Facing Fugaku Uchiha, Shiro Gen held nothing back.
He opened with the Phantom-Blaze Radiant Blade.
Its genjutsu was weaker against the Sharingan, but it still made Fugaku waver.
By the time he recovered, the firelight blade was already at his eyes.
How to dodge?
He slammed a kunai against it with a clang and burned all his speed on Body Flicker.
Even so, he was blown backward.
Burns bloomed across his right hand.
One strike, and Fugaku was hurt.
The crowd rippled with shock like a storm-tossed sea.
"Too strong."
"Is that the Uchiha sword style fused with genjutsu?"
"Incredible."
"He is so young, yet he can refine the clan's sword art..."
"One hit and the clan head is injured."
"Amazing."
"As expected, Shiro Gen is our future."
"..."
Fugaku's face tightened.
Burns on the right hand would slow his signs.
Shiro Gen was already a hard opponent, and now he had lost the tempo.
This fight
would be harder.
Hard or not, he had to fight.
He could not simply yield.
His hands flashed.
Shadow Clone Technique.
Fourteen clones burst into being and scattered.
Some hurled shuriken. Some formed signs for Fire Release. Some rushed in for close combat.
Shiro Gen only curled a lip.
No need to dodge. He did not even move his feet.
Phantom-Blaze Radiant Blade.
Phantom-Blaze Radiant Blade.
Phantom-Blaze Radiant Blade.
...
Firelight flashed. Heat rolled.
Arc after arc screamed out faster than sound, cutting for Fugaku.
Mere shadow clones could not escape.
One stroke, one down. Sometimes one stroke, two down.
As for Fugaku's attacks, the Armor of Fire erased them all.
Shuriken and chakra wire melted to slag on contact. Fire techniques burst against the armor in harmless sparks.
It was a stance of invincibility.
A flame demon god, a sovereign of fire.
The violent, domineering style sent the onlookers into a fervor.
"So cool. So strong."
"This is dominance."
"I love it."
"This is how our clan should fight."
"Invincible. Overbearing. Crushing everything."
"..."
Fugaku's expression grew uglier.
He had realized it.
The Armor of Fire shrugged off Fire Release far too well.
He would need Water Release.
But his half-baked Water Release was worse than useless.
Worse, the heat put steel and wire on a timer.
Any shuriken, kunai, or chakra wire that came too close would melt. No damage would land.
In short,
Shiro Gen perfectly countered the clan's usual kit.
How was he supposed to fight?
"No."
"Stay calm."
"Find a way. This is not the line to take."
"I must create an opening and end it in one blow."
"That is the only shot."
Veteran instincts kicked in. His thoughts cooled.
But Shiro Gen would not give him that chance.
In the next instant, Shiro Gen turned to fire.
Four Flame swords burst from the blaze.
Two carved through two shadow clones. Then all four formed a killing cross on the real Fugaku.
Seeing him trapped, Shiro Gen's voice cut the air as he stepped in and kicked.
THUD!!!
He sent Fugaku flying.
A kunai slid into place against Fugaku's throat.
"You lose."
At that calm declaration,
faces across the hall filled with respect, admiration, even zeal.
Shiro Gen was simply too strong.
Not only powerful, but gifted beyond gifts.
Such a prodigy was the clan's hope.
Only by following Shiro Gen
would the Uchiha reclaim what was theirs.
Fugaku did not want to accept it.
Reality left him no choice.
With a bitter smile, he said quietly:
"Yes. I lost."
"Good. I will come to you later."
"For now..."
Shiro Gen straightened and raised his voice.
"Everyone."
"You have seen my talent and strength."
"You understand the truth. I am the hope of the Uchiha clan."
"Only I can change our fate."
"In our clan, strength rules."
"Right now, I am the strongest here."
"So there is no need for doves or hawks."
"Who agrees. Who objects."
That was Setsuna's cue.
"Brothers and sisters, Uchiha blood runs in us all. We must be united."
"You have seen Shiro Gen's talent, strength, and wisdom. Believe in him."
"Only by believing in him will we take back what is ours."
"I agree."
"I agree as well."
"I believe in Lord Shiro Gen."
"..."
In a breath, the clan's faith gathered around him.
"Good."
"Rest easy. I will not betray your hopes."
"From this point, keep today to yourselves."
"I have strength, but not yet absolute power."
"I still need to grow in silence."
"Only when we are strong enough can we change everything."
"Yes."
Voices answered as one.
"Then let us adjourn."
"I still have matters to discuss with Clan Head Fugaku."
Shiro Gen's eyes fell on Fugaku.
Even in defeat, Fugaku had to admit that Shiro Gen was the clan's future.
When the crowd dispersed,
Shiro Gen laid out his terms.
"I need access to all of the clan's knowledge."
"And I require medicinal baths daily, with a secret tonic every seven days."
"No problem."
Fugaku paid his forfeit without a blink.
"Good. With the essentials agreed,"
"let us talk about the future of the Uchiha clan."