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Staring at those eyes with strange patterns, Uchiha Koji stood frozen in place.
It wasn't just him; the other Uchiha clan members also looked as if they had seen a ghost.
"M-Mangekyō Sharingan?!" someone murmured in disbelief.
For so many years, it seemed as if the Uchiha clan had been cursed.
No matter how talented a member was, they could never evolve their Three Tomoe Sharingan to the next stage.
It felt as if something crucial was missing.
Kyōsuke's appearance had already excited the clan, but now, today, the young clan leader had successfully awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan.
"Wait a moment." A sudden exclamation came from the side. "If Lord Madara can open his eyes, could Lord Izuna also..."
In truth, everyone knew that the so-called Uchiha Three Heroes were largely an exaggeration by the clan head.
Izuna had excellent talent, but he was far behind the other two.
However, if he could also unlock the Mangekyō, it would be a completely different story.
Noticing a few restless clan members, an elder nearby gave them an annoyed glance and whispered, "If you're going to make a fuss, at least choose the right time. Is this really the moment to be worrying about such things?"
As he spoke, the elder gestured toward the center, where Uchiha Koji was already facing off against Uchiha Madara.
"Boy, don't think that unlocking the Mangekyō makes you special." Uchiha Koji's voice was dark as he pressed forward against Madara.
At this moment, he no longer cared about anything else.
Now was the perfect opportunity for Koji to claim the position of clan leader; if he missed it, there might never be another chance.
In terms of power, he could never compare to the other two influential elders.
Once they realized what was happening, the Uchiha clan would no longer be under his control.
Hearing the elder's words, Madara shook his head, his expression proud as he firmly rejected the claim: "You're wrong. I'm not impressive because of the Mangekyō."
"It's because I am Uchiha Madara."
Taking a heavy step forward, Madara glared at Koji, his eyes sharp, his tone low: "If you want power, fine. Defeat me, and you'll be the next clan leader."
Upon hearing this, Uchiha Kanji's expression changed, and he immediately asked, "Is this true?"
"Hmph, do you think I, Uchiha Madara, am someone who goes back on my word?" Madara's gaze was filled with disdain.
However, instead of angering Koji, Madara's arrogance only earned him a nod of approval. "Not bad. This spirit is much stronger than your father's."
"I won't take advantage of you. If you can defeat me, I, Uchiha Koji, will fully support your rise to power."
"Agreed."
With their agreement made, the two disregarded the others' attempts to stop them and quickly made their way to the empty ground behind the camp.
The remaining clan members exchanged uncertain glances, feeling that things were heading in an unpredictable direction.
"On second thought, maybe this isn't such a bad thing."
"Yeah, Elder Koji is highly respected, and Lord Madara is a hero of his youth. Whoever takes the position of clan leader is a blessing for us."
"Heh, I'm more interested in their battle. What do you think? Should we go watch?"
"Of course I'm going! Missing such a grand event would be a regret for a lifetime!"
Unbeknownst to anyone, the news spread like wildfire. From one person to ten, from ten to a hundred, the entire camp was abuzz, and soon every clan member staying behind had caught wind of it.
It wasn't that there were no other candidates eligible to compete for the position of clan leader, but none possessed the combined power of the two about to face off.
In other words, no matter who won or lost in the upcoming battle, the victor would undoubtedly ascend to the position of clan leader.
The excitement wasn't limited to the Uchiha clan members. Even Hashirama was itching to join the crowd, barely held back by Tobirama's firm grip.
"Brother," Tobirama said, exasperated, rolling his eyes. "With so many Uchiha present, aren't you asking for trouble by going there?"
Seeing Hashirama still restless and eager to leave, Tobirama took a deep breath and struck where it hurt the most. "If they label Madara as colluding with the Senju because of you, I'm afraid his chances of becoming the clan leader will be over."
"..."
"…Fine, I won't go," Hashirama muttered, slumping down.
Watching his elder brother sulk in a corner, looking utterly defeated, Tobirama couldn't help but feel a vein throb in his forehead. Even his breathing felt more labored.
"This is exhausting…"
---
Behind the Camp – Open Field
The two stood apart, separated by dozens of meters, their gazes locked in cautious assessment.
To ensure fairness, Madara had chosen not to wield his signature war fan—Gunbai.
"Well, well, you've got some backbone," Uchiha Koji remarked with a faint smile, thinking to himself, You've brought this on yourself. Don't blame me for using my strength to crush your arrogance.
As an elder, Koji was well aware of the Uchiha war fan's power.
With it, an opponent's strength could increase by at least twenty percent, while simultaneously nullifying most ninjutsu.
It was naturally preferable that the fan wasn't in play now. Such a straightforward young man would be an easy blade to wield in the future.
On the other hand, Madara understood the significance of this battle all too well.
It was precisely because of that understanding that he refused to rely on external aids.
Madara wanted Elder Koji—and every member of the Uchiha clan—to recognize that his strength didn't stem from the Mangekyō Sharingan, nor from his position as the clan heir.
His strength was his own, because he was Uchiha Madara.
Drawing the long sword from his waist, he took a moment to prepare before surging forward like a meteor colliding with the earth. The clash between the two was instant and fierce.
Uchiha Koji was an experienced, clan-leader-level powerhouse. His combat strength had long since reached its peak, and his body was in the prime of its life.
By all logic, he should have easily suppressed his opponent.
After all, Uchiha Madara was still just a young man, his body not yet fully matured. Compared to a true expert, his overall physical abilities should have been inferior.
However, when the two clashed, an invisible shockwave rippled outward, causing the gathered crowd to realize something was amiss.
How could the young clan heir, barely out of adolescence, go toe-to-toe with Elder Koji in sheer physical strength?
"Amazing…" a jonin murmured to himself, stunned by the sight before him.
It wasn't hard to believe that Uchiha Madara had immense chakra reserves and a mastery of numerous jutsu. Those were expected.
But his physical strength—something that couldn't be improved simply through training—was another matter entirely.
If the body hasn't reached a sufficient stage of development, no amount of training can break through the natural barrier that stands as a constant hindrance.
Many clan members, including seasoned jonin, found themselves unable to comprehend the source of Madara's overwhelming power.
"Of course," someone muttered, "he is the reincarnation of Indra."
"From the moment of his awakening, he was destined to be worlds apart from ordinary people."
Kyosuke, however, found nothing surprising about this. While Madara's strength might not surpass Hashirama's, the gap between them could never be too wide.
In simple terms, the essence of a ninja's combat prowess lies in chakra. As long as one has sufficient energy, even shattering the moon with a single punch is not an impossibility.
Take the renowned Might Duy and his son, along with the later Rock Lee—despite their reputation for mastering Taijutsu, the essence of their "Strong Fist" technique is still chakra-driven.
In this respect, Uchiha Madara, as the reincarnation of Indra's chakra, possesses an unparalleled advantage.
Well, with the sole exception of Senju Hashirama.
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[Chapter End's]
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