As soon as the words left his mouth, the gathered Uchihas erupted in exclamations.
Uchiha Retsu let out a hearty laugh. "So, Yo is really back! Come on, someone go call the others—we're throwing a welcome party for my brother today!"
Uchiha Yan smiled as well, though his excitement was more contained. To return with overwhelming strength and reclaim his place among the clan—if Yo succeeds, his reputation will soar.
The surrounding Uchiha whispered amongst themselves. Some thought Uchiha Yo was too arrogant, but others believed only someone like him—a fearless fighter—could restore the clan's former glory.
"This guy is insane… Uchiha Yo!" Those standing opposite him, their Sharingan glowing red, glared at him with clear hostility.
Many felt insulted. They were Uchiha too—proud and powerful. This upstart wouldn't make a fool of them.
Four clan members suddenly stepped forward, three with their Sharingan activated. The fourth, who had only a single tomoe in his eye, hesitated, seemingly reconsidering.
Yo's voice was calm but sharp. "No need for humility—come at me together. Sooner or later, we'll have to settle this."
"You arrogant brat! Let's see how cocky you are after I beat you senseless!" One of them lunged first, leading the charge.
The other three followed, aiming to overwhelm Yo right from the start.
But Yo remained composed. His Sharingan spun to life, and in a flash, his blade was drawn. The moment the clash began, his expression shifted slightly—they're stronger than I expected.
Yet the fight ended quicker than anyone anticipated. Within two exchanges, the youngest Uchiha—who had yet to fully awaken his dōjutsu—was sent flying by a single kick. A moment later, the sword of one of the two-tomoe users was knocked from his hands.
The next instant, another opponent took a blow to the abdomen, followed by Earth Release: Hiding Like a Mole Technique!—burying him into the ground.
Finally, the last of the Sharingan-wielding trio realized what had happened. He tricked us! Yo had provoked them into acting rashly, throwing them off balance and defeating them one by one.
But before he could fully process it, Yo's sword was already at his chest.
"You lost." Yo flicked his blade clean and gestured for his defeated opponents to help each other up.
His Sharingan still spinning, he looked across the gathered crowd. "There's no need to rest yet. Who's next? I can take five of you at once."
At this, the remaining Uchihas hesitated. The last fight may have been four against one, but in reality, it had felt like Yo was toying with them.
A young squad captain conferred briefly with his teammates before stepping forward. "Your strength is undeniable," he admitted. "I won't pretend I can defeat you alone. But we are not alone."
The five Uchihas performed the seal of opposition before fanning out into formation. They advanced cautiously, using a mix of shurikenjutsu, illusionary feints, and ninjutsu to probe Yo's defenses. Meanwhile, their captain engaged him in direct combat, applying relentless pressure.
More and more spectators gathered. Nearly every younger member of the clan had come to watch, along with several children who hadn't even started their academy training.
Yo's lips curled into a smile. The audience is finally here… now, let's put on a show.
"Shadow Clone Jutsu."
Two identical copies of Yo materialized, immediately engaging the four-man squad.
"Fire Release: Dragon Fire Technique!"
"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"
The two clones combined their jutsu into a massive Fire Dragon Bullet.
"Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall!" One of the Uchiha countered, but his defense crumbled under the attack's intensity.
The squad scattered to avoid the flames, but in their distraction, the real Yo had already struck. The captain, focused on countering, was suddenly overwhelmed by a combination of Uchiha-style Kenjutsu and brutal taijutsu, collapsing under the assault.
Meanwhile, the clones swiftly dispatched the remaining three. One was buried underground with Hiding Like a Mole, another caught in Demonic Illusion: Narakumi no Jutsu, while the last, already wounded, surrendered before the fight could continue.
A hush fell over the training ground. Several Uchihas who had been considering stepping in now wore serious expressions.
Yo surveyed the crowd. "It seems even more brothers have arrived. Let's not waste time—I'll take you all on together."
This time, eight Uchihas stepped forward, but the battle was even more one-sided.
"Demonic Illusion: Dark Walking Technique!" Yo's Genjutsu left them momentarily blinded, and he tore through their formation like a tiger among sheep.
In mere moments, the ground was littered with defeated opponents. Yo turned, motioning for Uchiha Cha and Uchiha Hualuo to help carry the fallen away.
As the dust settled, Yo addressed the remaining spectators. "Our squadron has chosen its new captain. I apologize for the one-sided display, but there were many who hadn't yet awakened their Sharingan." He paused, scanning the crowd. "That said, if any of my brothers would still like to test themselves against me… I'd be honored."
His gaze locked onto a single figure—a handsome young man standing quietly at the edge of the crowd.
Uchiha Duten.
Yo recognized him immediately. He had been the one to send him letters while he was away, a skilled fighter rumored to be among the clan's most promising talents.
Duten stepped forward, offering a polite bow. "You've just returned from training abroad. I've long wanted to test myself against you. Let's not waste this opportunity." He formed the seal of reconciliation.
Yo raised an eyebrow but smiled. So he sees me as a junior? "If that's the case, I won't disappoint you." He mirrored the gesture, sealing their challenge.
Their swords flashed.
Uchiha-style Kenjutsu: Blazing Tempest Slash!
Drawing Blade Technique: Sky Cleaver!
Their first exchange sent Duten skidding backward. Yo immediately pressed forward with a relentless series of strikes, forcing his opponent onto the defensive. Both had their Sharingan activated, but seeing an attack and countering it were two different things—Yo's sheer speed made it difficult for Duten to keep up.
Forced to the edge of the training ground, Duten grit his teeth.
"Uchiha-style Kenjutsu: Leaping Flame!"
A roaring inferno surged toward Yo, carried by a wind-enhanced slash.
Yo smirked. A fire-enhanced sword strike?
"Secret Sword: First Stance."
In an instant, his blade cut through the attack, splitting both the flames and the wind in half. Duten's sword, unable to withstand the force, cracked upon impact.
A stunned silence followed.
Yo sheathed his blade and bowed. "Thank you for the match, brother."
Then, turning back to the crowd, he grinned.
"Anyone else care to enlighten me?"