Flame-Flame Fruit

Clearly, the Uchiha Sasuke of the present was not the same Sasuke seen at the beginning of the original Hokage storyline.

Not only was there no cold or aloof expression on his youthful face.

Instead, there was a hint of shyness...

And a unique sense of bashfulness toward strangers...

"I never expected Sasuke to be this cute when he was little..."

Watching Sasuke cowering behind Uchiha Itachi, a smile appeared on Yun Xi's face.

Seeing this, Uchiha Itachi teased, "My brother is a bit shy; he's generally only used to interacting with family."

"Understood, understood."

Yun Xi nodded, then walked behind Uchiha Sasuke and said in a gentle tone, "You need to remember my name—it's Yun Xi!"

After all, Sasuke was one of the most important protagonists in Hokage.

Naturally, Yun Xi would not take the initiative to make an enemy of him.

In this vast ninja world, those with talent couldn't compare to those with cheats, and those with cheats couldn't compare to the protagonist's halo!

Yun Xi understood this principle well enough.

"I suppose I count as a friend of your brother's, so if you ever have any trouble in the future, you can come find me."

After standing there and thinking for a moment, Yun Xi decided to voice his thoughts.

The mere idea that the adorable little Sasuke before him would one day be trained by that guy Orochimaru into an edgy teenager...

Yun Xi certainly couldn't accept that!

"Mm."

At only six years old, Uchiha Sasuke didn't understand the meaning behind Yun Xi's words.

But seeing a smile appear on his brother's face, Sasuke still responded to Yun Xi with a very polite tone.

"Alright, it's time to continue training!"

After the brief pleasantries.

Yun Xi didn't continue the conversation, preparing instead to resume his Fire Style ninjutsu training.

But just then, Uchiha Itachi spoke up: "Wait, Yun Xi..."

"What is it?"

Seeing Uchiha Itachi's hesitant expression, Yun Xi stopped in his tracks and walked over to his side, eyeing the visibly conflicted Uchiha Itachi with a suspicious look...

"If..."

"If there really comes a day when I leave Konoha, and Sasuke encounters difficulties, will you step in to help him?"

Seemingly intending to keep Uchiha Sasuke from hearing the content of their conversation.

Uchiha Itachi led Yun Xi a short distance away before speaking slowly...

It's about this!?

Looking at Uchiha Itachi before him, a flash of surprise instantly appeared on Yun Xi's face.

He hadn't expected Uchiha Itachi to trust him this much!

To say something like this...

If Yun Xi remembered correctly, the current timeline was the period just before the night of the Uchiha clan massacre!

The current Uchiha Itachi was a double agent between the Uchiha clan and the Konoha higher-ups!

To say such things at a time like this...

A sense of conflict welled up in Yun Xi's heart...

Although Yun Xi really wanted to help Uchiha Itachi.

But...

His strength wouldn't allow it!

The Uchiha massacre incident involved more than just the three factions of Danzo, the Third Hokage, and Uchiha Itachi.

It was even entangled with Uchiha Obito...

And the Akatsuki behind him.

A game of chess between so many Kage-level powerhouses was not something the current Yun Xi could interfere with!

To be honest.

While Yun Xi quite liked the character of Uchiha Itachi, and judging by what had happened previously, Uchiha Itachi was definitely someone worth befriending...

However...

If Yun Xi dared to meddle in this affair.

It would surely be a brush with death...

After some deliberation, Yun Xi intended to refuse, but just at that moment...

"Ding! Congratulations to the host for activating the God-level Choice—Uchiha Itachi's invitation..."

{Option One: Politely refuse and play it safe. Reward: Uchiha Itachi's favorability -100, obtain Summoning Beast—Millennium Old Turtle.}

{Option Two: Accept Uchiha Itachi's request and stand on his side during the Uchiha Clan Downfall incident in half a month. Reward: Flame-Flame Fruit (Effect: Gain the fire-based abilities from One Piece and increase the power of fire-style ninjutsu by 10%).}

{Option Three: Accept Uchiha Itachi's request and follow him to join the great rogue ninja organization—Akatsuki. Reward: Random Draw x1.}

"You damn system, what exactly is the meaning of this prompt!"

Yun Xi hadn't expected the Choice System to appear right when he was about to reject Uchiha Itachi!

Furthermore, from the reward in Option One, Yun Xi could tell...

The system was looking down on him...

A summoning beast...

A Millennium Old Turtle...

Wasn't this just a roundabout way of calling Yun Xi a coward!

"I call this 'developing cautiously,' do you even understand, system!"

What Yun Xi found even more unacceptable was that the Choice System still wanted him to become a rogue ninja!

Although the reward for the third option was quite tempting.

It was absolutely impossible for Yun Xi to become a rogue ninja!

He would never become a rogue ninja; wasn't it better to just coast through life in Konoha?

"It seems I have no choice but to agree to Uchiha Itachi..."

After much weighing of his options, Yun Xi finally decided to help Uchiha Itachi.

Even though getting involved in the Uchiha Clan Downfall would be incredibly dangerous...

Judging by the other two options.

This was undoubtedly the safest choice.

And the point that moved Yun Xi the most was that the reward for choosing it was the Flame-Flame Fruit!

For Yun Xi, who was desperate to improve his strength.

This was something he couldn't refuse!

Although Yun Xi currently possessed the Uchiha clan's bloodline limit.

And with the support of a ten-fold cultivation speed, his strength was steadily progressing.

However...

The overall pace of his growth was still too slow.

Yun Xi estimated.

If he only relied on his current situation to strengthen himself.

By the time the original plot began.

His strength would likely only be at the level of a Chunin.

In this vast ninja world, such strength was practically cannon fodder...

But if he possessed the Flame-Flame Fruit...

The outcome would be uncertain...

After all, a Devil Fruit was definitely not inferior to the bloodline limits of the ninja world!

And in Yun Xi's memory, the Flame-Flame Fruit seemed to be a Logia-type Devil Fruit.

Logia was widely recognized as the strongest of the three Devil Fruit types...

"If I combine fire-style ninjutsu with the Flame-Flame Fruit..."

Thinking of the combination of the two, Yun Xi felt a bright path opening up before him!

Unlike the bloodline limits in the ninja world.

The greatest feature of the Logia-type Flame-Flame Fruit was that it allowed the body to "elementalize," rendering physical attacks ineffective!

Though it couldn't grant immunity to other fruit abilities...

But the world Yun Xi was in was the ninja world!

Aside from Yun Xi.

Who else could possess Devil Fruit abilities?!

Simply put.

As long as Yun Xi consumed the Flame-Flame Fruit rewarded by the system...

He could basically ignore most taijutsu attacks!