Naruto: Sukuna's Jinchuriki, I am Uchiha

Chapter 74: The War Begins! Sword of the Abyssal Cliff

Konoha.

Orochimaru wasted no time. Without holding a funeral for the Third Hokage or a formal inauguration ceremony for himself, he had fully immersed himself in preparations for the looming conflict.

Civilians were relocated to the shelters, while the ninja forces patrolled day and night.

The barrier that once encompassed the entire village was modified and reduced in size, enhancing its defensive capabilities and sensory reach.

Orders were issued to recall all ninja from the borders, leaving Konoha's perimeter unguarded.

---

"Orochimaru..."

Mitokado Homura frowned. "Is this level of preparation really necessary? I understand the severity of the Uchiha rebellion, but leaving the borders undefended—what if other villages take advantage and invade?"

Orochimaru's gaze was distant, his tone cold.

"Even if all of the Fire Country falls, it doesn't matter. We can reclaim it later."

"What's most important now is ensuring there's a later."

Orochimaru's voice carried an ominous weight, leaving no room for argument.

"If my repeated warnings haven't made it clear, then understand this:

Uchiha Madara.

Think of Uchiha Kagami as if he were Madara reborn.

You've seen that man with your own eyes. Uchiha Kagami now possesses equivalent power."

---

Mitokado Homura fell silent.

After a long pause, he sighed.

"I understand now. Orochimaru, you should rest for a while. You haven't slept these past few days."

Although they were dissatisfied with Orochimaru taking the Hokage position, it was wartime, and compromises had to be made.

---

Orochimaru walked through layers of barriers, eventually arriving at one of Konoha's most guarded locations—the Scroll of Seals repository.

He had snuck in here once before, learning the Eight-Headed Serpent Technique and various soul and body-related forbidden jutsu.

But now, walking in openly as Hokage, the experience felt different.

His lifelong dream had always been to master all ninjutsu in existence—a dream that had not wavered to this day.

To achieve this, he needed immortality.

And among the many techniques stored here, one in particular piqued his interest:

The Impure World Reincarnation, developed by the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju.

A forbidden jutsu that could summon the souls of the dead from the afterlife, binding them to living sacrifices.

Orochimaru had studied this technique briefly in the past, but dismissed it as impractical. The reanimated individuals were usually only as strong as the sacrifices used, making the jutsu inefficient in his eyes.

Now, however, he reconsidered.

This could be his ace in the hole for the future—a trump card for reclaiming Konoha if all else failed.

---

A white snake slithered out of his sleeve, swallowing the entire Scroll of Seals before vanishing in a puff of smoke.

Orochimaru chuckled softly to himself.

"Sensei... I'm not like you, willing to die for this village."

"To live is paramount. There are still too many fascinating things waiting for me."

He paused, his golden snake-like eyes narrowing.

"However, I will leave my life here if necessary. After all, I am Hokage now."

---

As Orochimaru exited the repository, he encountered Danzo waiting for him in the dimly lit corridor.

Danzo leaned on his cane, his expression unreadable.

"Orochimaru," Danzo began, "is it wise to face Kagami head-on? If his power truly mirrors that of Madara, we should bide our time.

"Wood Release is the only counter to the Sharingan. We can retreat and continue our experiments. Given time, we can create a shinobi as powerful as Hashirama himself."

---

Orochimaru stopped in his tracks, his gaze icy.

"Retreat again? Like you did in the past?"

"Hmph. Danzo, you are unworthy of collaboration. Nor do you deserve to survive this."

His tone grew sharper.

"If we win, your best outcome is imprisonment.

"If Kagami wins, I'll hand over all your secrets to him. Do you think the Uchiha will spare you then?"

"You can't hide, Danzo. Without the village's protection, you wouldn't even survive Hatake Sakumo."

---

Danzo trembled with rage, his face contorting.

"Do you think I'm afraid of death?!"

Orochimaru sneered as he walked away.

"Think whatever you like. It doesn't matter."

"In the end, sensei needed you as his shadow.

"I do not."

His voice echoed ominously down the corridor:

"A Hokage… must bear both the light and the darkness of the village."

---

30 kilometers from Konoha.

A formidable army of shinobi marched through the dense forest, their presence suffocating.

At the front of the formation was Uchiha Kagami, dressed in navy blue, the Uchiha crest emblazoned on his back. At his waist hung Shirayuki and Meiryou, his twin blades.

Among the following Uchiha clansmen was Shinka, his aged eyes misty.

Years ago, as a child, he had asked his mother about the man walking into the sunset.

"Mother, who is that?"

"That is our clan leader, Uchiha Madara," she had replied, her voice filled with reverence.

"A hero who led us from the Warring States Era into peace..."

"Where is he going?"

His mother's arms tightened around him, her tears dampening his face.

"I don't know, my child. But I cannot follow him."

---

Now, as Shinka wiped his tears, he thought to himself:

Mother, are you watching?

This boy has given me the answer.

The Uchiha need not go anywhere else.

Konoha is our home. Our rightful home.

---

As the silhouette of Konoha came into view, Kagami's lips curled into a smile.

He brought his hands together, his chakra surging like a tangible force, whipping the air into a storm.

A bluish-purple aura enveloped him, ethereal yet overwhelming.

The earth beneath their feet trembled violently, fissures tearing through the ground.

Fire and molten rock erupted from the cracks, transforming the land into a fiery abyss.

---

Kagami raised his hands skyward, his voice ringing clear.

"Behold the power of the Uchiha! Today, we claim what is ours!"

With a final surge of chakra, the ground beneath Konoha shifted violently.

Countless massive rock formations, shaped like blades, erupted from the earth, glowing with molten fury.

The peaceful village now stood on the brink of a volcanic hellscape.

Dragon Vein - Earthquake Core: Sword of the Abyssal Cliff

To Be Continued...

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