"Is that…?"
The raging flames and thick smoke from the explosion made the Uchiha watching from the cliffside all furrow their brows.
It wasn't because they thought Fugaku had gone too far, or that Yuhara couldn't dodge the blast.
No, it was because they'd activated their Sharingan to observe the fight more clearly—and noticed a strange chakra surrounding Yuhara.
It was an invisible but undeniably real layer of chakra wrapped tightly around him, leaving many puzzled as to how exactly Yuhara had pulled it off.
Some of the hardcore elites, especially those who had witnessed Yuhara's actions that night, seemed to have their own theories.
As the wind slowly dispersed the smoke, a figure suddenly shot out from the flank.
His blade once again glowed with that blue brilliance as he charged directly toward Fugaku.
Clang!
A sharp metallic ring echoed out as Fugaku narrowly blocked the attack with a kunai.
Taking a closer look at Yuhara, Fugaku nodded slightly in approval.
Despite the intensity of the explosion, there wasn't a scratch on him. That same tide-like blue chakra still pulsed around his body.
"So… your Susanoo is already developed to such a terrifying level."
While defending against Yuhara's attack, Fugaku muttered under his breath.
"I noticed it last time, but now I'm almost certain. That kind of pure chakra defense at this intensity—there's no mistaking it, it has to be Susanoo.
Your control over it is impressive, and seeing that gives me peace of mind. Still, that's not enough. Be careful now, Yuhara-kun."
Yuhara didn't quite know how to respond. How did his Spirit Armor end up being mistaken for Susanoo?
Sure, it looked similar, but the two were fundamentally different.
"At the very least, Spirit Armor can't shape itself into the full form of Susanoo."
Still, he had no plans to correct Fugaku. And from the look in Fugaku's eyes, he had no interest in chatting anymore either.
With a sudden forceful push of his kunai, Fugaku's raw strength made Yuhara feel a hint of pressure.
Then Fugaku leapt back, flinging his kunai toward Yuhara, and simultaneously began weaving hand seals.
Moments later, a giant flaming dragon burst from his mouth.
"Fire Style: Great Dragon Fire Jutsu!"
The massive flame roared forward, turning the rushing river below into steam.
"Finally bringing out ninjutsu, huh?" Yuhara raised an eyebrow, then responded without delay.
His Sharingan spun rapidly, and in just a flash, he pinpointed the jutsu's weak spot.
With a burst of wind chakra channeled into his blade, he stabbed straight into the dragon's head—splitting it clean in two!
Immediately after, he jumped back and quickly formed his own set of hand seals.
He wasn't one to shy away from a ninjutsu clash—especially since it was one of his strongest areas.
"Fire Style: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique!"
Yuhara didn't go for raw power but instead opted for wide area coverage. Dozens of fireballs scattered out, engulfing Fugaku's position completely.
Fugaku just smiled. Ninjutsu was his domain.
He had heard of Yuhara's talent with fire techniques, and he was sure Yuhara had used this month to master even more jutsu.
But at the end of the day, Yuhara was still young—barely sixteen or seventeen.
In terms of chakra reserves and ninjutsu finesse, Fugaku didn't believe the younger Uchiha could outdo him.
Still, facing a Mangekyō wielder meant caution was mandatory.
"Water Style: Water Formation Wall!"
A tall wall of water surged up from the river, blocking Yuhara's flames completely.
But Yuhara wasn't about to let up. Forming another quick set of seals, he spat out a massive fire dragon.
The searing heat created even more mist as it boiled the river water, the resulting haze making the dragon's figure seem even more menacing.
With a roar, the fire dragon surged toward Fugaku again.
Fugaku calmly watched. The technique chaining was well executed, but he knew he could counter with his own fire-style jutsu.
Still, he felt the warm-up was nearing its end.
So far, the battle had let him grasp Yuhara's basic taijutsu and ninjutsu capabilities—and what impressed him most was Yuhara's apparent mastery of Susanoo.
Especially since he hadn't even activated his Mangekyō yet!
This had just been reconnaissance so far, but now he was ready to shift gears.
His Mangekyō spun to life, a cold, oppressive energy radiating outward.
With its superior insight and motion tracking, Fugaku dodged the fire dragon with a single leap—appearing beside Yuhara a moment later.
A strange chakra started to emanate from his body.
"Mangekyō already?" Yuhara raised an eyebrow.
But since Fugaku had activated his, Yuhara didn't hold back either.
He hadn't used his Mangekyō much outside of fighting those Root guys—and when he had, it became clear just how powerful it was.
Their attacks, movements, everything—they were completely exposed before his eyes.
With his ocular jutsu added to the mix, he had wiped them all out with ease.
Now, going up against another Mangekyō user, Yuhara was curious just how far his own eyes could truly see.
And he also really wanted to find out what Fugaku's abilities actually were.
"Their chakra… it's changed."
"Such overwhelming pressure… did they activate the forbidden power?"
From the cliffside, many Uchiha watching the battle suddenly felt suffocated.
They were all elite members of the clan, many of whom had been involved in the previous clan meeting. They knew instantly—
Yuhara and Fugaku had both activated their Mangekyō Sharingan.
"So it's come to this." Uchiha Sō sighed softly.
"Relax. They're still holding back," said Uchiha Takechi, before lowering his voice. "By the way, how's that Uchiha Itachi kid? I heard he met with Hiruzen."
"Shisui's watching him. The sentries have been repositioned—Yuhara's orders," Sō replied. "Let's just focus on the battle that will decide the clan's future. Itachi won't be a problem."
"A battle to decide the clan's future?" Takechi chuckled. "The Uchiha are already Yuhara's. What future are you worried about?"
Sō didn't respond. It was true—Yuhara had effectively taken control.
But he still lacked one thing: the official title of clan head.
"So you're revealing your Mangekyō this early?"
Yuhara halted his offensive, eyes shifting into Mangekyō form as he calmly addressed Fugaku.
"The three-tomoe stage was enough. I've learned what I needed about your limits and skills," Fugaku replied, his chakra beginning to surge wildly.
"So let's move on. After all, the three-tomoe only holds us back."
In a flash, Fugaku appeared before Yuhara like a ghost, kunai aimed straight for his throat.
Clang!
Yuhara reacted instantly, raising his blade to block, then shoved forward, closing the distance.
With both their Mangekyō now active, their speed, strength, and reaction times were off the charts.
Yuhara could feel the growing pressure—but strangely, it felt… exhilarating.
The clan members watching above felt it too.
Even with their Sharingan active, they could only barely follow the action—watching was one thing, doing it themselves? Impossible.
As they clashed, Yuhara quietly activated "Path Reversal."
He could tell—Fugaku's base strength was superior. But that was expected.
He was older, more experienced, and had held the Mangekyō for longer.
So while Yuhara still valued conserving his ocular power, now wasn't the time to hold back.
If he wanted to win, he couldn't let Fugaku suppress him.
Their two ghostlike forms streaked through the canyon, blades clashing in bursts of sparks.
Then, suddenly, Fugaku created distance.
His Mangekyō spun rapidly, chakra building wildly as he finished a hand seal.
"Fire Style: Majestic Destroyer Flame!"
A blazing tsunami of fire erupted from his mouth.
Yuhara didn't dare push forward—Fugaku's flames might not rival Madara's, but in this tight canyon, they left him nowhere to run.
"Trying to force me to use Susanoo?"
Yuhara weighed his options. Earth or water techniques could block the flames.
But his earth jutsu was weak, and he didn't know any water jutsu at all—something Fugaku likely knew.
Still, his power wasn't limited to his Mangekyō.
"Using Susanoo now would be overkill for something like this."
He casually flicked his blade—and blue chakra began to radiate from him.
The fire surged toward him—then his figure blinked away.
Boom!
The fire consumed the spot where he had stood.
"Hm?"
Fugaku frowned. He couldn't tell where Yuhara had gone—but his instincts screamed danger.
He suddenly looked up—an overwhelming chakra signature was forming above him.
Sure enough, Yuhara was in the sky.
"Flight technique?"
Fugaku muttered—but there was no time for awe.
"Fire Style: Great Blaze Annihilation!"
A massive flaming meteor rained down, erupting into a firestorm even more devastating than Fugaku's own jutsu.
The whole canyon lit up like a furnace.
Fugaku knew he had to act.
He sighed bitterly. "Is this some kind of ocular jutsu? Enhancing his techniques?"
He didn't know—but pure ninjutsu wasn't enough anymore.
His Mangekyō spun, yellow chakra erupting to form a humanoid armor around him.
Susanoo.
At the same time, a massive water wall rose before him, blocking the incoming flames.
But above him, Yuhara dove again, blade raised, wind chakra spiraling.
"Fugaku-sama—I will take the clan head seat. I'll be Uchiha's spear!"
Secret Technique: Waterbird Dance!