A Lesson
"Hmph."
Kyosuke abruptly sat up in bed, rubbing his muddled head. His eyes narrowed as he muttered, "I was careless. I didn't expect them to have another accomplice."
For a moment, he just sat there blankly, replaying the memory of his failure. Then, as though remembering something, he got up and began washing his face.
While doing so, he silently called out in his mind: "System."
At once, a faint light-blue interface shimmered into view before his eyes.
Kyosuke ignored the menus for "Character Information," "Profession Information," and "Attributes," and instead opened the option at the bottom labeled "Dungeons."
Another, larger interface appeared—this one divided into eight tiers: Six Paths, God, S, A, B, C, D, and E.
Kyosuke scrolled past the higher tiers and entered the E-tier menu, where dozens of cover-marked options appeared. Fixing his thoughts on one in particular, he selected: Dungeon – Transporting Goods.
The details displayed immediately:
Dungeon Description: "In a silent jungle, a traveler drags a heavy cart across perilous land."
Completion Conditions: "Either defeat the rogue ninja attackers, or successfully deliver the goods to their destination."
Remaining Attempts: 2/3
Kyosuke remembered: this was the first Dungeon he had unlocked after transmigrating.
Because the truth was—Kyosuke did not belong to this world. In his previous life, he had been just an ordinary young man living in a modern city. A sudden accident had brought him here, into the body of a child of the Uchiha clan.
His full name now was Uchiha Kyosuke.
When he first realized where he was, joy filled him. After all, he had adored the world of Naruto from afar—and now he could experience it firsthand.
But the excitement faded quickly.
The original Kyosuke had only ordinary talent. Even after his transmigration, aside from the unexpected awakening of his Sharingan—sparked by the merging of their two souls—he found nothing remarkable in himself.
Ninjutsu? He had none.
Taijutsu? At his age, negligible.
Genjutsu? Completely out of reach.
Within the proud Uchiha clan, such mediocrity meant a hard life.
The Uchiha were already uneasy: tensions with Konoha's leadership had been growing ever since the Second Great Ninja War. The clan's elders blamed their weakening political position on a lack of overwhelming strength. They preached that, had the Uchiha possessed high-level power like in the Warring States era, no one in Konoha would dare look down on them.
Instead of softening, their pride and paranoia deepened. They pursued strength with reckless desperation, treating outsiders with even more hostility—as though brutality could restore the clan's lost dignity.
Kyosuke could only scoff at their delusions.
Still, for now, he set clan troubles aside and focused on his so-called golden finger.
Each Dungeon on the interface was like a challenge, divided by tier. Each had strict conditions, three total attempts, and once failed permanently, it would vanish.
Clearing a Dungeon rewarded items, not experience. Worse, his level was still stuck at 1. He still hadn't discovered how to gain experience at all.
Kyosuke frowned. "So far, only Dungeons for items… where do I get EXP?"
---
His thoughts were interrupted.
Bang!
The fragile door to his room slammed open, shaking on its hinges. One more push and it would probably collapse entirely.
Only one person in the clan ever barged in like that—his cousin, Uchiha Hiroharu.
Kyosuke's parents had been killed during the Second Great Ninja War, leaving him an orphan. Taken in by his uncle, he grew up alongside Hiroharu.
But their relationship was anything but brotherly.
For reasons Kyosuke could never grasp, Hiroharu despised him. Bullying became routine. In fact, Kyosuke suspected much of his predecessor's weakness stemmed from this cousin's constant abuse.
But this Kyosuke wasn't the same.
Yes, clan rules forbade unprovoked fighting between members. But at five years old, who would seriously punish him for lashing out?
Kyosuke clenched his fists, ready to strike back—when suddenly, a voice echoed in his mind.
> "Mission triggered: A Lesson."
Mission Description: "Defeat Uchiha Hiroharu to establish your reputation within the clan."
Reward: 10 EXP.
Kyosuke froze, stunned.
Hiroharu mistook his hesitation for fear.
"Oh? You dare glare at me now? Don't forget how easily I can—"
He never finished.
Kyosuke's fist shot forward, smashing into his cousin's face.
Thud.
Hiroharu dropped unconscious on the floor.
Kyosuke exhaled, shaking his hand. But then he frowned. There was no sound, no prompt, no indication of success.
"Strange…" he muttered. "Why didn't it complete?"
After a moment of thought, he realized it. The mission said 'establish your reputation.' Beating him in private doesn't count.
A small smile spread across his lips. So that's how it is.
---
He bent down, grunting as he hoisted Hiroharu over his shoulder.
"Damn… this body is too weak," Kyosuke muttered. He circulated chakra through his muscles, and instantly the weight felt lighter.
With one hand holding his unconscious cousin, Kyosuke swaggered out onto the streets of the Uchiha compound.
Clansmen stared at him with raised brows, whispering among themselves. He didn't bother explaining—he simply smirked and kept walking toward the Council Hall.
After ten long minutes, he finally reached the tall, imposing building.
Smack!
He hurled Hiroharu through the freshly opened doors. His cousin's body landed heavily on the floor inside.
A deep, commanding voice echoed from within.
"…What is going on here?"