21-25

*Chapter 21: The Secret Room Beneath the Seventh Tatami (Please Recommend!)*

“How so?”

Sougen humbly asked for advice.

“Do you remember what Uncle Yashiro said earlier? Don’t take the praise of outsiders too seriously,” Uchiha Ranzan said.

“That annoying old man!”

“Sougen, both you and Shisui have made a name for yourselves. Some say Shisui is the strongest in the clan, while others insist it's you… but no matter what people say, it's really just the younger generation talking. The senior jonin in the clan might not agree. Like Uncle Yashiro said, most of those people are also supporters of the clan leader.”

Hearing this, Sougen understood the meaning behind Ranzan’s words.

Showing your strength at the right time isn’t a bad thing, especially in the Uchiha clan, which idolizes power. In a way, strength is synonymous with authority here. The key is knowing how to use it.

Shisui is the perfect example.

In the original history, when Shisui—undoubtedly the strongest in the clan—died, Uchiha Yashiro and the other staunch supporters of Uchiha Fugaku even stormed to the clan leader’s house to question his eldest son, Uchiha Itachi. This shows just how influential the so-called strongest in the clan really is.

“I get it. Beat them into submission, and they’ll naturally fall in line. Is that it?”

“...That’s about right. It might not go as smoothly as you'd imagine, but it’s a natural law that the strong lead the weak.”

Ranzan nodded affirmatively.

In his eyes, Sougen was undoubtedly the strongest. Though Ranzan was three years older, he had never won against Sougen in all their countless sparring sessions growing up. Sougen’s strength was absolute—in ninjutsu, genjutsu, and taijutsu, he was overwhelmingly powerful.

Ranzan supported Sougen not just because of their bond and shared ideals, but also because of his deep respect for Sougen's dominant strength. As he had said before, the Uchiha clan revered the strong.

And despite his calm demeanor, Uchiha Ranzan was a true Uchiha at heart.

“A natural law, huh?”

Sougen squinted his eyes.

At that moment, figures appeared on the temple steps.

“Grandfather, Elder Ryuuji, Elder Homaru, Elder Jun!”

A group of elderly men, all over sixty, arrived together.

“Sougen, don’t let me down tonight,” Elder Homaru, known for his fiery temper, was the first to speak.

“Sougen, give it your best!”

That was the familiar Elder Ryuuji.

“Sougen… I hope you haven’t deceived Shisui. Otherwise, even with my old bones, I’ll make sure you regret it.” Elder Jun, thin and pale, gave Sougen a deep look before walking forward with the other elders.

Uchiha Genshi remained behind.

“How are things going?” Genshi asked.

“About fifty-fifty! Ranzan just told me—we might have to use force to deal with the hardliners.”

“Fifty-fifty? That’s not bad. To rally half the supporters in such a rush is a good result... Luckily, you pulled Shisui to your side. Otherwise, we wouldn’t even have been able to hold this emergency assembly. Are most of the people here now?”

Sougen blinked.

Ranzan spoke up: “Everyone is here except for the clan leader and his close confidants.”

“Then let’s go inside.”

Genshi glanced at the main shrine of the temple. “No need to wait for the clan leader. Fugaku always shows up last. And there’s no point in meeting with him alone right now. Even if he has any intention of conceding, Sougen, you shouldn’t accept it. Instead of waiting for someone to give you something, it’s better to take it yourself.”

“Grandfather, you’ve noticed?”

“I’m not blind yet! When I proposed holding this emergency meeting, even with Jun’s help, Fugaku could’ve opposed it. But he didn’t. He supported it easily and even gave you advance notice… If I didn’t know what Fugaku was planning by now, you might as well bury me.”

“Well, I’d better find a good burial spot for you. Maybe next to Great-Grandfather?”

“Absolutely not. That old man was too much trouble. I don’t want to be disturbed even after death. I’ll pick a spot in the graveyard in a few days. When I die, just bury me there.”

The three of them walked into the main shrine along the path paved with gray stone.

The seventh tatami mat from the right was lifted, revealing a staircase leading to an underground chamber.

They descended the stairs, which led to a seven- or eight-meter-long stone passage. After passing through the passage, the narrow space suddenly opened up into a large room capable of holding two to three hundred people. The spacious underground chamber was already filled with over forty clan members, all kneeling in their assigned spots on the dark red wooden floor.

In front of them was a sunken area.

There, a stone tablet covered in strange writing was displayed. On the walls were ancient murals of tengu, and on either side of the tablet, two large fire pits provided the only light in the dim room.

Not all clan members had the right to participate in this meeting.

Only the clan’s ninja, specifically jonin, were allowed into the chamber. Chunin and genin were not permitted, and some jonin had been assigned to guard the clan grounds. In the end, fewer than fifty people attended the meeting.

At this moment,

Elder Homaru, Elder Ryuuji, Elder Jun, and two other elders had already taken their seats at the front. They didn’t have much—just some floor cushions to kneel on, slightly softer than the wooden floor.

“Elder Genshi has arrived.”

A few clan members at the back noticed the footsteps and turned to see Uchiha Genshi, along with the two young men by his side.

“Ranzan is here.”

“And Sougen!!!”

The atmosphere shifted. The clan members were quick to share information, especially among the jonin, who were the core of the clan. Most of those present had a general understanding of why this emergency meeting was called and knew that Uchiha Sougen would be one of the central figures tonight.

His supporters greeted him with enthusiastic gazes, most of them younger.

His opponents responded with cold, defiant stares, mostly the older generation.

A few others simply observed with curiosity, eager to get a look at the clan’s famous “Flame Demon.”

Sougen remained calm in the face of these varied looks. With his hands tucked inside his robe sleeves, he walked unhurriedly behind his grandfather, following the path cleared for them.

---

*Chapter 22: Uchiha Clan's True Nature*

"Sougen, over here."

Uchiha Chisao, sitting in the second row, waved her hand.

As a young ninja who had been promoted to Jonin for less than half a year, her seat should have been at the back. However, privilege exists everywhere. With a grandfather who is an elder and being a girl, no one complained about her squeezing into the front row alongside Elder Ryūji.

The arrogance of the Uchiha clan had long been ingrained in their bones.

Moreover, everyone qualified to attend this meeting was an elite member of the clan. Their pride was even greater than that of ordinary clan members. They wouldn’t stoop to quibbling with a girl over seating.

"Chisao, sit still and stop moving around, or people will laugh at you." Sougen walked over and patted his childhood friend's head, then looked at the empty seat next to her. "I'm sitting somewhere else today. Call Futaba over to sit with you."

With that, he let go of her head.

He bypassed the second row and continued walking forward, stopping in the first row where only six elders were seated. He sat cross-legged beside Elder Homaru on the far right. There wasn’t an extra cushion for him, so he chose the most comfortable cross-legged position.

A small stir immediately spread through the crowd behind him.

Sougen's unconventional behavior caused a wave of murmurs. Some thought he was breaking the rules, others admired his boldness, and still, others simply didn’t care.

"Hey! Kid, I like your guts," Elder Homaru laughed, glancing at Sougen with approval.

Hearing the elder’s clear support, the murmurs from the back grew louder, but fortunately, everyone understood where they were. All disputes remained verbal; no one was going to draw their sword in anger.

"If I’ve decided to do something, I’ll do it openly and with confidence," Sougen replied matter-of-factly.

He sat cross-legged with his back straight, like a finely forged blade, exuding a sharp and resolute aura even from behind.

"Well said!" Elder Homaru nodded, his admiration growing stronger. He had a fiery and spirited personality, and he appreciated young people with such vigor. To him, this was how the Uchiha should be—bold and arrogant!

Compared to the overly composed and stifling Fugaku, he couldn’t help but wonder why he had supported Fugaku as clan leader in the first place.

Just as the two were chatting idly, the clan leader himself finally arrived!

Fugaku Uchiha walked in, wearing the standard uniform of the police force—a green vest and dark pants, with the police force insignia on the sleeve near the shoulder, a shuriken embedded in a fan symbol.

He wasn’t alone. Six Jonin from the clan followed him, all trusted aides similar in rank to Uchiha Hachidai. The youngest among them was glaring at Sougen with intense dissatisfaction. If looks could kill, Sougen would be a corpse full of holes by now.

"Sorry to keep everyone waiting. I had to deal with some personal matters and arrived a bit late." Fugaku Uchiha stood before the stone tablet and, after surveying the clan members gathered in the chamber, paused briefly on Sougen before turning his gaze forward. "I’ll keep this short. I’ve called this emergency meeting to make an announcement."

He paused for a few seconds, ensuring everyone was paying close attention, then continued, "I intend to pass the position of clan leader to Uchiha Sougen."

This statement caused an uproar!

While the clan members weren’t completely unprepared, they had expected a fierce power struggle. Some were eager to see the clan leader crush the rebellious youth with an iron fist, while others hoped to witness a successful challenge. Either way, it was supposed to be intense and dramatic!

But this?

What was this lukewarm nonsense?

Even the elders appeared surprised. Uchiha Genshi frowned and instinctively glanced at his grandson sitting at the far right.

"I’m sorry, clan leader, but I must refuse," Sougen stood up, his voice loud and clear, reaching every ear in the room.

The uproar intensified.

"Huh?!"

"What’s going on?"

"This isn’t what I heard would happen. What’s going on?"

Everyone—young and old alike—was utterly confused.

"Sougen-kun, are you sure you understand what you’re saying?" Fugaku Uchiha frowned at Sougen. "You..."

"The position of clan leader shouldn’t be given; it should be taken!" Sougen interrupted Fugaku harshly, lifting his head to meet Fugaku’s gaze without hesitation. "I’d rather take it with my own hands than have it handed to me."

He turned and looked at the group of Jonin from the clan.

"You all know who I am, so I’ll skip the introductions. Let me get straight to the point. I believe Fugaku lacks the leadership and decisiveness to guide the clan through this crisis. Though I’m young, I believe I’m capable enough to take the position of clan leader. So I’m making it clear today: the clan leadership is mine!"

He didn’t bother to slow his speech to choose his words carefully.

At this point, talking things out was a joke! He didn’t believe he could convince the clan with words alone, nor did he want to. Compared to diplomacy, he believed that only through force could he make the clan members truly understand his determination and recognize the authority of their next leader.

To put it bluntly, Sougen thought the Uchiha were, in some ways, cowardly.

Back when Uchiha Madara was defeated by the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju, the Uchiha clan became too afraid to rebel against the Hokage. They’d rather oppose Madara than challenge Hashirama, showing just how much they feared the overwhelming power of the First Hokage.

Now, Sougen intended to follow in Hashirama’s footsteps, forcing these arrogant clan members to completely submit to him.

"Sougen-kun," Fugaku raised his voice, "There’s no need to complicate things. I’ll simply step down, and the clan members won’t object to the official transition."

Sougen glanced at the clan leader with a sideways look.

He ignored him.

Whether Fugaku genuinely intended to pass the position to him or wanted to use him as a scapegoat while secretly maintaining control, Sougen didn’t care.

He still remembered his grandfather’s warning at the shrine.

"Suwa, let’s have a little duel."

Sougen provocatively gestured at the young man standing beside Fugaku—Uchiha Suwa, one of Fugaku’s youngest trusted aides, who had been glaring at him since entering the chamber.

As expected, already furious over Fugaku’s decision to step down in favor of Sougen and infuriated by Sougen’s repeated insults, Suwa’s anger had reached its peak. Now, with a direct challenge—

"Uchiha Sougen, don’t be so arrogant! Is that how you speak to your seniors? Don’t think that just because you’ve gained some fame, you’re the best in the clan!"

With a sharp "clang," Suwa drew his short blade and slashed at Sougen in fury.

(End of chapter)

Chapter 23: The Great Blade · Samehada

A fight broke out!

In this secret chamber used for family meetings, someone had actually drawn their sword and started fighting. This was an unprecedented event, even for the elders who had never encountered such a situation before. They were dumbfounded, watching Uchiha Suwa and Sougen brawl in front of everyone.

No one stepped in to stop it.

Although this chamber was meant for meetings, there were no rules forbidding fights among the clan members here. Additionally, the clan leader and the elders each had their own thoughts and all chose to watch the spectacle unfold without interference.

"We are Uchiha!"

Sougen, wielding the bizarre weapon that looked like a narrower door wrapped in bandages, calmly blocked Suwa's strikes, still finding the time to speak, "In our clan, seniority means nothing. If you want to be called 'senpai,' fine, just defeat me!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the weapon that looked like a door swung horizontally, smashing into Suwa’s small katana with such immense force that Suwa was sent flying backward, turning into a puff of white smoke.

It was a shadow clone.

Even though everyone present was a Jonin, not all of them could figure out when Suwa had swapped himself with a shadow clone, proving that this trusted lieutenant of the clan leader was no pushover.

The real Uchiha Suwa appeared above Sougen’s head.

At some point, he had positioned himself upside-down on the ceiling.

The small katana in his hand, wrapped in a dazzling electrical current, aimed directly at Sougen's head, plunging downward with deadly intent.

Clang!

The sharp, high-pitched sound of metal clashing echoed through the chamber.

Sougen raised his weapon, which looked like a door, using it as a shield to block Suwa's lightning-infused katana. Even though Suwa’s attack had the added force of his body weight, Sougen effortlessly withstood it without a care.

"You..."

Uchiha Suwa tried to say something.

But then he realized that the lightning on his katana had vanished, and his chakra was being drained uncontrollably, like a flood bursting through a dam. Realizing something was wrong, he attempted to retreat, but it was too late.

The strange, door-like weapon suddenly unwrapped itself from the bandages and began wriggling like a living creature. Its long body extended quickly, wrapping around Suwa’s waist like a giant snake, devouring his chakra even faster.

At this point, the clan members finally recognized the weapon in Sougen's hands.

"The Great Blade, Samehada!"

"Why does he have that sword?"

"Isn’t that weapon supposed to belong to the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist?"

The clan members began to murmur amongst themselves.

No one expected that the door-like thing Sougen had been carrying was actually the Great Blade, Samehada. Its name was well-known, and its history was ancient, though the exact origins were unclear. However, the name Samehada had appeared in the Uchiha clan’s records, making it as old and significant as the lost Uchiha Gunbai.

A weapon that could devour chakra was always a formidable tool. Its unique ability was enough to draw the attention of the Uchiha clan, earning a place in their rudimentary historical records.

The Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist were a relatively recent phenomenon. If they had gathered a few more similar swords, they could’ve been called the Eight or Nine Ninja Swordsmen... Besides, the Seven’s debut had been disastrous; they were nearly wiped out by a single Leaf Genin. How pitiful!

"Suwa, it seems you won’t be earning the title of 'senpai' anytime soon," Sougen remarked as Samehada, under his control, released Uchiha Suwa. Having had over 80% of his chakra devoured, Suwa was left drained, likely needing several days of rest in bed.

Uchiha Suwa couldn’t respond to anything Sougen said.

He collapsed with a thud, completely unconscious due to the massive chakra loss.

"Who's next?"

Sougen didn’t spare a glance for the fallen Suwa, instead raising Samehada and pointing it at the other clan members, his gaze eventually settling on Uchiha Fugaku. This was an outright provocation.

"Sougen, why is that sword in your hands?"

Uchiha Fugaku frowned, staring at Samehada pointed at him. He sensed a deep unease.

He hadn’t stopped Suwa earlier because he wanted to personally gauge the strength of this “Flame Demon” of the clan and see how it compared to the data they had. However, Suwa had been defeated far too quickly and easily. Furthermore, Samehada hadn’t been mentioned in the reports, making the gap between expectation and reality far too wide.

A powerful ninja wielding a top-tier weapon was like a tiger with wings.

The Uchiha’s lost fan, the Uchiha Gunbai, was a prime example. According to records, it could reflect jutsu, and countless enemies had fallen to its unknown power. The clan’s history even recorded one clan leader deflecting a miniature Tailed Beast Bomb with the Gunbai.

The might of top-tier weapons was undeniable.

"This is a spoil of war I took on the battlefield. I killed that guy."

Sougen waved Samehada casually. The sword, notoriously picky about its wielder, was as obedient in his hands as if it were an extension of his body. This was the power of someone who never dies unarmed, easily taming the unruly blade.

"Is this really worth asking about? Clan leader, why don’t you decide whether you’ll fight me yourself, or send someone else? Oh, and feel free to come at me together. I don’t mind being ganged up on or fighting in rounds."

His arrogant attitude pricked the pride of the clan members.

Especially the senior Jonin, who felt their pride wounded by such blatant disrespect from a 15-year-old. Though the clan leader had warned them against acting rashly, the prideful Uchiha were not so easily restrained.

"Kid, a powerful weapon can be useful, but relying too much on external tools isn't a good thing."

The speaker was an older man, perhaps in his 40s or 50s, sporting a scruffy beard. He remained in place, merely activating his Sharingan, the three tomoe in his scarlet eyes locking onto Sougen’s.

But before he could finish his sentence, it turned into a scream of pain.

Sweat poured from his forehead, and his muscles twitched in response to the pain his body experienced from the genjutsu. He had lost the mental battle with Sougen’s illusion.

Both men had simultaneously cast Demonic Illusion: Shackling Stakes Technique.

This was a favorite genjutsu among the Uchiha. In the mental world created by the caster, the target would feel as though stakes were being driven through their limbs, rendering them immobile, while experiencing intense physical pain.

The clash of similar visual-based genjutsu naturally became a contest of ocular power.

The result—

Sougen’s overwhelming victory, skipping the usual stalemate and crushing his opponent’s Sharingan strength, leaving the proud Uchiha frozen in place.

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 24: Establishing Authority *

Sougen was determined to assert his authority.

Even if no one picked a fight with him, he was ready to provoke one himself.

If he couldn’t make these unruly clansmen submit to him, there would be no point in becoming the clan leader. What he wanted was a clan as obedient and loyal as Samehada (Shark Skin), not a Uchiha clan that only paid lip service, followed orders half-heartedly, and made mistakes like catching chickens while chasing dogs.

“Chihaya, Lanshan, and Shisui, stay out of this. This is my fight.”

Sougen stopped his companions from getting involved.

At this moment, he couldn't rely on others.

He needed to establish his own authority.

Uchiha Genji stood up and, with the help of Uchiha Lanshan, restrained Sougen's supporters. He commanded the group to move to the right side of the chamber, leaving the center space for Sougen and the clansmen who were dissatisfied with his domineering attitude.

“Sougen, what exactly do you intend to do? The position of clan leader…”

Uchiha Fugaku frowned deeply. The situation was completely out of his control, and this was not what he had envisioned.

In his heart, he asked himself whether he had planned to make Sougen a puppet while he controlled the clan from behind the scenes. The answer was, of course, no. He simply thought Sougen was too young and feared his impulsiveness would lead to irreparable mistakes.

Fugaku truly believed he was trying to help Sougen, unless Sougen proved to be hopelessly incompetent.

BANG!!

A shuriken flew across the short distance like a cannonball, grazing Fugaku’s temple and embedding itself deep into the stone wall behind him. Large chunks of rock fell from the impact, and the mural of the Tengu was destroyed.

Sougen lowered his left hand after throwing the shuriken, his crimson eyes fixed on the clan leader.

“Clan leader, I think I made myself clear. I believe you lack the ability and courage needed. When facing the village's increasing pressure, you’ve done nothing but ask the clan to endure. You’ve repeatedly made poor decisions, and the clan has fallen to this state because of your failure.”

“So don’t even talk about stepping aside. I’ll clean up this mess, but don’t think your past mistakes will just be forgotten.”

“Sougen Uchiha, do you even realize what you're saying?”

Uchiha Yatsushiro stood up.

“I know exactly what I’m saying!”

“Do you understand what the clan leader has done for the clan—”

“Shut up! Are you deaf? Didn’t you hear what I just said?”

Sougen’s voice was cold and commanding.

Without hesitation, he unleashed the Demonic Illusion: Shackling Stakes Technique, easily breaking Uchiha Yatsushiro’s resistance. This veteran, well-respected Jonin in the clan, was left completely immobilized.

“Yatsushiro!”

“Sougen Uchiha, you arrogant brat!”

Seeing Uchiha Yatsushiro defeated enraged his friends, four Jonin, all around forty years old, who moved in unison. Years of fighting together meant they didn’t need words to coordinate their attacks.

In this confined space, large-scale ninjutsu wasn’t practical. Moreover, with Yatsushiro and Uchiha Kouhei (the other unfortunate soul trapped by the Shackling Stakes Technique) as cautionary tales, they knew fighting Sougen with genjutsu was a bad idea.

That left taijutsu as the only viable option.

SWOOSH, SWOOSH, SWOOSH!!!

A rain of shuriken and kunai came flying.

“Shuriken jutsu? Don’t forget, I also have the Sharingan, uncles.”

Sougen saw through the steel wires attached to the shuriken and kunai, cleverly camouflaged with non-reflective paint. With a light flick of his wrist, Samehada (Shark Skin) swelled, the sharp spikes rising. A casual sweep deflected all the shuriken and kunai, giving the wires no chance to get close.

“Uchiha Style: Gale Sword.”

“Uchiha Style: Sword of Leaping Flames.”

Two attacks came at him from the front and back. Clearly, the shuriken attack was a diversion, meant to cover the real assault. Of course, if Sougen hadn’t noticed the wires on the shuriken, the diversion would have turned into a genuine attack.

“Samehada: Energy-Eating Slash.”

Sougen reacted swiftly.

They had all survived the battlefield, and while these uncles had more experience, Sougen wasn’t going to lose easily. The title Flame Demon was earned on the corpses of hundreds of elite Mist shinobi.

He swung Samehada, which extended to almost twice its original length, striking both swords with immense speed and force. The powerful impact, combined with the momentary weakness caused by chakra absorption, forced both attackers to retreat.

“Samehada: Flying Chain Slash!”

As soon as Sougen fended off the four-man team’s attack, he counterattacked instantly.

Samehada’s handle extended like a long snake.

The blade, covered in spikes, opened wide like a beast and bit into one of the retreating Uchiha clansmen. He didn’t have time to use substitution or body flicker techniques. Everyone had underestimated, or perhaps failed to realize, that Samehada was a living weapon, not just a tool.

The bitten Uchiha screamed in agony as his chakra was ruthlessly absorbed.

The remaining three tried to help, but Sougen had already used the body flicker technique to get close to another. In that split second, their eyes met, and before the elder Uchiha could react, Sougen hit him with another Shackling Stakes Technique.

In an instant, two of the four were down.

Even without using lethal force, Sougen had shown his superiority. Everyone knew it was far harder to capture someone alive than to kill them. Yet Sougen had managed to capture two while being outnumbered.

This display immediately intimidated many of the other clansmen who were thinking of joining the fray.

The Uchiha weren’t blind. By now, everyone had activated their Sharingan and clearly saw the battle between Sougen and the four veteran Jonin.

And they all felt the overwhelming strength of Sougen.

By all accounts, they were all Jonin with three-tomoe Sharingan. These four veteran Jonin had decades of experience over Sougen. Even if he was a prodigy, this shouldn’t have been such a one-sided battle. Yet Sougen had swiftly defeated two of them.

The reason was clear:

Flame Demon wasn’t just famous for his fire release techniques, but also for his taijutsu, which allowed him to decisively defeat two Jonin. And now, with his genjutsu, he had subdued a third veteran. In short, he was a master of ninjutsu, taijutsu, and genjutsu.

Even Shisui, standing off to the side, began to feel uneasy.

“Has Sougen… really not awakened the Mangekyō?”

---

(End of chapter)

Chapter 25: The Stunning Fire Release (Please Vote! Please Support!)

He couldn't determine the truth.

Based on his own experience, there was a fundamental difference between the power of the Mangekyo Sharingan and the regular Sharingan. While it wasn't enough to overturn what was known, the difference was still significant. Using the Mangekyo Sharingan's power, even without its unique techniques, would be enough to be noticed by others.

Moments ago, Sōgen had used genjutsu multiple times to defeat several clan members, but Shisui, who observed with his Sharingan, didn't detect any unusual fluctuations in ocular power.

However, it didn't make sense. Even with the same three-tomoe Sharingan, how could there be such a big difference? How did Sōgen's ocular power grow strong enough in the three-tomoe state to completely overpower other clan members with the same level of Sharingan? This unexplained question left Shisui deeply puzzled.

Meanwhile, the battle continued.

The Uchiha clan was a proud one. Their pride wouldn't allow them to admit defeat or surrender, even if the odds were against them. They would fight until the very last moment.

"Earth Release: Rock Pillar Spears!"

"Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique!"

After witnessing the defeat of their friends, the two remaining fighters didn't recklessly abandon hope. Learning from the mistakes of their comrades and recognizing the power of the Samehada sword, they shifted strategies, abandoning taijutsu for ninjutsu in hopes of securing a slim chance at victory.

Thankfully, they still had their wits about them.

They didn't use destructive techniques like the Great Fire Annihilation that could alter the battlefield entirely.

"Ninjutsu, is it?"

Sōgen smiled.

Among the three great techniques—ninjutsu, taijutsu, and genjutsu—his true specialty was ninjutsu. His innate skill, "Magic Power Release (Flame)," had honed his Fire Release techniques to their peak, earning him the nickname "Flame Demon."

"Fire Release: Great Dragon Fire Technique."

Sōgen formed the 'Tiger' seal with one hand.

In an instant, he refined just the right amount of chakra and exhaled. A lifelike, fearsome fire dragon grew larger as it moved with the wind. It didn't charge in a straight line but instead curved through the air like a swimming fish, effortlessly consuming the incoming Phoenix Sage Fire.

Then, the fire dragon swooped down, destroying the rock pillars that jutted from the ground. It tore away layers of the wooden floor and earth. As the onlooking clan members prepared to intervene to rescue the two who were about to be engulfed by the rapidly approaching dragon...

The fire dragon suddenly dissipated on its own.

"Incredible!"

Uchiha Kyo, the only female elder among the six, instinctively exclaimed.

"Beautiful technique! Sōgen, you've mastered the Fire Release almost as well as I did in my youth!" Elder Homaru laughed heartily, clapping his hands in excitement.

"So cool! As expected from big brother Sōgen!" Uchiha Hokuto jumped up, and if it weren't for Uchiha Ranzan holding him down, the boy would've been dancing with joy.

It wasn't just one or two people praising Sōgen's mastery of Fire Release. The Uchiha clan were fire experts, especially the jōnin in the room, who recognized just how skilled Sōgen was.

This clearly surpassed ordinary Fire Release techniques, reaching a level of complete mastery.

Unless it was an S-rank Fire Release technique, all other Fire Release moves were meaningless in Sōgen's hands. For example, the C-rank Great Fireball Technique could be adjusted from A-rank to C-rank at will in his hands.

"I can't believe the Great Dragon Fire can be used like that! I was trying to release four fire dragons at once, but it seems my understanding is too narrow! Increasing the number isn't the only way to grow stronger..."

"Is this the 'Flame Demon'?"

"Could any of you reach that level?"

"No way! If I had such cool Fire Release skills, I wouldn't still be single!"

"Get lost! Your single status has nothing to do with how cool your Fire Release is."

The conversation began to drift, but Sōgen's goal was achieved. His genjutsu, taijutsu, and now his awe-inspiring Fire Release had stunned the clan members, even the veteran jōnin in their forties and fifties. Their attitudes had subtly changed.

Their hostility and resistance towards Sōgen had significantly diminished.

This was the Uchiha way.

A clan that worshipped strength at its core. They prided themselves on their bloodline, their talents, their eyes, and their abilities. And they revered those stronger than themselves. In the presence of true power, age, experience, and status became irrelevant.

As the clan's heated discussions filled the room, the battle came to an end.

"You've lost!"

Behind the two older men, two of Sōgen's clones held small blades to their kidneys. A single stab, and it would be fatal.

"When did this happen?"

The two turned back in disbelief.

"When your vision was blocked by the Great Dragon Fire," one of Sōgen's clones smiled as he answered.

"We've lost. You... certainly have the right to be arrogant."

The proud Uchiha finally lowered their heads before another Uchiha.

They were too embarrassed to cheat or deny the outcome in front of so many witnesses. Plus, the sheer mastery of Sōgen's Fire Release left them with a deep sense of defeat.

There was no room to act superior.

The two older men sighed, helped their defeated comrades, and retreated to the side. Sōgen also released the binding technique on Uchiha Hachiyo and the unlucky Uchiha Kohei. Both were free again.

However, at this moment, everyone in the room had a clear understanding of the "Flame Demon's" power. No one dared to speak arrogantly anymore.

"Anyone else want to play with me?"

Sōgen waved his hand, and his two water clones dissolved into puddles. The room itself was in desperate need of repair—between the Earth Release and Fire Release, the wooden floor had been thoroughly wrecked. If they didn’t fix it soon, the next gathering would have to be split between the sides of the room.

Sōgen's voice echoed through the chamber.

This time, no one jumped forward. A four-on-one fight had been embarrassing enough, and they had still lost. Judging by Sōgen’s lack of exhaustion, it was clear he hadn't reached his limit. Stepping up now would only result in more humiliation.

Sōgen waited about ten seconds.

Seeing no one speak, he stopped asking, signaling Samehada to lower its spikes.

Then, he turned to the clan leader, whose face was dark with displeasure.

"If no one else wants to challenge me... then let’s get to the point. I, Uchiha Sōgen, am here today to impeach our current clan leader, Uchiha Fugaku. He has been incompetent and made numerous blunders. He bears the unshakable responsibility for the sorry state our clan finds itself in today. At this point, he is unfit to continue as leader."

Riding the momentum of his victory, Sōgen boldly challenged Uchiha Fugaku.

(End of chapter)