When Uchiha Iori returned to the space of Unlimited Blade Works, he felt an unusual sense of control.
After examining it closely, he discovered that he had actually gained partial authority over the space.
The discovery stirred something in him, and he immediately tried to activate Projection Magecraft.
However, his chakra consumption was no different from that in the outside world, shattering his hopes of exploiting a bug.
He sighed helplessly and muttered to himself, "Guess it's not that easy."
He raised a hand and gave a gentle wave. The gate to the Hall of Heroes swung open in response.
Iori stepped through, and the world spun around him. A wave of dizziness washed over him, as if he'd been tossed into a massive whirlpool.
He struggled to steady himself, clutching his head as he grinned wryly and grumbled, "God, it feels like I drank fake liquor all night, threw up all night, and then got up."
As his vision gradually cleared, the sight before him left him holding his breath.
A grand, magnificent palace gleamed with gold and splendor, like a paradise from myth.
Beyond it stretched a wilderness rich with trees and grass, where every leaf seemed to sway gently in the breeze.
In the middle of the palace, a long table was laden with all kinds of delicacies. Their tantalizing aroma made his mouth water.
Iori's gaze settled on a man beside the table—the only person in the palace at that moment.
"Hey, newbie. Welcome to the Hall of Heroes." The man looked up with a smile.
He had short blue hair and a long ponytail tied at the back of his head, with a pair of green earrings dangling from his ears.
His eyes were crimson and his eyebrows blue. He wore a tight blue bodysuit that extended to his wrists in the form of bracers, with silver armor over his shoulders. A crimson spear rested beside him.
"I'm Cú Chulainn, a knight of the Red Branch Knights and son of Lugh." Cú Chulainn introduced himself.
Iori's heart stirred. The man before him was none other than Setanta, the legendary hero from Ireland and son of Lugh, the sun god.
When he was young, he accidentally killed Culann the blacksmith's guard dog. He swore to take its place until a new watchdog could be found, earning him the name "Hound of Culann"—Cú Chulainn.
As an adult, he studied under Scáthach, queen of the Land of Shadows, and received the Demonic Spear, Gáe Bolg. During the Cattle Raid of Cooley in Celtic mythology, he single-handedly drove back the armies sent by Medb, Queen of Connacht, time and again.
In the end, Medb's schemes forced him into a conflict between two geasa: that he could not eat dog meat, and that he could not refuse an offer of food. He lost his left hand, and when a bard demanded it, he had to surrender his spear. Ultimately, he was pierced by his own spear. Before he died, he tied himself to a pillar of stone.
In Europe, he was no less famous than Heracles, the great hero of ancient Greece.
"I'm Uchiha Iori. Could you tell me about the Hall of Heroes? Also, how can I get permission to copy Noble Phantasms?"
With a hint of anticipation and curiosity, Iori asked Cú Chulainn.
Joy welled up in his heart. After all, seeing a familiar face from the past in the allied ranks was always heartening.
Cú Chulainn smiled, a teasing glint in his eyes. "There's no concept of time in the Hall of Heroes, so it's perfectly normal to run into Heroic Spirits from any era."
"Our Hall of Heroes is a specialized version. Sometimes visitors come from other worlds, too, so don't be too surprised if you see someone who shouldn't exist."
He paused, making his meaning clear.
"You can help yourself to the food and drink here. It all replenishes after a day-night cycle."
"As for Noble Phantasms, it depends on how the other person feels about you. If they like you, you can copy theirs all you want. If they don't, they won't even give you the time of day. It all comes down to how well you get along."
"So what about you? Do you like me well enough?" Uchiha Iori asked with a smile.
Cú Chulainn gave a slight nod, a note of appreciation in his eyes. "Not bad. At least you had the guts to ask."
Iori understood what he needed to do. Everyone here was a hero whose name had gone down in history. All he had to do was show them who he was and win friends who shared his ideals.
Sunlight streamed through the palace's lofty windows, gilding Cú Chulainn's silhouette.
His eyes shone with an endless, feverish hunger for battle.
"Obviously!" His booming voice rang through the empty palace like a war horn. "Let's get to know each other through a fight! Use your Noble Phantasm to your heart's content. Give me a good battle, and you can take whatever Noble Phantasm you want!"
He strode out of the palace, skillfully twirling his spear in both hands. Its tip traced a dazzling series of arcs.
Then he bent forward, pointing the spear downward. His left hand gripped the front, his right the back. Red magical energy shimmered along the shaft, like flames stoking Cú Chulainn's fighting spirit.
"Show me your strength and resolve! Entertain me with a fight!" Cú Chulainn's voice boomed like thunder.
Iori smiled as well, his mind clear. Here, there was no need to overthink things. He only had to follow his heart and give it his all.
"Then let's fight to the death, Child of Light of Ireland."
In his previous life, Uchiha Iori's story had been an unremarkable picture, every stroke neat and orderly, without a hint of turbulence.
He'd gone to school by routine, worked by routine, and spent over twenty years going back and forth along the same two points.
He had few friends, few hobbies, and nothing worth boasting about. Even in death, his life had been meaningless. Aside from his family, probably no one would remember that he'd ever existed.
Even after being reborn in the Naruto world, Iori's life didn't seem to change.
In this chaotic era, he was like an insignificant speck of dust, liable to vanish without a sound on a mission, just like his parents in this life. No one would even remember his name.
Until his fierce battle with Heroic Spirit Emiya, and his life-or-death struggle against the Iwagakure Ninja.
At last, Iori had found a reason for his existence.
He had felt the joy of growing stronger, and the tension and thrill of having his life hang by a thread.
Every battle challenged the limits of his abilities, and every victory affirmed his worth.
"Trace On."
Uchiha Iori activated his Sharingan. Three Tomoe appeared in his eyes and began to turn slowly, while a pair of swords materialized in his hands.
Perhaps because he understood the history of Gan Jiang and Mo Ye better than Emiya Shirou did, Iori's versions were more complete, more powerful, and less taxing.
The inscriptions on the blades were clearly visible, every line imbued with ancient and formidable power.
Swish!
Cú Chulainn pushed off with his back foot, thrusting his spear at Uchiha Iori's chest like a bolt of lightning. Iori knocked the spearpoint aside with one sword and swiftly slashed at Cú Chulainn's abdomen with the other.
Cú Chulainn pressed down on the butt of his spear, blocking Iori's slash.
They both leaped back to open some distance. Cú Chulainn sprang high into the air and brought his spear down. Iori crossed both swords to block it.
Cú Chulainn used the force to vault behind Iori, then thrust with a backhanded strike.
Iori turned his head aside. The gale stirred up by the Demonic Spear sliced across his cheek.
He poured magical energy into Gan Jiang and Mo Ye, then brought his hands together. The swords suddenly lengthened, sweeping across Cú Chulainn's abdomen.
After several exchanges, Uchiha Iori exclaimed in admiration:
"No wonder you're a great hero of Ireland. You can still dodge my attack and counter from that position."
Even though he had gained Heroic Spirit Emiya's combat memories, he hadn't been able to make much use of them in such a short time.
These ancient heroes had vast combat experience and extraordinary instincts. No wonder they had made names for themselves in history.
The spear and twin swords clashed again and again, the sound of metal ringing through the air. Gan Jiang and Mo Ye were shattered several times, only to be projected again by Iori.
Iori spared no thought for his body, continuously wringing chakra from within himself.
If this continued, even if Iori didn't lose on skill, his body would collapse and kill him.
After they separated again, Cú Chulainn burst into a hearty laugh.
He was a bold, generous man who didn't fuss over details once he hit it off with someone.
"Kid, you're still not strong enough, but I respect your fighting spirit. Now I'm taking your heart."
Cú Chulainn stepped back and planted his spear. Red magical energy gathered around it, its violent power whipping up a storm that tore through the sky and earth, turning the heavens red.
"Then let's decide it with one final strike."
Uchiha Iori frantically wrung out every last drop of chakra.
He tossed aside his twin swords and copied Cú Chulainn's stance. A crimson Demonic Spear appeared in his hand.
"Gáe Bolg!"
They shouted at the same time, their spears crossing as they passed each other.
The spear pierced Iori's heart, leaving a gaping hole.
Cú Chulainn had managed to avoid a strike to the heart, but his shoulder was still pierced.
"Hey, kid. You know how I died when I was alive, so why'd you have to use my own spear to run me through?"
Cú Chulainn looked annoyed. According to the legend, he'd been pierced by his own Demonic Spear before meeting his end.
"Haha, didn't you already kill me?"
Iori lay on the ground, laughing as he answered.
At last, he'd found something he enjoyed: fighting, growing stronger, and pursuing even more exhilarating battles.
"Next time, let's have a feast together. I bet your personality would get along with plenty of people."
As he spoke, Cú Chulainn turned to leave.
He rested the Demonic Spear on his shoulder and waved goodbye to Uchiha Iori.
Uchiha Iori lay on the ground without replying. Gazing up at the sky, he dissolved into specks of light once more.