Danzō didn’t hesitate for a moment.
He channeled all his wind-element chakra into his legs, unleashing the strongest Shunshin no Jutsu, and bolted toward Konoha.
Behind him, Setsuna chased frantically like a demon.
"Fool! Why aren’t you running with that Rinnegan? You won’t be able to escape soon!"
Danzō shouted while fleeing, urging the other party to stop chasing.
After all, the Rinnegan in the other’s hands was fake; all his efforts were in vain.
On the contrary, the farther he fled, the more attention he drew, and the more time he could buy.
"Danzō, you dog! I’ll definitely kill you!"
Setsuna roared and raged, ignoring the persuasion.
One couldn’t expect a radical Uchiha ninja to remain rational when consumed by anger.
*SWISH!* *SWISH!* *SWISH!*
Eight golden chains shot out from the dark forest, heading straight for Setsuna.
Clearly, the Uzumaki Core Hunting Team had arrived at the battlefield.
Sensing the danger, Setsuna dodged immediately. With his Sharingan, he managed to track the chains’ trajectory and narrowly avoided all eight.
But before he could catch his breath, the number of attacks doubled, then doubled again. Over thirty golden chains struck from the air.
This time, there was only despair for Setsuna!
So many chains, covering every blind spot, were impossible to evade with speed alone.
In an instant, Setsuna was bound into a cocoon by the Adamantine Sealing Chains, almost without resistance.
It could be said that the Uzumaki Core Hunting Team, striking together, was overwhelmingly powerful. Dozens of Adamantine Sealing Chains attacking a single target simultaneously—only a handful in the entire ninja world could evade them.
Aside from Kage-level strength or higher to break free, other methods were nearly impossible.
"Did we catch the wrong person?"
"No, it shouldn’t be a mistake, right?"
Uzumaki Ryuji led a large group of Uzumaki ninja out from the darkness. For this joint operation, the Uzumaki side was led by him.
His injuries had fully healed, and he looked spirited.
His earlier claim of withdrawing from the third-place match due to injury was clearly fake. The vitality of the Uzumaki clan was no joke.
But when he realized the captured target was an Uchiha ninja with active Sharingan, Ryuji was a bit puzzled.
"You Uzumaki bastards, so you’ve become Senju Tobirama’s dogs, you..."
Setsuna cursed viciously. He was clearly unwilling and dissatisfied.
"That’s him! He’s the one who attacked the lodging and stole the Rinnegan!"
Danzō arrived from a distance, helping Ryuji confirm the attacker’s identity.
When he saw the golden chains shoot out, he knew he was safe and no longer needed to worry about this crazed Setsuna.
Ryuji glanced at Danzō. He didn’t know Danzō’s true identity and still thought he was a Sunagakure ninja.
Though not a Konoha ninja, he didn’t harm Konoha’s interests. On the contrary, he was attacked in Konoha’s lodging. It made sense to help him.
"Good. Sorry for the scare. Leave the rest to us."
Ryuji spoke professionally. This was the first time the Uzumaki ninja collaborated with Konoha on a mission. He had to perform well.
A deep voice sounded.
The current Uchiha clan head, nearing forty years old, arrived at the scene and made a voluntary request.
In the surrounding darkness, dozens of red Sharingan eyes glowed.
Clearly, the Uchiha pursuit team had also arrived.
"Is there a problem, Clan Head?"
Ryuji became wary. Though unlikely, he still worried the Uchiha clan head might interfere with the capture or kill to silence.
"I’m sorry, our clan has a traitor ."
"I’ll personally apologize to the Second Hokage later."
"But this traitor should still be in prison and couldn’t have escaped so easily! Plus, there’s no news of an attack on the prison."
Ryuji understood the Uchiha clan head’s suspicion: "So it’s likely someone helped him escape? There’s another traitor in the village?"
"Yes! That’s why I want to use Genjutsu to interrogate this person immediately. Make him reveal who helped him!"
"Use Genjutsu to interrogate now?"
Ryuji hesitated. After all, everyone knew the effects of Genjutsu.
It could not only extract information but also erase or manipulate the target’s memories.
If not discussed properly, if the Uchiha clan head acted maliciously, giving a false list of traitors or altering the target’s memories to hide the real mastermind... anything was possible!
Wouldn’t it be safer to let the interrogation team handle it?
That would undoubtedly be more secure. But the cost would be delaying time, allowing other traitors in the village to cause more trouble or escape early.
Safety on one side, timeliness on the other. Both were critical.
This made it hard for Ryuji to decide.
"I understand your concerns. I’m also worried there are other traitors in the clan helping this person. If we don’t catch them quickly, it’ll only cause more harm!"
"Please give us this chance. The Uchiha clan will remember this kindness."
"Afterward, I’m willing to undergo interrogation team examination to ensure I didn’t break any laws."
The Uchiha clan head requested earnestly.
Though he appeared calm on the surface, inside, he was panicking. Chapters fırst released on noveⅼfire.net
The leader of the lodging attack being an Uchiha ninja was enough to land him in big trouble. If he didn’t catch the other traitors quickly and let them cause greater harm, the Second Hokage would surely eat him alive!
Recently, thanks to Kagami, the Second Hokage had slightly improved his view of the Uchiha clan. He subtly hinted to him that he intended to groom Kagami as the next Hokage.
Such a golden opportunity—he dreamed he wouldn’t lose it!
So the Uchiha clan head now hated Setsuna the most. He truly wanted to tear him to pieces!
As for opposing Tobirama?
How many dishes are on your table? Why are you so drunk?
He didn’t even dare dream of it while drunk!
Especially recently, through Kagami, he vaguely learned that even their ancestor, Uchiha Madara, supported Tobirama.
Why should their generation cause trouble?
Stay loyal, be a good follower of the Second Hokage, fully support Kagami to rise to the top, and then live a relaxed retirement life.
That was the Uchiha clan head’s entire hope.
Thus, he absolutely wouldn’t let anyone ruin his beautiful future retirement life!
Ryuji finally agreed. After all, the other party was even willing to undergo interrogation team examination afterward, so there was basically no issue.
With that, Ryuji stepped aside.
He let the Uchiha clan head approach the target.
"I’m the one who’s right. You who serve Senju Tobirama won’t meet a good end!"
Setsuna, tightly bound by chains, still shouted and cursed, showing no remorse.
The Uchiha clan head was too lazy to talk. He knew persuasion was useless against crazed extremist factions. Better to dominate him with Genjutsu directly!
Just as he prepared to activate Genjutsu...
A white figure silently emerged from the ground, then expanded its body, enveloping Setsuna.
Clearly, White Zetsu, having broken free, struck again.
Using Kagerō (Mayfly) to isolate all auras, it slipped into the encirclement. It once again enveloped and dominated Setsuna.
Then, without hesitation, it controlled Setsuna and, at the cost of his eye, activated a forbidden technique.