"Family?"
"Heh."
"Are you so certain I'm not an enemy who came here to wipe out your entire clan?"
Isamu looked at Uchiha Zhan with amusement.
"I am absolutely certain."
"With your strength, if you truly intended to massacre us, this place would already be a sea of blood."
"Besides, as I said before…"
"The barrier protecting this place isn't something just anyone can break."
"You—"
"Hahahaha…"
"I never imagined that the once hot-headed Uchiha Zhan would actually learn to think things through."
"Interesting."
"Very interesting."
As he spoke, Isamu waved his hand.
His thousand clones instantly dissolved and merged back into his body.
"Hm?"
"That voice…"
Uchiha Zhan froze.
After recalling every clone, Isamu slowly raised his right hand.
A green sphere of chakra formed above his palm.
It rapidly expanded…
Growing to dozens of meters across before finally stopping.
"Healing Shigure."
In an instant, the massive sphere burst apart into countless tiny green lights that rained across the battlefield.
Each light found an injured Uchiha.
The moment the lights entered their bodies…
Every wound healed instantly.
The seriously injured stood back up one after another.
Their faces were filled with disbelief.
None of them had ever seen…
Or even heard of…
A medical ninjutsu capable of healing so many people simultaneously.
Watching the scene unfold, Uchiha Zhan and the other elders suddenly thought of someone.
"This incredible technique…"
"Could it be…"
At that moment…
Garuda, Tsunade, and the others, who had been watching from the sidelines, walked over.
Seeing Tsunade's familiar face, Zhan and the elders immediately bowed respectfully.
"Greetings, Madam!"
"Zhan, there's no need to be so formal."
"I'm not the main guest today."
"I simply accompanied your master here."
As she spoke, Tsunade turned toward Isamu.
"Our master?"
Following her gaze, everyone looked toward the unfamiliar young man.
Combined with everything that had just happened…
A legendary figure gradually emerged in their minds.
"I never imagined…"
"That after all these years…"
"I, Uchiha Isamu, would once again meet my clansmen."
"Perhaps…"
"Heaven truly favors me."
As he spoke…
Isamu slowly restored his original appearance.
A dark-blue robe bearing the Uchiha crest.
Long hair flowing to his waist.
A face that had remained forever youthful.
Everything slowly appeared before the crowd.
"I-It…"
"It's the Clan Leader!"
"The Clan Leader has returned!"
"It really is the Clan Leader!"
Uchiha Zhan's entire body trembled with excitement.
That face…
Was one he could never forget.
"Greetings, Clan Leader!"
Zhan and the four elders immediately knelt.
"Greetings, Clan Leader!"
The dozens of veterans who had once fought alongside Isamu hurried forward and knelt as well.
Meanwhile…
Uchiha Sora and the younger generation were completely dumbfounded.
Wasn't this supposed to be an invading enemy?
Why were all the elders kneeling before him?
Seeing everyone still standing in shock, Uchiha Zhan roared,
"You fools!"
"Clan Leader Uchiha Isamu has returned!"
"Why are you still standing there?!"
"Kneel and welcome him!"
Only then did everyone recover from their shock.
One after another…
They all knelt.
However…
Isamu stopped them.
"Forget it."
"I am no longer the Clan Leader."
"Such grand ceremonies…"
"Should be reserved for your current Clan Leader."
With those words, his feet slowly lifted off the ground.
He floated until he stood directly before Uchiha Sora.
Then…
He silently stared at him.
Under that piercing gaze, Sora instinctively lowered his head.
Seeing this, Uchiha Feng quietly whispered,
"Do you think the Clan Leader is dissatisfied with Sora?"
"Could he be planning to beat him in front of everyone?"
"What nonsense are you talking about?"
Zhan glared at him.
"Don't presume to understand the Clan Leader."
"He has always cherished our clansmen."
"Besides…"
"Sora is the current Clan Leader."
"The Clan Leader wouldn't embarrass him before the entire clan…"
Even as he spoke…
Zhan wasn't entirely sure.
After all…
So many years had passed.
Who knew whether Isamu's temperament had changed?
Seeing Sora lower his head, Isamu's expression darkened.
"What are you doing?"
"Raise your head."
Sora trembled before immediately looking up.
He silently awaited the former Clan Leader's reprimand.
"Do you know who you are?"
"You are the Clan Leader of the Uchiha Clan."
"As the leader of the clan…"
"How can you lower your head so easily?"
"Do you think you resemble a Clan Leader right now?"
"Former Clan Leader…"
"I'm sorry…"
"You're not apologizing to me."
"You're apologizing to every clansman standing behind you."
"Since you've become Clan Leader…"
"You represent the clan's face."
"Its dignity."
"Its honor."
"As Clan Leader…"
"You must possess the courage to advance."
"No matter who stands before you."
"No matter how powerful they are."
"Even if death awaits…"
"You must never bow your head."
"Only someone with that spirit…"
"…is worthy of becoming the Clan Leader."
"Do you possess that spirit?"
"I… I…"
"Answer me!"
"Do you possess that spirit?!"
"I do!"
"So quiet."
"Didn't you eat?"
"Louder!"
"I DO!"
"I can't hear you!"
"I DO!"
"Still can't hear you!"
"Reporting to Former Clan Leader!"
"I, the current Clan Leader, Uchiha Sora…"
"…possess the spirit to advance without fear…"
"…and will never bow my head, even in death!"
"Report complete!"
A satisfied smile finally appeared on Isamu's face.
"Very good."
"Uchiha Sora…"
"Remember those words for the rest of your life."
He could have remained silent.
But this was his clan.
These were his people.
Some lessons…
Had to be taught.
Only then could he truly fulfill his responsibility to both the clan and its future.
Watching the exchange, Uchiha Zhan and the other elders finally relaxed.
Sora had grown up during an era of peace.
With veterans like themselves always standing before him…
He had never truly earned a great achievement of his own.
Although talented…
His confidence had always been lacking.
Now…
With the former Clan Leader personally guiding him…
Perhaps Sora would finally grow into the leader they all hoped he could become.
Naturally, Isamu had already seen through Sora's lack of confidence.
He didn't know exactly what had caused it…
But he couldn't pretend not to notice.
Slowly…
He raised his right hand and rested it atop Sora's head.
A crescent-shaped seal appeared on his palm.
An immense surge of Yin Release power poured directly into Sora's mind.
"AAAAAAAHHHHH!"
Sora suddenly screamed in agony.
His head felt as though it were splitting apart beneath the overwhelming flood of Yin chakra.
Hearing his son's anguished cries, Uchiha Zhan immediately rushed forward.
He fell to his knees before Isamu, repeatedly bowing his head.
"Clan Leader!"
"I beg you to forgive Sora's incompetence!"
"Clan Leader!"
"I beg you to forgive Sora's incompetence!"