I Really Got Hurt (Please Follow)

Konoha's Hokage Building, the Hokage's Office was filled with smoke.

"Phew..."

Sarutobi Hiruzen removed the Pipe from his mouth, his gaze fixed on the Crystal Ball on the desk.

More precisely, it was fixed on the Youth named Uchiha Chi.

Today, he had merely been using the Crystal Ball as usual to secretly... observe whether there were any security threats around the village. Yet while inspecting the Naka River, he had unexpectedly witnessed this scene.

How could he bully a girl like that?

While displeased, Sarutobi Hiruzen was also somewhat puzzled.

Why did he do that?

There was no benefit in it for Uchiha Chi, either, was there?

Just as he was wracking his brains for an answer, Shimura Danzō spoke bitterly from beside him.

"Hiruzen, see? The Uchiha truly are a clan born evil!"

"At such a young age, he already takes pleasure in playing with people's hearts. I don't even dare imagine what he'll become in the future!"

"..." Sarutobi Hiruzen glanced at Danzo from the corner of his eye, then asked, "Danzo, what are you trying to say?"

Shimura Danzō did not even bother pretending. "Hand this child over to Root."

Among Root's ranks were talented people from every ninja clan, except the Uchiha.

The reason was simple.

First, the Uchiha clan's deterrence made it difficult for him to act openly.

Second, Sarutobi Hiruzen was wary of the Uchiha, making it difficult for him to act in secret as well.

For those reasons, though he coveted the Sharingan, that was all he could do: covet it.

But...

This Youth called Uchiha Chi was different.

Shimura Danzō could tell at a glance that he was a rotten seed.

Not only was he rotten, he was also withdrawn, an orphan, and most importantly, utterly unremarkable in talent.

He practically met every condition.

Even if someone like that disappeared, it would not cause much of a stir.

As long as Monkey nodded, Uchiha Chi would receive an urgent mission outside the village tomorrow, then die in an accident.

After that, Root would have one more member tomorrow...

Thinking of this, Danzo could not help continuing to persuade Sarutobi Hiruzen.

"Hand him over to me. Not only will the village be rid of a menace, it will gain a sharp blade..."

Sarutobi Hiruzen found it rather amusing. He put the Pipe back into his mouth and resumed puffing away.

"No."

"Why?" Shimura Danzō glared at Sarutobi Hiruzen's face in dissatisfaction. "Uchiha Madara has been dead for so many years. Why are you still so afraid of the Uchiha, Hiruzen?"

"I'm not afraid of the Uchiha." Facing Danzo's interrogation, Sarutobi Hiruzen shook his head slightly. "I simply believe that a child raised in the Will of Fire would not do such a thing. There must be some misunderstanding..."

"Heh heh..."

Shimura Danzō sneered repeatedly. What Will of Fire? It was nothing but rhetoric used to brainwash ninja. Monkey was just afraid of the Uchiha!

Just as Shimura Danzō was about to say more, Sarutobi Hiruzen waved a hand and cut him off.

"Stop arguing. They've started talking."

Danzo looked toward the Crystal Ball and saw that Uchiha Chi had already turned around, looking as if he was about to do something to Nohara Rin.

Danzo crossed Both Hands over his chest and sneered. "Then just watch!

"I'll bet you this is a Uchiha brat born evil!"

Naka River.

Uchiha Chi narrowed his eyes at the system.

Sarutobi Hiruzen, Konoha's Third Hokage.

That old bastard really was spying everywhere.

Instead of Peeping on a perfectly good women's bathhouse, he came to spy on a confession between a boy and a girl...

What a perverted old man.

Uchiha Chi mocked him inwardly as he considered his next move.

Obviously, it was not just Nohara Rin, the person involved—even the audience watching from below was dissatisfied with his performance.

Since they were all dissatisfied with this ending, then as a dedicated actor, Uchiha Chi would happily satisfy them.

A performance the audience expected was not adding scenes. It was called improvisation.

Under the setting sun.

Uchiha Chi turned to look behind him.

Nohara Rin was still standing there, her Lips pressed tightly together, her little face puffed up with anger, her eyes filled with grievance and stubbornness. She looked like an angry hamster.

If it were Obito, he would probably have dropped to his knees and begged for forgiveness at the sight of that expression.

But Uchiha Chi was different.

He merely looked calmly at the girl and said indifferently, "Do you really have to see me looking pathetic?"

[Detected panic and confusion from Nohara Rin!]

[Received 10 points. Damage Increase increased by 2%!]

Nohara Rin's little mouth fell open as she stared blankly at Uchiha Chi. "What?"

She had not expected Uchiha Chi, whose true colors she had exposed, to become even colder instead of ashamed.

Had this person... really become this awful?

Or had she misunderstood something?

Just as Nohara Rin's thoughts became muddled.

Uchiha Chi raised a leg and slowly approached her.

One step, then two...

What was he trying to do?

Had he flown into a rage out of humiliation and wanted revenge?

Though confused, Nohara Rin was a genin who had already passed her assessment. She swiftly placed a hand on her ninja tool pouch and pulled out a black Kunai.

She stared tensely at Uchiha Chi's torso. The moment he made any suspicious move, she would counterattack to protect herself.

But to Nohara Rin's surprise, Uchiha Chi did nothing.

He merely walked forward step by step. He even ignored the hand tightly gripping her Kunai and came straight to a stop before her.

"Do you really have to see me completely heartbroken?"

Uchiha Chi's voice was exceptionally calm.

"What do you mean?" Still on guard, Nohara Rin raised her head in confusion and looked at Uchiha Chi's face.

And so, the reddened corners of his eyes naturally entered her sight.

"He... cried?"

At the same time, Uchiha Chi's voice rang out again.

"Are you waiting for me to say we can still be friends, so I can be moved to tears by your kindness?

"Or after you say you want to focus on ninja training, am I supposed to obediently wait for you for years?"

Uchiha Chi's tone was steady and cold.

"What exactly do you want to see? Do you want to see me with a mournful face, hear my voice choke up... or do you want me to cry for you right here?"

This time, Nohara Rin finally heard the tremor within his calm voice.

It was the same grievance she herself had felt.

Nohara Rin panicked somewhat, feeling that things had once again gone beyond what she expected.

"I-I didn't mean that..."

Nohara Rin stammered, wanting to explain, but he cut her off directly.

"You didn't mean that?" Uchiha Chi stared straight into her eyes.

"Didn't you think it was a prank because I didn't look miserable enough?"

Nohara Rin choked.

It was indeed because Uchiha Chi's expression had been too calm that she had begun to doubt whether his confession had been sincere.

"Then let me tell you: I'm very sad right now. I'm hurt. I want to find an empty corner and cry my eyes out. Is that enough?"

Uchiha Chi raised his sleeve and wiped his eyes. When he lowered it, his eye rims had become even redder. "Is that enough? Are you satisfied now?"

"I..." Nohara Rin slowly lowered her head. She wanted to say something, but found herself unable to utter a single word.

Only then did she finally understand how hurtful the things she had just said were.

He had finally mustered the courage, only for the person he liked to think it was a prank and even question whether his feelings were fake...

Just imagining herself in his place made Nohara Rin feel like she could not breathe.

She had shattered Uchiha Chi's heart...

Nohara Rin did not dare look at Uchiha Chi again. She lowered her head and stared at her toes.

Her Lips trembled uncontrollably. Though she clearly wanted to hold back her emotions, her vision grew blurrier and blurrier...

Perhaps because of the girl's sobs, Uchiha Chi's words abruptly stopped.

He said nothing more, merely watching Nohara Rin quietly, his eyes carrying a trace of reluctance.

No one knew how long passed. Perhaps a few seconds, perhaps several minutes.

"Just treat it as a prank." Uchiha Chi gave a bitter smile. "At least that way, I won't be a pitiful clown in your memories."

With that, Uchiha Chi vanished swiftly into the fading glow without looking back.

Even after the setting sun had completely disappeared below the horizon, Nohara Rin remained where she was, staring blankly at the ground.

Like a child who had made a mistake.