Deadly Duel

Instinct told him that Uchiha Fugaku was about to make his move.

"Is that so, Elder Setsuna? Then may I ask why the families of those clan members who died in battle have not received the pensions issued by either the village or the clan?"

Uchiha Setsuna's words caught in his throat.

How could he possibly know that some clan members had not received their pensions?

The clan's financial authority was currently handled by the other elders!

And since this involved pension funds, the matter was likely extremely sensitive.

Already, quite a few emotional Uchiha were shouting that the scum responsible had to be severely punished.

He could not possibly step forward to protect that person.

Besides, he himself was furious over such a thing.

It was true that he had tried to seize the clan head's authority and reduce the clan head to a figurehead, but he was also a typical Uchiha.

Arrogant, unruly, fanatically devoted to strength, and immensely proud of his Uchiha bloodline.

To him, a clan member who betrayed their own would have sullied the Uchiha's noble honor. He would have loved nothing more than to personally purge the traitor.

"This old man... does not know either. But if someone truly did something so shameful to the Uchiha, this old man will tear them to pieces!"

As he said this, Uchiha Setsuna opened his Three-Tomoe Sharingan as well, making his stance clear.

"Elder Setsuna is advanced in years. Why should you act personally? After all, that person is also one of our Uchiha's powerful Jonin. It would be bad if you were injured. Let this disappointing junior handle it instead. As clan head, it is only right that I deal with such matters!"

"Don't you agree... Elder Qing?"

Uchiha Fugaku silently shifted his gaze toward an old man seated at the end of the first row.

That movement drew everyone's eyes to Uchiha Qing. More and more Uchiha even opened their Sharingan and stared at him with scrutinizing gazes.

With so many red eyes fixed on him, anyone would have felt uncomfortable.

"Fugaku, are you suspecting this old man...?"

"Uchiha Senji, Uchiha Rinna, Uchiha Kan, Uchiha Homura, Uchiha Toshiki..."

Fugaku recited a string of names.

"Elder Qing certainly had a good eye. You specifically targeted those with weak family influence. Did you think their families had not awakened the Sharingan and held low status in the clan, so even if they tried to expose you, the news would never reach me, the clan head?!"

Fugaku's voice gradually rose from its initial low tone. Yet it still carried his characteristic severity, giving him at last a measure of the authority befitting an Uchiha clan head.

"Did you think the Uchiha was something you people could cover with one hand? You are wrong. The Uchiha belongs to every Uchiha!"

With the Flame Fan on his back, Uchiha Fugaku pointed his sickle at Uchiha Qing.

Hearing Fugaku's words, Uchiha Setsuna and several elders exchanged glances, their expressions darkening.

They were furious that the Uchiha had produced scum like Uchiha Qing, but they had also caught the barbs in Uchiha Fugaku's words, which clearly targeted elders like them who had seized part of the clan's authority.

"You are right. The Uchiha belongs to every Uchiha, not just to your family!"

Uchiha Qing's face flushed red as well. Pointing directly at Uchiha Fugaku, he cursed:

"What qualifications does a brat like you have to be clan head? Whether it is merit or seniority, in what way can you compare to people like us? Why do you get to be clan head? Just because your father was one too?!"

The Uchiha had always believed that heaven came first and they came second. Among Uchiha with Three-Tomoe Sharingan, none would submit to another. Yet the current clan head did not possess the Mangekyō Sharingan that could suppress all opposition like those of the Sengoku Period. Naturally, these elders felt that Uchiha Fugaku was unqualified to lead the clan. They thought they would be better suited for the position, so they joined forces to fight for power.

"Elder Qing, perhaps there are things I have not done well as clan head. But I believe my greatest dereliction of duty was allowing scum like you to appear within the clan and failing to deal with you in time. Therefore, as clan head, I believe it is necessary for me to personally use blood to wash this stain from the Uchiha Clan Crest!"

In the end, shinobi spoke through strength.

And the Uchiha happened to be the group that worshipped strength most.

Uchiha Qing knew that because of his momentary greed, he would likely have difficulty leaving this place alive today. No matter how his struggle with Uchiha Fugaku ended, the enraged clan members would surely tear him apart.

No one wanted something like a starving front line while the rear stuffed itself to happen to their own family, because every household had parents and children.

A huge group of Uchiha surrounded Uchiha Fugaku and Uchiha Qing as they marched toward the open ground before Naka Shrine.

Uchiha Fugaku intended to personally kill Uchiha Qing in a one-on-one battle, display his strength before all the clan members, and establish his authority.

According to rules set by the First Hokage and Second Hokage, people from the same village had to form the Confrontation Seal before sparring as a sign of respect, and the Reconciliation Seal after the spar ended to show reconciliation. Clearly, though, there was no need for either seal in this battle.

Konoha, Uchiha Clan Compound, the open ground before Naka Shrine.

A large crowd of Uchiha stood around the edge of the clearing, watching Uchiha Fugaku and Uchiha Qing clash fiercely in the middle.

They had gathered here to prevent Uchiha Qing from taking the opportunity to flee.

"Meikyō."

Uchiha Yu had appeared beside Meikyō at some point.

"Watch carefully with your Sharingan. Learn carefully. A battle between Three-Tomoe Sharingan Uchiha at this level will be tremendously instructive for you."

Hearing this, Uchiha Meikyō obediently opened his Sharingan and watched the battle in the clearing.

But both men were exceptionally swift Jonin, even considered strong among Jonin. Even with his Sharingan active, he could only barely make out the general flow.

He could see what ninjutsu Uchiha Fugaku used and how Uchiha Qing responded, but he still lacked the shinobi foundation to discern any deeper details.

At that point, Uchiha Yu began quietly explaining from the side.

Though old, he had been a Jonin for decades, and his eye remained sharp. He pointed out many key details from their battle that Meikyō could understand and absorb.

"Looks like Fugaku's strength is not bad. Qing should be about to lose."

After watching for several minutes, Uchiha Yu stroked his beard and nodded. He seemed fairly satisfied with Uchiha Fugaku's performance as clan head.

It was the best choice among limited options. He could not compare to those former clan heads who had awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan, but Fugaku truly was the most suitable person in the current Uchiha to serve as clan head.