Heart of Steel was a powerful ability from a certain strategy game.
Its effect was straightforward: the more damage you take, the stronger you become.
Tsukasa wasn't unfamiliar with this concept—he was a veteran player who specialized in tank builds, the kind who would charge headfirst into battle shouting: "You dare hit me? Fine, take my head, big brother!"
The more punishment he took, the stronger and more durable he became!
Now, just when he was about to die, this talent appeared.
It shouldn't—shouldn't—interfere with his insurance fraud scheme.
Tsukasa's face remained expressionless, but unease was already building within him.
However, he knew nothing about this talent's specifics, and Heaven's Law hadn't provided any instruction manual.
The most urgent matter now was to accept the mission from Great Elder Uchiha Setsuna.
Before this cheat ability could react, he'd send himself to the battlefield and have Iwagakure or some other enemy swiftly cut him down.
Complete his insurance fraud scheme! That was the most important thing!
But Tsukasa always felt somewhat uneasy, and when he turned around, he found that the source of his uneasiness was standing right next to him.
This guy named Uchiha Shisui—who was apparently a little devil—suddenly smiled gently in Tsukasa's eyes and whispered in a very confident tone:
"Tsukasa-kun, don't worry. I'll take on the missions the elder is about to assign!"
"You should stay in the clan and focus on training."
The hair on Tsukasa's neck instantly stood on end, and sweat dripped down his forehead. He thought to himself: Big brother, why don't you go check on the Fugaku family's eldest son instead of staring at me? What are you planning?
Without hesitation, Tsukasa leaped from the crowd. Before Shisui could react, he excitedly raised three fingers and swore to the heavens, his voice high and mighty:
"Elder!"
"Restoring the glory of the Uchiha clan is our duty!"
"I fear no danger! Please let me fight!"
Tsukasa stepped forward, shouting at the top of his lungs, his voice melodious and beautiful, its echo lingering in the air.
He raised his arms with a resolute expression, his face filled with determination:
"Neither the endless rain of the Land of Rain nor the treacherous hot springs of the Land of Hot Water can shake my resolve to sacrifice everything for the Uchiha clan!"
"If someone must be sacrificed, then I hope that person—"
"Must be me!"
As he finished speaking, everyone glanced at him with eyes lit with admiration.
Whose subordinate is this, and how can he be so brave?
"Tsukasa-kun! What's gotten into you?"
Shisui tried to stop him, but it was too late. A look of shock appeared on his face, his tone pierced with sorrow.
Though they'd only just met, he had already determined that Tsukasa was a comrade who shared his ideals—someone he could rely on!
But how could he just turn around and throw his life away like this?
Ah, is this what it feels like to lose a comrade?
This... this...
Shisui's face flushed red, and he felt the urge to drag Tsukasa back home, tie him up, and give him a good talking-to.
Shisui's eyes, already strained to a critical point, had turned crimson red before he even noticed.
A single tomoe spun rapidly within his crimson Sharingan, revealing a sense of deep anguish.
The trigger for awakening his eyes was: the loss of a comrade.
Like fate itself, it had been activated prematurely.
However—
"You can't handle it. You're nothing but trash."
Great Elder Uchiha Setsuna frowned, glancing down at Tsukasa dismissively. Where did this idiot come from?
He's just an unawakened Uchiha genin—what difference is there between him and garbage?
As soon as he finished speaking, the resolute expression on Tsukasa's face froze.
The sharp words seemed capable of cutting people to death!
The young man's embarrassment was deafening!
Did you hear that? Tsukasa was crying inside!
[Uchiha Setsuna has shown contempt for you.]
At this moment, a huge red target suddenly appeared over Setsuna's face in Tsukasa's vision.
Dark clouds covered the sun, almost completely obscuring Setsuna's expression.
But those eyes full of contempt were clearly visible, as if engraved on Tsukasa's heart.
It made him feel genuinely angry.
Sure, I might be a bit useless right now, but if you, Great Elder, tear open wounds like this, even I will get mad!
If you clip my wings, I'll destroy your paradise!
"Great Elder!" Tsukasa's face became serious as he took another large step forward and said sternly:
"This isn't a question of whether someone is trash or not!"
"I know my abilities are limited, and I haven't awakened my Sharingan!"
Tsukasa's voice rose as he declared:
"But genin participating in war aren't supposed to be responsible for defending the front lines!"
"Mostly they just operate around the edges of the battlefield, doing support work."
"Besides, the other clans are sending genin to the Land of Rain battlefield."
"And if we Uchiha don't, won't that make the other clans look down on us?"
Everyone was stunned upon hearing this, looking at Tsukasa with horror.
While there was truth to his words, the person he was challenging was the man who had attempted to assassinate the Second Hokage!
Furthermore, he was the leader of the Hawk Faction and Great Elder of the Uchiha clan!
His power within the Uchiha clan could best be described in four words: absolute and overwhelming!
You, kid, just went up against him like that? Who gave you the courage?
Setsuna's face darkened upon hearing this, wondering if he should put this brat in his place.
A worthless genin who hasn't even awakened his Sharingan dares to contradict me?
This is truly like a pig trying to climb a tree—overconfident.
However, Setsuna suddenly had another thought.
Isn't this exactly the kind of talent I need?
Setsuna narrowed his eyes and pondered for a moment. As the leader of the Hawk Faction, he was responsible for developing faction members within the clan—and this wasn't just about talent.
Character was paramount!
Especially the kind of person with an extreme personality and crazy determination, ready to risk his life for the Uchiha clan's future!
And the more stubborn this kid was now, the more loyal he was to the clan!
Wouldn't he be perfect for screaming and charging at Sarutobi Hiruzen's head during a coup?
For Setsuna, a professional coup specialist, he could confidently guarantee: No one understands coups better than me!
Someone like Tsukasa was prime cannon fodder for a revolution!
Therefore, they must never let such talent die in the ridiculous task of serving Konoha!
Thinking of this, Setsuna's expression suddenly changed from gloomy to bright, and he even smiled sinisterly.
Seeing Setsuna's smile, everyone present couldn't help but shrink back, feeling a chill down their spines.
Even Tsukasa felt a bit nervous.
It wasn't that he was afraid of this old man—he was just wondering: If this geezer chopped me down in anger, would it be covered by insurance?
[Yes.]
Heaven's Law immediately provided an answer in his mind.
Tsukasa's eyes lit up immediately.
Now he was no longer panicked. He stopped his heavy breathing, straightened his back, and stared right back.
Setsuna almost laughed at Tsukasa's defiant expression.
Setsuna forced himself to suppress the strong urge to string this kid up and beat him. Thinking of his long-term vision, he took a deep breath.
Deciding to give this kid one more chance to back down, he immediately glared back coldly and scolded:
"Naive! Ridiculous!"
If the battlefield were really as pleasant as Tsukasa described, the Uchiha wouldn't mind sending some genin to gain experience.
But reality is often crueler. Those sent to the battlefield can no longer be called shinobi—they're cannon fodder.
Setsuna stared at Tsukasa coldly: "You brat, don't you understand what people are telling you?"
However, Tsukasa grinned impudently, stretched out his neck and patted it, like a piece of meat on a butcher's block:
"What's the matter, Great Elder? If you've got the guts, just cut me down!"
"If you can't finish me off, let me go to the battlefield!"
As soon as he spoke those words, it seemed as if he had triggered something critical.
Tsukasa immediately heard a crisp sound in his ear—
[DING!]
End of Chapter 3
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