As soon as those words fell, the crowd erupted in astonishment.
Uchiha Retsu laughed heartily and said, "Now that's the Kairen I remember! Come, come—go call more people over! Today, we'll treat this as a welcome banquet for my brother's return!"
Even Uchiha Honō had a faint smile on his face, feeling secretly pleased. So he's planning to return with overwhelming strength, shaking an entire generation. If he pulls this off, the tide will turn in his favor.
Around them, the other Uchiha began whispering among themselves. Many thought Uchiha Kairen was being outrageously arrogant—but others felt that only someone like him, who dared to stand above all, could become a peerless powerhouse, the one to lead the clan back to glory.
"Too arrogant, isn't he?!" someone shouted.
The Uchiha standing opposite Kairen opened their Sharingan eyes in anger, scarlet tomoe spinning.
They all felt looked down upon. They were Uchiha too, after all—how could this brash brat dismiss them so easily? They'd make sure he learned his place.
In an instant, four clan members stepped forward. Three of them had their Sharingan activated. The other two—one with a single tomoe, the other without—exchanged a glance and hesitated, clearly thinking of backing out.
Kairen's voice rang out, calm and cutting:
"No need to hold back, all four of you. You'll have to come at me eventually anyway."
"You arrogant brat! I'll beat you into a pig's head!" one of them roared, charging forward first.
The other three, roused by his words, also lunged toward Kairen in attack.
Kairen didn't act recklessly. His Sharingan spun open as he drew his blade, meeting the four head-on.
Within just a few exchanges, the four Uchiha's expressions darkened—this madman's strength was monstrous!
The fight didn't drag on as the onlookers had expected. After barely two rounds each, the one without a Sharingan was sent flying by a kick. Another's blade was knocked out of his hands.
Then, the one-tomoe user was struck hard in the stomach, and before he could recover—
"Earth Release: Headhunter Jutsu!"
—he was buried waist-deep into the ground.
The last double-tomoe wielder finally realized what had happened: they'd been baited. Kairen had provoked them with words, made them lose their composure, and forced them into close combat without even using jutsu or coordination. They'd been completely dismantled one by one.
Kairen didn't give him time to think.
"One-Sword Style: Godspeed!"
In a flash, his blade was at the man's chest.
"You lose."
He sheathed his sword and gestured for him to pull his teammate out of the ground.
Then, eyes still glowing scarlet, Kairen said calmly, "Let's continue. I'm still good to go. No need for a break. Next—five of you, come forward."
This time, the crowd had grown wary. They'd seen what happened just now—four against one, yet they'd been crushed like amateurs. No coordination, no rhythm, no strategy.
A squad leader stepped out after a quick discussion with another Uchiha.
"Sir, you're strong—stronger than me, I admit. But we're not alone."
The five made the Seal of Confrontation, then advanced in formation. As they moved, four of them threw shuriken, cast genjutsu interference, and unleashed ninjutsu attacks, while the fifth—a vanguard—pressed Kairen directly.
More and more Uchiha had gathered to watch by now. Nearly the entire younger generation was present, and even a few little kids who hadn't entered the Academy yet came just to watch the excitement.
Kairen's lips curved upward. Seems everyone's here. Time to dance.
"Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
Two clones split from him instantly, both charging toward the four-man squad.
"Fire Release: Dragon Fire Jutsu!"
"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"
A blazing combination technique—
"Fire Release: Fire Dragon Bullet!"
The squad scrambled to defend.
"Earth Release: Earth Flow Wall!"
"Fire Release: Dragon Fire Jutsu!"
But the earth wall couldn't withstand the blast, and their own flames failed to offset Kairen's. Fire swallowed their defense, forcing them to scatter in panic.
At that moment, Kairen's true body struck the lone vanguard head-on with flawless swordsmanship from the Uchiha style—
—and dropped him instantly.
"One-Sword Style: Godspeed!"
He turned and dashed straight toward the squad leader, knocking him out with a single blow.
Meanwhile, his two clones closed in on the remaining stragglers.
"Earth Release: Headhunter Jutsu!"
"Genjutsu: Hell Viewing Jutsu!"
Both targets fell in seconds.
The final squad member, already slightly injured from the opening barrage, raised his hand shakily. "I surrender!"
A sharp hiss spread through the watching crowd—several Uchiha audibly gasped. A few who had been planning to join in looked suddenly grim.
Kairen turned toward the remaining clan members.
"Looks like we've still got plenty of brothers left. Let's save some time—I'll take you all at once!"
He grinned. "Here I come!"
He dashed into the remaining eight challengers. Though the number sounded large, the battle was one-sided.
"Genjutsu: Demonic Illusion—False Surroundings Jutsu!"
Then came the slaughter—a tiger among sheep.
The stronger ones were handled one-on-one, the stubborn ones grouped together and crushed. Soon, only those without Sharingan or with single tomoe remained, all beaten and sprawled across the training ground.
Within minutes, the entire field was a mess.
Kairen turned, waved to Uchiha Cha and Uchiha Kaze, signaling them to take the fallen aside.
Once the arena was cleared, he faced the newly arrived clansmen.
"Our squad was selecting a captain just now. Sorry to have made a spectacle of it."
He smiled faintly. "I might've gone a little overboard—most of them didn't even have their eyes open yet. So, which of my brothers here wants to have some fun?"
"I've just returned from my studies abroad," someone said cheerfully. "And I've long wanted to witness the brilliance of our clan's many geniuses. I ask my brothers to grant me that honor!"
He bowed politely.
Everyone's gaze turned toward a refined young man—someone Kairen recognized. It was Uchiha Danten, the clansman who used to deliver their mail.
The youth stepped forward, bowing slightly. "I am Uchiha Danten. Junior brother, you're too modest. Ze-sensei has often told us to exchange pointers with our brothers, but you were never in the village. We hadn't had the chance—until today. Let us learn from each other."
He made the Seal of Reconciliation.
Kairen blinked at the word junior brother for a moment, then understood and smiled.
"So it's Ze-sensei, huh? Then I mustn't disappoint him. Indeed, brothers should learn from each other."
He too formed the Seal of Reconciliation.
Both moved at once—
"Iaido: Sky-Cutting Slash!"
"Uchiha-Style Kenjutsu: Wind Gale Slash!"
Their swords met in a flash. Kairen's strike clearly held the advantage—Danten staggered backward several steps.
Kairen pressed forward relentlessly. His fierce chain of attacks left Danten barely able to defend. Both had activated their Sharingan, but seeing did not mean dodging; the body could not always keep up with the eye. Kairen's rhythm grew smoother and sharper, while Danten was being driven steadily to the edge.
Grinding his teeth, Danten roared,
"Uchiha-Style Kenjutsu—Flaming Leap! Gale Slash! Combination Technique: Blazing Tempest!"
A fiery whirlwind slash tore toward Kairen.
Kairen smiled slightly.
"Secret Sword—First Sword."
It was the technique he had realized while cutting wood, refined during his blindfolded sword training, and perfected while fishing with his grandfather—a union of strength, technique, and spirit.
To align with heaven and earth, and stand undefeated.
His sword cleaved through the storm, sending Danten flying. The young man's sword was split at the edge—no longer usable.
Kairen bowed slightly. "Thank you for the lesson, senpai."
Then he looked around at the watching crowd, his smile calm but razor-sharp.
"Who else? Who else would like to give me some guidance?"