181-185

*Chapter 181: Orochimaru Struck by a Boomerang – Have I Become an Evil Uchiha?*

Inside the meeting room,

A chorus of wild laughter from the Uchihas could be faintly heard from outside.

Tsunade stood silently in place, fists clenched tightly. She was so furious that even her prominent chest seemed to tremble with rage!

Everyone present glanced at the large hole in the floor in front of her and the smashed meeting table. Unable to help themselves, they shrank back slightly and remained silent.

After a long pause, Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, awkwardly took out his pipe, took a puff, and tried to mask his embarrassment by exhaling a cloud of smoke. He gently urged,

“Tsunade, this is all for the village. Can you... go this once?”

“Didn’t the Uchiha clan already provide compensation?”

“Fine. Fine. Fine.”

Tsunade took a deep breath, her face darkened, and she gritted her teeth as she squeezed out the words,

“Then I’ll go properly ‘treat’ this little brat!”

Hearing Tsunade agree, Hiruzen let out a sigh of relief.

However, sitting to the side, Orochimaru’s expression suddenly changed drastically.

Why on earth would the Uchiha clan ask someone as skilled in medical ninjutsu as Tsunade to treat Uchiha Shinji? With that fool’s healing speed, wasn’t this entirely unnecessary?

If Tsunade so much as touched him, she’d figure everything out!

Orochimaru thought about Uchiha Shinji’s absurdly durable body—nearly indestructible no matter what—and his pure, selfless embodiment of the Will of Fire, which surpassed even Hiruzen Sarutobi’s ideals.

Forget Tsunade; even Orochimaru could see the shadows of Tsunade’s deceased lover, Dan Kato, and her younger brother, Nawaki, in this boy.

A walking, indestructible “Nawaki”?

Wouldn’t that make him a perfect Tsunade trap?!  

If this troublesome woman got close to Uchiha Shinji, Orochimaru’s plans for conducting dangerous experiments—like the transplantation of the First Hokage’s cells, Curse Mark testing, and Sage Mode research—would face significant complications!

Dammit!

Orochimaru hadn’t expected that even though he’d kept quiet and played dead, the boomerang would still hit him squarely in the face!

Whoosh!  

With this thought, Orochimaru could no longer sit still. He shot up from his chair and rasped in a low, hoarse voice,

“Tsunade, I’ll go with you!”

There was no way he could let Tsunade discover that her “hot-blooded idiot” student was actually just that—a simple, selfless fool!

Uchiha Shinji must appear to be a greedy, arrogant, reckless, and self-absorbed brat—an evil little Uchiha!

“Huh? Orochimaru?”

Tsunade raised an eyebrow in surprise as she saw Orochimaru follow her. However, she didn’t think much of it and turned to leave the meeting room, heading toward Konoha Hospital.

Watching the two leave, Hiruzen’s eyes flickered. He felt a tinge of relief, interpreting Orochimaru’s actions as a rekindling of bonds with his teammates. Muttering to himself, he said,

“Orochimaru seems to care quite a bit about his student.”

“What kind of child is this Uchiha Shinji?”

“Looks like I’ll need to find time to meet him myself.”

But these murmurs reached the ears of Danzo Shimura, who had just sat down beside Hiruzen. His chair was still warm when he heard Hiruzen’s musings.

Danzo’s expression immediately tensed, and he glared at Hiruzen with suspicion, as if looking at a thief.

That damned monkey. He’s trying to steal my people again?!  

I won’t let you get away with it!  

---

Meanwhile, the high-level meeting concerning Uchiha Shinji continued elsewhere.

---

At Konoha Hospital,

After Uchiha Shinji collapsed from exhaustion, Uchiha Hachidai completely disregarded his instructions. After all, Hachidai had no idea that Uchiha Shinji could heal himself.

When he saw Shinji’s horrifying burn injuries, Hachidai quickly called on other members of the Uchiha clan to rush him to Konoha Hospital, even summoning the best doctors in the village to treat him.

At this moment,

Uchiha Shinji, having barely regained some consciousness, could feel someone fiddling with his eyelids.

Opening his eyes, he was greeted by the sight of a slender, fair hand with nails painted rose-red, lifting his eyelid. Behind the hand was the face of a mature woman, her golden-blonde hair cascading down, a bluish-purple mark on her forehead, thin light-yellow eyebrows, bright brown eyes, and pale red lips.

Uchiha Shinji immediately recognized her: the legendary Sannin—Tsunade-hime!

Right now, Tsunade was frowning slightly, examining him through chakra contact. She shook her head, her expression akin to a doctor diagnosing a terminal patient.

This demeanor, paired with that gaze, made Uchiha Shinji’s heart skip a beat with excitement.

Could something have gone wrong with his body, overloaded with all those forbidden jutsu? Was his body finally breaking down? Could he finally fake his death and claim insurance?

Unable to contain his anticipation, Uchiha Shinji blurted out,

“Doctor, how am I?!”

Tsunade raised an eyebrow, straightened up, and said,

“Hmm...”

Uchiha Shinji’s eyes widened, eagerly awaiting the bad news.

But Tsunade, her face expressionless, finished her sentence with,

“If you’d come any later, your wounds would’ve healed themselves.”

Uchiha Shinji blinked in confusion, and his face immediately darkened. Only now did he realize that this woman was toying with him!

Tsunade smiled faintly.

“Still, it’s a good thing I arrived in time.”

“So, brat, have you figured out how you’re going to pay the bill for the most expensive doctor in all of Konoha?”

“Cash or card is fine~!”

Hearing this, Uchiha Shinji’s eyes shot wide open.

“How much?!”

Seeing his reaction, Tsunade smirked. Just as she was about to raise her delicate fingers to further scare the boy, a hoarse voice interrupted her,

“That’s enough, Tsunade. Stop playing around.”

“What’s his condition?”

Recognizing the voice, Uchiha Shinji turned his head.

In the shadowy corner of the room stood his teacher, Orochimaru, clad in a black kimono, arms dangling at his sides. His golden snake-like eyes stared at the scene with an eerie calm.

Tsunade turned back sharply, her expression darkening as her gaze locked coldly onto Orochimaru. Her tone matched her icy glare as she asked,

“Orochimaru, did you teach him all this nonsense?”

“Teaching him things he can never grasp—is that really what a teacher should do?”

“Do you even realize that this child is about to die?”

Orochimaru calmly responded,

“I know.”

“You just need to tell me how much longer he has left.”

Hearing such cold and heartless words, Tsunade immediately furrowed her brows and glared at Orochimaru in anger.

“Orochimaru, how did you become like this?”

“Practicing forbidden jutsu, playing with human lives, and now even creating these short-lived human weapons?”

“Your ways are getting darker and darker!”

“You—”

Tsunade wanted to say more, but Orochimaru cut her off icily.

“This is for Konoha.”

“When Iwagakure finishes its prolonged war with Kirigakure, Konoha will be facing a four-front battle.”

“With just one village, we’ll have to fight against the four great nations of the shinobi world at the same time!”

Orochimaru hid his face in the shadows, leaving only his golden snake-like eyes visible as he stared at Tsunade,

Then, in a hoarse and chilling voice, he questioned,

“If we don’t have this kind of power, how will Konoha survive? Will it rely on you, Tsunade? Can you still return to the battlefield? Or let me put it another way—can you even step into the operating room now?”

“At this point, are you seriously feeling sympathy for this ‘evil’ Uchiha brat?”

Uchiha Shinji blinked, looking at the two Konoha powerhouses arguing in front of him, utterly confused, his mind filled with questions.

Wait… how did this turn into a discussion about me?

What the hell are you guys even talking about?

And then, Orochimaru let out a hoarse, chilling laugh.

“Heh heh heh.”

With a sneer, he pointed at the utterly baffled Uchiha Shinji and spoke to Tsunade in an icy tone.

“All of this—was his own choice.”

“Tsunade, do you really think this brat is some kind of saint?”

“Let me tell you, all those war reports were fake.”

“This brat is cold-blooded and ruthless—he even personally killed his own teammate.”

“He’s nothing but a greedy, arrogant, conceited, and self-centered ‘evil’ Uchiha.”

“In his relentless pursuit of power, he sought me out.”

“I granted his wish, giving him strength surpassing that of an ordinary Uchiha. In return, he sacrifices his life, fighting for me—for Konoha. It’s a fair trade.”

“Isn’t it, Tsunade?”

“Do you have anything else to ask, Tsunade?”

After finishing his speech, Orochimaru coldly stared at Tsunade and asked,

“Can you give me an answer now, Tsunade?”

Lying on the hospital bed, Uchiha Shinji stared blankly at Orochimaru’s dramatic performance, completely dumbfounded, unable to wrap his head around it.

Wait… since when did I become an ‘evil’ Uchiha?

Cold-blooded, ruthless, betraying my comrades—

No, hold on, when did I ever do any of that?

Damn you, Orochimaru! Don’t just spit lies and ruin my reputation out of nowhere!

At this moment, Tsunade remained silent under Orochimaru’s barrage of accusations.

War is cruel.

During the Second Great Ninja War, Tsunade’s younger brother, Nawaki, had unknowingly stepped into a trap of explosive tags and was blown to pieces.

Not long after, while carrying out a mission with Konoha’s elite ninja, Dan Katō—her beloved—she had helplessly watched as he lay dying, his organs ripped apart.

Despite giving it her all, she had failed to save him, leaving her crying in despair.

This event later led to her developing hemophobia.

Orochimaru’s words were like a knife, cutting open the painful past she refused to face.

And now,

They also revealed the harsh reality—

That she could no longer return to the battlefield as a powerful ninja.

No matter how much she hated to admit it, what Orochimaru said was the brutal truth.

Faced with a four-front war,

Orochimaru’s methods were, in fact, a way to ensure Konoha’s survival.

After a long silence,

Tsunade turned away, as if unwilling to face Uchiha Shinji,

Then, in a soft, resigned voice, she spoke,

“This child…”

“… has less than two years left to live.”

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 182: Become a Villain, Uchiha Shinji! 

"Very well!" 

In a dark corner, Orochimaru curled his lips into a cold smile. 

Now, everything was going according to his plan. 

As expected, Tsunade had misunderstood Uchiha Shinji. 

Next, he would continue using this casually fabricated lie to manipulate Tsunade! 

How could he possibly let Uchiha Shinji die? Besides, it wasn't Orochimaru who had shortened Uchiha Shinji’s lifespan to just two years. 

That was purely the kid’s own doing! 

If anything, Orochimaru was the one trying to save this disciple! 

With piercing eyes, Orochimaru looked at Tsunade and probed further: 

"If he continues using this accelerated regeneration forbidden jutsu, will his remaining time shorten even more?" 

Tsunade furrowed her brows and interrupted coldly, 

"Orochimaru, are you playing dumb?" 

"This kind of rapid regeneration ability has already drained this brat’s life force— 

even from his next reincarnation!" 

"Under normal circumstances, he should’ve been dead long ago." 

"But because of your modifications, his body is now forcibly holding onto its final shred of life. 

The price for this so-called accelerated regeneration is none other than the artificial Tailed Beast you implanted in him, isn't it?" 

"How audacious—to use such forbidden jutsu and taboo powers to create this kind of monstrous body!" 

"Orochimaru, you—" 

Orochimaru raised an eyebrow, ignoring Tsunade’s accusations, and continued, 

"I don’t have time for your scolding right now!" 

"Tsunade, you need to understand—this is all for Konoha!" 

"You wouldn’t want the village your grandfather founded to be destroyed, would you?" 

He paused for a moment before pressing on: 

"So what you're saying is that his so-called ‘immortality’ has actually created an unbreakable ‘death limit’— 

a boundary he can only surpass once his body’s cells naturally reach their life’s end?" 

Tsunade frowned, looking at Orochimaru in surprise. 

"Isn’t that obvious?" 

Meanwhile— 

hearing this, Uchiha Shinji suddenly had an epiphany. 

No wonder he had been recklessly using Forbidden Jutsu: Flesh Regeneration, 

a technique that burns through life force—yet hadn’t died outright. 

So that was the reason.  

This instantly reminded him of his journey through the Land of Hot Water— 

back when he infiltrated the underground caves beneath the Jashin cult’s castle.  

At the time, Shennong, the leader of the Sky Ninja, had told him 

he only had three to seven years left to live.  

Later, to defeat Hōzuki Mangetsu and Tōgō Hayato, 

he had once again recklessly used the technique—without regard for his own life.  

That should have been the moment his life was supposed to end. 

And yet, it was also at that moment 

that he obtained the Jashin cult’s "Immortality."  

So now, he was in a Schrödinger’s death state— 

both dead and not dead.  

There was no trace of actual life force remaining in his body, 

yet his "immortality" was locking in the life force he had already burned away using Flesh Regeneration.  

This last shred of life force was like a flickering candle in the wind, 

barely enough to sustain him for two more years. 

Now that he had confirmed this, it gave him a clear deadline—  

Either he would survive the Third Great Ninja War within these two years 

and gather enough power to overturn everything…  

Or— 

he would die spectacularly and cash in on some "death insurance" to return home.  

If he went with the death insurance route, 

he had to make sure that the storyline after his death wouldn’t turn out worse than the original timeline. 

That would all come down to sheer luck. 

Because at this point, the original storyline was already completely off the rails. 

There was no way things would progress the same way as in the original.  

With only two years left, 

it would be impossible to influence the course of history or guide the protagonist’s growth. 

It was simply too unreliable. 

What if, later on, a rogue Akatsuki Naruto showed up? 

Or a Leaf Village Sasuke hellbent on revenge? 

That would be an absolute nightmare! 

So— 

he had to fight!  

There was no more time to waste in the village, 

playing political games with the Third Hokage and Danzo over who would become Konoha’s second Jinchūriki. 

He needed to leave the village. 

He needed to fight. 

He needed to challenge powerful enemies.  

He needed to charge headfirst down the path of destruction!  

He had to embrace death!  

Realizing this, Uchiha Shinji suddenly felt a surge of restlessness. 

He wanted to jump out of bed immediately and do two full sets of radio calisthenics 

just to calm his nerves. 

At that moment—  

Orochimaru, after a brief moment of silence, spoke in his hoarse voice:  

"Tsunade," 

"I need your help." 

"The Third Great Ninja War won’t end within two years. 

We must find a way to extend this brat’s lifespan. 

Only then can he continue fighting for Konoha until the war is over!" 

He paused, then spoke with a deep and sincere tone: 

"With my technology and your medical skills, 

if we push past the boundaries of the forbidden… 

we will find a way!" 

"After all, this is all… for Konoha." 

Upon hearing this, Tsunade's face darkened instantly. 

She looked at Orochimaru in shock and fury, then shouted: 

"Orochimaru!" 

"Don’t tell me—you’ve started that experiment again?!" 

Her heart was filled with a sudden sense of dread. 

Of course, she knew exactly what Orochimaru was referring to— The Wood-Style experimentation, to be precise, was the study of her deceased grandfather, Hashirama Senju's, body in an attempt to create the second wielder of Wood-Style in Konoha!  

Now, what Orochimaru meant by these words essentially translated to: 

He wanted her to help him dig up her grandfather’s remains for research?  

This kind of thing…  

Orochimaru didn’t deny it outright, which was as good as admitting it.  

Tsunade glanced deeply at Orochimaru, her chest heaving slightly, then coldly warned: 

“Orochimaru!”  

“I suggest you abandon this insane idea!”  

“The old man has already forbidden this research! You’re treading on a minefield. One wrong step, and you’ll plummet into an abyss!”  

She swept her green “gambling” cloak aside, striding past Orochimaru with large, resolute steps. Her high-heeled sandals, under her dark blue capri pants, clicked sharply against the floor, echoing her fury with each step.  

“Do as you see fit!”  

With a final warning, she slammed the door shut behind her.  

Bang!  

As he stared at the now-closed door, Uchiha Shinji glanced at Orochimaru’s darkened expression, shook his head, and advised, 

“That was your most trusted teammate once.”  

“There’s no need to go to such lengths for me.”  

“Orochimaru-sensei.”  

Hearing this, Orochimaru chuckled darkly, lifting his golden, snake-like eyes to fix them on Uchiha Shinji with an eerie glint.  

“Since when do I need advice from a fool like you?!”  

A smug smile quickly crept across Orochimaru’s face, his confidence radiating from his gaze.  

“The Third Hokage won’t refuse, and neither will Tsunade,” Orochimaru said with conviction.  

“I trust them. Just as I am doing this for you, they will do anything for Konoha.”  

After a brief pause, he stepped out of the shadowy corner and approached Uchiha Shinji’s hospital bed.  

The lazy afternoon sunlight filtered through the hospital windows, casting warm beams on the two of them.  

Orochimaru narrowed his golden snake eyes, placing a hand on Uchiha Shinji’s messy, unkempt hair, and leaned closer.  

In a hoarse, raspy voice, he asked, 

“So, Shinji, do you understand what you need to do?”  

Uchiha Shinji froze, thinking to himself, What are you even saying? 

What exactly am I supposed to understand?  

Seeing the clueless look on Uchiha Shinji’s face, Orochimaru frowned and snapped, 

“Are you an idiot?!”  

“You need to carve every single word of the lie I just made up into your heart.”  

“Because that will become the ultimate truth!”  

Uchiha Shinji scratched his head in confusion, but he thought, Orochimaru must have his reasons for doing this!  

Orochimaru shook his head, deciding to explain more clearly.  

“Even a Zero-Tail is still a tailed beast. Unless absolutely necessary, Konoha won’t send you to the battlefield.”  

“Which is why you need this lie!”  

“You’re running out of time. Keeping you in the village would be a waste. Sending you to the most dangerous battlefield to achieve the greatest results—that is the choice most aligned with Konoha’s interests!”  

“That’s how we’ll convince the higher-ups to let you leave the village!”  

Orochimaru’s face twisted into a sly smile as he looked at Uchiha Shinji with a mischievous gleam in his eyes.  

“For this purpose, my disciple—”  

“You must hide your honesty and kindness, as well as your unwavering ‘Will of Fire,’ the will that compels you to sacrifice yourself for others.”  

“You must become a villain!”  

“You must become a shameless, greedy person who would trade with me, the devil, for power—”  

“An evil Uchiha!”  

(Chapter Ends) 

Chapter 183: Curse Mark and Zero-Tail Enhancement Plan! Danzo's Invitation!

*"Evil Uchiha"*

Hearing Orochimaru's words, Uchiha Shinji slightly widened his eyes, his mind running wild with possibilities.

When it comes to this topic, the first model figure that comes to his mind is none other than his corrupted younger brother, Obito.

Wait a minute...

Does Orochimaru want him to commit heinous acts like killing his teacher, bombing Konoha, and overthrowing the ninja world?

But the mandatory nine years of education he received have deeply ingrained morals in him—he just can't bring himself to commit such vile deeds!

After all, it’s one thing for Obito to lack education, but he himself is a civilized person. Wouldn't resorting to such methods seem far too improper?

Besides, his teacher is Orochimaru!

How on earth is he supposed to kill someone like him?

As for the latter two items, one has already been accomplished, and the other is just around the corner.

And honestly, he doesn’t even hold much of a grudge against Konoha right now.

Even Danzo, the most notorious villain in Konoha, probably doesn’t think much of his two-tomoe Sharingan.

How is this supposed to work?

Is he supposed to flaunt the Zero-Tail in front of Danzo to tempt him into making a mistake, then catch him red-handed?

As this thought crossed his mind, Uchiha Shinji raised his head, furrowed his brows, and looked at Orochimaru. With a serious expression, he asked:

"Orochimaru, what exactly does it take to be considered an 'evil Uchiha'?"

Orochimaru raised an eyebrow, a mischievous glint flashing in his eyes.

He paused for a moment, then spoke in a raspy tone:

"For example..."

"Follow your heart. Ignore societal expectations and do the things you've always wanted to but couldn't."

Upon hearing this, Uchiha Shinji was instantly invigorated. His eyes lit up.

"Are you saying..."

"I should transform myself, head straight to the Root Headquarters, and blast Danzo Shimura—the man who's always targeted my Uchiha clan—with a devastating attack?"

"To be honest, I’ve been annoyed with that old geezer for a long time!"

"I’ll take him out! Then I’ll help you, teacher, take over as the head of the Root!"

"With the two of us controlling the Root together, wouldn’t that be amazing?!"

This plan seemed quite feasible!

Right now, Danzo certainly doesn’t have that arm full of Sharingan eyes to spam Izanagi. At most, he has a single three-tomoe Sharingan in his right eye, paired with Wind Release, summoning beasts, and sealing techniques.

He probably hasn’t even acquired Izanagi yet.

At that level, he’s basically just a glorified Ebizo.

As long as Uchiha Shinji is in top form, the chances of defeating Danzo are quite high!

Hearing this, Orochimaru fell silent for a moment. He wasn’t quite sure how to respond.

When had Danzo ever offended this kid?

After a brief moment of thought, a wry smile appeared on Orochimaru’s face. He chuckled raspily:

"That... might not be a bad idea. Although there’s a risk of becoming a rogue ninja, that’s not a big deal."

"With me here, you can give it a try."

"However..."

Right now, Orochimaru needed Danzo’s investment to fund his ongoing Wood Release experiments, which required a substantial amount of money.

Until preliminary results were achieved, he wasn’t quite ready to kill the goose that laid the golden eggs.

Orochimaru glanced at Uchiha Shinji and said calmly:

"Danzo still has his uses."

"And in your current state, you wouldn’t be able to defeat him. That old man has some trump cards up his sleeve. Even I find him tricky to deal with."

"You’ll need some time to train."

"I’ve reinforced the Heaven Curse Mark with the Evil Sealing Method and sealed your Sharingan—which can absorb natural energy—using the Four Symbols Seal."

"Before the next battle breaks out, there are several types of training you must complete."

Orochimaru narrowed his eyes, pulled out a scroll from his robe, and tossed it to Uchiha Shinji.

Uchiha Shinji caught the scroll and opened it. His eyes fell on a bold title:

*"Experimental Records and Methods for Suppressing the Heaven Curse Mark"!*

As he unrolled it further, the scroll was filled with cruel, inhumane experimental records, documenting the effects of various experiments on the Heaven Curse Mark.

Toward the end, he discovered that Orochimaru had already made some preliminary breakthroughs on how to use the Curse Mark. For example, he had begun exploring ways to eliminate most of its side effects while fully activating the first-stage "Curse Mark One" transformation.

There were also initial ideas about the second-stage transformation, "Curse Mark Two," and even the true *Sage Mode*. However, this part wouldn’t be fully developed until Orochimaru encountered Jugo, who was naturally attuned to Sage Transformation.

"You’ve already advanced the Heaven Curse Mark to the second-stage transformation, which is closest to the Ryuchi Cave Sage Mode."

"But the way you’re using it is reckless. You need to learn how to control this power with precision."

Orochimaru furrowed his brows and warned:

"For now, stay away from the Sage Snakes of Ryuchi Cave."

"I have a better method that will allow you to master Sage Mode in one step."

"And the first step is for you to perfectly master the power of this Curse Mark!"

"This scroll contains several methods to help the Curse Mark integrate further with your body, reducing the burden natural energy places on you."

Uchiha Shinji raised his head in slight surprise and asked:

"Anything else?"

Orochimaru nodded and said calmly:

"The second task is the Wood Release experiment."

"As you know, you have less than two years left to live."

"To extend your life, the only option is to ‘expand’ your body’s capacity."

"But this isn’t something that can be achieved in the short term, even with your physical condition."

Orochimaru exhaled deeply and said in a low voice,

"The preliminary cell fusion experiments using your body tissue have been conducted over 300 times, all ending in failure."

"However, there was an unexpected result."

"After dozens of iterations, the Hashirama cells can now serve as cultivation material for the Zero-Tails embryo inside you, allowing it to undergo a rapid growth phase in a short period of time."

Uchiha Shinji was slightly stunned.

If that were the case, his long-standing problem of chakra depletion might finally be resolved.

He wouldn’t have to collapse after firing off just two Void Dog Cannons, rolling his eyes and falling flat on the ground.

The Zero-Tails’ chakra reserves might even rival those of a true Tailed Beast.

Without a doubt,

This was a significant power boost for Uchiha Shinji.

"That’s all for now. I’ll use my summoning snakes to inform you about the Tailed Beast cultivation later."

After saying this, Orochimaru suddenly narrowed his eyes and looked toward the door.

At that moment, through the window on the door, two dark figures appeared outside.

Gazing at these uninvited guests, Orochimaru let out a raspy chuckle,

"Heh heh~"

"Well, isn’t this a coincidence?"

"Ci,"

"Let me see if you have what it takes to be a true villain."

Orochimaru extended his tongue, licking his lips in a slow, deliberate motion before raising his hands to form hand seals.

First, he pressed his palms together, then quickly formed a series of intricate seals:

Tiger - Rabbit - Snake - Horse - Goat - Rooster - Tiger - Rabbit - Snake - Horse - Goat - Rooster - Tiger - Rabbit - Snake - Horse - Goat - Rooster - Dog - Rat!

Then, he placed his hand on Uchiha Shinji’s neck.

*Evil Sealing Method: Release!*

*Four Symbols Seal: Release!*

In an instant, Uchiha Shinji felt two invisible shackles within his body vanish.

Next, Orochimaru pulled a syringe filled with an unknown green liquid from his kimono sleeve and handed it to Uchiha Shinji.

He let out a sinister chuckle, his eyes flashing with an eerie gleam.

"Take this and show our investors,"

"What it truly means to be a villain—"

"And what it means to be a—"

*"Human weapon!"*

With that, Orochimaru smirked coldly and disappeared from the room in an instant.

Immediately after—

*BANG!*

The hospital room door was violently pushed open!

Two masked shinobi, their uniforms bearing the signature patterns of the Leaf Village’s Anbu, stepped inside, exuding a chilling presence.

They coldly locked eyes with Uchiha Shinji and issued a stern order:

"Uchiha Shinji,"

"Lord Danzo summons you!"

*(End of Chapter)*

Chapter 184: The Interrogation of the Sunken Ship! As Expected, I Was Not Wrong About You!

*Beneath Konoha—*

A steel bridge connected the four corners of the deep abyss, leading to a towering steel structure in the center.

A tower built in the depths of the underground.

In front of the platform of the tower—

Shimura Danzo stood by the railing, his expression so calm it seemed indifferent. His hands were clasped behind his back as he gazed into the vast, silent darkness below.

His right face was wrapped in bandages, his short brown hair neatly combed, and his thin frame was draped in a gray-black kimono. However, it did not fully cover his left shoulder and arm, revealing the white inner layer beneath.

This man, who had dedicated himself to the shadows, seemed to darken the surrounding light just by standing there, as if he were shrouded in an ominous aura.

*After the high-level meeting,*

He had come here to await the arrival of Uchiha Shinji, who had accidentally fallen under his command.

However, unexpectedly—

At this moment, there was no killing intent in Danzo's eyes.

Instead, hidden within his deep and cunning gaze was an expression of anticipation and nostalgia.

Such a strange expression on this man’s face seemed completely out of place.

*Behind him—*

A Root ninja, wearing a white-painted tiger mask, held a stack of documents.

“Lord Danzo, I’ve already sent men to capture Uchiha Shinji, but…”

Hearing the hesitation in his subordinate’s voice, Danzo didn’t even turn his head. He simply replied indifferently,

“You’re wondering why I haven’t taken more precautionary measures?”

The Root ninja remained silent, but his eyes were filled with deep apprehension.

After all—

That man was a *Jinchuriki*—a living weapon!

The memory of those two explosions, which had shaken all of Konoha, was still fresh. They had proven beyond doubt that Uchiha Shinji possessed power far beyond human limits—he was a beast of destruction!

Faced with such an existence, the Root ninja couldn't understand why the ever-cautious Danzo was being so lax.

Shouldn’t he recall all the Root operatives, set up an inescapable trap, and layer the area with powerful sealing techniques to suppress him?

Even if they didn’t intend to extract the Tailed Beast from him—

He could at least be used as a bargaining chip and a tool of intimidation.

But Danzo merely turned his head slightly and gave his subordinate a glance before saying coolly,

“You don’t understand, nor could you. That’s natural.”

“That child… has already grown far beyond what you can imagine.”

“Numbers alone can no longer restrain such a monster. He can no longer be treated like an ordinary Uchiha.”

“And the only one who can control that monster—”

“Is me.”

The Root ninja was momentarily taken aback. He raised his gaze, a trace of astonishment flickering in his eyes, but he quickly lowered his head again.

“Yes, sir!”

With that, he swiftly withdrew, leaving Danzo alone once more in the heavy darkness.

At this moment, Danzo reached into his robes and pulled out a report compiled from various sources—submissions from Aburame Ryouma, Orochimaru, and Root operatives stationed in the Land of Hot Water and the Land of Rain, all of whom had witnessed Uchiha Shinji’s combat firsthand.

"Uchiha Shinji, huh…" Danzo suddenly let out a low chuckle, a smug smile creeping onto his face.

“A figure as brilliant as Uchiha Kagami… A fleeting meteor of talent. But what a pity…”

“He’s short-lived.”

“I’ll tolerate you for two more years. And in two years… when Konoha gains its second Tailed Beast, combined with ‘A’s’ Wood Release power…”

“By that time… Hahahahahaha—!”

---

*Gurgle, gurgle…*

Uchiha Shinji sat in a wheelchair, being pushed by two Root ninjas as they entered the Root headquarters.

The moment they reached the underground bridge—

“Hahahahahahaha—!”

A shrill, aged laugh, as if someone’s backside had torn open, echoed through the chamber.

Ji’s mouth twitched as he glanced at the dark old man standing at the bridge’s edge.

What kind of act is this now?  

And this environment—

A bridge, Danzo, an Uchiha, crazed laughter…

Could it be that the Bridge Battle is about to take place early here?  

After pushing Shinji onto the bridge, the two Root ninjas immediately disappeared, leaving only the old man and the young Uchiha.

Ji held a syringe that Orochimaru had given him. He wasn’t sure what it was, but the Zero-Tails sealed within him screeched with longing the moment it sensed the contents.

He furrowed his brows and looked at Danzo, who stood at the far end of the bridge, his entire being exuding a sinister aura.

Unlike Uchiha Shisui and Itachi, who had once been extremely respectful toward this old man—

Ji had no such courtesy. Nor did he consider Danzo his superior.

He spoke bluntly,

“Shimura Danzo, you wanted to see me?”

At those words, Danzo’s laughter abruptly ceased.

He turned around, walking steadily, his dark gaze fixed on Uchiha Shinji, who was sitting in the wheelchair, like a predator eyeing a tempting piece of meat.

“So, you’re Uchiha Shinji?”

Stopping three meters away, Danzo scrutinized him closely with his left eye.

“I see.”

He suddenly declared,

“You have the look of death on your face.”

Uchiha Shinji was taken aback, blinking. “The look of death?”

“To not know life but to foresee death—that is the look of death,” Danzo said indifferently.

“You possess a flame in your heart hotter than anyone else’s, but that flame will eventually turn into the fires of hell, consuming you entirely.”

“Whether under the sun or the moon, you won’t see your own shadow.”

“In your life, there is no shadow.”

Instinctively, Uchiha Shinji glanced at his feet.

There was a shadow.

He was baffled.

What was this old man babbling about? He thought to himself: Can we just get to the fight already?

Do you think I came all this way to play riddles with you?

My fists are already itching for action!

At that moment, Danzo stared deeply at Uchiha Shinji and said in a calm tone:

“The youngest genius to ascend to the rank of Jonin since the founding of the Hidden Leaf... I have one question for you.”

Uchiha Shinji didn’t speak, merely giving Danzo an impatient look, waiting for him to finish his nonsense.

Danzo, unfazed by the irritation, began his question in a composed and detached manner:

“On a sinking ship, there are ten of your comrades aboard, but one of them has contracted a highly contagious and fatal disease.”

“If you let that person live, the other nine will also fall ill and die.”

“If you were the captain of this ship—”

Danzo’s lone eye narrowed as he stared hard at Uchiha Shinji, a sly smile forming on his lips.

“What would you do?”

Uchiha Shinji raised an eyebrow at him.

This question wasn’t new to him.

It was the same one Danzo had posed to Uchiha Itachi after his graduation, as recounted in The True Legend of Itachi.

At that time, Uchiha Itachi’s answer was:

“The sick person will die regardless—that is their fate. If I were the captain, I would prioritize saving the other nine lives by choosing to kill the one.”

This question, paired with Fugaku’s harsh, survivalist parenting style, had planted the seeds of madness in young Itachi’s mind, eventually leading to the Uchiha clan’s tragic downfall.

Uchiha Shinji’s expression turned icy in an instant. He smirked coldly at Danzo and retorted:

“What if the captain is the one who’s sick?”

“And how can you be so certain the sick person will die?”

Danzo’s smile widened slightly as his gaze deepened.

He lifted his chin, looking down at Uchiha Shinji, and said in a cold, commanding tone:

“Uchiha Shinji, stop avoiding the question. Someone with power like yours should understand this:

“Reality is nothing but cruel binary choices.”

“Now, answer me. What would you do?”

Uchiha Shinji smiled faintly, pulling out a syringe he’d been clutching in his hand.

Without hesitation, he flipped it over and jabbed it straight into his neck!

The liquid flowed in, and his heart thundered fiercely!

He snapped his head up, his Sharingan glowing crimson with two tomoe spinning wildly.

“No one will die!”

“Not a single person will die!”

“Because I will create a miracle! Even if I have to sacrifice my life to keep this promise!”

Hearing such audacious words and seeing the unshakable confidence on Uchiha Shinji’s face,

Danzo couldn’t help but smile—a knowing, satisfied smile.

“As I expected from you!”

“You answered just like Uchiha Kagami did.”

“Then—”

Danzo’s expression darkened as he stepped back slowly, narrowing his left eye. His voice turned cold, as if summoning a sudden, icy wind around them.

Just as Uchiha Shinji thought this old man was warming up for a serious fight, readying himself for an all-out battle—

Out of nowhere, Danzo said something entirely unexpected:

“Uchiha Shinji,”

“I want to put you in an important position!”

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 185: The Four Symbols Seal! Can I Self-Destruct Again? 

Suddenly hearing such an abstract remark from Danzo, Uchiha Shi was momentarily stunned. 

He thought to himself, "What have I even done? Why is Danzo saying something so abstract?" 

Promoting an Uchiha? Is this something Danzo would actually say? 

What is going on in this world? 

Danzo looked at Uchiha Shi's shocked expression and sneered. 

He had all of Uchiha Shi's information at his disposal. 

Based on this intel, it was easy for him to analyze that this kid had a resolve similar to Uchiha Kagami's. 

That was the will to sacrifice oneself in order to let comrades survive! 

Between Konoha and the Uchiha clan, 

people with such thoughts could create a storm that many would follow, 

and this storm would undoubtedly help bridge the gap between the Uchiha clan and the village! 

Just like Uchiha Kagami did in the past. 

Because of his existence, even though Uchiha Madara almost led a coup, it was thanks to Kagami that it ended with only minor punishment. This allowed that extreme old man to survive. 

But the betrayal from that time had ultimately planted a thorn in Danzo's heart, 

making him constantly want to eliminate the Uchiha clan! 

However, 

now was not the time to act. Taking the tailed beast inside Uchiha Shi’s body could lead to a major backlash. 

Not only might it backfire, but it would also expose the fact that he had transplanted a Mangekyō Sharingan into his right eye, 

which could stir dissatisfaction with the Uchiha clan, who were currently in a temporary honeymoon phase with the village. 

Uchiha Shi, who appeared now, shared one similarity with Kagami: 

their lives were fleeting. 

Danzo did not dislike this type of Uchiha, 

but he knew well that 

this brief peace, bought at the cost of burning one's life, was an illusion. 

Once Uchiha Shi dies, the relationship between the village and the Uchiha clan will return to a frozen state, 

and over time, their conflicts would deepen to the point of no return. 

To resolve the Uchiha problem once and for all, Danzo already had a plan. 

Uchiha Shi, this little guy, didn’t even need to be dealt with. 

In less than two years, Uchiha Shi would likely die because of his arrogance! 

Only then would it be the right time for Danzo to act! 

He would seize the second tailed beast of Konoha and make the one who controlled Wood Release, [Kawaki], become Konoha’s second Jinchūriki! 

With both Wood Release and the tailed beast's power, perhaps he could make this fake, failed experiment of Wood Release look as powerful as the Sage of Six Paths did back in the day! 

And Danzo would take Root to the Hokage seat, completely eradicating the Uchiha clan! 

Making Konoha great again! 

At this moment, 

thinking of the bright future ahead, Danzo couldn't help but snicker as he looked at Uchiha Shi, 

and suddenly showed a smile similar to the third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen’s, a kind and warm expression. 

But his smile resembled a half-dead chrysanthemum, 

which was quite terrifying, causing Uchiha Shi to instinctively shrink his neck and angrily shout: 

"Danzo Shimura, what exactly are you trying to say?!" 

Danzo smiled and looked at him, then said faintly, 

"Uchiha Shi," 

"What you’re holding is the backup plan that Orochimaru gave you, right?"  

"Are you afraid I will make a move on you?" 

Danzo glanced at the syringe in Uchiha Shi's hand and sneered before decisively saying, 

"Hmph! You’re wrong!" 

"In reality, I am on your side!" 

Hearing this, Uchiha Shi couldn’t help but widen his eyes, looking at Danzo in disbelief. 

He thought to himself: Is this guy still asleep? 

No, why is Danzo speaking so abstractly? 

Danzo then cleared his throat and continued, 

"I’ve always been thinking from Konoha’s perspective!" 

"We have the same goal: to win the Third Great Ninja War!" 

"I will support your fight because it benefits Konoha!" 

"On the other hand, you—" 

He gazed deeply at Uchiha Shi, speaking meaningfully: 

"You must learn to discern the goodness and evil in people's hearts!" 

"Be careful of those who seem to be good to you, as they may be hiding unknown sinister motives." 

Under Danzo's deep gaze, 

Uchiha Shi quietly pulled out the empty needle from around his neck, his face slightly awkward. 

He had already activated his buffs and gathered his energy, 

prepared to launch an initial strike to dismantle Root! 

Then, he would seize the opportunity to capture Danzo using his Sage Mode Sharingan technique, take him back to the Uchiha clan, hang him in the ancestral shrine, and torture him for three days and nights— 

to fulfill what he had always wanted to do when watching anime in his past life, 

and in one fell swoop, tarnish the name of the "evil Uchiha!" 

However, things didn't go as planned… 

"Danzo, old man, what’s with this sudden move?"  

Uchiha Shinji was caught off guard, stuck in an awkward position, staring at Danzo with a strange expression.  

Fighting didn’t seem quite right, 

But not fighting? Well, the atmosphere was already set, and all the buffs were in place.  

Luckily, Danzo wasn’t too keen on looking at an Uchiha’s face for too long. After saying what he had planned in advance,  

It was time to get down to business.  

He reached into his robe and pulled out a scroll, then looked at Uchiha Shinji and said flatly:  

"The Tailed Beast inside you, no matter how you obtained it—"  

"From this moment on, it belongs to Konoha. To protect this asset, and to protect you—"  

"Uchiha Shinji,"  

"This old man is going to teach you a jutsu—"  

With that,  

Danzo tossed the scroll onto Uchiha Shinji’s lap.  

Then, hands behind his back, he turned around and walked straight into the deep darkness at the end of the bridge,  

Not giving Uchiha Shinji any chance to react.  

All that was left was Uchiha Shinji, sitting alone on the bridge, the rising wind brushing against his face, his expression in disarray.  

"What the hell is this?"  

Uchiha Shinji shook his head, picked up the scroll, and unrolled it—  

There, written in bold letters, were seven words:  

"Reverse Four Symbols Sealing Technique!"  

The moment he saw this technique, 

Uchiha Shinji’s eyes lit up!  

The Reverse Four Symbols Seal— 

This was the very technique that, in the future, would lead to Danzo’s infamous "Bridge Sealing" moment.  

But setting aside its meme status, the technique itself was incredibly powerful.  

Danzo didn’t just seal a bridge— 

In reality, he activated this jutsu in his final moments to ensure that Shisui’s right eye didn’t fall into the hands of the mysterious masked man.  

This technique allows the user’s blood to spray out, forming a pre-drawn sealing formula that expands into a sphere, sealing everything within it into the underworld—completely erasing them!  

If not for Kamui being so ridiculously overpowered, Sasuke wouldn’t have been able to escape death.  

In short, this was an extremely powerful sealing jutsu!  

In other words, it was also an extremely powerful self-destructing jutsu!  

For a moment,  

Uchiha Shinji completely ignored The King of Blame (Danzo) running away right in front of him, 

completely entranced by the scroll!  

Heaven must have pitied him—  

Ever since using explosive tags to cover his entire body and detonate himself without dying, and since burning his own heart with Fire Release forbidden jutsu but still surviving,  

He finally had a third self-destructing jutsu!  

But then, Uchiha Shinji suddenly froze.  

Looking at this technique, he recalled how Uchiha Setsuna wanted him to learn "Forbidden Jutsu: Izanagi" that very morning.  

His heart suddenly skipped a beat.  

A crazy thought popped into his head—  

If this technique weren’t Danzo’s trump card, and if the Bridge Sealing Battle didn’t have such heavy plot armor...  

Then combining Izanagi with the Reverse Four Symbols Seal—  

Would allow him to keep only the advantageous reality while erasing any disadvantageous outcomes, 

sealing the enemy away while ensuring his own survival!  

Izanagi + Reverse Four Symbols Seal!  

This could become an almost inescapable forbidden jutsu combo!  

(End of Chapter)