Battle Against Uchiha Hikaru

A day of rest later, Sen first went to Mikoto's residence. Learning she hadn't returned from her mission yet, he headed to Uchiha Setsuna's small courtyard with a hint of disappointment.

Upon arriving at the courtyard, the guard Uchiha Hikaru smiled and led Sen inside.

In the courtyard, Uchiha Setsuna sat in a wheelchair, sipping tea and handling clan documents.

Seeing Sen, he stopped his work and showed a relieved smile:

"You're back? I heard you made quite a name for yourself on the battlefield. Well done, you didn't shame the clan."

Sen nodded, his gaze falling on the wheelchair.

"Great Elder, your legs..."

"I'm old and useless now." Uchiha Setsuna casually patted the table, gesturing for Sen to sit. "As long as you juniors can make a name for yourselves, that's all that matters! Come, tell this old man about your time on the battlefield."

Sen sat down and briefly recounted the fierce battle on Lookout Island, from being ambushed, to him covering the retreat and counter-killing, and finally luring the enemy and setting an ambush to annihilate them.

"Excellent! A plan within a plan!" Uchiha Setsuna exclaimed, clapping his hands in praise. "You rascal, you've got my old spirit, fearless!"

He accepted Samehada from Sen, his rough palm slowly stroking the blade, as if personally experiencing the rugged and thrilling battle through the sword.

"You flatter me, Great Elder."

Uchiha Setsuna's tone shifted, a knowing smile flashing in his eyes. "Alright, just say what you need to say. We're both the same kind of person; we don't act without reason. Coming to me so early in the morning, you must have something on your mind."

Sen chuckled and no longer concealed his intentions. "I heard we have two types of summoning techniques in the Uchiha Clan: one is cats, and the other is crows. What I want to learn is the crows."

"You little brat, you have big ambitions." Uchiha Setsuna shook his head and returned Samehada to Sen. "Summoning cats is standard issue for the Security Force; if you want to learn it, it's no big deal. But crows greatly enhance the user's Illusion Technique and Substitution Technique. Since ancient times, only the strongest generation of the clan has had the qualification to learn them. It can even be said to be a prerequisite for becoming the clan head."

He looked at Sen, his gaze sharpening. "Think carefully. Once you sign this contract, it's equivalent to openly declaring war on Uchiha Sōgaku and his son. At that point, you'll be part of my lineage, Shimura Danzō's line. Aren't you afraid that once this old bone of mine is gone, Uchiha Sōgaku will seek retribution?"

Uchiha Setsuna's words carried a hint of amusement and a chilling warning. The struggle for clan leadership, like the struggle for succession, could only be resolved with decisive action, or it would lead to eternal damnation.

Sen fell into thought upon hearing this. His original goal was to eliminate Shimura Danzō and Sarutobi Hiruzen, and incidentally deal with Uchiha Fugaku, the weakling of the future. Now, it seemed, snatching the position of clan head wouldn't be a bad idea either – killing two birds with one stone.

Seeing Sen deep in thought, Uchiha Setsuna picked up his teacup and said slowly, "You don't need to give me an answer right away. This path is not easy."

"I'm the kind of person who fears nothing, especially not a difficult path." Sen looked up, his eyes flashing with an unprecedented light. "Great Elder, I want to learn now!"

Even Uchiha Hikaru, standing nearby, was taken aback. Was this guy not afraid of death?

"No!" Uchiha Hikaru's face changed drastically, and he immediately objected. "Great Elder! This is too dangerous! Once the clan head finds out, he will definitely retaliate! Sen is only eleven years old, how can he possibly protect himself?!"

Uchiha Setsuna didn't respond, merely looking at Sen calmly. He was waiting, waiting for Sen to prove himself.

"In that case," Sen turned to Uchiha Hikaru and calmly proposed, "I ask Senior Hikaru to spar with me. If I am fortunate enough to win, will that prove I have the ability to protect myself?"

The Uchiha Clan has always respected strength. As long as one can shut everyone up with their fists, no one will dare to say another word.

Uchiha Hikaru's expression darkened, and he glared unhappily at this arrogant young man. "Uchiha Sen! Half a year ago, you couldn't even gain an advantage against me for a single move! Don't think you're invincible just because you defeated a few Jonin from Kirigakure! Our Uchiha Jonin are not the same as them..."

As he was speaking, he saw Sen had already formed the hand seal for confrontation. After being strengthened by the system during this time, he wanted to know if he could truly fight against a Jonin. Or rather, to see if he, a Chunin, could challenge a Jonin.

"It seems you won't understand the immensity of heaven and earth unless I teach you a lesson!"

The two immediately moved to the open space in the courtyard. As Uchiha Setsuna uttered a soft "Begin," two pairs of crimson Sharingan began to spin rapidly!

"Boom!"

A powerful surge of Chakra erupted from Uchiha Hikaru! And his Sharingan seemed to hide countless Illusion Techniques, waiting for Sen.

"Sen, the gap between us is evident just from these eyes!" Uchiha Hikaru's Three Tomoe Sharingan spun rapidly, unleashing its powerful dōjutsu!

Sen felt the scenery before him distort. Uchiha Setsuna's voice inexplicably came from behind him: "Sen, forget it. Try again in a couple of years. The gap between you is too great."

Sen was filled with confusion. Why didn't Senior Setsuna stop him earlier, and now, right as the fight began, he was trying to stop him? No! This is an Illusion Technique! Sen's heart tightened, and he immediately bit his tongue. The sharp pain instantly freed him from the genjutsu!

Uchiha Hikaru, seeing his Illusion Technique broken, was startled at first, then decisively formed hand seals with lightning speed!

"Fire Style: Majestic Fire Annihilation!"

A raging sea of fire, enough to engulf the entire small courtyard, surged towards Sen!

Seeing his opponent was getting serious, Sen didn't dare to be careless. He drew Samehada and swung it fiercely!

The great sword, like a giant whale drinking water, actually swallowed the sea of fire completely.

Without time to heed Samehada's grumbling body, and watching Uchiha Hikaru charge towards him, Sen puffed out his cheeks.

"Water Style: Hidden Mist Jutsu!"

As the dense mist spread, Uchiha Hikaru frowned. The mist was filled with Chakra, and he couldn't see his opponent's figure for a moment.

No, I must blow away the mist first, otherwise I'll be too passive!

"Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!"

Uchiha Hikaru frowned, trying to use flames to disperse the thick fog. From a distance, another voice came:

"Water Style: Water Dragon Bullet Jutsu!"

One fire, one water, they collided with a roar! Water overcomes fire, and for a moment, steam rose from the ground, making the mist even thicker!

"Interesting."

Uchiha Hikaru created a Shadow Clone. Then, the main body and the clone simultaneously threw several shuriken attached with steel wires, scanning the entire area like radar.

Suddenly, one of the wires snapped with a "snap."

That's the spot!

The Shadow Clone exerted force under its feet and instantly rushed to where the wire had broken. Seeing Sen preparing to retreat, he immediately thrust a kunai fiercely!

"Clang!"

The kunai collided with Samehada, sparking dazzlingly.

"Your great sword is too slow!" Uchiha Hikaru, dual-wielding kunai, launched dozens of consecutive fierce attacks on Sen like a storm!

Sen could only desperately block with the massive blade of Samehada.

"With your current body, you can't match the speed of short swords when wielding such a great sword!" Uchiha Hikaru simultaneously stabbed his two kunai towards Sen's face.

After barely blocking, Sen laughed instead of retreating: "Senior, don't you feel that every time Samehada brushes against you, your body becomes weaker?"