After passing through the vast forest, an open grassland stretched out before them. In the distance, a massive complex of buildings gradually came into view.
Using her Tenseigan to peer ahead, Garuda warned, "Isamu, there's a sensory barrier ahead. Be careful."
"Heh, a sensory barrier? Not bad."
"Even after living in peace for so long, they haven't neglected their defenses."
"Excellent."
"Let's see whether their combat instincts have dulled."
Without another word, Isamu strode straight into the sensory barrier.
Meanwhile, within the settlement, the five Uchiha responsible for monitoring the barrier immediately detected the intrusion.
"Oh no! An outsider has entered the Sacred Grounds!"
"Sound the alarm!"
"Notify the Guard Unit and the Clan Leader immediately!"
"Yes!"
As the alarm echoed throughout the settlement, the entire clan sprang into action.
The elderly, women, and children quickly evacuated to designated shelters, while every combat-capable shinobi assembled for battle.
The Guard Unit, acting as the first line of defense, rushed out the moment the alarm sounded.
Watching the ten guards arrive, Isamu nodded approvingly.
"I've only just stepped inside, and they're already here."
"Excellent response time."
"Halt!"
"Who are you?"
"Do you not know that this is the sacred territory of the Uchiha Clan? Outsiders are forbidden from entering!"
Rather than answering, Isamu calmly formed a series of hand seals.
Today, he wanted to see how capable his clansmen had become without him.
"Ice Release: Ice Dragon Technique!"
A massive ice dragon several meters long erupted into existence and roared toward the guards.
"Damn it!"
"Attacking without a word?"
"And it's Ice Release?"
"You really underestimate the Uchiha Clan!"
The captain immediately formed hand seals.
"Fire Release: Fire Dragon Flame Bullet!"
A dragon-shaped torrent of flames surged forward to intercept the incoming ice dragon.
However…
The captain had greatly underestimated Isamu's strength.
The flames that should have countered the Ice Release were blown apart the instant they collided.
"W-What?!"
"How is that possible?!"
The captain stared in disbelief as his Fire Release was completely overwhelmed.
The ice dragon continued forward without slowing in the slightest.
"Move!"
The guards leaped aside just before impact.
Boom!
The dragon slammed into the earth, blasting out a massive crater before shattering into countless shards of ice.
"Captain!"
"The enemy's too strong!"
"We can't beat him one-on-one!"
"Let's work together. Even if we can't win, we can stall until reinforcements arrive!"
"Agreed!"
Realizing the overwhelming gap in strength, the ten guards immediately shifted tactics.
Rather than seeking victory, they coordinated their attacks to delay the intruder for as long as possible.
Isamu wasn't in any hurry.
His purpose wasn't to defeat them.
He simply wanted to observe how strong the Uchiha had become.
The battle settled into a prolonged skirmish.
While Isamu exchanged blows with the guards, the entire Uchiha Clan had finished assembling.
More than a thousand clan members now filled the central plaza.
Standing atop a raised platform was the current Clan Leader—
Uchiha Sora.
Looking down at the gathered crowd, excitement shone in his eyes.
Ever since becoming Clan Leader, he'd spent his days dealing with tedious internal affairs.
Now…
At last, a real enemy had appeared.
Instead of fear, he felt exhilaration.
He preferred battle over paperwork any day.
At that moment, the captain of the sensory unit approached.
"Clan Leader."
"The Guard Unit has already engaged the intruders."
"They dare invade our territory and attack us?"
"They're courting death."
"Have you determined how many there are?"
"And how strong they are?"
"Yes."
"We expanded the sensory barrier."
"There are five people."
"One is weak."
"One is average."
"One is fairly strong, but still within our ability to handle."
"As for the remaining two…"
He hesitated.
"What about them?"
"Speak."
"Well…"
The sensory captain glanced uneasily at the assembled clansmen.
"Hurry up."
"We're all family here."
"There's nothing you can't say."
"I need the information to plan our response."
Taking a deep breath, he finally answered.
"Our sensors indicate…"
"The remaining two possess strength beyond anything we've ever encountered."
"Clan Leader…"
"Forgive my bluntness…"
"But even if our entire clan fought together…"
"…I'm afraid we still wouldn't stand a chance."
Uchiha Sora frowned.
The sensory unit wasn't prone to exaggeration.
If they judged the enemy to be that powerful…
Then they probably were.
Still—
The enemy stood at the gates of the Uchiha homeland.
Retreat wasn't an option.
With every clansman watching him, he couldn't afford to show even the slightest hesitation.
He raised his voice.
"Enough!"
"'Unfathomable?'"
"'No chance?'"
"I don't care how strong they are!"
"Do they have three heads and six arms?"
"Ever since Clan Leader Isamu and Clan Leader Uchiha Zhan founded this homeland…"
"The Uchiha have never feared anyone!"
"I may not possess the strength of those two great Clan Leaders…"
"But I refuse to fear our enemies!"
"Well said, Clan Leader!"
"That's right!"
"The Uchiha fear no one!"
"Even if the King of Heaven himself came today, we'd make him choke to death!"
"They say the brave fear nothing!"
"Then today…"
"We'll be brave!"
"If you're afraid, stay behind!"
"If you've got courage…"
"Follow me!"
With that declaration, Uchiha Sora charged forward.
Not a single clansman retreated.
Everyone followed him without hesitation.
Deep within the Uchiha settlement, inside a medium-sized room, five elderly men sat together in discussion.
They were Isamu's former comrades—
Uchiha Zhan,
Uchiha Feng,
Uchiha Gao Li,
Uchiha Umei,
and Uchiha Yue.
Now, they served as the clan's five elders.
Time had left its mark upon them.
Wrinkles lined their faces.
Their youthful vigor was long gone.
"An enemy has attacked."
"Zhan, as the Great Elder, what's your opinion?"
"What opinion?"
Zhan snorted.
"I'll use my eyes."
"This world was created by the Clan Leader himself."
"You all know the restrictions and seals he left behind."
"Nobody should be capable of breaking them."
"And yet…"
"Someone has entered."
He looked around the room.
"I don't believe any of you are foolish enough not to understand what that means."
"You think…"
"The Clan Leader has returned?"
"I believe…"
"It's either the Clan Leader himself…"
"…or one of his descendants."
"No one else could have entered this place."
"If you already suspected that…"
"Why didn't you stop Uchiha Sora?"
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