Naruto: Uchiha's Resolve

The massive crater left by Uchiha Hirito's attack was silent, void of any trace of Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzo. Both had been utterly obliterated, reduced to nothing more than ash in the wind.

The ninjas in attendance looked on with mixed emotions. Sympathy had no place here. Those who meddled in matters above their station met such fates.

"People need to understand their limits," whispered Hyuga Takuma to himself, glancing at the grim expressions of the clan heads.

The aftermath of this duel served as a cautionary tale. Within hours, families like the Shimura and Sarutobi clans would hold emergency meetings to discuss survival strategies. Uchiha Hirito had set a precedent that even whispers of rebellion would invite annihilation.

---

"It seems Senju Tobirama's judgment wasn't as sharp as we thought," Hirito said, his voice cutting through the tension in the air. "The heir he chose to carry the Will of Fire proved incapable of carrying Konoha's burden."

His eyes, gleaming with power, deliberately locked on Uzumaki Mito, daring her to respond. Hirito's words were calculated to provoke, to remind the room that there was no one left standing between him and the title of Hokage.

"Who else wishes to try?" Hirito said, his voice echoing with mockery. "Konoha is a democratic nation, after all. Anyone with a dream to protect the village may rise to the occasion."

The room remained silent. No one dared to stand. The sight of Hirito's blood-stained sword and the smoldering battlefield was enough to crush even the boldest ambitions.

Senju Haruto, standing beside Uzumaki Mito, clenched his fists in frustration. The gap between him and Hirito was undeniable, a chasm that his current abilities could not bridge.

Hirito's Lava Release, his Sharingan, and his mastery over combat left Haruto feeling inadequate. He was not his father, Senju Hashirama. He hadn't inherited Wood Release or the Sage Body, nor could he draw upon his father's immense chakra reserves.

"Why didn't I inherit Wood Release?!" Haruto thought bitterly. His mind raced, searching for solutions, but all he found was hesitation.

Beside him, Uzumaki Mito had been watching her son closely. She could see his hesitation, his fear of stepping forward, and she sighed internally.

If her son couldn't face Hirito, then the responsibility fell to her.

"I'll handle this," Uzumaki Mito said, stepping forward with a calm but commanding presence.

The room buzzed with tension. Uzumaki Mito, the matriarch of the Senju clan, had finally decided to take the field.

Hirito smirked. "So, the Senju's last defense steps forward. Very well, Uzumaki Mito. Show me the strength of the Will of Fire."

Mito's gaze didn't waver. "Hirito, you've proven your strength, but you've forgotten one thing—Konoha's foundation wasn't built on strength alone."

Her words, though calm, carried weight. The elders in the room straightened, reminded of the era when Mito's leadership had shaped Konoha alongside Hashirama.

---

"Let's not destroy the village with this battle," Mito said firmly. "We'll settle this elsewhere."

"Name the place," Hirito said, his voice dripping with confidence.

"The Forest of Death," Mito replied without hesitation.

The Forest of Death, a vast and untamed wilderness surrounding Konoha, was the perfect battlefield. Its isolation ensured that no innocents would be caught in the crossfire.

As the two opponents prepared to leave, Hyuga Takuma whispered to himself, "Even if Uzumaki Mito wins, her time is limited. The Uchiha have already claimed the future."

Hirito noticed Haruto's clenched fists and couldn't resist a jab. "Don't worry, Haruto. If your mother fails, you can always try your luck next."

Haruto's face turned red with anger, but his resolve remained unsteady.

As the group headed toward the Forest of Death, Hirito activated a card from his system:

Mangekyō Sharingan Experience Card – Activated.

The sudden surge of power coursing through Hirito was intoxicating. This time, he had been granted Obito Uchiha's Mangekyō abilities.

"Kamui," Hirito whispered to himself, marveling at the newfound power. With Kamui's teleportation and intangibility, Hirito now had a tool to counter anything Mito might throw at him.

Uzumaki Mito, sensing Hirito's newfound power, donned her battle armor, an artifact from her youth. Its polished steel gleamed under the sunlight, a stark reminder of the Warring States Period.

The two stood face to face, their surroundings eerily quiet. The Forest of Death was vast, its trees towering high into the sky, their canopies forming a natural arena for the combatants.

"Are you ready to meet your end, Hirito?" Mito asked, her chakra flaring.

"Bring everything you have, Mito. I'll show you what it means to challenge the Uchiha."

With those words, their battle began.

(End of Chapter)

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