Kazuna vs. Obito

Konoha had roughly over three hundred jonin. Even counting the jonin hidden away by the shinobi clans, there were definitely fewer than thirty Elite Jonin among them.

Most of them were heads of their respective shinobi clans, and many heads of smaller shinobi clans were not even Elite Jonin.

Although Elite Jonin and jonin belonged to the same rank, the gap in their strength was worlds apart. Given sufficient intelligence, an Elite Jonin could potentially kill a Kage Level opponent.

Within the Five Great Shinobi Villages, Elite Jonin held an exceptionally elevated status. Put simply, you never knew which Elite Jonin might actually be Kage Level.

"Enough."

Kazuna snapped at Shinya. "Do not be disrespectful to the Clan Leader."

"Yes!"

Shinya immediately reined in his aura and stood obediently to one side.

Fugaku looked over the ninjas present one by one before finally fixing his gaze on Kazuna.

"They're all Elite Jonin?"

"Yes!" Kazuna did not hide it. "These seven are all I have under my command."

"And you think that's too few?"

Fugaku smiled bitterly.

At that moment, he felt no anger at Shinya's offense. All he felt was joy.

Although Setsuna Uchiha and Sougi Uchiha had grown old and their strength had declined somewhat, they still possessed the strength of Elite Jonin.

There was no need to mention Fugaku Uchiha himself. Besides, Kuroko at his side was also close to that level.

Itachi, Shisui...

The Uchiha Clan actually had so many Elite Jonin?

Fugaku's breathing quickened. "Kazuna, well done!"

For a Clan Leader, nothing was more gratifying than seeing the clan flourish.

As for the clan not being under his leadership... he was currently the Clan Leader, and that was enough!

The clan was under his leadership!

What pleased him even more—and even chilled him somewhat—was that Kazuna had remained calm throughout.

That was far too rare. He held such enormous power in his hands, yet he never flaunted it.

A calm mind, formidable strength, and immense influence.

Those three points alone were enough for Kazuna to become Clan Leader.

How had he done it?

Though intensely curious, Fugaku did not ask.

What ninja did not have a few secrets?

Especially ill-tempered ninjas—they had the most secrets.

"The more Elite Jonin, the better." Kazuna smiled slightly. "As for the supplies spent this time, Clan Leader, don't worry. I have a way to obtain more supplies."

Fugaku glanced at the Elite Jonin present before nodding. "Fine. Then I won't say more. Continue taking responsibility for the clan's security. Leave everything outside to you."

The division of power within the Uchiha was gradually becoming clear.

Kazuna was responsible for external affairs and controlled the Konoha Military Police Force.

Fugaku was responsible for internal affairs and controlled the Uchiha Clan's Patrol Squad, hidden sentries, and barriers.

Setsuna and Sougi assisted Fugaku, while also serving to keep him in check.

This division of power had already doomed Fugaku to be replaced by Kazuna as the Uchiha Clan Leader in the near future.

If Fugaku wished to preserve his last shred of dignity, then he needed to obediently cooperate with Kazuna and complete the transition.

Uchiha Shinya snorted. "At least he knows what's good for him."

Kazuna shot him a glare. "Don't get cocky. If you really fought, even two of you couldn't beat him."

Uchiha Shinya was surprised. "He's that strong?"

"Obviously!" Kazuna said irritably. "Even without using that forbidden power, he already has Kage Level strength. If he uses Susanoo without holding anything back, even Hiruzen Sarutobi would probably be chased around by him, leaping and scrambling like a real monkey!"

The others' expressions changed slightly.

Ever since their strength had steadily risen with Kazuna's help, they had indeed begun to look down on Fugaku.

Or rather, there were few people left in Konoha whom they considered worthy of taking seriously.

That was just the Uchiha way.

In Kazuna's words, they needed to be knocked down a peg from time to time.

Of course!

Elite Jonin—especially Elite Jonin of the Uchiha Clan—were weighty figures no matter where they went.

The reason Shiken and the others had misunderstood Fugaku's strength had to do with Kazuna.

They had witnessed Fugaku and Kazuna's battle and felt that Fugaku was not particularly strong. If they had taken his place, they believed they would have done no worse.

Kazuna said seriously, "Neither the Clan Leader nor I fought seriously in our last battle."

"Since we were both shinobi renowned throughout the Shinobi World—Fierce Eyes and Blood Flame—after probing each other's strength, we would have had to reveal one or two trump cards to avoid getting drawn into a prolonged fight. That meant the Mangekyo!"

"If both sides had Mangekyo, there was even less reason to fight. We were both Uchiha, not facing Hiruzen Sarutobi and the others."

Uchiha Shiken said with a smile, "Of course, there was one more important reason: Fugaku knew he couldn't defeat the Minister."

Kazuna did not bother being modest. "That's also true, but..."

His eyes narrowed slightly.

Just as Fugaku did not know the abilities of his Mangekyo, he did not know Fugaku's Mangekyo abilities either.

Among the well-known Mangekyo abilities in the shinobi world, Fugaku's was the only question mark.

Was it genjutsu, or space-time ninjutsu?

Or something else?

Kazuna covered his eyes. "No matter what it is, it will have to bow before my ability!"

After quickly packing a few things, Kazuna prepared to leave the village.

At the village gate, Yashiro stopped him again. "Shikaku Nara wishes to see you."

"Not seeing him!" Kazuna refused without a second thought. "Just tell him I've already left. We'll talk after I return."

I'm already at the village gate, and now he wants to see me?

What for?

Does he want everyone in the village to see that the Uchiha are connected to him?

"Yes!"

Yashiro used Body Flicker and departed.

Just as Kazuna was about to leave the village, another person appeared.

Danzo!

Leaning on his cane, he stared at Kazuna with cold, gloomy eyes.

Even the air seemed to be filled with a chilling aura.

Kazuna narrowed his eyes and said with a chuckle, "Oh, isn't this Danzo? I heard you haven't been having a very pleasant time lately?"

"You bastard!"

The Root member at Danzo's side flew into a rage and shouted, "How dare you disrespect Danzo-sama?!"

"Danzo-sama?" Kazuna rubbed his chin. "As I recall, Hokage-sama has already stripped Danzo of all his positions. Where does this '-sama' come from? At the very least, before me, the Minister of the Konoha Military Police Force, does he deserve to be called '-sama'? Young man Danzo, what do you think?"

"You..."

"Enough, Shin, step back!"

Danzo's hoarse voice rang out.

He looked at Kazuna and sneered. "You have some nerve, leaving the village at a time like this."

Kazuna chuckled. "My nerve is greater than you imagine. If you want to do something, you'd better hurry! Young man Danzo! You won't fail to seize this opportunity again, will you? Will the Third Hokage seize it?"

With that, he turned and left.

Watching his retreating back, Danzo's eyes were filled with icy coldness, and his body trembled slightly.

Kazuna's words had stabbed straight into his heart!

It was something he had never wished to recall for his entire life.

Only after Kazuna had vanished did Danzo say in a low voice, "Proceed according to plan!"

"Yes!" The Root member glared resentfully at Kazuna's back and nodded heavily.

As Kazuna continued onward, a strange smile appeared at the corner of his lips. "Danzo, Danzo... don't disappoint me."

Both sides had already laid their cards on the table. They would simply clash head-on.

Just then, a hand suddenly stretched out from the void, slowly reaching toward Kazuna's back.

Kazuna seemed not to notice and continued forward.

Slap!

The hand touched Kazuna's back.

Got him!

The owner of the hand rejoiced inwardly, but the next moment, a dangerous aura rushed toward him.

Boom!

A massive explosion swept through the area.

"Uchiha Kazuna!"

A roar rang out as Obito stumbled out of the explosion, the Three Tomoe spinning in his eyes.