A New Leader Takes Office

"Today, a new squad captain is coming. I wonder which clansman it is?" An Uchiha sitting on the ground said lazily. Another Uchiha leaning against a tree said, "A few of us know him. We even played together as children."

"My mother said he's Aunt Lan's son—the one who graduated early, Uchiha Yo," said a boy leaning on his ninja sword.

"Oh, so it's him, that strongest genin?" "Wasn't he the youngest genin?" "Is our squad really that bad, letting a genin be captain?" "I heard he pulled strings. He gave the clan head—his uncle—a ninjutsu." "I heard about that from my clan uncle. He used the ninjutsu his grandfather gave him to make deals everywhere..." Five or six people chattered at once.

More and more people arrived, and it was nearly time to assemble when three figures approached from afar. They were the only team from the former Fourth Unit: Uchiha Yo, Uchiha En, and Uchiha Retsu.

Everyone was very familiar with the latter two. Not only were the two squads' patrol zones adjacent, but their captains were always together, and the two teams had always enjoyed the best relationship.

The one walking in front needed no introduction. Those who had received the news beforehand already knew who he was. Uchiha Yo made a hand gesture, and his two old teammates immediately understood, calling their respective members into formation.

The members of the four vacant teams vaguely took the four people standing at the front as their leaders. Uchiha Yo chuckled. "My name is Uchiha Yo. I've just returned from training outside. Many of you have heard that I traded a ninjutsu for this chunin rank and squad captain position. They're right. I benefited from my grandfather's favor."

As soon as he said that, some of the members across from him showed disdain, while others even revealed angry expressions. The Uchiha who had been leaning on his sword with one hand actually laughed aloud.

"Your reactions are perfectly normal. If I were you, I'd want to challenge me right now too. That's what the Uchiha Clan is like, so I won't waste words." Uchiha Yo raised one finger, then said, "Any one of you—including the brothers from the two teams behind me. That's right, as long as a single person can defeat me, my position is yours. You don't need to worry about anything else. If you win, my position is yours." As he spoke, he took a scroll from behind his back.

"This is the letter of appointment. The captain's name on it is blank. Whoever wins writes their name!" He handed the scroll to Uchiha Retsu, then continued, "The scroll is with Captain Retsu. Heh, what do you think? We're Uchiha, the strongest clan. If the strongest person can't be captain, then what kind of strongest clan are we? Come on, let's begin!"

Uchiha Yo walked into the center of the field, stood still, and closed his eyes. He waited quietly for challengers. He had no time to slowly build rapport with them. Beating everyone into submission in one go—that was the Uchiha way, the fiery spirit young people wanted.

A team captain stepped forward and stood opposite Uchiha Yo. "My name is Uchiha Cha. I'd heard of you before. You're strong, but that was only what I heard. You've never served in this unit, and you haven't even been in Konoha for the past few years. Yet you come back and ride right over us—no one would be happy about that. But with what you're doing now, whether you win or lose, I think you're a good man. A true Uchiha. You haven't disgraced the name. Let's begin." Uchiha Yo and he formed the Seal of Confrontation together.

Uchiha Cha rapidly closed in on Uchiha Yo. "Fire Style: Phoenix Flower Claw Red!" "Earth Style: Earth-Style Wall!" "Fire Style: Dragon Flame Technique!" Uchiha Yo immediately responded.

Uchiha Cha quickly reacted as well. "Earth Style: Earth-Style Wall!" Then, just as he was about to follow up with the Shuriken Manipulation Technique, he heard from behind him, "Earth Style: Double Suicide Decapitation Technique!"

Uchiha En stepped forward. "This round goes to Uchiha Yo." Uchiha Cha was pulled from the earth by members of his own team. He gave Uchiha Yo a bow, then led his team to stand behind him. Though they kept some distance, his attitude had already made his acceptance clear.

Soon, another Uchiha carrying a ninja sword stepped forward. "My name is Uchiha Hualuo. My friends call me Big Hua. Let's make this clear first—no running home to your parents if you lose, all right? Don't let Aunt Lan come looking for my mother." He formed the Seal of Confrontation.

Uchiha Hualuo first threw out three shuriken, which flew toward Uchiha Yo in a triangular formation. Then he drew his sword. "Uchiha-style Swordsmanship: Sword-Leaping Flame!" "Uchiha-style Swordsmanship: Flash-Strike Continuous Slash!"

Just as he was about to unleash Flash-Strike Continuous Slash, Uchiha Yo drew his blade. "Sword-Drawing Technique: Sky-Cleaving!" "One-Sword Style: Godspeed!" First, he knocked away the shuriken, then interrupted Uchiha Hualuo's sword technique. He closed in at high speed with Godspeed, slashed with his fast sword, and stopped the tip before his opponent's eyes.

The wind from the blade lifted Uchiha Hualuo's hair. The victor had been decided. "Just as my mother said, your grandfather trained you well. Other than jonin from those sword-cultivating ninja clans, no one your age can match you in swordsmanship." He took a step back and sheathed his sword, then walked before Uchiha Yo. "Our mothers are good friends. I hope we can become good brothers too. I'll keep challenging you."

Uchiha Yo smiled and nodded. "Then come by my house often. Training with a sword alone is nowhere near as interesting as sparring with someone. Techniques are dead. If you only practice techniques, it's easy for someone to interrupt you when you make a move."

Uchiha Hualuo muttered, "No wonder. I always felt like something was missing." He grinned. "Then I'll be imposing on you, Yo." With that, he headed toward where Uchiha Cha was standing, greeting him along the way.

Then a heavily built man stepped forward. "I'm Uchiha Xingye. I'm not like those two. The Uchiha Clan's true specialty isn't swordsmanship. Let me show you. The children's games can end now." He formed the Seal of Confrontation.

He abruptly opened his eyes, revealing a two-tomoe Sharingan. "Shadow Clone Technique!" Three figures attacked Uchiha Yo while throwing shuriken.

Uchiha Yo lowered his head with a smile. Sharingan? Heh, genjutsu? Then he suddenly leaped backward. "One-Sword Style: Swallow Return!" The two shadow clones charging forward vanished, while the real body turned into a shuriken with a puff. One of the shuriken knocked down by Swallow Return transformed into the Uchiha Xingye from before.

Uchiha Yo said, "You used the Transformation Technique before stepping onto the field, then used genjutsu to create the illusions of two clones. Not bad. That's a pretty good idea."

Uchiha Yo looked at the clansmen opposite him, some of whom were still hesitating. "Does anyone else want to give it a try?" Seeing no one move, he thought, That should be enough. Time to bring out the trump card.

Then he said, "From now on, I'll challenge two people at once. If I win, then three, until there isn't a single person left on the other side!"