The Fear I Cannot Face

My cousin confidently challenged, determined to wash away the previous shame.

My uncle, his vanity through the roof, spread the news of the brothers' fight, drawing a crowd of clan members.

Watching Sosuke stretch, a clan member couldn't help but worry, "He's still so young, this match is too unfair."

"Fair? You expect enemies on the battlefield to show you bushido?"

"Hmph, don't argue semantics, he's not on the battlefield right now."

"Fairness is always an excuse for the weak."

"Interesting. Go find the clan leader with a blade right now, and I'll believe you."

"Heh, why would I do that? I'm not the protagonist today."

"You know you're not, so clench your backside and shut your trap. Stop spewing nonsense."

Before any movement on the field, the two people in the stands started fighting first.

The two spectators were not weak, and it was difficult to determine a winner in a short time. They stopped after a few exchanges, a tacit understanding reached.

Continuing to fight could easily ignite real anger and draw the clan's enforcement team, which would be terrible.

Others were happy to watch the show, but only his cheap uncle was sulking alone.

"Today is the day my son shows his prowess, why are you two bastards causing trouble?!"

Glancing at the kid quietly preparing for his calisthenics, Uchiha Takeshi couldn't hide his smugness.

In his eyes, his son, who was four years older, had no chance of losing. No matter what reputation the kid had, people would only praise his son madly after today.

Uchiha Takeshi was an extremely vain man. He would not allow his son to be trampled underfoot, especially by his bastard brother's child.

"If I knew this day would come, I would have killed you secretly long ago." The uncle's thoughts were utterly malicious. He kept his brother's child around to vent his past anger on him.

He never expected this brat to grow into something significant with just a moment's carelessness.

"Son, don't be too harsh. He's your cousin, after all," the uncle shouted to the field.

Hearing this, Uchiha Tetsuya turned and politely nodded to his father, "Don't worry, I'll try my best to go easy on him."

Despite his words, father and son had already decided to teach the young man a harsh lesson.

He wouldn't dare kill him, but breaking a few bones was no problem. He wanted to show the clan leader who the true genius was and completely crush his useless cousin.

Hypocritical thing. Sosuke showed no reaction, continuing his national elementary school broadcast calisthenics.

Only when his opponent's face began to show agitation did he suddenly stop, his crimson eyes meeting his cousin's gaze.

"Come on."

"Hmph, you ignorant fool." Uchiha Tetsuya charged forward rapidly, his speed completely beyond Sosuke's current ability.

There was no better way to compensate for the gap in physical capabilities for now.

With a few strides, he reached his cousin, Uchiha Tetsuya crouched slightly, his right leg shooting out like a sword towards his opponent's face.

"What a great leaping upper-level front kick!" the uncle exclaimed from the sidelines, acting as a temporary commentator.

This remark drew displeased glances from those around him.

I'm not an idiot, why are you explaining this to us?!

Unfortunately, the deep meaning in their eyes could not be conveyed to the excited man.

"Another move, a spinning back kick! Son, your taijutsu is getting stronger and stronger."

Facing Uchiha Tetsuya's powerful attacks, even with the Sharingan, he was forced to retreat continuously.

"3, 2, 1... almost there," Sosuke muttered the countdown in his heart, his blood-colored pupils fixed on the enemy.

"You still dare to lose focus?!" Uchiha Tetsuya seized the opportunity, delivering a powerful straight punch that broke through his opponent's guard, drawing a splash of blood on that delicate face.

"Hahaha!" Accompanied by bursts of wild laughter, Uchiha Tetsuya completely suppressed his opponent with his taijutsu, and the surrounding clan members erupted in warm applause.

It was as if with one more step, he would become the peerless genius valued by the clan leader.

"As long as I defeat him, everything I desire will be within reach."

However, his cousin on the other side seemed unkillable, standing firm no matter how he attacked.

Gradually, Uchiha Tetsuya became impatient, his movements becoming uncontrolled. By the time he came to his senses, a kunai had already pierced Sosuke's heart.

"You... actually... killed me..." Uchiha Sosuke was dead.

He died by his cousin's hand, and he would face the strictest sanctions from the enforcement team.

"No!!!"

Thinking of how everything would disappear, Uchiha Tetsuya clutched his head and looked at his father, whom he respected most.

Unexpectedly, his father was staring at him with cold eyes, the disappointment in them tearing his soul apart.

All along, he had wanted his father's approval, and he had made countless efforts for it.

His father's disappointed gaze was his deepest hidden fear.

"Ah!!!" Uchiha Tetsuya's emotions collapsed.

Seeing his son fall to the ground, Uchiha Takeshi immediately rushed over, afraid that the little brat would take the opportunity to strike ruthlessly.

After a brief check of his son's condition, his uncle breathed a sigh of relief and turned his head with a grim expression, saying, "I never expected that young Sosuke would be such a master of Genjutsu."

Hell Viewing Technique, a Genjutsu that can induce the fears deep within one's heart.

Regardless of one's willpower, everyone harbors a scene they fear the most in their heart.

This Genjutsu utilizes each person's fears, manifesting them in the illusionary world. The greater the fear in the target's heart, the stronger the impact of this technique.

Unable to face the fears in their heart, they are destined to fall into the trap he has set.

Hearing his uncle's insincere praise, Sosuke smiled and said, "As long as Uncle doesn't blame me for going too hard, I didn't know my cousin would be so fragile."

"Heh, very good, my Uchiha clan truly has heroes emerging in droves." Uchiha Takeshi left. Even with his thick skin, he couldn't stay any longer.

He had thought he would win easily, but instead, it only fueled that little brat's arrogance.

"You wait for me, I will absolutely not let this go easily."

As for the others present, they all looked at the boy with shocked eyes.

Genjutsu was not uncommon, and Hell Viewing Technique was not some particularly rare thing either.

It was just that a six-year-old boy using Genjutsu to instantly kill a ten-year-old Genin didn't seem that common.

In fact, they didn't know that Sosuke's spiritual power was not comparable to an ordinary Genin; it would be strange if he couldn't kill the other party in seconds.

"Next, perhaps I can appropriately shift my focus and incorporate Genjutsu training into my path to becoming stronger."

Humiliated by his defeat, Uchiha Tetsuya locked himself in his room for three whole days.

When his uncle forcefully broke down the door, the first thing he saw was the ominous red glow in his son's eyes.

"Son, you..."