As soon as the two agreed to the duel, Naka Shrine erupted into noisy debate.
"Wasn't Uchiha Ran just a fresh graduate from the Ninja Academy? Why is he competing with Lord Tabika?"
"Are they even on the same level? Ran's a genin, right? How could he possibly compare to Uncle Tabika?"
"Sigh… Clan Head Fugaku has really lost his way. If he has no one, why push Ran out there to take the hit?"
"I know this kid. Ran was taken in as Orochimaru's disciple—he's an oddball among the Uchiha, practically part of the Third Hokage's direct line!"
"I've heard he carried out an S-rank mission with Minato Namikaze. You really shouldn't underestimate him!"
Listening to the chatter around him while facing Ran, Uchiha Tabika finally began to piece together what kind of person his opponent was.
Orochimaru's disciple… and someone who's worked with Namikaze Minato?So he does have some ability.
With that thought, Tabika spoke in a measured tone.
"Ran-kun, how about you concede? There's no need to get seriously injured over political infighting. For the safety of the clan, someone steady and reliable—an adult like your Uncle Tabika—is better suited to lead the Special Operations Unit."
Ran smiled faintly.
"Uncle Tabika, you may not know this—but the most terrifying thing in Konoha isn't chūnin, or jōnin… and certainly not the Hokage."
As he spoke, Ran slowly drew the blade at his waist.
"The scariest ones… are genin."
"What are you talking about?"
Watching Ran's smooth, almost theatrical sword draw—and hearing that absurd conclusion—Tabika was completely baffled. He could only assume the kid's mind had snapped under pressure.
Tsk… all Fugaku's fault.Pushing a perfectly good child this far.
At that moment, Tabika resolved to give Ran a harsh but meaningful lesson—one that would pull him away from Fugaku's weakness and guide him toward Elder Yashiro's side.
"Hmph. Don't worry, kid. I'll be gentle."
The two faced each other without forming hand seals of confrontation—there was no such custom within the Uchiha clan.
Tabika fixed his gaze on Ran, cold light flickering in his eyes. No matter who stood before him, he never truly held back.
As a pure-blooded Uchiha with nearly fifty years of experience, Tabika's mastery of the Sharingan and Fire Release had long reached a pinnacle.
He had decided to show his true strength in this duel—to give this arrogant new "genius" of the Uchiha a lesson he would never forget.
Ran, gripping his sword, looked at Tabika with a strangely calm expression.
He could feel it.
Floating Life, Dreamlike Illusion had already begun to seep outward—silently hypnotizing everyone watching the battle.
It was overwhelming.
The power of this Zanpakutō far exceeded Ran's own understanding. And yet—even now—it still hadn't fully reached its true released form.
Seeing Ran standing still, Tabika decided to strike first.
He took a deep breath, hands flying through seals.
"Fire Release—Great Fire Dragon Jutsu!"
A torrent of blazing flames burst forth, roaring toward Ran like a living dragon.
Ran reacted instantly.
Too slow.
He sidestepped lightly, his Sharingan opening with casual ease as he avoided the Great Fire Dragon without difficulty.
But Tabika had already anticipated this.
In a flash, he redirected the flames toward a tree behind Ran. The tree was instantly engulfed, flames raging wildly and producing thick, stinging smoke.
Clearly, this smoke was far more effective against the Sharingan than ordinary mist—blinding, irritating, and disruptive.
Ran's eyes flickered with surprise.
He hadn't expected Tabika's combat instincts to be this sharp—realizing so quickly that the environment itself could be weaponized.
This old uncle fights far better than Yekura did, Ran thought.
Fine… then let's play,Old Uchiha.
Tabika stared coldly at Ran, his assault unrelenting.
He wanted this self-proclaimed genius to understand something fundamental—
Power wasn't something you were born with.It was forged through countless battles, through blood and experience.
Standing up for Fugaku without the strength to back it up would only get Ran killed—and possibly drag the clan down with him.
This fight would be Ran's turning point.
Better to bleed in a spar than die on a battlefield.
That was Tabika's mercy toward his own clan.
Swordplay.Fire Release.Taijutsu.
Tabika attacked relentlessly, like a maddened lion.
Everyone could see it—Ran was gradually being pushed back.
Each time Ran tried to counterattack, Tabika would abruptly change direction, forcing him back into defense or evasion.
Under these circumstances, Ran couldn't unleash his true fighting style at all.
"This is the gap in experience," confirms murmured through the crowd.
"Give up," Tabika said coldly. "You have no chance."
Another Great Fire Dragon roared toward Ran.
"Strange…"
Even without sensory ninjutsu, Uchiha Fugaku's instincts screamed at him.
The battle was impressive—but something felt off.
Facing the incoming flames, Ran's expression finally changed. He dodged quickly—but still half a step too slow.
The scorching fire grazed past him, burning his clothes and leaving behind a charred black mark.
In that instant, Tabika pressed the attack.
"Fire Release—Dragon Flame Release Song!"
BOOM! BOOM!
Explosions tore across the ground, smoke and dust billowing as deep craters formed one after another.
As the dust slowly settled, Tabika stood calmly in place, as though nothing had happened.
"Cough… cough…"
From one of the craters came the sound of coughing.
"Oh?" Tabika frowned slightly. "He dodged?"
He knew this technique's speed and power well—by all logic, Ran should've been caught by the flames.
At that moment—
A silver flash burst from within the smoke.
Tabika's pupils shrank sharply as he looked up—
A sword thrust straight out of the dust toward him.
His hands flew into seals.
"Don't forget—we Uchiha can use Water Release too, brat!"
"Water Release—Water Formation Wall!"
A blue, chakra-infused curtain of water surged up in front of him.
Ran's blade struck the watery barrier with a clear clang, ripples spreading outward.
"That was close—just a bit more and I would've—"
Before Tabika could finish forming his next seal—
The Ran before him slowly faded away.
His blood ran cold.
The sword—
was already resting against his neck.