Stealing Kamui

Land of Fire border.

The Konoha–Kirigakure battlefield.

Smoke billowed across the devastated land. Bloodstains, broken kunai, and shattered shuriken littered the ruined ground.

At the edge of the battlefield, a group of thirteen- and fourteen-year-old boys and girls whispered among themselves.

"Dafeng, I heard that Nohara Rin, the Yellow Flash's student, has been missing for days."

"Uchiha Obito only just died. Now it seems his other missing student is in trouble too..."

Uchiha Akira leaned against a tree, letting the breeze wash over him as he idly listened to the people chatting nearby.

This was a scheme Uchiha Madara had set in motion to make Uchiha Obito awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan and sink completely into darkness.

As a transmigrator, Akira knew this had nothing to do with him.

After enjoying the evening breeze for a while, Uchiha Akira dusted himself off and turned toward his tent in the forest.

Uchiha Akira was a transmigrator, seventeen years old, and possessed the Three-Tomoe Sharingan. He was a Chunin who specialized in Fire Style, Wind Style, Lightning Style, Uchiha-style Nintaijutsu, and Medical Ninjutsu.

When he arrived in this world, it was Konoha Year 49, at the height of the Third Shinobi World War.

He had landed in the Uchiha Clan. His predecessor had watched a friend die, awakening the Three-Tomoe Sharingan, then fought to the death alongside a Kirigakure Jonin. That was how Uchiha Akira came to be.

It was now Konoha Year 50. The transmigrator, Uchiha Akira, had not only mastered all of his predecessor's ninjutsu but had also developed some advanced techniques and used the Sharingan to learn a portion of Medical Ninjutsu.

By then, the war was nearing its end. Although the fighting was less intense than in Year 49, many people whose actions would profoundly affect the future had their outlooks changed that year.

Uchiha Obito, for instance. Nagato, too.

But none of that mattered to Uchiha Akira. It wasn't something he could interfere with.

Regardless of whether he had the strength, even if he did, there would be no way for him to get involved.

Besides, without a system or any cheat, all he wanted was to live well and survive as long as he could.

Having experienced death once, he understood how precious life was, and how hard-won.

This was the front line between Kirigakure and Konoha, along the eastern border of the Land of Fire.

The Uchiha Clan and the Hyuga Clan were among the main forces on this front, with other clans and civilian ninja forming another major force.

As soon as he returned to the camp, he heard the steady, firm sound of footsteps.

Uchiha Akira turned and saw Uchiha Fugaku approaching in a Jonin flak jacket.

His heart sank. His instincts told him he was about to be handed some troublesome task.

Uchiha Fugaku had earned the title "Wicked Eye" on the battlefield. He was powerful, one of Konoha's top fighters, and one of the senior commanders there.

Uchiha Fugaku was also something of a teacher to him. Over the past year, Uchiha Akira had received plenty of guidance from him.

Since Fugaku had come in person, he definitely wasn't here to exchange pleasantries. He must have a special mission for him.

"Clan Leader," Uchiha Akira greeted him, bracing himself.

Uchiha Fugaku nodded and looked at him. "Akira, I have something I need you to do."

Uchiha Akira felt helpless, but had no choice but to answer. "Clan Leader, what is it?"

"We found traces left by Nohara Rin and Kakashi. They're being hunted by a large number of Kirigakure Anbu. One Nohara Rin isn't worth Kirigakure going to such lengths. Go investigate what's going on," Uchiha Fugaku said solemnly.

Uchiha Akira's heart sank at Fugaku's words. As expected, it wasn't good news.

This was an extremely dangerous mission. The Kirigakure force hunting Kakashi and Nohara Rin might number a hundred or more.

Against such a large force, if he was discovered and surrounded, even with his abilities he wouldn't come out unscathed. The risk was considerable.

Uchiha Fugaku nodded. "It's only a simple investigation. We don't have many people we can spare from the Uchiha Clan right now, and you're the only one with the ability to handle it."

Hearing that, Uchiha Akira knew he had no choice but to go.

Uchiha Fugaku wasn't entirely sure how strong he was, but he knew Akira was far stronger than the average Uchiha and not far behind him.

Uchiha Akira felt helpless, but could only nod. "I understand, Clan Leader. Leave this to me."

He would accept the mission, of course. But how he carried it out and how far he went would be up to him.

He had already decided he would just wander around the edges of the mission area.

Uchiha Fugaku nodded with satisfaction. His wholehearted guidance over the past year and more hadn't been wasted.

He looked at Uchiha Akira gravely. "I know this is very dangerous, but we have no choice. The Uchiha Clan needs more leverage in negotiations with the higher-ups, so I'll have to trouble you with this."

"There's nothing more I can teach you about ninjutsu." He took out a scroll and held it out to Uchiha Akira. "This is our clan's ultimate genjutsu, a forbidden technique called Izanagi."

"Izanagi?" Uchiha Akira took the scroll and deliberately looked puzzled.

Of course, he knew about this forbidden technique of the Uchiha Clan.

It was an ultimate genjutsu that used the Sharingan as its price.

It could turn anything that happened during a certain period that was unfavorable to the user into something that had never happened, while making only what benefited the user a reality. It was practically an act of defying heaven.

"This technique represents the former glory of our clan. There's no need for me to explain more. You'll understand when you read it." A trace of pride showed on Uchiha Fugaku's face as he spoke.

After telling Uchiha Akira where the mission area was, Uchiha Fugaku turned and left. As one of the battlefield commanders, he had little time to spare.

Uchiha Akira glanced over the scroll and mastered Izanagi. A Sharingan user could activate it by forming the Rabbit, Boar, and Ram hand seals.

As soon as he left the Konoha camp, Uchiha Akira immediately slowed down.

Nohara Rin's capture by Kirigakure was part of the deadly trap Uchiha Madara had laid for Uchiha Obito.

He couldn't get there too early or at just the wrong moment. If he ran into the newly darkened Uchiha Obito head-on, that would be bad.

With his current strength, going up against Uchiha Obito with Wood Release and an awakened Mangekyō Sharingan would almost certainly end in disaster.

Uchiha Akira thought, The best thing would be not to run into anyone and avoid trouble...

He instinctively didn't want to invite more trouble than necessary.

After transmigrating into the body of someone from the Uchiha Clan, he was already caught up in a huge mess. He didn't want to get himself into anything else.

But what could go wrong, would go wrong. Murphy's law took effect at that very moment.

Uchiha Akira had barely stepped into the mission area and started looking around when he came upon a scene of utter devastation.

Bodies lay scattered across the shattered ground, mangled beyond recognition, as though crushed by some immense force.

"Killed by Wood Release combined with Kamui's power. What a gruesome sight..." Uchiha Akira couldn't help but marvel.

Combined with Wood Release, Kamui was truly terrifying. There were more Kirigakure Anbu than he'd imagined!

Uchiha Akira spotted the silver-haired Hatake Kakashi lying facedown in the middle of the battlefield.

Standing before Hatake Kakashi, Uchiha Akira's thoughts stirred. This might be the only chance in my life to get my hands on a Mangekyō Sharingan...

The difficulty of awakening the Mangekyō Sharingan varied from person to person. As for Uchiha Akira, he knew he probably had no hope of awakening one in his lifetime.

With this eye, I'll have the confidence to face what comes next... Sorry, Kakashi. I'll borrow it for a while... I'll return it to you someday.

Uchiha Akira crouched down. First, he used Medical Ninjutsu to put Kakashi into the deepest state of sleep. Then he directly gouged out Kakashi's left eye.

Next, Uchiha Akira gritted his teeth and gave a muffled groan as he gouged out his own left eye.

He placed Uchiha Obito's left eye, taken from Kakashi, into his own socket.

He placed his own left eye into Kakashi's socket.

Uchiha Akira covered his left eye with his right hand, and Kakashi's left eye with his left.

The next moment, a green glow spread across both hands.

With Medical Ninjutsu accelerating the healing, Uchiha Akira completed the eye transplant in just a few minutes.