Naruto: Choosing from Birth

Crack!

Fine cracks tore through the grass, gradually spreading in all directions.

Boom!

A figure burst from the ground, charging at Yuto with illusory afterimages trailing behind him.

Clang!

Uchiha Cheng swung Duan Xue, blocking Da Pu's path. In an instant, the two ninja blades collided fiercely.

A piercing metallic screech rang out.

The razor-sharp flashes of cold light seemed to shred even the surrounding moonlight. The two exchanged dozens of blows in an instant, their reflected glints flowing without end like water.

Every attack relying on dynamic vision was easily neutralized by the other party. Before the more powerful Three-Tomoe Sharingan, Uchiha Cheng suffered three wounds in less than three seconds.

His eyes were gradually affected by the dazzling lights and shadows of the opponent's sword technique, which fused with genjutsu. His speed and awareness slowly began to dull.

"Second one!" Da Pu suddenly said softly, his words carrying boundless killing intent!

True Crescent Moon Dance!

Da Pu instantly split into three figures, slashing in from different directions.

Almost instinctively sensing the threat of death, Uchiha Cheng swiftly formed a Single Hand Seal with his left hand! Holding the famed blade Duan Xue in his right, he advanced rather than retreating!

Clang clang, splat!

Of the three sword lights attacking from left, center, and right, Uchiha Cheng blocked two. The third stabbed into his shoulder.

Unlike the feints of an ordinary Crescent Moon Dance, these attacks were all real!

Splat!

A fourth attack, shadowlike and without warning, brutally pierced through Uchiha Cheng's body.

"The true killing move is always the simplest!"

Da Pu spoke blandly, without the slightest emotional change on his face.

Indeed, his earlier sword technique had produced extremely powerful light-and-shadow effects. After defending for so long, who would react in time to guard against an ordinary killing move hidden within that spectacle?

Yet smoke instantly enveloped Uchiha Cheng. His Single Hand Seal displayed its power once more!

Substitution Technique!

Rasengan!

Uchiha Cheng appeared behind Da Pu and slammed a rapidly formed sphere of energy toward his back.

Secret Technique: Sword Return!

Da Pu withdrew from his forward-thrusting stance. With that sheathing motion, a massive stream of Chakra sword energy turned into streaks of light, forming a rainbow-colored wall of sword light behind him.

Boom!!!

The Rasengan slammed fiercely into the wall of sword light, producing an awful screech like glass being scraped.

The Rasengan's power ran dry, but the sword-light wall remained as radiant as ever.

Da Pu slowly turned around. His right hand ceased supplying Chakra to the sword-light wall, while his left swiftly passed through the gradually fading wall and clamped down hard on Uchiha Cheng's neck.

"Using the Substitution Technique before the Sharingan? How big is your heart?"

Crack!

A fatal grip!

In an instant, Uchiha Cheng deflated like a leaking balloon, turning into an Exploding Tag that slowly burned in Da Pu's grasp.

His pupils contracted slightly.

For the first time, Uchiha Dai Boku's expression changed.

Boom!!!

Raging flames instantly swallowed Da Pu.

"Not that big. It only holds the entire ninja world. So I won't die so easily in a tiny place like this."

Ten meters away, after a puff of smoke, Uchiha Cheng's real body appeared, blood flowing from his left shoulder.

Speaking of it, he had to thank Cloud Shinobi's "Cunning Rabbit," Matsudaira Kazuto, for the trick of leaving behind an Exploding Tag with a clone!

In a distant corner where no one was watching.

A pitcher-plant-like figure silently observed from the ground.

"What a clever little Uchiha. He used the Substitution Technique as cover to hide himself. Then the Shadow Clone used the Body Flicker Technique to disguise itself as the real body and launch an attack. Finally, he left behind an Exploding Tag to strike."

"Even that old fellow Da Pu fell for it. Oh, and that unfamiliar energy sphere seemed fairly powerful too. Is that a ninjutsu created by the little Uchiha himself? What a genius."

A somewhat surprised voice came from within the pitcher plant, from the pale-faced figure.

"Yes, he's a genius!"

"He has an older brother!"

"And a lover he likes!"

"No one is more suitable than him to carry out Madara's Eye of the Moon Plan! No, it should be called my plan!"

A shrill, unpleasant voice sounded within White Zetsu's mind. Half of his pale face was gradually stained black.

That annoying bastard again.

Ever since he had been created after Lord Madara used Senju Hashirama's cells to awaken the Rinnegan and summoned the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path.

This entirely black fellow had latched onto him. He could assimilate his body at any time, or hide himself so deeply that even Madara could not detect him.

Most importantly, according to him, he had been created long ago in ancient times by another great being. Madara had merely awakened him, so there was no need for him to sincerely serve Madara.

And under this fellow's constant reminders, he had indeed gradually begun to recall fragments left behind from ancient times. It was the era when Infinite Tsukuyomi had been cast, and he—White Zetsu—had been born in that way. This forced him to conceal the secret of that strange fellow who called himself Black Zetsu from Madara.

"You're finally going to step onto the stage?" White Zetsu asked. He was still somewhat unaccustomed to the presence of a second person in his body!

"No! It's not time yet!" The black figure slowly vanished back into White Zetsu's body.

I'll appear when Madara uses Yin-Yang Release, making him deeply believe that I am his will!

PS: Many thanks to Eastern Sovereign for the 10 update tickets. I've only managed one or two updates a day for several days straight, and I truly feel I've let everyone down. I have no way to repay you except through updates—and better content.

As for the current arrangement of the Black and White Zetsu interactions, please don't criticize me. I wrote it after looking up information and searching Baidu, and it should be correct. They were not Black and White Zetsu from the moment they were created.

As for the original story, Black Zetsu also took the opportunity to appear through the Yin-Yang Release Madara cast on Obito before his death.

Of course, there is another theory: Kaguya's will, Black Zetsu, killed Madara's will, Black Zetsu. Because supposedly, anyone who can use Yin-Yang Release can manifest their will.*

The flames from the explosion on the field were gradually swept away by a dazzling blade gleam.

At this moment, Uchiha Dai Boku's left arm had been completely blown off, and smoke and dust rolled from his body.

Yet the sword in his hand became even more radiant. Flowing Chakra made the entire blade shine like a bright moon, brimming with soul-stirring danger.

He truly cherished his sword as dearly as his life. He would rather let his body suffer damage than allow the sword in his hand to be tarnished.

In the Naruto world, there was no strict distinction between swords and blades. Katanas, ninja blades, and longswords could all be called swords.

Suzune had now freed herself. This time, the three no longer chose a triangular encirclement formation.

That formation made the offensive pressure on any one side relatively weak, and support difficult. Against a powerful enemy, they could easily be defeated one by one.

Instead, they formed a linked fan-shaped formation. They could advance together to attack or retreat together to defend.

In addition, Uchiha Cheng's two Shadow Clones stood ready to finish him off at any time. There had originally been three Shadow Clones, but one had already been eliminated, and that was why Da Pu had lost his left arm.

"Vice Captain! At your age, with such intelligence and strength, why not leave Konoha with me? My master will absolutely devote all his resources to training you. Within five years, you will certainly possess strength that makes the entire ninja world take notice."

"Otherwise, it would be such a pity for you to die here. A genius who has not grown up is nothing!"

Uchiha Dai Boku spoke expressionlessly. He had clearly lost an arm, and his strength should have been reduced by more than half, while his opponents were almost completely unharmed. Yet the words he spoke were astounding. Anyone unaware of the situation might think he was merely talking nonsense.

However, the aura surging from him was even greater than before. He once again returned to a state as still as an ancient well, his figure impossible to discern even beneath the bright moonlight.

Only the Three-Tomoe Sharingan in his eyes remained intimidating, and only the star-and-moon-like sword in his hand grew ever brighter.

"Bullshit! You're lower than pigs and dogs! The Uchiha Clan has never mistreated you. Seeing that you were older, they even gave you the idle post of district squad captain. The wealthy clans in Konoha's southeast were in the most peaceful area, with the least unrest. But what did you do? You became a traitor!"

Before Uchiha Cheng could respond, Uchiha Yuto, acting as his guard, opened his mouth and cursed.

Young Master had actually been injured just now. Though he was surprised that Young Master could use the Mystical Palm Technique to treat himself, allowing Young Master to be injured was still his failure!

He had failed the clan's cultivation, the clan head's regard, and Young Master's trust.

"I..."

"What do you mean, 'I'? At your age, you've lived like a dog. If your master is so strong, why are you so weak? You've fought the three of us juniors for so long, and you even lost an arm.

If I were you, I would have committed seppuku long ago, so I wouldn't disgrace my master and become a laughingstock for others."