Fugaku and Yusuke had already headed for the Uchiha dueling grounds, and news of the fight spread with astonishing speed.
Uchiha clansmen buzzed with discussion.
"Did you hear? 'Flame Demon' Yusuke challenged Clan Head Fugaku!"
"No way. Yusuke would challenge the clan head? That doesn't feel real!"
"It's absolutely true. A lot of people already rushed over to the dueling grounds to watch…"
"Daring to challenge Clan Head Fugaku—did Yusuke develop some new ninjutsu or something?"
"A showdown between an Uchiha Fire Release powerhouse and an ocular jutsu expert… I can't wait for this!"
…
Within the Uchiha compound.
Shinobi gathered in small groups, preparing to head to the dueling grounds to spectate.
One of the Uchiha clan's two most famous geniuses—"Flame Demon" Yusuke—challenging the clan head… who wouldn't want to see that?
Inside the dueling grounds, the debate reignited—who was stronger, Yusuke or the clan head?
"Yusuke's said to be a once-in-a-century genius of the Uchiha, but with his age, he's still a bit short of defeating Clan Head Fugaku, isn't he?"
"Exactly. Yusuke's Fire Release is strange and unpredictable, but the clan head's ocular techniques are truly formidable."
"We're all Uchiha. In the end, the Sharingan is what decides victory and defeat—and Clan Head Fugaku is called 'Wicked-Eyed.' His ocular power is obviously superior."
Hearing everyone talk down Yusuke, Inabi and Tekka sneered inwardly.
"'Wicked-Eyed' Fugaku's ocular power is stronger?"
"The Mangekyō Sharingan has nothing to say to that."
"Would Yusuke ever do something he wasn't sure about?"
"What a bunch of short-sighted fools. Yusuke will lead the Uchiha to forge our former glory once again!"
Inabi and Tekka exchanged a smile.
They had absolute faith in the power of Yusuke's Mangekyō Sharingan!
According to clan records, once the Mangekyō awakened, one could use the power known as "the strength of the gods"—
Susanoo.
See it even once, and death is all but inevitable.
That was no empty threat.
In an era without "cheat-level" monsters, how many shinobi could possibly stand against Susanoo?
Uchiha Itachi cutting down everything in his path—Susanoo had played a crucial role!
…
The Hokage Building.
Konoha's office.
The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, was in the middle of discussing important matters with Konoha's two advisors when an ANBU shinobi responsible for monitoring the Uchiha suddenly rushed in, panic in his voice.
"Hokage-sama!"
"Something happened with the Uchiha—'Flame Demon' Yusuke has challenged Clan Head Uchiha Fugaku!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi and the two advisors, Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane, froze.
Ever since the Nine-Tails Incident, the number of shinobi assigned to monitor the Uchiha had doubled.
To put it bluntly, not a single ripple within the Uchiha clan could escape their eyes and ears.
Yet they had never heard of any conflict between Uchiha Yusuke and Uchiha Fugaku.
"Flame Demon" Uchiha Yusuke suddenly jumping out to fight Fugaku for the clan head's seat…
It was simply too inexplicable.
They all knew Yusuke well—he didn't seem like the type to do something like this.
But since something had happened within the Uchiha, Konoha's leadership couldn't just sit idle.
The Third Hokage made his decision at once.
"Let's go. We'll take a look."
…
Uchiha compound.
Dueling grounds.
Uchiha Yusuke and Uchiha Fugaku stood atop the raised platform, facing each other.
Below them, a massive crowd of Uchiha shinobi had gathered.
Once the news broke, nearly every Uchiha shinobi rushed here.
This outcome would decide who held the position of clan head—and it would also shape the Uchiha's future fate.
Every Uchiha shinobi present watched with intense concern.
The dovish faction hoped Fugaku would win and continue leading the clan.
The hawks who were dissatisfied with Fugaku, meanwhile, hoped "Flame Demon" Yusuke would take the seat and create a situation entirely different from the present.
As a rising talent within the clan, Uchiha Itachi arrived at the dueling grounds as well, accompanied by Uchiha Shisui.
"Shisui… do you think Yusuke can beat my father?"
Itachi asked the doubt in his heart.
Shisui fell silent for a moment, then gave a wry shake of his head.
"By all logic, the clan head should have the advantage… but Yusuke-niisan isn't someone you can measure with ordinary reasoning."
"If he dares to challenge the clan head, then he must have a trump card."
"As for the result… even I can't predict it."
Itachi was slightly surprised. This was the first time he had ever seen Shisui uncertain about something.
Itachi's admiration for Shisui was like the way Sasuke would one day admire his brother.
Shisui is invincible. My brother can do anything.
It was a different kind of faith.
Shisui smiled and patted Itachi's head.
"Even though people say I'm on par with Yusuke… Yusuke is stronger than me."
Many things in the Uchiha clan were inherited, just like Fire Release and the Sharingan.
Shisui had always treated Uchiha Yusuke as the goal he wanted to surpass.
But no matter how hard he tried, there was always an insurmountable gap between them.
He had only just touched the threshold of elite jōnin—
While Yusuke had long since become the ceiling beneath Kage-level.
Shisui's talent was exceptional, but compared to Yusuke, he was still lacking.
His ninjutsu mastery had reached perfection. At such a young age, he had even created a Fire Release Chakra Mode that didn't require hand seals.
Facing Yusuke, Shisui let out a long sigh.
"Even the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama-sama, might not have been much more than this…"
On the dueling platform, neither of them rushed to make the first move.
"Yusuke… you suddenly stepped forward to challenge me. There must be a reason, yes?"
Uchiha Fugaku spoke in a low voice, voicing the question that had been weighing on him.
He had accepted the challenge, but no matter how he thought about it, he couldn't understand why Uchiha Yusuke was doing this.
With his understanding of Yusuke, this challenge absolutely couldn't be for the clan head's authority.
And when he searched his conscience, he couldn't recall ever doing anything to offend Yusuke.
If anything…
In private, the two even had a fair amount of rapport.
Yusuke suddenly coming out to challenge him left Fugaku completely baffled.
Uchiha Yusuke replied calmly.
"The Uchiha are facing a life-and-death crisis. I don't believe you have the ability to guide the clan correctly."
He was simply speaking the truth. A dovish clan head could never lead the Uchiha out of this predicament, surrounded on all sides.
Fugaku still clung to the naïve notion of peaceful coexistence with Konoha's higher-ups. That ideal was far too unrealistic.
Having seen the cruelty of war, Fugaku had developed a certain obsession with peace.
And it was precisely because of that obsession that he had never truly recognized the real face of Konoha's leadership.
Uchiha Fugaku let out a self-mocking chuckle.
"If you can see it, yet I'm the clan head… then I really am shameful."
Fugaku possessed enough self-awareness. He understood the Uchiha's situation better than anyone.
Konoha's orders were not something he could oppose. The dissenting voices within the clan were not something he could erase.
If things continued like this, the Uchiha's future was bleak.
However, Fugaku was not someone who would easily admit defeat.
"Then let's decide it here—by victory and defeat!"
Uchiha Fugaku assumed a fighting stance.
Uchiha Yusuke didn't hesitate in the slightest.
"If that's the case, then I won't hold back."
"Please—be careful."
To read 40+ future chapters, head over to Patreon:
patreon.com/WhiteDevil7554