Chapter 56: Fugaku's Last Dignity, Akira's Domineering Conditions
Uchiha Fugaku ignored everyone's astonishment. He continued speaking. "Tomorrow, at the Naka River training ground. Under the witness of all clan members, a duel will be held to determine the future of the clan. The victor will become the new leader of the Uchiha Clan, leading the clan down the path he chooses. The loser will give up everything."
This was not a private power struggle. This was a fair, open, and public challenge. Fugaku wanted to use this method to defend his last shred of dignity as the Clan Head. Even if he lost, he wanted to lose like a true Uchiha. He wanted all clan members to see that he was not cowardly; he had merely chosen a different path. Now, as that path reached its end, he was equally willing to face the final judgment with his life and honor.
Everyone's gaze instantly focused on Uchiha Akira. How would this young Uchiha respond to this sudden, high-stakes challenge?
Akira smiled. This was exactly the outcome he wanted. Fugaku, in the end, was still a respectable Uchiha.
"I accept." Uchiha Akira stepped forward, and the pressure of his Mangekyō Sharingan once again descended. "However, I have one condition."
Uchiha Fugaku gazed at Akira. "Speak."
"This duel will not only decide the position of Clan Head," Akira's gaze swept over the many clan members present, "it will determine the Uchiha's sole will. The loser will completely withdraw from the core of power and swear by the name of Uchiha to fully support all decisions of the victor for life, without any disobedience. What I want is not a divided clan, but a unified, absolutely powerful Uchiha that listens to only one voice."
This was about concentrating all power into one person's hands. What arrogance. And what ambition.
Uchiha Fugaku fell silent. He looked at Akira before him, as if seeing a young, even purer, more rational, and more terrifying Uchiha than Madara. He knew that this was the last responsibility he, as Clan Head, had to bear for the clan. No matter who won or lost, the Uchiha could no longer be consumed by internal strife.
After a long pause, "Good," Uchiha Fugaku uttered in a deep voice. "I agree. After this battle, the Uchiha will have only one voice."
The agreement was reached.
[Ding! Detected that the host is about to usher in the final battle to unify the Uchiha, achieving an epic achievement!]
[Stage Task Released: Clan Head Battle!]
[Task Requirement: Defeat Uchiha Fugaku in front of the entire clan!]
[Task Reward: ???]
The clan meeting dispersed. The clan members, carrying unspeakable shock and bewilderment, left one after another. Two Mangekyō Sharingan. A public challenge that would determine the clan's fate. Many ordinary clan members were left in confusion, wondering whether Uchiha Akira, representing the new generation, or Uchiha Fugaku, representing the old era, would win this challenge. Everything was still unknown.
...
Almost at the same time the clan meeting ended, in a shadowy corner of the Naka Shrine's eaves, a leaf subtly twisted, then returned to normal, as if nothing had happened. A few minutes later, in the Hokage Office, Hiruzen Sarutobi was puffing on his beloved pipe, handling a mountain of piled-up documents.
[Tap, tap.]
A soft knock on the door sounded. "Enter." An Anbu wearing a tanuki mask appeared out of thin air, kneeling on one knee. "Hokage-sama, urgent intelligence from the Uchiha Clan."
Hiruzen Sarutobi's pen tip paused, and he looked up, a hint of imperceptible solemnity flashing in his eyes. "Speak."
"The Uchiha Clan held a clan meeting today; Uchiha Akira and Uchiha Fugaku... both awakened their Mangekyō Sharingan."
[Crack.]
The pipe in Hiruzen Sarutobi's hand snapped into 2 pieces. The Anbu member's body slightly lowered; Hiruzen Sarutobi's gentle aura instantly vanished, replaced by a terrifying pressure like a collapsing mountain.
"What did you say? Say it again!"
"Uchiha Akira and Uchiha Fugaku both awakened their Mangekyō Sharingan. The two have agreed to a public duel at the Naka River in 1 day. The victor will become the sole leader of the Uchiha Clan."
The Anbu, under immense pressure, repeated the words. The sole... leader.
Hiruzen Sarutobi slowly leaned back in his chair, his aged face losing its usual composure and calmness. A public duel that would determine the Uchiha's fate. What could he, the Third Hokage who had governed Konoha for decades, do? Send Anbu to stop it? That would only confirm the accusation that the Konoha leadership was suppressing the Uchiha, completely pushing the entire clan towards Akira's side.
Stand idly by? No matter who won, a unified Uchiha, led by a Mangekyō Sharingan wielder, would become an unprecedented huge threat to Konoha. Hiruzen Sarutobi felt a surge of powerlessness. For the first time, he realized that he could only watch like a spectator as events developed in the worst possible direction.
...
At the same time, deep beneath Konoha, in the dark and damp "Root" base, a Root Ninja silently appeared before Danzō. "Danzō-sama."
"Speak."
After the Root Ninja finished reporting the intelligence, "Two... Mangekyō..." Danzō slowly stood up, his right arm, wrapped in bandages, bulged with veins and trembled slightly. Not from fear, but from extreme rage.
"Hiruzen! You fool!" Danzō cursed in a low voice. "This is the result of your so-called appeasement policy! Allowing the Uchiha to grow too strong, now they have become a major threat capable of overthrowing the Village!"
Danzō had always observed Fugaku's patience and was pleased by it; a divided, weak Uchiha was easier for him to deal with. But Danzō never expected that beneath the sheep's skin, there was also a Mangekyō Sharingan. What made Danzō feel even more out of control was Uchiha Akira. This young Uchiha, his 2 assassination attempts against him had all failed, and now he had awakened the Mangekyō and would soon become the Clan Head. This was something Danzō had never anticipated.
"Uchiha Akira... must die!" Danzō's eyes gleamed with murderous intent. "Fugaku can be kept; a defeated Mangekyō, stripped of honor, would be the best tool. But Uchiha Akira, if absolutely necessary, I'll have to use the Genjutsu from Shisui's eyes."
How difficult it was to kill Uchiha Akira. What Danzō didn't know was that Kotoamatsukami, which he considered his ultimate trump card, had already been immunized by Uchiha Akira. Danzō had already lost his best chance; the current Uchiha Akira was not an existence Danzō could easily manipulate.
...
At the Hyūga Clan's main family residence, the atmosphere was solemn and tense. Hyūga Hiashi knelt in the main seat. Below him were representatives of the branch family and several elders of the main family.
"Two... Mangekyō Sharingan." Hyūga Hiashi softly uttered these words. As one of Konoha's two great Dōjutsu clans, no one understood better than the Hyūga what this represented. It was an extraordinary power capable of changing the course of war.
"Clan Head, the power of the Uchiha Clan has severely disrupted the balance of the Village," an elder said with concern. "Once they complete their integration, the status of our Hyūga Clan..."
Hyūga Hiashi raised his hand, interrupting him. "Issue the order. From today onwards, the Hyūga Clan will strengthen its vigilance. All clan members performing missions outside are not to engage in any conflict with the Uchiha unless absolutely necessary. Wait and see."
All Hyūga Hiashi could do was wait and see. That young man named Uchiha Akira had already declared his existence to all of Konoha in the most direct and arrogant way. Hyūga Hiashi's gaze unconsciously drifted towards the courtyard. What did the future hold for the Byakugan?
...
The Nara, Akimichi, and Yamanaka clan heads held an emergency meeting. The impending duel within the Uchiha Clan had already stirred up a storm that swept across the entire Konoha Village. At the center of the storm, Uchiha Akira stood alone on the rooftop of the Police Force headquarters, overlooking the entire clan compound.
Kenji and Shunichi stood behind him like 2 statues, not daring to make a sound. Akira wanted all of Konoha to clearly see how a brand new Uchiha would be born. He wanted everyone to understand that the era when the Uchiha were easily manipulated was gone forever.
"Fugaku..." Akira softly uttered the name. After tomorrow, the Ninja World would once again remember the fear of being dominated by the Uchiha.