Rising Shadows: Uchiha's Wrath

Translator's Note:

I'm back! Thank you for your patience and support. I hope you enjoy this chapter Let me know your thoughts, and as always, happy reading!

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Kaito's frown deepened as he stood before the Three-Tails, his gaze piercing. The monstrous creature's grotesque form only seemed to mock him. To Kaito, its very existence was a testament to the inefficiency of these so-called-tailed beasts. 

"Among the nine-tailed beasts, only the One-Tail and Nine-Tails seem like proper creatures," Kaito mused. "One-Tail is a slightly chubby tanuki, and Nine-Tails is a majestic fox. The others... they're just mutated anomalies."

Shaking his head, Kaito approached the Three-Tails, who stared back blankly, unable to resist. The Mangekyo Sharingan spun in its eyes. Kaito muttered, "Once I get what I need, I'll release you from my control. That's my promise."

Without hesitation, Kaito activated his sharingan and reached out. As his hand touched the Three-Tails, blue energy began pouring out of its body. The creature let out a pained roar, its body shrinking visibly. Soon, it had lost more than a third of its original size, similar to the portion Kaito had taken from the Nine-Tails previously.

Kaito observed coldly. "You're far weaker than the Nine-Tails. If I took any more, you'd probably cease to exist."

If the Three-Tails could speak, it might have cursed Kaito for his audacity—taking its energy and then mocking it. Ignoring its plight, Kaito fulfilled his promise, releasing the creature from his control. The Three-Tails regained its senses, though it was weakened and enraged. Upon seeing Kaito, it roared, "Another cursed sharingan user!"

It lashed out in fury, but Kaito subdued it effortlessly, putting it into a deep sleep. "You're not worth my time," he muttered, stepping back into the physical world.

Outside, Kaito secured the extracted energy and turned his attention to Yagura. With precise hand seals, he sealed Yagura's abilities, ensuring he wouldn't pose a threat. Holding the unconscious Mizukage, Kaito flew to the Mist Ninja army with Susanoo, landing before the tense crowd.

Standing imposingly, Kaito surveyed the gathered Mist ninjas. The weight of his words was a tempest ready to break upon the crowd. His voice, calm but resonating with authority, carried across the stunned assembly.

"Yagura was controlled by an enemy," Kaito began, his gaze sweeping over the gathered shinobi. "Under that control, he caused untold suffering to the Mist Village. This is a burden we all carry, but it is one we must now cast aside. As of this moment, I am stripping him of his title as Mizukage."

He paused, letting the silence press down on the crowd. "Does anyone object?"

The hush was palpable. A ripple of unease spread among the ninjas, but none dared to voice dissent. Fear of Kaito, of the raw power he had displayed, bound their tongues.

Terumi Mei stepped forward, her steps deliberate, her posture unyielding. Her voice was steady, though there was a trace of grief beneath her composed exterior. "The damage Yagura caused—controlled or not—is undeniable. His removal is not only justified but necessary for the future of the village."

Her words resonated with the crowd, breaking their inertia. Murmurs of agreement rippled through the ranks, though a few ninjas still clung to their hesitations.

"This decision is for the Mist to make, not you!" A single voice rang out, filled with defiance and desperation.

The dissenter's words hung in the air for a moment before Terumi Mei raised her hand, commanding silence. "Kaito has already proven himself a friend to the Mist. The Council of Elders has formally recognized him as an advisor to our village. Master Yuan, one of the most esteemed among us, has affirmed this decision."

Master Yuan, an elder whose presence radiated wisdom and quiet strength, stepped forward. His voice, though aged, carried the clarity of a bell. "Kaito's actions today have preserved what remains of our village. His intervention was not only warranted but vital. This discussion ends now."

The murmurs ceased entirely, leaving only the rustle of the wind and the crackle of torches lighting the gathering. But the calm was fleeting.

A voice, smooth as silk and laced with cunning, broke through the stillness. "Elder Kaito," Saiga Takamaru began, stepping forward with a practised air of deference. The senior strategist bowed his head slightly, but his eyes gleamed with unctuous intent. "I have long suspected Yagura's behavior, though I lacked the means to act. Your bravery has not only unmasked the truth but has also saved us from a greater catastrophe."

Kaito's gaze, unyielding and sharp, fixed on Takamaru. The false humility grated against him like steel against stone. "Enough, Takamaru," he said coldly, his words cutting through the strategist's facade. "Your performance ends here. I was going to find you next."

The atmosphere shifted. Tension coiled around the crowd like an invisible serpent as Kaito's Sharingan spun to life. The air itself seemed to grow heavier, as though the very world held its breath. Takamaru's polished demeanour faltered, and his lips began to tremble, his voice stammering out words against his will.

One by one, the confessions spilt forth, each revelation more damning than the last. Leaked secrets to enemy nations. Strategic betrayals that left comrades vulnerable. Sabotage that had sown discord within the Mist's ranks. Forty times. Forty betrayals.

Gasps of disbelief turned into murmurs of rage. The crowd, bound by shock, began to stir with the energy of betrayal. Terumi Mei's voice, usually steady, cracked with fury. "You sold us out—your comrades, your village, your honour—for what? For greed? For power?"

Kaito's Sharingan dimmed as he released Takamaru from the genjutsu. The strategist stumbled his expression one of confusion and rising terror. He looked around, meeting the stony, wrathful gazes of his comrades. "What… what have you done to me?" he stammered, his voice barely audible over the growing murmurs.

Kaito stepped closer, his presence towering. His voice, low and deliberate, carried the weight of a blade drawn at the throat. "I've done nothing. The truth was yours to speak. And now..." He paused, letting the moment into eternity, his final words soft but laced with lethal intent. "...your sins will speak for themselves."

The gathered shinobi surged forward. Takamaru stumbled back, panic flashing across his face as the crowd closed in. His defiance crumbled under the weight of their judgment.

Master Yuan raised a hand, his voice steady despite the fury brewing around him. "Saiga Takamaru, your actions have condemned you. The Mist has no place for traitors."

Takamaru's protests turned to desperate pleas as he fell to his knees. The once-cunning strategist was now a broken man, his composure shattered. The crowd hesitated, their fury boiling over but tempered by the presence of their elders.

It was Terumi Mei who stepped forward, her face a mask of resolve. "Let his punishment serve as a warning. Betrayal is not just a crime against the village—it is a crime against every life that depends on us."

She turned to Kaito, her gaze steady. "Elder Kaito, your judgment?"

Kaito's eyes lingered on Takamaru, his expression unreadable. Then he turned away, his voice carrying over his shoulder. "Justice is yours to deliver."

Takamaru's cries echoed into the night as the Mist claimed vengeance for its wounds. Kaito walked away, his steps heavy, his heart unyielding. Behind him, the flames of retribution burned brightly against the darkened sky.