Konoha Year 51, summer
7 p.m.
At a residence in the center of the Uchiha district
"Big Brother Masaki, our people are ready!"
The young man speaking with his head bowed was around eleven or twelve. He had an unusually large nose, regular features, and wore a Police Force uniform with a katana strapped to his back. He was none other than Uchiha Shisui, who had recently made a name for himself in Konoha.
"Good. Then let's get this over with quickly. We'll act during the clan meeting later and follow the plan we laid out."
The speaker was leaning back in a chair, reading. He looked to be in his early twenties, with his hair tied in a ponytail. His sharp eyebrows peeked out from behind his bangs, and his striking phoenix eyes seemed to radiate an invisible air of authority. His face was as smooth and fair as white jade, adding even more to his handsome appearance.
Uchiha Shisui answered excitedly, "Yes, Senior Masaki! I'll gather the men right away." He had just turned to leave when, as if suddenly remembering something, he turned back and asked,
"Big Brother Masaki, should we let the Fourth Hokage know?"
"After all, Clan Head Fugaku is quite close to the Fourth Hokage."
Masaki Uchiha glanced at Shisui, then waved a hand. "No need. Konoha has its rules: the clans handle clan affairs, and the Hokage handles the Hokage's affairs. The Fourth Hokage can't reach his hand that far!"
"Yes, Big Brother Masaki!"
Masaki Uchiha put down his book and stood up. "Shisui, sometimes you think too much and do too little. Let me teach you something."
"The more important the decision, the less you should hesitate."
"Once you hesitate, you're bound to lose. You'll get wiped out."
"When it's time to be decisive, you need to make the call. Don't worry about what other people think. Just do what you need to do. Their eyes can't hurt you."
"I understand, Big Brother Masaki." Uchiha Shisui looked at him solemnly.
"Go. From now on, we'll decide the future of the Uchiha."
"Yes!!!" Uchiha Shisui replied, then turned and left, brimming with confidence.
Watching Shisui go, Masaki Uchiha thought to himself, The opportunity is finally coming. In just a few months, if events follow the original storyline and the Nine-Tails Incident happens, I'll have a chance to claim the position of Fifth Hokage. Then... heh heh.
That's right. Masaki Uchiha was a transmigrator from Blue Star. Before coming to the world of Naruto, he had been an ordinary man from Xia Country named Zhang Qing. He had never wanted for food or clothing, and while he hadn't exactly struck it rich, he had at least achieved financial freedom. He never expected to be hit by a speeding cement truck while walking and reading a Naruto fanfic on his phone. When he woke up in an unfamiliar room, a terrible feeling came over him. As a devoted novel fan, he knew the theory: if you were hit by a vehicle on the road and sent flying, there was a good chance you had transmigrated.
Sure enough, when he raised his hand, he saw that it was smaller and covered in tiny scars. He hurried to his feet and found a mirror. He had become a thin, frail-looking boy around eight years old.
Deciding to make the best of things and figure out what kind of world he was in, Zhang Qing quickly searched through the body's memories. The original owner was named Masaki Uchiha. His parents had both died on the battlefield the previous year, and he had no siblings. Gifted by nature, he had trained obsessively to avenge them. But he had pushed himself too hard, overburdening his body until he died in his sleep. That was how Zhang Qing had gotten his second chance.
At this point, Zhang Qing understood. He had transmigrated into the world of Naruto. Fortunately, he had ended up in the Uchiha Clan, and it was still Konoha Year 38. The tragedy that awaited the Uchiha could still be prevented.
"Brother, I'll fulfill your final wish for you! In return, from now on, I'll be Masaki Uchiha!" Masaki Uchiha said to the mirror. "I'll make the Uchiha great again!"
The memory ended. With a thought, a panel appeared in Masaki Uchiha's mind.
Death Aura LV: 9 Absorption Range: 5000 meters Energy Absorbed: 51752/100000
The Death Aura was the cheat Masaki Uchiha had brought with him when he transmigrated. Its ability was to automatically absorb the essence of any cultivator who died within a certain range, then feed it back to its bearer, improving every aspect of their abilities. This included, but wasn't limited to, ninjutsu, taijutsu, chakra, spiritual energy, energy recovery speed, and physical recovery speed.
The amount of energy absorbed depended on the level of the cultivator who died. The higher their level, the more energy it absorbed, and vice versa.
To level up the Death Aura, Masaki Uchiha had fought desperately to kill enemy shinobi during the Third Shinobi World War. The Aura's absorption range had grown from a radius of 500 meters to 5,000 by the end of the war. As it absorbed more and more energy on the battlefield, his strength grew ever greater. He even earned titles such as "Scourge Ninja," "Tailed Beast Without a Tail," and "Undying Body," and was hailed alongside Minato Namikaze as one of the new generation's "Konoha Twin Stars."
Other enemy nations even issued orders that their shinobi could abandon their missions without penalty if they encountered either of those two while on assignment.
As for his current strength, he could be called Konoha's strongest. He was at least as strong as Minato Namikaze, if not stronger.
During the competition for the position of Fourth Hokage, Masaki Uchiha had sparred with Minato Namikaze.
They had held back, but Masaki Uchiha had won decisively!
Minato Namikaze's Flying Thunder God was indeed fast, but unfortunately for him, he had run into the all-around powerhouse Masaki Uchiha.
Strength, speed, reflexes, physical ability, chakra—Masaki Uchiha surpassed Minato Namikaze in every way.
If not for the unique nature of the Flying Thunder God's Space-Time Ninjutsu, Masaki Uchiha could have killed Minato Namikaze in three moves.
The AB Duo from Kumogakure had been lucky to run into Minato Namikaze.
If they had encountered Masaki Uchiha, Kumogakure would already have a Fifth Raikage.
As a transmigrator with a cheat, Masaki Uchiha couldn't let the side down. He became a Genin at five, a Chunin at seven, and a Jonin at ten, breaking the record for the youngest Jonin in Konoha. During the Third Shinobi World War, he punched Rock Ninja and kicked Mist Ninja. He awakened his Mangekyō Sharingan at twelve, and to this day had never lost a fight to a shinobi of his own rank.
Suddenly, a thought struck Masaki Uchiha. He formed Hand Seals and called out, "Summoning Technique!"
"Poof!"
When the smoke cleared, a small, pure-white snake had appeared. It suddenly opened its mouth, and a hoarse, sinister voice came from within. "Masaki, I've prepared what you asked for. Where's what I want?"
"I've had what you want ready for a while, Senior Orochimaru." Masaki Uchiha smiled at the little white snake. "But I have another deal. Would you be interested, Senior Orochimaru?"
"What deal?"