"Hmph. I originally intended to spare your life so I could find out how you got in here."
"But now…"
"It seems that's completely unnecessary."
"I have a thousand people behind me."
"So don't accuse me of bullying you."
"You brought this upon yourself."
"Heh."
"Not at all."
"You have numbers on your side—that's fine."
"But let me return those same words."
"When this is over…"
"Don't blame me for bullying all of you."
As he spoke, Isamu's body rapidly split apart.
One clone after another emerged until a dark sea of figures covered the field.
Nearly a thousand of them.
These weren't ordinary Shadow Clones.
They were physical bodies created using the power of the Ten-Tails.
Aside from being somewhat weaker than the original, they were virtually identical to Isamu himself.
Seeing the enemy produce nearly the same number of fighters as his own side, Uchiha Sora's eyes widened.
What terrifying chakra reserves…
Still, once he realized they were merely clones, he sneered.
"Just clones?"
"You're unbelievably naïve."
"Clones divide the user's power."
"By creating this many…"
"You're only speeding up your own defeat."
"Is that so?"
"I don't think so."
A faint smile appeared on Isamu's lips.
With a single thought, every clone charged forward.
At the same time, Uchiha Sora gave the order.
"Attack!"
The Uchiha clan surged forward to meet them.
In an instant, the entire grassland erupted into battle.
Shouts echoed everywhere.
Yet despite the fierce fighting…
Not a single person was killed.
"Come."
Isamu curled a finger toward Uchiha Sora.
"Kid."
Seeing that infuriating expression, Sora clenched his fists.
For some reason…
The man before him constantly gave him the feeling that he was being completely suppressed.
His instincts screamed at him—
He couldn't win.
Seeing Sora hesitate, Isamu frowned.
"A moment ago, you were so full of confidence."
"But now that nobody can help you…"
"You're afraid?"
"The great Clan Leader Uchiha Sora…"
"Surely he isn't this incompetent?"
"I'm not incompetent!"
"I am the Clan Leader of the Uchiha Clan!"
"Why would I fear you?!"
"Die!"
Unable to endure the taunting any longer, Sora activated his three-tomoe Sharingan and charged.
Watching him rush forward, Isamu calmly raised a single index finger.
Sora launched a powerful taijutsu strike.
Isamu didn't dodge.
He didn't even move.
With nothing more than one finger…
He stopped the attack completely.
"No speed."
"No strength."
"You clearly haven't trained properly."
"If this is all the Uchiha Clan Leader is capable of…"
"…then I'm deeply disappointed."
"Damn you!"
"You still dare lecture me?"
"I'll show you real power!"
Sora leaped backward to create distance.
Lightning Release chakra exploded throughout his body, stimulating every cell and dramatically increasing his speed.
Power gathered into his right fist.
"Lightning Release: Lightning Storm!"
With one explosive step, he vanished.
In the blink of an eye, he appeared before Isamu, driving his empowered fist straight toward his face.
This time…
Isamu didn't even raise a finger.
He simply stood there.
Bang!
Sora's fist landed squarely on his face.
The ground beneath Isamu's feet shattered and sank.
Yet…
He didn't move even a single inch.
"W-What?!"
"You took my full-force punch…"
"…with your face?!"
"How is that possible?!"
"Not bad."
"Your speed and strength have improved."
"This is finally getting interesting."
"Watch carefully."
"Today…"
"I'll show you what real speed and real strength look like."
"Oh no—"
Before Sora could react—
Boom!
Isamu kicked him high into the air.
The next instant—
He disappeared.
No…
He was simply moving too fast to see.
Sora became nothing more than a ragdoll.
He was kicked back and forth across the sky.
Occasionally…
A heavy punch crashed into him.
Then another kick.
Again.
Again.
Again.
He couldn't react.
Couldn't defend.
Couldn't even see his attacker.
He was simply tossed through the air over and over like a lifeless doll.
After treating the young Clan Leader to eighty-one consecutive blows, Isamu finally landed.
He raised one hand toward the falling Sora.
Lightning erupted from his palm.
"AAAAAHHHHH!"
Electricity engulfed Sora's body.
As he screamed, Isamu spoke coldly.
"Is this all you've got?"
"With strength like this…"
"What right do you have to call yourself Clan Leader?"
"Open your eyes."
"And look behind you."
"Your clansmen are being beaten back."
"They're being forced to retreat."
"They don't even have the strength to fight back."
"And whose fault is that?"
"Yours."
"You useless Clan Leader."
"You don't possess the strength to protect them."
"You don't possess the ability to stand up for them."
"It's all because of you."
Sora looked back.
Everything…
Was exactly as Isamu had described.
His clansmen were being overwhelmed.
Forced backward.
Some had already been knocked to the ground.
Others were being trampled as cries of pain echoed across the battlefield.
Watching the scene unfold…
Sora bit down hard.
He had never imagined his first battle as Clan Leader would end like this.
They couldn't even defeat a single enemy.
Compared to the previous two Clan Leaders…
He was nothing but a disappointment.
His fighting spirit began to crumble.
Then—
A furious roar echoed across the battlefield.
"You little brat!"
"Clan Leader Isamu once said…"
'When enemies meet on a narrow path…'
'The brave prevail!'
"Even if you're weaker than your opponent…"
"You must still have the courage to move forward!"
"If you lose your fighting spirit now…"
"How will you ever face Clan Leader Isamu?"
"How will you face me?"
"And how will you face the clansmen who placed their faith in you?!"
"You worthless fool!"
Hearing his father's voice…
Sora's eyes snapped open.
That's right.
He couldn't disgrace Clan Leader Isamu.
He couldn't disgrace his father.
And above all…
He couldn't abandon the clansmen who trusted him.
"AAAAAHHHH!"
His chakra erupted violently.
In one explosive surge, he shattered the lightning binding him and landed safely back on the ground.
"So…"
"You've finally arrived."
Isamu withdrew the lightning from his hand.
Tilting his head slightly, he looked toward five elderly figures dressed in ceremonial robes.
His five closest comrades from long ago.
At last…
Uchiha Zhan and the other four elders had reached the battlefield.
Seeing the battered guards and injured clansmen scattered across the field, their expressions darkened.
However…
After confirming that no one had died…
Their expressions softened.
It was obvious.
The mysterious intruder had shown mercy.
That only strengthened their earlier conclusion.
Whoever this person was…
He had to be connected to the former Clan Leader.
Otherwise…
He would never have spared the Uchiha.
The five elders stopped before Isamu.
Studying the unfamiliar face before him, Uchiha Zhan spoke first.
"Young man…"
"Since you were able to open the barrier and enter this place…"
"You must have some deep connection to the Uchiha Clan."
"Why don't we stop this fight and talk?"
"Perhaps this is all just a misunderstanding."
"Let's not allow a flood to wash away the Dragon King's Temple…"
"…where family fails to recognize family…"
"…and turns itself into a laughingstock."
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