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HSU: Ch. 148
🕑 Added 2025-01-20 18:20:14 +0000 UTCThe confrontation between Fugaku and Masashi was no small event. Although their battle was confined to the area, the commotion had already alarmed the Uchiha clan members. The Uchiha compound, teeming with ninja, was soon abuzz.
It wasn't just the Uchiha clan; other major ninja clans in Konoha, known for their chakra sensory abilities, were also quick to react.
The Aburame were first to spot trouble, thanks to their bugs scattered all over the forest. They were followed by the Hyūga and Inuzuka clans.
Before long, all the major clans in Konoha were aware of the situation.
The Police Force quickly sealed off all entrances and exits to the Uchiha compound. The Uchiha ninja stationed at the perimeters exuded a menacing aura, making it clear they weren't joking around. At that moment, the Police Force looked ready to launch a small-scale war against a hidden village.
Soon, Minato issued a directive, and the ANBU began assisting the Police Force in maintaining the quarantine.
Accompanied by Setsuna, the heads of several ninja clans, along with the Hokage, entered the Uchiha compound.
However, the two village elders, Koharu and Homura, were denied entry.
Setsuna was not like Fugaku. He lacked the same politeness.
"Konoha's ninja clans don't include your families, do they? This is a matter of clan rules. I hope you understand."
Koharu and Homura were left without options.
They couldn't claim they were worried about the Hokage's safety, as doing so in the current atmosphere with the Uchiha clan would have been the lowest form of provocation, only escalating tensions unnecessarily.
Thus, they had no choice but to remain outside.
Inside the compound, Setsuna led the group to join other high-ranking members of the Uchiha clan, eventually heading to the simulation battlefield.
At the entrance to the battlefield stood Uchiha jonin, including Shisui.
The two groups merged and proceeded into the simulation battlefield.
Inside, the tremors were intense.
Given that everyone present was at least jonin level, they could move forward unhindered, though even they found it challenging.
Finally, they saw the two towering giants.
A crimson Susanoo, wielding a shield in one hand and a sword in the other.
"The Sword of Totsuka… and the Yata Mirror…" Hiashi's eyebrows twitched uncontrollably.
Fugaku had hidden himself well!
The Hyūga clan was, of course, familiar with the Uchiha clan's Susanoo.
For the Uchiha, Susanoo was as iconic as the Hyūga clan's Palm Rotation, though the two differed significantly in scale.
Not every Mangekyō Sharingan user could summon a fully-fledged Susanoo, and creating a giant figure alone didn't mean one had truly mastered the technique.
According to the Hyūga clan's records, the Susanoo was a near-perfect technique for both offense and defense. As part of this ability, the clan possessed three tools: the Sword of Totsuka for attack, the Yata Mirror for defense, and Yasaka Beads for medium-to-long-range assaults.
These three tools, known as "Sacred Treasures," were Mangekyō-level Sharingan techniques specifically designed for Susanoo.
The beads was straightforward, but the special characteristics of the sword and the mirror remained mysterious. Without firsthand experience, one could only speculate about their power.
What was certain, however, was that only the Uchiha clan leader could wield these abilities.
Even if a generation lacked a Mangekyō Sharingan user, the techniques themselves were passed down.
But now, Fugaku clearly intended to reveal them.
And the next Uchiha clan leader? Undoubtedly, it was Masashi.
Facing the crimson Susanoo was another Susanoo, one uniquely reflecting Masashi's personal style.
This one had wings on its back, wielding a blazing greatsword in its right hand and a small shield on its left arm. Though the shield was far inferior to the Yata Mirror, its left arm extended into a glowing multi-segmented whip that was striking to behold.
Before the crowd, his Susanoo swung its whip.
The heat radiating from the chakra whip was palpable even from a distance. When it struck the mirror, the immense force vanished as if absorbed. A moment later, the mirror reflected an even greater force, repelling the whip.
The backlash from the Yata Mirror transformed into a storm, shredding everything in front of the crimson Susanoo into dust.
Debris and stones were hurled skyward.
Hovering in the air, the white Susanoo avoided the storm, reeling back its chakra whip and sweeping it toward the crimson Susanoo's head.
But with a single swing of the Sword of Totsuka, much of the whip was severed.
"Masashi, without the Sword of Totsuka, Yata Mirror, and Yasaka Beads, you haven't truly mastered Susanoo."
Noticing the "guests," Fugaku manipulated his crimson Susanoo to approach, its sword clashing with the blazing greatsword.
The earth trembled and mountains quaked. Every movement of the two giants profoundly impacted the surroundings.
Masashi felt the chakra of his greatsword being broken down.
If not for his constant infusion of chakra, his flame sword, created using Kagutsuchi, might have been extinguished the moment it clashed with the Sword of Totsuka.
He recognized the sword—it was the same weapon Itachi wielded in the original timeline, used to seal Orochimaru with a single blow. A low-cost sealing sword, like an instant "sleep mode" for enemies.
However, Fugaku's Sword of Totsuka wasn't illusion-based.
Instead, it could break down chakra and absorb the spiritual energy within.
This property made it extraordinarily sharp.
"This sword isn't based on illusions, is it?"
"Is that something you heard from Obito? No, it's not," Fugaku replied. "Illusions would be too cumbersome. If your goal is to attack the enemy's body directly, illusions are better used to weaken their resistance first."
"What's the point of this random fight?" Masashi asked, noticing the "guests."
"Don't mind them. They're probably just here out of curiosity," Fugaku replied, changing the subject. "You've seen the Sword of Totsuka and Yata Mirror. Want to learn?"
"Yes," Masashi answered honestly.
Only a fool wouldn't want to learn.
However, he was curious—he'd thought these abilities were unique to Itachi in the original timeline. How had he learned them? Did Fugaku teach him after discovering his Mangekyō?
After all, this timeline's Fugaku clearly had a Mangekyō Sharingan.
"Good. Still think traditions are useless?"
"Who said they're useless? Without tradition, there would be no Uchiha. We must respect tradition!"
"Good attitude." Fugaku smiled, and the two Susanoo separated. "Let's go. Time to meet the Hokage. Things got a bit out of hand."
"Got it."
The two Susanoos gradually disappeared into thin air.
---
"Is it over?" Minato tilted his head upward, his mood light and carefree.
Tonight had seemed destined for disaster, but a stroke of fortune came with Fugaku choosing today to widely invite "comrades in the shinobi world" to witness the formal designation of Masashi as the clan's heir-apparent.
This development meant Kushina definitely wouldn't be mad at him anymore.
After all, this was a big deal.
Kushina, who had been troubled by the Uzumaki remnants' desire to rebuild their clan, would surely understand.
Speaking of which, the Uchiha clan was truly hardcore.
To formalize the status of an heir through such dramatic measures—at this moment in the shinobi world, besides the Uchiha, probably only the ninjas of Kumo would do something similar.
After tonight, Masashi's position as the second-in-command of the Uchiha clan was firmly established. Whenever Fugaku grew tired of his role or retired due to age, Masashi would immediately step up.
Hiruzen puffed on his pipe, the smoke curling lazily in the air.
Fugaku becoming Hokage Advisor confirmed that his perspective had shifted over time—no longer seeing the Uchiha as a threat to the village. Yet, seeing Susanoo still reminded him of that man.
The other clan leaders weren't the least bit surprised by this development.
Fugaku had hinted at such intentions during casual conversations with them long ago.
Nevertheless, despite their lack of surprise, the spectacle of two Susanoo clashing had left them deeply shaken.
Since Madara's departure, the Uchiha clan had languished until just before the Third Great Ninja War. Many had forgotten that this was once a clan so overwhelmingly powerful that only the Senju clan could rival them.
Shisui's rise to fame had reminded everyone of this reality. And now, they had no choice but to admit—none of the other clans combined could match the Uchiha.
The title of Konoha's strongest clan unquestionably belonged to them.
Unconsciously, some began to yearn for the long-retired Senju clan.
Ahead, the figures of Fugaku and Masashi came into view. Seeing the two, the clan leaders straightened their attire, plastered smiles on their faces, and walked forward to greet them.
No matter how shaken or nostalgic they felt, the relationships between clans were no longer the same as in the past. While envy remained, their attitudes were far more even-tempered now.
From the rear, the two Hokage smiled as they watched this scene unfold.
"Minato, your responsibilities will only grow heavier from here," said Hiruzen, his face calm. Though he had his reservations about the Sharingan, knowing Masashi was the heir reassured him. "We must never let things return to the way they were in our time."
"Don't worry, Sandaime-sama," Minato replied firmly. "I will never let that happen again."
"Hokage-sama," came Masashi's curious voice, interrupting. "You're not working late tonight? What a coincidence! How about joining us for some rehearsal?"
The serious expression on Minato's face froze instantly.
"Ah, well, actually, I am working late," he said, awkwardly. "I just came to see what was happening. Congratulations, Masashi."
"Thank you." Masashi forced a chuckle.
During their walk earlier, Fugaku had explained everything to him.
Masashi truly hadn't expected the Uchiha to be this flamboyant in their schemes.
What was the need to showcase Susanoo in a public event just to pre-designate the clan leader? Couldn't they just hold a private meeting?
So unnecessarily extravagant!
He genuinely wanted no official role.
The reason was simple: official positions came with endless trivial matters to deal with.
He preferred having enough free time to focus on his own training.
Without Yin-Yang Release, he felt no real sense of security.
Previously, he had no clear direction, but after Black Zetsu's teachings, he now had a lead.
Once he mastered all five chakra natures to perfection, he planned to find him again to validate his theories.
He had a hunch that once he approached this limit, his relationship with Black Zetsu would inevitably sour.
He figured he could only count on Black Zetsu's assistance for a bit longer.
Two times max.
"Well then, Masashi, I look forward to working with you in the future," Minato said before disappearing with the Flying Thunder God.
Hiruzen also vanished, his expression benevolent.
With the two Hokage gone, the atmosphere noticeably grew more relaxed.
Even though Hiruzen had also come from a shinobi clan, the natural tension between the Hokage's office and the ninja clans couldn't be ignored.
Now that the Hokage was gone, everyone could let their guard down.
"Fugaku, you've really been holding out on us," said Hiashi with a chuckle. "Your strength is truly something to behold."
"Not at all, just a stroke of luck," Fugaku replied with his usual humility. Yet, the same expression and tone now carried a completely different weight.
In this moment, the other clan leaders fully realized that he was a far purer clan leader than any of them.
As the head of the Uchiha, he had hidden his strength even after gaining such immense power. Such resolve was astonishing.
They could only be thankful that Fugaku was such a peace-loving and straightforward leader.
After some polite exchanges, the Sarutobi, Nara, Akimichi, and Yamanaka clans departed.
While the conversations weren't hostile, lingering tensions from the past made it hard to forge genuine closeness.
The Hyūga, Inuzuka, and Aburame clans, on the other hand, stayed longer. These clans could now be considered allies of the Uchiha.
The Aburame clan, a recent addition to this circle, was represented by Shibi, father of Shino.
Though the Aburame were often perceived as aloof and self-reliant, they were fiercely loyal and passionate beneath their composed exterior.
In this generation, their clan's elite forces were second only to the Uchiha among the eight major clans.
Fugaku and Masashi understood this and treated the Aburame with great respect.
After exchanging pleasantries with the Hyūga and Inuzuka, they shifted their focus to Shibi.
"Congratulations, Masashi," he said curtly, his face impassive. His high-collared coat and dark glasses concealed much of his expression.
"Thank you," Masashi replied warmly, opting for a more familiar tone.
Shibi merely nodded in response, showing no objections.
Masashi took this as a positive sign, an indication that Shibi welcomed a closer rapport.
After all, Shino's portrayal in the original story was that of someone fiercely loyal to those he considered friends. Reserved, yes, but deeply discerning.
Masashi briefly considered the possibility of taking over as a mentor for Shino's generation in the future.
Honestly, Kurenai's abilities, when compared to her contemporaries, were underwhelming.
Hinata, Kiba, and Shino were not flashy in their performances, despite the boys being strong contenders among their peers.
It felt like a missed opportunity.
Teaching these kids himself might be far more rewarding. That, however, was a distant concern.
After chatting for some time, the last three clan leaders eventually left.
Masashi accompanied Fugaku as they escorted the leaders out of the Uchiha compound. Once the guests were gone, they began heading back.
"Tonight, you'll stay at Hikari's house," Fugaku said halfway through their walk. "Starting today, you'll learn the 'Three Sacred Treasures.' You won't go home until you've mastered them. I've already spoken to your parents."
"Isn't that a bit extreme?" Masashi blinked. "Why the rush?"
"Once the clan leader candidate is confirmed, they must begin training immediately, or the techniques will eventually be lost," Fugaku explained.
"But wait," Masashi hesitated, sensing a loophole. "What about times when the clan head and heir didn't have Mangekyō Sharingan?"
"In those cases, the techniques were carved into the Sharingan for preservation," Fugaku replied, shooting him a glance. "Don't even think about slacking off. It's a tough few days, but this is tradition."
