"Where… is this?"
Tobirama Senju scanned his surroundings, a chill settling in his chest. He knew he was dead. He had been for a long time. And yet, here he was—summoned into a pitch-black prison, unable to sense a single trace of chakra.
It felt eerily similar to a tailed beast being sealed away.
"So this is what Sister-in-law meant when she described how the Nine-Tails looked, sealed up like this…"
"Impure World Reincarnation? No… something more like a soul-binding jutsu?" Tobirama muttered, analyzing his situation.
Footsteps echoed from the darkness.
A tall boy emerged, moving with calm deliberation. His eyes gleamed strangely as he looked Tobirama over—not like an enemy sizing up an opponent, but like a farmer appraising a ripening field. Joy at the thought of harvest.
Tobirama narrowed his eyes. His crimson gaze studied the boy with surgical precision.
And what he saw unsettled him.
Sharp black hair, star-like black eyes, sunlit features framed by a strong build—this youth was undeniably striking. But the more Tobirama looked, the heavier the pit in his stomach grew.
Finally, his voice came out, strained with loathing:
"Evil little Uchiha brat. Did you really think I wouldn't see through this? To disturb the dead with filthy ninjutsu… I'll kill you with my own hands!"
In a blur, his fingers danced through hand seals, faster than the eye could follow.
The boy blinked innocently.
Tobirama thrust his hand forward, striking at the boy's chest—only to phase right through him like smoke.
At that moment, a crisp electronic chime rang in the boy's head:
[Duel Target: Tobirama Senju. Reward Acquired—Water Release Mastery (Tobirama's Version)!]
The boy—Uchiha Seiji—smiled with pure delight.
To Tobirama, that smile was twisted. Evil. Unforgivable. That a child so young could laugh at desecrating the souls of the dead…
Cold dread crept into Tobirama's bones.
Could it be that the Uchiha clan had birthed a true monster?
…
Seiji tilted his head. "How'd you know I'm an Uchiha?"
Tobirama's glare could have cut steel.
"Rude little brat. Before asking others questions, shouldn't you introduce yourself first?"
Seiji nodded as if the suggestion made perfect sense.
"My name is Uchiha Seiji. I'm eleven. I live in the core of the Uchiha compound. Single, obviously. I train until eight at night, no later. I don't smoke, I drink only socially. Bedtime is at eleven sharp, after a glass of warm milk and twenty minutes of light stretching. I always get eight hours of sleep—peaceful, like a baby. That way, no fatigue carries over to the next day."
"I don't ask for much. I just want to live calmly, in peace. Winning, losing—it's never mattered to me. That only makes enemies. I'm content with a simple life. That's my philosophy. But…" His eyes sharpened. "…if I do fight, I will never lose."
Tobirama's brow furrowed. Dangerous. This boy's words were calm, but the undertones—control, obsession, hidden fire.
A monster.
And then the chime came again.
[Reward Acquired—Fragment of Senju Body (Incomplete).]
Seiji's gaze softened, as if in gratitude.
Tobirama, meanwhile, thought grimly: This child is the most dangerous kind of Uchiha. A fanatic hiding beneath serenity.
Seiji clasped his hands together, voice steady. "I summoned you for a reason, Lord Second Hokage. I want your wisdom. I want to resolve the conflict between the Uchiha and Konoha peacefully. To let the Will of Fire shine across the ninja world."
Tobirama's lip curled. "Do you think I'll believe that nonsense?"
"Of course not," Seiji grinned. "Actually, I was planning to destroy Konoha."
Tobirama exploded. "I knew it!"
[Reward Acquired—Innate Talent: Ninjutsu Inventor (Tobirama's Version).]
Seiji chuckled. "Relax, I'm joking. Man, you get angry so easily."
…
That was Seiji's truth. He was a transmigrator. A former anime fan who, after one too many late-night online debates about Naruto, had ended up reborn in the very world he used to argue about. Worse, he'd come with a "system"—
The Duel King System.
Anyone who strongly wished to defeat, kill, manipulate, or control him became his "duel target." Whenever Seiji provoked enough emotion in them—rage, fear, despair—the system rewarded him with powers linked to the target's abilities.
And his first unlucky opponent? None other than the dead Second Hokage himself.
…
The exchange stretched on—Seiji pressing Tobirama with piercing questions about the Will of Fire, Konoha's oppression of the Uchiha, and why loyalty had been repaid with discrimination.
Tobirama stayed silent, but silence itself was an answer.
[Reward Acquired—Anti-Uchiha Taijutsu Secrets.]
Finally, Seiji straightened, voice cold.
"Goodbye, Lord Second. I once admired you. But seeing you now, blinded by hatred, I understand where Konoha's rot began. You were never my idol. You were the problem."
Tobirama sneered, but Seiji was already fading from view. His voice lingered:
"Watch closely. With your own eyes, witness how my justice changes Konoha."
Then, with a snap of Seiji's fingers, Tobirama's vision went dark.
[Reward Acquired—Genjutsu: Bringer of Darkness.]
And just as the tension peaked—
"Brother!"
The door to Seiji's home burst open. Uchiha Shisui ran in, eyes sparkling with excitement. "Can we have your secret grilled fish tonight? Please? As a good luck meal for my early graduation test!"
Seiji smiled. The deadly game paused, just for a moment of family warmth.