Where There's Blame to Take, There's Always a Fall Guy

When Uchiha Yuan and the others returned to camp, they happened to run into Might Guy, Shiranui Genma, and Ebisu.

"Hey, Yuan! Long time no see! You look like you've gotten a lot stronger!" Guy gave him a thumbs-up and flashed his trademark grin. His bright white teeth nearly dazzled Uchiha Yuan.

"It hasn't been that long! Didn't we race each other the day before graduation?" Uchiha Yuan replied with a smile.

Shiranui Genma and Ebisu were both surprised to see how friendly Uchiha Yuan was with Guy.

Back at the Ninja Academy, they hadn't thought Uchiha Yuan and Guy were particularly close.

Still, neither of them asked. After all, they really didn't know Uchiha Yuan well.

After exchanging a few words, Uchiha Yuan and Guy each turned and went to report their mission.

Shibi Aburame went to Orochimaru's tent to report what they had discovered.

"Well done. You won't need to take part in the fighting for now. Once it's over, join the other reconnaissance teams in cleaning up the battlefield," Orochimaru said.

"Yes, Lord Orochimaru."

"Good. You may leave."

Shibi Aburame nodded and turned to go.

Once outside the tent, Shibi Aburame relayed Orochimaru's orders to the other three, then dismissed them.

Yamanaka Kizuki hurriedly pulled Uchiha Yuan to the Training Ground, eager to keep expanding his sensory range.

Uchiha Yuan wanted to master Tree Binding Death as soon as possible, so he didn't refuse.

Hyuga Asana naturally came along too.

The three of them spent the whole afternoon at the Training Ground. It was nearly evening when Yamanaka Kizuki finally said his goodbyes.

That afternoon, Uchiha Yuan used Tree Binding Death on Yamanaka Kizuki ten times.

Tree Binding Death was a B-rank Genjutsu, after all. A technique's rank only represented how difficult it was to learn, but generally speaking, the harder a technique was to master, the more powerful it was likely to be.

So Yamanaka Kizuki failed to break free from Tree Binding Death even once that afternoon. Whenever Uchiha Yuan noticed he wasn't looking well, he released the Genjutsu himself.

Of course, that was also because Uchiha Yuan had grown more and more proficient at using Tree Binding Death. With Yamanaka Kizuki as his sparring partner, Uchiha Yuan had made considerable progress.

Genjutsu was different from ninjutsu. Practicing alone wasn't very effective; you needed someone to spar with.

After Yamanaka Kizuki left, Hyuga Asana said to Uchiha Yuan, "Yuan, I feel like you've changed a little."

"I've changed? Have I?"

"You wouldn't have greeted Might Guy before."

"Oh, that. It's because I've decided on a new goal."

"What goal?" Hyuga Asana asked.

"I'm going to change the Uchiha Clan in every way."

"What does that have to do with you greeting Guy?" Hyuga Asana asked, looking confused.

"Of course it's related. For various reasons, the Uchiha Clan has a terrible reputation in the village right now. When I say I'm going to change the clan in every way, that includes changing how people in the village see us."

"How could something like that possibly be easy to change?"

"That's why we have to start with the little things, bit by bit."

Hyuga Asana pursed her lips and didn't comment on what Uchiha Yuan was doing.

She didn't really understand his attitude. As far as she was concerned, it was enough to take care of yourself and the people you cared about. There was no need to worry about things that didn't matter.

Uchiha Yuan smiled but didn't explain further. One day, Hyuga Asana would understand.

After finishing his training for the day, Uchiha Yuan returned to his tent.

Uchiha Mei wasn't there. She was probably getting ready for battle.

Uchiha Yuan flopped onto his bed and closed his eyes.

Yesterday, he'd been busy carrying out a mission. He had to stay on high alert on the battlefield, so he hadn't had a chance to play the Text Game. He'd worried that if he didn't use up yesterday's attempt, he might lose it. But when he checked at midnight, the attempts had accumulated.

That was good news for Uchiha Yuan. From now on, he wouldn't have to worry about missing his Text Game attempts while he was on the battlefield.

He had two chances to play this time, so Uchiha Yuan spun the Roulette in his mind.

For the first time in ages, he ended up on the green grasslands.

Unfortunately, he'd arrived at the wrong time. This was before Goat Village had been founded, and Uchiha Yuan was unlucky enough to be caught and eaten by a wolf. He only got 1 Stat Point.

Uchiha Yuan cursed his bad luck and spun the Roulette a second time.

"You have logged into the Marvel Universe 616.

On the surface, you are a Level 5 S.H.I.E.L.D. agent. In reality, you are one of Hydra's undercover agents.

You thought being undercover would be difficult, but soon discovered that S.H.I.E.L.D. was full of your people.

Saying 'Hail Hydra' could solve 99% of your problems.

The Earth had just survived a crisis that threatened to destroy it. Aliens had invaded, but fortunately, Nick Fury had assembled the Avengers, and they had driven the invaders back.

Your superior ordered you to go with him to Stark Tower and retrieve the scepter containing the Mind Stone.

You knew everyone around you. They were all on your side.

You retrieved the scepter and were riding the elevator down when Captain America stepped inside.

The Captain demanded that you hand over the scepter, saying it was an order from above.

Your superior hesitated, saying he needed to check with his superiors.

Just then, Captain America leaned close to your superior and said, "Hail Hydra."

You and everyone else in the elevator heard him. First you were surprised, then you all exchanged knowing looks.

So Captain America was one of your people!

Your superior handed the scepter containing the Mind Stone to the Captain.

The Captain took the scepter and left the elevator.

Not long after you returned to the base, you received a call from your superior. You hurried over.

When your superior saw you, he immediately asked if you'd heard Captain America say "Hail Hydra."

You said that you had.

Your superior flew into a rage and shot you straight through the heart.

As you lay dying, you heard your superior say to his boss, "He's the one who told me the Captain was one of our Hydra agents. He even said 'Hail Hydra.' Otherwise, I wouldn't have given him the scepter."

You understood. The Captain wasn't one of Hydra's people. Your superior had made you take the fall.

Thinking about it, you were the lowest-ranking person in the elevator. If you weren't the fall guy, who would be?

You died.

Game over.

You have received 2 Stat Points and 1 Black Pot.

Friendly reminder: Collect 10 Black Pots to receive a surprise reward.

Alternatively, you can use a Black Pot to spin the Roulette again. There is a 100% chance you'll take the blame for someone else in the Text Game world, but you'll receive a special reward for doing so."

When the Text Game ended, Uchiha Yuan opened his eyes, completely speechless.

"Damn it, even in the Text Game, underlings have to take the fall for their bosses!" Uchiha Yuan said, looking thoroughly annoyed.