"Lady Mito?"
"You—!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi's flushed face instantly turned pale. He hadn't expected Mito Uzumaki to betray him at the most critical moment.
Hadn't she said she would handle the Uchiha?
At this point, Hiruzen finally understood—no matter what, she would stand with the Senju, not him.
He scanned the room with bloodshot eyes. So many people, yet not a single one willing to uphold the Hokage's will.
Uchiha Ren grinned. This was exactly the situation he wanted—Hiruzen isolated and helpless.
"Hiruzen, if you don't dare, then get down. Stop wasting everyone's time."
Ren's voice was cold. He didn't want Hiruzen to back down.
"Fine! Then let's fight!"
Hiruzen roared. There was no retreat. Even if he died, it had to be on the path to becoming Hokage.
"Good," Ren nodded. "Let me make this clear—this is a life-and-death duel. If someone dies, it only means they were inferior. Everyone here can witness it."
A chill ran through the room. No one objected. This wasn't a spar—it was a struggle for power.
The scene shifted to the arena. Hiruzen moved first, bursting forward at high speed, shuriken flying from his hands.
"Child's play," Ren sneered. With his three-tomoe Sharingan, everything slowed down. He easily dodged.
"Got you!" Hiruzen smirked. "Shuriken Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
The shuriken multiplied, sealing off all escape routes.
"It's over!"
But—
"Lava Release: Scorching River Rock Jutsu."
Molten spheres erupted from Ren's mouth, instantly melting every shuriken.
Hiruzen's smile froze.
Lava Release?!
Around them, shock spread. The Uchiha already possessed the Sharingan—now another kekkei genkai?
Was heaven biased?
"How do you have Lava Release?!" Hiruzen shouted, losing composure.
Ren ignored him and continued his attack.
"Lava Release: Solidification Technique."
Molten liquid spread across the ground, hardening instantly. One mistake and Hiruzen would be trapped.
"Damn it!"
Hiruzen dodged frantically, barely escaping.
"Fight me with taijutsu if you dare!" he shouted in desperation.
The surrounding clan heads were speechless. Why wouldn't someone use their bloodline? This wasn't a game.
Hiruzen's breathing grew heavy. His movements slowed.
Ren smiled coldly.
He could end it now—but he chose not to.
Like a cat playing with its prey.
This wasn't just cruelty.
It was a display.
A message to all of Konoha:
This is the power of the Uchiha.
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