Uchiha Shisui: Want to die? Ask me first.

Konoha Military Police Force.

Beneath the emblem that looked like a red-and-white ping-pong paddle.

A crowd of Uchiha stood in the police force's main hall, selecting missions.

A handsome youth squeezed among the crowd, looking up at the bulletin board covered in mission slips.

Normally, missions were posted at the mission assignment office in the Hokage building.

But Uchiha Ci wasn't a registered Konoha shinobi.

He was like one of those cannon-fodder shinobi alliances the Five Great Nations had hastily thrown together during the Fourth Ninja World War.

A clan shinobi belonging to the Uchiha.

Though he also wore a Konoha dog tag around his neck, there were still differences.

For instance, missions were mostly assigned directly from the village to the clan, and then posted internally like this.

The emphasis was on participation and acting within one's ability.

But, This clearly didn't match Uchiha Ci's expectations.

"What the hell, not a single mission touching the border?"

Uchiha Ci was dumbfounded.

In this era, the most dangerous places

Were the border zones between the Land of Fire and the Land of Wind, Especially places like the Land of Rain and the Land of Valleys.

But right now on the mission board, There wasn't a single mission about border patrol, cross-border supply escort, or tailing and assassinating enemy officials.

They were all missions that could be completed within the country.

They'd even posted quite a few D-rank missions like cat-finding, letter-delivering, and field-plowing to pad the numbers.

Within the C-rank missions he could take, The most dangerous one

Was driving back a giant boar that had burst out of the Forest of Death not far from the village.

"Damn it, I thought if I could leave the village, I could get myself killed." Uchiha Ci wanted to cry but had no tears.

"But how is this any different from before?"

Uchiha Ci's face was ashen. He shook his head helplessly and decided to take that most dangerous C-rank boar-driving mission.

Maybe he could try to become the boar's meal.

But just then, a slightly youthful hand beat him to it, pulling down that mission scroll.

"Sorry, please leave this mission to me."

A handsome youth in a black high-collar short-sleeve shirt and pants, carrying a wakizashi on his back, smiled at Uchiha Ci.

His signature round nose made Uchiha Ci instantly recognize him—the Uchiha prodigy whose fame had yet to rise.

Uchiha Shisui.

Uchiha Ci: "..."

Damn it, you're a registered Konoha shinobi, why are you fighting me for a clan mission?

"Sorry, Uchiha Ci, This mission can help me hone my sword technique. I can give you the mission reward, But please let me have this opportunity!"

Uchiha Shisui smiled earnestly, his feelings genuine.

Under such a bright smile, Uchiha Ci had no reason to refuse.

It was just a C-rank mission anyway, he probably wouldn't die. Once the Ninja World War broke out, there would be plenty of chances to get himself killed. Uchiha Ci didn't care about this one.

What surprised him was: "You know me?"

Of course he knew Uchiha Shisui.

But the fact that the other knew him still caught Uchiha Ci off guard.

"Yeah, we did a D-rank mission together. Don't you remember?" Uchiha Shisui smiled, casually making up a lie.

"Maybe," Uchiha Ci muttered. He'd done too many missions to keep track.

He had no interest in befriending these original-story characters. If he changed the future and caused the Crown Prince to fail to save the world, His sin would be enormous!

Right now, he just wanted to die early and go home.

Setsuna couldn't be bothered to acknowledge him further and simply turned his attention back to the mission board.

In truth, Uchiha Shisui had only just found Setsuna's name in the mission registry.

And what's more, he was utterly stunned by Setsuna's record.

Uchiha Setsuna: Genin, shinobi career 1 year, Missions completed: D-rank 855 times, C-rank 0 times.

This completely unknown peer of his was a mission maniac, averaging two to three D-rank missions per day, without a single day off in an entire year.

Absolutely terrifying!

Setsuna had no idea his record would shock Shisui. He'd grinded so many missions purely to see if he could work himself to death.

But if he ever found out that this was the reason he'd earned Shisui's respect, he'd definitely contort his body and shout:

"What a curse!"

This only reinforced Shisui's conviction that this peer was no ordinary, mediocre Uchiha.

A genin pushing himself this far!

He was truly burning himself out for the village!

For this reason, Shisui didn't mind Setsuna's cold shoulder.

Instead, he stepped closer, almost shoulder to shoulder.

"You—what are you doing~!" Setsuna let out a panicked squawk.

Who would've thought, You, Uchiha Shisui, with those honest brows and big eyes, at such a young age, had this kind of hobby?

Shisui simply assumed his partner was a bit socially anxious. He smiled knowingly, leaned in, and whispered:

"Setsuna-kun, I know what you're thinking."

Setsuna's eyes went wide.

You—how do you know I'm thinking about insurance fraud?

"In a bit, the Great Elder will hold a mobilization meeting. There are two extremely dangerous missions." Shisui said gravely.

"But don't worry, I won't let you take them!"

Like a demon whispering in his ear, Setsuna shivered.

He stared at Shisui in horror.

Wondering if this birdbrain had some kind of mind-reading cheat.

Trying to leech off him?

Still, the mention of two missions caught Setsuna's interest.

"What missions?" Setsuna lowered his voice, not wanting anyone else to hear, making the two of them look like they were conducting some shady underground deal.

"Just as I thought—that's the kind of person you are!" Shisui paused, then looked at him with admiration.

Silently affirming Setsuna once more in his heart!

Then he resolved that he absolutely would not let Setsuna die on a dangerous mission.

A talent like this, Should become a bridge between the village and the Uchiha!

Just then, An old man with spiky white hair, wearing a cold half-face mask, clad only in the Uchiha clan's high-collared black robe without a Konoha forehead protector, ascended to a high point in the Police Force hall.

His eagle-like gaze swept the room, his eyes so sharp they were hard to meet.

Setsuna jolted.

Because this man was the sole surviving Great Elder of the Uchiha clan, Uchiha Setsuna!

As a formidable figure who had once plotted to assassinate the Second Hokage and lived to tell the tale, He was naturally the hawkish leader of the Uchiha clan.

The assembled Uchiha all turned their eyes to this old man, their gazes ranging from respect to hatred to indifference.

"You all have likely guessed why you've been summoned here."

Uchiha Setsuna spoke calmly, his voice echoing through the Police Force hall.

"That's right."

"War is about to begin."

"Ever since the Third Kazekage's disappearance, the entire shinobi world has been spiraling into chaos."

"Here in the Land of Fire, border skirmishes are growing fiercer."

The latest news is that the Land of Rain has already begun small-scale skirmishes.

And further out in the outside world, Kirigakure and Iwagakure have long-standing grudges, and it looks like war is about to break out at any moment.

Those barbarians from Kumogakure are also persistent in their schemes, probing and pushing into the Land of Fields multiple times."

"The entire shinobi world is about to be engulfed in an era of war!"

"However—"

Uchiha Setsuna paused, then said coldly:

"My Uchiha clan has endured a thousand years of war. Such petty scoundrels are beneath our notice!"

"Now, regarding the Land of Rain battlefield and the Valley of Hell garrison in the Land of Hot Water."

"We need two shinobi each from the upper, middle, and lower ranks to form two squads and head out for support."

"Lower ranks are not forced; upper and middle ranks will decide for themselves. If the numbers fall short by the deadline, I will personally assign them, and participation will be mandatory."

As his words fell, the scene suddenly went silent.

Hearing the two place names Uchiha Setsuna mentioned, many faces turned pale with fear.

Standing among the crowd, Uchiha Ci had been about to immediately raise his hand and sign up, shouting: Reforge the glory of the Uchiha—our generation will not shirk this duty!

But then his vision suddenly blurred, and his whole body trembled involuntarily.

A voice devoid of emotion suddenly rang out in his mind:

[Talent has been delivered.]

[Steel of the Heart (SSS): Please, let me steel one more time!—Steel, Gate]

With a clang, a deafeningly crisp sound, Uchiha Ci instantly snapped back to his senses.

But upon hearing the name of this talent, Uchiha Ci's heart couldn't help but skip a beat.

Bookmark it, keep reading, dear patrons—bang, bang, bang.