The Original Really Is a Nobody~

"The original really is a nobody. You've somehow made even Uchiha Sasuke at his peak look like he's running on empty. Tsk, tsk, tsk... You really are hopeless."

Uchiha Hanabi stood to the side with her arms crossed, watching Uchiha Ruri rub her right eye. Her gaze was full of disdain and scorn.

Uchiha Hanabi was a genius girl of the Uchiha Clan, raised from childhood in the glow of the clan's powerful Kekkei Genkai and secret techniques.

Not only had she inherited the Uchiha Clan's unique Sharingan, she was also one of Ruri's Six Paths identities, endowed with astonishing potential and power.

In the eyes of her clanmates, Hanabi was exceptionally gifted. From a young age, she had shown an extraordinary ability to understand and master ninjutsu. Whether it was basic Taijutsu, ninjutsu, or the Uchiha Clan's unique ocular techniques, she could quickly learn and use them with ease.

Her talent had led the clan elders to pin great hopes on her, believing she would one day become a pillar of the Uchiha Clan.

Yet all the praise and expectations had never gone to Hanabi's head.

She knew perfectly well that her strength and talent came from what Ruri had given her.

So now she was starting to work on Hanabi's character in Honkai Star Rail, while the backstory above was also the result of Ruri setting up her memory card.

But when it came to Uchiha Sasuke's power, Hanabi simply couldn't understand how Ruri could struggle so much while using it.

Hearing Hanabi's mockery, Ruri's mouth twitched. She suddenly realized that the memory card's effect seemed a little too strong.

In just a short while, she had already become someone who couldn't shake the "nobody" label in Hanabi's eyes.

A strange sense of defeat welled up in Ruri. She had once thought that having Uchiha Sasuke's power would let her dominate this world and show off her unmatched strength.

But reality had slapped her hard across the face, making her understand that power wasn't just about possessing it. What mattered was how you used it.

Even though Ruri had gained Uchiha Sasuke's power, she still couldn't bring it to its full potential. It wasn't that she hadn't tried; she had had the character template for less than a day, and it would still take a lot of time to grow familiar with the power.

Ruri knew it wasn't because she lacked talent. Rather, there were still problems with her mindset and technique.

She relied too much on Uchiha Sasuke's power and neglected her own growth and progress.

She had thought that simply possessing this power would let her easily defeat any enemy. And, in fact, it did.

"Hanabi's right. The original really is a nobody. You've got the Six Paths Power, for crying out loud!" Gojo Rin chimed in from the side.

As Ruri's clone, Rin didn't want to undermine her confidence, but she had to admit that Ruri had a lot of problems using Uchiha Sasuke's power.

Did Ruri really have no hope of shaking off the "nobody" label now?

Ruri drew a deep breath, trying to calm herself. She knew she had plenty of problems, but she refused to accept that she would always be a "nobody."

She decided she would get more familiar with Six Paths Sasuke's power from now on, strive to master Uchiha Sasuke's power as soon as possible, and become a true Six Paths powerhouse.

"Aw, come on, original, you look so pathetic! It's hilarious! You poured the Six Paths Power's abilities into your clone, and it was like pouring yourself a glass of strong liquor—except you got drunk first, huh? Hahaha! Maybe you're even worse than Uchiha Sasuke in Boruto: Naruto Next Generations! Getting drained by Sakura is one thing, but if I, Hanabi, drain you too, you'll really bring shame to the Uchiha Clan!"

Uchiha Hanabi doubled over with laughter. Her laughter rang clear and sweet, but carried a teasing edge.

Watching Hanabi's smug grin, Ruri couldn't help feeling amused too.

She knew Hanabi wasn't really trying to put her down. She was just trying to motivate her this way, to get her to train harder and grow stronger.

It was a unique way of offering encouragement—one that was both exasperating and strangely heartwarming.

"Very good, Hanabi. Keep being a joker," Ruri said with a smile, her eyes full of encouragement and expectation.

She knew Hanabi had endless potential and talent. Just give her a big enough stage, and she would shine even brighter in the Akatsuki.

Hearing Ruri's words, Hanabi's smile grew even brighter. She knew Ruri wasn't angry about her teasing; instead, she had encouraged her to keep having fun. That made her feel delighted and excited. She cleared her throat, ready to start her next round of banter.

"Hehe, original, you weren't really hurt by what I said, were you?" Hanabi asked, gazing at Ruri with wide, mischievous eyes. Her twin ponytails bounced as she bobbed her head, as if cheering her words on. "I've always been hoping you'd surpass yourself and show your true strength! But seeing you looking so worn out is really disappointing."

Listening to Hanabi's teasing, Ruri couldn't help feeling helpless. She knew Hanabi was motivating her in her own way, but the approach was so ridiculous she hardly knew whether to laugh or cry.

Watching Hanabi's twin ponytails bounce in the sunlight, she suddenly found it rather funny.

They were all the same person. How could Hanabi be so lively? It was all those memory fragments' doing!

"Hanabi, stop making fun of me," Ruri said with a wry smile. "I know you're trying to motivate me, but this approach is really hard to take."

"Oh, original, you've got me all wrong!" Hanabi blinked, looking completely innocent. "I really do want you to get stronger! Just look at you right now. If anyone else saw you like this, they'd say there wasn't a single capable person left in the Uchiha Clan. So you have to train hard and master the Six Paths Power soon, so our clan can flourish again!"

"Clap, clap, clap!" A burst of enthusiastic applause rang out as Gojo Rin clapped excitedly nearby. Smiling from ear to ear, she walked over to Uchiha Hanabi and Ruri. "Hanabi, you're a top-notch actress. You played the original so vividly! And the original's a top-notch student, too. You two work together perfectly—you're both brilliant!"

"All right, the dramatic performance is over," Ruri said calmly, a hint of satisfaction in her eyes.

She looked at Hanabi and Rin. Both of them had performed wonderfully, exactly as she'd expected.

Hanabi had played her role to perfection, earning applause from anyone who watched; Rin's cooperation had also been seamless, making the whole performance even better.

"Hanabi, Rin, you two will go with Gojo Satoru to Yugakure and take a look around," Ruri continued. "The Akatsuki should be desperately short on people around this time. Juzo was killed by me not long ago, so they'll be looking for new recruits. You're strong enough already, so you can take the opportunity to infiltrate and join the Akatsuki."

As she spoke, Ruri turned to look at the newly created Shadow Clone nearby. It had been made to look exactly like Gojo Satoru, with the same appearance and bearing, as if they had been cut from the same mold. Ruri had decided to use this clone as Gojo Satoru's stand-in, giving him an important role in their future operations.

"This Shadow Clone will act as Gojo Satoru's stand-in," Ruri explained. "His strength and intelligence are on par with Gojo Satoru's, so he can completely take over his activities in the outside world. That way, we'll have more flexibility in dealing with different situations, and neither the Akatsuki nor any other factions will easily discover our real identities or motives."

Hanabi and Rin listened to Ruri's plan, excitement gleaming in their eyes.

"By the way, original, are you sure it's a good idea to turn me into Gojo Satoru? Won't it be too jarring?" Gojo Satoru asked helplessly, spreading his hands with a wry smile.

He was a little surprised to have been chosen to play Gojo Satoru. After all, their personalities and styles were worlds apart. Still, he knew this was Ruri's decision. He couldn't change it, so he could only do his best to adapt.

Looking at Gojo Satoru's expression, Ruri couldn't help giving a soft chuckle.

She knew he was worried and had reservations, and understood that he was unfamiliar and uneasy with the role. But she believed he could handle it. After all, he had a superhuman brain and an astonishing memory.

"Gojo Satoru, don't worry," Ruri said softly. "I believe you can play the role well. You and Gojo Satoru may have different personalities and styles, but that difference will make our plan even better. All you need to do is immerse yourself in the role as much as possible: understand Gojo Satoru's inner world and experience his way of life and thought. Only then can you carry out the mission well."

"Besides, there's no such person in the Ninja World. This is just part of the plan. You only need to keep that in mind."

"All right, original. So what do we do next?" Gojo Satoru put a lollipop in his mouth, looking a little helpless and confused.

Although he had accepted the task of playing Gojo Satoru, he still wasn't sure what to do next.

After all, he wasn't familiar with Gojo Satoru's daily life or plans, and didn't know how to fit into them.

He figured he could just do whatever felt fun.

Looking at Gojo Satoru's expression, Ruri understood his confusion and unease.

She knew that for Gojo Satoru to play the role well, she needed to give him more guidance and help. So she smiled and said, "Don't worry, Gojo Satoru. The three of you will act together and carry out some missions. Playing Gojo Satoru doesn't matter; what matters is that no such person exists in the Ninja World."

"First, we need to learn more about Yugakure," Ruri continued. "After all, our mission is to join the Akatsuki, and after they find Hidan, Yugakure should have an important base and be the site of their activities. We need to learn about the village's location, population, and the distribution of its various forces so we can make a better plan."

Listening to Ruri's explanation, Gojo Satoru gradually felt more confident. He understood that even with great power, he still needed to act cautiously in this unfamiliar world. Ruri's plan was complicated, but it was all to ensure the mission's success. He nodded in agreement.

Hanabi, however, frowned impatiently. As a Shadow Clone of the original Six Paths Sasuke, she had inherited tremendous strength and was brimming with confidence.

In her view, given her strength and that of Ruri and Gojo Satoru, they could easily join the Akatsuki. There was no need for such a complicated plan.

"Original, aren't all those plans unnecessary?" Hanabi said bluntly. "They're just ordinary villagers, after all. The three of us can act well enough to get in. We're powerful too. We have the Six Paths Power, the Rinnegan, and the Mangekyō Sharingan. We can handle any situation with ease."

Ruri smiled faintly. She already knew Hanabi's forthright personality. She was as fiery as a flame, liked to get straight to the point, and hated beating around the bush.

That personality could certainly solve problems quickly at times, but during a mission, it could also lead to trouble if she didn't have a strategy.

So she needed to explain to Hanabi that carrying out a mission took more than just strength; it also required some strategy.

"Hanabi, I know how strong you are. Your Mangekyō Sharingan and Fire Style are both top-notch—they come from my power," Ruri said evenly. "But a mission isn't just a contest of strength. We have to consider all kinds of factors, including the enemy's strength, the terrain, gathering intel, and so on. Only with a detailed plan can we handle unexpected situations and make sure the mission succeeds."

Hanabi's brows knit slightly as she listened. She wasn't someone who liked being constrained. She preferred to act freely and solve problems with her own strength. But she understood what Ruri meant.

After all, this mission wasn't simple, and they needed to proceed with caution.

"All right, I understand," Hanabi said with a nod, accepting Ruri's suggestion. "I'll follow the plan."

Seeing that Hanabi understood, Ruri continued, "We still need to keep up the act. After you go to Yugakure, do whatever you want; I won't interfere too much. But you must remember our goal. Our mission is to join the Akatsuki and stir things up. The three of you can decide what to do afterward. Just discuss it in the System Chat Group."

"Also, although Yugakure is a village that loves peace, that doesn't mean it's free of danger," Ruri added. "The Akatsuki haven't gone to Yugakure yet, but some of their other members might be hiding in various parts of the village. So stay alert at all times, and don't reveal your identities or motives."

Hanabi and Rin both understood what Ruri had said and agreed with the decision.

"After my character template is reclaimed, you'll still be able to maintain yourselves. I haven't dispelled the Shadow Clone Technique either."

Ruri's tone was firm and unwavering. She knew she had to return to Konoha and deal with the Third Hokage searching for her, as well as handle some of the trouble left over from the Night of the Uchiha Massacre.

Even if her character template was reclaimed, her Shadow Clones would still exist. They could keep carrying out their mission and moving forward.

"The problem is, Konoha's higher-ups are still looking for me." Ruri rubbed her temples, her brows furrowed.

She knew she had been away from Konoha for some time. The village's higher-ups had probably been searching for her whereabouts all along, which made things rather troublesome.

After all, she was a member of the Uchiha Clan of Konoha, and people had always kept a close eye on her movements.

Ruri knew she couldn't stay here much longer. She had to return to Konoha as soon as possible and deal with the matters waiting for her.

Some of the trouble from the Night of the Uchiha Massacre still hadn't been dealt with. The Third Hokage had summoned her tonight to discuss it.

She turned to Hanabi and Rin, determination gleaming in her eyes. "The three of you can go to Yugakure and take care of the other matters. I believe you're up to the task."

Hanabi and Rin silently nodded. They understood what Ruri meant.

"I still need to visit little Sasuke. He's probably practicing Fire Style right now," Ruri said softly, a warm light flashing in her eyes.

"The original really is a thoughtful big sister, taking care of little Sasuke when he's all alone," Hanabi said with a laugh, her voice tinged with teasing.

Hanabi's words left Ruri at a loss between laughter and tears. She knew Hanabi was joking, but she didn't mind.

"Then I'll head back to the village first. You can go have some fun in Yugakure, or anywhere else you like. You can walk all over the place, after all." Ruri flashed away with the Body Flicker Technique and disappeared.