaede earlier, Kitsuchi's pupils shrank.

Could it be…

Kaede had taken the Nine-Tails to the Waterfall Village as well?!

"Go! We must tell the Tsuchikage this news immediately!"

(End of Chapter)

[Check Out My P@treon For +20 Extra Chapters On All My Fanfics!!][[email protected]/euridome]

[Thank You For Your Support!]