Chapter 11 — Uchiha Syoma's Ambition
Uchiha Fugaku frowned. With a few flickers of movement, his figure vanished from where he stood, effortlessly evading the coverage of the lightning net.
However, in the very next second, a ferocious line of fire blasted straight into his chest. Blazing flames instantly swallowed him whole!
When the smoke and dust finally dispersed—
Uchiha Mikoto was at last able to see what had happened. She stared at the scene before her in disbelief, her mouth hanging open in shock.
That young clansman had actually counter-killed Uchiha Fugaku! An eight-year-old boy had defeated a Special Jōnin of the clan!!
The Uchiha most adept at fire had been burned to death!!
Unlike Mikoto's astonishment, Uchiha Tendō remained vigilant, his eyes scanning the surroundings.
He knew very clearly that with his current strength, killing an Uchiha Special Jōnin was nothing short of a fantasy.
The Uchiha clan's reputation wasn't something inflated by empty boasts like certain other clans—it had been carved out with blades and blood.
"Come out, Fugaku. I know you're not dead."
As his words fell, a figure stepped out from the shadows.
Uchiha Fugaku's gaze was icy, his killing intent undisguised as he let out a cold laugh.
"Uchiha Tendō, you truly deserve to be called the genius of our younger generation. Whether it's talent or battle intelligence, you stand at the very top of Konoha. If nothing unexpected happens, you will certainly become a Kage-level powerhouse in the future."
His tone abruptly shifted.
"Unfortunately, you no longer have a future!"
A flash of crimson rapidly surfaced in Fugaku's eyes, and his aura surged explosively.
Three-Tomoe Sharingan!
Only now was he the true Uchiha Special Jōnin—someone capable of easily crushing ordinary Jōnin!
"Lament the fact that you don't possess the Three-Tomoe Sharingan!"
With a frenzied roar, Uchiha Fugaku charged straight at Uchiha Tendō.
At that very moment, a stern and imposing old man appeared instantly in front of Fugaku and kicked him squarely in the abdomen.
"Ugh—!"
Fugaku cried out in pain as his entire body was sent flying backward.
"Are you trying to turn your blade against your own clansmen?!"
The old man's eyes burned fiercely as he roared in anger.
Struggling to his feet, Uchiha Fugaku bowed respectfully.
"Please calm your anger, Grand Elder. I won't dare do it again."
Uchiha Setsuna shot him a vicious glare.
"Fugaku, you're exactly like your useless father—only bullying the weak and fearing the strong. Get out of my sight!"
After bowing once more, Fugaku hurriedly left this place of trouble.
Once he was gone, Uchiha Setsuna turned toward Uchiha Tendō with a genial smile.
"Child, you're Tendō, aren't you? What a clever boy. Come visit my home sometime."
After tossing out that line, he departed as well.
Watching his retreating figure, Uchiha Tendō shook his head helplessly.
No wonder the clan always said the Grand Elder was a short-tempered little old man. Now he finally understood.
"You're Uchiha Mikoto, right?"
"Ah? Yes, I'm Uchiha Mikoto. Why?"
"I helped you. Help me in return. How about it?"
"Sure. What do you need? As long as it's something I can do, I'll help."
---
Uchiha Clan Head Residence, Living Room.
"Bang—!"
An elderly man with a rigid face and a cold, sinister aura slammed the teacup in his hand heavily onto the table.
"Fugaku! You idiot—what were you trying to do?!"
The sudden roar made Uchiha Fugaku tremble. He quickly lowered his head.
"Father, Uchiha Tendō is far too monstrous. If we don't eliminate him while he's still in the cradle, he may become an obstacle for us in the future."
Uchiha Syoma shot him a vicious glare.
"I know full well that brat will become an obstacle sooner or later! Do you think I need you to tell me that?"
Perhaps realizing he had been too harsh on his son—born to him late in life—Uchiha Syoma softened his tone slightly.
"Fugaku, your thinking isn't wrong. But you should never have acted so rashly."
"Now look what's happened. Not only did you fail to deal with that little brat, you were caught red-handed by Uchiha Setsuna. That old bastard will definitely seize this opportunity at tonight's clan meeting to suppress us."
"I'm sorry, Father. I failed to think it through."
Seeing his son bow in apology, Uchiha Syoma nodded in satisfaction.
In his view, making mistakes wasn't frightening. What was frightening was refusing to correct them afterward.
"Very well. You may leave for now. I'll handle this matter personally."
"I understand, Father."
After responding, Uchiha Fugaku turned and left.
Once he was gone, a fierce glint flashed through Uchiha Syoma's eyes.
"This position can only belong to our branch of the family! Uchiha Setsuna—since you insist on helping that little brat, then you can go down and accompany that fool Uchiha Yama!"
It turned out that as far back as the Warring States Period, Uchiha Syoma and his father had long coveted the clan head's seat.
When news came that Uchiha Tajima and Senju Butsuma had perished together on the battlefield, the father and son had been overjoyed.
The opportunity they had been waiting for so patiently had finally arrived!
Yet reality struck them a heavy blow.
Uchiha Madara and Uchiha Izuna rose to prominence, overwhelming all the Uchiha experts of that era and seizing the position of clan head!
It was only after Uchiha Madara left the village that they managed, through certain underhanded schemes, to ascend to power.
By now, their branch of the family had long regarded the clan head's seat as their rightful inheritance. They had no intention whatsoever of selecting the next clan leader based on strength.