The venue for the death match was beneath Konoha.
Something like a death match naturally would not be held entirely out in the open.
Led by an Anbu member, Uya arrived at a spacious area filled with the smell of blood.
This was not merely a venue for death matches.
It also housed brutal interrogation and punishment chambers.
Konoha's hidden darkness gathered here. Even Danzo's Root Base was in the nearby underground area.
Every day, Konoha ninja went out on missions, and some assassination missions were handed out here.
Many spies and scouts from enemy villages were also brought here once captured, to be interrogated through special, cruel methods.
In short, this was where every dark aspect converged.
A sinister, bloody atmosphere pervaded the place.
The ninja here either wore masks as members of the Anbu or hurried past with cold, expressionless faces.
After passing through several corridors, they finally reached their destination.
Uya's gaze grew solemn. Since coming to this world, this was his first encounter with such an atmosphere.
Several ninja from the Uchiha Clan stood ahead.
Uchiha Kan was among them.
Noticing Uya's arrival, he immediately revealed an intense, undisguised killing intent in his eyes.
Only by killing Uya now could he make up for his failure and defend the Uchiha Clan's dignity and honor.
Uya and Uchiha Kan exchanged a glance. Faced with Uchiha Kan's surging killing intent, Uya's gaze remained calm, without the slightest ripple.
At the same time, Uya surveyed his surroundings, his brows furrowing slightly.
Above were three levels of galleries, but few people stood on them.
In the entire arena, there were only three Anbu ninja and five Uchiha Clan ninja, including Uchiha Kan. There was no one else!
"Hiruzen Sarutobi actually didn't come..."
A trace of puzzlement appeared on Uya's face. By all rights, Hiruzen Sarutobi could not possibly ignore his duel with Uchiha Kan.
Even if he did not come in person, he should at least have sent more Anbu ninja.
Yet there were only three Anbu ninja present, fewer than the people from the Uchiha Clan.
It gave Uya a sense that he had been abandoned.
"It seems something has happened."
Uya murmured softly, but a sharp glint suddenly flashed in his eyes.
It seemed that today truly would be a bloody fight to the death for him. Victory meant life, defeat meant death!
Finally, the other Uchiha Clan members all leaped up into the three levels of galleries, staring coldly down below.
Uchiha Kan slowly stepped forward, then stopped, facing Uya from a distance.
The three Anbu exchanged cold glances, then leaped up into the galleries to watch impassively.
Facing Uchiha Kan, there was no need for any more words at this moment.
Because this was no assessment, no competition, but a battle to decide life and death!
Neither spoke, nor did they need anyone to call the start.
In an instant, the battle erupted!
Just as the battle broke out there.
A fierce argument was taking place in the Hokage's office in the Hokage Building.
"Why didn't you stop this duel?! This makes no sense at all!"
Tsunade stared at Hiruzen Sarutobi in shock and fury, almost slamming her hand on his desk.
That was her nature. Once she truly took an interest in someone, she would not easily let go.
Even though she and Uya had yet to formally meet, after that practical combat ranking assessment, Tsunade had fully made up her mind to take Uya as her apprentice.
Hiruzen Sarutobi remained silent and took a puff of smoke. Rather than answering Tsunade's question directly, he spoke in a low voice.
"The Uchiha Clan dispatched a team of three elite jonin and ten elite chunin to join the battlefield on the Land of Fire's border."
"And just because of that, you completely gave up on that child Uya?! Are you kidding me!"
Disbelief filled Tsunade's face. Something like this could be turned into a bargain?!
To her, it was almost unimaginable.
Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed. "We haven't given up on him. Danzo may save Uya after he loses."
"Then how would Uya be any different from being dead!"
Tsunade's face filled with shock and anger. If Danzo truly saved Uya while he was gravely wounded and dying, the outcome was all too easy to imagine.
Danzo would certainly use his methods to turn Uya into a most loyal and useful killing tool.
"Perhaps that child Uya is talented enough to win."
Hiruzen Sarutobi's tone carried a hint of reassurance.
Yet never mind Tsunade-even Hiruzen Sarutobi himself did not believe those words!
The chance of Uya defeating Uchiha Kan was practically zero.
"Lord Hokage, it has begun."
Just then, an Anbu member appeared beside them and reported to Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Shock and fury immediately appeared on Tsunade's face.
"What, it's already started?! Has no one gone to stop it?!"
Gritting her teeth, Tsunade abruptly turned and rushed straight out of the Hokage's office. "If no one else will do anything, then I'm definitely getting involved!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi watched in slight astonishment as Tsunade rushed straight out of his office, then gave a faint, wry smile.
After that wry smile, however, an unusual expression appeared on his face.
Tsunade represented the Senju Clan.
If Tsunade saved Uya, perhaps there really could still be a turn for the better. The Senju Clan could not possibly fear the Uchiha Clan, and there was already an irreconcilable conflict between the two clans.
Tsunade charged out of the Hokage's office, and no one dared block her.
She rushed all the way underground, but just as she was nearing the arena, someone still stopped her.
"Move aside!!"
Tsunade looked at Uchiha Kageyama, the Uchiha Clan's leader, standing before her. There was no fear on her face; instead, she shouted at him sternly.
Uchiha Kageyama stood there calmly, three tomoe appearing in his eyes and slowly rotating.
"Don't be in such a hurry. Why not wait here a while? Once things over there are finished, I naturally won't stop you."
"Bastard! Just try stopping me!"
In her fury, Tsunade had already cast aside all restraint.
Her temper had always been this explosive. At a disagreement, she dared attack without hesitation, even against the Uchiha Clan's leader.
But Uchiha Kageyama, who had become both the Uchiha Clan's leader and the captain of the Konoha Military Police Force, was no ordinary figure either. He kept Tsunade firmly blocked.
No matter how desperately Tsunade fought, she could not break past Uchiha Kageyama.
At present, she was only an elite jonin, after all, and had yet to become as powerful as she was in the original story.
Tsunade felt both shock and fury, but even more than that, anxiety.
If this continued, it might truly become impossible to save Uya!