1-5

*Chapter 1: Being a Cannon Fodder Is a Beautiful Way to Go!*

"Uchiha Shinji, the clan leader has issued an order—every ninja in the clan is to report to the Police Force headquarters immediately."

"I understand. I'll head there right away," Uchiha Shinji replied calmly while fishing an empty soda can out of the river.

The Uchiha chunin delivering the message gave him a curious glance before lowering his voice to warn,

"Kid, the Third Kazekage has disappeared. Tensions at the border are escalating. The Third Shinobi World War is on the verge of breaking out."

"You're just a genin right now. Don't overestimate yourself by taking on missions you're not ready for!"

With a disapproving frown, the chunin glanced at what Uchiha Shinji was doing—cleaning garbage out of the river—and muttered in exasperation,

"As a member of the Uchiha clan, you should be focusing on training and improving your strength, not wasting your time on meaningless tasks like this."

With that, he disappeared in a flash.

*Whoosh!*

As soon as the chunin left, Uchiha Shinji's eyes lit up with unconcealed excitement. He tossed aside the fork he'd been using to clean river trash, jumped onto the riverbank in one swift motion, and threw the soda can into a sack filled with garbage.

"Damn it, the Shinobi World War is finally about to start?"

His face was alight with joy.

"I can finally leave the village and die! This past year has been driving me insane!"

"Picking up garbage, catching cats, babysitting kids, unclogging rivers... How the hell am I supposed to die doing these pointless tasks?"

Letting out a long sigh of relief, Uchiha Shinji’s hands trembled with excitement.

"Finally... I can go home!" ʘ‿ʘ

It was clear—this Uchiha Shinji was no longer the same person from the original timeline.

He was a transmigrator.

But not just any transmigrator.

He had been chosen by the will of the heavens as one in a million—a "Heaven-Sent Hero"!

*What’s a Heaven-Sent Hero?* ¯(ツ)/¯

Simply put:

He gets a randomly assigned talent, then is sent to chaotic worlds to rewrite tragedies that were supposed to occur, driving society forward and achieving a happy ending.

If he completes his mission, Uchiha Shinji would receive a massive reward and be allowed to return to his original world.

On the flip side, failure—or behaving like a villain—would result in his erasure by the heavens at the story's conclusion.

Of course, being fair, the heavenly system also provided insurance.

If, during his mission as a Heaven-Sent Hero saving the world, he died unexpectedly, the insurance would pay out a hefty sum—five billion yen—upon his return to the original world.

However, this required him to die in a way that didn’t fall below the standard set by the original timeline. Malicious suicide would void the payout.

Uchiha Shinji had been waiting for this moment.

The original Uchiha Shinji had lost his parents at a young age and was constantly bullied by clan members for his mediocre talent. By this point, he was still only a genin.

In the entire Naruto universe, there wasn’t even a mention of someone like him. He likely died either during the Third Shinobi World War, on the night of the Nine-Tails’ attack, or during the Uchiha clan massacre.

In other words, he was cannon fodder.

And what’s the destiny of a cannon fodder?

Uchiha Shinji didn’t even have to think.

The battlefield!

As long as he went to the battlefield and got killed, even the most stringent insurance company in heaven would have no choice but to pay out!

And conveniently, this was the eve of the Third Shinobi World War.

With the disappearance of the Third Kazekage, the Hidden Sand would soon formally declare war on the Hidden Leaf, pushing the frontlines forward.

From this starting point, chaos would erupt everywhere in the future.

- The Battle of the Green Bank Reef!

- The Cloud Lightning Gorge Invasion!

- The One-Man Army showdown—The Third Raikage's final stand!

- The Rain Country battles with the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path and Dragon Soul Reaper massacres!

- The Battle of Kannabi Bridge!

- The Kikyo Pass Offensive!

Legendary ninja.

The bloodiest war to ever take place.

This was his chance.

All the whispered conspiracies in the shadows, the greedy lines crisscrossing the maps!

They will all erupt in this time frame!

Uchiha Shinji pondered—so many classic battles. No matter which one he stumbled into, it would be enough to make it clear just how weak he was!

As cannon fodder, he wouldn’t last long at all!

Even if, by some miraculous stroke of luck, he somehow survived until the very end, Uchiha Shinji would still be able to keep a carefree mindset.

After all, there was still the Night of the Nine-Tails and the Uchiha Massacre waiting for him!

Of course, Uchiha Shinji had considered the idea of becoming some heaven-sent powerhouse and rewriting history.

After all, he had quite a few regrets about Naruto.

However, after carefully assessing the situation, he realized that with his abilities, trying to fight his way to a better ending than Prince Naruto was basically a pipe dream.

The Prince had all kinds of cheats—innate talent hacks, gifts from his dad, ancestral power-ups, Kotoamatsukami-tier persuasion—yet he still almost lost against the top-tier forces in the Naruto world.

And him? He was just a weakling who couldn’t even activate the Sharingan.

Going up, he couldn’t trace his bloodline back to get Indra’s power or the Sage of Six Paths’ genetic mutations.

Going down, with his level of knowledge, there was no way he could self-develop a Gundam and become a god through technology.

What the hell was he supposed to fight with?

Now, if he had a starting bonus like "minus one life, free Mangekyō Sharingan," that’d be a different story.

But as things stood, the "Heavenly Path Corporation" clearly wasn’t handing out enough cheats. Up to this point, the talents he had rolled hadn’t even arrived yet.

Other than being cannon fodder, he couldn’t think of any way for his mortal body to turn the tide.

So, when Uchiha Shinji realized he could reasonably commit insurance fraud—he did a complete 180 on his plans.

I mean, come on, five hundred million—who wouldn’t want that?

As for saving the world?

Let’s just say…

I believe in Prince Naruto!

As for Uchiha Shinji himself, before the storm of the Great Ninja War—

He just needed to find a place to throw himself into the fire.

Look at this level of dedication—Hiruzen Sarutobi would cry his eyes out!

He’d probably even burn incense at the Memorial Stone for him!

"Calling the clan together at a time like this—it has to be a war mobilization meeting. Dangerous missions are already limited—I can’t let them snatch one from me!"

"I need to hurry!"

"This is my chance to shed blood for Konoha!"

"I can totally charge in!"

Uchiha Shinji's eyes shone with determination. Without hesitation, he kicked off his water boots and bolted toward the Police Force Headquarters!

He even abandoned his sack and fishing fork on the shore.

At the same time—

Uchiha Shisui, who was leaping across the rooftops toward the Police Force Headquarters, happened to overhear Uchiha Shinji’s words from below.

He was so stunned he nearly misstepped and fell off the roof.

Then, his eyes lit up:

"There’s actually someone else in the Uchiha clan who thinks the same way I do?"

Shisui glanced at Uchiha Shinji, who was sprinting into the sunset, and stroked his chin.

"But... the mission the Clan Head is about to assign is way too dangerous."

"No, I can’t let such a young and noble-hearted comrade throw his life away!"

With that thought, Shisui’s eyes became resolute.

As a young man who loved the village, he deeply understood Uchiha Shinji’s wholehearted devotion to Konoha.

In moments like this, it was easy to get carried away, rush in, and pick missions that others wouldn’t even dare glance at—just to prove oneself.

How many promising young men had lost their lives for such foolish reasons?

It would be far too tragic.

And Uchiha Shisui—

He absolutely would not let that happen before his eyes!

Especially—

With those two upcoming missions that were practically guaranteed death sentences!

---

*(End of Chapter)*

I’ll be crafting a fresh take on the ninja world, starting from the Great Ninja War and expanding into the power struggles between small nations, rogue organizations, and the great powers. Expect explorations of Bloodline Purges, Blood Dragon Eyes (Ketsuryugan) merging with the Sharingan, the undying powers of the Jashin cult, the liquification abilities of the Hōzuki clan, Mangekyō awakenings inspired by Japanese mythology, and thrilling plot twists!

*Chapter 2: Uchiha Shisui - Have You Asked Me If You Can Court Death?*

Konoha Police Force Headquarters.

Underneath the clan emblem resembling a red-and-white ping-pong paddle...

A group of Uchiha stood in the lobby of the headquarters, selecting missions.

A handsome young man squeezed into the crowd, gazing up at the bulletin board covered with mission postings.

Normally, missions were issued at the Hokage Building's mission office.

But Uchiha Shinji wasn’t officially registered as a Konoha ninja.

He was more like the cannon fodder ninja allied forces that had suddenly appeared during the Fourth Great Ninja War.

In short, he was a clan ninja, belonging strictly to the Uchiha.

Although he wore a Konoha dog tag, there were notable differences.

For instance, most of his missions weren’t directly issued to him by the village. Instead, they were assigned to the clan, which then distributed them internally.

It was a system designed for participation and moderation.

However, this approach was far from meeting Uchiha Shinji's expectations.

“Damn it! Not a single mission near the border?”

Uchiha Shinji was dumbfounded.

At this time, the most dangerous areas were the borderlands between the Land of Fire and the Land of Wind, particularly countries like the Land of Rain and the Land of Valleys.

Yet, on the current mission board, there wasn’t a single task involving border patrol, cross-border supply escorts, or assassinations of enemy dignitaries.

All the missions listed could be completed well within Konoha's borders.

To make matters worse, there were numerous D-rank filler tasks, like finding cats, delivering letters, or even farming.

Among the C-rank missions he could accept, the most dangerous one was chasing a wild boar back into the Forest of Death after it had wandered out.

“Damn it, I thought leaving the village would finally let me court death properly,” Uchiha Shinji muttered, on the verge of tears. “But how is this any different from before?”

His face fell, his expression grim. With no other choice, he reluctantly decided to take the most "dangerous" C-rank mission of chasing the wild boar.

Maybe he could even give the boar a meal upgrade.

But just as he reached for the mission scroll, a slightly smaller hand grabbed it first.

“Sorry, but this mission is mine.”

A young man with delicate features, wearing a black high-collared short-sleeved shirt and long pants, smiled at Uchiha Shinji. A short sword rested on his back.

That signature button nose immediately gave him away—it was none other than the yet-to-rise Uchiha prodigy, Shisui.

Uchiha Shinji: "..." ლ(ಠ益ಠლ)

What the hell? You’re a registered Konoha ninja. Why are you snatching a clan mission from me?

“Apologies, Shinji.

I want to use this mission to hone my swordsmanship. I can let you have the mission reward, but please give me this opportunity!”

Shisui’s face was earnest, his smile sincere.

Faced with such a warm and genuine demeanor, Uchiha Shinji couldn’t bring himself to refuse.

After all, it was just a C-rank mission; he probably wouldn’t die. Once the next ninja war broke out, there’d be plenty of chances to die gloriously. This one mission didn’t matter to him.

What did surprise him, though, was, “You know who I am?”

Of course, Uchiha Shinji knew Shisui.

But for Shisui to recognize him was unexpected.

“Yes, we’ve done D-rank missions together. Don’t you remember?” Shisui lied casually with a smile.

“Maybe,” Uchiha Shinji muttered. He’d done so many missions that he couldn’t keep track anymore.

As for these original characters from the canon, he had no interest in befriending them. If he accidentally altered the future and caused the prince not to save the world...

Well, that would be a sin too great to bear!

For now, all he wanted was to die and return home.

Shrugging, Uchiha Shinji ignored Shisui and continued scanning the mission board.

In truth, Shisui had just looked up Uchiha Shinji's name in the mission ledger.

And he was shocked by what he found.

**Uchiha Shinji: Genin, 1 year of service.

Completed Missions: 855 D-rank, 0 C-rank.**

This obscure peer was a mission maniac, averaging two to three D-rank missions a day without a single day off in a year.

It was terrifying!

Unbeknownst to Shisui, Uchiha Shinji had been grinding through missions in the hope of overworking himself to death.

If Uchiha Shinji had known this was why Shisui admired him, he would’ve twisted his limbs in despair, screaming:

“What a crime!”

This only strengthened Shisui's impression that his peer was no ordinary Uchiha.

For a genin to achieve this level of dedication!

He truly burned himself out for the sake of the village!

With this conviction, Shisui didn’t mind Uchiha Shinji’s coldness toward him in the slightest.

Instead, he moved closer—so close that their shoulders were nearly touching.

“W-what are you doing?!” Uchiha Shinji cried out in alarm. щ(ﾟДﾟщ)

I didn’t notice before,

But you, Uchiha Shisui, with your thick eyebrows and big eyes, at such a young age… have this kind of hobby?

Uchiha Shisui, thinking his companion was just a little socially anxious, smiled knowingly. He leaned closer and whispered softly in his ear:

“Shinji-kun, I know what you're thinking.”

Uchiha Shinji’s eyes widened in shock.

H-how do you know… I want to fake my death for insurance money?!

“Soon, the Great Elder will hold a mobilization meeting, and there are two extremely dangerous missions,” Shisui said gravely. “But don’t worry—I won’t let you take either of them!”

Like a devil whispering in his ear, Uchiha Shinji shuddered, staring at Shisui in horror.

He wondered if this birdbrain had some kind of cheat ability to hear his inner thoughts.

Trying to scam me for some benefits, huh?

Still, the two missions Shisui mentioned piqued Uchiha Shinji’s interest.

“What missions?” Shinji lowered his voice, not wanting others to overhear. It made the two of them look like they were negotiating some shady underground deal.

“As expected, you really are this kind of person!” Shisui froze for a second, then looked at Shinji with admiration.

Once again, Shisui confirmed his recognition of Shinji in his heart.

He silently made up his mind—he would not let Uchiha Shinji die on a dangerous mission.

Someone like him,

Should become the bridge between the village and the Uchiha clan!

At that moment,

An elder with spiky gray-white hair, wearing a high-collared black Uchiha robe but no Konoha headband, ascended to the high platform in the police headquarters’ hall.

His sharp, hawk-like gaze swept across the room, so piercing that no one dared meet his eyes.

Uchiha Shinji’s heart skipped a beat.

The man before him was none other than the last surviving Great Elder of the Uchiha clan—Uchiha Setsuna!

This was a man who had once plotted the assassination of the Second Hokage and managed to survive. Naturally, he was the war leader of the Uchiha clan.

Everyone in the room turned their attention to this old man, their expressions ranging from respect to resentment to indifference.

“You all probably have some guesses as to why you’ve been summoned here,” Uchiha Setsuna began in a calm tone, his voice echoing throughout the hall.

“That’s right!”

“War is upon us!”

“Since the disappearance of the Third Kazekage, the entire shinobi world has been spiraling into chaos.”

“Here in the Land of Fire, border skirmishes have grown increasingly intense.

The latest reports from the Land of Rain indicate that small-scale battles have already begun there.”

“And farther beyond,

The tension between Iwagakure and Kirigakure, which has been simmering for years, is about to erupt into war.

Even those savages from Kumogakure haven’t given up their ambitions, repeatedly probing into the Land of Fields.”

“The shinobi world is on the verge of being engulfed in the flames of war!”

“However—”

Setsuna paused for a moment, his voice turning cold.

“We Uchihas, forged in a thousand years of war, shall not be daunted by such petty threats!”

“Now, the battlefield in the Land of Rain and the Hell Valley defensive outpost in the Land of Hot Springs—”

“Each requires two squads, comprised of one jonin, one chunin, and one genin each, to provide reinforcements.”

“Genin are not obligated to volunteer, but jonin and chunin may choose to step forward. If there are not enough volunteers, I will personally assign participants.”

As his words settled, the room fell into an uneasy silence.

Hearing the two locations mentioned by Setsuna, many people turned pale.

Standing among the crowd, Uchiha Shinji had initially wanted to raise his hand immediately and shout,

“To restore the glory of the Uchiha clan, it’s my duty!”

But then, his vision blurred, and his body involuntarily shuddered.

A voice devoid of emotion suddenly echoed in his mind:

*[Talent has been granted.]*

*[Heart of Steel (SSS): Just one more time—please let me endure it! —《Steel, Door》]*

With a crisp, deafening clang, Uchiha Shinji snapped back to reality.

However, when he heard the name of his new talent,

his heart skipped a beat.

*(End of Chapter)*

Chapter 3: Three Sentences to Awaken the Sharingan in the Uchiha Clan!

Steel of the Heart—a powerful piece of equipment from a certain game.

Its effect is straightforward: the more you charge headfirst into danger, the stronger you become.

Uchiha Shinji was no stranger to this concept. After all, he was a seasoned player of a chaotic thousand-match arena, famed for his “Steel Gate Sion” gameplay.

His strategy? Aggressively sacrifice himself: Hit me if you dare, fine, this death is on me!  

The more he sacrificed, the stronger he grew. The more he died, the tougher he became!

Now, at the very moment he wanted to “throw himself away,” such an ability appeared.

Surely… surely this wouldn’t mess up his grand insurance fraud scheme, right?

With a blank face, Uchiha Shinji couldn’t help but feel a twinge of unease in his heart.

However, at this point, he knew nothing about this ability. The Will of Heaven hadn’t provided a cheat sheet or a manual for its use.

For now, his top priority was to accept the mission from the Great Elder, Uchiha Setsuna.

Before the cheat could react, he planned to hurl himself into the battlefield and let the Iwagakure or whoever else finish him off.

The insurance fraud scheme had to succeed.

This—this was the most important thing!

Yet, deep down, Uchiha Shinji felt a sense of apprehension. Turning his head, he saw the source of his unease standing right beside him.

It was none other than Uchiha Shisui, who, in Shinji eyes, suddenly curved his lips into a gentle smile, whispering softly:

“Don’t worry, Shinji. I’ll handle the mission assigned by the elders!”

“You, on the other hand, should stay within the clan and focus on training.”

Uchiha Shinji felt a chill crawl up his spine. Beads of sweat formed on his forehead as he thought, Big brother, why don’t you mess with Fugaku’s son instead? Why are you always targeting me?  

Without hesitation, Uchiha Shinji sprang forward, rushing out of the crowd. Before Shisui could stop him, he raised three fingers high and declared in an impassioned tone:

“Elder!”

“To restore the glory of the Uchiha, I shall leave no stone unturned!”

“I fear no danger—please, allow me to head to the battlefield!”

Uchiha Shinji leaped forward, shouting with such resonance that his voice echoed melodiously, lingering in the air.

Raising his arm with firm determination etched on his face, he continued:

“Neither the torrential rain of the Land of Rain nor the warm spring fragrance of the Land of Hot Water can shake my resolve to dedicate everything to the Uchiha Clan!”

“If someone must make a sacrifice, then I hope—”

“That person—will be me!” ᕦ(▀̿ ̿ -▀̿ ̿ )つ

As his words fell, everyone turned to look at him, their gazes filled with admiration.

Who this boy? Such bravery!  

“Shinji-kun! What are you doing?”

Shisui wanted to intervene, but it was too late. His expression turned to shock, tinged with sorrow.

Though they hadn’t spent much time together, Shisui had already regarded Uchiha Shinji as a comrade with the same ideals—a brother he could trust to watch his back.

But now...

Why is he sacrificing himself?  

...???

Ah, so this is what losing a comrade feels like.  

Shisui’s face turned red with frustration, his mind racing with the urge to drag Uchiha Shinji back home and give him a thorough beating.

Unbeknownst to him, the turmoil within triggered his nearly perfected Sharingan to its next level.

One tomoe in his crimson Sharingan spun rapidly, emanating an aura of sorrow.

The catalyst for awakening? The loss of a comrade.

As if bound by fate, this moment unfolded prematurely for him.

However—

“You? Impossible. You're useless.”

The Great Elder, Uchiha Setsuna, furrowed his brow, glancing down at Uchiha Shinji. Where did this idiot come from?  

A Uchiha genin who hadn’t even awakened his Sharingan? He might as well be a waste of space.

With those words, Uchiha Shinji’s resolute expression froze.

His sharp-edged determination seemed to crack audibly in the silence.

Can you hear it? That’s the sound of Uchiha Shinji’s pride breaking into pieces.

[The Great Elder looked down on you with disdain.]

At that moment, in Uchiha Shinji’s eyes, a massive red dot appeared on the elder’s face, almost obscuring his expression.

But those eyes—those disdainful, scornful eyes—were burned into Uchiha Shinji’s heart.

A surge of anger welled up within him.

Sure, he might be a bit useless now, but did the elder really have to twist the knife so openly?

You may break my wings, but I’ll destroy your heaven!  

“Great Elder!” Uchiha Shinji’s expression turned serious as he took another bold step forward and shouted:

“This isn’t about being useless or not!”

“I know my abilities are limited, and I haven’t awakened the Sharingan!”

Uchiha Shinji raised his voice and said loudly:

"But for Genin to participate in a war,"

"They are not required to handle the front-line defenses!"

"Most of their duties involve auxiliary tasks along the edges of the battlefield."

"Besides, other clans have already sent their Genin to the Rain Country's battlefield."

"If we, the Uchiha, don't send anyone, won't the other clans look down on us?"

Hearing this, everyone froze momentarily, then looked at Uchiha Shinji with a mix of shock and disbelief.

What he said made sense, sure.

But, damn it, the person he's arguing with right now...

That's the guy who assassinated the Second Hokage!

Not to mention, he’s the leader of the War Faction and the Uchiha clan's great elder!

His power within the Uchiha is nothing short of—

Authority.

Influence.

Supremacy.

Overwhelming.

And here you are, throwing down like this?

Who gave you this kind of courage?

Uchiha Setsuna's face immediately darkened after hearing this. He thought to himself, "Did I just give this brat too much leeway?"

This useless Genin who hasn't even awakened the Sharingan

dares to refute me?

This—this is like a piglet climbing a tree, getting way ahead of itself.

However...

Suddenly, a thought crossed Uchiha Setsuna's mind.

Isn’t this exactly the kind of person he needs?

Setsuna squinted, pondering for a moment.

As the War Faction’s leader, his role was to expand its influence within the clan.

And naturally, that wasn’t just about talent.

Personality was even more crucial!

Especially someone like this—

Single-minded, extreme, the kind of person who’d risk their life in a heartbeat, spilling blood for the future of the Uchiha clan without hesitation.

This kid's stubbornness only shows greater loyalty to the clan!

When the time comes for a coup, wouldn’t he be the one to lead the charge, yelling and slicing Sarutobi Hiruzen’s head into the bowl?

For someone like Uchiha Setsuna, a veteran coup orchestrator, he could proudly declare:

Nobody understands coups better than him!

A guy like Uchiha Shinji is practically premium cannon fodder for a rebellion!

Thus,

He absolutely couldn’t let such talent

waste away on some ridiculous mission to die for Konoha.

With this realization, Uchiha Setsuna’s expression shifted from dark to bright, and he even let out a sinister grin.

Everyone present shivered at the sight of Uchiha Setsuna's smile, feeling a chill run down their spines.

Even Uchiha Shinji felt uneasy.

Not because he was afraid of the old man.

But he wondered,

If this old guy lost his temper and chopped him up, would it fall under the clan’s medical insurance coverage?

*[Yes.]*

The Will of Heaven immediately gave him an answer in his head.

Hearing this, Uchiha Shinji’s eyes lit up.

Suddenly, his heart was steady, his breath calm. He straightened his back and stared defiantly in return.

Uchiha Setsuna almost laughed out loud in exasperation at the boldness of Uchiha Shinji’s gaze.

He forced himself to suppress the strong urge to hang this kid up and give him a thorough beating. Thinking of his grander vision, he took a deep breath.

Finally,

He decided to give the kid a way out.

He shot a cold glare and scolded in a harsh voice:

"Naive and ridiculous!"

If the battlefield were as simple as Uchiha Shinji described, the Uchiha wouldn’t mind sending a few Genin for training.

But reality was far crueler—those sent to the battlefield weren’t ninjas.

They were cannon fodder.

Uchiha Setsuna glared at Uchiha Shinji and said coldly, “Are you deaf, kid? Don’t you understand human language?”

However,

Uchiha Shinji bared his teeth in a bold grin, tilted his head, and slapped his neck—like a piece of tough meat on a butcher’s block.

“What’s the matter, Great Elder? If you’ve got the guts, then cut me down!”

(╭☞´ิ∀´ิ)╭☞

“If you can’t kill me, then send me to the battlefield!”

With this retort, it was as if something critical was triggered.

Uchiha Shinji suddenly heard a crisp sound in his ears—

*Ding!*

(End of Chapter)  

Chapter 4: Mission—Journey to Hell Valley! 

At this moment, 

the hall was utterly silent, so quiet that you could hear a pin drop.  

The crowd of Uchiha clansmen stood frozen, their faces filled with shock, not daring to take even a single deep breath. 

They feared that if they so much as inhaled, Uchiha Setsuna might slice Uchiha Shinji into pieces right on the spot!  

Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Uchiha Setsuna’s face was as dark as the bottom of a scorched pot.  

Having been brazenly and recklessly retorted by Uchiha Shinji, even his usually calm temperament was on the verge of snapping. 

His Sharingan glimmered with a chilling red light, the three tomoe within spinning slowly as he locked his gaze on Uchiha Shinji.  

A suffocating bloodlust began to fill the hall, thick and oppressive.  

It seemed as though the elder might, at any moment, draw the blade from his back and slice Uchiha Shinji into pieces as easily as cutting fruit!  

But at this moment, Uchiha Shinji, the one under that piercing gaze, seemed utterly unaffected.  

Instead, he stared blankly at the subtitles that had suddenly appeared in his vision.  

[Ding!] 

[You boldly stood your ground against Uchiha Setsuna and acquired a random skill from your opponent: Uchiha-Style Wire-Controlled Shuriken Technique (Master Level).] 

[Your Heart of Steel level has increased.]  

For a fleeting moment, Uchiha Shinji was stunned, as a torrent of knowledge poured into his mind.  

From the designs of various shuriken to the composition of steel wires, from throwing techniques to force manipulation, hidden tricks, and subtle maneuvers—all of it flooded his consciousness.  

In an instant, he grasped it all, bypassing barriers that would normally require years of painstaking practice.  

He even surpassed the reflexive muscle memory typically honed through life-and-death battles.  

Until finally— 

Master Level!  

Uchiha Shinji had mastered the Uchiha-Style Wire-Controlled Shuriken Technique at an extraordinary level!  

“Wha—?!”  

“What just happened?” Uchiha Shinji stood there, dumbfounded.  

No joke—this level of shuriken mastery made young Sasuke’s iconic windmill shuriken seem laughably amateurish.  

The path to perfecting shuriken techniques had no shortcuts. It required time—lots of it.  

Yet, this mastery was something that even an older Sasuke, battling Momoshiki Ōtsutsuki, would struggle to rival.  

And all Uchiha Shinji had done was clash head-on with Elder Uchiha Setsuna!  

Still, considering Setsuna’s terrifying reputation—someone who had once assassinated the Second Hokage and lived to tell the tale—Uchiha Shinji couldn’t be too surprised.  

Perhaps this was the confidence of an old-school Uchiha artist.  

This... this! Honestly, it’s truly worthy of the Heart of Steel—there’s something undeniably beautiful about its numbers!  

Awesome! ヾ(≧∪≦*)ノ〃 

But wait—why hasn’t the elder chopped me up yet?  

In the hall, 

three minutes passed in silence. Uchiha Setsuna finally turned his head away in exasperation.  

He had concluded that Uchiha Shinji was just a reckless fool who didn’t understand fear.  

Even under his suffocating bloodlust, the boy showed no reaction, simply standing there, locked in a staring contest with him.  

Any further glaring would only make things awkward.  

With a cold snort, Uchiha Setsuna broke the tension: 

“Since you’re so eager to throw your life away for Konoha, I won’t stop you.”  

“You—step forward!”  

Uchiha Shinji snapped out of his daze, looking up at the elder with a face full of confusion rather than joy at receiving the mission.  

Wait, this doesn’t match the script!  

Just moments ago, Uchiha Shinji had been mentally prepared to die on the spot after challenging Uchiha Setsuna.  

He was even ready to cackle maniacally before his demise...  

But, elder—why haven’t you killed me? 

Couldn’t you just strike me down with a single slash?  

You’re a War Faction Uchiha powerhouse! Can you at least act the part of a fearless man?  

“Shinji-kun...” Uchiha Shisui couldn’t help but feel a surge of emotion.  

Judging by Uchiha Shinji’s expression, it was clear the young man fully understood the dangers of war.  

Look at him—his face is pale with fear.  

Yet, despite this, he still had the courage to step forward.  

With that thought, Uchiha Shisui, his Sharingan activated, stepped out from the crowd and addressed Uchiha Setsuna with a solemn expression:  

“Elder, the mission still needs one more genin. Please allow me to participate.”  

Uchiha Setsuna glanced at Shisui, frowning slightly as his gaze settled on the young man’s crimson Sharingan.  

“You’re Kagami’s grandson, Shisui?”  

“Yes, and I ask for your indulgence—I wish to take on the mission to the Land of Rain.”  

Hearing this, Uchiha Setsuna said nothing. He merely gave Shisui a brief glance before continuing to assign tasks to other shinobi.  

That was his way of granting permission.  

As the leader of the Uchiha clan’s War faction, 

Uchiha Setsuna naturally clashed with the pacifists. However, Shisui’s growth wasn’t something he needed to concern himself with.  

Within the pacifist faction, a prodigy like Shisui—graduating early from the academy, awakening the Sharingan, and being the grandson of a former clan leader—would naturally be nurtured under close supervision, like a priceless treasure.  

Compared to the situation with Shisui, what troubled Uchiha Setsuna more now was the problem with Uchiha Shinji. 

Even though the War Faction’s philosophy for nurturing talent was essentially about throwing children off a cliff.  

Those who could fly naturally became eagles soaring through the skies, possessing free will.  

Those who couldn’t fly would crash to the bottom, becoming a pile of useless garbage. In this increasingly chaotic era, perhaps even that could be considered a form of luck.  

But Uchiha Shinji…  

He hadn’t even grown all his feathers yet, and he was already thinking about flying. His hard-headed determination was simply awe-inspiring.  

Even someone as extreme as Setsuna, the War Faction leader, couldn’t help but wonder if this kid might be just a little too extreme.  

Soon, the personnel assignments were finalized. Uchiha Setsuna swept a cold gaze over the crowd and announced indifferently:  

“For the Rain Country battlefield, a team will be formed with Jonin Shinichi as captain, along with Special Jonin Shisui and Genin Shisui. You will depart first to the border camp and await further instructions. A carrier hawk has already delivered the message. By then, a Uchiha member will meet you there.”  

“For you all, let me emphasize this: your lives belong to the Uchiha. They are yours, and yours alone. They are not Konoha’s. You’d better keep that clear in your minds!”  

“As for Hell Valley in the Hot Spring Country, I will personally serve as captain, accompanied by Chunin Seichiro and Genin Shinji. Our mission is to support the defense forces stationed there.”  

“Team members, gather at the village entrance tomorrow at 8 a.m. sharp.”  

“That’s all—dismissed!”  

Uchiha Setsuna had always been a man of swift and decisive action. As soon as he finished assigning tasks, he vanished with the Body Flicker Technique.  

The remaining ninjas exchanged glances briefly before dispersing. The Security Department had no room for idle bodies.  

Before long, only Uchiha Shisui and a pensive Uchiha Shinji remained in the hall.  

Uchiha Shinji furrowed his brows slightly.  

Because of Shisui’s interference, he was ultimately assigned to the Hell Valley mission.  

By comparison, he had wanted to go to the Rain Country—the meat grinder of a battlefield.  

The Rain Country battlefield had raged on from the eve of the Ninja War all the way to its end, lasting five full years. During this period, the combined forces of Iwa, Suna, and Kumo pushed the frontlines all the way from the Rain Country into the borders of the Fire Country.  

In the end, it culminated in the most devastating battle for Konoha during the Third Great Ninja War—  

The Battle of Kikyo Mountain.  

That was why Uchiha Shinji wanted to go there. It was, in every sense, a battlefield akin to a meat grinder.  

But he was low on the totem pole, and just getting a mission was already a stroke of luck.  

He could only accept the result of the assignment. There was no other choice.  

His mind, however, was preoccupied with another issue.  

In the original events, without his involvement, Uchiha Shisui would likely have been assigned to the Hell Valley mission. Eventually, he would join the frontlines against Kirigakure.  

If Uchiha Shinji hadn’t intervened to claim a spot, peace faction would never have allowed Shisui to act on his own preferences. Even if Shisui tried to volunteer, he would have been assigned to the relatively safer Kirigakure frontlines.  

That was how he earned the name “Shisui of the Body Flicker.”  

But now—  

Because of Uchiha Shinji appearance, the plotline had already started to shift quietly, like a butterfly flapping its wings.  

Would Shisui end up dying in the Rain Country because of this?  

Without Shisui in the later events, would Uchiha Itachi still awaken the Mangekyo Sharingan and turn into the clan-slaughtering maniac?  

Uchiha Shinji suddenly realized something unsettling: 

His very existence, his intention to manipulate the system for his own gain, and his choices had already silently altered many things.  

Ahead of him, it seemed like an impenetrable fog had risen, obscuring the road.  

This realization sent a cold shiver down his spine.  

(End of Chapter) 

Chapter 5: Land of Hot Water, the Chaotic Region

"Shinji." Uchiha Shisui stepped forward and patted Uchiha Shinji on the shoulder.

He keenly noticed that slight tremor in Shinji's body just now.

ヽ(*。>Д<)o゜

However, since Shisui had graduated early and was still quite young, he was short and stubby like a little radish. His attempt to comfort someone came off as somewhat comical.

"You don’t need to worry too much. I didn’t expect Elder Setsuna to personally lead this mission. From this, it seems your side’s danger level shouldn’t be too high."

Shisui smiled kindly, his words filled with reassurance.

Even though he had chosen a far more dangerous battlefield in the Land of Rain, he was still here, offering comfort to Shinji.

Snapping out of his daze, Shinji looked at him with a deadpan expression, full of resignation.

Damn it, you stole a mission from me, and now you’re even taking on a death-wish task? Can’t you act like a normal human being?  

"Shinji, I need to complete my mission before tomorrow’s assembly, so I’ll take my leave now."

Shisui waved the C-rank mission scroll he had just accepted, bid farewell, and left.

After Shisui departed, a flicker of thought flashed through Shinji’s eyes.

The danger level of Hell Valley in the Land of Hot Water—really not high?  

That’s… highly doubtful.  

---

*Nightfall.*

The full moon broke through the clouds, its gentle radiance bathing the earth.

Within the Uchiha Clan compound, Uchiha Setsuna slid open a wooden door with his geta-clad feet, his expression indifferent.

The small room was suddenly illuminated by the crimson glow of numerous Sharingan.

"Great Elder!"

Amidst the chorus of respectful greetings, Uchiha Setsuna walked to the central seat of the room and sat cross-legged.

Seated beside him was Uchiha Hachidai, the second-in-command of the War Faction.

Below them were nearly a hundred Uchiha clan members, all at least at the chunin level and all with awakened Sharingan.

This was the true strength of the War Faction.

"Great Elder, wasn’t it already decided to send a group of capable clan members to support the mission in the Land of Hot Water?"

Hachidai frowned slightly and asked,

"Why is there a genin on the list? A genin who hasn’t even awakened the Sharingan?"

"Did you not explain the dangers of this mission to the clan?"

Setsuna picked up a teacup, glanced at Hachidai, and said indifferently,

"I will personally oversee this mission."

"My presence alone will suffice."

"But this mission isn’t just about disturbances from the Chinoike clan and increased security demands," Hachidai analyzed, his brows furrowed.

"The Land of Hot Water is caught between the Fire, Lightning, and Water countries. Recently, Iwagakure and Sunagakure have engaged in small-scale battles with Kirigakure. The region has plunged into utter chaos."

"Spies and military forces from all nations are mingling there. Add to that the various small organizations that sprang up after the Second Shinobi War—Hyūan, Bōnyō, Jashin cultists, Tsuchigumo remnants, the survivors of the now-destroyed village, Kirigakure’s Chiyū and trackers, Iwagakure’s explosive units, Rasa—who’s trying to rack up achievements on the Kirigakure front to ascend as Kazekage—and even bounty hunters from the underground exchange."

"The place is already a chaotic melting pot." Hachidai shook his head gravely, feeling Setsuna might be underestimating the situation.

Even if the Third Hokage himself took action, there was no guarantee he could come out unscathed.

Though Setsuna was an old-generation Uchiha from the Warring States period, bringing only one genin and one chunin for this mission seemed imprudent.

But resources in the clan were stretched thin. The members of the Konoha Police Force were restricted by village regulations and could not leave without valid reasons.

Hachidai suddenly proposed, "Perhaps we can request aid from Konoha?"

"Enough."

Setsuna placed his teacup down, his tone calm yet brooking no argument.

"My presence alone is enough!"

"Hachidai, the task of guarding Hell Valley was not issued by Konoha. It is a long-term mission commissioned directly by the Daimyo of the Land of Lightning. This mission is one of our clan’s few remaining sources of income."

"Do not base your sense of security on others—especially not Konoha, Sarutobi, or Danzo."

Setsuna raised his head, his crimson Sharingan glowing chillingly.

"The only things that truly count are those we can control ourselves. Anything given by others—you’ll have to grovel like a dog to receive it. And when they’re dissatisfied, they can kick you away whenever they want."

Hachidai fell silent under Setsuna’s words.

Shinobi are tools of war, detached from production. The wealth of the Uchiha Clan came not only from ancestral properties and real estate within Konoha but also from the income generated by completing large-scale missions entrusted to the clan.

Guarding the Chi-no-Ike clan provided annual compensation equivalent to an S-rank mission.

It was a long-term, stable source of revenue.

This was why Setsuna would never allow Konoha to meddle in this mission.

---

Drip.  

Uchiha Shinji had just opened the door to his home when a dusty young man wearing goggles fell from the tree in his yard.

With one glance, Uchiha Shinji could tell the reason for the fall: the guy had been practicing tree climbing but lost his grip due to uneven chakra output.

"Obito, what are you up to now?"

Looking at the unexpected visitor, Uchiha Shinji was momentarily speechless.

The person before him was none other than Obito, who had only graduated from the Ninja Academy last year and was now his neighbor.

"Yo, it's Shinji! Haha, I was just preparing for the Chūnin Exams!" Obito scratched the back of his head with an awkward laugh, then suddenly looked indignant.

"That annoying Kakashi keeps bossing me around with his Chūnin status, making me follow his orders!"

"All for something as simple as catching a cat!"

"Just wait till I finish my training—I’ll shove my Chūnin vest right in his face!" Obito rambled on, venting his frustrations.

Hearing this, Uchiha Shinji was momentarily stunned, then slightly enlightened.

Without realizing it, he had already spent an entire year in this still relatively peaceful Konoha.

He just now realized the timeline had reached this point. Last year, Obito had teamed up with Kakashi and Rin Nohara to form a three-man squad under Minato Namikaze, and they had been doing D-rank missions for some time now.

However, Obito’s dream of becoming a Chūnin this year probably wasn’t going to come true.

The Third Shinobi World War was about to break out. As an elite Jōnin, Minato would soon be heading to the frontlines, leaving the team to follow him on various missions throughout the year.

It wasn’t until the Land of Lightning eased its offensive and Konoha got a brief chance to catch its breath that the Chūnin Exams would be held in Year 48 of the Hidden Leaf Calendar.

That was also when Obito would be seriously injured by Might Guy during the exams. Though he lost the fight, he still successfully advanced to Chūnin in the end.

"What are you zoning out for? Grandma made noodles—come eat!" Obito waved his hand in front of Uchiha Shinji face, tilting his head curiously.

"Alright, let me put this stuff away first," Uchiha Shinji nodded, not refusing the invitation.

On his way back earlier, he had retrieved his fishing spear and sandals from the riverbank.

However, the sack of recyclable cans he had collected—worth some money—was gone, along with the bag. Some jerk must have swiped it.

Uchiha Shinji cursed under his breath, frustrated at how society seemed to be going downhill.

This sort of thing didn’t happen in Konoha last year!

It was only recently, with the Uchiha Clan’s Police Force preoccupied with constant war meetings, that petty theft had become rampant in the village.