Chapter 41 The Eve of Destruction

In the dark night, a figure was speeding through the forest. His figure was like a ghost, erratic, and wherever he passed, the leaves rustled, as if humming a mysterious nocturne. The moonlight shone through the gaps between the branches and leaves, pouring down like a veil, but it could only vaguely illuminate the ice mask he was wearing, adding a touch of mystery and haziness to it.

His breathing was rapid but his rhythm was not disordered at all, and his steps were swift but light as a swallow, as if he had perfectly merged into this dark and deep forest. From time to time, the shrill cries of night owls could be heard all around, like sharp whistles piercing the night sky; the low roars of wild beasts were like dull drumbeats shaking the earth. However, instead of slowing down, he rushed forward more firmly, like a warrior driven by a mission.

Suddenly, a valley that looked like an endless abyss appeared in front of him. Under the valley, a river roared like a mad dragon and flowed rapidly. The ice sculpture man did not hesitate and jumped down decisively. He adjusted his posture swiftly in the air, just like an arrow shot from a bow, rushing straight to the bottom of the valley with a thunderous force.

The wind howled in his ears like a raging beast, but the eyes behind the mask showed no fear, revealing determination and courage. As he was about to fall to the bottom of the valley, the man wearing the ice sculpture mask stretched out his body, did a neat somersault, and stood firmly on the turbulent water. Then, the man continued to move forward along the river, leaving a series of illusory shadows on the sparkling water. Until two other figures appeared in the field of vision.

The two figures stood quietly by the river. Under the hazy moonlight, their outlines were vague and unclear, like phantoms quietly born from the darkness, mysterious and illusory. When the ice sculpture man saw the two figures, he sped up instantly, his footsteps were as fast as the wind, and he rushed towards them like a meteor.

When the ice sculpture man approached the two men, they immediately bowed respectfully: "Senior."

These three men were the transformed Naruto, Uchiha Itachi and Uchiha Shisui.

Naruto waved his hands helplessly and said, "You don't need to salute. I said we are just partners." Shisui and Itachi looked at each other in silence and did not answer.

Naruto sighed inwardly. As a young man from the 21st century, he really didn't like this kind of red tape-filled style.

Then he couldn't wait to ask, "How's the going?" His voice broke the brief silence.

Shisui said, "Following your guidance last time, I went to explore the village of Woshio in the Whirlpool Country. There is no one living there anymore, so it can be used as the residence of our Uchiha clan for the time being. I have made some minor repairs in the past two years, and it should be able to accommodate the Uchiha clan members now."

Naruto nodded slightly, his eyes revealing a thoughtful look: "Well, this is a good start. What about the surrounding environment and resources?"

Shisui responded, "The surrounding environment is relatively hidden, surrounded by the sea and mountains, and not easily noticed by the outside world. Even if we are noticed by the outside world, we will be able to find it in the first time. As for resources, although they are not abundant, it is still no problem to meet basic living needs."

Naruto pondered for a moment: "In this case, further planning is needed to ensure the stable development of the tribe after relocation."

Itachi on the side remained silent, his expression solemn.

Naruto looked at Itachi and asked, "Itachi, what do you think?"

Itachi then spoke slowly: "I'm worried that other forces will notice our actions and secretly trip us up."

Naruto's eyes were firm and his tone was steady: "You don't need to worry about this. During the migration process, I can ensure that no one will notice it. Itachi, how is the situation over there?"

Itachi lowered his eyes and said, "I have convinced most of the tribe members, however, there are still quite a few extremists who insist on going to war with the village, even my father is among them."

Naruto frowned and fell into deep thought. After a moment, he said, "This is indeed a very difficult problem. What are your plans for these extremists?"

Itachi clenched his fists tightly, his tone heavy and suppressed: "I will try my best to persuade them again, and let them clearly realize that migration is the most beneficial choice for the tribe. But if they insist on their own way and refuse to listen, in order to prevent more casualties, I am afraid I can only..."

Naruto patted Itachi's shoulder gently and said comfortingly: "I understand your difficulties, but no matter what, we must reduce internal conflicts and reduce losses as much as possible. What is the immediate reaction of the village?"

Itachi took a deep breath and said slowly: "The village leaders are highly alert to the Uchiha clan's movements. They seem to have made full preparations to deal with the conflict. The Anbu have even stepped up their close surveillance of us. Just yesterday, Danzo met with me alone and threatened me with Sasuke, ordering me to wipe out all the clan members within ten days."

Naruto narrowed his eyes, his face full of anger: "Danzo is this hateful old guy again, what does the Third Hokage mean?"

Itachi shook his head, his expression full of worry: "The Third Hokage has always upheld the principle of peaceful resolution, emphasizing that force should not be used unless it is absolutely necessary. However, all the high-ranking officials in Konoha are inclined to completely destroy the Uchiha clan. The Third Hokage did not know that Danzo was looking for me. It seems that Danzo wants to put the Uchiha clan to death before the Third Hokage."

At this moment, the atmosphere became increasingly solemn. The three of them knew that they were facing an unprecedented crisis, and time was running out. Every decision they made was related to the life and death of the Uchiha clan.

At this time, Itachi hesitated for a moment and said, "The radical elements in the clan plan to hold a secret meeting at the Nanga Shrine in a week, and all radical elements will participate. In my opinion, they should be ready to take action against the village."

Naruto's eyes brightened, and he said, "This is undoubtedly a great opportunity. I plan to launch an action on that day, and take advantage of the opportunity when the radicals hold a meeting to implement the transfer. In this way, I don't have to worry about the radicals taking radical actions and harming the tribe."

Itachi frowned and said with a worried look on his face: "But the risk of doing so is too great. If we are discovered, we are likely to be attacked from all sides."

Naruto responded firmly, "Risks and opportunities always coexist. As long as we make thorough and detailed preparations, we may succeed. Danzo will take action in ten days. If we don't move ahead of time, we will have to face both the radicals and Danzo, and the sacrifices will be even greater. Shisui, what do you think?"

Shisui pondered for a moment, then said slowly: "I think we can give it a try, but we must calculate the time and route accurately to ensure that there are no mistakes."

Naruto nodded solemnly and said, "Then let's start preparing immediately. Shisui, you are responsible for keeping an eye on the movements of the radicals and the Anbu, and make sure to pay attention to every detail and grasp any disturbance in a timely manner. Itachi, the details of the transfer are now in your hands, and you must ensure that every link is considered carefully and no mistakes are made. We must keep in touch at all times in the next few days and report the progress of the mission in a timely manner." After that, Naruto threw a mask to Shisui and said, "Wearing this mask, it may play an important role at a critical moment."

The three looked solemn, and looked at each other, their eyes full of determination. They knew that there were many difficulties and unknown dangers waiting ahead, but for the future of the Uchiha clan, they were ready to go all out.