"Ding, system notification..."
"Hey, System, are you seriously trying to kill me? I'm still lying in the hospital, and you're already giving me a mission. Damn, even the donkeys on the production line aren't as busy as I am."
The moment Uchiha Chen heard the system's voice, he immediately spoke up. How could it keep doing this? One mission after another, and each one was worse than the last.
Chen felt that at this rate, he'd be challenging Kaguya within a year. Of course, that was assuming he was still alive by then.
"Don't get worked up. I'm so kind—why would I screw you over at a time like this? How about you hear what the mission is before you complain?"
The system spoke again. Although the original mission had been interrupted, Chen still wasn't reassured.
After all, this damn thing had never given him a decent mission.
"Ding, system notification: Seek instruction in ninjutsu from the Third and learn Fire Release: Flame Bullet. Failure carries no penalty. Upon completion, Fire Release: Flame Bullet will increase by LV1."
Hearing the mission details, Uchiha Chen was taken aback. There wasn't even a time limit, and it really didn't seem to have any hidden traps.
The Third had just personally told him he could ask for instruction in ninjutsu. Learning a single Fire Release technique, Flame Bullet, shouldn't be difficult.
"System, have you turned over a new leaf?"
"Get lost! When did I ever become a prostitute? And you're saying I've turned over a new leaf? Believe me, I'll give you a special mission right now!"
"You're the boss, so you're always right. I'll give in, okay?"
The earlier explosion hadn't seriously injured Uchiha Chen, but he still hadn't recovered. If the system pulled another stunt now, Chen really wasn't sure he could take it.
Seeing that Chen had backed down, the system fell silent. Chen, meanwhile, pondered the mission.
The mission itself was simply to seek instruction from the Third. There really didn't seem to be any catch.
But Chen knew the story well enough to understand that relations between the Uchiha and the village were already deeply strained. Since he had no parents, if he truly sided with the Hokage's faction, the Uchiha Clan would surely hold it against him.
Although the Uchiha Clan would be wiped out before long, Uchiha Chen's life would certainly be difficult until then.
More importantly, Uchiha Chen wanted to change the fates of Shisui, Itachi, and Izumi. Simply getting on good terms with the Third wouldn't be enough.
Am I still too weak?
No matter where you go, the strong rule. The weak never get to make real choices.
Chen sighed helplessly to himself and continued making idle conversation with Uchiha Izumi.
Since she had classes that afternoon and Chen had already woken up, Izumi went to class.
"System, do you think staying in Konoha will slow down my progress?"
Chen suddenly spoke up, catching the system off guard.
In Chen's eyes, although Konoha had a dark side, it was still the best place to live. After all, apart from the Uchiha Clan's situation, it was generally peaceful.
But to him, that peace would only make people complacent.
Knowing the story, Chen understood that as long as he remained in the Naruto world, he would eventually have to face Kaguya.
Sasuke and Naruto were there, but who knew whether his appearance would change anything? Besides, handing his life over to someone else was a truly unpleasant feeling.
Now that he had a useless system like this one, Chen didn't want to keep acting based on other people's whims.
More importantly, Chen didn't want to scrape by just to stay alive. He wanted to save the people he cared about.
"You want to leave Konoha?
"And you say I'm the one who screws you over, but aren't you about to screw yourself over?
"The world beyond Konoha is dangerous."
"Where isn't dangerous when you're weak?
"With a useless thing like you around, I wouldn't be surprised if I didn't even live to see the Uchiha massacre."
Chen complained, but this time the system didn't argue.
Seeing that, Chen said nothing more. Leaving Konoha—or even just relocating temporarily—wasn't something he could do overnight.
Although he planned to leave, he didn't intend to become a rogue ninja. At least, not yet.
So he needed to get things in Konoha sorted out first.
After stretching a little, Chen left Konoha Hospital. Over the next few days, he didn't go to see the Third.
Meanwhile, the Third was swamped with work and soon forgot about Uchiha Chen. He didn't think much of the fact that Chen hadn't come to see him.
Half a month passed in the blink of an eye. Chen had fully recovered, and winter had arrived. Konoha had its first snowfall of the year.
By then, Uchiha Itachi had graduated early, perhaps two months earlier than expected because of Chen's arrival.
After becoming a Genin, Uchiha Itachi went on missions with his teammates. Izumi, still a student at the Ninja Academy, continued attending classes.
As for Uchiha Shisui, he had already become an elite jonin.
Everything had changed in subtle ways, seemingly because of Uchiha Chen, the time traveler.
"Hey, if you're from the Hyuga House, show us your Byakugan!"
"If you don't like it, then stop looking this way."
"Your eyes are disgusting."
"You're actually a monster, aren't you?"
"You Byakugan monster!"
Three older boys were bullying a little girl.
The girl was crying because of what they had said.
The older boys showed no sign of letting her go.
As Chen wandered around, he suddenly heard a commotion in the distance. He walked over and saw a familiar figure.
"What are you doing?"
"An Uchiha? This has nothing to do with a brat like you. Don't go looking for trouble."
Hearing that, Chen was taken aback. They weren't just insulting the eldest daughter of the Hyuga House—they also didn't care about the Uchiha.
They clearly weren't children from an ordinary family.
"Looking for trouble?
"You're the ones in trouble.
"I just heard you talking about the Byakugan. What do you think would happen if I told the Konoha Military Police Force that someone was coveting the Byakugan of the Hyuga House? Wouldn't you end up being taken in for questioning?"
"Y-you said what?"
The older boys hadn't expected Uchiha Chen to immediately accuse them of a serious crime.
"I said you're spies from another village, trying to get your hands on the Byakugan."
"Y-you have no proof!"
The boy in front was clearly panicking. That only made Chen more certain that they weren't just ordinary brats who had come to bully someone.
"No proof?
"Do you think the Uchiha will believe me, one of their own, or a few unknown brats like you?"
The Uchiha already had a bad reputation, and Chen didn't mind making it worse.
"Hmph! Then I'll beat you so badly you can't speak!"
As he spoke, the boy in front suddenly charged at Uchiha Chen. In that instant, Uchiha Chen sensed killing intent.
I see. You were sent by him...
Before you continue