Pride Cannot Be Bound by Time

Boom!

The Blood Flame slowly dissipated.

Fugaku appeared several meters away, kneeling on one knee and gasping for breath. He looked somewhat disheveled.

He stared at Kazuna, shock in his eyes.

Extensive combat experience!

Extremely active Chakra!

Powerful Crimson Flame!

Masterful hand seals and ninjutsu application!

Most terrifying of all were those eyes, which had completely seen through his movements!

Even among Elite Jonin, Kazuna's strength stood at the very top.

That unbroken chain of attacks had pressed him so hard that he could barely catch his breath.

"Clan Leader, are we continuing?"

Kazuna's airy voice rang out.

He stared at Fugaku with a lazy expression, yet his eyes were exceedingly cold. The blood-red Three Tomoe brought an astonishing pressure.

"I have to say, Kazuna, you have truly surprised me!" Fugaku steadied his breathing and said gravely, "You are an absolute genius, but... you are too dangerous!"

His gaze turned icy. "If the Uchiha Clan is placed in your hands, you will lead it to destruction."

Endless killing intent instantly surged into Kazuna's eyes.

"Fire Style: Great Fire Annihilation!"

Boom!!!

An even more powerful blaze surged toward Fugaku.

Kazuna made no effort whatsoever to conceal his killing intent.

"No..."

Seeing this, Kuroko Uchiha could not help crying out. Kazuna's Fire Style was simply too powerful—powerful enough to make his heart tremble.

Even the Clan Leader's Fire Style could not compare.

He instinctively moved to rush forward, only to be stopped by Uchiha Itachi.

"Itachi, what are you doing? That is your father!"

Kuroko was furious.

Itachi said calmly, "You are Father's subordinate. Have some faith in him. Of course, do not underestimate Brother Kazuna either."

His voice was very soft for that last sentence, and his expression was complicated.

He did not want the scene before him to happen, yet it was bound to happen. That was his helplessness.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!

At that moment, Fugaku's movements suddenly accelerated, and he narrowly dodged the Great Fire Annihilation.

Kazuna watched Fugaku coldly... His Chakra had become even more active, and he had predicted my attack.

"What is it, Kazuna? Did I hit a sore spot? Are you angry?"

Fugaku raised his head to face Kazuna, looking utterly calm. What was astonishing was that his eyes were closed.

"Heh heh!" Kazuna sneered. "I am angry indeed, but not because you hit a sore spot."

"Oh?"

"What angers me is that you are clearly the one destroying the Uchiha, yet you remain utterly unaware of it. If you were an ordinary clansman, that would be one thing. But you are the Clan Leader. Tell me, how dangerous is that?"

Kazuna took a deep breath. "To be honest, I have no interest in power whatsoever. If not for your stupidity, Fugaku Uchiha, why would I need to step forward?"

"Clan Leader of the Uchiha, look at what you have done!"

Kazuna pointed at the ground beneath his feet. "During the years you led the Uchiha, we were even forced to relocate our clan grounds. We could not even protect our own home!"

"Do not make excuses!"

Kazuna saw that Fugaku wanted to explain and cut him off without mercy. He said coldly, "How many years has the Uchiha Clan endured? How many dangers have we faced? From beginning to end, we have always been proud. Only the Uchiha under your leadership has been driven to such a state."

The surrounding Uchiha began breathing heavily, and Three Tomoe unconsciously surfaced in their eyes.

Being forced to relocate their clan grounds to a remote corner of the village was an immense humiliation to every Uchiha. Even the Uchiha of the Dove Faction were angered by it.

Their home!

They had lost their home!

Those people had watched them move away in humiliation with mocking eyes, then greedily seized the home that belonged to them!

The Uchiha had lost their own glory!

"I understand your anger, but we cannot lose our reason because of anger!" Fugaku said gravely. "The present is not the same as the past..."

Kazuna spread his arms and shouted, "The Uchiha have always been a proud clan! We are the strongest ninja clan! Being Konoha Ninja does not prevent us from taking pride in being Uchiha."

"Pride cannot be bound by time!"

He pointed at Fugaku and roared, "Only the weak make excuses for their failures!"

The Uchiha looked at Kazuna with burning eyes.

They agreed with his words from the bottom of their hearts.

Even Kuroko and the others could not help feeling stirred.

No matter whose side they stood on, they were all true Uchiha!

"You truly are dangerous!" After a brief silence, Fugaku said coldly, "You will lead the Uchiha into opposition against the entire village. Do you truly arrogantly believe that the Uchiha Clan alone can surpass the whole village?"

"Foolish!"

Kazuna rebuked him. "When did I ever say that the Uchiha would oppose the entire village? We have shed blood and made countless sacrifices for Konohagakure. We merely want to fight for the interests that belong to us."

"We have given so much. Not only are we not treated fairly, we are even suppressed!"

"Ridiculous!"

"On what grounds do Hiruzen Sarutobi and the others do this? Just because we are powerful?"

"Besides, is blindly seeking compromise useful? It has been so many years, Fugaku Uchiha. Have you still not awakened? Have our enemies ever shown us even the slightest goodwill, aside from becoming more and more excessive?"

"So..."

"Seek peace through struggle, and peace survives. Seek peace through compromise, and peace dies."

"Your compromise has failed. Then let me take over. We will reclaim our pride and glory!"

Kazuna clenched his fist and raised it high.

The Uchiha breathed heavily and unconsciously followed suit, clenching their fists and raising them high!

Fugaku's heart pounded with alarm.

In just a few words, Kazuna had stirred the clansmen's emotions to such an extent.

It seemed that as long as he gave the call, the clansmen would immediately follow him in charging toward the Hokage Building.

Dangerous!

Too dangerous!

Fugaku slowly clenched his fist and said coldly, "Kazuna, your ideas and your actions are too dangerous. The path ahead of you is covered in darkness. I will stop you!"

"Hahaha!" Kazuna burst out laughing. He stared at Fugaku with amusement. "Though you say you want to stop me, Clan Leader, you actually agree with me as well, do you not? After all, you are also a true Uchiha!"

The Uchiha all turned their eyes toward Fugaku.

"Indeed!" Under countless gazes, Fugaku could not lie. He admitted frankly, "Even I was moved by what you just said. If I were an ordinary Uchiha, I would follow you without hesitation. But I am the Clan Leader. I must consider the entire clan."

"Then stop wasting words!"

Kazuna flexed his fingers. "One of us falls. The one left standing will bear the hopes and glory of the clan!"

After a moment of silence, Fugaku nodded. "All right!"

The two men's auras rose once more.