"Lord Sakumo, Lord Hokage has issued an assignment." The room's atmosphere had reached a breaking point, and everyone was anxiously worrying over Kakashi's mother's critical condition, when a shadow flashed past. An Anbu member wearing a Cat Mask had appeared with the Body Flicker Technique.
He knelt on one knee, his manner respectful. With both hands, he steadily presented the scroll containing the assignment to Hatake Sakumo. His mask hid his expression, leaving everyone unable to guess what he was thinking.
Hearing this, Hatake Sakumo's brow furrowed at once. He glanced at the newborn Kakashi in his swaddling clothes, his eyes full of conflict. On one side was the mission Lord Hokage had issued; on the other was the family who needed his care most right now.
After a brief hesitation, Sakumo took the scroll and looked it over. Knowing this mission was no ordinary one, he said, "Tell Lord Hokage I'll head to the Sand Shadow Battlefield as soon as I've made the arrangements."
"Yes." The Anbu member vanished with the Body Flicker Technique.
"I'm sorry, Kakashi. It looks like we'll have to be apart for a while." Sakumo's face was apologetic as he gently stroked Kakashi's little head with his callused hand.
Inside a small house in the Uchiha Compound, Uchiha Shisui slowly opened his eyes, looking utterly bewildered.
He could feel a pacifier in his mouth. Looking up, he saw a wooden ceiling. He could hardly believe it. His entire body felt limp and weak, as if he had no strength at all.
He ranted inwardly, What the hell is going on? I was just watching Naruto like a normal person. How did I end up in a place like this all of a sudden? Where the hell did you dump me, you little brat? Is this even still China?
He tried to figure out what was happening, but his mind was a mess, and he couldn't sort anything out. All he could do was lie there helplessly and in a panic, trying to calm down and make sense of this unbelievable turn of events.
Shisui furrowed his brow and desperately tried to recall what had happened before. After thinking it over, all he remembered was watching Naruto, completely engrossed, when he saw that shocking scene: Six Paths Madara, an immensely powerful being, had his heart suddenly ripped out by a mysterious black mass. It had been as unexpected as it was infuriating.
He'd gotten so mad that he'd "turned red," his emotions flaring up as he roared inwardly, Uchiha Madara! You had a max-level account and played it into this state? I'd do a better job!
But who could have expected that everything would go black right afterward? When he came to, he had already become the baby lying in this little house in the Uchiha Compound.
The more he thought about it, the more absurd it seemed. He cursed inwardly, equal parts furious and helpless. What kind of crap is this? Did I get reincarnated? But why did I have to end up in the world of Naruto—and as a baby, no less? What am I supposed to do now?
Shisui was full of unease, but for the moment, all he could do was accept this bizarre reality.
As Shisui lay there, bewildered and at a loss, a transparent template appeared before his eyes without warning. It gave off a faint glow and displayed quite a bit of information, but everything was locked. Clearly, he had to meet certain conditions to unlock it.
Shisui's eyes lit up, and his heart leaped with joy. He thought, Could this be the legendary reincarnator's perk? Ha! Looks like I'm not so unlucky after all. There's no way I won't take off now. This time, I'm going to be a max-level baby. Let's see who dares look down on me.
He quickly perked up and, once he had gathered his wits, leaned in for a closer look. The words "Six Paths Madara Template" stood out on the display, but all the skills listed beneath them were locked and completely unusable.
Shisui's excitement was doused like a bucket of cold water. He muttered dejectedly, Damn! Got my hopes up for nothing. It looks impressive, but I can't use it. What good is that? Who knows when I'll be able to unlock all these things?
Even so, he couldn't stop staring at the template, hoping he'd be able to unlock those powerful skills soon.
Shisui sighed helplessly and mused to himself, Sigh! I finally got reincarnated into the world of Naruto, where there are so many things that leave you dissatisfied. I used to be nothing but a lonely couch potato. Now that I'm here, how could I not have a dream? My idol, Uchiha Madara, had ambitions he never got to fulfill.
As he thought about it, his gaze gradually grew determined. He silently encouraged himself: I've come all this way. I ought to leave something behind. In that case, I'll just unite the Shinobi World and bring about true peace. That'll help my idol fulfill his wish, too.
What? Uchiha Madara wanted to bring himself back to life? He couldn't even keep a max-level account from going to waste. He'd be better off staying in the Pure Land.
As Shisui made plans in his mind, he began seriously considering the path he would take in the future. He was still just a baby who couldn't do a thing, but his lofty ambitions had already begun to kindle in his heart. It was as if he could already see himself striding across the Shinobi World and accomplishing great things.
At that moment, an old man with a deeply wrinkled face sat in an underground stone chamber. He had never imagined that after carrying out his plan, he would never come back to life.
Just as Shisui was lost in dreams of the future and all sorts of wild imaginings, the sound of heavy footsteps came from outside. A short while later, the door opened, and in walked the captain of the Konoha Military Police Force, who was also the Uchiha Clan Head and Fugaku Uchiha's father.
His face was solemn. Looking at Shisui's grandmother, he spoke slowly, his voice trembling with barely restrained emotion. "Murai's mother, I'm terribly sorry. Murai and Ran were killed on their mission. Their bodies are missing as well." Each word seemed to weigh a thousand pounds, thudding into the quiet room.
But when Shisui's grandmother heard the terrible news, she remained remarkably calm. She simply held Shisui closer in her arms. Beneath her composed expression lay endless grief and pain, but she forced herself to hold it in, unwilling to show it in front of others.
Seeing this, the Uchiha Clan Head grew even more furious. His fist clenched unconsciously, his knuckles cracking from the force. His eyes blazed with anger as he muttered bitterly, "Third!"
He seemed to be blaming the Third for mishandling the mission assignment and causing such a heartbreaking outcome. But as the head of a clan, all he could do now was bury his resentment deep inside and face the cruel reality.
"War really is cruel." At last, the Clan Head sighed helplessly. He looked at Shisui and his grandmother and said sincerely, "Don't worry. The clan will provide for Shisui, and we'll make sure his parents' estate is taken care of properly. The Uchiha Clan won't let this child suffer."
Listening to all this, Shisui could only laugh bitterly to himself. What the hell is going on? I'm an orphan right from the start. Other people get reincarnated and face setbacks, sure, but it's never this bad. I've only just arrived in the world of Naruto, and my parents are already dead. I sure am 'lucky.' Sigh, looks like I'll have to make my own way in life from now on.
Though he felt utterly helpless, there was nothing he could do now but silently accept this cruel reality.