Uchiha Shinji

Konoha, Year 47.

Uchiha Clan Compound, Fugaku's residence.

The reception room held no unnecessary furnishings. A plain ceramic tea set sat on the low table, and a scroll bearing the clan's black Gunbai crest hung in the center of the wall directly opposite, silently proclaiming the clan's authority.

Uchiha Shinji sat opposite Fugaku Uchiha. Fugaku lifted his teacup, took a small sip, and slowly began:

"Shinji, you need to understand the clan's situation. The Hokage has ordered every clan to send some of its ninja to the front lines."

"You're recognized as a genius in our clan, so I'm entrusting this task to you. I didn't even give Shisui this opportunity."

The hand Shinji had hidden beneath his knee clenched involuntarily. He looked troubled as he glanced at Fugaku. "But our squad just returned from a mission. I was hoping to rest for a while."

Fugaku fell silent, the corners of his eyes narrowing slightly. His tone left no room for negotiation. "I'll speak to the Hokage."

"Besides—"

He looked directly at Shinji, his voice turning unmistakably firm. "Shinji, you were born into the Uchiha Clan. Are you really going to refuse your clan head's request? You should remember that the clan supported you wholeheartedly when you entered the Academy."

Shinji's brows knitted together. He understood the meaning behind those words at once: this had never been a discussion. It was an order, and he had to go to the front lines.

He didn't answer immediately. A flicker of anger passed through his eyes, but in the end, he suppressed every emotion.

"I understand, Clan Head."

A smile finally appeared on Fugaku's face. He reached out and patted Shinji's shoulder. "Good. You're a credit to the Uchiha Clan."

Shinji stopped outside the wooden gate of Fugaku's home and couldn't help glancing back, his anger no longer containable.

"What kind of genius am I supposed to be? I haven't even awakened the Sharingan. How can I be called a genius?"

"He didn't send Shisui because he was afraid he'd be killed out there. In the end, he just picked me, a helpless orphan, to serve as the safest cannon fodder."

Shinji tugged at the corner of his mouth, managing a bitter, self-mocking smile.

He'd been an ordinary transmigrator. He'd spent more than twenty years single in his previous life, and had finally found a woman online who shared his interests. He'd been thrilled, looking forward to meeting her in person, when an accident had sent him hurtling into the world of Naruto.

In this second life, he hadn't been without parents. But when he was three, both of them died on a mission. The clan returned their ashes to him, but one crucial thing was missing.

His father had been an Uchiha who'd awakened the Sharingan.

That's right. The eyes that should have been passed down to him as a keepsake had vanished without a trace.

He had no way of knowing what kind of backroom dealings and schemes for profit lay behind it. He was too young to understand. All he knew was that he'd become an orphan in the Uchiha Clan, growing up on the meager support the clan provided before graduating from the Ninja Academy as a Genin.

And yet, he'd transmigrated into the Uchiha Clan.

The clan's waters ran deep enough to drown anyone. Most of its members were deranged, cackling maniacs. The two most unhinged among them, Uchiha Obito and Uchiha Itachi, would join forces to unleash the bloody purge that wiped out the entire clan. The Uchiha would be reduced to nothing but corpses.

Thinking about the clan's future destruction, Shinji's face darkened. He irritably rubbed his aching temples.

"Why couldn't I have been born into the Sarutobi Clan? At least life would've been peaceful."

As soon as the words left his mouth, a cold, emotionless mechanical voice suddenly rang out in his mind:

[Beep!]

[The host meets the requirements for Uchiha identity.]

[True Love Cultivation System activated.]

[Character Attribute Panel loading...]

[Item Mall loading...]

[Loading complete. Please remember:

The Uchiha Clan is a clan of love. Love isn't the destination; it's a journey of growing together. The system will help you better understand love!]

[Novice Mission: Bind a romanceable target]

[Reward: Novice Gift Pack]

"Th-this is my system?"

Shinji's eyes widened, a disbelieving light flashing in them. He quickly scanned his surroundings, making sure that he was alone on the clan's streets.

"I knew it. How could a transmigrator not get some perks? The system just took its time showing up."

"Hm? There's a Character Detector in the system. Is that an item used to detect people?"

Suppressing his excitement, he looked at the translucent pale-blue panel before him. Just as he was about to examine how to complete the Novice Mission, a gentle yet dignified figure came around the corner.

It was Uchiha Mikoto.

She wore a simple, light-colored cotton kimono for the home, its soft fabric hanging in gentle folds, with a short, off-white linen apron over it. Her hands were clasped in front of her as she carried a woven bamboo basket, making it clear she'd just returned from shopping at the clan's market.

Her black hair was loosely gathered into a low bun, held in place with a plain wooden hairpin. A few wisps fell around her temples, lending her a gentle, peaceful look. She had the air of someone entirely at home.

Shinji immediately collected himself and bowed respectfully. "Lady Mikoto."

He remembered the Character Detector and quickly aimed it at Mikoto, using it at once.

Almost as soon as he used the item, the system panel refreshed, and lines of clear text appeared before his eyes:

[Character: Uchiha Mikoto]

[Skills: Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique Lv. Max, Illusion Technique: Demonic Binding Prison Lv. 3, Uchiha Style Swordsmanship Lv. 2, Illusion Technique: Mirror Heaven and Earth Turning Lv. 3...]

[Estimated Points for successful pursuit: Ambiguous Relationship/80,000 Points, True Love Relationship/500,000 Points...]

[Note: Extremely difficult. What stands between you isn't society's judgment, but her husband and children. However, if you successfully win the Clan Head's Wife's heart, you'll receive an enormous amount of Points and hidden permissions, far exceeding those for ordinary targets.]

The note made Shinji's breath catch.

He jerked his head up, utterly stunned!

Mikoto had only meant to offer a casual greeting. She recognized the composed young man as Shinji, one of the clan's younger members.

But his gaze was far too direct, even carrying a trace of undisguised shock. He'd lost all sense of decorum, and her brow furrowed slightly.

"Ahem."

A cough broke the silence.

Shinji belatedly broke into a cold sweat, tiny beads of perspiration forming at his temple. The system's information had completely stunned him, and he'd forgotten to control his expression.

"I'm sorry, Lady Mikoto. I got distracted for a moment. That was rude of me!" He quickly lowered his eyes, suppressing his thoughts.

Only then did Mikoto's brows relax. She gave a slight nod. "Shinji, thanks for your hard work."

With that, she passed him without so much as another glance, opened her own sliding door, and walked straight inside. All she left behind was a gentle yet distant figure.

On the system panel, the words "Clan Head's Wife," "enormous Points," and "extremely difficult" still shone brightly before his eyes.