"Ahem."
"I lost."
"Age catches up. My power has waned."
"But that does not matter."
Though defeated, Setsuna Uchiha was not discouraged. He was fervent, his smile blazing.
"What matters is you, Shiro Gen."
"Your talent comes once in a century."
"You are indeed the Uchiha clan's only hope."
"I revere Lord Madara, that is true."
"But at the same age, you are stronger and wiser."
Shiro Gen did not play humble. To him, this was simply fact.
"I said it before, just believe in me."
"I will grasp invincible power and change the clan's future."
"Next,"
"let us force Fugaku Uchiha to hand over resources in front of everyone."
"I will make you an opening."
Setsuna answered without a beat.
"Good. I will wait."
He waited eight days.
At eight in the evening, almost all the clan's jonin gathered.
"Elder Setsuna, what is so important that you had to call all of us here?"
"Make it quick. Everyone is busy."
The speaker was a dove faction elder. Setsuna glanced at him, unreadable.
"No need to hurry."
"I know you are all busy."
"But this concerns the Uchiha clan's future."
"So you will have to witness it yourselves."
At that, Fugaku Uchiha's tone grew more grave.
"Elder Setsuna, I know you would not waste our time for nothing."
"I only ask you to be direct."
Setsuna smiled, genuinely pleased.
"Clan head, I was just getting there."
"It concerns you. Our clan has birthed a prodigy."
"This prodigy already has the power to defeat you."
"But he lacks resources. I ask that you sponsor him."
As he spoke, Setsuna stepped aside, revealing Shiro Gen before the crowd.
Everyone blinked, then reacted in their own ways.
"Elder Setsuna, you must be joking."
"We know he is gifted, but he is a child. You claim he can defeat Fugaku?"
"Yes, yes. Are you senile?"
"..."
Shiro Gen had expected small minds to doubt what they could not imagine.
Only proof would shut their mouths.
He opened the three tomoe Sharingan.
"Be quiet."
"I am here to challenge the clan head."
"Facts speak louder than words."
"The Sharingan will show you the truth."
His cold voice carried an iron certainty.
The hall fell silent.
Fugaku studied him, eyes narrowing.
He knew Shiro Gen belonged to the hawks.
So young, with three tomoe already, and wielding them with ease.
No ordinary boy.
He had to admit the child's gift exceeded his own.
He also knew Setsuna well.
The old fox would not stage this if the boy lacked power.
Which meant...
Shiro Gen was a real threat.
He was confident he could win now.
But next year? The year after?
It would not take long before Shiro Gen surpassed him.
When that day came...
Could he still hold the clan head's seat?
His expression sank.
Others in the room ranged from quick to slow on the uptake.
"Six years old, and already three tomoe."
"A prodigy among prodigies."
"No wonder Elder Setsuna said this concerns our future."
"If he grows smoothly, he may reach that man's level."
"Since he lacks resources,
the clan head should fund him."
"..."
"My fellow clansmen."
"In Uchiha, strength rules."
"So, clan head..."
"let us fight."
"Let everyone see who truly stands as the clan's strongest."
Fugaku wanted to refuse, but he knew he could not.
He drew a long breath and answered coolly.
"Very well."
At once, the crowd stepped back in unspoken accord, clearing space for the two.
Shiro Gen entered his peak state at once.
He would crush Fugaku and claim the clan's resources for himself.
HOO!! HOO!!!
Like a transformation, flames rose in a surge,
then compressed into tangible plates of firelight, a regal and resplendent armor, cool and merciless.
Light blazed, heat rolled, the air grew hot.
He thrust out both hands, Tiger seal.
Fire Release: Flame-Sword Technique.
Four masses of Fire chakra condensed into four Flame swords.
Three flowed into the Armor of Fire.
The last he gripped tight.
Gasps rippled through the jonin.
They knew what such Fire secrets meant.
Perhaps his gift far exceeded their guesses.
"Incredible."
"This is the clan's future hope."
"Wonderful."
"At last, a talent to match that man."
"Maybe to surpass him."
"..."
The voices reached Fugaku's ears, and his face darkened.
His three tomoe told him Shiro Gen was formidable.
He might lose,
to a six year old.
He could not accept it.
Shiro Gen did not care what he could accept.
He attacked with the very first stroke.
That stroke was, of course,
Shiro Gen-ryu Sword Art: Phantom-Blaze Radiant Blade.
Dazzling firelight burst upward.
After the shimmer of genjutsu came a ten meter arc of flame carving the air.