Bloodline Blade!

I grew even more confused, but my gaze was drawn uncontrollably to the blade.

It was a flawless sword.

Its long, slightly curved blade glimmered with a faint blue light in the darkness. It was as beautiful as a work of art.

As if summoned, I reached out with my right hand, ready to grab the hilt wrapped in red cord.

Just then, the little Itachi in my arms stirred. He opened his round, black eyes and curiously reached out, about to touch the blade first.

"Meow!"

Suddenly, the black cat let out a strange cry from Cat Granny's arms and sprang over, viciously lunging at Itachi!

What was going on?!

The sudden turn of events left me with time only to shield Itachi with my arm! Then a damp, icy pain shot through it! I yelped and flung the black cat off my arm, accidentally brushing the blade.

In the next instant, all the information flooded into my mind.

The moment I touched the blade, the genjutsu placed upon it enveloped me and explained everything about this place.

As it turned out, this was a secret chamber where the Uchiha Clan had stored weapons for generations. It existed in a different space from the Shinobi World, much like Mount Myōboku of the Toad Clan or Ryūchi Cave of the Snake Sage Clan.

The old woman was the lamplighter who had guarded the chamber for years. Her name was Cat Granny.

Since coming to this world, things never mentioned in the original story had been gradually coming to light. An immense, mysterious, and unknown Shinobi World was slowly unfolding before me.

This was a realm I knew nothing about. The plot points from the original story that I knew seemed almost laughable in the face of these incomparable powers.

The genjutsu around me continued to operate, carrying the will of our ancestors, enduring through the ages as it slowly recounted the ancient secrets and history of this clan.

Only those with chosen bloodlines could summon themselves into this place, and, according to the Uchiha Clan's rules, take one treasure.

The more I saw, the more excited I became—

Because there was also an unprecedented treasure here, waiting for me!

[Demon Blade Murasame]!

"An unbreakable demonic sword, able to wield fire, ride the wind, and summon falling thunder. It exists as one with its master..." I read its description, my heart pounding faster and faster as I excitedly muttered to myself.

"Is this for me...?" I asked, hopeful yet disbelieving, with a trace of unease.

I'd heard of Murasame long before, in my previous life. It was a sword from a myth.

Legend had it that the famous Japanese sword Muramasa would transform into the demonic blade Murasame after killing a thousand people. After cutting someone down, water would flow from its edge to wash away the blood. This was like Murasame washing the leaves clean, which was how it got its name.

Wasn't that ridiculously chuuni?!

"Don't get so excited. Keep reading." It was Cat Granny's voice.

I slowly tightened my grip on it.

"Murasame will grow and improve alongside its master, until the two of them stand together at the peak of the world."

"When one prospers, both prosper. When one suffers, both suffer.

"If the blade breaks, its master dies. If its master perishes, the blade is destroyed."

Waaah, I was so moved that I wiped away a tear.

I didn't understand what growing together meant, but this blade was just like me—what a fierce temperament!

I held it loosely. The patterns on the blade glinted in the slanting sunlight. The more I looked at it, the more I liked it.

Although this was my first time using it, the blade felt perfectly in sync with me. There was no hesitation or resistance, as if we'd been made for each other.

"Mm, it looks pretty good." Cat Granny nodded with satisfaction. With a rustle, she unrolled the scroll and beckoned to me. "Uchiha Akatsuki, come here."

I stepped closer to her, then suddenly noticed an empty weapon-shaped recess in the enormous, dark wall before me. It looked like a gourd and was quite strange.

I pointed at it and asked curiously, "What's that?"

The old woman glanced at it and replied gravely, "That's a Gunbai. Someone took it nearly a hundred years ago."

The weapon's name sounded familiar, so I couldn't help asking, "Who took it?"

She glanced at me, then her eyes went distant, as if she were recalling that era.

Then her lips moved, and beneath the glow of the setting sun, she slowly uttered the name of an ancient god.

"Madara Uchiha."

Holy crap! I was stunned!

At that moment, Murasame rested quietly in my hand, its blade gleaming coldly, its red cord hanging down. Its heavy weight made my heart sink as well.

Cat Granny stroked the scroll and pointed to a blank space on it. "Write your name on the scroll, and you'll become Murasame's master."

"W-wait... I need to get this straight!" Just then, all my excitement vanished with the genjutsu, and my rationality began to return.

"What do you need to get straight?"

"You said that the Gunbai beside Murasame was taken by Madara Uchiha?"

"Yes." Cat Granny answered without hesitation. "Less than a hundred years ago."

Oh my...

For the first time, I started to panic. I felt like I'd won a ten-billion-yen lottery. It was practically burning a hole in my hands!

"Th-then which is stronger, Murasame or the Gunbai?" I stammered.

"I already told you. It will grow alongside its master. How powerful it becomes depends on you. Understand?"

"If you remain a good-for-nothing forever, it'll remain a useless hunk of iron forever."

"Th-then what about now?" I asked miserably. "It isn't just some lousy little sword, is it?!"

Cat Granny impatiently snapped, "Are you taking it or not? If not, give it to your little brother!"

I was floored. Pointing at the baby sucking on his fingers in my arms, I shouted, "He can take it too?!"

"If he was able to enter this place, then his bloodline is recognized too. Of course he can take something." Cat Granny didn't think much of it.

I counted up Uchiha Itachi's legendary weapons in my head, including the Yata Mirror, the Totsuka Blade, and the Yasakani Magatama. The more I counted, the more devastated I felt! Uchiha Itachi, so all those legendary weapons of yours came from here!

If I gave him Murasame too, wouldn't he be invincible?

No way. I absolutely couldn't give it to him!

The little guy might look harmless now, but who knew when he might suddenly stab me!

"I can't give it to him. Give it to me!" I decided at once, indignation blazing.

"Fine. Then sign for it." She idly picked at her nails.

Damn it. When other people got legendary weapons, their power shot through the roof, and the next thing you knew, they'd burst onto the scene and become invincible!

And me?

I was signing for a delivery!

What a letdown!

Never mind, maybe I was the kind of protagonist who grew stronger over time!

The setting sun was red as blood, and weapons stood in rows.

Holding a brush, I carefully wrote my name on the far right side of the long scroll: [Uchiha Akatsuki]

Looking to the left, I saw a whole row of names. The first one that caught my eye was the most arrogant-looking [Madara Uchiha]. Farther along was [Uchiha Tajima], his handwriting bold and sweeping yet steady. The scroll continued onward, and I no longer recognized some of the ancient names.

The scroll was old and damaged, but the names written upon it gave it an inviolable, sacred air. I could almost see the Warring States period, filled with billowing smoke, blazing fires, bloody battles, and rival heroes vying for supremacy. It filled me with awe.

The instant I wrote my name, I felt as if I stood among them, fighting alongside the ancestors of the Uchiha Clan.

Now that was getting me fired up!

"Pick out some more weapons to take back for your clanmates." Cat Granny carefully rolled up the scroll and tucked it into her chest.

"You won't get another chance to come here."

I looked around at all the treasures. After only a moment's hesitation, I carried little Itachi around the armory, gathering whatever I could.

"We're rich, my dear little brother! Grab everything! It's free!"

Before long, I'd piled up a heap of weapons. I'd even stuffed Itachi's hands full, and he was about to cry.

When I returned from the secret chamber to the Clan Head Mansion, it still felt like a dream. But looking at the gleaming weapons scattered all over the floor and feeling the cold, heavy Murasame at my waist, quiet yet seemingly brimming with battle intent, I couldn't possibly dismiss it as a dream.

"Only those with chosen bloodlines can enter the secret chamber..." I recalled the words I'd heard in the genjutsu, my heart pounding wildly.

Besides me, the only one to take a weapon was that godlike man, who had taken the Gunbai.

Would I become someone like Madara Uchiha?

I hugged Itachi tightly, feeling short of breath. The little guy in my arms suddenly squirmed and babbled, reaching up with his tiny hand to touch my face. It was only a slight touch, but somehow it miraculously calmed me.

I held the soft, chubby baby against me and gently rubbed my cheek against his. At last, I felt completely at ease.

"Itachi... my little brother..."

What a strange and wonderful bond, sharing the same sword.

Ever since Itachi came along, I'd suddenly felt much less lonely in this family. It was as if something connected us, and whenever I touched him, I felt completely at ease.

Maybe that was what being brothers meant.

Itachi and I laughed and played together for a while. When I looked up, evening had already fallen.

"We've been at this so long. You must be hungry." I carried Itachi into the kitchen, put a pot on the stove, and prepared to warm up some milk for him.

Itachi babbled as if he wanted to say something, then carefully reached out with his tiny hand and touched my arm.

The black cat had left several scratches and a bite mark there. Since I hadn't treated them, a few drops of blood had seeped out.

I'd been so excited that I'd only just started to feel the pain.

After treating the wounds, I pinched his cheek and smiled.

"It's okay. Your big brother isn't hurting."

"Well, isn't this heartwarming?"

Just then, a clear, bright voice came from the window. I looked up and saw a figure leaning against the windowsill in the evening light. His unruly black hair stirred in the breeze, and his gentle eyes watched me as they always did.

"Shisui!" I was overjoyed. I darted over, grabbed his arm, and beamed at him.

"It's been half a month. Is your mission finally over?"

"Yeah, I finally got a day off." He jumped into the room, ruffled my hair, then noticed little Itachi. He immediately pinched his round cheek mischievously and leaned close to murmur, "Sometimes I really envy you."

"What are you jealous of?" I asked, baffled, as I opened the fridge with my right hand and searched for something quick to eat. "You haven't eaten yet, right? Watch me whip something up for you."

Shisui gave a wry shake of his head, rejecting my dreadful cooking. Then his eyes suddenly landed on Murasame, which I'd left on the table.

"This sword..." The moment he picked up Murasame, I snatched it back in alarm and stammered, "I-I suddenly felt like practicing with a sword, so I just bought one. Teach me sometime when you're free?"

"Of course." Shisui didn't suspect a thing. He merely reminded me kindly, "Akatsuki, you're actually not suited to using a long sword." He loosely circled my wrist with his fingers and gently squeezed, feeling the shape of my bones.

"Your frame's a bit small, so you look frail, and you're slightly weaker than others your age."

I raised an eyebrow, unconvinced.

What Shisui said was true. That was why I'd put extra effort into Taijutsu training, though I'd still made little progress.

"I have a short sword I can give you. You can attack with thrusts, and paired with your Lightning Release Chakra, it'll be more effective."

I looked at him, then at Murasame in my hand, and felt my resolve harden.

But this sword had been bestowed upon me by my ancestors!

"Just tell me if you're going to teach me or not!" I mischievously placed Itachi in his arms and threatened, "Watch little Itachi for a while. If he cries, it's your fault."

"I'll teach you, I'll teach you..."

Shisui just shook his head with an amused, helpless expression.

While I was in the kitchen, he carried Itachi around, expanding his territory.

"Hmm? Where'd all this stuff come from?" He noticed the pile of weapons on the floor, picked up a string of shuriken, and turned it over in his hands, his eyes glinting.

"These are better quality than the ones the clan hands out."

"To prevent any unnecessary trouble, please follow the rules and don't reveal the secret chamber." Remembering Cat Granny's warning before she left, I could only lie with my head down. "S-Some girls at school gave them to me."

"What girl would give you weapons?" Shisui stood up with a mischievous look. He hooked a Kunai over his finger, spun it stylishly, then caught it in his hand.

"It makes more sense that a boy gave them to you."

"Yeah, yeah..." I couldn't be bothered to argue with him. I carried out the pot of milk, put a thermometer in it, and watched it cool little by little.

"It was a boy who gave them to me. He said he'd liked me for a long time and wanted to be with me." I smirked inwardly, keeping a straight face.

In the original story, Itachi was always teased by Shisui because he was young and innocent, and couldn't possibly compete with the wily Shisui.

But I was different. I was just as thick-skinned as he was. If Uchiha Shisui could tease me, I could tease him right back.

We both knew how mischievous the other was, yet we couldn't stop ourselves from going at it with all we had.

Shisui fell silent again, holding little Itachi and smiling at me. The golden evening sunlight poured through the window. The fragrance of warm milk filled the room, while the baby's babbling and laughter rang out in turn. For a moment, the years seemed long and the days peaceful.