A fight broke out!
In this secret chamber used for family meetings, someone had actually drawn their sword and started fighting. This was an unprecedented event, even for the elders who had never encountered such a situation before. They were dumbfounded, watching Uchiha Suwa and Sougen brawl in front of everyone.
No one stepped in to stop it.
Although this chamber was meant for meetings, there were no rules forbidding fights among the clan members here. Additionally, the clan leader and the elders each had their own thoughts and all chose to watch the spectacle unfold without interference.
"We are Uchiha!"
Sougen, wielding the bizarre weapon that looked like a narrower door wrapped in bandages, calmly blocked Suwa's strikes, still finding the time to speak, "In our clan, seniority means nothing. If you want to be called 'senpai,' fine, just defeat me!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the weapon that looked like a door swung horizontally, smashing into Suwa's small katana with such immense force that Suwa was sent flying backward, turning into a puff of white smoke.
It was a shadow clone.
Even though everyone present was a Jonin, not all of them could figure out when Suwa had swapped himself with a shadow clone, proving that this trusted lieutenant of the clan leader was no pushover.
The real Uchiha Suwa appeared above Sougen's head.
At some point, he had positioned himself upside-down on the ceiling.
The small katana in his hand, wrapped in a dazzling electrical current, aimed directly at Sougen's head, plunging downward with deadly intent.
*Clang!*
The sharp, high-pitched sound of metal clashing echoed through the chamber.
Sougen raised his weapon, which looked like a door, using it as a shield to block Suwa's lightning-infused katana. Even though Suwa's attack had the added force of his body weight, Sougen effortlessly withstood it without a care.
"You..."
Uchiha Suwa tried to say something.
But then he realized that the lightning on his katana had vanished, and his chakra was being drained uncontrollably, like a flood bursting through a dam. Realizing something was wrong, he attempted to retreat, but it was too late.
The strange, door-like weapon suddenly unwrapped itself from the bandages and began wriggling like a living creature. Its long body extended quickly, wrapping around Suwa's waist like a giant snake, devouring his chakra even faster.
At this point, the clan members finally recognized the weapon in Sougen's hands.
"The Great Blade, Samehada!"
"Why does he have that sword?"
"Isn't that weapon supposed to belong to the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist?"
The clan members began to murmur amongst themselves.
No one expected that the door-like thing Sougen had been carrying was actually the Great Blade, Samehada. Its name was well-known, and its history was ancient, though the exact origins were unclear. However, the name Samehada had appeared in the Uchiha clan's records, making it as old and significant as the lost Uchiha Gunbai.
A weapon that could devour chakra was always a formidable tool. Its unique ability was enough to draw the attention of the Uchiha clan, earning a place in their rudimentary historical records.
The Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist were a relatively recent phenomenon. If they had gathered a few more similar swords, they could've been called the Eight or Nine Ninja Swordsmen... Besides, the Seven's debut had been disastrous; they were nearly wiped out by a single Leaf Genin. How pitiful!
"Suwa, it seems you won't be earning the title of 'senpai' anytime soon," Sougen remarked as Samehada, under his control, released Uchiha Suwa. Having had over 80% of his chakra devoured, Suwa was left drained, likely needing several days of rest in bed.
Uchiha Suwa couldn't respond to anything Sougen said.
He collapsed with a thud, completely unconscious due to the massive chakra loss.
"Who's next?"
Sougen didn't spare a glance for the fallen Suwa, instead raising Samehada and pointing it at the other clan members, his gaze eventually settling on Uchiha Fugaku. This was an outright provocation.
"Sougen, why is that sword in your hands?"
Uchiha Fugaku frowned, staring at Samehada pointed at him. He sensed a deep unease.
He hadn't stopped Suwa earlier because he wanted to personally gauge the strength of this "Flame Demon" of the clan and see how it compared to the data they had. However, Suwa had been defeated far too quickly and easily. Furthermore, Samehada hadn't been mentioned in the reports, making the gap between expectation and reality far too wide.
A powerful ninja wielding a top-tier weapon was like a tiger with wings.
The Uchiha's lost fan, the Uchiha Gunbai, was a prime example. According to records, it could reflect jutsu, and countless enemies had fallen to its unknown power. The clan's history even recorded one clan leader deflecting a miniature Tailed Beast Bomb with the Gunbai.
The might of top-tier weapons was undeniable.
"This is a spoil of war I took on the battlefield. I killed that guy."
Sougen waved Samehada casually. The sword, notoriously picky about its wielder, was as obedient in his hands as if it were an extension of his body. This was the power of someone who never dies unarmed, easily taming the unruly blade.
"Is this really worth asking about? Clan leader, why don't you decide whether you'll fight me yourself, or send someone else? Oh, and feel free to come at me together. I don't mind being ganged up on or fighting in rounds."
His arrogant attitude pricked the pride of the clan members.
Especially the senior Jonin, who felt their pride wounded by such blatant disrespect from a 15-year-old. Though the clan leader had warned them against acting rashly, the prideful Uchiha were not so easily restrained.
"Kid, a powerful weapon can be useful, but relying too much on external tools isn't a good thing."
The speaker was an older man, perhaps in his 40s or 50s, sporting a scruffy beard. He remained in place, merely activating his Sharingan, the three tomoe in his scarlet eyes locking onto Sougen's.
But before he could finish his sentence, it turned into a scream of pain.
Sweat poured from his forehead, and his muscles twitched in response to the pain his body experienced from the genjutsu. He had lost the mental battle with Sougen's illusion.
Both men had simultaneously cast *Demonic Illusion: Shackling Stakes Technique*.
This was a favorite genjutsu among the Uchiha. In the mental world created by the caster, the target would feel as though stakes were being driven through their limbs, rendering them immobile, while experiencing intense physical pain.
The clash of similar visual-based genjutsu naturally became a contest of ocular power.
The result—
Sougen's overwhelming victory, skipping the usual stalemate and crushing his opponent's Sharingan strength, leaving the proud Uchiha frozen in place.
(End of Chapter)