Under the overwhelming pull of Universal Pull, the weaker shinobi were the first to lose control.
Nara Shikaku, Inuzuka Tsume, and Shibi Aburame were dragged through the air, their bodies pulled straight toward Ryūjin without any way to resist.
Jiraiya and Hiashi Hyuga, being stronger and positioned farther away, managed to hold their ground for a moment. Even so, it was like resisting a relentless current, their bodies slowly sliding forward despite their efforts.
As for Akimichi Dōtō, who had already exhausted himself resisting the earlier repulsive force, the sudden shift to an attractive force threw him completely off balance.
Bang!
He slammed face-first into the ground with tremendous force, the impact shaking the surrounding area like an earthquake.
While Dōtō struggled on the ground, Shikaku and the others were dragged directly in front of Ryūjin.
Ryūjin raised his hand casually.
Three black receivers shot forward without hesitation, piercing straight through their chests.
Nara Shikaku, Inuzuka Tsume, and Shibi Aburame died instantly.
All their careful planning, all their coordination, meant nothing.
Against Ryūjin, it was worthless.
Ryūjin lowered his hand and released the gravitational pull.
Now, only Jiraiya, Hiashi Hyuga, and the fallen Akimichi Dōtō remained.
Jiraiya and Hiashi no longer attempted to escape. They both understood the same thing, running from Ryūjin was pointless.
Rumble.
Dōtō forced himself back to his feet, his massive form resembling a moving hill.
The three of them stood facing Ryūjin, their expressions tense, sweat dripping from their brows.
Seven had come.
Four were already dead.
And the remaining three could not see even the slightest chance of victory.
"What was that just now?"
"What happened here?"
The battle had caused too much destruction. The disturbance spread quickly through Konoha, and nearby villagers rushed out of their homes.
When they saw the ruined streets, their faces filled with fear as they fled in panic.
At the same time, reinforcements arrived.
Swish, swish, swish.
ANBU, clan shinobi, and members of the Konoha Military Police Force appeared one after another using the Body Flicker Technique.
They froze when they saw the scene.
"Lord Jiraiya? Lord Hiashi?"
"They are fighting Ryūjin Uchiha?"
"Look at his eyes!"
"Shikaku… Shibi… they are dead!"
Shock spread rapidly through the crowd.
Even Uchiha Fugaku stood stunned.
Ryūjin?
And this destruction, was all of this caused by him?
"Lord Jiraiya, what is going on?" Kakashi asked as he stepped forward with several jonin, including Yūhi Shinkō and Morino Ibiki.
Jiraiya's expression was heavy. "Ryūjin killed the Hokage and Homura Mitokado. He is a traitor to Konoha."
The crowd exploded.
"What? The Hokage is dead?"
"That is impossible!"
"I saw him earlier today!"
Voices rose in disbelief.
Hiashi stepped forward. "It is true. We saw the Hokage's body ourselves."
Akimichi Dōtō, still in his giant form, added, "He is extremely dangerous."
With three major figures confirming it, denial began to crumble.
Fugaku looked directly at Ryūjin, his face tense. "Ryūjin… is that true?"
Ryūjin did not hesitate.
"Hiruzen Sarutobi was killed by me. So was Homura Mitokado."
Silence.
Then chaos erupted again.
"No way…"
"How could he defeat the Hokage?"
"He is just a kid!"
Jiraiya raised his voice again. "Ryūjin is the Uchiha who appeared during Kushina Uzumaki's childbirth incident."
That revelation stunned everyone even further.
The man who had once controlled the Nine-Tails and fought both the Fourth Hokage and the Hokage… was this same young man?
It made no sense.
Fugaku stared at Ryūjin in disbelief. This quiet member of his clan, someone who rarely stood out, was actually that person?
Ryūjin spoke again, his tone steady.
"I killed Hiruzen Sarutobi. That part is correct. But Jiraiya, why not tell them why I did it?"
The crowd quieted immediately.
All eyes turned to Jiraiya.
His fist tightened.
Exposing the truth would mean exposing his teacher's decisions.
"Jiraiya," Ryūjin said with a faint, mocking smile, "what, you cannot say it?"
Morino Ibiki stepped forward. "If you know the truth, then say it."
The pressure mounted.
Hiashi finally spoke.
"I will explain. I was directly involved."
Everyone turned toward him.
"When the Cloud Village delegation came for peace talks, they kidnapped my daughter, Hinata Hyuga."
A wave of murmurs spread. Many had heard rumors, but not the full story.
"During their escape, Ryūjin discovered them, killed the kidnapper, and rescued Hinata."
The murmurs grew louder.
"However, after the kidnapper died, the Cloud Village used the incident to pressure Konoha. To maintain the peace treaty, the Hokage decided to sacrifice Ryūjin."
That statement caused another uproar.
"And because of that," Hiashi continued, "Ryūjin killed the Hokage."
Morino Ibiki frowned. "Then what about Homura Mitokado?"
Jiraiya answered this time, his voice firm.
"After learning Ryūjin's identity, Homura planned to use him as a tool to eliminate the Uchiha clan."
Silence fell over the battlefield.
The situation had changed.
People no longer saw a simple traitor. They understood the cause.
But understanding did not mean acceptance.
Kakashi stepped forward, his expression cold.
"Even so, killing the Hokage is unforgivable."
Ibiki nodded. "No matter the reason, that cannot be justified."
Ryūjin let out a short laugh.
"I do not care what you think."
He looked across the gathered shinobi, his gaze sharp and indifferent.
"If you try to kill me, I will kill you. Simple."
His voice dropped, turning ice cold.
"Come at me if you want. I will wipe out all of you."
A chill ran through the crowd.
Kakashi did not hesitate.
"ANBU, attack!"
Dozens of ANBU operatives rushed forward at once.
Ryūjin's eyes shifted again.
The Rinnegan transformed into the Tenseigan.
A Truth Seeking Orb formed in his hand, stretching into a radiant golden blade.
Golden Wheel Reincarnation Explosion.
A flash of golden light swept across the battlefield.
In an instant, every charging ANBU was cut down.
No screams.
No resistance.
Bodies collapsed one after another, covering the ground.
Kakashi was among them.
Silence followed.
Then came the sound of people inhaling sharply.
Dozens of elite ANBU, erased in a single attack.
Uchiha Fugaku felt his chest tighten.
There was no doubt left.
Ryūjin was that man.
Among the Uchiha, shock mixed with excitement.
This was overwhelming power.
Hiashi stared at Ryūjin's eyes, his voice low. "Could that be… the Tenseigan recorded in our clan's history?"
Jiraiya stepped forward, his expression grim.
"Everyone, stand down! Do not attack!"
Hiashi followed immediately. "This fight is between us and him. Stay back."
Morino Ibiki clenched his fists before shouting, "All units, hold your positions!"
No one argued.
They all understood the truth.
More attacks would only lead to more deaths.
Jiraiya and Hiashi exchanged a glance before vanishing with the Body Flicker Technique, charging directly at Ryūjin.
At the same time, Akimichi Dōtō roared and swung his massive fist downward.
To those watching, it was like a falling boulder.
Ryūjin raised his hand.
Magnet Release, Gold Dust.
A massive golden construct surged upward, forming a giant hand that intercepted Dōtō's attack mid-air.