Want to Skip Your Own Life?

"Genin? Not for long," Setsuna said with a meaningful look.

"This joint activity is an opportunity. If you perform well, you won't just be promoted to Chunin; you'll also catch the eye of certain people."

Certain people? Who? Danzo?

Or perhaps...

"Things haven't been peaceful over in Sunagakure lately," Setsuna suddenly shifted the topic.

"The Kazekage rarely shows his face, the Sunagakure ninja are moving frequently, and there have been anomalies at the border. This joint activity... something might go wrong."

Qingyu's heart skipped a beat.

The Elder knows there's a problem with Sunagakure, too?

If you Uchiha are this sensitive, how did you end up dying so miserably in the original story?

If I weren't an Uchiha myself, I'd really be tempted to bring some steamed buns and watch the Night of the Uchiha Massacre unfold.

"So," Setsuna pulled a scroll from his robes.

"Take this. It contains some... things you might find useful."

Qingyu took the scroll but didn't open it immediately. "This is..."

"A few tricks for staying alive, along with detailed intelligence on several key figures in Sunagakure," Setsuna waved his hand.

"Don't thank me. I just don't want to see a rising star of the Uchiha die out there for no reason."

Qingyu gripped the scroll, his mood complicated.

What is this?

An investment from the radicals? Or a bargaining chip for recruitment?

"Alright, that's enough talk for now," Setsuna turned to leave.

"Remember! Do not tell anyone about today, including the Clan Head and Shisui."

He took two steps, then looked back. "Oh, and if you discover anything unusual during the activity... you can use this to contact me."

He tossed over a small Communication Talisman, similar to the one Shisui had given him, but deep purple in color.

Qingyu caught it.

Setsuna's figure had already vanished into the woods.

Qingyu was left alone in the clearing, holding the scroll and the Communication Talisman, his mind racing with cynical thoughts:

This plot progression... have I triggered the internal Uchiha conflict arc?

Following game tropes, the next step should be a branching choice:

A. Join the radicals

B. Remain neutral

C. Report to the Clan Head

...Is there a skip button? I just want to be a simple, well-behaved combat unit!

[Ding!]

[System: You want to skip the plot?! Trying to skip your own life?!]

[System Notification: Faction choice plot detected!]

[Hidden Mission Updated: Undercurrents of the Uchiha]

[Mission Objective: Make a choice in the internal faction struggle of the Uchiha (Current options: Clan Head Faction / Radical Faction / Remain Neutral)]

[Note: Your choice will affect the subsequent plot, available missions, and even the ending! Please decide carefully!]

[Special Tip: Only children make choices; adults... sometimes have to choose too (shrug)]

Qingyu stared at the system prompt, his mouth twitching.

System, are you serious with that last remark!

He tucked away the scroll and the Communication Talisman, then headed back down the mountain the way he came.

Two voices began to bicker in his head again:

"That Setsuna makes a fair point," Izuna said, uncharacteristically refraining from insults. "The Uchiha were once so glorious, yet now we have to bow to others... Hmph!"

"But radicalism often leads to destruction," Tobirama countered calmly.

"The Uchiha's current predicament is partly due to historical issues, but the other part... is the result of their own choices."

"That's only because of you Senju!"

"Both teachers!" Qingyu interrupted. "Now is not the time to argue about history! What should I do?"

History is a...

The voices in his head fell silent for a moment.

"Let's see what's in the scroll," Tobirama said.

Qingyu found a secluded spot and opened the scroll.

The first half of the scroll contained various practical combat techniques: how to quickly neutralize poisons, how to counter genjutsu, how to survive in desert environments, and so on—it was truly useful, solid information.

The latter half, however, was intelligence on Sunagakure, even more detailed than what Shisui had provided!

It not only included the profiles of the personnel participating in the event but even featured a distribution map of Sunagakure's border outposts and a record of the Kazekage's itinerary over the last six months...

Awesome. You Uchiha really are like dogs, aren't you? You can even tear this kind of info out of thin air?!

"This intelligence is ridiculously detailed!" Qingyu was shocked. "Does Elder Setsuna have his own intelligence network?"

"It's normal," Tobirama analyzed. "Elders of great clans all have their own spheres of influence, but this intelligence... some of it already touches upon military secrets."

Setsuna: Don't underestimate my intelligence network!

Qingyu flipped to the last page, his pupils constricting.

It was a piece of scribbled notes that read:

"Sunagakure has recently purchased a large quantity of explosive tags and poisons, citing 'mission requirements.' However, the purchase volume far exceeds normal mission needs."

"The Kazekage has not appeared in public for two consecutive months; the acting administrator is the advisor: Chiyo. Extremely suspicious!"

"Sunagakure has had secret contact with Otogakure. Location: border of the Land of Rivers. Purpose unknown."

Otogakure? Orochimaru!

Qingyu's hand trembled.

Is the Konoha Crush Plan really coming? And could the timeline have been moved up?

You guys actually dare to come?!

Be careful not to trigger a defeat CG the moment you get looked at by Shisui's Kotoamatsukami.

Orochimaru: Oh ho ho ho ho, actually, I love Konoha the most...

Crazy...

"It seems Sunagakure really does have a problem," Tobirama said in a serious tone. "If this intelligence is true, this joint event... is very likely a trap."

"Then are we still going?" Qingyu asked.

"We go," Izuna said decisively. "So what if it's a trap? Back in the day, the White-Haired Senju and I would charge straight in even knowing it was a trap!"

"But this isn't the Warring States period," Tobirama countered. "Qingyu, you need to share this intelligence with someone you can trust. At the very least, you must ensure the Clan Head and Shisui are prepared."

Qingyu nodded.

But how was he supposed to say it? That Elder Setsuna gave it to him? Wouldn't that be selling Setsuna out?

This really should come with a price tag; if I don't sell it for a good price, my heart will ache!

System: With your credit score, you couldn't even unlock a shared bicycle.

"You can tell a partial truth," Tobirama suggested. "Just say that while investigating Sunagakure, you accidentally obtained some intelligence, but don't reveal the source."

That was the only way.

Actually, I've been a dove for a long time now...

There's no helping it; the dove faction has at least two pairs of Mangekyo Sharingan. If you don't vote for that, what are you waiting for!

Qingyu put away the scroll and hurried down the mountain.

He needed to talk to Shisui or Itachi as soon as possible.

However, just as he reached the foot of the mountain, he ran into someone else.

Itachi Uchiha was standing quietly at the intersection, as if he had been waiting for a long time.

"Itachi... senpai?" Qingyu's heart tightened.

You found me so quickly? You didn't even turn off your Sharingan, did you!

Qingyu felt his heart performing a breakdance in his chest, the high-difficulty kind.

Itachi Uchiha stood just three steps away, those bottomless black eyes watching him calmly, yet they made Qingyu feel like prey being targeted by a Sharingan.

A death branch that could trigger a "Tsukuyomi-induced game over" at any moment.

Itachi looked at him, his black eyes so deep they were unsettling: "Qingyu, who did you meet just now?"

A life-or-death question ×2!

Qingyu's brain CPU overloaded again, while he heard alarms going off in his head:

Izuna: Lie! Just say you came here to train!

Tobirama: I do not recommend lying. Itachi's observational skills are extremely sharp; he likely already knows. I suggest a partial confession...

"I met Elder Setsuna," Qingyu chose to tell the truth.

Itachi's expression didn't change: "What did he say to you?"

Here it comes, the execution branch is here!