"So that's all you've got, you little brat?" Tifai sneered. "Don't underestimate someone who used to be in ANBU. I'll end this fight right now."
The moment her words fell, lightning surged violently around her body. With a sharp bang, the fine threads binding her snapped apart.
"She can even use Lightning Release Chakra Mode?!" Minato's expression changed. "That's supposed to be a ninja? Kumogakure, you've gone too far!"
Minato hadn't expected someone like Tifai to possess Lightning Armor. In an instant, he realized his miscalculation—he might have pushed Uchiha Ran into facing an opponent far beyond a ninja's level.
In Kumogakure, it wasn't uncommon for ninja with jōnin-level strength to disguise themselves as ninja. This time, they'd clearly underestimated just how shameless Cloud Village could be.
On the surface, Kumo ninja were bold and straightforward—but in the shadows, they were notorious for underhanded tactics. Some incidents even bordered on outright betrayal, like the defection of the Gold and Silver Brothers. Others were more recent—such as the attempted kidnapping of the Nine-Tails' jinchūriki.
Faced with this reality, Minato made a decision.
If things went wrong, he would abandon his reputation and intervene to save Ran.
Protecting Uchiha Ran mattered more than maintaining honor.
Ran represented the gentle faction of the Uchiha—the hope of reconciliation between the clan and Konoha.
"War is deception, Namikaze Minato," someone from Kumo scoffed. "You're an elite jōnin—are you really this naïve?"
"Yare yare… how troublesome," Ran muttered, watching Tifai tear free of the threads. His hand slid back to the hilt of Life Is But a Dream.
"This really is a gift from heaven."
As he drew the blade, Ran quietly recited the release command.
"Unveil yourself—Life Is But a Dream."
At the exact moment the Zanpakutō was drawn—
Tifai, now fully freed, exploded forward like a bolt of living lightning, charging straight at Ran.
"So fast!"
Gasps rippled through the spectators.
Minato was already prepared to use Body Flicker at any moment to pull Ran out of danger.
"Yare yare," Ran sighed lightly. "Wouldn't it be better to stay tied up and let people admire you? If you insist on clashing blades, at least choose a more elegant posture."
His right hand tightened.
The blade flashed.
Ran swung Life Is But a Dream toward the incoming Tifai.
"His strength is far greater than during the test…"
"Why did he hide his Sharingan—and his real power back then?"
Sarutobi Shinku watched in silence, understanding dawning in his eyes.
"I see… how gentle you are, Ran. Three-tomoe Uchiha are often surrounded by misfortune. To keep others warm, you hid your eyes. To stay close to your teammates, you carefully restrained yourself."
"When the village needed you, though… you stepped forward without hesitation."
"If Ran knew what his teacher was thinking, he would have nodded vigorously and said: Yes, yes, exactly—spot on.
The truth, however, was far simpler.
When he was weak, Danzō didn't even notice him—much less target him. That meant fewer troubles… and far less "fun."
Uchiha Ran was nothing if not honest with himself.
There was another reason, too.
His Sharingan was still only at three tomoe. Because of his mindset, naturally awakening the Mangekyō was nearly impossible. If he wanted to go further, he would eventually have to deal with people like Danzō—and that snake. Showing some strength now was a necessary step.
Lightning tore through the battlefield.
As Tifai rushed in, she instinctively twisted her body mid-charge when she saw Ran's blade coming.
Vaguely, she heard his low murmur:
"Unveil yourself… Life Is But a Dream."
A hazy, shimmering aura spread along the blade.
"So you finally drew your sword, damn Uchiha brat… Lightning Release—Raijin Kick!"
Boom!
The kick detonated like a small missile, blasting out a massive crater. Plasma crackled wildly inside it, lightning crawling across the scorched ground.
Cloud ninja fought head-on—simple, brutal, overwhelming.
Raijin Kick didn't just create a crater; it kicked up a thick cloud of dust.
Everyone held their breath, wondering how Ran would deal with that strike.
Only Tifai knew the truth.
She had missed.
The moment she launched the kick, she'd already seen it—the impossible clarity of the Sharingan's dynamic vision. Ran had dodged cleanly. And worse—
He was smiling.
Red eyes. Three tomoe.
The dust slowly settled.
Tifai stared at the crater, shock flickering in her eyes.
She knew how powerful her kick was—but she hadn't hit him.
Those eyes…
Uchiha Ran's Sharingan seemed to see through everything.
As the dust cleared completely, the scene became unmistakable.
Ran stood to the side, left hand adjusting his glasses, right hand holding Life Is But a Dream, a faint smile on his face.
As if everything had unfolded exactly as he'd expected.
A chill crept up Tifai's spine. The crimson gaze fixed on her carried an undeniable pressure.
"Uchiha Ran…" she said slowly. "Are you really a three-tomoe Sharingan user?"
"Yes," Ran replied calmly. "This is the three-tomoe Sharingan."
"You're right about one thing—it is ordinary. Just a common pair among the Uchiha."
"But it can see through genjutsu… and perceive the truth behind all things."
"Your Raijin Kick holds no secrets from my eyes."
"Tch—this damn Uchiha brat is seriously annoying…"
Tifai suddenly lunged again, her speed blurring into afterimages. Her legs lashed out in a storm of kicks, each strike crackling with lightning.
"Tifai—what are you doing?!"
"Stop, Tifai!"
"Minato," the Fourth Raikage said heavily, watching Tifai unleash Raijin Kick after Raijin Kick at empty air, "we've lost. Call your Uchiha brother off."
"Just as expected…" Dodai thought grimly. Never face a three-tomoe Uchiha one-on-one. And never meet their eyes. Otherwise, you won't even know when you've fallen into genjutsu.
"Ran," Minato called out.
Seeing Minato and A reach an agreement, Ran decided it was time to end the performance—the cat-and-mouse game.
This harvest had been immense.
Minato.
Ino–Shika–Chō.
The Fourth Raikage.
Killer B.
Dodai.
Troy.
And countless chūnin and ninja.
All of them had witnessed the Shikai of Life Is But a Dream.
Nodding slightly toward Minato, Ran leapt back out of the battlefield.
In the same instant, he sealed away Life Is But a Dream—and dispelled the illusion that everyone believed to be Sharingan genjutsu.
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