The conflict between the two had been ongoing for a long time.
Initially, Fugaku looked down on him—after all, a ninja with talent but no aptitude for ninjutsu wasn't worth Fugaku's time.
If it hadn't been for the fact that Gin interacted with the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki...
Fugaku thought their paths would never cross.
But unexpectedly, Gin had his day of sudden rise.
To maintain stability within the clan, Fugaku hadn't taken any unnecessary actions.
The genius researcher, Gin, even became a representative figure of the Uchiha, and Fugaku felt no jealousy.
Even though the elders feared Gin, Fugaku chose not to act against him.
However, Gin showed no respect for the Hokage. Fugaku saw no recognition of the clan or love for the village in Gin—he behaved like an outsider.
Thus...
Fugaku decided to change Gin's mindset.
The Uchiha philosophy was that the weak submitted to the strong.
He would use strength to steer Uchiha Gin away from his twisted path.
Evil could never defeat justice.
He saw the scarlet Sharingan in Gin's eyes, the three tomoe spinning rapidly.
Unfortunately.
Before his eyes.
It was all futile.
The moment they locked eyes was when the Sharingan duel began.
The illusion had already been activated.
The world turned scarlet.
The two stood facing each other.
The next moment, countless kunai, shuriken, and iron spikes appeared around them, clashing in the crimson world.
Soon, the weapons on Gin's side far outnumbered those on Fugaku's side.
Gradually suppressing him.
Fugaku frowned, and black flames ignited in the scarlet world.
However, the next moment, crimson rain fell from the sky, extinguishing the flames.
Fugaku extended his hand, and countless ferocious beasts lunged at Gin.
Gin stomped his foot, causing countless towering earth spikes to emerge from the ground, instantly piercing the beasts.
One spike even grew under Fugaku's feet, impaling his body.
Fugaku's pupils shrank, the scarlet Sharingan widening.
A new world appeared.
Gin's figure fell from the sky, while Fugaku stood unharmed above, coldly watching his descent.
This time, Gin's Sharingan widened, and another new world emerged.
A pitch-black space.
Nothing could be seen.
Fugaku stood there, his body gradually covered in wounds, blood seeping out.
He knelt on one knee, covering one eye with his hand, the three tomoe in his Sharingan spinning rapidly, almost forming a complete circle.
The speed suddenly slowed down.
In the real world.
Fugaku fell from the utility pole.
He managed to stabilize himself in time, kneeling on one knee and covering one eye.
"That's it?"
Gin looked down at Fugaku.
The battle between the Sharingan illusions had already determined the victor.
Fugaku was utterly defeated.
"How is this possible?"
This was the power of the Mangekyō Sharingan. The power of an awakened Mangekyō was completely different from that of a regular three-tomoe Sharingan.
The difference lay in the power of the eyes.
Yet, against Gin, he was completely defeated.
There was only one possibility.
"Have you also awakened those eyes?"
Fugaku's voice was low. How old was Gin now? Not even fifteen, and he had awakened the Mangekyō!?
He himself had awakened the Mangekyō at eighteen—did he need to apologize by taking his own life?
"Are you talking about the Mangekyō Sharingan? I haven't," Gin shrugged.
He relied solely on the power boost from his Demonic Technique.
"How is that possible!?" Fugaku was even more incredulous.
Defeated without even having a Mangekyō—it felt like his lifelong beliefs were shattered.
That was supposed to be the ultimate power of the Uchiha clan.
Earlier, he had hesitated about using it, but ultimately chose to forgo it.
Yet, even so, a mere three-tomoe shouldn't have been able to stand against him.
"Being blindly devoted to those eyes—your defeat was inevitable."
Gin never believed in the power of the Mangekyō. Though a pair of Mangekyō eyes could create a strong person worthy of the Kage title...
If he couldn't awaken it, it was useless to him.
Not that he was being bitter!!!
Just like the regular Sharingan—having it was certainly great, but not having it wouldn't change much for him.
If that was the case...
Fugaku's three tomoe quickly connected.
Mangekyō Sharingan.
He refused to believe that Gin could overcome the Mangekyō.
Seeing Fugaku's action, Gin wasn't blind.
Darkness surged out from his body first.
Wrapping around Fugaku.
In the darkness.
Fugaku found himself completely unable to move, as if bound by the Shadow Possession Technique.
Some hard substance was wrapping around his body, draining his chakra.
"What... is this!?" Fugaku's voice was dry.
It was like a Kekkei Genkai—how could the Uchiha possess such power?
"Take a guess."
Gin's voice came from within the darkness.
"Do you want to use Susano'o? If you use it, you can break free from this darkness. You might even easily defeat me."
Gin knew his own strength well. The combination of darkness and Wood Release could restrain most ninjas—even typical elite jōnin might not be able to break free.
But against a Kage-level opponent, it wasn't that easy.
Especially Susano'o—a power that completely transformed the user.
His Dark Walker Technique couldn't restrain it.
His current Wood Release wasn't that powerful either.
However, using Susano'o would be equivalent to announcing the existence of the Mangekyō in the village.
Wouldn't that further set the village and clan at odds? Fugaku couldn't use it.
"You win."
Fugaku could only lower his head in defeat.
Only then did the darkness dissipate.
Gin looked down at Uchiha Fugaku, his cold gaze not like that of someone looking at a clan member.
"Even if you're a dog, you need to know who you can bite."
Gin's words were full of mockery.
Fugaku kept his head down, not saying anything.
He seemed used to it—Gin never showed any respect when speaking to him.
Seeing Gin about to leave.
Fugaku called out.
"Gin, if I give up the position of clan head to you, will you lead the Uchiha clan?"
This time, he spoke not as a member of the Third Hokage's Anbu.
But as the future head of the Uchiha clan.
The sense of defeat that Gin had given him was overwhelming.
It seemed impossible to fulfill the elder Fire Core's request to find an opportunity to kill Gin.
This clansman, who was even younger than him, possessed such incredible strength—he wasn't even sure if Susano'o could really kill this boy.
Gin stopped, glancing at Fugaku.
"Indecisive, unaware of the situation, self-righteous, easily influenced by others—you indeed have no qualifications to be the clan head. You will only lead the Uchiha to destruction."
The future would prove it.
In the end, it was Fugaku's own son who severed everything of the Uchiha clan.
"But what I want, I will take myself."
Gin never liked things handed to him. If he wanted something, he had the power to fight for it.
"I, Uchiha Gin, don't need a loser to hand over his scraps."
"I'm not that pathetic."
(End of Chapter)