Konoha Year 55, in the forests outside the Hidden Leaf Village.
Step! Step! Step!
Dense footsteps echoed through the woods.
Uchiha Natsuki led his squad as they hurried back toward the village.
"Captain! Slow down! The mission's already done, why are you still in such a rush? Don't tell me you're planning to take on another one!?"
Behind him, his exhausted teammates wailed in despair.
They couldn't figure out what had happened to their captain. Ever since he was injured a few months ago, it was like he had become a completely different person—often requesting meetings with the clan leader, and frantically taking on missions.
They had just returned from the Land of Rivers, intending to rest for a night outside the village. But in the afternoon, Captain Natsuki suddenly declared they had to rush back to Konoha, charging ahead like a madman.
Thanks only to his superior speed, he had already left the other two teammates completely behind. If this weren't the outskirts of Konoha, running into an enemy would have been dangerous.
[Ding! Plot Event Triggered: Coup, the Death of Shisui.]
Right now, Natsuki was burning with urgency, racing back to the clan grounds. It hadn't even been half a year since his transmigration, and he had already run into Shisui's death.
Originally, his plan was to take on missions for a while, get used to this body, and then defect, hiding away somewhere to waste his days in peace.
After all, he was just a jōnin. Saving the world was Indra and Asura's problem. When the Ōtsutsuki came, let the world be destroyed for all he cared.
But just when he'd gotten accustomed to his body's abilities, a golden finger suddenly arrived.
With a golden finger, Natsuki could no longer lie flat—who would waste away when they could take fate into their own hands?
As the saying goes: the poor rot away in their coffins, but the rich rise from the grave!
This world, full of regrets—I'm coming for you!
Although the Third Ninja War had ended five or six years ago, the entire ninja world was still a chaotic mess. Missions were endless.
Over the past three months, Natsuki had scraped by through countless life-and-death situations, and with a bit of luck, had finally mastered all the skills of his body's original owner.
He stopped briefly at Konoha's gate just long enough to hand in proof of mission completion at the mission desk.
At last, he heard the system's voice.
[Ding! System loading complete.]
[The Strongest Faction System will help the host forge the mightiest power.]
Initial quest updated: [Rescue Shisui]
Requirement: Ensure Shisui survives.
Reward: Mangekyō Sharingan power.
[Newbie Gift Pack Delivered.]
Gift Pack Content: Acting Clan Elder — due to a senior elder's passing and your recent outstanding performance, you have been temporarily granted the status of a clan elder. This allows you to influence Uchiha Fugaku's decisions to a certain extent.
As he raced toward the clan compound, Natsuki skimmed over the so-called gift pack.
"That's it!? So stingy! Not even a Rinnegan or Sage Body—at least give me a Mangekyō outright! And I still have to do missions to get it?
What the hell am I supposed to do with 'Acting Elder' status!? Even the system isn't intelligent…"
Still, after venting his complaints, he sighed.
"Forget it—better than nothing. To live is what matters."
Natsuki quickly reviewed the Uchiha's current situation.
It had been more than four years since the Nine-Tails' attack.
In that time, suspicion toward the Uchiha had only deepened. The village constantly restricted them, while their assignment to the Police Force earned nothing but resentment. Proud by nature, the Uchiha clashed frequently with others, complaints piling up like winter snow.
But the biggest problem was Uchiha Shisui, the clan's strongest member.
He had already been brainwashed by Konoha. By now, his eyes were likely already stolen by Danzo. Instead of considering his clan's survival, he naively chose to commit suicide to "ease tensions," throwing away the Uchiha's best chance to rise again.
Because of his spinelessness, all the pressure fell onto Itachi, driving him to the extreme—until, in two years, he would raise his blade against his own kin.
As far as Natsuki was concerned, Fugaku was an incompetent clan head. He was always swayed by the will of the clan, never making decisive choices.
Thanks to Tobirama's original design, the Uchiha's role as enforcers had already created deep resentment with the rest of the village. Hoping for the Hokage seat was a pipe dream—the other clans would never vote in favor.
Yet the clan continued to pour time and effort into this fruitless power struggle.
After the Nine-Tails incident, surveillance and oppression of the Uchiha only intensified. The proud clan refused to bow their heads, and the hawkish members grew ever more vocal.
Now, Uchiha and Konoha were already like oil and water. Many things were out of Fugaku's control.
According to the timeline, Shisui was currently being hunted by Root operatives.
If Natsuki couldn't save him, his own life would be on a countdown. After all, aside from the Hokage faction, even Obito had no intention of letting the Uchiha survive.
In that case, defection would be his only option.
…
At a watchtower overlooking the Uchiha compound, an ANBU wearing a mask observed through binoculars.
"Report to the Third—an Uchiha clan meeting is underway. For now, everything appears normal."
The figure behind him vanished.
In the Hokage's office, the Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen puffed on his pipe. Even as the "Professor of Ninjutsu," he could not resist the erosion of time.
His once-strong body was already in decline. But after the sudden death of the Fourth Hokage, only he could return to stabilize Konoha.
He waved the reporting ANBU away.
"A clan meeting… Fugaku, don't disappoint me. Shisui, I'm counting on you."
…
Meanwhile, elsewhere—
"I fear my left eye is already his target. Before that happens, I entrust this eye to you. You're the only friend I can rely on… Protect this village. Protect the name of Uchiha.
If I die, things will inevitably change. I've already written my will.
Don't try to stop me, Itachi—if you truly are my friend."
"Shisui!!!"
…
When Natsuki stepped into the shrine, he found the place already in chaos.
The Four Elders confronted Fugaku, who sat with his eyes closed.
"Clan Head, the complaints against our Police Force grow by the day. The other clans are voicing heavy discontent. If this continues, relations between Uchiha and Konoha will only worsen!"
The Fourth Elder was a dove faction, usually handling the complaints against the Police Force, so he knew their severity best.
Fugaku remained silent, but the Third Elder spoke in his stead.
"So what if relations worsen?"
"Ever since the Nine-Tails' attack, we've been excluded and monitored constantly. That tower outside our compound—it was built solely to keep watch on us!
Clan Head, the time has come to make a decision!"
The Fourth Elder snapped furiously. "Uchiha Takuya! What nonsense are you spouting!? Do you want a coup!?"
The Third Elder sneered. "A coup? Konoha was founded by the Uchiha and Senju together! And now? Not only the Hokage's office—even the Council of Elders doesn't have a single Uchiha seat! Besides the Police Force, what authority do we even have!?"
His words sparked heated discussion among the others—most of them in agreement.
"That's right! We need representation, we need power!"
"Clan Head! Please give the order!"
The Fourth Elder grew desperate. His strongest supporter was always Shisui—but today, Shisui was absent.
Fugaku's silence dragged on, his intentions unreadable.