Chapter Sixty-Three: The Patriarch

The location of the duel was, of course, not the basement of the Nanga Shrine. Shisui and Fugaku arrived at a training ground within the clan’s territory, followed by other clan members who came to serve as witnesses.

The training ground was vast. Shisui and Fugaku stood at its center, while the other clansmen formed a distant circle around them.

The two stood face to face.

“Shisui, let me see if you truly have what it takes to become the clan leader.”

“It’s my honor to learn from you.”

They formed the seal of confrontation, and without another word, the battle began.

Shisui drew the short blade strapped to his back and charged at Fugaku.

Fugaku began forming hand seals with lightning speed. The technique was unleashed in an instant: Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu!

A ball of fire surged toward Shisui.

As expected, the Great Fireball was not enough to bring down an opponent; with a swift sidestep, Shisui dodged it with ease.

Simultaneously, Shisui began weaving signs of his own. One after another, indistinguishable afterimages—or perhaps real bodies—of Shisui appeared across the training ground, all closing in on Fugaku.

This was Shisui’s signature Body Flicker Technique.

Fugaku immediately responded.

Fire Style: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique!

Blossoms of flame, like phoenix flowers, struck at each Shisui on the field. Though it was only a standard C-rank jutsu, it seemed far deadlier in Fugaku’s hands.

But to little effect. Each Shisui was like a phantom; though struck by the fire, they showed no sign of injury. In the blink of an eye, several Shisuis were upon Fugaku.

Three or four short blades stabbed toward him at once, but Fugaku sprang into the air, narrowly dodging their assault before quickly widening the gap between them.

In his years as clan leader, Fugaku had seen few real battles, and he now found himself rusty. The fight had only just begun, but he was already being overwhelmed.

Outside the ring, the clansmen murmured among themselves:

“Shisui’s Body Flicker isn’t something simple Fire Style can counter. What is the clan leader thinking?”

“These have been peaceful years, and as the head of the police force, the clan leader has fought even less.”

“What’s the rush? The clan leader hasn’t even used his Mangekyō Sharingan yet.”

The duel pressed on. Both Shisui and Fugaku had activated their three-tomoe Sharingan, and the pace of combat had accelerated dramatically.

In that whirlwind of exchanges, genjutsu weaved in and out.

Yet in every aspect of the fight, Fugaku was forced back. While marveling at Shisui’s prodigious talent, Fugaku managed to seize a moment to put distance between them.

Catching his breath, he was the first to activate the Mangekyō Sharingan. The technique in his left eye unleashed itself upon Shisui.

In that instant, the legion of Shisui clones blurred and faded, leaving only a single motionless figure near Fugaku.

“Did the clan leader’s Mangekyō Sharingan technique just dispel Shisui’s Body Flicker? Did he break the illusion?”

“Will Shisui lose? He hasn’t even revealed his Mangekyō Sharingan yet.”

As the onlookers whispered in uncertainty, Fugaku began forming seals, choosing the most basic yet familiar technique: Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu!

At the same time, the technique in his right eye activated.

The fireball he spat grew immense—its power far surpassing any ordinary Great Fireball. Even from afar, its might was palpable.

Boom!

A thunderous roar, a wave of searing heat, and a sea of flames engulfed the training ground, obscuring all within.

“Is it over?”

“Did Shisui lose? Did the clan leader win?”

“No, look over there!”

As the flames subsided, the scene within was revealed: an enormous green skeletal structure, radiating a scorching chakra that struck terror into the heart.

The elders among them recognized the technique and could not help but cry out, “Susanoo! That’s Susanoo, the power only the Mangekyō Sharingan can wield!”

In that split second, Shisui had broken free from Fugaku’s genjutsu and unleashed Susanoo.

Shisui’s Mangekyō Sharingan ability, Kotoamatsukami, might be useless against ordinary foes, but as the ultimate illusion, it granted Shisui formidable resistance to genjutsu.

That was why he could break free from Fugaku’s Mangekyō technique in such a short time.

The battle was far from over; in truth, it had only just begun.

As Shisui’s ocular power waned, the green skeletal form of Susanoo condensed and grew arms.

A massive hand slammed down at Fugaku.

Fugaku barely dodged it, but as the second strike came crashing down, he had no choice but to activate his own Susanoo.

It was Fugaku’s first time invoking Susanoo. A torrent of chakra poured from his eyes, and a sharp, agonizing pain shot through them, a trail of blood tears streaming down his face.

The side effects were intense, yet his Susanoo materialized only in its most rudimentary form.

A half-formed skeletal structure of chakra wrapped around his body, allowing him to withstand one blow from Shisui. But the next punch sent him, and his Susanoo, flying.

As he was hurled backward, Fugaku realized the chasm between his power and Shisui’s—the kind of gap only raw talent could create, and it filled him with despair.

With a thunderous crash, the half-formed Susanoo smashed into the ground, scattering dust and debris as the surrounding clansmen scrambled to avoid the fallout.

When the dust settled, Fugaku’s Susanoo had vanished; only Fugaku himself lay unconscious on the ground.

Shisui released his Susanoo, gasping heavily, vision swimming, both eyes aching unbearably.

The exertion of this battle had taken its toll on him as well, leaving even permanent damage to his eyes, but he felt it was all worth it.

Perhaps, under his leadership, the Uchiha could finally change for the better, he couldn’t help but think.

The clansmen drew near, some crowding around Shisui with words of praise, others rushing to check Fugaku’s condition.

The clan’s medical-nin hurried to tend to both men.

And at a distance, Itachi, who had witnessed everything from the start, looked with a complicated expression at his father lying far away, then at Shisui, still standing.

Shisui, what is it that you truly want? Itachi still could not comprehend him. Silently, he turned away. He was preparing to report the day’s events to the Third Hokage—it was his duty as a double agent.

...

Hokage’s Office. Itachi slipped in quietly.

“Lord Third…” Itachi reported all that had transpired in the clan’s territory that day.

“…That’s how it was. Shisui launched a coup against my father. He’s now the clan leader.”

The Third did not respond at once, merely muttering to himself, “Mangekyō Sharingan… Susanoo…”

“…Kotoamatsukami.” The Third recalled the ability Shisui had once reported to him.

“Itachi, arrange for me to meet with Shisui.”