Blocked Path

"Oh! Isn't this Big Brother Retsuyō?" Hane looked at the three youths emerging from beneath the tree, his expression frivolous.

"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 wouldn't happen to be here to regain your grandfather's honor, would you?" Hane rubbed 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 mere child like you?" A trace of disdain flashed through Uchiha Retsuyō's eyes.

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

Hane calmly looked at the furious Uchiha Liehuo.

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

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

The newcomer was an Uchiha genius mentioned in the same breath as Shisui Uchiha, the grandson of Huo Lie, leader of the Uchiha hardliners, and the son of Uchiha Liegang, the man who had competed with Fugaku for the clan leader position.

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

In the Ninja World, Uchiha who possessed the Three-Tomoe Sharingan had a fearsome reputation: "In a one-on-one fight, most ninjas would turn and flee. In a two-on-one fight, with attacks from both front and back, there was still a slight chance of victory."

Sensing that something was wrong with the atmosphere, Itachi instantly drew the short sword Shisui had given him. With 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 to Itachi's shoulder, stepped forward to shield him behind himself, then looked 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 big brother yet.

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.

Uchiha Retsuyō's eyes narrowed slightly, and his previously overflowing killing intent dissipated. "Pick a place." Uchiha Retsuyō deactivated 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 over the future Uchiha clan leader, only true strength could convince every clansman. This was a challenge Hane was destined to face.

Following Hane, the group soon arrived at 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 the silent expressions on their faces soon told her something was wrong.

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

Mikoto nodded silently and opened the gate.

When Uchiha Retsuyō entered, he gave Mikoto a slight bow. "Aunt Mikoto, excuse 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 so far as to touch upon each other."

"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. Those words had already pointed out the difference in age between Retsuyō and Hane.

Uchiha Retsuyō's expression darkened. "Please rest assured, Aunt Mikoto!" After saying that, Uchiha Retsuyō said nothing more and quickly followed Hane. In truth, he was deeply agitated as well. His father had lost, and he did not want to lose now.

Mikoto watched the group leave. Especially when she saw the adorable Izumi, a trace of affection flashed through 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 gathered her into her arms.

"But Auntie, I want to go watch Hane. I'm worried about him!" After speaking, Izumi shyly lowered her head, her face flushing 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 lovingly stroked Izumi's back.

"Is that really okay? Wouldn't it be too much trouble for 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 exceptionally adorable.

"If only Izumi were my daughter!" Looking at Izumi's rosy little face, Mikoto's heart softened completely. It was all because of this damned war. A perfectly good family had been torn apart, leaving only a young daughter alone at home.

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

At that moment, the training ground in the backyard was filled with a grim air. Uchiha Retsuyō, holding a katana, coldly watched the six-year-old Hane opposite him.

"Draw your weapon, Uchiha Hane! I won't show mercy!"

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

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

Uchiha Retsuyō was on the verge of breaking down as well. He was fourteen years old, a genius who could stand shoulder to shoulder with Shisui Uchiha, yet he was now challenging a clansman far younger than himself. The shame he felt was imaginable.

But he could not disobey his grandfather's words. If Uchiha Hane were given a few more years, his chances of defeating this youth would become extremely 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, has Big Brother Retsuyō already abandoned Uchiha pride? But none of that matters anymore! Today, I'll give Big Brother Retsuyō a perfect finale. Sword, come!"

A long sword with a crimson-red blade flew swiftly out from 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 blade's edge!"

With that, Hane pointed the Fire Sword straight at Uchiha Retsuyō, whose expression had turned dark as water.