Fifty-Meter Approach

The approach leads straight to the main hall of the shrine.

Nine elders gathered on the steps in front of the main hall.

These living relics, which have survived from the Warring States period, were so angry that they seemed to want to devour Katsuki alive.

"Oh my, those eyes are really scary!"

Katsuki kicked the guard away, sending him flying. The crisp sound of bones cracking echoed around. He had three broken ribs and would never be able to get up again to cause trouble for him.

When dealing with those who dared to bare their teeth at him, he would only make sure not to kill them, while breaking a few bones was of no concern to him.

Her steps weren't fast, but rather leisurely, like a stroll after a meal. With a relaxed smile on her face, Katsuki walked step by step along the approach to the main hall of the shrine. If it weren't for the surrounding noise of shouting and fighting, it would have looked like she was going to worship.

"Uzumaki Clan Head, the Naka Shrine is a sacred site for the Uchiha Clan's worship. You... you... your actions today have severely provoked the dignity of the Uchiha. If you continue to be so obstinate, we will fight you to the death!!"

The oldest elder roared furiously, yet beneath his fierce aura lay a sense of bravado masking weakness.

There were very few Uchiha clansmen left blocking the path to the temple.

Chunin could defeat Katsuki with a single punch or kick, while Jonin was easily defeated with just a few punches and kicks. Neither Ninjutsu nor Taijutsu attacks had any effect; they were all defeated by Katsuki. The only thing that bothered him was Genjutsu attacks.

The Sharingan's Genjutsu is indeed a troublesome thing, especially the Sharingan at the Mitsudomoe level; its ocular power is so strong that even he was momentarily disoriented...

The fox's mind trick!

Another Jonin arrived, his Sharingan with Mitsudomoe, the black Tomoe spinning rapidly, his blood-red eyes practically drawing one's soul in.

"Oh dear! Another Genjutsu? How troublesome."

The scene before Katsuki's eyes became strange and distorted, and the scenery of the shrine was replaced by unknown and bizarre objects.

A red sky, black mountains. Standing at the crossroads of endless paths, more than a dozen trails wind through the mountains in all directions, branching out into countless more paths in the distance, like a maze with no exit in sight. My will gradually becomes blurred, and I subconsciously want to lift my foot and choose a path to follow, only to fall into this endless maze.

"Roar!!!"

An invisible roar suddenly erupted from the depths of his heart, instantly crushing the bizarre scene before him into dust.

"There are still some advantages! Tailed Beast, after all."

Looking at the scenery before him, now back to normal, Katsuki rubbed his stomach and grinned. At least it was easier to resist Genjutsu now. Although it wasn't difficult for him to withstand this level of Genjutsu attack with his willpower, it still took some effort. Genjutsu of the Uchiha Clan was completely different from that of other clans.

"Lie down!"

Before the words were even finished, Katsuki's figure vanished like a ghost and reappeared in Jonin the Uchiha Clan. His right fist slammed heavily into the man's abdomen. The poor Uchiha Clan Jonin even utter a word, he was sent flying by Katsuki's punch, landing on a pine tree and vomiting profusely.

Meanwhile, Katsuki had already returned to the path and was about to take a step forward when a belated voice came from behind.

"Wow!! Katsuki, you're really disrespectful! This is a shrine we visit during the New Year, and you've made such a mess of it. Where am I supposed to draw a fortune slip during the New Year?"

"Seriously? It's so cold during the New Year, why go out to worship? It's so much more comfortable to lie in a warm kotatsu."

"Don't assume everyone is as lazy as you."

Otoha sniffed, looking at the mess around her with a helpless expression.

The elders have been staying in their clans for too long and haven't left the village. They're completely out of touch with the times and still believe that Konoha is still dominated by the Third Hokage and White Fang. Well, it's true that very few people would dare to say they could easily defeat either the Third Hokage or White Fang.

However, Katsuki is definitely not one of them. Having killed two Kage, he is undoubtedly the strongest in Konoha, according to his eyesight.

However, the elders... firmly refused to negotiate and even planned to expel Katsuki and Kushina from the Uchiha Clan's territory.

"They're really senile, and a whole bunch of them are senile."

Otoha muttered to himself, scratching his head in exasperation.

Although he boasted to his father that he would take care of this matter, he... had absolutely no idea what to do!

"Uchiha Otoha, what are you standing there for? Get this arrogant attacker out of here right now!!"

The elders also noticed Otoha and immediately shouted reprimands and issued orders.

"Damn it! They're ordering me around again, these old bastards..."

Cursing inwardly, his face extremely grim, Otoha glanced at Katsuki, who was walking resolutely towards the main hall of the shrine, hesitated for a long time, and then did not move.

"You... you... you, Uchiha Otoha, what are you doing? Are you going to disobey the Elders' orders?"

Seeing that Otoha didn't move, the elders were furious. The shrine was already in ruins, and now even the young brats in the family were disobeying orders.

Now that things have come to this, watching one Jonin another being easily defeated by Katsuki, these elderly men and women are already filled with regret.

Although they knew of Katsuki's impressive record, having defeated the One-Tail Jinchuriki, the Third Mizukage, and the Third Tsuchikage, they were unwilling to believe that such a young brat could be so strong, capable of rivaling the First Hokage and their ancestor Madara Uchiha. They preferred to believe it was just good luck.

Reality forced them to confront the ever-approaching power of Katsuki, but their pride prevented them from admitting defeat. Moreover, admitting defeat would mean they could no longer uphold the clan rules they had upheld.

"Why hasn't Fugaku come over yet? It's come to this point, what is he, the clan head, doing?"

"Damn it, where is Uchiha Maki? Wasn't he home today? What's the meaning of sending only his completely disobedient son?"

The elders were furious, but instead of targeting Katsuki, they unleashed a torrent of abuse at other individuals.

"Hey, old men, stop your nagging. You're all so old, why aren't you staying home and enjoying your retirement? What are you doing all this time, jumping around and causing trouble? If you promise to stop interfering in my and Otome's affairs, I won't bother with you anymore. How about it? Think about it. I'll give you five... no, three minutes."

Even the longest path eventually comes to an end. Standing at the bottom of the steps, Katsuki stopped, giving the old men on the steps one last chance out of consideration for Otome. (To be continued)