Blocking the Way

"Oh! Isn't this Big Brother Retsuyō?" Hane looked at the three youths emerging from beneath the trees, his face full of frivolity.

"Uchiha Hane, you should know what I came here for today, right?" The brown-haired youth holding a katana stepped forward and spoke with a resolute expression.

"Let me guess. Big Brother Retsuyō, you wouldn't happen to be here to avenge your grandfather, would you?" Hane stroked his chin and looked calmly at Uchiha Retsuyō.

"Hmph! If my grandfather hadn't underestimated you at the clan meeting, how could he have lost to a brat like you?" A trace of disdain flashed through Uchiha Retsuyō's eyes.

"Heh, underestimated me? On the battlefield, Big Brother Retsuyō, enemies won't give you the chance to underestimate them. If that's all you came to say, then move aside. My friend and I still need to go home for dinner!"

Hane calmly looked at the furious Uchiha Liehuo.

"Uchiha Hane, I heard you were named the young clan leader at the clan meeting, but I absolutely refuse to accept that. If you still have any courage, exchange a few moves with me. If you win, I'll acknowledge you as the young clan leader and follow your lead from then on!"

As his words fell, a pair of scarlet Three-Tomoe Sharingan slowly began to turn in the youth's eyes.

The newcomer was an Uchiha genius spoken of in the same breath as Shisui Uchiha. He was the grandson of Huo Lie, leader of the Uchiha Hardline Faction, and the son of Uchiha Liegang, the man competing with Fugaku for the position of clan leader.

Killing intent filled Uchiha Retsuyō's eyes. His cold ocular power fixed on Hane, making even the surrounding air seem to grow colder.

In the Ninja World, Uchiha with Three-Tomoe Sharingan had a terrifying reputation: "In a one-on-one fight, most ninjas turned and fled. In a one-on-two fight, with enemies attacking from both front and back, there was still a sliver of hope for victory."

Sensing that something was wrong with the atmosphere, Itachi instantly drew the short sword Shisui had given him. In a flash, he stood in front of Hane, his eyes narrowing slightly...

"Itachi, come back. This is your big brother's battle." Hane gently pressed a hand on Itachi's shoulder, stepped forward to shield him behind himself, and glanced back at him.

He signaled for him not to expose his Sharingan.

Itachi pursed his lips and silently sheathed his short sword. Though he felt somewhat unwilling, he did not want to defy his older brother now.

He tugged on Hane's sleeve, signaling that he understood.

"Big Brother Retsuyō, are you sure you want to duel me here?" Hane meaningfully glanced at the crowd that had stopped nearby to watch the show.

Uchiha Retsuyō's eyes narrowed slightly, and the killing intent around him dissipated. "Pick a place." He withdrew his Sharingan and spoke casually.

"Then let's go to my family's training ground." Hane's expression remained calm as he headed toward his home's training ground.

Hane did not make an issue of their ages. In the coming struggle for the Uchiha clan leadership, only displaying real strength would convince all the clansmen. This was a challenge Hane was bound to face.

The group soon followed Hane to his home. When Mikoto opened the door, she saw four or five people behind Hane. At first, she thought they were Hane's friends, but when she saw their silent expressions, she sensed something was wrong.

"Mother, they're all my friends. They came over today because they wanted to train together." Hane gave Mikoto a broad smile and explained.

Mikoto silently nodded and opened the gate.

As Uchiha Retsuyō entered, he gave Mikoto a slight bow. "Aunt Mikoto, pardon the intrusion."

Mikoto smiled faintly. "Retsuyō, I hope you and Hane get along well."

Uchiha Retsuyō glanced at Mikoto. "Don't worry, Aunt Mikoto. We'll only go as far as necessary."

"Then I'll have to trouble you, Retsuyō, to look after our Hane." Though Mikoto spent her days at home as a housewife, that did not mean she understood nothing. These words had already pointed out the issue of the age gap between Retsuyō and Hane.

Uchiha Retsuyō's expression darkened. "Please rest assured, Aunt Mikoto." With that, he said no more and quickly followed Hane. In truth, he was also feeling agitated, but his father had lost, and now he did not want to lose.

Mikoto watched the group leave, and when she saw the adorable Izumi in particular, a trace of affection flashed in her eyes.

"Izumi, stay with Auntie. What's so interesting about men fighting?" Mikoto pulled Izumi, who had been trailing behind the others, over and gently scooped her into her arms.

"But Auntie, I want to go see Hane. I'm worried about him!" After saying that, Izumi lowered her head in embarrassment, her face flushed red.

Mikoto was filled with motherly affection. "Izumi, were you alone at home again today?"

Izumi nodded her little head.

"Then stay at Auntie's house today. Auntie will make you something delicious." Mikoto sympathetically stroked Izumi's back.

"Is that really okay? Won't it be too much trouble for you, Auntie?" Izumi replied softly.

"Hehe, are you afraid Auntie can't afford to feed that little mouth of yours?"

"N-No, thank you, Auntie!" Izumi's little face was as red as an apple, making her look utterly adorable.

"If only Izumi were my daughter!" Looking at the rosy-cheeked Izumi, Mikoto's heart softened completely. It was all because of this damned war—an entire family torn apart, leaving only a young daughter alone at home.

Mikoto silently thought, Izumi's parents have been on the front lines for more than half a year already. I hope they return safely!

Meanwhile, the training ground in the backyard was filled with a grim, murderous atmosphere. Uchiha Retsuyō, holding a katana, coldly stared at six-year-old Hane across from him.

"Take out your weapon, Uchiha Hane. I won't hold back!"

"Oh? Big Brother Retsuyō, are you planning to compete with me in swordsmanship?" Hane had already poured all his Divine Sense into the Wind Sword Clone. Against this person who had suddenly provoked him, he intended to crush him today in the field he excelled at most.

"Hmph, none of that matters. What matters is winning!"

Uchiha Retsuyō felt utterly miserable. He was fourteen years old, a genius capable of standing shoulder to shoulder with someone like Shisui Uchiha, yet he was challenging a clansman far younger than himself. The shame he felt was obvious.

But he could not disobey his grandfather's orders. If Uchiha Hane were given a few more years, his chance of defeating this youth would become exceedingly slim.

His grandfather's regard and his father's expectations were the reasons he had shamelessly come here today to issue this challenge.

"To win, Big Brother Retsuyō has already abandoned Uchiha pride, hasn't he? But none of that matters anymore. Today, I'll give Big Brother Retsuyō a perfect ending. Sword, come!"

A long sword with a crimson-red blade flew swiftly out of Hane's room and lightly landed in his hand.

"Perfect. It's been a long time since I last fought an enemy with a sword. Uchiha Retsuyō, today, I'll use you to test this sword's edge!"

With that, Hane raised the Fire Sword and pointed it straight at Uchiha Retsuyō, whose face had turned as dark as water.