"Die by my blade technique?"
At this point, Yuhara pretty much understood what Fugaku was thinking, and it was both absurdly funny and deeply exasperating.
So basically, this guy was teetering on the brink of some dramatic mental breakdown again?
Just like Uchiha Itachi, Fugaku was a man of strong convictions. Once he made up his mind, he'd carry it out no matter what.
Take what happened after Shisui's death, for example—when the moderate faction flipped and became hardliners. Fugaku, plagued by hesitation and regret, was forced into becoming their leader.
And as their leader, he did accomplish quite a few things—actively preparing for a coup on behalf of the clan.
But then, on the night of the massacre, despite having the ability to stop Itachi, he suddenly went into another weird mental spiral.
All it took was Itachi showing him some "vision of the village's future," and Fugaku just gave up and waited to die with his wife.
Yuhara wasn't even surprised anymore. With a guy like that, bizarre behavior was practically par for the course.
And if Yuhara had guessed right about what this lunatic was planning now—then yeah, it was both a blessing and a curse.
"Yes. Let me die by your blade. That's my redemption. I led the clan to this point. No amount of living will undo what I've done."
Fugaku could tell Yuhara was deep in thought. Even with his odd expression, he went on calmly.
"But Yuhara-kun, the Uchiha now have you. You're so young and already have such resolve and strength—you'll be a great clan leader."
"But becoming clan leader requires authority. Kill me, and you'll gain the utmost prestige. Those people will fear you, respect you, and follow you."
"With my death, you'll forge a new Uchiha. I'll die without regrets."
Yep. Called it.
Yuhara's mouth twitched. He stared at this man who clearly had one foot in the grave already and didn't know what to say.
Maybe this was how it had gone down with Itachi too? Fugaku just quietly sat there and told him, "You're a kind child. Go ahead and do it." What a lunatic.
Sure, killing Fugaku would indeed scare the hell out of Uchiha Sō, Uchiha Takechi, and the rest of the elders. It'd earn Yuhara overwhelming prestige.
He could even dominate the clan meetings like Uchiha Madara once did. But the backlash from doing so would also be catastrophic.
Murdering a former clan head in cold blood? That'd leave a permanent scar in the hearts of Uchiha elites—maybe even Shisui would have a problem with it.
Besides, attacking his own kin wasn't something Yuhara liked. They shared the same blood, after all.
He'd always said he wanted to "convince with reason," and he never truly went all-out in any internal fights. Even when he thought about killing the stubborn ones, it was always a last resort—and only ever targeted at ideological leaders.
He wasn't like Itachi, who could slaughter his entire clan for some delusional dream about "peace" and the village, without even trying alternatives.
Plus, Yuhara had a system forcefully bound to him. Who knew what kind of punishment it might give if he killed Fugaku?
"Alright, I've said everything I needed to."
Just as Yuhara was mentally ranting, Fugaku spoke again.
"Now, let us—"
"Why should I listen to you?"
Yuhara cut him off mid-sentence, his expression serious. Fugaku blinked in surprise.
"If I'm going to be clan head, I'll become one the proper way. If I want authority, I won't get it by killing you."
"This is exactly why you weren't fit to be leader. You never had the conviction a clan head needs."
"You made huge mistakes that led the clan to ruin. You think dying now somehow makes up for that?"
"Why not focus on helping me rebuild? Why is death your only answer?"
He paused, then smiled faintly.
"And why do you think I need your mercy to beat you? You're underestimating me."
As he spoke, Yuhara activated his secret technique—Unshakable Will. In an instant, all his negative effects were wiped away.
His mind sharpened. His spirit focused like never before.
In his eyes, he now saw a world of black and white—where countless blades and flames stood frozen in time.
His Mangekyō spun wildly, and a terrifying chakra began to surge within him.
At its peak, he raised his hand toward the sky.
In that moment, the moonlike sun above the black-and-white world turned blood-red.
That crimson sun cast an eerie glow across the illusion. Then, it morphed into a single, scarlet eye.
That eye bore the distinct, twisted pattern of Yuhara's Mangekyō!
"What…?!"
Fugaku's face froze. The next second, his expression turned pale.
He'd lost control of the illusion!
Crack!
A sound like shattering glass rang out. Cracks spread across the world like spiderwebs, pieces falling like shards.
Crack! Crack!
The sound grew louder, sharper. Light spilled in from every fissure.
Then—everything shattered.
Back in the real world, Yuhara had already unleashed the third form of the Waterbird Dance.
And this time, he was wrapped in the glowing armor of his Susanoo!
BOOM!
The blade slammed into Fugaku's Susanoo, fracturing it further with a rain of slicing winds.
Yuhara's azure Susanoo didn't stop there. With the Path Reversal buff, it launched a single, devastating punch.
The earth shook. Fugaku's Susanoo shattered completely.
Fugaku looked terrible. Blood trailed from his eyes. He could no longer resist.
Yuhara caught him midair with his Susanoo's hand, preventing him from falling into the fire below.
He glanced at the weakened but conscious Fugaku and smirked.
"I told you… you underestimated me, didn't you?"
Fugaku let out a dry, bitter chuckle—and then nodded silently.
And at that moment, the rest of the Uchiha watching finally snapped out of their stunned daze.
Thunderous cheers erupted through the canyon, followed by the booming voices of Uchiha Sō and Uchiha Takechi—
"The victor—Uchiha Yuhara!"