Chapter 12: Injury

"The evidence is here, and you still want to argue?"

Uchiha Shin attacked without saying another word.

Knowing that he had been framed, Uchiha Shimana naturally refused to be captured and immediately counterattacked.

As Uchiha Shin and Uchiha Shimana fought, Uchiha Jin kept a close watch on Uchiha Fugaku and the others. He would not allow them to interfere.

"Kisaragi, you dare to frame Shimana."

"You keep saying I framed him, but where's the evidence? Making such claims without proof is slander. Uchiha Fugaku, you still owe us an apology. Will you apologize yourself, or shall I help you?"

Kisaragi slowly pulled out Ryūjin Jakka.

At that moment, the situation became tense. The two sides stood opposite each other, swords drawn and ready to clash. Some neutral clansmen stood in the middle, unsure whether to stay or leave.

"Fugaku, don't do this," the first elder intervened to stop him.

Fighting wouldn't benefit anyone—it would only weaken the Uchiha clan. If this infighting led to their decline, it would be a joke to the rest of the ninja world.

Uchiha Fugaku glanced at the elder, a cold light flashing in his eyes. He once trusted the elder, but no longer. Now, he suspected that the elder was outwardly supporting him while secretly aiding Kisaragi.

He even wondered if the first elder had been involved in the deaths of the second and third elders. Yesterday, when he went to buy their loyalty, he had been with the elder. It was possible the elder, seeing that they leaned toward him, notified Kisaragi to get rid of them.

"Get out of the way," Fugaku said, pushing the first elder aside and forming hand signs.

"Fire Style: Dragon Flame Jutsu!"

"No memory of what happened last time?" Kisaragi sneered as he noticed Fugaku's hand signs. His speed was far greater than Fugaku's.

"Fire Style: Fire Annihilation!"

A massive sea of fire instantly swallowed the fire dragon, continuing its assault toward Fugaku.

"Not good!"

Uchiha Bob and Uchiha Rin, standing behind Fugaku, shouted and quickly reacted: "Use Earth-Style: Earth Wall immediately!"

Two Elite Jōnin, along with several Jōnin, combined their efforts to stop the oncoming firestorm.

Fugaku was drenched in cold sweat. He had felt the threat of death just now. If not for Uchiha Bob and Uchiha Rin's quick response, he would have been killed by that attack.

"Be careful, young master," Uchiha Bob warned Fugaku.

"Boom!"

A figure suddenly broke through the shattered earth wall, and a flash of cold steel followed. Blood splattered as Fugaku's body fell, a wound slashed from his right shoulder to his left waist, deep enough to reach the bone.

"If you dare to frame this captain, you may be spared from death, but you won't escape punishment. This is just a small price," Kisaragi said, slowly retracting his sword.

He had held back; otherwise, that single strike would have cut Fugaku in half.

"You dare injure the young master—you're asking to die!" Uchiha Bob shouted in fury. He charged at Kisaragi with a kunai aimed at his throat.

Crack!

Kisaragi grabbed Uchiha Bob's wrist and, with a swift twist, broke it. He followed with a powerful kick, sending Bob flying.

When Uchiha Bob tried to move again, a blade was already at his throat. Uchiha Jin stared at him coldly.

"Move again, and I'll cut your head off," Jin said.

The battle ended in an instant. Uchiha Rin reluctantly sheathed his kunai, warily eyeing Kisaragi. His strength was overwhelming. He had effortlessly crushed two Elite Jōnin—Fugaku and Uchiha Bob—cementing his place as the Uchiha's top powerhouse.

Compared to Kisaragi, Fugaku clearly fell short. Even if Fugaku became the clan leader, Kisaragi would never be under his command.

Meanwhile, Uchiha Shimana was being suppressed by Uchiha Shin. Despite being an Elite Jōnin, there was a noticeable gap in their abilities. Although Shun was younger, under Kisaragi's tutelage, his strength was exceptional for an Elite Jōnin.

Though he had the upper hand, it wasn't easy for Shin to fully defeat Shimana in a short time.

Thud!

A kunai suddenly flew from the shadows, piercing Uchiha Shimana's abdomen and leaving a gaping wound.

Seizing the opportunity, Uchiha Shin swiftly held his kunai to Shimana's neck, leaving him no choice but to surrender.

The kunai had, of course, come from Kisaragi.

Kisaragi approached Fugaku, who lay on the ground, and stepped on his right arm.

"An apology or your arm. You choose."

At first, Fugaku wanted to be defiant, but Kisaragi's cold and ruthless gaze broke his will.

A ninja must endure what ordinary people cannot.

"I'm sorry. I misunderstood you. The deaths of the two elders have nothing to do with you," Fugaku said, swallowing his pride.

"Well, I admire your ability to bend and adapt," Kisaragi remarked before kicking Fugaku aside.

"Take him for treatment before he bleeds out."

Seeing Fugaku humiliated and lying like a beaten dog, those who had once supported him as the next patriarch began to doubt their decision. Could someone so thoroughly defeated and forced to apologize be fit to lead?

Many of them silently reconsidered their allegiance, ready to switch sides.

Uchiha Rin quickly carried Fugaku off to be treated. The wound was too severe, and if they didn't act fast, he really might bleed to death.

"Take these two to the police's interrogation room," Kisaragi ordered, referring to Uchiha Bob and Uchiha Shimana.

[Ding! Framed Uchiha Shimana, reward: 3000 Evil Points]

The reward wasn't much, but it was better than nothing. Small gains add up over time.

"The murderers of the two elders have been caught. Everyone, please disperse. I assure you, the true culprits will not be spared," Kisaragi declared, sending the gathered clansmen away.