Rain slipped through the gaps between the leaves, pocking the muddy ground. Su Ye braced himself against a tree trunk and staggered through the forest. With every step, his legs felt as heavy as lead.
His chakra was nearly depleted, and his mental energy was spent. The Rinne Sharingan in both eyes had long since faded back to ordinary pupils, leaving only a dull ache around his eye sockets. He didn't dare stop. The Uchiha Clan Compound was off-limits on the night of the massacre. Obito and Itachi could catch up at any moment, and unknown dangers lurked in this forest.
"I need to find somewhere safe to recover my chakra." Gritting his teeth, Su Ye forced himself to stay alert and scan his surroundings. He remembered from the original owner's memories that there was an abandoned hunter's cabin deep in the forest. The original owner had stumbled upon it as a child and used it as a secret hideout. It might be a safe place to lie low for a while.
He changed direction and headed toward the spot he remembered. Rain soaked his hair and clothes, and a bone-deep chill seeped through his skin, making him shiver. Just then, hurried footsteps sounded behind him, accompanied by a low growl.
Su Ye's heart tightened. He spun around—and saw three burly Ninja Dogs charging out of the trees. Their wet fur clung to their bodies, their eyes glinted with ferocity, and drool dripped from their jaws.
Tracking Ninja Dogs from the Konoha Military Police Force!
Su Ye understood at once. After the massacre, Konoha would surely send out forces to seal off the area around the Uchiha Clan Compound. The dogs must have picked up his scent and followed it here.
"Damn it!" Su Ye turned and ran. In his current state, he could barely manage a normal run, let alone fight off the dogs.
The Ninja Dogs were fast and quickly caught up. The one in front suddenly leaped at him, jaws gaping as it lunged for his calf!
Su Ye's pupils contracted. Instinctively, he gathered the last trace of chakra in his body into his right foot. He twisted aside, narrowly avoiding the bite, and kicked the dog hard in the stomach.
"Bang!"
The Ninja Dog yelped and staggered backward. But the other two quickly pounced. One caught the hem of Su Ye's clothes, while the other went for his arm!
The tug sent Su Ye stumbling, and he crashed into the mud. Cold, muddy water splashed across his face, and the dog's teeth scraped his arm, sending a sharp sting through it.
"I can't die here!" His fierce will to survive jolted his nerves. Struggling, he reached for a thick branch beside him and slammed it into the Ninja Dog biting his arm!
"Smack!"
The branch struck the dog on the head. It yelped in pain and let go. But Su Ye had used up his last strength. He collapsed to the ground and could only watch as the three dogs closed in again.
At that critical moment, a system notification suddenly sounded in Su Ye's mind:
[Beep! Host is in mortal danger. Emergency mission triggered!]
[Emergency Mission: Drive off the tracking Ninja Dogs and reach the abandoned hunter's cabin. Mission Rewards: Chakra Recovery Potion*1, Rinne Sharingan Proficiency +10, unlock "Basic Ninjutsu Library" (includes: Substitution Technique, Clone Technique, Transformation Technique).]
[Temporary Buff Activated: Chakra briefly restored (10%). Duration: 30 seconds!]
A faint but distinct surge of chakra flooded Su Ye's body, giving his heavy limbs a little strength. He snapped his eyes open, a fierce glint flashing in them.
"Substitution Technique!"
Su Ye formed the Hand Seals almost by instinct. The system had unlocked this basic technique, and its sequence was already imprinted in his mind. With a soft "poof," his body vanished in a puff of white smoke, leaving behind a rain-soaked log.
The three Ninja Dogs pounced on empty air and barked furiously at the log.
Su Ye appeared behind a large tree some distance away. He took a breath, then immediately ran toward the hunter's cabin without wasting a moment. The 30-second buff would be gone in a flash. He had to reach his destination before his chakra ran out again.
Fortunately, the cabin was close. Guided by his memories, Su Ye soon spotted the small wooden house hidden behind a thicket. Its roof was partly damaged, and vines covered the walls. It looked as if it had been abandoned for years.
He hurried over, pushed open the creaking door, slipped inside, then shut it quickly and wedged a thick wooden stick against it.
Only when he had done all that did Su Ye collapse onto the cold floor, gasping for breath. Outside, the dogs barked and scratched at the door with their claws, but the wood was sturdy enough to hold them off for now.
"Phew... I'm finally safe." Su Ye let out a breath, and his taut nerves at last began to relax. He took the Chakra Recovery Potion from his system inventory. It was a blue vial filled with thick liquid that gave off a faint, sweet scent.
He uncorked the vial and drank it in one gulp. The potion tasted mildly sweet as it slid down his throat and into his stomach. Soon, it turned into a warm stream of chakra that flowed through his body. His depleted chakra reserves began to refill at a visible rate, and the ache around his eye sockets gradually faded.
[Beep! Chakra restored to 60%. The Rinne Sharingan can be used normally (avoid consecutive high-cost jutsu for a short time).]
[Rinne Sharingan Proficiency +10. Current Proficiency: 15/100 (Beginner). Trait Unlocked: "Enhanced Dynamic Vision" (allows clearer tracking of fast-moving targets).]
Feeling his chakra recover, Su Ye was delighted. He tried circulating it, and the Rinne Sharingan in his left eye lit up again. Crimson and indigo patterns swirled across his pupil, and everything around him came into sharp focus. Even the movements of the Ninja Dogs outside seemed half a beat slower to him.
"Enhanced dynamic vision... This will be incredibly useful in a fight." Su Ye was secretly pleased. He stood and looked around the cabin. It was small, containing only an old wooden bed and a table. A few bundles of dried branches lay in one corner, probably left behind by the hunter.
Su Ye sat beside the table and began studying the basic ninjutsu the system had unlocked. The Substitution Technique, Clone Technique, and Transformation Technique were fundamental jutsu every ninja had to master. But with his Rinne Sharingan, perhaps he could use them in ways no one else could.
"For example, what if I combined the Clone Technique with Kamui?" An idea came to Su Ye. "I could use a clone to distract the enemy, then activate Kamui to transport myself behind them and launch a surprise attack..."
As he pondered this, the system's notification sounded again:
[Beep! Beginner Mission "Survive the Uchiha Clan Massacre" completed. Rewards distributed (the Rinne Sharingan in the right eye has awakened, and the Heavenly Hand Power trait has been unlocked).]
[Main Mission Issued: Join Konoha Anbu. Requirements: Pass the Konoha Anbu recruitment test within one month. Rewards: Rinne Sharingan Proficiency +50, unlock "Limbo: Border Jail (Complete Version)," and receive an Anbu-exclusive ninja gear set (includes: Silent Kunai, smoke bombs, and a concealment cloak).]
[Side Mission Issued: Investigate "The Secrets of the Uchiha Clan Massacre." Requirements: Obtain more information about the massacre (such as the Konoha High Command's stance, Obito's true motives, and Itachi's hidden plans). Rewards will be issued according to how complete the information is; the highest reward is the "Advanced Manual of Space-Time Ninjutsu."]
Join Konoha Anbu?
Su Ye was taken aback, then understood what the system had in mind. Anbu was Konoha's secret force, answering directly to the Hokage and able to access secrets beyond the reach of ordinary ninja. Joining would not only make him stronger but also help him investigate the truth behind the massacre—and might even give him a chance to get close to Itachi.
"But the Anbu recruitment test can't be easy..." Su Ye frowned. He had the Rinne Sharingan, but he hadn't mastered the basic jutsu, and his chakra reserves were far below those of a full-fledged ninja. To pass the test, he had to grow stronger quickly within a month.
He looked at the side mission—to investigate the secrets of the massacre. It went hand in hand with the main mission. Once he joined Anbu, the investigation would be much easier.
"First, I need to make a training plan." Su Ye made up his mind. First, he would master the basic jutsu and combine them with the abilities of the Rinne Sharingan. Second, he would increase his chakra reserves through training and by absorbing Natural Energy. He couldn't use Senjutsu yet, but he could build up his reserves gradually with basic chakra cultivation. Finally, he would use the Rinne Sharingan's traits to develop new combinations of jutsu.
Just then, the barking outside suddenly stopped. Su Ye's heart stirred. He went to the door and peered through a crack. Several ninja in Konoha Military Police Force uniforms were walking away into the distance. They had apparently given up the search.
"Looks like they think I've already gone far away." Su Ye let out a breath of relief. But he knew he couldn't stay here for long. The Konoha Military Police Force would surely intensify the search and eventually find him.
He packed up, putting anything useful from the cabin—such as the dried branches and an old water flask—into his system inventory. Then he pushed open the door and cautiously checked his surroundings. Once he was sure there was no danger, he slipped into the depths of the forest.
He didn't leave the forest, but headed farther in, where few people went and he could train in peace. He also remembered from the original owner's memories that there was a natural hot spring deep in the forest. Natural Energy was more abundant around it than elsewhere, which could help restore and refine his chakra.
As he walked, Su Ye practiced chakra cultivation and used the Rinne Sharingan's enhanced dynamic vision to watch his surroundings for possible threats. He knew the coming month would be crucial to establishing himself in this Shinobi World.
"Konoha Anbu... I'll get in, no matter what." A determined glint flashed in Su Ye's eyes. "And Itachi—I'll uncover the truth behind the massacre, too!"
His figure gradually disappeared into the dense forest, leaving only a faint trail of footprints that the rain soon washed away. Back in Konoha, the turmoil surrounding the Uchiha Clan Massacre was only beginning to unfold.
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