Night of the Clan Massacre

Several nurses at Konoha Hospital stood chatting in the ward. One nurse with blonde hair in a ponytail had a look of pure gossip on her face. "The patient is out of danger," she said. "I heard Uchiha Itachi wiped out the Uchiha Clan, and only he and Sasuke survived."

Another nurse chimed in, equally gossipy, "He's really something, to survive being stabbed three times by Uchiha Itachi!"

A red-haired nurse, looking utterly infatuated, spoke up, "He's so handsome! When I was changing his dressing earlier, I almost couldn't stop myself from kissing him!" She then quickly asked, "What's his name?"

The blonde nurse replied, "Uchiha Qingcheng. They say he was barely clinging to life when the Anbu found him and brought him here."

Inside the ward, Qingcheng's eyes snapped open. He looked surprised. "How did I get here? Did I transmigrate?"

Immediately, his head throbbed, and he felt a memory not his own merge with his mind.

I am Uchiha Qingcheng. I have a young, well-behaved younger sister and a kind, gentle mother. My father died on the battlefield during the Third Shinobi World War.

The moon was especially full that night. Uchiha Itachi burst into my home with his sword, hacking wildly at my mother and sister, and then he stabbed me three times.

The entire Uchiha Clan was annihilated, from newborn infants to old men on the verge of the grave. Anyone with the Uchiha surname, even a dog, got stabbed multiple times.

Fragments of memory also showed Danzo with Root shinobi, digging out Sharingan from the Uchiha Clan. He even heard himself say, "He's a dead last, he hasn't awakened his Sharingan. Don't waste your time."

Finally, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, arrived with Anbu members. He buried the bodies of the Uchiha Clan members and said seriously, "You must save him, protect the last Uchiha clan member."

Uchiha Qingcheng sorted through the original owner's memories and said furiously, "Danzo, Uchiha Itachi, Uchiha Obito, none of you will escape! My Uchiha Clan will not be destroyed."

After he spoke, an indescribable hatred welled up in Uchiha Qingcheng's heart. His dark eyes streamed with blood-tears, and two crimson tomoe appeared in them.

Qingcheng exclaimed, "This is a two-tomoe Sharingan! I'm stronger than Sasuke! His whole family died, and Uchiha Itachi even beat him up, but he only awakened a one-tomoe."

Uchiha Qingcheng scanned the ward with his eyes, finding that the entire world had slowed down. Several masked shinobi were monitoring him from the hospital roof. Qingcheng immediately deactivated his Sharingan and went back to sleep.

Qingcheng knew very well that the only reason he was alive was because he was a dead last. He was seventeen, hadn't refined Chakra, and hadn't awakened his Sharingan. Otherwise, Danzo would have killed him long ago.

Danzo had always coveted the power of the Sharingan and desperately wanted to destroy the Uchiha Clan to use the Sharingan as a "revival coin."

The night of the massacre was orchestrated by Danzo, executed by Uchiha Itachi, with Uchiha Obito as the main attacker, and Hiruzen Sarutobi observing.

Just then, a ding sounded in Qingcheng's mind. He felt the host's intense unwillingness to see the Uchiha Clan extinguished. The Family Ascendance System awakened, allowing him to add new family members. The higher their talent, the more generous the rewards.

The initial talent reward was "Strong Kidney and Body Strengthening." You possess a powerful kidney. One shot, one kill. It can help you rebuild the Uchiha, continuously providing kidney power.

Qingcheng looked surprised. "I have a cheat, but it's a weird one. It's just me and Sasuke from the Uchiha. Where am I supposed to add Uchiha members? Am I supposed to go make them?"

Qingcheng was indeed very tempted. He thought to himself, If I rely on training, I'll never catch up to Uchiha Itachi in my lifetime. But I have the Family Ascendance System, I can definitely overtake him.

Just then, footsteps echoed down the hospital corridor. Thump, thump, thump. The ward door opened.

Hiruzen Sarutobi entered the ward directly, accompanied by Danzo and two Konoha Elders.

Qingcheng knew that with the Konoha Elders showing up, they were definitely up to something. It was like a weasel paying respects to a chicken—these four were all full of bad intentions.

The Third Hokage looked benevolent and gently said, "I heard you're awake. I came to see you and Sasuke." He then sighed.

He said with a melancholy expression, "I'm very sorry about the Uchiha Clan's situation. I couldn't save them in time."

Qingcheng looked at the Third Hokage's self-reproachful expression and thought to himself, You're happier than anyone about this. Your Sarutobi Clan must have swallowed up all that Uchiha inheritance. Otherwise, how would the strongest fire-style clan become the Sarutobi Clan?

But he was too weak right now, so he had to keep up the act.

Qingcheng said gratefully, "Lord Third, that you could find time in your busy schedule to visit an Uchiha orphan like me is truly touching."

"From now on, I will deeply study the Will of Fire and become a righteous youth of the Will of Fire, to repay Konoha, to repay this village."

Qingcheng's words stunned the Konoha Elders, especially the shinobi in the hospital corridor, who found it unbelievable. "An Uchiha clan member is actually shouting about the Will of Fire?"

Danzo's gaze was chillingly cold. He stared intently at Qingcheng, trying to discern something from his face.

He then said menacingly, "I should take you to Root for interrogation to see how you survived, and to find out who was secretly colluding with Uchiha Itachi?"

Feeling such a huge accusation laid upon him, Qingcheng was furious. This was blatant nonsense, but he didn't need to think twice to know Hiruzen Sarutobi had instigated it.

Qingcheng looked indignant and exclaimed, "Lord First! Look at your Will of Fire, being trampled upon! These Konoha higher-ups are bullying a massacre orphan! We should disappear along with the Uchiha Clan!"

Hearing this, the Third Hokage's face was filled with kindness. He said very benevolently, "Where leaves dance, flames will burn."

He then reprimanded Danzo, "Qingcheng-kun is a youth of the Will of Fire. The Uchiha have already been wiped out, Danzo. You've overstepped."

Danzo's face was grim, and he said nothing. He thought to himself, Uchiha remnants should disappear. You, Hiruzen Sarutobi, are indecisive and simply don't deserve to be Hokage.

The Third Hokage reverted to his benevolent expression and said with a smile, "Qingcheng-kun, what are your thoughts? The village will do its best to compensate you."

The shinobi in the hospital corridor looked at the Third Hokage with admiration, while their gazes at Danzo were filled with disdain.

Qingcheng watched the Third Hokage, who not only claimed all the benevolence and good reputation but also garnered immense adoration and praise.

He estimated that by tomorrow, rumors would spread throughout Konoha about the Third Hokage personally visiting an Uchiha orphan, demonstrating his skill at gaining prestige.

Meanwhile, Danzo's reputation was like a stinking rat. He spent his days doing dirty work and still wanted to compete with Hiruzen Sarutobi for the Hokage position—it was a fool's dream.

Qingcheng heard the Third Hokage's words and thought to himself, Then I won't be polite.

He said gratefully, "Although our Uchiha Clan was annihilated, I am still alive. The remaining inheritance and Ninjutsu must be returned to me. The Will of Fire of Lord First is to help the weak, to protect the weak. You certainly cannot bully an orphan like me."

Hiruzen Sarutobi was, after all, the Hokage, and he couldn't refute the Will of Fire. However, the Sarutobi Clan had already collected the Uchiha's fire-style Ninjutsu. To spit out the meat they had already eaten made him very uncomfortable.

But as a master actor, the Third Hokage immediately recovered and said with a smile, "That is only right. I will send someone to deliver the Uchiha Clan's assets to you in three days."

The shinobi in the hospital corridor were all won over by the benevolent Third Hokage. Watching the Hokage comfort the massacre orphan, his gentle demeanor was truly like the First Hokage's shadow.

Qingcheng then smiled and said, "Also, our Uchiha Clan's compound is unlucky. So many clan members died there. I demand to return to our former clan grounds. I want to restore the Uchiha Clan. Our Uchiha Clan has not been wiped out yet."

Danzo spoke with a grim expression, "Kid, your demands are too excessive. Only two of you Uchiha are left."

Qingcheng replied seriously, "Aren't there still two of us? That means the clan isn't wiped out. If I marry more wives in the future, I can bring the Uchiha Clan back to prominence."

Qingcheng then shouted angrily, "If the First Hokage and Fourth Hokage were still alive, our Uchiha wouldn't have suffered this calamity!"

Why didn't Qingcheng dare mention the Second Hokage? If Tobirama knew the Uchiha had been annihilated, he'd surely be grinning from ear to ear.

Koharu and Homura muttered to themselves, "As a narrow-minded Uchiha, he isn't thinking about revenge. What a true dead last."

The Third Hokage asked, looking puzzled, "Then who will be the clan head, you or Sasuke? I recall you don't have Chakra and can't become a ninja. It wouldn't be appropriate for you to take over as Uchiha clan head."

Qingcheng said sternly, "Our Uchiha Clan needs a strong male to carry on the family line and revive the extinguished Uchiha Clan, and I am that strong male."

The Uchiha still had so many shops, and Qingcheng wouldn't give up that wealth. He had to reclaim it all. Becoming the Uchiha clan head would allow him to collect rent openly. As the saying goes, "With shops in hand, no worries about food or drink."

Qingcheng also decided that in the future, he would acquire more shops, become Konoha's biggest landlord, establish an economic monopoly, and run these old schemers into the ground.

The Third Hokage thought for a moment, then said kindly, "You should rest well. We'll discuss your demands back at the office."

Qingcheng knew that when these Konoha Elders said they'd discuss it, it meant endlessly kicking the can down the road, leaving him nowhere to turn later.

Qingcheng immediately shouted, "First Hokage-sama's Will of Fire is to protect the young sprouts! Where tree leaves dance, flames will burn! Our Uchiha are facing a matter of life and death! What more do you need to discuss?!"

Danzo glared at the unruly Qingcheng, his face instantly contorting in rage. He cursed angrily, "Kid, you're too arrogant! I should have you arrested and interrogated under torture in Root!"

Qingcheng shouted again, "Our Uchiha and the Senju Clan jointly established Konoha! The Senju Clan is already extinct, and during your administration, the Uchiha Clan has also been annihilated!

How will you explain this to First Hokage-sama? How will you explain this to the villagers of Konoha? Today, our Uchiha Clan was annihilated. Will it be the Hyuga Clan tomorrow? Is it possible that every clan in Konoha Village could be wiped out in the future?"

Qingcheng, with righteous indignation, went all out with the moral blackmail. Such words were a critique of the Third Hokage and the Konoha Elders' inaction.

In the hospital corridor, everyone heard the loud voice and exclaimed in shock, "Are our major clans in Konoha so easily wiped out?"

Qingcheng took another breath and shouted sternly, "If the Fourth Hokage were still alive, our Uchiha Clan would never have been annihilated!"

Danzo said with a gloomy face, "The one who eliminated the Uchiha was your own Uchiha Itachi."

Qingcheng shouted sternly, "Uchiha Itachi was also a member of your Anbu! If you hadn't condoned him, how would he have dared to wipe out the clan? It's because you indulged your subordinates!"

Danzo still wanted to muddy the waters, wanting to shift the blame to the deceased Uchiha Clan.

But Qingcheng directly countered. Even if Uchiha Itachi was an Uchiha, he was also an Anbu member.

As soon as this was said, people in the hospital corridor began to discuss. This Uchiha Itachi was an Anbu member? That's truly terrifying.

The Third Hokage looked at the murmuring crowd in the hospital, knowing that this matter couldn't be allowed to fester. He had to suppress it. He needed to play the role of the benevolent Third Hokage.

Hiruzen Sarutobi said kindly, "You are right. The Uchiha family is a part of our Konoha and cannot be allowed to go extinct. I agree to you restoring the Uchiha family."

Qingcheng then shouted loudly, "Our Uchiha Clan has rendered so many merits for Konoha, participating in so many missions! The condolence money for those clan members must be given to me!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi began to feel angry inside, but as a master actor, a kind smile remained on his face.

He said kindly, "That is only right. Qingcheng-kun, please rest well. We will visit you again when we have time."

Hiruzen Sarutobi hadn't expected that he, who always spoke of the Will of Fire—meaning, "You should serve me"—was now being blackmailed with the very same Will of Fire by someone else.

He was very displeased inside, but as the benevolent Third Hokage, he had to maintain that benevolence on his face, keeping a smile no matter the situation.