Konoha's streets.
The Third Hokage and the two advisors leapt repeatedly from rooftop to rooftop.
"Hiruzen, what do you think is really going on here?"
"I remember Uchiha Yusuke and Uchiha Fugaku having a pretty good relationship normally, don't they?"
Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu couldn't help voicing their confusion.
This incident had happened so suddenly that even the two advisors were at a loss.
Uchiha Yusuke had always shown great respect toward Uchiha Fugaku.
As vice-captain of the Police Force, he could even be considered Fugaku's right-hand man.
For Yusuke to suddenly step out and compete for the position of clan head—none of it made any sense!
Hiruzen Sarutobi grumbled inwardly.
So what if he's a right-hand man?
Isn't Danzo always coveting my Hokage seat as well?
Of course, he couldn't say that out loud.
He shook his head and put on a grave expression.
"The situation isn't clear yet. We need to get there as soon as possible."
"No matter what, we can't allow this to affect the village's stability."
The two advisors nodded in agreement. As people aged, they inevitably grew accustomed to comfort and peace.
Danzo, of course, was probably the exception.
He was an ambitious man who refused to stay quiet, always eager to stir something up.
A classic case of an old body with an unruly heart.
Become Hokage tomorrow, then pacify the chaotic world and unify the shinobi world like the First Hokage—
Danzo had basically lived his entire life inside such dreams.
Aiming too high while lacking the ability to match it—that was one of Shimura Danzo's defining traits.
Homura asked tentatively,
"Hiruzen, should we stop this fight?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi fell silent.
Recalling Yusuke's past conduct only made his head ache.
Uchiha Fugaku was mild-tempered and easy to control.
But Uchiha Yusuke was clearly not someone who could be reasoned with so easily.
During the Third Shinobi World War, Yusuke had already displayed his refusal to ever take a loss.
If someone like that became clan head, controlling the Uchiha would become far more difficult.
Compared to Yusuke, Hiruzen still felt that Fugaku was better suited to be clan head.
Unfortunately, a great clan like the Uchiha had its own rules.
Even as Hokage, he had no authority to interfere in the Uchiha's selection of their clan head.
With that thought, Hiruzen spoke calmly,
"The village should remain harmonious. Meaningless conflict should naturally be avoided."
"Move faster—we'll go stop this farce."
His former comrade Uchiha Kagami, the current twin pillars of the Uchiha—"Flame Demon" Yusuke and "Shunshin" Shisui—and young Uchiha Itachi, already showing brilliance at such a tender age…
Hiruzen let out a quiet sigh.
"Why is it that the Uchiha always produce geniuses who astonish the shinobi world?"
"How come my Sarutobi clan never has anyone that impressive?"
Back in the Second Hokage's era, the Sarutobi clan had produced Sarutobi Sasuke and Sarutobi Hiruzen—two shinobi with all five chakra natures—finally securing the Third Hokage's position for the Sarutobi.
Beyond that, the Sarutobi clan simply couldn't compare to the Uchiha.
The talents of "Flame Demon" Yusuke and "Shunshin" Shisui could be called unrivaled in the present shinobi world without exaggeration.
Uchiha Itachi, graduating from the Academy at seven, was no less impressive than Hatake Kakashi, the son of the White Fang of Konoha.
Kakashi was a disciple of the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze—squarely part of the Hokage faction.
But the Uchiha's two great geniuses had nothing to do with his Hokage faction at all.
Years down the line, if the Uchiha clan produced three Kage-level powerhouses—
At that point, would the Uchiha still obediently follow the arrangements of him, the Hokage of Konoha?
With that thought, Hiruzen quickened his pace once more.
The Uchiha changing clan heads—
This was something that had to be stopped as much as possible!
...
Uchiha dueling grounds.
The battle between the two had already entered a white-hot phase.
Exclamations constantly rang out from among the spectators.
"So this is the strength of a true genius? Yusuke is insanely strong!"
"The clan head has copied hundreds of ninjutsu with the Sharingan—he's no simple opponent either!"
A fight of this level left many jōnin awestruck.
The clash between the clan head and Yusuke… it was already approaching Hokage-level, wasn't it?
In the eyes of ordinary shinobi, Kage-level was the absolute pinnacle of the ninja world.
To earn such an evaluation was proof that this battle had far exceeded most people's expectations.
On the dueling grounds, Uchiha Fugaku looked at his opponent, whose breathing had grown slightly ragged, and curved his lips into a smile.
"Yusuke, it seems I've gained a bit of an advantage."
Uchiha Yusuke answered with ninjutsu instead of words.
"Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Fire!"
Facing Yusuke's attack, Fugaku decisively abandoned further use of Water Release.
Water might counter fire, but those techniques had only been copied via the Sharingan.
The Uchiha were far more adept at fighting fire with fire.
Fugaku rapidly formed seals.
"Fire Release: Dragon Flame Technique!"
A blazing fire dragon soared into the air, swallowing the flaming shuriken Yusuke had hurled.
Faced with the massive fire dragon rushing toward him, Yusuke's mind shifted, and he directly entered Fire Release Chakra Mode.
Trying to counter fire with fire?
Then let's see whose flames burn hotter!
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The fire dragon slammed violently into Yusuke's body—yet failed to cause him any damage at all.
Uchiha Fugaku's expression darkened.
"Fire Release Chakra Mode?"
"So now you're getting serious?"
Fugaku drew his weapon and closed in, engaging Yusuke in close-quarters combat.
This was a duel of Uchiha-style swordsmanship.
Fugaku had initially managed to suppress Yusuke slightly, but the moment Yusuke entered Fire Release Chakra Mode, the situation reversed completely.
Yusuke's taijutsu and sword skills were never inferior to Fugaku's. The only reason he had fallen slightly behind earlier was the difference in combat experience.
Fire Release Chakra Mode brought about a qualitative leap in Yusuke's power. Any minor gap in experience instantly became negligible.
Fugaku was forced back step by step, already pushed to the edge of the dueling grounds.
If this continued, he was going to lose!
Shock surged through Fugaku's heart.
"Has Yusuke already grown this strong?"
"Damn it… looks like I can't hold anything back anymore!"
Seizing an opening, Fugaku suddenly closed the distance and spun his Three-Tomoe Sharingan directly at Yusuke.
"Demonic Illusion: Shackling Stakes!"
Shackling Stakes was a binding genjutsu. Those caught would be pierced by stakes and rendered completely immobile.
Uchiha Itachi had once used this very technique to instantly defeat one of the Legendary Sannin—Orochimaru.
A cold smile crept onto Yusuke's lips.
"Trying to deal with me using genjutsu?"
"That's far too naïve!"