The sudden burst of laughter pierced the quiet night, drawing every Uchiha around Naka Shrine to look over.
No one knew why this rising genius of the clan had laughed out of nowhere.
Yuzuru ignored the stares.
He might be a transmigrant, but he was Uchiha through and through.
Having suddenly gained such powerful strength, it would be an insult to his current identity not to deliver an Uchiha-style signature burst of laughter.
Knowing all eyes were on him, Yuzuru opened his eyes again. The profound Mangekyō pattern had vanished, leaving only three dark tomoe turning slowly in his gaze.
Even that much filled Uchiha Yakumi and Uchiha Inabi, standing nearby, with envy.
Three-tomoe Sharingan!
It was the power every Uchiha dreamed of.
Trading a glance, Yakumi whispered, "What's up with Uchiha Yuzuru? Laughing that loudly, and with his three-tomoe Sharingan open—something feels off."
Inabi snorted, unable to resist snapping back. "What's off about it? He's excited, obviously. If I were fourteen and already a squad captain with a three-tomoe Sharingan, I'd be even more hyped than Yuzuru!"
"The youngest captain in history… after tonight, Lord Fugaku might really be outshone by Yuzuru…"
Before Inabi could finish, Yakumi nudged his arm.
He turned—and realized Uchiha Fugaku had somehow come up behind them.
"Lo—Lord Fugaku!"
Yakumi and Inabi bowed at once.
In the moonlight, Fugaku's tall silhouette fell over them, drying their lips with nerves.
As the clan leader's only son, Fugaku had been called a genius since childhood.
Later, in the Second Great Ninja War, he earned the name "Grim-Eyed" Fugaku.
A severe, unyielding face paired with overwhelming strength gave him a crushing presence.
Caught gossiping behind his back, the two freshly minted genin felt their breath hitch.
Fortunately, Fugaku clearly wasn't inclined to press them. After a single glance, he set his eyes past them—on Yuzuru.
"Naka Shrine forbids loud clamor. Do you acknowledge your fault?"
Feeling the pressure rolling off Fugaku, Yuzuru only arched a brow and looked at him, offering no answer.
Fugaku's expression cooled further as he stepped closer.
"Uchiha Yuzuru, I'm speaking to you. Did you hear me?"
"You're noisy!"
Yuzuru frowned and snapped the word.
The air froze.
Everyone held their breath.
Within the clan, both Fugaku and Yuzuru were "star shinobi," and many had debated which of them would prove stronger in the future.
No one expected the two to square off like this tonight, and so suddenly.
"Yuzuru's got guts—he's giving Captain Fugaku no face at all."
"Fugaku was the one picking a fight first…"
"So what? In terms of strength, it's still Captain Fugaku. Yuzuru's in for it this time…"
Yuzuru could more or less understand Fugaku's provocation.
Among the Uchiha, contests within the clan were as common as breathing.
It was the simplest, most direct, most convincing way to settle status.
Only the strong were respected.
Ignoring the murmurs, Yuzuru stepped up to face Fugaku.
Whatever the reason, since the other party had come knocking, he had no reason to back down.
Besides, he'd never had much goodwill toward this "future clan head" of the original story—so indecisive that he helped doom the Uchiha.
Now that he was bound to the clan, this was a perfect chance to establish his authority among the people.
Fugaku was the current leader's son and a standout among the young generation.
Using Fugaku as a stepping stone to prestige couldn't be more fitting.
With that thought, Yuzuru came to a halt before him and said coolly, "If you want to lecture an Uchiha, words alone won't cut it."
Fugaku smiled.
He heard the subtext—
Power decides who gets to speak.
Arrogant brat. Think a three-tomoe Sharingan puts you on my level?
Tonight he'd learn: not all three-tomoe are equal.
"Though the clan assembly is about to begin, for the Uchiha, showing strength doesn't always mean using the most primitive kind…"
With a cold snort, Fugaku's dark eyes turned scarlet, revealing his own three-tomoe Sharingan.
"It's a bit like bullying the young, but don't blame me—kids who've never been hit by reality don't live long."
As his words fell, the three tomoe in his eyes began to spin at speed.
A powerful, domineering ocular force surged toward Yuzuru.
Lately, people kept comparing Yuzuru to him—and whispers were spreading that Yuzuru might even be better.
He didn't resent the boy for it, but as a once-lauded prodigy himself, Fugaku had his pride.
He'd see for himself whether this so-called genius, said to outshine him, truly deserved the praise.
Facing Fugaku's offensive, Yuzuru sneered inwardly as his own tomoe began to turn.
Sensing the clash of ocular power, the onlookers grew excited; pairs of scarlet eyes lit the night one after another.
"A genjutsu duel—settling it with the Sharingan of our Uchiha. Not bad!"
"Who do you think wins—Fugaku or Yuzuru?"
"Please. Yuzuru's gifted, sure, but he isn't fully grown yet. He can't beat Fugaku."
"Right. The prodigy's about to take his first hard loss."
For this sudden showdown, most of the clan still favored Fugaku.
Genius for genius, Fugaku was nine years older than Yuzuru and in the prime of a shinobi's strength.
Under their expectant gazes, the two waves of tyrannical ocular power crashed together.
And then—against all expectations—within mere seconds Fugaku dropped to one knee. Sweat drenched his brow and back. His whole posture sagged, his spirit clearly battered.
Every jaw fell open.
Plainly, in that genjutsu exchange, Fugaku had…
Lost?!
"'Grim-Eyed' Fugaku—nothing special."
Looking down on him from above, Yuzuru's scarlet three tomoe radiated suffocating pressure.
He now possessed the Mangekyō. In spirit and ocular force alike, Fugaku couldn't compare.
Crushing him was only natural.