Chapter 58 - 58: Don't Blame Me
The deafening rumble didn't just shake the ground—it rattled the entire Hidden Leaf Village awake.
In mere moments, doors slammed open. Lights flickered on. Villagers poured into the streets, half-asleep, eyes wide with panic.
"W-What's going on?!"
"Are we under attack?!"
All eyes turned toward the rising smoke billowing in the direction of the Uchiha clan's district.
Someone gasped. "That's... that's the Uchiha compound!"
Another voice followed, trembling,
"What the hell happened over there?!"
On the roof of the Hokage Building, Sarutobi Hiruzen stood silent.
The smoke in the distance painted an ominous picture, but his old eyes narrowed as a familiar, sinking feeling crept into his chest.
No... don't tell me—did Uchiha Itachi fail?
He clenched his pipe, a flicker of unease breaking through his typically calm demeanor.
If that's the case... things were about to get complicated.
Suddenly, a shadow landed beside him with practiced silence—an ANBU in a mask, one knee to the ground.
"Hokage-sama! The Uchiha clan has been attacked!"
Hiruzen exhaled slowly and gave a grim nod.
"Calm the villagers first. I'll go investigate myself."
"Yes, sir!"
With a flicker, the ANBU vanished. Hiruzen's gaze lingered on the smoke, his heart growing heavier.
Why... does this all feel so familiar?
Meanwhile...
The Konoha Garrison base no longer existed. What stood in its place now was a chaotic mess of broken walls, splintered ground, and crumbling stone.
Zeldris stood in the center, calm as ever, as if he were merely out on a walk. Surrounding him in a wide arc were Konoha's elite—ANBU with grim masks, kunai drawn, chakra flaring.
Not a flicker of fear in his eyes.
He tilted his head slightly, casually scanning the scene like he was judging a painting. Then, he smirked.
"Oh? The 'root' dogs came out this fast... Guess someone couldn't wait."
He didn't need to ask who sent them.
Danzo.
Of course it was that crusty mummy.
With a lazy flick of his fingers, Zeldris called out into the shadows:
"Come on out, Danzo. You've never been good at hiding... unless you're hiding from responsibility."
A slow, rasping chuckle came from the darkness.
Then, out stepped Shimura Danzo—half his face and one arm swathed in bandages, his lone eye sharp with hatred.
"You've got some nerve, Zeldris," he spat.
"Coming back to Konoha like this... as a traitor. You must have a death wish."
Zeldris raised an eyebrow, amused.
"Death wish? Please. I just forgot how ugly your voice sounded."
Danzo's teeth ground together.
"You'll die here today. That's a promise."
"I've heard better promises from used scroll salesmen."
Gasps echoed from the ANBU. How dare this guy speak like that to Lord Danzo?
But Zeldris didn't care. His hands were still in his pockets. His grin never faded.
Danzo's face twisted further in fury.
"You've infiltrated the village, killed members of the Uchiha Guard, and now you mock me?! I'll execute you myself in the name of justice!"
Zeldris blinked, feigning surprise.
"Damn, I sound way cooler when you say it. Thanks for the recap."
But inside, his thoughts moved faster than his sarcasm. So that masked bastard Obito really ran to Danzo. That explains the warm welcome.
He clicked his tongue, shaking his head.
Trying to take me out together, huh? Should've brought more people.
His eyes narrowed as a slow, dangerous smirk formed on his lips.
"Danzo, Danzo... You never change. Always scheming, always underestimating."
"But if you really think this little 'welcome party' can stop me..."
Zeldris's eyes flashed purple, their glow illuminating the dust around him.
"...You're about to be deeply disappointed."
Danzo scoffed.
"Big words. Let's see how long that mouth lasts. Kill him!"
In a flash, over thirty masked ANBU lunged forward, steel glinting, chakra slicing through the air like thunder.
Zeldris didn't flinch.
His eyes locked on the oncoming wave. Then, he exhaled.
A grin tugged at the corners of his mouth.
"You all want to die so badly...?"
He slowly lifted one hand—just one—and the air around him shifted.
"Alright then," he whispered.
"Don't blame me."
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