Chapter 7: A Spar with the Clan Leader
After completing his hand seals, Yusuke exhaled a stream of fire—but this time, the flames underwent a dramatic transformation, glowing crimson red. This was a Fire Release jutsu enhanced by the power of Ryūjin Jakka within him. The flames were far more intense than any ordinary fire, and in the blink of an eye, they swallowed Uchiha Fugaku's Great Fireball Jutsu, completely engulfing him.
"Father!" shouted Itachi, watching anxiously from the sidelines. But his concern quickly eased when he saw Fugaku's figure vanish with a puff, replaced by a scorched log consumed by flames—a classic Substitution Jutsu just in time to evade the fiery assault.
Yusuke immediately withdrew the flames and instinctively crossed his arms to block an incoming attack from his right. His timing was impeccable, intercepting a fierce roundhouse kick from Fugaku. The sheer force of the blow sent Yusuke skidding backward several steps.
Seizing the advantage, Fugaku surged forward with a relentless flurry of strikes. The two engaged in an intense exchange of pure taijutsu—no weapons, just raw skill. Their movements were lightning-fast and every blow carried serious weight. It was clear both were seasoned masters of hand-to-hand combat.
Ninjas of a certain level never neglect taijutsu. Without the physical foundation and reaction speed to match, one simply can't handle the myriad jutsu types in combat. For the Uchiha, who possess the Sharingan to enhance visual perception, rigorous taijutsu training is vital to keep up with what their eyes can see.
After a series of exchanges, both fighters had more or less gauged each other's capabilities. During the bout, Yusuke noticed that Fugaku no longer seemed angry. Instead, there was a hint of admiration in his expression. But there was no time to dwell on it—the pace was too quick for introspection.
Suddenly, Fugaku changed tactics mid-fight. He leapt high into the air, stomping down at Yusuke with force. Yusuke raised his arms to block, while Fugaku used the momentum to flip backward and land at a distance, forming hand seals as he did.
"Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique!"
Fugaku spewed a dozen small fireballs from his mouth. With a flick of his wrist, he launched an equal number of shuriken into the flames. The blazing projectiles spun through the air toward Yusuke like fiery comets.
In response, Yusuke rapidly formed hand seals. A translucent, purple barrier appeared before him, resembling glass.
"Blaze Release: Single Violet Flame Formation!"
The flaming shuriken slammed into the barrier, triggering a burst of thick black smoke and a loud sizzle, as if hot iron were plunged into cold water. Then—nothing. Everything had vanished. The purple flames had completely incinerated the shuriken without a trace.
This technique—Blaze Release: Single Violet Flame Formation—was one Yusuke developed based on the Four Violet Flames Formation that Orochimaru once showed him. Though Yusuke had taught it back to Orochimaru, the latter was never able to use it. The reason was simple: Orochimaru couldn't independently convert Fire Release into Blaze Release. But Yusuke, by channeling the power of Ryūjin Jakka, could turn fire into pure flame.
Fugaku, well-versed in the shinobi arts, immediately recognized that the purple barrier wasn't something he could break through easily. So he moved to the side, bypassing the shield and launching a fresh assault. This time, he carried a kunai—and drove it straight through Yusuke's chest.
But something felt off. Fugaku sensed no resistance from the strike. He instantly realized he hadn't hit a real body. Before his eyes, Yusuke's form shattered into a flock of crows, each one cloaked in crimson fire. The birds swarmed toward him.
Fugaku retreated while slashing with his kunai to ward them off. Yet even when the blade made contact, the crows didn't feel solid. Soon, one of the fiery birds grazed the sleeve of his kimono, setting it aflame.
Without hesitation, Fugaku sliced off the burning fabric. His seasoned instincts kicked in—these weren't simple clones. They were infused with both genjutsu and elemental chakra.
"What a technique, Uchiha Yusuke. Let's see what else you've got," Fugaku thought, admiring his opponent's skill even as he kept a straight face. His fingers flew through a series of hand seals, and his three-tomoe Sharingan spun into motion.
"Binding Illusion Technique!"
Suddenly, dozens of spectral iron spikes appeared, pinning the airborne crows in place. One by one, they froze and vanished into smoke. In their place, Yusuke's real body slowly materialized—though he, too, was impaled by several of the illusory spikes and appeared completely immobilized.
"To counter a genjutsu with another genjutsu... as expected of the clan head," Yusuke said with genuine admiration. "I thought my Fire Crow Illusion Technique was nearly unbeatable, but you've shattered it with ease."
Although his expression remained calm, his tone carried deep respect.
The Binding Illusion Technique was a genjutsu. The spikes existed only within the minds of the caster and the victim. From the outside, Itachi merely saw Yusuke standing motionless.
"Yusuke, you truly are the most gifted prodigy of our clan," Fugaku said. "To have reached this level at such a young age—and without even relying on the Sharingan. Even now, you've been holding back. As the Blazing Blade, you haven't drawn your sword once during this entire match. Clearly, you still have strength in reserve."
Fugaku's expression had softened. The sternness he had shown at the beginning had faded, replaced by a look of appreciation as he gazed at Yusuke.
***
To Uchiha Fugaku, this spar was already over. Whether Yusuke held back because it was a mere spar or due to arrogance, the fact remained—he was now completely restrained and unable to continue fighting. Besides, Fugaku himself had yet to reveal his trump card.
"As for your conflict with Ryuya and the others, I haven't taken it to heart," Fugaku continued. "I only wanted to test your strength. Initially, I had a fairly high opinion of your abilities, but it seems even that was an underestimation."
Watching the composed Fugaku speak, Yusuke understood what he was thinking. The man believed he had already won, and so he was speaking with the confidence of a victor.
Noticing Yusuke's silence, Fugaku's brow furrowed slightly. "Young man, don't let a single loss weigh on you. Victory and defeat are part of every warrior's journey. Besides, your opponent this time is none other than the head of the Uchiha Clan."
"My apologies, Clan Leader," Yusuke replied calmly. "I was just wondering… is the spar over?"
Fugaku chuckled at the unexpected response. "And what do you think?"
"If not, then I suppose it's time I draw my blade."
"All things in universe shall return to ash—Ryūjin Jakka, release!"
Before Fugaku could react, he caught a flicker of fire in Yusuke's eyes. In the blink of an eye, intense fire chakra erupted from his body, completely shattering the restraints of the Binding Illusion. What truly drew Fugaku's gaze, however, was the magnificent long blade now engulfed in flames in Yusuke's right hand.
With a single swing of the sword, the flames traced a vivid crimson arc through the air, leaving behind a dazzling trail of fire.
Stunned, Fugaku couldn't help but let out a sigh. "So this is the fabled Blazing Blade… A terrifying talent indeed."
As Fugaku deactivated his Sharingan, he habitually tried to tuck both hands into the wide sleeves of his robe—only to find his right sleeve had been burned away by Yusuke's earlier Fire Crow Illusion.
Letting out a helpless chuckle, Fugaku sighed again. "To think… I truly didn't expect this. By the standards of a sparring match, I suppose losing a sleeve means I lost."
Seeing that Fugaku no longer intended to fight, Yusuke also withdrew his Zanpakutō, Ryūjin Jakka. Until now, he hadn't been sure what kind of ninja Fugaku was, but after this exchange, it became clear: Fugaku excelled in genjutsu.
The Binding Illusion he used wasn't a particularly high-level technique, but Fugaku had executed it masterfully. Not only did it break through Yusuke's Fire Crow Illusion, it also held him completely immobilized. If not for Ryūjin Jakka, Yusuke knew he wouldn't have been able to break free so easily.
Of course, defeating a technique isn't just about countering the jutsu—it's about countering the user. If someone like Kurenai had used the same Binding Illusion, she likely wouldn't have held him for even a moment.
Shaking his head, Yusuke said, "You flatter me, Clan Leader. I've already used nearly all my techniques—I wouldn't be arrogant enough to think I can defeat the head of the Uchiha Clan."
His words were sincere. Yusuke was well aware that Fugaku possessed the Mangekyō Sharingan. If Fugaku had used its mysterious abilities, Yusuke would have stood no chance.
Fugaku nodded with satisfaction. "Yusuke, this isn't the place for a proper talk. Let's continue in the reception hall."
He was quite pleased with this talented and humble young shinobi. His tone even grew more familiar as he addressed him.
The three of them moved to the reception hall. Fugaku and Yusuke sat facing each other, while Itachi brought over a cushion and sat by his father's side.
The sparring match had been an eye-opener for young Itachi—it was the first time he'd witnessed a battle between high-level shinobi. Gifted with a natural tactical mind, he found himself inspired. Just like boys on Earth dreamed of being warriors or superheroes, boys in the world of shinobi dreamed of becoming powerful ninja.
Looking at Yusuke's composed and mature face despite his youth, Fugaku spoke slowly, "Our clan is facing many challenges right now. As a jōnin, I believe you must have sensed it too…"