Prelude to the Popularization of Magic and Journey to the Land of Wind

Uchiha Iori pondered as he headed toward the command tent.

[Are the Iwagakure Ninja making another move? Is the Battle of Kannabi Bridge about to begin? Should I intervene?]

As Iori thought, the corners of his mouth suddenly curled upward: [Thinking of Madara Uchiha, I'm actually feeling a bit excited. How much strength does the legendary Battlefield Rose have left?]

[It's truly heart-pounding, to meet and cross blades with a legend of the Ninja World.]

"Iori-kun, you're here." Jiraiya was busy inside the tent; he looked weary, and the bad news he had just received made him appear even more haggard.

"Word has come from the village that the front line in the Land of Wind has suffered heavy losses. Orochimaru is severely injured, and Tsunade has lost her combat capability. Both our side and the Land of Water front need to dispatch elites to provide support."

Jiraiya paced slowly around the table; the sudden depletion of military strength had thrown his plans into disarray.

"The village wants you to lead a team to the Land of Wind to deal with the threat of the One-Tail. Depart as soon as possible, but my intention is to have you rush over alone."

Uchiha Iori frowned and asked with some hesitation, "Just me alone?"

Jiraiya sat down and sighed. He tapped the table and said, "You know as well as I do that we only gained a partial advantage after you took out the Jinchuriki."

"Once you leave the front line, we will fall into a disadvantage again. If we pull any more jonin, there will definitely be gaps in our defensive line."

"The Land of Wind front is primarily suffering from the loss of Orochimaru and Tsunade's combat power; we need to fill the void of top-tier strength."

"You are the only one we can spare."

"Alright, I understand. I will prepare to set off immediately." Iori nodded, turned, and prepared to leave.

"I'm counting on you to look after Orochimaru and Tsunade." Jiraiya called out to Iori, speaking with sincerity.

If the front line didn't require his presence so desperately, he would have preferred to go and provide support himself, but for now, he could only entrust his friends to Iori.

"Leave it to me." Iori gave a thumbs-up, wearing an expression that looked remarkably like Obito.

After leaving the tent, Iori went to say goodbye to his acquaintances, taking the opportunity to give them some life-saving items.

Sealing various types of magic he had recently learned into amulets, Iori went on a massive giveaway spree.

Gekko Nobuhiko, Uzuki Kaori, Kurama Takumi, Obito Uchiha, Rin Nohara, Kakashi Hatake, Aburame Shibi, Maruboshi Kosuke, and others—everyone received one.

The Magic Amulet was a product of magic-chakra conversion that Iori had researched together with Medea.

Using sealing techniques as the method, the foundation of the magic was engraved in the form of tattoos or talismans, which could be activated by using chakra.

He projected the twin swords of Miyamoto Iori and gifted them to Uzuki Kaori, instructing her to trigger the sensing rune on them if she encountered a life-threatening situation.

Once Iori sensed it, it would trigger the one-time sword technique sealed within: Secret Sword: Swallow Reversal - Winged Pair.

After providing his friends with some security, Iori quickly departed from the front line.

He rushed from the Land of Grass toward the border between the Land of Fire and the Land of Rivers.

Night.

After setting up defensive measures, Uchiha Iori lay down to sleep, and the Hall of Heroes was activated.

As usual, in the brightly lit Hall of Heroes, everyone was clinking glasses and enjoying their afterlife.

After the gathering dispersed, Emiya Shirou called out to Iori.

"Interested in going on a business trip?" Emiya Shirou grabbed Iori by the shoulder, his tone revealing a hint of urgency.

"You are now qualified to have your name burned onto the Throne of Heroes. Do you want to claim a spot first?"

"While you are still alive, the records can be continuously updated, just like Artoria."

"Why so urgent? Isn't it supposed to be only after the Alaya of our world is born that I become qualified?"

Iori frowned and asked in confusion. Although he had gained some fame, it still seemed insignificant compared to the others currently in the Hall of Heroes.

"I have a favor to ask of you. I cannot go to that world line; it would cause a convergence of the future."

Emiya Shirou requested, his head bowed, his voice low as he gripped Iori's shoulder tightly.

"Only the living can go with their memories intact, and only Heroic Spirits can be summoned as Servants. I can only ask you now."

Uchiha Iori had never seen Emiya Shirou wear such an expression.

It was as if he had a chance to redeem the mistakes of his past, even if it were only for a dream.

"Tell me what the matter is first. I must determine the situation before I can give you an answer."

Although they were friends, Iori did not agree lightly, hoping instead for specific information.

"Having seen my memories, you should know Matou Sakura." Emiya Shirou let go of Iori and sat down on the ground, his expression complex.

"Of course I know her. What's wrong? Is that world line related to her?"

Iori certainly knew the purple-haired girl; she was one of the greatest regrets in the Fate series.

"The time in that world line is the end of 1993, but unlike the official history, Sakura has only just been sent to the Matou House."

Emiya Shirou said with some agitation; even if it wasn't his world, he still hoped his friend could find salvation.

"She has the potential to obtain Command Spells, and with Matou Kariya not having returned, the Berserker has not yet been summoned."

"I understand. Having the relevant memories and resistance to mental debuffs, I am indeed the best choice."

Iori sat down as well, the mental fortification provided by his Sharingan rendering him immune to the curse of madness.

"And then what? I'm just going to fight in a Holy Grail War and return seven days later, but what about her? Will the Tohsaka House still treat her well?"

"Besides, Konoha still needs my combat strength; I cannot afford to spend seven days elsewhere."

Iori very much wanted to help, as the Gate of Babylon belonging to the King of Heroes in the Fourth Holy Grail War was far too tempting, but the timing was incredibly inconvenient; the Ninja World was currently still embroiled in war.

Emiya Shirou shook his head and explained, "This is the Hall of Heroes, where time has never been an issue. When you return, it will be the exact same second you left."

It was precisely because the Hall of Heroes transcended the concept of time that it could house an endless number of Heroic Spirits.

"As for Sakura, if you entrust her to the Edelfelt House—as her grandmother's lineage—she will be treated favorably given her aptitude."

"I understand. Then how do I go, and what will happen to my body?"

Once Iori realized that his arrangements in the outside world would not be disturbed, he agreed, driven both by the desire to collect Noble Phantasms and the need to repay a favor.

A look of slight relief appeared on Emiya Shirou's face: "Accept the summons and then respond; your spirit will travel there. As for your physical body, it will be as if you merely had a dream."

He entered Iori's information into the Hall of Heroes and then said, "Everything is entrusted to you."

"Leave it to me!"

Holy Grail War

Seven mages summon seven avatars of Heroic Spirits known as Servants. The seven pairs fight one another, and the final victor obtains the omnipotent wish-granting device: the Holy Grail.