Konoha, October 10, Year 48.
Within the Uchiha Clan compound.
The night was deep and still, silence blanketing the world. A full moon hung high above, its silver light spilling down like a gauzy veil draped over the land.
A lone crow glided through the air and landed atop the roof of a two-story wooden house at the edge of the Uchiha district.
But the rooftop was already occupied by a small gathering of animals—three stray cats of varying colors, not far from two sleek, glossy black rats. Five crows perched nearby, along with a single owl and a small white snake.
Strangely, none of them were hostile. The cats didn't hunt the rats, the owl didn't prey on the snake. They all simply sat together in eerie stillness.
Beneath the roof, inside a room on the second floor, a boy sat cross-legged upon a tatami mat. A shaft of moonlight streamed through the window, casting its glow upon him.
His name was Uchiha Yuan, a fifth-year student at the Ninja Academy.
The room was utterly silent. Any ninja who might have entered would find themselves unable to sense the boy's chakra at all.
If nothing unexpected occurred, tonight would be another peaceful, uneventful night.
But then—a roar shattered the silence.
The entire village of Konoha jolted awake from its slumber.
Moments later, every ninja in the village felt it—a surge of power like a mountain collapsing and the earth itself splitting apart.
Inside the room, a faint wind stirred.
It began to swirl violently, forming a small vortex centered on Uchiha Yuan.
Moonlight warped and bent around him in strange, rippling distortions.
Then, the wind vanished.
Uchiha Yuan opened his eyes. The room brightened instantly as twin beams of light shot forth from his gaze. His eyes gleamed like two radiant jewels, shining with dazzling brilliance.
"That ominous chakra… the Nine-Tails."
Sensing the malevolent, furious, and overwhelming chakra enveloping the entire village, Yuan murmured softly, his expression complex.
Fate's wheels had turned—the Night of the Nine-Tails had come.
The light in his eyes slowly faded. In his vision, he could see faint, multicolored motes of light drifting away like dissipating mist.
These motes were what the shinobi world called natural energy—the essence of heaven and earth.
Then, an interface only he could see appeared before his eyes—his personal status panel.
Name: Uchiha Yuan
Physique: Medium — 66/100 (Your body is stronger than most shinobi in the world.)
Health: 3660 / 3660 (Healthy and full of vigor)
Spirit: 5820 / 5820
Chakra: 6380 / 6380
Reputation: Ordinary — You are but an unknown nobody.
Uchiha Yuan was a reincarnator.
In his previous life, he had been developing a knock-off Naruto game. After days of overwork and sleepless nights, his vision suddenly went dark. When he awoke again, he was an infant—an Uchiha baby.
At the same time, the status interface from his unfinished game appeared before his eyes—along with a golden starter pack.
Inside the pack was the ultimate secret technique he had just designed for the game:
"Sage · Ultimate Evolution."
Suddenly, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed outside.
The door burst open. A beautiful woman with disheveled hair rushed in, panic in her voice.
"Yuan! The Nine-Tails has gone berserk! We must get to the village's evacuation shelter!"
In her arms, she carried a sleepy young girl—Yuan's little sister, Uchiha Izumi.
The woman herself was his mother, Uchiha Rei.
Their father, a son-in-law of the Uchiha clan, had died years ago in the previous war.
Still half-asleep, Izumi blinked up at her brother.
"Onii-chan…"
Yuan smiled gently and patted her head.
"Izumi, don't be afraid. Your big brother will protect you and Mother."
"Mm. Izumi isn't scared."
The three of them hurried out of the house. Along the way, they passed clan members rushing in confusion and alarm.
"That… that's the Nine-Tails!"
The moment they stepped outside the compound, they froze.
In the distance loomed a monstrous beast, towering like a mountain. Its nine tails lashed across the sky, blotting out the moonlight.
The ground quaked with every movement as the Nine-Tails rampaged, tearing through Konoha with destructive fury.
"Clan Head!"
"Rei! Take the children and get to the shelter, quickly!"
Hearing the shout, Yuan turned his head and saw a fully armed force gathered at the compound gates.
At their head stood Uchiha Fugaku, leading the Uchiha Police Force toward the chaos to subdue the beast.
But before they could advance—
A rush of wind. Shadows flickered, and more than ten masked figures appeared.
"By order of Lord Danzō, the Uchiha Police are not permitted to take a single step from this area."
A squad of Root operatives blocked their path. Each exuded a cold, lethal aura, ready to strike at the slightest provocation.
"What?!"
"What does the village mean by this?"
"Do they suspect the Uchiha Clan?!"
Fury erupted among the Uchiha. The insult was clear—the village didn't trust them.
Fugaku's face darkened, anger flickering in his eyes. He knew exactly what this was: the village's fear that the Uchiha might seize control of the Nine-Tails with their Sharingan.
Mistrust had long festered between the Uchiha and the village, each side wary of the other in secret.
But tonight, the veil was torn away. The distrust was now laid bare. The rift would only grow deeper from here.
Fugaku's expression shifted between rage and cold restraint. He said nothing.
Behind him, the members of the Police Force glared at the Root ninjas with open hostility.
Emotionless as ever, the Root operatives stood their ground, their killing intent pressing back just as fiercely.
The air itself seemed to vibrate with tension—a clash of murderous wills.
"Onii-chan…"
Izumi's face had gone pale, fear twisting her features. The suffocating killing intent was crushing her spirit.
Yuan quickly grasped her hand, channeling a gentle flow of chakra into her body to calm her heart.
When her color returned, he turned his gaze toward the Root operatives, eyes cold and dismissive.
"Don't be afraid, Izumi. They're nothing but a bunch of second-rate pretenders. The Uchiha are the strongest."
His words carried clearly through the night. The Police Force members turned to him with approving nods.
Behind their masks, the Root operatives' eyes could not be seen—but the surge of killing intent they released made their fury unmistakable.
"Yuan…"
His mother, Uchiha Rei, looked at her son with worry in her eyes.
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