Choosing a Background, Uchiha Madara Appears

A translucent figure was flying at high speed through a pitch-black tunnel, with flashes of colorful light streaking past from time to time. "System, is that the tunnel to enter the world?"

"Yes, Host."

"So which world am I heading to, and when will I arrive? It's pitch black all around, it's quite terrifying."

"Soon, Host. We are currently heading to the Naruto world."

"Oh, is it the one I know?"

"Yes, Host."

"What kind of functions do you have? After all, that world is one where you rely on hard work in the early stages and cheating in the later stages."

"This System is a multi-functional system with features for strengthening, lucky draws, sign-ins, and a system shop. You earn points by completing tasks issued by the System, which can be used to strengthen your power or purchase items from other worlds in the shop."

The translucent figure smacked his lips: "That sounds pretty good."

The translucent figure was Ye Shifei, a 20-year-old youth from Blue Star. His family was wealthy, but he worked part-time in his spare time to hone himself, trying not to rely on his parents for everything. During his university summer break, while delivering food, a brat on the top floor of a high-rise apartment building threw a flower pot, killing Ye Shifei just as he reached the bottom of the building. His soul was then pulled into this pitch-black tunnel by a system and bound to it.

"System, is there a newbie gift pack?"

"Ding, it has been delivered to the system inventory."

"Open it."

"Ding, you have obtained an Identity Selection Card."

"???, what the heck is that?"

"The Host can freely choose your own background, such as the Uchiha clan or the Senju clan."

"That's it? Just this?"

"Ding, the newbie gift pack contains many things, such as the Nine-Tails, Devil Fruits, Mangekyō Sharingan, Wood Release, Perfect Sage Mode, and even a Chakra Fruit. Which one you draw depends entirely on the Host's luck."

"Fine... wait, I can use this to set my own background, right?"

"Yes, Host." The System felt something was amiss for some reason.

"Good, then set this identity for me." Ye Shifei wore a sinister grin.

"My maternal grandparents are descendants of the Uzumaki and Hyuga clans living in exile, and my paternal grandfather is Uchiha Madara, while my paternal grandmother is a descendant of the Senju clan living in exile. As for the name, let's follow the local customs and take a Japanese name: Uchiha Hise."

"..."

"Host, I give this operation of yours 82 points, and I'll give you the remaining 18 in the form of 666."

"You're too kind."

"..."

"Entering the Ninja World. Target reached. The Host is about to be born."

Konoha Year 6.

In a small town on the border of the Land of Fire, a middle-aged man with disheveled long hair was drinking himself into a stupor at a tavern, muttering words like "traitor" and "betrayed our friendship." No one around dared to approach him, for on the back of his clothes was a fan pattern—the unmistakable crest of the Uchiha clan.

This man was none other than the former Uchiha clan leader, the Asura of the Ninja World who stood on par with the God of Shinobi: Uchiha Madara.

In Konoha Year 5, due to a fundamental disagreement in philosophy with his dearest friend, Uchiha Madara had defected from Konoha Hidden Village to seek a new path. Along the way, he recalled his past experiences and intended to drown his sorrows in alcohol, but in the end, his sorrows only deepened, and he became dead drunk.

"Boss, check, and another jar of wine." After paying the bill, he picked up the wine jar and left. He made no effort to sober up, stumbling along as if he had no destination.

Passing through an alley, a cry for help rang out. He stopped and looked toward the source of the sound. Two men in their thirties were dragging a woman toward the depths of the alley, while the woman struggled incessantly.

Although the later Uchiha Madara would use Obito to throw the ninja world into chaos and drag everyone into a dream within an illusion, his starting point had been good; he was desperate for a path to peace and had been manipulated. Thus, he could not stand to see the weak being bullied, especially when the victim was an unarmed, ordinary woman.

"Hey, hic, let her go, hic."

"Baka-yarou, what bastard is getting in the way of my business? I'm a ninja!"

"That's right, get lost if you don't want to die!"

"Tch, a bastard like you, hic, calling yourself a ninja is an insult to the word, hic."

"Damn it, you drunkard, minding other people's business! Go to hell! Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"

As he spoke, a fireball the size of a basketball was spat out—it was truly just a ball.

"Tch, is that it? It's nothing."

He tossed the wine jar into the sky and instantly appeared in front of the lead man, shattering his heart with a single punch. He then casually threw a kunai into the chest of the man's lackey and reached out to catch the falling wine jar.

"Tch, trash."

He then turned to look at the woman and said in a deep voice: "Hey, don't be afraid. They are dead; you are safe now."

He then involuntarily let out a few more drunken hiccups.

The woman looked up at Uchiha Madara, wiped away her tears, and said tremblingly: "Thank you, thank you, kind sir."

The woman looked to be about twenty-one or twenty-two, with delicate features and fair skin. Although she wore coarse hemp clothing, it did not diminish her outstanding beauty.

The drunken Uchiha Madara looked at her pitiful appearance, his heart skipped a beat, and feeling inexplicably guilty, he took a fierce gulp of wine.

"Don't be afraid, you're fine now. You should head home quickly."

And then, there was no "then." The Asura who had traversed the ninja world passed out drunk in front of someone for the very first time.

"Ah, this."

The woman appeared somewhat at a loss. She wanted to help him to her home to rest, but she was deeply conflicted, unsure if bringing this stranger into her house would be dangerous.

Forget it, he is my savior. If not for him, I would have fallen into the hands of those scumbags. Even if he has ill intentions, I'll accept it. Besides... he's so handsome!

As a member of the Uchiha clan, Uchiha Madara's appearance was naturally beyond reproach. Even at thirty-six, he looked to be in his mid-twenties, his long hair exuding a charm uniquely his own.

After bringing him home and laying him on a mat, Uchiha Madara simply fell asleep. The woman lay to the side, watching him. On the way there, Uchiha Madara had sensed the woman supporting him, and on a whim, he had followed her. With a sidelong glance, he cast a genjutsu; if she tried to harm him, it would trigger and leave her unable to move.

The more the woman looked, the more infatuated she became. A hero saving a beauty—wasn't that exactly what this was? What to do, what to do, what to do? How should I repay him? Offer myself to him? Ahhh, Sakuragi Ri, how could you have such thoughts? It's so shameful, but I'm still looking forward to it!

In the middle of the night, as she turned over, a faint fragrance wafted toward him. The intoxicated Uchiha Madara reached out and pulled in that direction. Following the woman's gasp and her half-reluctant, half-willing cooperation, beautiful sounds soon drifted from the room.

The next day, dawn broke.

Uchiha Madara looked at the woman in his arms, ten thousand grass-mud horses stampeding through his heart.

"You, I, this..."

"You're awake. Don't, no, there's no need to blame yourself. Actually, I was already awake. I... I was willing."

Having said this, she lowered her head, blushing.

Uchiha Madara stared at the ceiling in despair. He had never once considered settling down and starting a family. The deaths of his younger brothers in childhood had dealt him a heavy blow, so he wanted to end the chaos of war and create a world where children didn't have to go to the battlefield and fathers didn't have to leave their wives and children behind to die in combat.

At twelve, he had met Senju Hashirama, who shared the same dream, and the two eventually founded Konohagakure together. But in the process, he had lost his father and his last brother, Izuna, and the peace they established was merely temporary and illusory.

Now, he and Hashirama had parted ways, and he was preparing to obtain Hashirama's power to awaken the Rinnegan. He had stopped for a drink to relieve his boredom, never expecting to encounter something like this.

"Sigh, I... I cannot take responsibility for you... I still have things I must do... I cannot give up halfway."

A look of disappointment appeared in the woman's eyes, but she still forced a smile. "I... I still don't know your name. Can... can you tell me?"

Uchiha Madara was silent for a moment before speaking: "My name is Uchiha Madara."

The woman: "You! You! You! You are Uchiha Madara! This, this..."

"That's right, I am Uchiha Madara."

"Then, then can you... tell me what you are going to do? I... I will wait for your return."

The woman said, gathering her courage.

By now, both were dressed, and Uchiha Madara intended to leave; he didn't want to stay for even another moment. Hearing her words, he paused for a moment before coming back to his senses and saying, "To bring true peace to the ninja world."

He then walked toward the door. At the threshold, he stopped, softened his tone, and asked, "I still don't know your name."

"My name is Sakuragi Ri. My original name is Senju Yeri."

Uchiha Madara stopped in his tracks and muttered, "A clansman of Hashirama, huh? Heh, fate truly is relentless."

"If I succeed, I will come to find you. If I do not return, you need not wait for me. Until we meet again."