Chapter 2: Uchiha Shisui — You Want to Die? Did You Ask Me First?
Konoha Police Department.
Under the clan's red-and-white fan crest, a crowd of Uchiha gathered in the hall, selecting missions.
Among them, a handsome young man squeezed through the crowd, staring up at the bulletin board covered with mission slips.
Normally, missions were posted at the Mission Assignment Office in the Hokage Building.
But Uchiha Ci wasn't an officially registered Konoha ninja.
He was more like the cannon fodder "allied forces" hastily assembled by the Five Great Nations during the Fourth Shinobi War—
A clan-affiliated ninja belonging solely to the Uchiha family.
Although he wore the Leaf Village forehead protector, there was still a difference.
For instance, missions were usually distributed to the clan by the village, and then posted internally like this—
The idea being "participate if you can," and "do what you're capable of."
But this was clearly not what Uchiha Ci had in mind.
"Damn it, there isn't a single mission near the border?"
Uchiha Ci was dumbfounded.
At this point in history, the most dangerous areas were the borderlands between the Land of Fire and the Land of Wind—especially the Rain Country and the Valley Country.
Yet on the bulletin board, there wasn't a single mission about border patrols, cross-country escorting, or assassinations of enemy officials.
They were all missions that could be completed safely within the Land of Fire.
There were even plenty of filler D-rank missions—finding cats, delivering letters, or helping with farm work.
Within the C-rank missions he was allowed to take, the most dangerous one was driving a giant wild boar back into the Forest of Death near the village.
"Damn it! I thought once I could leave the village, I'd finally get a chance to die," Uchiha Ci muttered miserably. "But how is this any different from before?"
Face pale with despair, he shook his head helplessly and decided to take the most dangerous C-rank mission—the wild boar subjugation—hoping maybe the boar would get lucky and finish him off.
But just as he reached for the mission slip, a small, youthful hand snatched it first.
"Sorry, please leave this mission to me."
A handsome young boy in a black high-collared shirt and pants, with a tantō strapped to his back, smiled politely at him.
That signature round nose instantly gave him away—Uchiha Ci recognized him at once.
It was the yet-to-be-famous Uchiha prodigy—Uchiha Shisui.
Uchiha Ci: "..."
Damn it, you're an officially registered Leaf ninja! Why are you stealing clan missions from me?
"Apologies, Uchiha Ci," Shisui said earnestly, still smiling. "This mission can help me sharpen my blade technique. I'll even give you the reward, but please, let me take this chance."
Under that bright, sincere smile, Uchiha Ci had no reason to refuse.
It was only a C-rank mission anyway—he probably wouldn't die. Once the Ninja World War broke out, there'd be plenty of chances for that. He didn't care about missing this one.
Still, he asked curiously, "You know me?"
Of course, Uchiha Ci knew him.
But it was surprising that he knew Uchiha Ci.
"Yeah, we did a D-rank mission together before. Don't you remember?" Shisui smiled, casually making it up.
"Maybe..." Uchiha Ci muttered. He had done so many missions that he'd lost count.
He wasn't interested in forming connections with characters from the original story anyway—if that changed the future and stopped the "Chosen Prince" from saving the world, his sin would be unforgivable.
Right now, all he wanted was to die and go home.
Losing interest in conversation, Uchiha Ci turned back to the bulletin board.
In truth, Shisui had just checked the mission logs and come across Uchiha Ci's name—and what he saw there had stunned him.
Uchiha Ci: Genin, 1 year of experience.
Completed missions: D-rank – 855, C-rank – 0.
This unknown peer turned out to be a mission maniac—averaging 2–3 D-rank missions per day, with not a single day off in a whole year.
Absolutely terrifying!
Uchiha Ci didn't know that his record had shocked Shisui. He'd only done that many missions trying to see if he could die from overwork...
If he knew Shisui respected him because of that, he'd probably scream, "This is a crime against humanity!"
This only made Shisui even more certain—Uchiha Ci wasn't just another shallow Uchiha.
For a genin to go that far—he was truly burning himself for the sake of the village!
Because of that, Shisui didn't mind being ignored.
Instead, he stepped closer—so close that their shoulders nearly touched.
"What—what are you doing?!" Uchiha Ci yelped, startled.
What the hell? You're Uchiha Shisui—the bright-eyed prodigy! How are you into this kind of thing at your age?!
Shisui, thinking his comrade was just a bit socially anxious, smiled understandingly and leaned closer to whisper:
"Ci-kun, I know what you're thinking."
Uchiha Ci's eyes went wide.
What? You know I'm planning to fake my death for insurance?!
"Soon, the Grand Elder will announce two extremely dangerous missions," Shisui said gravely. "But don't worry—I won't let you take them."
The words sounded like a devil whispering in his ear, sending chills down Uchiha Ci's spine.
He stared at Shisui in horror, wondering if this guy had some kind of mind-reading ability—was he trying to steal his insurance idea?
Still, the mention of two dangerous missions caught his attention.
"What missions?" Uchiha Ci lowered his voice, making sure no one else could hear. The two of them looked like they were conducting some shady secret deal.
"Just as I thought—you really are that kind of person," Shisui said, momentarily stunned, then looked at him with admiration.
Once again, he reaffirmed his belief in Uchiha Ci.
He silently vowed that he would never let Uchiha Ci die on a dangerous mission.
A talent like this—
Ah! He should become the bridge between the village and the Uchiha!
Just then, a gray-haired elder with a spiked head, wearing a black high-collared clan robe without the Leaf headband and a cold half-mask, stepped onto the raised platform of the Police Department hall.
His sharp hawk-like gaze was so intense that no one dared to meet it directly.
Uchiha Ci was startled.
Because the man before him was none other than the Uchiha clan's last surviving Grand Elder—Uchiha Setsuna!
As a man who once plotted to assassinate the Second Hokage and survived, it was only natural that he had become the leader of the Uchiha hawks.
Every Uchiha present turned their eyes toward him—some filled with respect, others with resentment, others indifferent.
"You all probably know why I've summoned you here," Uchiha Setsuna said calmly, his voice echoing through the hall.
"That's right—war is about to begin!"
"Since the disappearance of the Third Kazekage, the entire shinobi world has fallen further into chaos."
"The border conflicts in the Land of Fire have intensified."
"According to the latest reports, the Rain Country has already begun small-scale skirmishes."
"Meanwhile, in the outer regions, the grudges between Iwagakure and Kirigakure are about to erupt into war."
"The brutes from Kumogakure haven't given up either—they've already made several incursions into the Land of Fields."
"The entire ninja world will soon be engulfed in the flames of war!"
"However—"
Uchiha Setsuna's tone hardened, his voice cold.
"We Uchiha have endured the flames of battle for a thousand years. Such petty conflicts are beneath us!"
"The battlefields at the Rain Country and the Hot Springs Country's Hell Valley need reinforcement."
"They require two genin, two chunin, and two jonin each—forming two squads to provide support."
"Genin participation is voluntary. Chunin and jonin may choose freely. If the numbers are insufficient, I will personally name those who will be forced to go."
The room fell silent at once.
Hearing the names of those two battlefields, many faces turned pale.
Uchiha Ci, standing in the crowd, was about to raise his hand to volunteer, planning to shout, 'Reforge the glory of the Uchiha—this is our duty!'
But suddenly, his vision blurred, and his body trembled.
A cold, emotionless voice echoed in his mind:
[Talent Delivered.]
[Heart of Steel (SSS): "Please… let me be strong one more time!" —"Steel, Door"]
With a sharp clang, like a bell ringing in his head, Uchiha Ci snapped back to consciousness.
But when he heard the name of that talent—his heart sank with dread.