Kai, the strongest of the Uchiha Clan, had a tense relationship with Uchiha Fugaku, the son of the clan leader—a situation that many of Konoha's high-ranking officials secretly approved of.
The higher-ups in Konoha did not want to see a united Uchiha Clan. Certain shadowy figures worked behind the scenes to keep the tension high, exacerbating the rift between Kai and Fugaku.
"Captain Kai wasn't late. It's just that some people arrived too early," Uchiha Sosuke sneered at Fugaku.
Fugaku's face darkened even further at Sota's interference, his expression growing harsher by the second.
Like Sota, Uchiha Sosuke was another loyal supporter of Kai, and one of the clan's top-tier fighters, rivaling Fugaku's strength.
"I'm talking to Uchiha Kai. It's none of your business to interrupt. Who do you think you are?" Fugaku's cold glare bore into Sosuke.
"You're asking for it!" Sosuke roared, drawing a kunai from his ninja tool bag.
"Sosuke, don't waste your time with trash," Kai finally spoke, calm and collected.
"He's just a worthless fool. Why bother?"
Kai cast Fugaku a disdainful glance, openly showing his contempt. After all, the Uchiha Clan had fallen into ruin under Fugaku's leadership. It was no exaggeration to call him worthless.
"Uchiha Kai!"
Fugaku roared, drawing the katana on his back and slashing at Kai.
The blade struck, but with a loud bang, a cloud of white smoke enveloped the spot, and Kai appeared unharmed, seemingly reduced to nothing but a block of wood for a split second.
"Konoha forbids ninja from killing each other. Fugaku… are you trying to become a rogue ninja?"
Kai smirked, appearing behind Fugaku and kicking him away with immense force.
Though Fugaku was a skilled elite ninja, he was no match for Kai, who had nearly reached Kage-level power.
Fugaku tumbled across the ground, struggling to regain his footing as he formed hand seals.
"Hmph… reckless fool," Kai muttered, forming seals of his own.
A massive fireball, over ten meters wide, collided with Fugaku's fire dragon jutsu.
In an instant, the fireball crushed the dragon and continued its assault on Fugaku.
"How is this possible?!" Fugaku fled using the Body Flicker Technique, narrowly escaping as the ground where he had stood became a blazing inferno, leaving a crater behind.
Fugaku's expression darkened as he stared at Kai. He had used Fire Style: Great Dragon Fire Jutsu, a B-rank ninjutsu. Kai, on the other hand, used Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu, a C-rank technique, regarded as the most basic Uchiha fire jutsu.
Yet Kai's C-rank attack completely outclassed Fugaku's B-rank jutsu.
"Lord Kai's strength is indeed not something a mere Fugaku can contend with. Only Kai is truly worthy to lead the clan," Sosuke muttered in awe.
Susuke's respect stemmed from Kai's overwhelming power. He was the first in the clan with the potential to break into Kage-level.
Since the departure of the clan's ancestor, Uchiha Madara, the clan had been in decline, producing no Kage-level fighters for decades. The current clan leader, still near-Kage-level, had been severely wounded in the Second Great Ninja War and would not survive much longer.
Kai moved swiftly, appearing before Fugaku in an instant. He struck toward Fugaku's abdomen. Fugaku activated his Three Tomoe Sharingan, but when their eyes met, his body froze.
Kai had also activated his Three Tomoe Sharingan. Though both had the same Sharingan stage, proficiency varied.
Fugaku was seven years older, but Kai had awakened his Three Tomoe earlier and mastered it far more efficiently.
The Sharingan illusion affected Fugaku for less than a second, but in that instant, Kai's fist slammed into his stomach.
The blow sent Fugaku flying over ten meters, crashing through the nearby guardhouse. Spitting blood and nearly losing consciousness, he tried to rise when suddenly Kai's foot appeared before him, stomping down on his head.
Bang!
Fugaku's head was driven into the ground.
"Dare to fight me? Foolish beyond measure."
Kai pressed down harder, contorting Fugaku's face.
"Captain, you're mighty!" Sosuke cheered, thrilled to see Fugaku being crushed.
Kai had always seemed uninterested in the clan leader position. But this time, he acted mercilessly—was he planning to seize the leadership?
"We must spread the news. Let everyone know Fugaku has been defeated by Lord Kai. He has no right to be clan leader," Sosuke muttered.
"Uchiha Kai! Release Captain Fugaku!"
Those who supported Fugaku shouted in protest at the sight of him being beaten.
Kai ignored them. Those too weak to act weren't even worthy of his glance.
"Fugaku attacked a fellow Konoha ninja. Capture him," Kai ordered Sosuke.
"Yes, Captain," Sosuke responded, gathering a few men to seize Fugaku and imprison him.
Fugaku's followers exchanged nervous glances. They dared only to voice protests—they had no courage to rescue him.
"What should we do?"
"Report to the clan leader. He'll handle it."
Unable to intervene and afraid to provoke Kai, they had no choice but to report the incident.
"What did you say? Fugaku has been captured by Kai?"
The Uchiha clan leader, though in his fifties, looked aged and furious, appearing closer to seventy.
"What does Kai think he's doing?"
He suspected Kai might be trying to remove his son to claim the clan leadership. In the Uchiha Clan, only Kai was a rival to Fugaku. The leader could not believe Kai had no ambition for the position.
"And you just watched him be captured?"
The leader glared at the gathered men.
They lowered their heads in fear. If it were anyone else, they might act—but Kai had handled Fugaku with ease. Any attempt to intervene would be a suicide mission.
Of course, the main reason was fear. Rumor had it that Kai was ruthless when he struck.